Missing link

Alice was in the kitchen with the compound maid, the kettle was placed on the stove, readying five dainty teacups on the table, arranging them accordingly on a silver metal tray.

Beside the tray is a box lined with wax paper inside are pellets produced from congealed blood.

"Alice, you really should be laying down not in here helping me." The maid said.

"That poor lady in the living room though...she came to us…" Alice replied.

"Lucia is getting up in age, it seems, Poor Mars." She answered.

"Chara...will we find Christian next sanguine sky?" Alice asked.

The kettle whistles temporarily distracting them, Chara takes a padded potholder pulling it from the range to set it down on the dishtowel.

Alice gets on a stool to reach high into a cabinet to take a large red discolored tin out from the top. Hopping down, she hands it to Chara.

Taking tiny tongs she disperses small amounts of dried tea leaves to each cup, taking the pellets she only places three out of the five.

Pouring the steaming hot water over each, letting the pellets dissolve into the tea itself, Chara lays the long-handled ladles sitting over the side of each saucer.

Chara carefully lifts the tray up steadily in her hands, Alice follows behind to the small living room where Lucia was being comforted by Everett and Alex.

Dominique did nothing but sat his large feet on the coffee table, Chara swiped at him to move his legs from where all the food and drinks were sat.

Alice gets comfortable between Alex and Lucia, Everett took one of the cups of blood tea to blow gently on the surface of the hot drink before attempting to take a sip.

"I will be there in the next red sky, surely he will be there!" Lucia explained.

"Let us handle this Lucia please!" Everett responded.

"I heard rumors there is a drug going around to capture or obtain new veilers…" Dominique said.

"Drug?" Lucia questioned.

He leans forward crossing his legs to retrieve his cup, he drinks it slowly licking his lips after.

"It has long-term effects such as memory loss, nausea, dry mouth if I remember right. It's a pretty scary drug meant to be a performance enhancer." Dominique clarified.

"Has Lord Latrell said anything yet?" Alice questioned.

"That man has been silent, I don't expect him to say anything!" Lucia argued.

"He is the one who hired witches to increase the days the veil popped up and the reason why there was an increase of new veilers," Alex shouted.

He bangs his fist against the table furious, he gawks at Dominique who propped back into his seat. Lucia rises from the couch clutching tightly to her walking stick.

"Are you leaving Lucia?" Alice asked.

"I haven't called Mars mother yet…" Lucia affirmed.

"She works in the confined magecraft sector right?" Everett pondered.

"Joanne barely comes home, she will be devastated," Lucia stated.

"Stay here tonight Lucia for your safety," Alice answered concerned.

"They don't go after old women like me!" She howled.

"I agree, but maybe just for comfort Lady Lucia!" Everett chimed in.

"Why do you think I came here? It only made me feel worse…" Lucia responded.

Lucia used her cane to strike Everett and Alice in their best attempt to help her to the door, making a quick motion with her fingers as her broom flew across the room into her hand.

"Do not follow me down...I will know." Lucia complained.

"Yes Lady Lucia, but please mind the steps down!" He shouted.

Alice peeked into the doorway to observe her gradually in her descent, Dominique shook his head perched from the couch. Alex polished off his cup of tea, setting it down gently.

"We have to find a group to team with during the next session," Alex noted.

"Do you know any?" Everett asked.

"The hunters have been using this time frame to go after vampires...I suggest you work with your sisters." Dominique challenged his master.

"For once I agree with the walking bag of bones here," Alex added.

"Let me think about it please...we have a lot to handle already," Everett stated.

"We will look at other options till then," Alice answered with excitement.

"Alice, can we get another round of blood tea?" Dominique asked.

He swung the teacup high into the air waving it at her, Chara quickly extracted it from his fingers, Alice paused holding her neck.

"My neck feels hot…" Alice whispered.

"What did you say, Alice?" Alex questioned.

Alice collapses, Everett catches her before she could hit the ground. Chara raced over noticing a mark appearing around her neck.

"Alice? What happened, please snap out of it!" Alex yelled.

"Lord Everett...her neck." Chara pointed out, "Give me a second I can try to pinpoint!"

Dominique approaches them from behind bowing down, the impression becomes darker and more coarse. Chara lets her hands drift to the air with her eyes closed in a slow incantation of a language no one in the room would be able to understand.

"Don't tell me she is connected to Christian…" Everett presented in deep thought.

They all look at him lost in confusion, her eyes flutter open while catching her breath in Everett's arms. Chara halts the spell to take her cheek into her hand gingerly.

"I told you to lay down Alice...you gave so much blood today," Chara argued.

"I saw him, Lord Everett…" Alice said breathlessly.

"You saw Christian didn't you?" Everett smiled.

"He is okay, but fighting for his life...Christian." Alice explained.

"I will call Everly right away, let's bring Christian home, Alice," Everett said, gripping her hand.

"I am going to destroy that witch Everett!" Alice warns.

"Alex, you've been quiet the whole time, this is your sword!" Everett scolded.

"Nothing! I am glad the sword is okay…" Alex responded coldly.

Alice smiled at Alex before pushing herself up from the ground dusting herself off, Dominique extended his arm to her bowing.

"If there is anything I can do for you Lady Alice let me know." Dominique offered.

She only giggled waving him away, Chara grabs her by the arm to drag her from the room.

Everett pulls out his cellphone, nearly dropping it in a nervous fit; he tucks a bunch of white and black strands behind his ear proceeding to check his numbers.

"If you need help I can teach you, Lord Everett." Alex proposed.

"Let me figure it out please." Everett snapped.

Alex laughed anxiously, out of the corner of his eye gazed as Alice was brought to her room, unsure of what he could say to her.

He lets out a deep sigh.

"Do you need help runt?" Dominique interrupted.

"You wish…"

"Do you plan to always be stubborn?" Dominique smirked.

"Shut up…"