On a whim, she tried to sense the surrounding fiends again. She thought perhaps she could sense Danton or even Gaelyn. If she could find them, maybe she could have her mother bring Gaelyn back. She reached out with her dark powers, but she felt nothing… at first. After a few moments, she did feel one of the blood feeders still lurking around. She had no way to know who the field was, but she somehow felt it was not the two she hoped it would be. She willed it gone. There came a sharp cracking noise, and she sucked in a breath like all the air had suddenly been knocked out of her. When she caught her breath, she felt the thing die and then came the surge of power. It was gradual at first, but then it intensified over time until it abruptly burst within her. That’s when she knew that the more death magic she absorbed, the more powerful she would become. She suspected instinctively that it worked this way, but now she was certain. A few moments after she felt the power grow within her, Hana returned.
“I wanted to come back and check on you, Zarina.” Hana said.
Thessa was not in the mood to keep up with appearances, “I think you know that’s not my name. How long have you known? I mean, you say you were looking for your daughter, but you keep lingering here in Emlestra.”
“I wasn’t sure until I saw you use your death magic. The spell looked similar to one Sarren cast. Plus, Sarren had been a man the whole time I knew her until I found out she was really a woman who had the ability to change her appearance. It was not a difficult leap from there.” Hana reached out and took a strand of Thessa’s white highlighted hair. “I like the look you chose.”
Thessa fount back the tears she felt welling up inside her, “Why did you leave me?”
“I didn’t. That was the Tourney Master’s doing. I tried to go right back, but you had gone.” She cleared her throat and Thessa knew she too was holding back tears. “Say, when we returned Tovo was there dead but Sarren was gone.”
Thessa stopped her and pointed to the cat wandering around the street sniffing and exploring, “That is Sarren.”
Hana burst out in laughter, “What?”
“I needed a teacher, so I had Cassany make her into a cat. I always wanted a cat. She can talk to me in my mind.”
“That is brilliant and the perfect punishment for that pompous ass. I am glad you found a way to keep her close to teach you but far enough away not to harm you.”
“Oh, she’s still dangerous. She could hurt me, but if she ever wants to be a human again, she has no choice but to do as I say.”
“Well, I still think it’s wonderful. I don’t think I could have done it. I think I would have left her dead.”
“Mother, I want to ask you something important. Could you have saved or can you save Gaelyn, the man taken by Sir Danton?”
“I do not understand. Who is Sir Danton?”
“He was the vampire who dragged off the man, Gaelyn, in the alley.”
“Gaelyn is now a blood feeder?”
“I assume so. Can you bring him back like you did me?
“I don’t know. I’ve never tried it on anyone but you. I am sorry, it never crossed my mind while it was happening.”
“Would you try it if you get the chance, for me?”
“Of course I will, Thessa.” She smiled lovingly, “Now tell me how it I to be the Black Mage and what we should to next. How do we get you out of this?”
Thessa watched Sarren wander back up and sit a few feet away from Thessa and Hana. She calmly began licking her fur like any other normal cat.
“Mother, I think I sealed my fate when I took the Black Mage away from Sarren. I don’t want to turn back. I think I will embrace being the Black Mage and use this death magic to my advantage. Everyone close to me is trying to deceive me. I finally found someone who cared for me, even if might have been just because if the way I look now, and he was taken from me.”
“Revenge? Is that wise?” Hana asked.
“I don’t know. You tell me, Sarren!” She looked intently at the cat who was obliviously licking her fur.
Tell you what? Revenge? Sure, go for it! I would.
Thessa stood, her eyes boiling red. A red mist began to form around her, writhing in red ribbons that alternated black.
“What are you doing, dear?” Hana asked.
Thessa lashed out with her magic, knocking Hana on her backside. She sucked in the power around her and lashed out again. “I don’t think this is very funny.” Thessa shouted. Sarren was up with her back arched and the hair standing up on her back. Thessa punted her across the road. “I have been so stupid! Hana would have tried everything to save Gaelyn. She could have taken him from Danton easily.”
Sarren hissed and ran back to where Thessa held Hana pinned to the ground with the red mist. What are you talking about?
“Sarren hates Hana. You have made a grave mistake. If this were really Hana, you would have shown your contempt for her. You acted like it was nothing to be around her. Where is Asleth? He almost never lets Hana out of his sight. I am tired of being manipulated.” She began to command the red mist to crush the imposter. The woman who was
