Love Letters and Thirst Tonics (Moonvale Matches Book 1)

35. Fiella

“You know what, I’m just going to say it. This place sucks ass,” Kizzi declared, thunking her goblet onto the sticky counter.

Her green hair was damp with sweat and curling around her pointed ears. I was sure mine looked much worse.

We had used some of Kizzi’s (very expensive) magic reserve to spell some enchanted doves to carry us to Willowvalley, and we were not thrilled about it.

The snows had cleared up, thanks to the hard work of the witches, and the weather was becoming mild enough to soon allow travel. That didn’t mean our journey had been pleasant, though. Quite the opposite. Air travel always made me queasy, and the oversized magical birds were downright beastly.

We were sitting in a tavern that was a hovel compared to Ginger’s cozy set up. It was crowded and grimy and smelled more like sweaty bodies than it did like ale and stew.

The cider I sipped on was dull and flat. It tasted like it had been watered down. I swallowed it anyway, hoping it would settle my frazzled nerves.

We were here on a mission, staking a lookout to see if anyone appeared to be a wielder of dark sorcery. We didn’t really know what dark sorcery looked like, or if it was distinguishable on the wielder at all, but we were hoping for some sort of sign. Maybe they had tar tipped fingers.

A gritty voice behind me caused my muscles to tighten, goosebumps raising on my skin. I held down a disgusted shiver.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my sweeeeeeet Fiiiiiiiiiiiella,” the man slurred out, his hot breath steaming in my ear. I fought the urge to whirl around and punch him–I couldn’t afford to end up in any dungeons today.

Aclammy, heavy hand landed on my shoulder, nails digging into my tunic. I whipped around and held my fork to the man’s throat, threatening to skewer his jugular with it. It wasn’t as effective as a knife, but it would do the trick with enough force. I wasn’t getting my fangs anywhere near this vermin.

“Get your disgusting hands off of me, you prick,” I snarled.

He was so startled that he nearly fell on his ass, wobbling for a few second before he righted himself again. “Hells Realm! Fuck! I was just saying hello!” he stammered.

I recognized him a moment later, the memories of him clicking into place.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I pulled the fork away from his exposed flesh. “Josten?”

“I knew you would come find me eventually, baby.” A weasley smile crawled across his face. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

I was flabbergasted. I hadn’t seen this miserable wizard in years. What did he mean, waiting for me?

Kizzi took that moment to step in. “Um, excuse me asshole, please sit the fuck down. Nope, over there, thank you,” she instructed, making him sit at the next table over instead of right by us.

Josten fell into a chair, that nasty smile still plastered on his face.

“I knew it would work; I knew it! I knew it. Ha ha ha,” he babbled.

Kizzi slapped her hands onto the table with a crack. Josten jumped.

“What in the realms are you talking about, asshole?” she asked.

“It took a while; I was expecting you weeks ago. You’re very stubborn. And very hard to find. Did you like my gifts? Which one was your favorite?” the wizard asked.

“Gifts?” I asked, astonished. “What gifts? Are you on drugs? Is it the mirthroot again?”

“I’ve been sending them your way for months! Well, years, really. But I’ve been trying harder the past few months. You move around a lot, you’re a hard vampire to track.”

“Again, I ask, what the fuck?”

Kizzi pulled a pouch from her pocket and dumped the powder into her palm. She leaned toward Josten and blew it into his face. He sputtered, but his gaze focused on Kizzi immediately.

“What in Hell’s Realm, lady?” he asked, wiping his face frantically, clawing the powder residue out of his eyes.

Kizzi waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, calm down, it’s just a little mixture to sharpen your senses. Sober you up a bit. It’s not poison or anything.” Kizzi hesitated, then picked up her pouch, inspecting the remaining contents. “I hope.”

Josten stared at Kizzi with fear, his eyes as wide as saucers.

I chugged the rest of my watery cider and then spoke up, interrupting the lovely moment. “Alright Josten, I think it’s time you explain yourself.”

It took him a few heartbeats, but he seemed to be more clear-headed. The manic gleam in his eyes was still present, but the drunken sheen had cleared, at least enough for him to speak.

“Wouldn’t you rather take this somewhere more private? I’ve missed you.”

“Absolutely the fuck not. Now you better explain what gifts you are referring to before I shove this thing where it doesn’t belong,” I threatened, twirling the fork between my fingers.

He gulped. “Okay fine. Gods, I forgot how angry you are. I thought you would have gotten kinder over the years.” He set his hands on the table, leaning forward.

I smiled, flashing my deadly fangs. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He shuddered. “Right. Okay. Well, the truth is, I miss you, Fi. I can’t stand the thought of you out there, alone, without me.”

In a flash, I stabbed the fork into the tender flesh between his thumb and forefinger. I removed it before anyone could see me, but not before he let out a pitiful howl of pain. I didn’t even draw that much blood, only a few drops. The scent that bloomed in the air was putrid.

“You lost the right to call me Fi ages ago, and you know that. Remember your place, asshole.”

The folk that glanced our way quickly found more entertaining things to watch in the crowded tavern, the noise barely audible over the other voices and the bard playing tunes in the corner.

I held the fork up threateningly.

“Fine! Fine, gods just give me one minute.” The vile man was oozing sweat, his pulse thudding visibly under his skin. Gross.

“I’ve been thinking about you lately, so I’ve been using some tracking spells to see where you’ve been going. But gods, you move around a lot! Never in the same place for long! I’ve been sending you signals for ages, but you usually move along by the time they land. You’re a tough lady to track down!”

“Signals? What does that mean? Why didn’t you just send me a letter like a normal person?”

Kizzi coughed. “Eh, that would be on me, actually. Well, me and the rest of the witches. We placed a spell on the town so none of his missives could make it to you.”

At my bewildered look, Kizzi explained further. “It’s just that you were so sad when he cheated on you! And he was such a piece of shit! And I wanted you to protect your peace and–”

I cut her off with a hand on her arm. “Kiz, moons, I’m not mad at you! Don’t get yourself worked up.”

She visibly exhaled. “I know I should’ve spoken to you about it first, but I didn’t even want to say his grimy name out loud.” She shuddered dramatically.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Josten. Well, honestly, I would scoop his eyeballs out with a spoon and feed them to the critters if I could, but I didn’t dwell on it. Anymore. He had already taken enough from me, so I refused to let him take anything else.

Then it finally clicked. I turned towards him. Slowly. Gritting my teeth with enough force to crack stone.

“You…”

He gulped. “Just let me explain more, baby! I was trying to–”

I lunged at him before he could get another word out, my fingernails seeking the skin of his throat.

“You absolute fucking monster! You piece of dirt! You garbage mole! You–”

Kizzi stopped me before I could inflict any more damage, saving me from a night in the dungeons while I vibrated in fury.

“You sent the fucking beetles.”

“They were supposed to spell out a message! Did you get it? Josten luvs Fiella?”

“Spell out a message?! Those things ate my shop! Destroyed it! Everything I’ve worked for!” I had to stop myself from tearing free from Kizzi’s grasp.

He visibly paled. “Woahhhhhh. They weren’t supposed to do all that.”

“What did you expect, dealing with dark magic? That stuff is uncontrollable!!” Kizzi shouted.

“But the other messages…” I didn’t think it was possible, but his pasty complexion became even more ghost-like.

“They’ve all gone wrong, you idiot! You’ve been terrorizing the entire town! Making an absolute mess!!” I thundered.

Kizzi chimed in. “Dark magic spirals, you gods damned idiot. Once you send it off, it never does what you wanted it to do. You’ve even been screwing with other towns!”

“I mean, those Moonvale losers probably deserved it,” he grumbled.

“And the other towns? Sunhaven? Did you send any messages there as well?”

“Well… You spent some time there, during the freeze season, I thought you might have moved there. I may have convinced the coven to help me out, we’ve been tracking you for seasons. You’ve been to many towns, so we’ve sent many… messages.”

“And the snowstorm? Was that you too?”

“I was hoping a little bit of a chill would encourage you to come here to Willowvalley…”

“Alright, I’ve had enough of this dirtball. Let’s get him taken care of,” I declared.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Kizzi responded with a mischievous smile.

“Wait! Wait, stop! What are you doing! No!” He struggled violently, but the alcohol was still slowing his reflexes down even though Kizzi’s concoction had cleared his mind. He was an easy target.

His kicking and screaming and begging for mercy was even sweeter than I thought it would be.

As soon as we got him outside, I spit in his face, right on his forehead, like I promised myself that I would.

It was spectacular.

Kizzi and I dragged Josten to the Willowvalley dungeon while he screamed and cried like a baby.