Path of the Hunters [PART 3]

"All... all the way off?"

*

She frowned, holding a hand to her head. "In a moment, I will remember what 'appened... And 'opefully, I will also know what the devil that means..."

"Can't we just incinerate it and forget about this cursed weapon?"

"Non," she said shortly. "I need it."

"I sure hope there's a good reason for it. I don't want no damn voodoo, magic, curse, whatever-the-fuck kinda blade it is to be kept around unless there's a good reason..."

"Mm... I am not sure what the reason is, but it stays."

"...No. Just end the conversation."

*

"Besides, there's no telling what would happen to Aurélie, Crescent, Kane, even the two kids, maybe even the entire Laroche family. Destroying that blade may inadvertently kill them all."

"Okay..." He didn't want to be alone...

*

"Mm... I 'ad not thought of that, actually."

"...I hate magic..." She muttered in annoyance.

"Call me back when you get there, okay?"

*

"In my experience, I've learned to tolerate everything. Even magic."

"I will..."

*

The dog shook her head and rose. She touched her finger to the back of Aurora's hand and had to take a step back as the memory of what had just happened burned into her.

"I just don't like working with something that's virtually impossible to figure out or predict. Magic makes a mokery of all laws of reality, and then some."

"...Bye."

*

"Oh, so I guess you don't like us, then?" Mani said annoyed. "After all, walking, talking animals with powers must defy all reality!"

Swallowing hard, he hung up.

*

"Don't provoke 'er..."The dog frowned, gazing at her children. She needed to get to France...

"Technically, you aren't magic. You're just capable rather interesting thing. Said abilities can be studied, understood, and as you already know, countered. I just find you people really interesting, and I do love a challenge. Besides, all life evolves differently, but once you get rid of the animal appearances, you're as human as anyone else here."

Cross sighed. "I hate this. All of it."

"You aren't the only one," Nova said. "You think I like seein' my friends and such bein' used to draw me out?"

"Let's not forget about the knife wound in my back," Sol said.

*

Mani huffed. "Then stop complaining about what we see as natural. Magic is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. This is a bona-fide part of our nature."

Aurélie shook her head. There wasn't time for useless arguments. Humans, she'd found, were often to set in their ways to do more than sneer at anything they weren't used to. "I need to get to France as soon as possible."

Shaking her head, she turned to Aurelie, "And why do you need to get to a country in which a horde of assassins that want you dead reside in?"

"To stop them at their source."

"And how do you plan on doing that? Create a power struggle? Blackmail? You said it yourself, killing the elders won't do."

"I said before I would need the blade. I now 'ave an idea as to what I need to do. The only way to make them stop is to 'ave the elders drop their orders. I need to try."

"How? How will that blade make any difference? How do you plan on using it?"

"I will explain later. I would rather see what Nova thinks first." The Tuefel blade was in her hand and then gone again. Sighing, she went back to her children and lifted the stirring Dart.

Back on the ship, Kane heaved a heavy sigh, looking up to the ceiling. "Hey, Kane." Cross said, getting the wolf's attention. "You okay, over there?"

"But, of course," he responded. "Just these old bones getting irritable, I guess."

Cross left the matter alone, but he could see something strange in his eyes...

"Hey guys, we're here. Prepare for landing."

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Katherine blinked, "Oh hey, they're here. They'll be landing on pad six. This way." She started walking off.

Aurélie looked up, smiling slightly. "Mani, would you carry one of them?"