18 Chapter 17

It was late in the day as Klaus wandered around town with no real destination in mind other than the fresh air it provided. He even made his weekly visit to the post office to deliver a letter. Coming back to the Inn he was nearly hit by a speeding carriage coming from the Oasis. Watching them disappear down the road he shrugged without a thought as it wouldn't be too shocking for it to be some nobles in a pointless rush.

The Oasis looked the same as it always did with Theo standing at the door with his usual smile as he politely opened the door for Klaus and said good evening. Klaus signed back into the Inn before proceeding back to his room.

The air immediately felt odd. Violent in a way. Storming down the hall he threw his door open to be met with pure horror he hadn't felt since he was a child. The door slammed into the wall and echoing down the hall as he stood in the doorway. The once neat and tidy room appeared to have been hit by a small tornado. Papers strewn about, drawers emptied on the floor and furniture torn and tipped over. Though what was most concerning was the blood splattered across the room and pooled on the floor. The colour drained from his face as his thoughts ran a mile a minute. What happened, who was in his room, who was hurt and where are they now. Quickly running to his broken window he peered out to see if he could gather any clues. He couldn't see much except for a trail of blood leading to the alley beside the Inn before going cold there. No, on the second look he could see a sheath of sorts on the ground. So jumping out his window, landing gracefully on his feet he jogged to the sheath. It looked familiar but he couldn't place his finger exactly where he had seen it and the dagger that would have called it home was nowhere to be seen.

" Klaus, what're you doing back here? I saw you jump from your window-" A female voice said from behind.

Spinning around he saw Kyia slithering towards him with a concerned look. He huffed before saying, " Something happened in my room, there's evidence of a fight and I can't figure out what happened." Kyia peered at his usually calm face, his hair was even sticking every which way as the feathers mixed in poofed out lifting the usually slicked-back hair.

" Is that Tanen's sheath?"

" It is... Tanen's you say," If possible his eyes blew wider.

" Come on let's find Cal he would know," Kyia said in an attempt to calm the owl who was already running back inside.

The door to the library flew open causing Cal and Vayle to separate from each other and look back at the door in shock. Cal looking angry as usual while Vayle pretended to be busy with a book.

" Klaus what a surpri-"

Slamming the sheath on the table Cal's attention was grabbed immediately, " Where did you get that?" He asked through a clenched jaw.

" This was found outside in the alley after it seems a fight went down in my room as well as a search for intel. On what I don't know nothing was actually missing just half destroyed."

" Klaus take me to your room now," Vayle said with a stern voice leaving no room for discussion, Klaus nodded and the four of them began walking to Klaus's destroyed room.

Keeping professional Vayle didn't ponder much on the state of the room as she immediately went towards the still wet pool of crimson. She grabbed a small vial off the floor and slowly moved some of the liquid into the vial.

" Gross what're you doing?" Cal asked.

" I can use the blood to track whoever it belongs to. A tracking spell of sorts." She explained as she walked to the kitchenette and grabbed various herbs and mixing it all together. Now standing in front of Cal she trusted the vial into his face, " Drink,"

" OK, there is no way-" The vile was placed between his lips giving him no option but to drink the vile liquid down. Gagging away he felt his throat burning but the moment he caught his breath he was met with visions of the man whose blood he drank.

" Can't believe we got caught, this is your damn fault."

" Mine, you decided not to kill the kid but take him."

" He can be sold, he's got a sweet face,"

Cal could see a dirt path surrounded by trees. Hybrids working away along the tree line and further into what he guessed was a forest. He could see the sun placed fairly high in the sun, so just after noon and facing northwest but that was all he caught before he gasped and was face to face with Vayle.

"So what did you see?"

He quickly relayed what he saw as he sipped on the glass of water Kyia handed him, " Next time just do it yourself, by the way, that was disgusting."

Vayle and Kyia just laughed him off as they left the room, preparing to head out and get Tanen back.

" She does that to everyone, basically a prank at this point," Klaus explained as he attempted to fix up the room. Cal begrudgingly helped by moving the heavy furniture with ease as Klaus fixed his bookshelves and filled away papers back into their respective drawers.

" What's he to you?" Cal asked as he set a bookshelf back upright. The question caught Klaus off guard, he never really thought of it. He was fun to tease and flirt with but never thought of more.

" He's nice," Wow, the response of the year Klaus.

" Listen, I've probably already said it but... Don't hurt him alright. He's been played with enough and should be cared for,"

" Are you two not together?" Klaus asked.

" What no, just... take care of him when we get him back alright."

" You have my word, Cal."

The two men stood in understanding as the girls came back dressed to fight.

" Come on you two we've got a teammate to save."