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Chapter 40 - Chapter 37

The next night, Rosa was beyond surprised to find an actual party inside the HQ as her, Emma and Louie walked into the grand hall. If she was being honest she hadn't been fully certain if Louie knew what an actual party looked like. Turns out she was wrong.

All the pews had been pushed off to the side allowing for a long row of tables, filled with a grand array of drinks and food, to flow down the centre of the room. The entire hall was filled with a mix of formally and informally dressed men and women. All hunters and officers of the newly reinstated hunting division.

Rosa had copied her sister's style of jeans, and a nice top and jacket. Louie was dressed in the same attire he always wore, although he kept complaining about having to wear an inferior coat even though to Rosa it looked identical to his old one.

Instantly they noticed Zack, Bianca, Audrey, Seis and Sam across the room chatting with the commander and some others Rosa had yet to truly meet. Sam had taken a truly informal approach wearing a white hoodie and black pants. Like her older sister, she held an elegant glass of what Rosa assumed was either champagne or wine.

"Can I have a drink?" Rosa inquired.

"No," Emma said instantly.

"When you're fifteen. Maybe fourteen," Louie responded with a shrug.

Emma shot him a glare, but he pretended not to notice. "Shall we go say hi?" he asked happily.

They quickly met up with the rest of their friends, and Rosa joined Sam off to the side.

"Hell of a month we've had," she said.

Rosa laughed. "You can definitely say that. But I'm guessing this is just your usual life," Rosa pointed out.

Sam's eyes shot wide. "You're kidding right. My life has been more terrifying and at greater risk this one month than it has in the last four years, maybe ever," she said, half chuckling.

"Oh," Rosa said slightly stunned before joining her friend in laughter. "Well then you handled it extremely well if you ask me."

Sam grinned and stood up straight. "I did, didn't I. You handled it alright, I guess. Little too suicidal for my taste though," she joked.

"I'll take it into account," Rosa smiled. She glanced around to see Louie, Zack, Seis and Audrey had vanished. "Where did they all go?" Rosa asked.

"God knows," Sam shrugged.

 

The night sky was completely clear, allowing for a spectacular view of dancing stars and a beaming moon to shine down upon the HQ. Upon its highest roof, a bottle of whiskey and four glasses sat between Louie, Zack, Seis and Audrey.

"Quite an extravagant way for all of us to come back together," Audrey stated. "Was starting to think it'd never happen."

"A bit too extravagant for me. Wouldn't mind a bit of calm in the coming future," Louie said, taking a drink from his glass.

"Do you guys reckon one day we'll ever get what's left of our whole class to reunite?" Audrey asked.

"Doubt it," Zack answered, slightly disappointed by the truth of his answer. "Half of us are already dead and that number is only going to increase."

"Probably for the best," Seis admitted. "We'd have some people biting each other's heads off otherwise."

They continued to drink and relax under the stars when suddenly Audrey's fist slammed into Louie's arm.

"Ow!" he grunted, rubbing where he'd been struck. "The hell?"

"I was just reminded of something," Audrey said, shrugging. "A little birdy told me that Rosa was not to trust us."

Louie's eyes shot wide as he was reminded of his own words. "I can explain," he said with his hands raised before she hit him again. "James and Mary were dead, something was amiss, and I was paranoid after being gone for so long. Everyone was suddenly arriving together, there were too many variables."

"… Fair enough," Audrey nodded and then took a drink from her glass.

"At least it's all sorted now," Zack said.

"I'm not so certain about that," Louie commented, bitterly.

They all turned to him confused.

"I'm getting the impression there is a greater threat at play. It's going by the alias 'The Witch'. It's going after Rosa, for reasons now obvious to you all."

"Yeah about that, when were you going to tell us Rosa is a mage?" Zack asked.

"Erm. Well my plan was originally to help her get a grip on her abilities, but that was chucked through about five windows," Louie stated.

"So about this 'Witch' what's your plan?" Seis asked.

"For now nothing, it's a problem for a later day. I just want to enjoy the peace why we still can," Louie said raising his glass.

"Amen to that," Zack said, his glass joining Louie's in the air. Seis and Audrey quickly joined them in their cheers.

"Now onto more important matters," Audrey announced, refilling her glass. "My wedding is in a few months."

"You're engaged," Seis exclaimed baffled. 

"Dude come on," Zack sighed, disappointed. "She sent out letters to everyone, I brought it up to you a few months back when we met up."

"Yeah Seis, come on man," Louie commented confidently, perfectly hiding the fact that he didn't even know Audrey had been dating, never mind had gotten engaged and planned a wedding.

"Well I want you three to be my 'bride's men'," Audrey stated happily.

"Isn't the bride meant to choose women?" Seis asked confused.

"Traditions can go fuck themselves. It's my wedding, my rules," Audrey retorted. "So will you do it?"

"I'm in" Zack said raising his glass.

"Sure," Seis grumbled joining him. "I hope my next hunt kills me," he muttered.

"Ah what the hell. Not like I'm going away anytime soon," Louie shrugged and raised his glass as well.

"Great!" Audrey said happily. "Zack you're going to be my 'Man of honour'"

"Alright then," he nodded.

"And Louie don't forget to bring both Emma and Rosa," Audrey continued.

"I know I'm oblivious, but I doubt even I could manage that," Louie grumbled taking another sip of whisky.

Seis nudged him. "This is sounding like too much should we run away again, take the kid with us," he whispered with a joking grin.

Audrey stared daggers. "You dare."

Seis burst into contagious laughter which quickly spread around the group.

 

Rosa and Sam escaped the noise and chaos of the party, into the chilly air and serenity of the car park.

"So," Sam said, before stumbling and almost falling headfirst into the ground. She'd had a few too many drinks and began to turn a bit tipsy.

Rosa was finding it hilarious. Nearly dying of uncontrollable laughter, Rosa quickly grabbed hold of her friend before the floor could claim her as its next victim.

"Have you thought about you're going to do next?" Sam asked, as they sat down at the base of a tree and stared up at the starry night.

As Rosa considered the question, she was taken back to last night after her and Louie had burnt their letters.

 

"Rosa, you've got a decision to make. I'm afraid none of them are returning to a normal life," Louie had told her.

"Is that because I'm a mage? Whatever that means," Rosa asked, remembering Valdosk's words.

Louie nodded. "Your options are simple. You can hide. Or you can fight."

"Fight?" Rosa asked.

"I'll train you. Teach you how to survive. Give you a fighting chance in this cruel world we find ourselves in," Louie explained.

"You'd make me a hunter?" Rosa said.

"Minus the mutations, yes. For all purposes you'd become my hunter apprentice. I'd train you in the ways of combat and the hunters. I've also got some methods for you to learn and master your magic. And once I think you're ready I can even get you enrolled in the academy, you might even be able to make some friends there, ones that share this world," he paused, "I know this is sudden and a lot to process, so I'll leave it to you. Get me an answer by the end of the week," Louie said.

He turned and wandered back towards the house but at the door stopped and glanced back.

"But I think I know what you'll decide," he said, before vanishing into the house

It was hard to see his face from where she stood, but Rosa could've swore she saw a smile illuminated by the fire's amber light.

 

Rosa turned towards Sam grinning.

"Yeah. For the first time in my life I think I've got a plan."

 

 

Rosa Elacti and Louie Huntor will return in:

Elacti Chronicles II – The Emalgom

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