WHERE IS LEXINE?

Artin and Sevin ran after Christana. She was an overspender to the core just like their mother. Although it would not dent the number of riches they had, he still kept a tight leash on what she spent. You could never be too careful after all.

She shook with excitement as she bought drinks and cake and got them packed in a basket. 'Is she humming?' Artin questioned to himself.

She was a queer drakon, preferring to spend instead of hauling money.

After buying more than they needed, she turned to them a large smile on her face. "Do you think this will be enough?"

Artin, who was struggling to carry bags filled with treats, nodded strongly. "I think it's more than enough Christa. Shall we join the others now?"

Christana patted her chin using her pointy finger, deep in thought. "I don't know. I was thinking of buying two other bags of fruit because Meddy is injured."

Sevin's eyes furrowed together as he raised two of the five bags he was carrying, "I think these two bags will be enough."

"Yes! Let us join the rest!"

Christana thought it over for a second. "You're right."

Together, they made their way between the stalls, taking the shortest way back to the stone ledge they left Adley and Lexine resting upon.

On arriving, however, they found a sylph girl playing the harp. She was muttering something softly to herself after playing a chord. It sounded terrible. "That's not it!"

She played the same chord again. If possible, it sounded worse than before.

"Pardon us, by any chance have you seen two ladies seated here?"

The sylph shot up from her seat. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes wide. She looked petrified, almost like a child who had been found with her hand in the cookie jar. She immediately composed herself and bowed at the waist.

"Lord and Lady Verancy, Lord Brashwa. The place was empty when I got here. I apologize for any inconveniences I may have caused."

Without another word, she fled the scene. Artin scratched his head, "Did I say anything intimidating?"

Christana slapped his arm, "Your presence enough is intimidating. Haven't you learned to draw in your energy signature yet?"

Artin pouted as if he had been wronged. "I have drawn it in. My presence is just too astounding."

Christana couldn't help but roll her eyes at his inflamed ego.

Sevin placed his bags down and surveyed the area. "I cannot see them anywhere. I thought we told them to wait as we fetched Christana."

"Fetched me? I am no pup, pup."

Sevin snarled and gave her an uninterested glare at the insult. Artin held back his laughter. She really knew how to anger people.

His gaze was drawn down to a piece of cake that lay next to the stone slab. It was not even bitten into. He immediately recognized it as the chocolate cake Christana had bought Lexine.

He crouched down to examine it. Was he overthinking things? He was very sure Adley was more than capable of protecting their human housemate.

Sevin and Christana noticed where his attention had been drawn to. Christana gasped. "Is that not the cake I got Lexine."

Sevin shook his head. "We cannot be so sure. She is not the only one who has bought this cake today after all." He crouched as well and breathed in deeply. His pupils dilated for a second and he growled. "It seems you are right Christana."

"Lexine isn't the type to throw away food carelessly. Do you smell something out of place?"

Sevin shook his head, a crestfallen look in his eyes. "One too many people have been here. It has sullied her scent. I cannot correctly pinpoint what happened. However, she was with Adley, she must be alright."

Christana nodded, still wary. Adley's strength was almost at par with Artin's. She could keep their human housemate safe for sure.

Just as that thought passed through her mind, Adley came up to them. She was slightly out of breath.

"I apologize for keeping you." She took in the scene before her. Artin and Sevin were crouched in front of a piece of cake while Christana stood some ways beside them. Lexine was not amongst them. "Where is Lexine?"

Christana shook Adley by her shoulders. "We left her with you, Adley!"

Adley pried Christana's hands from her shoulders. Her answer was calm. "I had to fix the mess my classmates had made at our stall. I instructed her to await your arrival."

Artin and Sevin stood. Sevin had the discarded cake in his hands. "Something must have happened to her. I don't think she could have thrown away her piece of cake. She stuffed herself full with all the food Christana bought her."

Christana huffed and crossed her arms over themselves. "It's not like it was a lot."

Artin scoffed. "You bought her anything she looked at more than twice Christana."

Christana pouted. "I was trying to make her feel welcome."

"Stop your bickering. We need to find out where Lexine is else Headmaster will be displeased with us."

"I can try and find her," Adley said.

She snatched the piece of cake from Sevin's grasp. "All of you be silent as I need to concentrate." She returned the cake back into its bag and held it in front of her. Her shadow connected with the shadow of the cake. It was almost as if it was probing for answers as its finger poked the cake's shadow. Christana's eyes widened in shock. It was her first time seeing a shadow person commanding shadows.

Adley's eyes fell shut. If one were to study the four of them who were standing together in a rectangle, they would have noticed the shadows around them coming together and assembling themselves around Adley's shadow. There was a small shift in the energy signature, as the temperature became lower. It was getting colder although the sun still shone brightly without a cloud anywhere in sight.

Adley's shadow completely ignored all laws of nature as it flickered on and off as if disappearing then appearing. It connected with all the shadows in the area for a full minute before returning to its original position, on the side of its owner, Adley. Only then did she open her eyes.

Her eyes were black for a second before returning to their original gray color. "I have located her. She was taken by a werewolf. I was, however, unable to tell which pack the werewolf is from."

Christana raced forward, "Let us hurry there at once!" If Lexine were there, she would have questioned how on earth the redhead was able to run in that dress.

Artin ran behind her his mind thinking about his supply of books from the human side of the gate. "At once."

Adley shook her head at their antics. "Guys. It's the other way!"

Sevin laughed at the two siblings who immediately changed direction to the one they had been instructed by Adley.

Adley sighed. "They are idiots."

She and Sevin walked briskly behind them.