by L. S. Emory
I figured it wasn’t a trap or anything, since he already went through the door, so I followed. Stepping through the door, I saw that we were standing in a really large room. In fact, it seemed like that room was bigger than the entire shack. And I didn’t remember seeing any additions to the shack when we came up to it.
“What just happened?” I asked.
“What do you mean?” Cody asked.
“I think I would have noticed if this place had a room this big attached to it. So, what happened? Did we teleport somewhere? Step through a dimensional rift? What?”
Cody chuckled, with a wry smile. “Nothing that elaborate. Simple invisibility spell. And an enchantment on the door. No one walks in here unless I want them to.”
“What would have happened if you weren’t here and I tried to go in?”
He furrowed his brow. “You wouldn’t have been able to open the door.”
“No magic trap? It wouldn't have zapped me, or turned me into a frog?
“No,” he replied. “You been watching too much television.”
“So, what’s so special about this room? There’s nothing in here. I thought you said you were going to help me out with this little treasure hunt.”
“Over there,” Cody said, pointed at the wall in the back of the room.
“I don't see anything,” I said.
Cody snapped his fingers. All of a sudden, two tables appeared. I walked closer to take a look at them. On the tables were weapons. Swords, daggers, and a variety of what I guessed were hand held weapons.
Cody snapped his fingers again. Two cabinets appeared, one on each side of the tables. In them, I could see different staffs, spears, and bows. A lot of them looked like they were left over from medieval times. My dad used to have books about old weapons, so I recognized some of them.
“Were they invisible, or did you make them appear with a spell or something?” I asked.
“You ask a lot of questions,” Cody said.
I guess I did. But how was I supposed to learn from this guy if I didn’t ask questions. Assuming, of course, that I passed his stupid test. “Well?” I said, waiting for an answer.
Cody sighed. “Fine. There were there, but it wasn’t an invisibility spell, if that is what you are thinking. Part of my skill set makes me good at what your books would call illusionary wizardry. So, the tables were there, but you couldn’t see them.”
“That’s not being invisible?” I asked.
“No. It’s a subtle difference,” he replied.
Huh. I wasn’t sure I understood that. Then I remembered something from the reading I had done last summer, when I was getting ready for school.
“Wait, does that mean you are an Illusionist, then?”
He simply nodded. “Nothing gets past you.”
Very funny. But I meant it as a serious question. “But there aren’t any Illusionists left. They all disappeared after the Werewolf Uprising of 1975. The Wizarding Authority stopped licensing Illusionists. They said there was no need for them anymore. In fact, that’s one of the reasons for the passing of the Information Control Act of 1983.”
“What’s your point, kid?”
“That means that you are a…”
“Annabeth! Do not be rude. You are asking too many questions. I’m sure that Cody will explain everything later,” Aunt Linda said from behind me. “Or at least explain some of his background.”
“Hmmph. We’ll see. For now, enough questions about me,” Cody said. “Now the questions are going to be about you.” He looked across the tables. “You can choose one weapon to assist you.”
“Are these magic? Or enchanted?” I asked.
“Wouldn’t be much good if they weren’t,” Cody replied. “You know the difference?”
“Sure, magic weapons are purposefully crafted with magic from the beginning. Enchanted weapons have magic spells put on them after they are made,” I said.
“Well, someone has been reading their books like a good student,” He said, with a bit of sarcasm. “Which one do you choose?”
“I’m not a licensed wizard. If the Wizarding Authority catches me using a weapon...well, something bad will happen to me. I’m not sure what. We didn’t get to that part yet in my Magic Law and Ethics class at school.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Cody said with a sly smile. “What about you, Linda-Loo? You gonna tell?”
I looked over at Aunt Linda. I could see her face turning red. I was pretty sure what she was going to say about this.
“I said, Cody, do not call me that,” she said through gritted teeth. She turned toward me, “Annabeth, you should follow Cody’s directions.”
My jaw almost dropped to the floor. That was definitely not what I expected her to say. Aunt Linda wass someone who followed the laws. I had gotten more than a few lectures on the need for wizards to follow the rules, and how important it was for upstanding wizards of the magic community to set the example of being a law abiding magic user for the other supernatural races. So, this was different.
Now, I was being told that i could pick a magic or enchanted weapon. We had only read about these in school. There were some in the library, but they were in spell protected cases. We never actually got to hold one. But now, I was looking at an entire arsenal.
“Well?” Cody asked impatiently.
I walked from one end of the table to the other. Weapons like the ones I was looking at usually came with some kind of documentation. Without that, I didn’t really know what special thing each one could do. It was kind of like picking out clothes without looking at the sizes.
“How am I supposed to know what each one can do?” I asked Cody.
“You don’t,” he answered. “Close your eyes.”
I did as I was told this time. “Ok, now what?”
“Stretch out your hands. Feel the magic. Feel the enchantments.”
I stretched out my hands. I didn’t know exactly how to feel the magic, through. I just stood there for a few seconds.
“Open your heart and mind, kid. You’ll feel which way to go.”
I took a few deep breaths. My hands started to tingle, but they weren’t exactly telling me where to go. I opened my eyes, and walked over to the cabinet on the left side. I stretched my hands out, but I didn’t feel anything. I picked up an ornately carved staff. But it didn’t feel right. I’m not sure why. I always thought that if I had a weapon, it would be a staff. I always thought that a staff was kind of the main weapon of wizards. At least that’s what it seemed like in the human books, a wizard standing on top of a mountain, holding a staff up. But now, it didn’t seem like the right weapon.
I moved slowly by the spears and pole weapons. Nothing. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to tell which one to pick, but I felt nothing. Then I moved to the first table. Still nothing. I then kept going down to the second table.
Then I felt it.
I literally felt the tingling in my fingers. It’s kind of like what I felt when I practiced with my wand in class. But the feeling was different. I looked down and saw it.
The sword was the one that I wanted. It was one that looked like the ones in the comic books. I picked it up slowly and looked at it. The hilt had a good feel. I gently touched the cold metal blade. I didn’t really know anything about swords, but I got this weird sense that this was the weapon for me.
“Can I use this one?” I asked.
“Interesting choice,” Cody said. Then he looked over at Aunt Linda. “What do you think?”
“It’s a sword, Cody. But, indeed, an interesting choice,” Aunt Linda replied.
I didn’t know why it was an interesting choice, but given my track record of asking questions, I decided not to ask what she meant. “So, does the test start now?”
“You think your ready?” Cody asked.
“Sure,” I said. “Unless there is something else I need to know.”
“You don’t want to ask about the magic of the sword?” Cody asked.
; “I didn’t think that you would tell me.”
“You’re right. I’m not going to tell you.”
“How am I supposed to know what power it has?”
Cody smirked. “You probably need to figure out how to use a sword first.”
“You don’t seem to want to answer my questions. I’m not sure how good of a mentor you would be.”
“I get that a lot,” Cody responded. “That’s why I don’t like to take on apprentices.”
I was getting tired of all these questions and no answers. If I had to take this test, I wanted to get it over with. “I’ll ask again, do I take the test now? What am I supposed to find? And what did you mean by destination? How will I know if I get there?”
“Slow down, kid. Let’s start with the first question. The answer is no, not quite yet. Let’s go back to the other room. And don’t forget the sheath. You can strap it to your back so you’re not swinging that thing around.”
Chapter 6
When we got into the other room, Cody snapped his fingers again, and the door to the room closed.
“So why did you choose that sword? There were a lot of other weapons, more powerful weapons, in that room,” Cody asked.
I wasn’t sure why I picked it. And I wasn’t sure if I had picked the right weapon. “All I can say is that it felt like the one I should pick. Like it belonged in my hand.”
“Alright. Has that ever happened to you before?” Cody asked.
“Not that I can remember,” I replied. “But, then again, I've never been in a place where I could actually touch magic weapons.”
“Your parents didn’t have any?”
“Cody, it is not necessary to bring her parents into the conversation,” Aunt Linda said as she started to move in closer.
“This is my show. I’ll ask whatever questions I want,” Cody said, spitting on the floor again. “And besides, the girl needs to talk about them.”
I actually didn’t need to talk about them. But this felt different. Usually when people brought up my parents, they wanted to talk about my feelings about their deaths. I had done plenty of that. I didn’t need any more. But this was just a question about what they had. I actually didn’t mind that at all.
“It’s ok, Aunt Linda. They didn’t have any weapons in the house. At least not in the open. I know that they had some at work because they would sometimes talk about them. I think that Dad might have had some in his office at the house. There was an iron safe in there. He just said that there were some things from work that he kept in it, and that I wasn’t to mess with it.”
“And did you?” Cody asked.
“Did I what?”
“Mess with it. Or did you do as you were told?”
I tried not to squirm at the question. I had a habit of doing that when I was about to lie, or at least not tell all of the truth. “No, I did not.”
Cody just stared at me.
“Well, not exactly. I never looked inside it.”
“But you did try to get in it.”
“I tried some spells,” I said. I figured that I might as well admit it.
“But no luck?” Cody asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
I wasn’t sure what he getting at. “I don’t know,” I replied.
“Was is because you suck at casting spells?”
“No, it was not because I sucked at spells, thank you very much.” I didn’t like this jerk saying that. In the wizarding world, there’s not much of a worse insult than to tell someone that they were not good at magic.
“Is that why they kicked you out of that school? You weren’t good enough? Couldn't cast spells, couldn’t use a wand? Was that it?”
“No, it was not!” I spit back at him. I was getting angry. Really angry.
“I think it was,” he said in that gravelly voice. “You brought me half a wizard,” he said, turning to Aunt LInda. “Apparently the half the doesn't work.”
Aunt Linda raised her head up a bit, and narrowed her eyes. “Annabeth is perfectly capable for her age and experience. She just needs some guidance.”
“Yeah, guidance,” Cody muttered. “Whatever.”
“Hey, it’s true. That safe probably had enchantments on it. Maybe my wand wasn’t working right.” I wasn’t going to stand for this grumpy old guy challenging me like that. “Give me your stupid test, and I’ll show you.”
“I’m trying to figure out if you’re even good enough to take the test. I don’t want you to screw up and get yourself killed in the middle of it. Especially since you suck at casting spells.”
“Cody! That’s enough!” Aunt Linda said sternly through her gritted teeth. “Now, you have to give her a chance. Let her prove herself.”
“I don’t think so,” Cody answered, noticeably perturbed.
“What do you mean you don’t think so?” I asked. I was tired of this. I was tired of people calling me names. I was tired of nobody believing in me. I knew I had what it took to be a wizard. I didn’t really care about his stupid test before, but now I did. I wanted to show him, and everyone else that I did have what it takes to be a wizard.
“I mean, I’m not testing you, because I don’t think you will pass,” he said as he folded his arms across his chest. Then he looked down at me with pity on his face and shook his head. “No offense, kid. Not everyone is cut out for this life. Maybe the Wizarding Council will have mercy on you. Maybe they’ll just stick you in a remedial program or something. Even if you have to spend some time in the joint, at least it will toughen you up.” The he turned and started to walk toward the door.
That was it. I couldn't hold back my rage any longer. I could feel that the sword was still in my hand. I swung it as hard as I could at him. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that he wasn’t close enough for me to actually hit him. But that part of my mind wasn’t the one in control.
The blade sliced through the air easier and quicker than I expected. I stopped it right in front of me, pointed directly at Cody. I may not have actually hit him, but it made me feel better. It was like I was finally taking control, not letting someone talk down to me like I was some worthless, pitiful creature that had no value or purpose. I could feel the rage and anger leave my body. It felt good.
Then something very strange happened.
As I stood there, sword outstretched, something like a blue lightning bolt launched out form the sword’s tip. It went straight into Cody’s back, throwing him in the air and through the door. A second later, I heard a thud. It must have been Cody’s body hitting the ground outside.
“Annabeth! What have you done?” Aunt Linda screamed at me.
“I...I didn’t do anything! It just happened!” I yelled back at her. I didn’t mean to actually hurt Cody. I mean, I was mad enough to. But I wasn’t a violent person at heart. And how was I to know that he had given me a sword that could shoot lightning?
Aunt Linda rushed out the door. I was stunned for a second, then I ran out the door behind her. I could feel the mixture of fear and adrenaline as I saw Cody laying face first in the dirt. Smoke was rising up out of his back. My face became hot, and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
Aunt Linda quickly knelt down and put her fingers on his neck, checking for a pulse. Then she moved around to the other side to check again. That’s when it really hit me. I had killed a man.
Whatever trouble I had gotten into before was nothing like this. I knew that I had a temper, especially when someone was trying to humiliate me. But I had never seriously hurt anyone before.
I knew that this changed everything.
Chapter 7
“Cody! Cody!” Aunt Linda screamed.
“Get off me, woman,” I heard a voice mumble.
“Cody! Can you hear me?” Aunt Linda yelled.
“I said, get off me, woman,” Cody said gruffly as he slowly sat up. “I swear, Linda-Loo, you don’t have to make with all the theatrics.”
I could almost see the steam comi
ng out of Aunt Linda’s ears. “I’m trying to see if you are alive or if I have to start digging a hole to bury you in, you old goat,” she snapped back at him.
“I am perfectly fine. Ouch!” Cody grumbled.
A sense of relief showered over my body. I hadn’t killed him. I was still mad at him for the what he had said to me, but I was happy that he was alive.
I rushed over and knelt beside him. “I’m sorry, Cody. I’m really, really sorry!”
Cody looked up at me. He looked like someone who had just had a heart attack. “Damn it, kid, now that’s what I’m talking about!” he said as his lips curled into a crooked smile.
Now I was confused. “You’re not mad at me?”
“Mad? No. Glad you finally showed me something. You’ve got heart, Annabeth,” he said to me.
Wow. I almost killed the man and now he thought I had heart? “Thanks. I do have heart,” I said proudly. “And spunk. Don’t forget you said spunk.”
“Don’t remind me,” Cody grumbled, as he got up and dusted himself off.
“Hey,” I said when I realized something. “You called me by my name. You didn’t call me ‘kid.’”
“Don’t get used to it,” he replied as he shook the dirt off of his hat. “Here’s a couple of free lessons for you. First, don’t apologize to anyone for pushing back at them. If they want to talk smack to you, let them. But also let them know that there are always consequences for our actions. Do you think you deserved how I talked to you?”
“No, I don’t,” I answered.
“Well, then, don’t apologize for the consequences that I got.”
“Why did you give me a sword that could shoot lightning anyway? You could have told me something. I could have killed you!”
“Kid, sooner or later you are going to figure things out. That sword doesn’t have the power to shoot lightning.”
“Well, where…” I started to ask.
“Lesson number two,” Cody said, interrupting me. “Get your emotions under control. You can’t let your anger get away from you like that. That can cause real problems. When you start feeling things like that...anger, rage,whatever, you take control of it.”