Page 10 of Blood Taken (Blood Mafia 2)
Nicole sighs. "Do you have the charm prepared?"
Quorana hisses like a cat at the Hunter. "I remember why I don't like you. You're always so impatient, Nikki."
Nicole starts forward, kicking a stack of boxes in the process. Quorana's green eyes snap down and she screeches.
"Look what you've done now. Catch them, hurry. There are seven yellow legged fiddlers and it took me years to gather them."
Maria stomps on the ground, cursing under her breath about spiders. I look down and see several giant, creepy looking arachnids scurrying around.
"Oh fuck," I whisper. "I hate spiders."
Quorana screams and holds up her hand. "Freeze," she shouts before I can run into the hall.
A strange heaviness weighs on my body and I can't move. The spider nearest to me crawls closer to my foot. I try to say something, but I can't. All I can do is stare down, as I had been before Quorana cast her spell, and watch as the crawler's legs brush against my shoe.
Quorana is muttering and banging around. "Ah, caught you, you little fucker," she says on a laugh. "One down, six to go."
I listen to her gather a few more, hoping she gets the one climbing onto my shoe next because I'm four seconds away from passing out. When the spider starts to crawl up my leg, I see why they're called yellow legged fiddlers. The thin legs are a mustard color, and on the back is a small fiddle shaped speck.
"Mmm, mmfdalkgj." That's the only sound I can make because her spell has my mouth frozen shut.
Strands of dark hair enter my vision and a pale hand reaches out and snatches the disgusting creature from my leg. "There, there, dear," she says in a comforting voice. "Did the nasty Hunter scare you?"
What I wouldn't give for a knife. I'd cut those creepy crawlers into pieces.
Quorana finishes gathering her precious little beings, gently carrying the now closed shoe box and placing it on top of her desk next to the jars. She pulls her shoulders back and takes the three of us in, her lips lifting into a smug grin.
"You can move now."
There's no crazy incantation to break the spell. When she speaks those words, the heaviness lifts. My legs are still in motion to flee to the hallway, what I'd been doing before she told us all to freeze, and I end up stumbling and falling onto my knees.
Maria palms a dagger and hurls it at the witch who lifts her hand to deflect the flying weapon.
"Don't use that shit on me, you crazy bitch." Maria's arms shake with restraint. I'm pretty sure she's trying not to kill her.
Quorana clucks. "Now, now, we're all on the same side, aren't we?"
"The Guild lets you live, for now. I'd be careful with what you do, Quorana, lest you find yourself on the wrong end of a sword."
The witch throws her head back and laughs at Nicole's warning.
Maria steps around me and stands next to Nicole, arms at her side and ready to fight. Quorana lowers her head and takes in the two of them, her manic grin fading into a sardonic smile.
"Hunters. You're a sensitive lot, aren't you?"
Nicole places her hands on Quorana's desk and leans toward her. "You might have your parlor tricks in here, with your potions and extra enchantments, but you can't stay in here forever, Quorana. You have to come out sometime, and when you do, none of your tricks and enchantments will save you from a Hunter's blade."
The witch's eyes darken. "I haven't broken the accord."
Nicole shrugs. "Yet."
Quorana looks away first, opening a desk drawer and pulling out a small pendant necklace. "Here's the charm."
Maria moves to grab it, but Nicole beats her to it.
"Now leave," the witch growls the words.
"With pleasure," Nicole says, carefully picking her path as she leaves the office. I follow her, moving around the random stacks of things covering the floor and not looking back.
