When we arrived at our destination Jack began walking quite slowly and wrung his hands together nervously.
Chuckling to myself I ushered Jack towards the Messenger Service shop. With a nervous grimace at me, Jack entered the shop while I waited outside. I paced up and down in front of the shop for a moment, thinking to myself. Surrounding this little building was an assortment of other businesses lining the street. Strange and unfamiliar signs hung everywhere, offering goods and services that I had never heard of before. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and shivered. It was snowing lightly and the flecks of white were settling into my hair, probably making it seem as though I had a bad case of dandruff. The snow didn’t melt instantly on contact anymore. I frowned and tried to avoid thinking about that particular subject. What was taking Jack so long?
As though answering my thoughts, I heard a pair of boots crunching the snow behind me. I turned to face the shop where I assumed I would see Jack standing behind me, possibly grinning, or possibly scowling if he had been turned down. But as I had paced I had found myself standing before a rather dank looking alleyway that was located next to the Messenger Service shop. This alley led to one of the several back streets of the marketplace, possibly one that I had used during my first day here.
It was dark through here and I couldn’t see anyone. I had probably imagined hearing those footsteps. After all, Frost Arch was a busy, noisy place. I turned back and gazed fruitlessly at the other shop windows, but didn’t really see what was behind them. I tapped my foot impatiently.
A rough, cold and pale hand clamped around my mouth, and I felt another arm wrap around my waist and begin dragging me backwards. It took several seconds for me to realise that the hands upon me were not Jack’s. These hands were unfamiliar. I tried to scream but the stranger covered my mouth completely. No one would hear my muffled cries over the hustle and bustle of the city. I tried kicking out and writhing from the strangers grasp, and almost head butt them, but they were much stronger than me. I was being dragged back into the depths of the alley, and no one had seen it happen. Who was it behind me, dragging me away? I was quite sure that I knew, but were they really so strong? The hands were bony and fragile looking but had great strength.
Where was my fire now? My Power was betraying me in this moment of danger. Perhaps Jack would emerge from the shop and wonder where I had gone, maybe see me as I was taken away.
But no. Now it was too late. My kidnapper rounded the corner in the alley and we were surely out of sight now, hidden by shadows in the filthy backstreet. Where was he taking me? What did he want me for?
Before my fears could run amok I was thrust into a stone wall, my face pressing against the freezing rock. The kidnappers hand gripped my hair and held me against it tightly. I heard his harsh voice in my ear as he leant in to whisper to me. He sounded panicked and rushed.
“Are you Avalon Redding of Mortlock?”
I tried to cry and scream but I had no air in my lungs anymore. I simply gasped against the stone wall, my arms pinned behind my back.
“Are you Avalon Redding of Mortlock?” The harsh voice pressed impatiently, “Fire Mage and worker for the Forsythe manor?”
I struggled against the vice like grip upon me, but he just held me tighter. I couldn’t see who it was at all.
“Are you!?” He growled.
“Yes!” I gasped.
“Avalon Redding, I am not going to hurt you.” My kidnapper promised. Yes, like I was going to believe that. “I’m sorry that I am doing this, but you cannot look at me.”
“I already know who you are!” I growled, wincing as the freezing wall seemed to burn my flesh.
“I know.” He hissed impatiently, “That is why you cannot look at me.”
This made absolutely no sense to me what so ever. I continued to struggle against his strange strength.
“Seth Swaggart.” I scowled.
“Yes.” He breathed.
I was suddenly aware of how much older his voice sounded compared to his appearance, “What do you want?” I hissed, “Come to finish me off?”
He growled menacingly, “Stupid girl.” His voice seemed to shake with anger, “You don’t understand anything.”
“Get off me or I’ll scream.” I threatened.
“I thought you would have set me on fire by now.”
I fell silent and breathed angrily, writhing and fighting him still. I did not want to talk about my fire. How did he know who I was, and what I did anyway?
Trying to calm myself down I tried a new approach, “How do you know who I am?”
“I know everyone.” He sounded smug, “But you, Miss Avalon, are quite interesting.”
“I’m just a servant.” I deflected.
“And so very strange.” He breathed into my ear and I shuddered.
“Why can’t I look at you?” I said gritting my teeth.
“Do you remember what happened last time?”