Strangers At The Station
"Do you do this every year?!" Caitlyn asked through heaving breaths as they ran through the station pushing carts of luggage with them.
"I mean no but we weren't expecting cows to block the road." Vi replied with a cheeky grin.
Powder rode at the front of Vi's cart while Claggor pushed the other with Abby on it. Caitlyn had her own cart after denying Vi's offer to lug her things in their cart. Ekko and Mylo ran behind them. Several people snapped and sneered at them as they passed but that didn't matter when they all barreled through the pillar to platform 9¾.
"Made it." Claggor sighed with relief.
"Alright everybody good?" Vi looked around, doing a little head count and nodding when she had them all.
"Remind me to never travel with you all again." Caitlyn grumbled but they knew she meant none of it.
"Caitlyn!"
Everyone turned to face the familiar voice and smiled when their guess was proven right. Sir Tobias came running towards his daughter, pulling her into a hug.
"It's good to see you again, sweetie." He said, voice laced with warmth and love.
Caitlyn hugged him back. "It's good to see you too, father."
"Caitlyn." Another voice spoke up over the din of the crowd. Cassandra.
"Mother." There was a hint of true affection and joy in Caitlyns voice. The two had parted on good terms and she was surprised to see her here.
Behind Caitlyn, Vi ushered the others to get packing and meet up with the other Pilties saying she and Caitlyn would catch up.
"Violet." Cassandra called out to her.
She approached with a casual gait, hands in the pockets of her jacket. "Hello Headmistress, Sir Tobias." She said politely.
"Thank you and yours for looking after our girl, Violet." Tobias smiled at her. He radiated the same paternal aura that Vander had which caused her to smile.
"It was no problem at all. She's welcome in Zaun and Rye any time." Vi puffed out her chest with pride.
She knew her best friend would win the hearts of her people. That little comment though had truly surprised Cassandra. To hear her daughter had somehow been spared the cold treatment of the none-purebloods of Zaun and Rye. Then again her daughter was a brilliant bleeding heart, she shouldn't be surprised. Either way they had to leave soon.
"Time to board, girls." Tobias beamed. "Come to the medical ward tomorrow, Cait. I want to hear all about your trip."
"I will, father." Caitlyn hugged him again and bowed her head to her mother before turning to enter their regular cabin. The Kirammans entered their private train car.
Vi was about to follow after Caitlyn when she felt a chill down her spine. Something was wrong, she felt it in her gut. She whipped around trying to pin point the source of the feeling.
"Imp…"
Vi hears a whisper and turns to it. A young boy, a 1st year by the looks of it, was being guided away by a man in a suit. Nothing seemed wrong but to Vi it just felt wrong. Making the split second call she follows the duo, using the last of the crowd as cover. She watched them turn the corner but when she peaked around the bend they were gone.
"All Aboard! Last call!" The train conductor announced. Vi cursed under her breath. With no choice she turned back and entered the cart to join the others.
"Vi! Goodness, what in the world were you doing?" Caitlyn was the first to notice her, the bluenette was staring at the cart entrance waiting for her.
"We thought we were gunna have to stop the train." Ekko declared with a mischievous grin, Powder next to him sharing the expression.
Vi shrugged "I'm fine. Just got distracted."
She walked over to join the group. She was quickly greeted by Sky, Viktor, Mel and Jayce in a fluffy of hugs, and friendly shoulder pats. Vi settled on the seat in this compartment and relaxed in the voices of her friends and family. She smiled as Caitlyn raved to the older years about her experiences in Zaun, the others adding in their own comments. At some point during the ride their energy died down enough for Caitlyn to notice how quiet Vi had been.
"Hey Vi? Something the matter?" Caitlyn prompted, causing the others to turn to her.
"Oh nothing, just thinking." She replied.
Jayce smirked. "Damn don't hurt yourself." He teased, to which Vi flipped him off.
"What's got ya risking your life sis?" Powder giggled, jumping onto the tease wagon.
"Just that I felt something off back at the station."
Now that had the Zaunites going stiff, eyes wide with surprise. You always, always, take Vi's gut feelings seriously. The Piltovans haven't seen this kind of reaction from the group before so Caitlyn clears her throat.
"What do you mean by off?"
"It felt like seconds from disaster. So I looked around and saw this kid being led away by some dude. It just felt off to me so I followed. They vanished when they turned the corner… I'm not really sure what to think of it? I don't want to rush and say it was a kidnapping but I seriously don't like it." Vi had braced her elbows against her thighs at some point while she was speaking, leaning forward and resting her chin on clasped hands.
"I don't know if that was just some random kid or that was the kid's parent but I just didn't like it." Vi finally looked up to assess the faces of her companions only to find them all mortified.
"V-Vi… I think that may actually have been a kidnapping…" Sky stammered, hands covering her mouth.
"Holy shit." Mylo mumbled.
"I'll report this to mother after the opening ceremony tonight. I hope to every god and mage out there that this is your gut being wrong." Caitlyn sighed having fought back the urge to over think.
"That's the thing, Cait." Ekko starts. "Vi's gut is almost never wrong." Powder finishes the thought.
The Sorting had finished and the announcements had been said. The feast was as grand as it always was. The ceremony as a whole was rather uneventful which only unnerved Vi further.
By the time she and her brothers had arrived at their common room she was drained and low key paranoid. She decided to collapse on the armchair for a moment. Sadly there was no rest for the wicked.
"Hello, miss Vi!" Chirped a familiar posh voice.
Luckily said voice no longer bothered her. They had parted last year in good graces with him promising to do better.
"Lucius." Vi greeted in turn.
"I won't keep you but I feel I should mention this since Lady Kiramman hadn't said anything- which was strange." Lucius rambled but his words had Vi's attention.
"What's up?"
"Well I heard father in his office one night- oh yes and I've finally stood up to my father! I got grounded and yelled at for it but I won't stop!-" Oh how proud that made Vi. "Sorry, back on track. He was talking to someone, may have been a communication mirror. I snuck in later after dark and found a couple of council documents…"
Caitlyn was quick to find her way to the Headmistress office after the feast had ended. With a whisper of the code word and swift steps up the spiral stairs she soon stood in the chamber. Cassandra was already there, silently sitting in her chair, as if expecting Caitlyn to arrive.
"Come sit, something seems to be on your mind and I know it is not your trip to Zaun." Cassandra broke the silence and Caitlyn complied.
"Mother, I have some concerning news. We believe there may have been a kidnapping at Kings Cross." She got straight to the point.
"That's quite the thought. What exactly happened?" Cassandra was calmer than Caitlyn expected but she choked it up to her politician pokerface.
"Vi was about to board the train when she felt something off. She noticed a man leading his lone boy away. Vi followed but when they turned the corner they vanished. They may have apparated. We understand it's a drastic assumption however we felt we should bring it to you either way." Caitlyn finished and waited.
After a moment the older Kiramman sighed.
"I did not want to say this in front of the school and cause mass panic however you and your friends are not wrong."
Vi and Caitlyn learned something chilling that night.
There have been reports of a few adult wizards from all bloods being kidnapped.
What Vi saw may have been the first child.