“Are you okay?” Amanda said.
“Of course, I’m fine,” Celest answered.
“So, what have you been doing recently? Anything interesting?”
Celest smiled inwardly and let out a sigh before answering.
“I’ve been volunteering, actually. Working at a local women’s shelter called the Sanctuary. They help women who’ve escaped from abusive relationships. They try to get them back on their feet and living their lives again.”
“That sounds perfect for you,” Amanda said, smiling. “I bet ye could show those men a thing or two. If ye know what I mean?”
“Um, yeah, sure…”
“Rip some balls off, ye know?”
“If you say so,” Celest said.
They talked for a while longer, but it soon became apparent that Celest didn’t want to stay and chat. Amanda wasn’t sure why but felt confident that Celest had her reasons. She was a werewolf, after all, and she had no idea how that changed you and affected your personality.
“Thanks for coming over, it’s always great to see ye,” Amanda said as Celest stepped outside the front door.
“Yeah, sure. Thanks for the chat,” Celest said.
“I’ll see you around,” Amanda said.
Celest just waved as she reached the bottom of the steps and continued down the street, without looking back.
Amanda frowned. It seemed strange that Celest would come over, and then be in a rush to leave. She was also a little dismissive about her new status as the Chosen One, like she didn’t believe it or something.
She closed the door and turned to see Liz standing over by the bottom of the stairs watching her.
“Are you alright?” Amanda asked.
“Everything’s alright with me,” she said, putting some emphasis on the last word.
“Did you see that? Did she seem a little off with me somehow?” Amanda asked.
“A little, yes. I couldn’t possibly think what the issue could be.”
The sarcasm came through clearly, making Amanda frown and wonder if Liz had a problem as well.
“I’m not sure I like that tone, Liz,” Amanda said.
“Oh, really? You don’t like my tone?”
“No, I don’t, what is wrong with you?” Amanda said, feeling lost.
“Nothing is wrong with me,” Liz replied with anger in her voice.
“Well, clearly there is, and I don’t like how you’re talking to me. Look, I’ve got people to speak to, so I’ll see you later,” Amanda said, deciding she didn’t like this conversation anymore.
As she stalked off down the corridor Liz just watched her go.
What had gotten into people today? First, it was Celest and now Liz. It was probably nothing. She hoped so anyway, as she had Howie coming over tonight and felt confident he wouldn’t want to deal with a stroppy teenager in the house with them.
***
Later on that afternoon, Maria arrived unexpectedly, and after Liz had put her in a bad mood, it had been just what Amanda needed to lift her spirits and put her in a better frame of mind. She’d been itching to tell her about Howie, anyway. After all the encouragement to try new things, she hoped that Maria would approve.
“So, I’ve got something to tell you,” Amanda said after they’d chatted for a while in the kitchen
“Oh, really, go on,” Maria said. She adjusted her position on the stool at the breakfast bar.
“Yeah, well, I took your advice, finally, and I’ve started seeing someone else, besides you.” It was an odd thing to say, almost as if she was admitting to some infidelity, and yet, she knew that Maria had encouraged this.
“Oooh, that’s great, well done. So, he’s okay with us being together, as well? It is a he, right”
“It is, and yeah, we talked a bit, I said I wanted to keep it as an open relationship for the moment, and he agreed. He seemed to like the idea.”
“So, don’t keep me in suspense, who is he?”
“His name’s Howie. He’s an old friend of mine and a newly turned Initiated.”
“Oh, I see, excellent. An old friend? From before you became a Magus?”
“Yeah. It’s a long story, but Nymira attacked us.”
“What? When did this happen?”
“Oh, only yesterday. Don’t worry, we survived just fine,” Amanda said.
“Well, obviously, but jeez, Amanda. I had no idea, and you move fast if you only got together with him yesterday.”
“Grab the bull by the horns, you said, live your life every single day. So, when that Nomad attacked, your words suddenly made a lot more sense to me.”
Maria smiled. “You know what? You’re right, and you did exactly that. Good for you!”
“Thank you,” Amanda said.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Maria said, a wicked grin.
“I bet you can’t.”
***
“What has your life become, hey?” Maria said, listening to her and Howie talk about the fight in the club. That had been one hell of a day, and it felt like it had happened ages ago, even though it was really only yesterday.
Also, getting together with Howie seemed like a natural progression, the next logical step in their friendship.
“Feckin’ weird is what it’s become,” Amanda replied. She sat at the kitchen table with Maria to her left, Howie to her right and Liz opposite. She’d appeared a short time ago and as yet hadn’t mentioned the terse exchange they’d had earlier. Amanda felt that Liz had acted like a child and was showing her age. She felt like it really should be up to Liz to come to her and say sorry, rather than the other way around.
As such, they’d barely said two words to each other, but she had joined in with the general chat with all four of them sitting at the table.
“And dangerous. I’m still not sure who that scary witch woman was at the club.” Howie said.
“Nymira?” Amanda asked.
“Ah, the Voodoo Queen. She’s a powerful Magus, very well-known and very dangerous,” Maria explained.
“Not someone to get into a fight with, then?” Howie said.
“No, she has a habit of killing anyone who doesn’t agree with her,” Maria commented.
“She hasn’t met me yet,” Amanda said, somewhat deadpan.
“Oooh, well, get you!” Maria said in mock outrage. “That’s big talk from someone who ran away,” she said smiling.
“You think you could take her?” Howie asked Amanda.
“Hello? Chosen One, here!” Amanda, feeling confident in her abilities.
“Get over yourself,” Maria said laughing. Amanda laughed too, but wasn’t sure if Maria realised that she was being at least somewhat serious.
Howie also smiled, but Liz didn’t and gave her a very funny look. But she ignored it.
“Hey,” Amanda said to Maria, “even Forrest Ward seemed convinced I was the Chosen One, what does that tell you?”
“Who’s Forrest Ward?” Howie asked.
“The leader of a coven over in Texas, and someone who’s… um…” Maria faltered.
“…been a feckin’ eejit, is what he’s been,” Amanda interjected. “At least, this Prophecy seems to have made him see the light at last. About feckin’ time, if you ask me.”
“This was at the Council meeting you went to?” Maria asked. Amanda was fairly sure Maria already knew this. Maybe she was asking for Howie’s benefit? She played along.
“Yeah, I think I did well, showed them what I can do. I think most of them will be on-side.”
Liz stood up from the table, a look of disgust on her face as she turned and walked out of the kitchen.
Amanda watched her go, a frown on her face. After a moment, she looked at Maria and Howie.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into her, she’s just really emotional and seems to take issue with everything I say.”
“Are you going to go after her?” Maria said.
“You think I should?”
“Yeah, I would.”
/> “Okay,” Amanda said and followed Liz out of the kitchen. She caught up with her upstairs close to her room. “Hey, Liz, wait up,” she said and closed the gap between them as Liz waited in her doorway, her face stern.
“What?” Liz said.
“What’s going on with you, why are you acting like this?”
“What’s going on with me? Jeez. This is the problem, Mandy, you can’t see it, can you?”
“See what?”
“I mean, do you even hear yourself? What you sound like?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, I’m sure. But this attitude of yours, these teenage hormonal outbursts, they’re getting a little out of control.”
“Oh, my God. Are you being real right now? You’re trying to pin this on me?”
“You’re the one with the problem,” Amanda said, feeling confused.
“No! You’re the one with the problem, not me. You need to listen to yourself sometime. You’re being a self-entitled, stuck up bitch that I just don’t have any time for right now,” she raged, before walking into her room and slamming the door in Amanda’s face.
Amanda stood in the same spot for a while, feeling shocked by Liz’s outburst.
After a moment, she stepped up to the door and knocked on it. “Liz, I’m not sure what that was about, but I think maybe we need to talk about it?”
“Piss off, there’s nothing to talk about. Go away.”
Amanda sighed and backed off from the door. She was at a loss. It was totally out of character for Liz. She’d had never seen her act out like that. She was still young and Amanda supposed it wasn’t all that long ago that she had basically lost everything.
Was it just teenage hormones or some kind of stage she was going through? She didn’t know, but for tonight, at least, she decided that she would give Liz some time and space in case she had some stuff she needed to work through.
She’d make sure that Liz knew she was available for a chat if she wanted to talk about it, but for now, she felt that Liz would appreciate some space and time.
Her choice made, she walked away from Liz’s room and back downstairs into the kitchen. She found Maria and Howie chatting and laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
“Getting on well?” Amanda asked.
Maria looked up at her and winked. “You’ll have to let me know where you found this one.”
“I’m one of a kind, I’m afraid,” Howie said.
“Then we’ll just have to share. You don’t mind, do you, Mandy?” Maria said.
“Join in any time you like,” Amanda joked.
“Phew, I’m getting a little hot under the collar here,” Howie said, laughing.
As the drinks flowed, Amanda quickly forgot the little altercation she’d had with Liz upstairs. She chatted and laughed with Maria and Howie and had a great evening with them.
They soon retired from the kitchen to the lounge and continued to drink the wine that she conjured, much to Howie’s fascination.
She wasn’t sure what it was, maybe it was the alcohol taking away her inhibitions while also emboldening her. Perhaps it was her newfound self-confidence or her new outlook on life, but later in the evening, she ended up snuggled up with Maria, with Howie apparently enjoying the view. A gentle glance at his surface thoughts confirmed that he was indeed having a few naughty thoughts, so she chose to take things a step further. She was curious to see where it might lead.
She always enjoyed touching and kissing her lover, but doing it in front of Howie, almost making a show of it for him, gave her a thrill that felt new and exciting.
She had a few doubts pass through her mind, wondering what might be going through Howie’s head as they created this little show for him, but Maria’s words to her just a couple of days ago came back to her again and again. Enjoy life, make the most of it, for tomorrow you could be dead.
Yesterday’s attack only served to reinforce the idea, solidifying it, making it real.
Giving him some knowing looks as she kissed and touched Maria, she couldn’t help the giddy smile that spread over her face.
It wasn’t long before Maria whispered into her ear. “Shall we invite him over?” Amanda gasped at Maria’s touch and the thrill of it all.
“Absolutely,” she answered, smiling at an aroused Howie from across the room.
“Let’s take this upstairs,” Amanda said, and with a quick working of Magic, Ported them all up into her room where they beckoned Howie over.
- Diary of Marcus, Grand Inquisitor
Mary has left the Vatican today on another of her personal missions, heading who knows where. If I had to guess, I would say it’s another mission related to that Witch in New York she seems so fixated on.
I worry that this might become an issue and bring weakness to the Inquisition. But I have plans in place, so I must be patient and wait for the right time.
Strategy
The atoll, the Pacific
Assunta stood on the island beach, her feet planted firmly in the shallow water as it lapped against her ankles. With her hands behind her back, she watched the seaplane taxi over the waves and come to a stop close to the shore, but not close enough to become beached.
The side door opened and proceeded by a pair of Crusader Knights, Mary Damask stepped down from the plane and walked through the waters towards her.
In this intense heat, she wore a long white dress and a light shawl over her shoulders. Sunglasses hid her eyes while her bob-cut black hair glistened in the light of the sun.
Assunta offered her hand to Mary as she got closer. “High Inquisitor Damask, it’s a pleasure to have you here, thank you for coming.”
Mary briefly shook Assunta’s hand in greeting. “Your insistence about not talking about this remotely is what has brought me here, against my better judgement. The Conclave will not be happy with me disappearing like this, so this had better be good, Assunta.”
Assunta had lowered her gaze as Mary had spoken, feeling somewhat chastised by her comments, which she supposed were justified. Assunta knew that the Conclave took a dim view of Mary’s personal vendetta against Amanda.
But she also felt certain that once Mary saw what was here and what it could potentially do, she would understand why she’d been so insistent that she see it for herself.
“I understand, Inquisitor, but I beg your indulgence on this. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
“We shall see. Well, let’s get on with it, shall we?” Mary said impatiently.
“Of course, follow me,” Assunta said and led Mary and her entourage up the beach towards the dense green foliage in the centre of the island. There was now an open and clean path through the bushes to the clearing and metal door, which Assunta reached with Mary in tow.
“This is what we found on the first day here, this doorway set into the rock.”
“I hope there is more to see than just a door,” Mary said, but Assunta felt certain that Mary was more intrigued than she was letting on.
“As you can see, there appears to be no handle on the door, and only this keyhole,” she continued. “Later that same day, I happened across this item on the beach nearby.” Assunta held the metallic key aloft. She then placed the key into the lock and opened the door. As it opened, she saw the look of curiosity on Mary’s face and her reaction to the intense wave of temporal energy that washed over her from inside.
Assunta smiled to herself. She knew she had Mary’s complete attention.
“What… is it…?” Mary asked.
“I have my theories, Inquisitor, please, follow me inside, I have more to show you.” Stepping inside, the device proceeded to light up as before. Assunta waited as everyone filed in and they all had a good look around the room.
“Are we sure this is not powered by Witch Magic?” Mary said.
“I don’t know how we can be sure of that, but the energy in here does seem to be quite pure, and without the typical feel that the Witches give their Magic.”
<
br /> “I can see that,” Mary replied. Assunta could feel the Divine power from their Lord and Saviour flowing through her mentor as she used His Grace to look upon the energy that fuelled it.
“But what does it do?” asked Augusto, an Italian-looking man and Assunta’s fellow Knight who stood next to Mary.
“With your permission, Inquisitor?” Assunta asked.
Mary nodded, fascinated.
“Please, stand back,” she said, inserting the key into the control panel before turning it ninety degrees. The now-familiar hum started up all around them and the button on the panel next to the key began to glow. “I would shield your eyes, this tends to be quite bright,” she said and pressed the button.
The bright white flare of light flashed above the central platform and then grew into the huge globe of blue energy, like a mini azure sun hovering before them. Even though she’d felt it before, the temporal energy that flooded the room stunned Assunta, and she could see the impact it had on the group that had been graced with the ability to sense God’s power.
After a short time, the group settled, unshielded their eyes, and gazed up at the globe in wonder and awe.
“Our best guess,” Assunta began. “This is some kind of time travel device, and that is the portal.” She pointed to the globe. But we need to send something or someone through to test it.”
“Time travel?” Mary said cautiously.
“That’s right. I’m not sure where or to when it leads, but I think this is a portal into the past. I’m also unsure how Amanda fits into things, but given the fight she had here recently and the new rumours about her, I’m reasonably sure of a connection, we just need to know what it is.”
“Request whatever you need,” Mary ordered. “I want to know what’s on the other side of that portal.”
“We have a… thing we jury-rigged that’s about ready to go. We’re just going through some final tests now.”
“What thing?”
“We’re calling it our Rover,” she said and gestured to the door where Ignacio stood holding an all-terrain remote control car with a camera duct-taped to the top of it.
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