November 7, 2003 – 17:00
Natacha and Rachel both stopped reading to stare at Frank in disbelief.
"Are you serious?" said Rachel.
"Stephanie just said that she wasn't a witch, neither was Sebastian," said Natacha.
"Oh wait, you said they were something else, right?" said Rachel, looking at Stephanie. "That explains why Frank looks like he's worried out of his mind."
"They're mages, but it's not the only reason I'm worried, something happened today," he said while taking the letter he received earlier out of his back pocket and handed to his sister. "Can you read this?"
"Other than what they have been up to today?" she glanced at him before returning her attention to the letter in her hands. "Uh, yeah, but it's pale… DAMN! You don't think she did this, right? Please tell me you don't believe that crap."
"She told me she didn't do it when I spoke to her earlier and I believe her."
The doorbell rang and Linda got up to answer it.
"Why did you ask me if I could read it?" said Stephanie, still staring at the letter.
"They weren't pale to me, but Mom was with me and she couldn't see what was written," slightly turning his head to watch his brother arriving.
"It made me think of Audrey's letter," said Molly.
"Can I see it?" said Louis and Stephanie gave it to him.
Rachel and Natacha just looked at everyone.
"Okay, wait, you all serious and knew about this? For how long?" said Rachel.
"And what about Audrey? Or Audrey's letter?" said Natacha.
"This is fascinating," said Louis, still staring at the blank letter in his hands. "Is it because they're technically branded to you two? They're coming tonight, aren't they?"
"I'm not sure, but probably. If they aren't being followed on their way back, they'll be here in a few hours. I'll ask them about it when I see them," said Frank before chugging his glass of wine. He refilled his glass and looked at his cousins. "Ray found out last Christmas, but we've known for longer. I honestly don't even know where to start, but I'm going to tell you this. They are not like what governments are painting them to be."
"Not at all. Some of the names on these lists are like that and should be killed, yes, but Sebastian and Coralis aren't," said Stephanie.
"So, their witch hunt is still a bunch of nonsense?" said Rachel.
Frank emptied the bottle into his glass and Linda opened a new one.
"Frank's girl, I should say fiancée now, hunts down those who should be on that list and Stephanie's man works with her," said Louis.
"Audrey is like them, I mean, she's a mage too," said Lizzy.
"Why does it feel like you are all pulling us a massive-scale prank? Except, judging by Frank's facial expression… this is not a prank."
"Don't worry, I thought the same when I found out," said Raymond, walking back from the bathroom. "They're telling the truth and honestly, I agree with the family. I think global governments are making a huge mistake and are going after the wrong ones."
"I like Coralis and Sebastian. I can't picture them summoning demons and praising Satan," said Rachel.
"They aren't, or we wouldn't consider them part of our family. Think about it. If there are indeed witches out there working with demons, do you really think any local police could do anything against them? Nah, you need one to kill another one," said Louis.
"Literally today, Sebastian and Coralis were in London to take down the witch ranking 5th as their most wanted ones," said Stephanie.
Stephanie was also worried about them and hoped they wouldn't be followed. She hated that Sebastian was also wanted, even if she knew it was to be expected. She trusted Coralis to keep him safe and knew they had each other's back, but they were in London, where they could both get killed on sight.
"This Vladina Murita?" said Natacha.
"Yes, she is a blood witch who was indeed about to summon a demon," said Frank.
"Exactly my point. Audrey got kidnapped last year by her father's family. Coralis went after them. Trust me, I've seen stuff that I never thought I'd be seeing in front of my eyes and I wasn't dreaming. Nah, I don't care what the governments are saying, if they take down Coralis and Sebastian… we're doomed," said Louis.
"This demon business is scaring the shit out of me, I'm not gonna lie, but the way I look at it, if it never was a reality before, when they have existed for millenniums… it's because people like my siblings' spouses took care of them," said Raymond.
"You still didn't tell us what happened today. You said she didn't get captured… but what happened to her?" said Lizzy, who was also visibly worried.
Frank finished his drink.
"She has been formally accused of killing the British minister Luke Massina, but she didn't do it."
"OH MY GOD!" said Lizzy, getting up to hug Frank. "It can't be. No, I don't believe she did that. She must have been framed."
"Unless the minister threatened you," said Stephanie to Frank.
"She would have said so if that was the case, when I told her about that letter," said Frank, taking the letter back and folding it to put it in his jeans pocket. "I know she's deadly, I'm not delusional about that. She said she was nowhere near him when that happened, and I believe her."
"That's a serious accusation. Is the British judicial system accusing her or whichever institution she works for? I don't think it made the news yet," said Linda, opening the television.
"It's her employer accusing her," said Molly, refilling Frank's drink and hers. "They want her to surrender."
"Conveniently, they also want her dead," said Stephanie.
"I remember the news reports when Massina has been found dead. They were saying he had multiple stab wounds, like a manic attack. I don't think that's her style," said Lizzy.
"It's not, she's very skilled with weapons. Even if she would have killed him, and I can see her doing that to someone threatening Frank, it wouldn't be like we heard on the news. I saw the pictures," said Stephanie.
"If she gets prosecuted by the British government, I'll see if I can find her a good lawyer there, this isn't right," said Linda.
Shortly after they were done eating dinner, Frank's phone rang.
"Uh, the area is surrounded by cops," said Coralis, at the other end of the line.