2 Corruption

by John O'Riley

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” Mark apologized. He did a double-take when he noticed Helen’s youthful new body. “Is that you, Helen?”

  “Yes, it is. She’s practicing a new glamour. What do you think?” Josephine said.

  “I think it’s amazing! Good work, Helen!” Mark complimented her.

  “Thank you, dear.” Helen leveled a warm smile at him.

  “We’re glad to see you, Mark,” Alice gestured at the other couch facing her. “Have a seat.”

  “Thanks,” he acknowledged.

  Mark sat down beside Josephine and turned to face her.

  “I was wondering if you’d like to do anything tonight. You’ve been so busy this week we’ve hardly said a word to each other,” Mark said.

  “I think that’s a splendid idea,” Alice interjected. “You and Josephine should go have dinner or see a movie or something.”

  “Or we could stay here and play cards,” Helen suggested.

  “If you don’t mind, I think Mark and I should go out tonight,” Josephine said.

  Mark sprung to his feet with an excited grin on his face.

  Helen’s green eyes reflected disapproval. “With everything that’s going on, do you think you should be going on a date with this young man?”

  “Yes, I do.” Josephine’s voice held steely determination.

  The four of them left the condo and Josephine activated the wards. Mark took Josephine to a nearby Mexican restaurant. It was tucked away in a quiet part of the city but very close to Josephine’s home. The décor in the establishment was colorful with different shades of pale blue and green for the wall colors. The tablecloths matched the wall themes. The dining area was divided into three different smaller rooms so it was fairly quiet and easy to converse. The waiter was a handsome, dark-haired Hispanic in his early twenties wearing jeans and a polo shirt. He was friendly without sounding forced and didn’t rush them to order.

  “You never cease to amaze me,” Mark said.

  Josephine laughed. “And what did I do this time?”

  “The way you’ve been so elusive this week, I was expecting you to take Helen up on her idea to play cards and then send me on my way.”

  “I work in mysterious ways.” Josephine perused the menu.

  The waiter returned with a glass of wine for her and a cranberry juice for Mark. Josephine chuckled when she glanced at Mark sipping his drink.

  “What’s so funny?” Mark shot her a questioning look.

  “It’s just that whenever Alice, Helen, and I go out and we have wine, Helen usually has a cranberry juice.”

  “You’re not comparing me to Helen, I hope?” Mark’s brown eyes danced with amusement.

  Josephine noticed he had a five o’clock shadow again. He frequently sported this look which irritated her just a little. She hated seeing facial hair on men because it gave her the impression that they were dirty and slovenly. She also felt that if women were expected to shave their armpits and legs, then it was only fair that men should shave their faces.

  “May I ask you a personal question?” Josephine asked.

  “Okay.” Mark regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

  “Why do let your facial hair grow out like that?”

  Mark brushed his fingertips across his cheek with puzzlement.

  “I shave every day,” he explained. “But I have a pretty tight schedule with the restoration enchantments so I do it just before I go to bed. That way I can sleep in as long as possible before my first class starts at 7. I guess maybe I should wait until the morning.”

  “I was just wondering.” Josephine felt a stab of guilt over her rude thoughts. “You’re so easy-going and young that I forget how busy you are.”

  “I’m a grown man.” Mark was obviously a bit sensitive about his age.

  “And a handsome one, too.” Josephine leveled a charming smile at him.

  Mark returned her smile and the energy currents between them flared with a sudden intensity. Josephine’s body thrummed with pleasure and giddiness. Being with Mark sort of reminded her of tapping into a vortex. Josephine lost track of time as she and Mark conversed over their meal. Her cell phone rang and she peered at the screen to see who was calling.

  “It’s Helen,” Josephine murmured.

  “You three seem to be pretty close,” Mark commented.

  “We’ve been friends since we were children,” Josephine said.

  Josephine hit the ignore button on her phone then turned the power off. Mark watched her with unmistakable horror.

  “You can’t do that,” he said.

  “Do what?” Josephine threw him a confused look.

  “Turn your cell off like that. What if you get an important call?”

  “There’s nothing that can’t wait until I get back,” Josephine said.

  When they finished eating, Mark paid for the meal and the two of them stepped outside in the dark.

  “It’s getting late,” Mark observed.

  “Yes, it is.” Josephine hated to end their time together.

  “Would you like to go jogging at the beach? I know you’re into running in the dark,” Mark teased.

  Josephine laughed. “I prefer the morning but you’ve got the right idea.”

  They meandered over to Mark’s vehicle.

  “How about we go to my place for a drink?” he asked.

  “I’d like that.”

  Mark lived in a small white house but it was sparsely furnished so it seemed roomy. The floors were comprised of a shiny Terazzo and the walls were white. He had just three easy chairs in the living room and a flat screen television secured to a wall.

  “What would you like to drink? I have some nonalcoholic mixes, some tea, soda, and coffee. I don’t think caffeine is such a good idea right now, though,” Mark said.

  “Tea sounds good.”

  “I have raspberry, blueberry, and chamomile.”

  “Blueberry.”

  Josephine followed Mark to the kitchen and leaned against one of the counters to watch. Mark threw her a grin as he filled an electric kettle with water.

  “Now that I’m thinking about it, I also have mint and raspberry hot chocolate,” he said.

  “Maybe next time.”

  “Tea it is.” Mark set two mugs on the counter then placed the tea bags inside. He turned and leaned against the counter to face Josephine as he waited for the water to heat up. “You seem really stressed and preoccupied this week. Is there anything I could do to help?”

  Josephine was struck speechless as she hadn’t expected him to ask about her problems even though she’d mentioned how busy she was. She hadn’t realized her anxiety was so obvious.

  “It’s kind of personal.”

  “I get it,” Mark said.

  “And dangerous,” Josephine blurted before she could stop herself.

  Mark’s expression turned inquisitive. “Have you thought about going to the police? You kind of have an in with them.”

  “If I told anyone, I’d put their lives in danger,” Josephine said. “I wish I could tell you about it.”

  “That’s okay. Whenever you feel you’re able to discuss it with me, I’ll be here to listen.”

  Josephine’s heart warmed at his understanding and she stepped towards him. Before she knew it, she had her arms wrapped around him in an embrace and they were kissing passionately. They made their way to his bedroom and stripped themselves of their clothing. Hours later, Mark and Josephine were lying on their backs staring at the ceiling. Josephine marveled at Mark’s technique and stamina. She turned to look at him and realized he’d fallen asleep. Josephine shifted over on her side and her distracted gaze took in hers and Mark’s garments strewn across the Terazzo. Her attention wandered over to her cell phone which was still turned off. Josephine retrieved it from the floor, powered it up, and saw that she had eleven voice messages. Even worse, it was after two in the morning.

  “I’m so busted. I’m never going to hear
the end of this,” Josephine murmured.

  Josephine’s sore muscles ached in protest as she dressed.

  “Why are you in trouble?” Mark asked. Apparently, she’d awakened him.

  “Because it’s late and Helen’s probably worried. She probably knows what I’ve done.”

  “You’re my girlfriend. There’s nothing wrong with this,” Mark said in a decisive and adamant tone.

  “Technically that’s true but Helen’s kind of a prude.” And she’s also a succubus now so maybe she’ll be more understanding, Josephine thought to herself. An instant later, she tossed that notion aside. Helen would not like this at all so Josephine would have to come up with a plausible cover story.

  Chapter 10

  Alice arrived at Josephine’s condo first for coffee Sunday morning.

  “Helen and I stayed up late. Where were you?” Alice threw Josephine a curious glance before pouring herself a mug of coffee and plenty of cream.

  “Mark has an important project due in one of his advanced magical application classes. I helped him finish it,” Josephine said.

  “Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

  “We couldn’t be interrupted or the enchantment may have been rendered useless. He’d already spent three weeks preparing it.”

  “I see.”

  The two of them made their way to the dining room table and someone knocked at the door. Josephine crossed the room and opened it to reveal Helen.

  “Where have you been, young lady?” Helen reprimanded her.

  “I was helping Mark finish an advanced enchantment for his college coursework. It’s due on Monday and he’s spent three weeks on it,” Josephine fibbed.

  “Hmm.” Helen didn’t look entirely convinced but didn’t argue further.

  She poured herself some coffee then added almond milk and sugar before joining her friends at the table.

  “Emerson called us last night to pick up the book. He said an associate had information for Helen,” Alice said. “We met him at a coffee shop and it was Emerson disguised with a glamour. He hardly said two words to us. He just shoved the book at Helen and left.”

  “That’s terrific news! We’ve got some antidotes to work with then,” Josephine said. “I’ll get started on them right away.”

  “The book has about a dozen enchantments that are designed to break the immortality curse and it also lists two versions of the immortality curse,” Helen explained. “It’s very advanced stuff. I’m glad you’re willing to do this for me.”

  “Of course.” Josephine leveled a reassuring smile at her friend.

  “There’s something different about you.” Helen scrutinized her with a critical eye. “I can’t quite figure it out. It’s like you’re younger or something.”

  “You’re such a flatterer,” Josephine said.

  “I think I see it, too.” Alice cast a contemplative look at her. “It’s like you’re more vibrant or something.”

  “Yes! It’s like there’s a glow about you.” Helen’s brows furrowed with thought then she gasped as her face lit up with sudden comprehension. “You slept with that boy!”

  “What?!” Josephine said with mock outrage. “How dare you suggest such a thing?”

  “You did! I can tell!” Alice crowed. “Way to go!”

  “I can’t believe you took advantage of that sweet boy,” Helen lectured. “And to make it even worse, he has no idea what kind of danger you might bring him.”

  “It’s official. He’s my boyfriend now and we’re not talking about this anymore,” Josephine said in a firm tone.

  “You’re right, it’s none of my business. I’m just very troubled by everything that’s going on,” Helen said.

  “I really like him a lot,” Josephine said.

  “I think that’s great.” Alice leveled a congratulatory look at her. “Mark’s a terrific guy. I can tell.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”

  Helen cleared her throat. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. I suppose I’m kind of stuck in my ways. There’s no reason you can’t find true love at your age.”

  Josephine was surprised Helen was backing off so easily.

  “We had an incident after Emerson gave us the book,” Alice said.

  “Don’t you dare!” Helen shot her a warning look.

  Alice completely ignored Helen as she centered her attention on Josephine.

  “Helen went over to these two guys at the restaurant and started kissing them. It was like a ping pong match. First one guy and then the other. Back and forth. I finally had to break it up because people were staring,” Alice said.

  “That was so embarrassing. It was like I was possessed or something. I don’t think I can ever show my face there again,” Helen said.

  “Don’t worry. It’s a big city. No one will even remember you were there in another week or so,” Alice assured her.

  “I hope so.”

  After they finished their coffee and played a few hands of rummy, Helen fetched her book and laid it near the center of Josephine’s table so everyone could read it. It was a thin, paperback book with a plain, drab cover. The first four cures listed in the book were different variations of the niveus imperium enchantment.

  “I suppose we should start in chronological order. We’ll try variation one first,” Josephine said. “It has two steps though. You’ll need to drink one cup of a special blend of herbal tea every day for at least a week before the enchantment is used.”

  “I’ll need to go to the store for some of these ingredients,” Helen remarked.

  “Do you need help preparing the tea?” Josephine asked.

  “That’s all right. I’m good with measurements and baking.”

  “You haven’t baked in years,” Josephine reminded her.

  “On second thought, I’d appreciate some help.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  The three women ventured outside where they were accosted by a large group of picketers. The angry elderly mob shouted with fervor at Josephine and her two companions. Two elderly women clung to their walkers while holding up their signs with valiant effort.

  “It looks like I have to run the gauntlet again,” Josephine said.

  “You have to put up with this every day?” Alice asked.

  “Pretty much.”

  Marjorie rushed over to them with her picket sign which read: “Leave town, slut.”

  “How do you live with yourself every day when you steal from the helpless and the needy every day?” Marjorie snarled.

  “Get out of my way or I’m calling the police,” Josephine said.

  “Leave our home and never come back!” Marjorie began chanting and gestured to the crowd to follow her lead.

  “Leave our home and never come back!” the crowd chanted.

  Josephine tried to walk around Marjorie but she kept blocking her. Josephine summoned a warm gust of wind at Marjorie’s head, knocking her wig off. Marjorie cried out in dismay and bent over to retrieve her hair piece. Her head was covered in short gray hairs except for a rather large bald spot. Josephine sent another gust of wind so the wig leapt farther from Marjorie’s hand. Josephine, Alice, and Helen slipped past the woman and walked at a brisk pace toward Josephine’s car. Josephine flinched when a pair of dentures hit her shoulder. Her eyes flashed with ire and she was tempted to jinx the crowd. Instead, she made a beeline for her car which was covered with spray-painted hate messages. Josephine pulled out her cleaning wand and activated it. A gold shimmering radiance danced over her car and an instant later, the exterior was clean and unblemished. All traces of vandalism were gone. If only all of my problems could be handled so easily, Josephine thought.

  She drove to her favorite grocery store which she hoped would offer all the ingredients necessary for the potion. She made a beeline for the bulk herbs kept near the back of the store with Helen and Alice trailing behind her. Josephine began selecting the appropriate herbs and placing them in the shopping cart. A blond woman in
her early thirties wearing a floral sundress stalked over to Josephine.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself. I’m surprised you have the gall to show your face here,” the woman spat out.

  “Do I know you?” Josephine regarded her in confusion.

  The woman turned and walked away without another word. Josephine narrowed her eyes at the woman’s retreating back for several seconds then continued her shopping.

  “I wonder what THAT was all about,” Alice said with puzzlement.

  “She probably mistook me for someone else.”

  Josephine finished locating everything on her list and pushed her cart over toward the checkout lines. She noticed that quite a few people either stared at her or gave her dirty looks. Josephine chose a line then waited for her turn to leave. The checker was a middle-aged man wearing jeans and a blue polo shirt. Each of Josephine’s purchases that he scanned, he threw into the bag like he was slamming them which was impossible to do since the herbs were light and contained in plastic baggies.

  “Do you have some kind of problem?” Josephine asked.

  “I’m surprised you’re not in jail,” the clerk said.

  “What in the world are you talking about?” Josephine snapped.

  “As if you don’t know.”

  The clerk blinked at her with surprise as if this hadn’t occurred to him.

  “You’re in the newspaper,” he said.

  “I am? What does it say?” Josephine asked.

  “It’s not flattering.”

  “I’ll buy a copy of the newspaper.”

  Josephine paid for her merchandise and grabbed a copy of the newspaper on the way out.

  “You didn’t have to buy the herbs. I was going to,” Helen said.

  “That’s okay. I’m happy to help.” Josephine pushed the key fob to unlock the doors of her sedan. Helen carried the bag with her in the back seat while Josephine slid behind the wheel and Alice occupied the seat beside her. Josephine flipped through the newspaper looking for the mysterious article the checker had told her about. With the sun beating down on them, the car quickly became unbearably hot so Josephine started the car and turned on the AC. She continued perusing the newspaper.