85When Slaughter came back into the house, crutches tucked under her arm, Mac was in the sitting-room, his eyes glued to the television screen. Unusual for him. Slaughter shrugged, and went to put everything away when there was a knock at the door.
Slaughter went to get it. On the top step was Blaze Repose and a younger girl Slaughter failed to recognize. Blaze smiled calmly when she saw Slaughter.
"Hello, Slaughter. Mac told me to come around and put up some sigils?"
Slaughter frowned. "He didn't tell me that," she muttered, but let the duo in. The girl with Blaze had medium length brown hair and a smile playing on her lips. "I'm Aqua Torrent," she introduced herself.
"I'm Slaughter Morte."
They shook hands, before Slaughter turned her attention back to Blaze, who was looking around the small and cluttered kitchen."Could you clear me a space over there?" she asked, pointing to the centre of the room. Slaughter pushed the table to the side, and dragged the chair out of the way, shifting several heaped piles of books to the table, as Blaze set her things out. What looked like a scalpel, some sort of paste, and a book lying open with several symbols on the page.
Blaze knelt in the centre of the room, consulted the book, and then very carefully carved a line diagonally across the space, her movements slow and even. Slaughter watched her in interest.
Aqua smiled at Slaughter. "Have you heard about Tanith Low? She's been seen up in Kildare with the mercenary."
"The Texan?"
"Yeah, him. Loadsa bounty hunters're planning on going down there tomorrow. Most of them are going in teams, it's easier that way."
Slaughter frowned. "Where did you hear this?"
Aqua shrugged. "I dabble in Sensitivity. I saw it earlier today."
Slaughter nodded, thinking. This would make it so much easier to catch her. And maybe a team, rather then just her, Amanda and Mac...
There was a bang as the door slammed, and Amanda came in the front door, shaking her wet hair. "Sorry I'm late. The rewards gone up," she added. "Half a million euros to be had."
"Wow." said Aqua, impressed. "You're planning on going after her?"
"We're... consdiering it."
"If you are," Aqua continued. "And you need a healer, feel free to ask me. It would be cool."
"Thanks," Slaughter said thoughtfully. "We might just take you up on that."
Aqua grinned, and then caught a glance at her watch. "Oh, damn, sorry, I have to go! Talk t'you later?"
"Sure, see you."
Blaze glanced up from the symbols she was carving, where a celtic symbol, a swirl of shapes and curves and lines, was slowly forming. "I'm almost done, don't worry."
"Take your time," advised Slaughter. "I'm going to go and talk to Mac."
Mac was against it. Of course.
"But Mac!" protested Slaughter. "We could hire us some hunters, a healer, and go hunt down Low! We could be like the A-Team or something!"
Mac sighed. "No."
"Mac. You are currently emanating the air of a grumpy, nay, downright evil old sorcerer with nothing better to do then crush the hopes, dreams and spirits of the youth of this generation who look to you for guidance and moral support."
"I'm still saying no."
"Not even if I say please?"
"Not even then."
"Not even if I beg?"
"Not even then."
"Not even if I pay you?"
"Not even then."
"Not even if I let you have an Indian take-away the next three times?"
"Deal."
More filler, but in the next chapter, the main cast is introduced (finally), yay! Thanks for all the reviews, you guys!