“Me, too. I’m pleased you came.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but I have to get back.”
Amanda nodded with a warm smile.
“It’s been a pleasure,” Israel said. “I hope the future is a bright one.”
“Great to see you again,” Amanda said.
“I’ll no doubt be in touch,” Israel added.
“You need to start thinking about the future and how this will play out with the Council,” Trevelyan suggested. “It’s really only been a day since you escaped the Magi Legion, and I don’t see them leaving that issue to die any time soon. They will still be of the opinion that you are in league with Yasmin. We have a Council meeting coming up soon, so you might want to be there. The Legion will be, and they will, no doubt, bring it up then.”
“Even though you told them not to?” Royston asked.
“That won’t stop them. They’ll see it as an opportunity to undermine me and relieve me of my position on the Council.”
“Let me know when the meeting is, and I’ll be there,” Amanda said.
“I’ll do that,” Trevelyan said.
As the three men walked off, she noticed Gentle Water and Raven sitting on the sofa, talking.
“You two staying here?” she asked walking over to them.
“Yeah,” Raven said. “It’ll get too crowded otherwise.”
Gentle Water nodded.
“Okay, see you later,” she said and walked over to the others who were standing in a group close to the doorway leading into the hall.
“Okay, follow me,” she said and led the group up the first flight of stairs. At the top, there was a small landing, and you could turn either left or right towards the bedrooms or the next flight of stairs up. In front of her was a wall, and this was where she wanted to put the Portal to the Null Realm. Amanda concentrated and pulled Essentia to her. She enforced her will on reality and conjured a door from the Aether before linking it to her Null Realm.
It was the work of a few seconds before the Magic faded, leaving a brand new, physical door set into the wall.
“Here we are,” she said, and opened the door, working her Magic once more to open the Portal.
Maya led the way, the Portal flaring to life in Amanda’s Aetheric Sight as Maya walked through. As each person crossed the threshold, the Magic in the Null Realm registered that person as an authorised visitor. From now on, each of them would be allowed through the Portal to her Null Realm, unless she changed it again, of course.
Amanda followed the last two, Maria and Sabine through, closing the door behind her. The group stood clustered in the centre of the rectangular room, admiring the leather chairs or the Da Vinci sketches on the wall. “This is the lobby, and if you’ll follow me through here,” she said, walking to one of the doors off the lobby and opening it. “This the main part of the Null Realm. I call it, Inisfail.”
“Inisfail?” Matt asked. “As in, the poetic name for Ireland?”
“That’s right, you know your history.”
Matt smiled and walked through into the cottage on the other side.
As she followed everyone in, she heard a yelp from further in and realised that she hadn’t warned anyone about her Familiar. She pushed through towards the front, and sure enough, Liz was backing off from her huge sabre-toothed cat, which was relaxing before the fire. He’d looked up to see what was going on, scaring Liz, Stephen, Howie, and Vanessa.
“It’s okay, this is Samhain. He’s my Familiar. He won’t hurt you. He’s quite intelligent,” she explained. “Aren’t you, Sam?” she said, her voice taking on a slight sing-song quality.
She did it on purpose because she knew that Sam hated being talked to like a pet, and she enjoyed needling him about it.
She put her hand on the cat’s head and ruffled his fur.
Sam merely looked at her and cocked his head to one side.
“Don’t look at me like that. These people have come to meet you.”
Sam looked over at them, and then back at Amanda, and sighed. Sam didn’t talk, as Amanda had always thought that it would be just a little too strange for the cat to speak. But she had gifted him with a degree of intelligence that allowed him to understand anyone when they talked to him.
He slumped back down to the floor so he could continue to enjoy the warmth of the fire which burnt eternally in the fireplace.
“So, he’s safe to pet?” Liz asked.
“Oh yeah, to be sure. He’ll just walk off if he doesn’t like it.”
Liz approached the huge cat and started to gently stroke him, and for the time being, at least, Sam stayed where he was.
Amanda nodded. “Well, he seems to like you.”
Liz smiled at Amanda before returning her attention to Sam.
“Is that… real out there?” Matt asked from across the room. Amanda looked over to see him standing by a window, pointing to the landscape beyond.
“It is,” she said. “Head outside and have a look.”
“You mean?” Matt said, pointing to the nearby door.
Amanda nodded and smiled. She watched as he walked over and opened the door. Some of the others followed.
“I’m just popping outside,” she told Liz.
“I’ll be out in a moment,” her apprentice said with a smile.
Amanda walked over to the door and followed the others outside into the lush landscape beyond. The cottage sat atop the crest of a rolling, grass-covered hill, similar to several that surrounded it in a verdant countryside which looked like some kind of heavenly utopia.
She had created Inisfail as a home for herself. Somewhere she could spend her time in peace and quiet. Somewhere tranquil, away from the stresses of life on Earth. Separate from the conflict that her life outside of here was filled with.
The large cottage was the main place she called home in this landscape, but she’d built other places out here, too.
Around them, the grasses blew lazily in the wind, filled with wildflowers that grew on the hills, providing splashes of colour in the sea of green. Above them, the brilliant azure sky seemed huge, shot through with the occasional white cloud. It was pleasantly warm and bright without any hint of a chill in the air.
Her friends walked short distances out over the grassy hill. Some of them sat and enjoyed the view, looking at the lake or the mountains off in the distance. When she’d first made it, the landscape had just been these hills, but over the centuries, she’d added to it, creating a diverse range of biomes, including mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and more.
“This is incredible,” Howie said, stepping up next to her.
“Thanks,” she answered him, smiling.
“I can’t quite wrap my head around all this.”
“I doubt you’re the only one. But that’s fine, it’s a big change.”
“Before you, um, went on your trip, you and me, we had a… thing? I mean, that’s a long time ago now, for you,” he said, tripping over his words.
She smiled. “I remember,” she sighed. “And yes, that was a long time ago, but I’ve been watching my younger-self, so, in some ways, it’s also very recent.”
“So, where does that leave us?”
“I won’t pretend that I haven’t changed, because I have. I’m still Amanda. Of course, I’m still me, but I have over a thousand years’ more life experience now. So, I’m not the same woman you knew. I still like you, mind, but I’m not going to be getting into any deep and meaningful relationships.”
“I see,” Howie said, a hint of disappointment was in his voice.
“Don’t worry, we can still see each other,” she smiled at him. “I’m not celibate, you know.”
Howie laughed. “I didn’t think you would be.”
“Heh,” she said, laughing. At least, she was living up to his expectations. Over the years, she’d had several relationships, some of them quite intense, such as the one that led to Maya being born. Others had been more casual, and she’d also inte
ntionally had periods of being alone.
For now, she preferred to basically be single, but she wasn’t averse to having some friends with benefits, either. She’d been seeing Maria pretty consistently over the centuries, but she’d also had a few other relationships as well.
Howie was a lovely guy and someone who was quite special to her. Before she’d travelled in time, her relationship with him had become sexual and that had been fun, from what she could remember.
Time would tell if this change in her would drive him away or not.
“Hi,” Matt said, stepping over to them. “This is wonderful and all, but I’d love to see the Arkady.”
Amanda smiled. “I thought you might.” Matt was into his computer games, so she wasn’t surprised he would be more interested in her spaceship. “Okay, guys. You can stay here if you like, but I’m heading over to the Arkady if you want to come,” she called out. Everyone moved. Some were more eager than others, but Maya and Maria hung back, talking between themselves while following the group. Amanda led them back into the cottage and through to the lobby, where she turned and walked towards another door. Stepping through, she walked out onto the main deck of the Arkady.
The interior of the craft had wooden decking and modern carpets. Some of the furniture was built-in, while the rest was free-standing. It was all long, sweeping lines and curves of white. Very clean and modern. It looked like the inside of a high-class luxury yacht with long, cushion-covered seats and drapes hanging at the windows.
Her guests took in the décor for a moment, but it was what was outside the windows that really drew their attention. The Arkady was sitting high above the eastern seaboard of America, in a geosynchronous orbit. Below, the enormous glowing blue marble hung in the blackness of space. Amanda had seen it thousands of times, but even now, as accustomed to it as she was, it was still a wonder to behold.
She wandered out onto the rear deck and leaned against the railing, watching her friends move about her ship, staring with wide-eyed wonder at the view. Everyone was smiles and happiness. Seeing their reaction to her revelation of what had been truly happening in her life, and how they were already starting to accept it, felt wonderful. She could not have asked for a better reaction from those closest to her.
Maria wandered over with a smile. She was as beautiful now as she’d always been, with her long, wavy, chocolate-coloured hair, curvy figure, fitted pencil skirt, and blouse. She had a classical beauty to her that Amanda loved.
“I think that went well,” Maria said.
“I was just thinking that,” Amanda agreed, smiling the whole time. “So, you know Sabine, then?”
“I do. We’ve been friends for a while. I was surprised to see her at your house, though.”
“You can blame Nymira for that.”
“She said. She’s very grateful, but I think she seems a little lost, with her coven being killed like that. Did you have any plans or suggestions for her?”
“She can stay with me for now.”
“You sure?”
“Why not? From what I know of her, looking at her simply from a skills and ability standpoint, she’d be a great addition to the group.”
“Your coven, you mean?”
“That, too.”
“You never really set up your own coven, did you?”
“I think, when I was younger, I just figured I was a part of the Legacy.”
“That was a long time ago, though.”
“It was.”
“What about now? Your years of keeping away from the Magi are at an end, so, maybe it’s time to actually formally start a coven of your own. I mean, you’ve never really been keen on joining or leading the Legacy, have you?”
“No, I haven’t. It’s just never appealed to me. I don’t know. I see what you’re saying, though. I’ll think about it.”
Maybe now really was the time to actually start her own coven. She’d resisted joining the Legacy over the past century, and had also kept to herself for the most part for the last one thousand years. But she was back, the threat of a paradox was over, and although she was still allied with the Legacy, she was quite sure she didn’t want to join them or lead them.
She did like having people around her, though, such as Liz and Gentle Water. She’d have a think about it.
- Somewhere in the Middle East
Outside the domed room, steps led down into the city streets below. This time, there wasn’t much of a discussion about whether they should go down them. They had already come this far. To turn back now would be unthinkable. So, Kennedy said nothing and continued on, leading the way. He slipped slightly once on one of the steps that had seen better days, but otherwise made it safely down to the subterranean street below.
It was darker down here. The curious ambient light seemed to be coming from above them somewhere but didn’t entirely filter down this far.
The ground looked like it had been hewn from the rock, like everything else, but was smooth and basically clean, apart from a few pebbles here and there.
The thing that freaked Kennedy out the most, though, was the silence. There seemed to be nothing living down here, or nothing big, anyway. There was no wind, and no ambient sound other than the occasional drip of water.
It made everyone move as quietly as they could, picking their steps carefully and speaking in hushed whispers.
Moving to one of the closest buildings, Kennedy stepped into the stone structure and shone his light inside. He could see the remains of furniture, ornaments, cooking utensils, and other detritus of life.
On the nearby table, something moved. He shone his light at it and saw a bleached-white bug about four or five inches long. He had no idea what it was, but it quickly sprouted wings and flew off into the shadows, buzzing loudly.
Kennedy shivered as he stepped back outside. He was not a fan of bugs.
“Anything of interest?” Sandy asked.
“Plenty, but this is a big city. Let’s keep going.”
Frustration
The Vatican, Rome
Mary stalked back into her office in the Vatican feeling more frustrated than ever. They had been so close, and yet, so far, and once again her plans had been spoiled by that Witch, Amanda.
The rumours about what had happened to Amanda on that island were true. Something had happened to her there, although what exactly that was, was still unclear.
Their discovery of the Time Device was not coincidental. Mary had seen Amanda on the other side of the Portal with her own eyes. She had somehow travelled back in time, back into the past to do… something.
She had no idea what, but she guessed it was something important.
According to the team she’d sent through, Amanda had been waiting for them and had attacked them. Mary stopped by the side of her desk and kicked the trash can across the room.
Shaking her head, Mary remembered the way Amanda had incapacitated her entire team in seconds and then teleported them back to Italy. Was she more powerful now? She couldn’t be sure, but it did seem that way.
Mary dropped down into her seat and slammed her fist onto the top of her desk.
What was she going to do? How do you stand up to that kind of power?
“May I inquire, what our next move will be?” Assunta asked. Mary looked up at the two loyal Inquisitors who stood in her office. Assunta and Augusto, her most trusted aides. They stood with their hands behind their backs, the image of professionalism.
“I don’t know,” Mary said, almost yelling at them and feeling annoyed at Assunta for asking the question. “I have no idea. How do you fight power like that? Amanda is a dangerous person, and she needs to be dealt with, but she seems…”
“She’s strong. Stronger than I thought she would be,” Assunta added.
“Did she seem more powerful to you?” Mary asked.
“I spent a long time in New York monitoring Amanda for you, and I have seen her Necromancy at work. I would agree that she seems stronger than she used to be.
Perhaps, she has made a new deal with Satan? Perhaps, the Lord of Hell has gifted his favoured daughter with more power so that she might fight us more effectively?”
“That does seem to be the case,” Mary said, slumping back into her seat.
“This event, this thing that happened on the atoll with her that we’ve heard about. The energy that hit her. Maybe that was the ritual?” Augusto suggested. “Maybe that was when she summoned Satan and when he gifted her with more powers?”
“The accounts we have of what happened there say she was struck with an energy of some kind. Some sort of pure Magic, perhaps from Hell itself? And the nuclear explosion, maybe she created that to wipe away the evidence,” Assunta added.
“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Mary said. “But the problem still remains. How do we deal with her?”
“She’s powerful,” Assunta mused.
“Very powerful,” Augusto agreed.
“Taking her on directly is out of the question. We saw what comes from that on the atoll,” Assunta continued, thinking back to the fight. “She could have killed us.”
“Why didn’t she?” Augusto asked.
“The motives of these Witches are often inscrutable, second-guessing the servants of Satan is a path to Hell itself,” Mary warned.
“Of course, High Inquisitor,” Augusto said. “So, we don’t attack her, we attack those around her.”
“Hurt those closest to her,” Assunta confirmed. “Maybe she’ll make a mistake, or, if we can take a hostage, we can hold them for ransom.”
“No hostages. We destroy those she loves, these other servants of Darkness. We break her spirit, and then we break her,” Mary agreed, a hint of a smile returning to her features. She would destroy the Witch if it was the last thing she did. Amanda had been a thorn in her side for too long. But there were ways to deal with people like her.
-Somewhere in the Middle East
Lillia watched Kennedy step out of the house he’d just investigated and saw the look of disgust on his face. She didn’t know what had caused that look, and she didn’t care to find out, either. This place was creeping her out, but Kennedy was right. They were explorers and hunting through ruins was what they did.
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