"Just try."
"Hey, Cathal, how do these papers work? I'm not going to do anything, but... like... how do they restrain our abilities? And how did you get them?" Cathal moved to the living area and sat in the love seat that rested next to the larger couch.
“Once a circle is drawn, whoever is touching or in it is affected by it. Whatever the effects may be. This one has been created with restriction symbols in mind, using a mix of Latin and ancient magic symbols. The process of creating a new magic circle is long and difficult and requires an extensive knowledge of ancient magical writing. I drew these myself, seeing as I have a photographic memory so it wasn’t at all hard. I’m letting you know now. Unless you get some degree in use of magic circles, never attempt to draw one because the slightest mistake will end in disaster.”
Cathal sat next to Gabriel, sipping from a beer can he had found in the fridge. It was unlike such an item to be there, but no one had claimed it. Cathal didn’t drink all the time, but an occasional can never hurt anyone. The Guild Master noticed the slight pout on the other Keeper’s face but never questioned it. A young man’s thoughts were best kept to the mind. Yukine had wandered in finally and sat close to the TV. It didn’t take him long to notice the rack of DVD’s next to him and he began to thumb through them. If he was lucky, maybe he would find one they all liked.
“I thought they were supposed to be training today,” the demon asked. Cathal simply shrugged. Ami was taking care of Fintan and Fintan was the new member. So he needed the most attention. But then again, there probably wasn’t much he could learn from Ami when it came to fighting. Cathal doubted the small girl even knew how to fight.
“Well Lucca did train. Speaking of which, where did Kenji go?”
Gabriel had begun to get a bad feeling about leaving Alice alone. He wasn’t worried that she would hurt herself, but if Kenji was loose and in a foul mood … no, Kenji was still weak from yesterday so Alice would have the upper hand. Nothing to worry about … nothing at all.
"Every new beginning ends."
“Alright, kiddos. Time for some real fun.” The man nodded in Kenji’s direction. Two burly men peeled off and grabbed Kenji’s head, almost like they were going to squish it. Alice became sick with worry and began tugging against the hold of the shackles. “You, boy, look forward and don’t blink. Every time you blink, she’ll get it,” the man said, cracking the belt. “And if you don’t comply period, we’ll kill her.” The two men holding Kenji’s head tied a cloth around his eyes and another, smaller man stepped in front of him.
“Please don’t touch him! Stop!” Alice continued to wretch against the metal holding her wrists. But they ignored her straining and focused on Kenji with malicious grins. It happened so fast. The two holding Kenji dropped the cloth around his head and the man in front shot what seemed to be narrow streams of light into Kenji’s eyes. After a few seconds, they moved back to their original positions behind the head member.
“Now it’s your turn to cooperate. If you don’t, he dies.” The man stepped forward, closer to Alice now. “Where’s the hunter?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Alice spat.
“Do you know what we just did to him, Alice?” The man raised his hand and covered Alice’s eyes. “This is what we did. And if you don’t tell us where they are, we will do much worse.” Was he referring to Cathal? But he wasn’t the Council’s dog. They had to be though. How would they expect Lone Sin guild mates to know anything? All they did was fulfill their missions. Nothing more, nothing less. If they knew where they were, they definitely knew Cathal was there as well.
“I have no clue what you’re saying … I only carry out missions. If you thought the Council would trust little kids like us with critical information, then you’re not as smart as you would like to be.” Though they didn’t voice their irritation, Alice could tell she was treading on thin ice. With a nod, one lackey moved back over to Kenji, kicking him repeatedly in the stomach. Alice once more began to try and tear her arms through the shackles. “I don’t know! Um … the clean-up in the Pine Barrens! There might be one there but I swear that’s all I know!” Alice felt her wrists pop and she gasped in pain. The men stared at her as though they weren’t satisfied with the information. “I … I have Hunter training. I’m a Shadow Mage … they … they planned of making me a Hunter once I reached B-Rank. If it’s Hunter Skills you want … then let him go.”
In unison, the men laughed. Of course they saw through her lie. No one knows whether they are being chosen as a Hunter until after the matter. Alice panted and stared at them, trying to look as innocent as possible. How were they going to get information they didn’t know themselves. She had racked her brain with something … anything to say when the Light Mage placed a hand on the first man’s shoulder. They seemed to share a silent conversation before they all got up and left.
“Wait! Aren’t you going to fix him?” All Alice received was laughter. They had no intention of helping Kenji even if they had gotten what they wanted out of her. The Shadow Mage looked over to her Guild Mate. They had the cell to themselves once more. “Kenji … I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.” Alice’s voice cracked as the tears began to fall again. “I promise I’ll get us out of here.”