A Thief's Treasure (2 page)

“Thanks,” my kidnapper replied.

“Did you get the vase for the sealing ritual,” the other man asked.
 
This guy looked like my kidnapper except about thirty years older and with greyish-blue eyes.

“Hell yeah.
 
Took a little bit but I finally got it.
 
I also grabbed the girl as well, turns out the person who said she worked at the museum was correct for once.”

I realized he was talking about me and I started to flush.
 
What in the world is going on?”

“Good,” the woman replied.
 
“She’ll be of great use to us and I’m happy we can finally teach her about her true self.
 
We have to get her nourished first, she looks healthy but is probably starving and I know that I won’t be able to talk to her on an empty stomach,” the older man replied.

I looked all around at the place where we were.
 
It was large and expansive, and even though it was very odd it had a sort of an eclectic feel to it as well.
 
Still, there was something amiss about this place and I wanted to know what was really going on.

“Okay I don’t mean to be rude but what the hell is this place?
 
How can I even help you guys?” I asked.

The kidnapper smiled and faced me.
 
He untied my wrists allowing my hands to be free but his eyes were still wide.
 
“We would like you to stay with us.
 
We want to protect you from those people and the only way to keep you safe is to be here with us.
 
You do have a use for us, and we would like to protect you from that godforsaken place.
 
It was a promise we made five days after you were born and we work to uphold every promise we make,” he explained.

I stared at him like he had just told me that I have a toucan on my face.
 
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked sharply.

The other woman walked over to us, staring me directly in the face.
 
“Wait you don’t have your powers yet?” she asked.

“Umm powers?
 
Nope,” I replied.

She sighed, walking around the room.
 
After about a minute she spoke again, as if trying to put it in the best way she can.
 
“You have this interesting power to umm…not only see the future but to control the elements using alchemy.
 
We all can do that and we use our powers for good, but we needed all of our clan here and safe. It’s dangerous to have these powers and if we aren’t wary we’ll be attacked by the things we’ve been trying to avoid.
 
They’re akin to demons and they run amuck in the art museum and about half the staff is on their side.
 
That’s why we ordered to kidnap you, to make sure you’re safe.
 
That and he thinks you’re attractive,” she cooed.

“Mom!” my kidnapper yelled.
 

“Oh shut up, I’ve never seen you so damn head over heels over a girl before.
 
He liked to go out on the watches to make sure you were safe,” she teased.

I flushed; I’ve never been put in the spotlight like this and the awkward spectacle in front of me definitely made me feel even more uncomfortable.
 
“Umm guys. I hate to interrupt but what do you mean I’m in danger if I stay there?
 
And why do you guys keep saying I’m part of this clan thing?
 
And why the hell has this guy been watching me the entire time?” I finished, pointing my finger at my kidnapper for emphasis.

The older man smiled and stepped in.
 
“Come sit in the living room.
 
I’ll explain everything there,” he replied.
 
The mother and my kidnapper looked at him, their little banter halted for a moment by the man.
 
I followed the man to the living room, where I sat down on the chase lounge.
 
My kidnapper sat opposite of me and on my left his parents sat on the love seat.
 
My kidnapper wouldn’t take his eyes off me, as if he was under a spell I was conjuring.

“Well we asked you to come here Miss Alyssa because you have a gift like us and we would like to protect you as well so you can harness this gift you have.
 
I know this is weird but should you ever need anything we will provide it in any way possible.
 
You’re an asset to us and we will make sure you’re taken care of.
 
I’m Eliza and my husband’s name is Tony.
 
He’s a very nice guy and should you ever need anything
labor
wise and alchemist-wise he’s here for you.
 
Our son’s name is Darren and even though may seem a little weird at times he’s a great kid,” she explained.

I nodded and looked at the guy.
 
He had a smouldering gaze on his face and I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it.
 
The way he was looking at me made me feel like I was naked even though I was still clothed in my uniform from the event I was just at.
 

“Okay….that doesn’t really answer anything though.
 
I still don’t understand why I’m even here.
 
I mean I know I’m important to you but why’s that?” I asked.

It was now Tony’s turn to talk.
 
He cleared his throat and looked at me, his expression as solid as his body.
 
“We’re a family of alchemists and seers.
 
We’ve been practicing for over 1300 years and we have been residing here since I was ten.
 
We are a family business and my son Darren will take over the business once I decide to retire.
 
Until then, he’s my errand boy and he’s done a great job at it too.
 
We are protectors of the city and if we don’t then it’ll get destroyed,” he explained.

“How?
 
I don’t understand the dang—“

“That’s because the danger is beyond the human realm,” he said sharply.
 
After a moment he calmed down and his stern disposition took over again.
 
“Sorry it’s just a very sore subject for me when people talk about the crime being a small thing.
 
The danger in this town is in the realm of alchemy.
 
You don’t hear about it because we try to cover our tracks.
 
It’s for the best and that’s why you haven’t even heard about us until now.
 
We take magical
artifacts
and protect them from being used in the wrong hands.
 
It’s for the protection of the alchemic world; the alchemy council has their utmost respect for us, so it’s almost an honour to be brought here.
 
You’re treated nice, we have a strong clan despite there being only four including you, and you’ll learn from me about your innate power that dwells deep inside you.
 
You may not realize it yet, but you’re very strong and are a valuable factor to the success of this clan and not only our protection but yours as well,” he stated.

I had no idea what he meant; how in the world could I have done for twenty years without knowing about all of this?
 
How did I not know I was an alchemist?
 
I mean for Pete’s sake it should’ve been obvious from the get-go.

“How didn’t I know about any of this?
 
I mean shouldn’t my parents possibly think there’s something wrong and try to haul me off to some shrink?
 
I mean that seems like the normal thing a parent would do, try to get some help for their kid if they’re a freak.
 
Also, what do you mean by ‘magical
artifacts
’?
 
I have never heard of them before,” I replied.

“Well—“ Eliza started.

“It’s final Eliza.
 
I’ll tell her; after all I am her dad’s best friend.
 
Why don’t you and Darren get the vase ready for the protection spell?” he instructed.
 

He said it calmly but powerfully and Eliza and Darren got up and left the room, leaving Anthony and me alone in the nearly-silent room.

“Well now that they’re gone we can get started.
 
This is pretty powerful news and I don’t want to scare you without explaining why first,” he stated.
 
He walked up and grabbed a small tobacco pipe off the bookshelf and put in it a little bit of tobacco, smoking it nonchalantly.
 
I could tell he was a little nervous, after all not only was he smoking to calm down he was pacing too.
 
After a minute though he got his resolve and sat back down in the chair.

“So what’s so special about my parents?
 
They’ve taken care of me since I was a baby and even though my birth parents died in a fire I was still raised by two amazing people.
 
If you want them to win parents of the year be my guests, I would totally vote for them,” I stated.

“Well I’m not from a magazine nor do I have connections to them besides to clear my tracks, so I don’t think I’ll be doing that.
 
But if I ever meet anyone I’ll definitely put in a good word about yours to them.
 
How about we have some tea first though?” he replied.
 
Before I could reply he drew a small symbol on the old tea set on the table.
 
It glowed for a moment and then after a small flash two cups of bubbling tea appeared.
 
He grabbed the cup slowly and started to sip it, the gape that was present on my mouth ignored.

“Well aren’t you going to drink it?” he asked.

“B-but how?” I managed to reply.
 
My confusion was still apparent.

“Well I specialize in flame and iron alchemy.
 
I have the ability to use all but those are my forte.
 
My wife is a flame and iron alchemist as well and Darren just specializes in fire and earth.
 
He wanted to be different from the rest of us, but he still kept his flame alchemy as a family heirloom,” Anthony said.

“Interesting,” I replied as I took a sip of my tea.

“Indeed it is.
 
You’ll learn a lot more about it later on though.
 
Let’s get back to the main subject we’re talking about and why I had the other two exit the room,” he instructed.

“Okay.
 
So what is it?” I asked.

“Well...to start off your birth parents are alive and well.”

Chapter Three

I almost spit out my tea when he said that.
 
“What the hell are you talking about?
 
I saw the reports that they died in a fire at their office when I was six months old.
 
I was with my grandma when it happened and then right after that she passed away as well,” I voiced.

“What really happened was that entire story was created and fabricated by us and utilized as a distraction for the bad guys.
 
We needed to prove to them that they were dead and that you’ve been put in a foster home in order to prove to them that you don’t have any magical powers.
 
They are alive and kicking and live about 100 miles from here.
 
We spoke to your foster parents about taking care of you until you were ready to access your powers.
 
Even though they felt bad for lying to you all these years and having to hide the truth they knew it was all for the best.
 
We didn’t have the bad guys come after you and take you as a hostage to use against us and your family.
 
They wanted to attack and not only kill your parents but you as well, but due to a blood covenant we made with them five days after you were born we made sure you were in the best care possible until you were old enough to come live with us and access your powers yourself.
 
We didn’t want you brainwashed by them either,” he explained.