Smoke and Jewel, page 2
part #2 of Yokai Treasures Series
“Why?” Karen asked, her green eyes flashing in suspicion. Brianna had never let her down, but she was hot-headed, which often landed her in sticky situations.
“So I can go beat him up!”
“...He’s in class.”
“Even better! When does he get off?”
Karen shook her head helplessly and checked her tentative boyfriend’s schedule.
“In about thirty.”
“Crap, I have a seminar in fifteen,” Brianna replied with a sullen expression. She leaned back, dragging a hand through her dark brown locks.
“It’s okay. I’ll do it.” Karen said.
“What?”
“I’ll talk to him,” she confirmed.
“You? Alone?” Brianna blinked at her as if she didn’t understand.
Karen rolled her eyes.
“No need to be that surprised,” she said. “I can do things on my own, thank you very much.”
Brianna looked at her silently for a moment before returning to her tuna sandwich.
“Okay, but call me later.”
“Yeah. Wish me luck. I’ll need it.”
“I know.”
“...You don’t have to agree.”
“Admit it. You like my honesty,” Brianna grinned at her, and she laughed.
***
Fortunately, Karen didn’t have any more classes that day, so she waited patiently in front of the room where Jason’s lesson was held. They were running a bit late, but she didn’t mind, because she had more time to gather her thoughts. Karen tugged on her short blond hair in nervousness and bit her lip, trying to imagine how the talk would go.
As she tried to compose herself and prepare for the inevitably awkward situation, her gaze wandered around the corridor. Mostly people in their late teenage years or early twenties roamed around, but occasionally, she could see an older student, too.
It took some getting used to after high school that people of all ages attended college, but now she didn’t find it strange. It was fun learning with people from all sorts of backgrounds, with everyone working toward their own goals and focusing on classes that interested them.
Among the many unfamiliar faces, she noticed someone she knew. It was impossible to miss the woman in the red coat. Her red dress peeked out and her red high heels clacked as she made her way among the students.
All the men, students and professors alike, turned their heads as she walked gracefully toward Karen, whose eyes narrowed as the figure of the redhead came closer. She was sure that person didn’t attend this school, but then why would she be on campus? As the woman drew closer, Karen stood, crossing her arms and blocking the other’s path.
“Oh, Karen, what a surprise!” Her red eyes widened comically.
“No, not really. I study here,” Karen replied. “Didn’t know you’re a student here.”
“I’m not.” The redhead flicked her long hair over her shoulder as she said this. She even painted her fingernails in red. She looked incredibly proud and confident.
“So?”
“So what?”
“What are you doing here, Rose? Did you want something from me?” Karen asked, doubtful.
“You could say that.”
“What—?”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve missed you!” Rose cut her off as she rushed over to the students piling out of the classroom. Karen gagged before turning her head to look for her boyfriend.
She found him in the arms of Rose.
Karen couldn’t stop her anger as it bubbled to the surface, and the air crackled around her.
“Woah!” One of the students pulled their hand back from the metal knob as if it was on fire. Then he jokingly commented: “Looks like I’m electrifying today.”
His friends laughed along while the static energy swirled around this part of the corridor, unseen. To make her claim, Rose greeted Jason with a deep kiss. Karen’s hand shot out and grabbed the redhead’s shoulder, yanking her back.
“Hey!”
“Don’t ‘hey’ me!” Karen shouted. Half of the students around them snapped their heads in her direction. Karen became self-aware, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable. But she couldn’t stay silent when her boyfriend was getting stolen from right under her nose. She turned to Jason. “What is the meaning of this?”
“As I said, let’s break up,” he replied, snaking an arm around Rose, who was massaging her shoulder. She had a pathetic look on her face. “I’m with her now.”
“When did this happen? Because I doubt it was in the last five minutes.”
“It doesn’t matter. Now, apologize to her.”
“Who? Me?” Karen asked, dumbfounded. She felt the blood drain out of her face. The energies around her settled, but she could feel the magic stirring in her blood, ready to lash out at the pair in front of her any second. “She’s the one that stole you away!”
“I didn’t have to,” Rose quipped, putting a hand on Jason’s chest and gazing up at him with a smitten look.
“What?” Karen had a hard time following the conversation.
“Oh my, you didn’t notice?” Rose gasped in fake concern. “He was already looking for a way to break it off with you. I just happened to help him.”
“Jason?” Karen looked into his eyes, feeling lightheaded. She stumbled back. “Is that true?”
He looked away for a moment with a pained expression before turning back to her. His face was determined, and Karen feared the worst.
“Look, things weren’t working out between us the last couple of weeks.”
“W-what are you talking about?” Karen thought everything was as it should be. She didn’t notice when things started to go wrong. Did he say weeks?
“You’ve always been a little clingy, but I thought it was cute. However, after your cousin disappeared... that was the only thing on your mind, and it felt like you ignored me even when we were together. It felt as if I’m just there to listen to your ramblings,” Jason delivered ruthlessly. He looked uncomfortable but didn’t back down and said what he wanted to say, without regards for Karen’s feelings.
“That’s not true...”
“It’s true,” he insisted. “It’s pretty telling you didn’t notice anything was wrong. You weren’t paying any attention to me.”
Karen gulped, feeling tears gathering in the corner of her eyes. She just wanted someone to comfort her. Was it so bad she thought her boyfriend would be willing to do that?
This is bad. Karen felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them. Turning away, she hid her face and grabbed her backpack, running away.
“Karen!” She heard Jason shout but didn’t stop. All she wanted was to escape. If the Earth wanted to swallow her, now would be a good time for that.
Her feet led her to the restrooms, and she barged in. She would hide in one of the stalls until she calmed down.
Chapter 4
“And you know her?” Brianna asked as she sipped her soda through the straw.
“Yeah,” Karen sighed heavily. “I’ve known her since I was a child, and she always, always managed to get under my skin. I don’t know what she has against me. Now this.”
Helplessly, she gestured in the air. They were sitting at a fast food restaurant close to the dormitories where Brianna was staying.
“Do you think she did it on purpose? To specifically get your boyfriend?”
Karen contemplated the question while nibbling on fries. She dipped one into mayonnaise before eating it. Brianna made a face at her friend’s weird habit but didn’t comment on it.
“Rose certainly has it in her to do something like that,” Karen said eventually.
“Maybe she doesn’t like him.”
“Maybe.”
“So what are you gonna do?”
Karen grimaced as she sipped her own drink. She still felt shaken, but at least her tears had stopped. She pulled on her hair in frustration.
“I don’t know.”
Brianna put her drink down and leaned forward, looking into Karen’s eyes with a serious expression.
“Do you want him back?”
Karen opened her mouth to say “of course!” but then closed it without a sound leaving her lips. Did she want him back? Someone who so easily threw her away?
“Dunno...”
“You are an idiot-magnet, you know.”
“I do,” Karen sighed, slumping in her seat. “But what do I do now?”
“Well, you’ll have more time to come to parties with me.”
Karen looked at her strangely. She wasn’t a very outgoing person.
“Or to study for your exams. Seriously, girl, do you even have a hobby?”
“A hobby, huh?” Karen looked away in thought. She liked thinking up new methods to apply her special magic on items, but ever since college started, she barely had any time for that. Then Ciara disappeared and her thoughts were consumed by finding her cousin.
Come to think of it, didn’t Jason say the same? Karen frowned and looked at Brianna.
“What is it?” Her friend was just finishing off her cookie.
“Bria, have I... neglected you the past few weeks?”
Despite what Karen feared, her best friend burst out laughing, almost choking on the cookie.
“What are you talking about?”
“But Jason said—”
“He wasn’t good enough for you,” Brianna cut her off. “And my friendship is not something as trifle as his feelings!”
“Bria...”
“Now, get yourself together and let me help you plot their demise!”
“Uh... that isn’t really necessary...” Karen tried to protest. Bria wrote crime novellas in her free time and sometimes had the wildest and scariest ideas.
“Don’t you dare refuse me.”
Karen sighed, reaching for another fried potato. She had a feeling that it was going to be a long afternoon.
***
She spent the evening talking on the phone with her parents, making plans for next week’s family get-together.
“I wish Ciara could come.”
Karen froze for a moment before asking, “Still no news?”
“No.” Her mother choked and gave the phone to Karen’s father to continue the discussion.
“It’s so suspicious how they found nothing. I can’t help but think it has something to do with magic.”
Karen’s family was a powerful clan of witches, and it went back a few generations. Every now and then, someone married who didn’t have magic into the family, like her father, but it was rare. There were a few rival families, including the one Rose belonged to.
“Maybe. Which reminds me, I’ve run into Rose.”
“Oh, Ruby and Alex’s daughter? I heard she moved there a couple of months ago.”
“Really?” That was new information for Karen. Had she really been so busy that she forgot to keep tabs on her childhood nemesis’s movements? She shook her head. No, I just didn’t care. “Is she studying here?”
“No clue. Ah, your mother is back. See you next week, sweetie. Love you.”
“Love you, Dad. Take care!”
“Dearie?” Karen’s mother, Kelly, asked as she came back. “What’s with Ruby’s daughter?”
“Oh, nothing really. She just showed up and stole my boyfriend.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then Kelly remarked with a conflicted tone, “Well, I’d be lying if I said I’m surprised at her behavior. She always wanted what was yours. But how are you doing?”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Do you want me to—?”
“Thanks Mom, but no need,” Karen smiled. Her mother was ready to cast a binding spell on Rose anytime, but this was something between the two girls. “I can’t let you do that. Anyway, I’m gonna go to bed early. I have some reports due next week before I can head back home. I’ll get an early start tomorrow morning.”
“I understand. Sleep well and call me!”
“Will do! Love you, Mom!”
“Love you, dearie! Oh, and Felix misses you. Come home soon!”
“Mooom, I’ll be there next week! Bye!”
Karen ended the call with a smile, thinking of Felix. He was a beautiful black cat she had rescued a few years ago. Unfortunately, she couldn’t bring him here. For some reason, Ciara had never gotten along with him.
She sighed and put her phone down, looking around the empty apartment. As soon as she was alone, Karen’s thoughts returned to the scene from early afternoon and she was moping. Why do I never learn? Don’t fall for idiots. And if you do, don’t let them break your heart. She went to prepare dinner. I’m an idiot, aren’t I?
She was just finishing her sandwich when she heard a noise from the door. Karen raised an eyebrow and walked over, curious. A slip of paper waited for her in front of the letter opening. She retrieved it and looked at its contents.
Her mind blanked out for a second as she recognized Ciara’s handwriting.
Chapter 5
After her initial shock wore off, Karen lunged for the door to open it, but it was locked.
“Crap!”
She grumbled as she unlocked the door and checked outside. However, the corridor was empty. She hurried over to the staircase, looking down, then up, but found no one.
Strange. Who would leave this? Karen flipped the paper over and examined it from different angles. It was torn out of a pocket calendar of some sort. Ciara’s note with an address and time was written on the day she had disappeared.
Karen’s eyes widened as she realized there might be a lead. The investigation had never found out where the client who had last seen Ciara lived. Karen ran back to the apartment and quickly grabbed her phone to check the address on the map. There was a text message already waiting for her.
Come and find me.
It was from a blocked number. A chill ran down Karen’s spine as she realized how suspicious the timing of the note and the text message was. The paper slightly crumpled in her hand as she made a fist. First, she needed to tell the police—
Static cracked around her phone, making Karen drop it. She looked on, helpless as smoke rose from the device and it died. Her eyes widened as she realized the fire detector might go off any second. She grabbed the nearest pen she could find and quickly made a few gestures in the air. Actually, it was more like drawing in the air.
The smoke puffed out as if it was never there. Karen let out a heavy breath and bent down to retrieve her phone. It was completely fried. She tutted, angry that she had to buy a new one. She pried it open and realized the battery had melted and had damaged the SIM.
“Shit!”
She lost all her contacts.
***
Karen woke up early the next day and prepared to go out. Last night, she had checked the address and made a route. Thankfully, her laptop was still functional. I’d die if it was totaled like my phone, she thought. She tapped her pockets for her public transport pass and the specially enchanted pen that had served her for years before grabbing her keys. Karen felt strange leaving the apartment without her phone, but if her parents could survive without cells for decades, then she figured she could go a day or two without it.
It was a chilly Saturday morning. Everything looked bleak, covered in a gray fog. Karen huddled into her short coat. As she waited for the bus at the stop, she realized she should have put on her winter coat. It was even worse when she got on the bus because the heater was broken.
Great, she thought as she sniffled. If she survived this creepy adventure, she was sure to catch a cold. She ruminated on last night’s events. It was strange how her phone had died just as she was thinking about getting help and informing the police. The note, the text message, and the damaged phone were all connected somehow. She was so invested in it that she was able to ignore the terrible break-up. It might have been on purpose to get her mind off Jason.
Karen wanted to find out who was behind the note and how they managed to have such perfect timing. It didn’t make any sense. Unless...
She sat up straight and leaned forward. She was looking ahead, but her eyes didn’t see the seats in front of her as she recalled last night’s events. She felt like watching a movie clip. Thankfully, she was the only passenger on the bus, so no one saw her weird behavior and vacant gaze.
Unless the magic was timed. But then what was the trigger? She debated on this until they had reached her stop and she got off. Karen didn’t find an answer but realized it wasn’t relevant to her case. And if magic was indeed involved in this case, it was better to scout things out before reporting it.
She got the crumpled note out and looked for the street address. Her eyebrows rose as she glanced around. This area was full of mansions and lovely parks, in the wealthier part of town. No wonder Ciara had tolerated the rudeness of her new student.
Karen had a hunch that that person had a hand in her cousin’s disappearance. They were probably the last one to see her. With that in mind, Karen made her way cautiously to the mansion, which had been Ciara’s goal on that fateful day. Her feet quickly carried her to an orange-bricked mansion standing forebodingly in the middle of the street. It looked old, and ivy covered its side, giving it a charming but abandoned feeling.
Wrought-iron fencing ran around the estate majestically. Karen pouted; it would be hard to snoop with that in place. She walked along the length of the fence and found a tree reaching out to the street, giving adequate cover for her if she were to scale the fence.
Karen glanced between the fence and the tree repeatedly, considering her options. She was debating breaking in somewhere. This wasn’t jaywalking or stealing Ciara’s pudding from the fridge. If she was caught, she might be sent to jail. Unexpectedly, her cousin’s face flashed in her mind as if urging her to action.
The shadows cast by the tree moved closer to the fence, but Karen was too lost in her thoughts to notice. She stepped closer. I just need to get away before I get caught, she concluded. She wanted to help Ciara.
“So I can go beat him up!”
“...He’s in class.”
“Even better! When does he get off?”
Karen shook her head helplessly and checked her tentative boyfriend’s schedule.
“In about thirty.”
“Crap, I have a seminar in fifteen,” Brianna replied with a sullen expression. She leaned back, dragging a hand through her dark brown locks.
“It’s okay. I’ll do it.” Karen said.
“What?”
“I’ll talk to him,” she confirmed.
“You? Alone?” Brianna blinked at her as if she didn’t understand.
Karen rolled her eyes.
“No need to be that surprised,” she said. “I can do things on my own, thank you very much.”
Brianna looked at her silently for a moment before returning to her tuna sandwich.
“Okay, but call me later.”
“Yeah. Wish me luck. I’ll need it.”
“I know.”
“...You don’t have to agree.”
“Admit it. You like my honesty,” Brianna grinned at her, and she laughed.
***
Fortunately, Karen didn’t have any more classes that day, so she waited patiently in front of the room where Jason’s lesson was held. They were running a bit late, but she didn’t mind, because she had more time to gather her thoughts. Karen tugged on her short blond hair in nervousness and bit her lip, trying to imagine how the talk would go.
As she tried to compose herself and prepare for the inevitably awkward situation, her gaze wandered around the corridor. Mostly people in their late teenage years or early twenties roamed around, but occasionally, she could see an older student, too.
It took some getting used to after high school that people of all ages attended college, but now she didn’t find it strange. It was fun learning with people from all sorts of backgrounds, with everyone working toward their own goals and focusing on classes that interested them.
Among the many unfamiliar faces, she noticed someone she knew. It was impossible to miss the woman in the red coat. Her red dress peeked out and her red high heels clacked as she made her way among the students.
All the men, students and professors alike, turned their heads as she walked gracefully toward Karen, whose eyes narrowed as the figure of the redhead came closer. She was sure that person didn’t attend this school, but then why would she be on campus? As the woman drew closer, Karen stood, crossing her arms and blocking the other’s path.
“Oh, Karen, what a surprise!” Her red eyes widened comically.
“No, not really. I study here,” Karen replied. “Didn’t know you’re a student here.”
“I’m not.” The redhead flicked her long hair over her shoulder as she said this. She even painted her fingernails in red. She looked incredibly proud and confident.
“So?”
“So what?”
“What are you doing here, Rose? Did you want something from me?” Karen asked, doubtful.
“You could say that.”
“What—?”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve missed you!” Rose cut her off as she rushed over to the students piling out of the classroom. Karen gagged before turning her head to look for her boyfriend.
She found him in the arms of Rose.
Karen couldn’t stop her anger as it bubbled to the surface, and the air crackled around her.
“Woah!” One of the students pulled their hand back from the metal knob as if it was on fire. Then he jokingly commented: “Looks like I’m electrifying today.”
His friends laughed along while the static energy swirled around this part of the corridor, unseen. To make her claim, Rose greeted Jason with a deep kiss. Karen’s hand shot out and grabbed the redhead’s shoulder, yanking her back.
“Hey!”
“Don’t ‘hey’ me!” Karen shouted. Half of the students around them snapped their heads in her direction. Karen became self-aware, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable. But she couldn’t stay silent when her boyfriend was getting stolen from right under her nose. She turned to Jason. “What is the meaning of this?”
“As I said, let’s break up,” he replied, snaking an arm around Rose, who was massaging her shoulder. She had a pathetic look on her face. “I’m with her now.”
“When did this happen? Because I doubt it was in the last five minutes.”
“It doesn’t matter. Now, apologize to her.”
“Who? Me?” Karen asked, dumbfounded. She felt the blood drain out of her face. The energies around her settled, but she could feel the magic stirring in her blood, ready to lash out at the pair in front of her any second. “She’s the one that stole you away!”
“I didn’t have to,” Rose quipped, putting a hand on Jason’s chest and gazing up at him with a smitten look.
“What?” Karen had a hard time following the conversation.
“Oh my, you didn’t notice?” Rose gasped in fake concern. “He was already looking for a way to break it off with you. I just happened to help him.”
“Jason?” Karen looked into his eyes, feeling lightheaded. She stumbled back. “Is that true?”
He looked away for a moment with a pained expression before turning back to her. His face was determined, and Karen feared the worst.
“Look, things weren’t working out between us the last couple of weeks.”
“W-what are you talking about?” Karen thought everything was as it should be. She didn’t notice when things started to go wrong. Did he say weeks?
“You’ve always been a little clingy, but I thought it was cute. However, after your cousin disappeared... that was the only thing on your mind, and it felt like you ignored me even when we were together. It felt as if I’m just there to listen to your ramblings,” Jason delivered ruthlessly. He looked uncomfortable but didn’t back down and said what he wanted to say, without regards for Karen’s feelings.
“That’s not true...”
“It’s true,” he insisted. “It’s pretty telling you didn’t notice anything was wrong. You weren’t paying any attention to me.”
Karen gulped, feeling tears gathering in the corner of her eyes. She just wanted someone to comfort her. Was it so bad she thought her boyfriend would be willing to do that?
This is bad. Karen felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them. Turning away, she hid her face and grabbed her backpack, running away.
“Karen!” She heard Jason shout but didn’t stop. All she wanted was to escape. If the Earth wanted to swallow her, now would be a good time for that.
Her feet led her to the restrooms, and she barged in. She would hide in one of the stalls until she calmed down.
Chapter 4
“And you know her?” Brianna asked as she sipped her soda through the straw.
“Yeah,” Karen sighed heavily. “I’ve known her since I was a child, and she always, always managed to get under my skin. I don’t know what she has against me. Now this.”
Helplessly, she gestured in the air. They were sitting at a fast food restaurant close to the dormitories where Brianna was staying.
“Do you think she did it on purpose? To specifically get your boyfriend?”
Karen contemplated the question while nibbling on fries. She dipped one into mayonnaise before eating it. Brianna made a face at her friend’s weird habit but didn’t comment on it.
“Rose certainly has it in her to do something like that,” Karen said eventually.
“Maybe she doesn’t like him.”
“Maybe.”
“So what are you gonna do?”
Karen grimaced as she sipped her own drink. She still felt shaken, but at least her tears had stopped. She pulled on her hair in frustration.
“I don’t know.”
Brianna put her drink down and leaned forward, looking into Karen’s eyes with a serious expression.
“Do you want him back?”
Karen opened her mouth to say “of course!” but then closed it without a sound leaving her lips. Did she want him back? Someone who so easily threw her away?
“Dunno...”
“You are an idiot-magnet, you know.”
“I do,” Karen sighed, slumping in her seat. “But what do I do now?”
“Well, you’ll have more time to come to parties with me.”
Karen looked at her strangely. She wasn’t a very outgoing person.
“Or to study for your exams. Seriously, girl, do you even have a hobby?”
“A hobby, huh?” Karen looked away in thought. She liked thinking up new methods to apply her special magic on items, but ever since college started, she barely had any time for that. Then Ciara disappeared and her thoughts were consumed by finding her cousin.
Come to think of it, didn’t Jason say the same? Karen frowned and looked at Brianna.
“What is it?” Her friend was just finishing off her cookie.
“Bria, have I... neglected you the past few weeks?”
Despite what Karen feared, her best friend burst out laughing, almost choking on the cookie.
“What are you talking about?”
“But Jason said—”
“He wasn’t good enough for you,” Brianna cut her off. “And my friendship is not something as trifle as his feelings!”
“Bria...”
“Now, get yourself together and let me help you plot their demise!”
“Uh... that isn’t really necessary...” Karen tried to protest. Bria wrote crime novellas in her free time and sometimes had the wildest and scariest ideas.
“Don’t you dare refuse me.”
Karen sighed, reaching for another fried potato. She had a feeling that it was going to be a long afternoon.
***
She spent the evening talking on the phone with her parents, making plans for next week’s family get-together.
“I wish Ciara could come.”
Karen froze for a moment before asking, “Still no news?”
“No.” Her mother choked and gave the phone to Karen’s father to continue the discussion.
“It’s so suspicious how they found nothing. I can’t help but think it has something to do with magic.”
Karen’s family was a powerful clan of witches, and it went back a few generations. Every now and then, someone married who didn’t have magic into the family, like her father, but it was rare. There were a few rival families, including the one Rose belonged to.
“Maybe. Which reminds me, I’ve run into Rose.”
“Oh, Ruby and Alex’s daughter? I heard she moved there a couple of months ago.”
“Really?” That was new information for Karen. Had she really been so busy that she forgot to keep tabs on her childhood nemesis’s movements? She shook her head. No, I just didn’t care. “Is she studying here?”
“No clue. Ah, your mother is back. See you next week, sweetie. Love you.”
“Love you, Dad. Take care!”
“Dearie?” Karen’s mother, Kelly, asked as she came back. “What’s with Ruby’s daughter?”
“Oh, nothing really. She just showed up and stole my boyfriend.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then Kelly remarked with a conflicted tone, “Well, I’d be lying if I said I’m surprised at her behavior. She always wanted what was yours. But how are you doing?”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Do you want me to—?”
“Thanks Mom, but no need,” Karen smiled. Her mother was ready to cast a binding spell on Rose anytime, but this was something between the two girls. “I can’t let you do that. Anyway, I’m gonna go to bed early. I have some reports due next week before I can head back home. I’ll get an early start tomorrow morning.”
“I understand. Sleep well and call me!”
“Will do! Love you, Mom!”
“Love you, dearie! Oh, and Felix misses you. Come home soon!”
“Mooom, I’ll be there next week! Bye!”
Karen ended the call with a smile, thinking of Felix. He was a beautiful black cat she had rescued a few years ago. Unfortunately, she couldn’t bring him here. For some reason, Ciara had never gotten along with him.
She sighed and put her phone down, looking around the empty apartment. As soon as she was alone, Karen’s thoughts returned to the scene from early afternoon and she was moping. Why do I never learn? Don’t fall for idiots. And if you do, don’t let them break your heart. She went to prepare dinner. I’m an idiot, aren’t I?
She was just finishing her sandwich when she heard a noise from the door. Karen raised an eyebrow and walked over, curious. A slip of paper waited for her in front of the letter opening. She retrieved it and looked at its contents.
Her mind blanked out for a second as she recognized Ciara’s handwriting.
Chapter 5
After her initial shock wore off, Karen lunged for the door to open it, but it was locked.
“Crap!”
She grumbled as she unlocked the door and checked outside. However, the corridor was empty. She hurried over to the staircase, looking down, then up, but found no one.
Strange. Who would leave this? Karen flipped the paper over and examined it from different angles. It was torn out of a pocket calendar of some sort. Ciara’s note with an address and time was written on the day she had disappeared.
Karen’s eyes widened as she realized there might be a lead. The investigation had never found out where the client who had last seen Ciara lived. Karen ran back to the apartment and quickly grabbed her phone to check the address on the map. There was a text message already waiting for her.
Come and find me.
It was from a blocked number. A chill ran down Karen’s spine as she realized how suspicious the timing of the note and the text message was. The paper slightly crumpled in her hand as she made a fist. First, she needed to tell the police—
Static cracked around her phone, making Karen drop it. She looked on, helpless as smoke rose from the device and it died. Her eyes widened as she realized the fire detector might go off any second. She grabbed the nearest pen she could find and quickly made a few gestures in the air. Actually, it was more like drawing in the air.
The smoke puffed out as if it was never there. Karen let out a heavy breath and bent down to retrieve her phone. It was completely fried. She tutted, angry that she had to buy a new one. She pried it open and realized the battery had melted and had damaged the SIM.
“Shit!”
She lost all her contacts.
***
Karen woke up early the next day and prepared to go out. Last night, she had checked the address and made a route. Thankfully, her laptop was still functional. I’d die if it was totaled like my phone, she thought. She tapped her pockets for her public transport pass and the specially enchanted pen that had served her for years before grabbing her keys. Karen felt strange leaving the apartment without her phone, but if her parents could survive without cells for decades, then she figured she could go a day or two without it.
It was a chilly Saturday morning. Everything looked bleak, covered in a gray fog. Karen huddled into her short coat. As she waited for the bus at the stop, she realized she should have put on her winter coat. It was even worse when she got on the bus because the heater was broken.
Great, she thought as she sniffled. If she survived this creepy adventure, she was sure to catch a cold. She ruminated on last night’s events. It was strange how her phone had died just as she was thinking about getting help and informing the police. The note, the text message, and the damaged phone were all connected somehow. She was so invested in it that she was able to ignore the terrible break-up. It might have been on purpose to get her mind off Jason.
Karen wanted to find out who was behind the note and how they managed to have such perfect timing. It didn’t make any sense. Unless...
She sat up straight and leaned forward. She was looking ahead, but her eyes didn’t see the seats in front of her as she recalled last night’s events. She felt like watching a movie clip. Thankfully, she was the only passenger on the bus, so no one saw her weird behavior and vacant gaze.
Unless the magic was timed. But then what was the trigger? She debated on this until they had reached her stop and she got off. Karen didn’t find an answer but realized it wasn’t relevant to her case. And if magic was indeed involved in this case, it was better to scout things out before reporting it.
She got the crumpled note out and looked for the street address. Her eyebrows rose as she glanced around. This area was full of mansions and lovely parks, in the wealthier part of town. No wonder Ciara had tolerated the rudeness of her new student.
Karen had a hunch that that person had a hand in her cousin’s disappearance. They were probably the last one to see her. With that in mind, Karen made her way cautiously to the mansion, which had been Ciara’s goal on that fateful day. Her feet quickly carried her to an orange-bricked mansion standing forebodingly in the middle of the street. It looked old, and ivy covered its side, giving it a charming but abandoned feeling.
Wrought-iron fencing ran around the estate majestically. Karen pouted; it would be hard to snoop with that in place. She walked along the length of the fence and found a tree reaching out to the street, giving adequate cover for her if she were to scale the fence.
Karen glanced between the fence and the tree repeatedly, considering her options. She was debating breaking in somewhere. This wasn’t jaywalking or stealing Ciara’s pudding from the fridge. If she was caught, she might be sent to jail. Unexpectedly, her cousin’s face flashed in her mind as if urging her to action.
The shadows cast by the tree moved closer to the fence, but Karen was too lost in her thoughts to notice. She stepped closer. I just need to get away before I get caught, she concluded. She wanted to help Ciara.
