by John O'Riley
Josephine opened her second sight and sought out the trace energies emanating from the unconscious victim. She noticed that Gary had dropped his protection in an attempt to use his psychometry but he had no way of raising the shield back up. He was vulnerable to all the trace energies in the room. Josephine tapped into something useful. She could sense that it was related to the attack. In the vision, everything was dark and she couldn’t move. Josephine realized that Vickie had been attacked with something similar to a knockout spell but it had left her partially conscious. This had been the killer’s intention. Josephine struggled to pick up more information but failed. She kept herself tuned to psychic impressions but couldn’t obtain anything else. She sighed with frustration and shook her head.
“The killer used a knockout spell but kept her partially conscious,” Josephine said. “Actually, it’s a variant of the knockout spell. It was necessary for some reason.”
“He probably enjoys knowing that they can feel him killing them,” Alex said grimly.
“Maybe.”
“Did you see anything else?”
“Nothing,” Josephine said.
The lights flickered and a gentle but frigid breeze wafted through the room for several seconds. Alex shivered and eyed Josephine warily.
“It isn’t me,” she said.
Alex shot Gary a questioning look.
“It’s not me either,” Gary said.
The lights flickered again and a stronger breeze shot over them. It stopped and Vickie’s eyes opened. She abruptly sat up as a strangled cry escaped her lips.
“Where am I? What happened?” she asked.
“You’re safe now. You were attacked,” Alex said.
Vickie’s gaze centered on him and the lights flickered again. Josephine opened her second sight just as another cold breeze whipped over them. She caught sight of strange energy discharges dancing along Vickie’s body. This only occurred in category six wizards when they were losing control of their ability. However, Vickie wasn’t wearing a topaz ring. Before Josephine could ask about it, Vickie passed out. Her body tipped over the side of the bed but Alex caught her before she could tumble onto the floor. Gary helped him to position her back onto the bed. The energy discharges no longer emanated from Vickie and she seemed to have fallen deep into the coma again.
“What just happened?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know,” Josephine said. “She’s a category six though.”
“No, she isn’t. She’s a category two,” Alex said.
“She’s definitely a six.”
“You’re wrong.”
Josephine explained what she’d just seen. Alex stared at her with a mixture of irritation and reluctant acceptance.
“She’s been changed because of the near death experience,” Alex said. “It’s happened before but I’ve never heard of someone becoming a category six.”
“Maybe she’ll recover from the coma and tell you what happened and identify the killer,” Josephine said.
Alex snorted doubtfully. “There’s no way I could be that lucky.”
Chapter 10
Josephine gazed up at the dark ceiling of her bedroom as the living room phone rang once again. She groaned grievously as she shoved herself out of bed and stumbled toward the doorway. Josephine made her way to the living room and picked up the phone.
“Hello?” she said in a disgruntled voice.
“Help me,” Gary said fearfully.
“What’s going on?” Josephine’s irritation immediately transformed into concern. “Where are you?”
“I’m in my apartment. Someone just attacked me. I think he’s waiting outside. I’m not sure,” Gary said.
“Call the police,” Josephine said.
“I will but you’re the only one who can help me.”
“Why?” Josephine asked.
“You’re a category six. Sometimes you just know things that other people would dismiss. Please, help me.”
“Okay. I’ll be right over.”
Gary told her his address which was on Stickney Road only a mile from Siesta Key.
“I’ll be there in about ten minutes,” Josephine said.
She hung up and didn’t bother with changing her clothes. She always slept in shorts and a t-shirt so it didn’t matter anyway. She rushed out the door and to her car. Soon, she parked in front of the apartment complex where Gary lived. She knocked on his door and he opened it.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
“No one’s out here,” Josephine said.
“I think he left,” Gary said.
Josephine gasped in horror as she stepped inside his apartment. All kinds of debris littered the floor including broken light bulbs which had shattered in the ceiling. One of the armchairs had collapsed as though a giant weight had crashed down on it. The television had fallen off the entertainment center and was lying in the middle of the floor with the rest of the debris.
“Did you call the police?” Josephine asked.
“Yes,” he said. “They’ll be coming soon.”
“Did you get a good look at the attacker?”
“No, he did this from outside my apartment. I think he was on the other side of the door though.”
“So he employed psychokinesis,” Josephine said with dismay.
Psychokinetic spells could manipulate matter from a distance and didn’t require a direct wave of energy unlike telekinetic spells which required a direct line of sight. Only category fives could create psychokinetic enchantments although anyone who was a category two and up could use them. Purchasing these enchantments was extremely expensive.
“I think it was the serial killer,” Gary said.
“What makes you believe that?” Josephine said sharply as fear lodged into her chest.
“Why else would someone attack me?”
Josephine hated to admit that he was probably right. Howie and Jake arrived before she had a chance to respond.
“Josephine? What are you doing here?” Howie asked.
“Gary called me,” she said.
“I think the serial killer attacked me,” Gary explained.
Howie and Jake gaped at the mess in the room.
“A psychokinetic enchantment was used,” Josephine told them.
“Even for a category five, it’s difficult to work one of those spells,” Jake commented.
“Yes, it is,” Josephine acknowledged.
“Have either one of you tried using your psychometry?” Jake asked.
“Not yet but we can try now,” Josephine said.
“I can dust for prints outside but it’s a public place and I doubt we’ll get anything we can use,” Jake said.
Gary’s eyes filled with panic over the prospect of using his psychometry. Josephine knew he was dreading lowering his trace energy shield. She didn’t blame him. Receiving all that overwhelming psychic input must be brutal. She opened her awareness to the subtle energies of the room and searched for clues. Impressions came to her as she carefully sifted through the area. A vision of part of the attack sprang into her mind. Debris had already started to litter the floor and Gary had stumbled across the living room toward the kitchen. The television flew from the entertainment center and smacked into his side. Gary yelped with pain as he was thrown off his feet. The lights shattered and he covered his head to protect himself from the raining shards. Josephine saw several more scenes of Gary being attacked but no impressions of the attacker.
“I’m sorry but I didn’t get any clues from the serial killer,” she said.
“We’re going to post a guard with you every night,” Jake said.
“I’ll take the first watch,” Howie volunteered.
“I’m not staying here. I don’t feel safe,” Gary said shakily.
“You can stay with me,” Josephine offered.
Gary regarded her with a mixture of surprise and relief. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Let’s get you packed up so we can go,” Josephine said.
/>
“Grandma, can I talk to you for a minute in private?” Jake asked.
“Sure, honey,” Josephine acknowledged.
Gary left the room to pack and she walked over to her grandson who had taken up a position a short distance away from Howie.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Jake said.
“What do you mean?” Josephine asked.
“The serial killer obviously views Gary as a threat. You’re probably a threat to him as well. If he follows you to your home, he’ll know how to get at the both of you.”
Josephine stiffened reflexively and her heart beat a little faster. She couldn’t abandon Gary though. As a category six, she knew how alone and persecuted he must feel. She wouldn’t make him fend for himself.
“I’m taking Gary with me,” she stated with firm resolve.
“Howie will be following you to your condo. Keep an eye out for anyone else who might be tailing you,” Jake warned.
“I will,” Josephine promised.
She drove Gary to her condo and noticed he was extremely nervous during the entire trip. Once they arrived at her place, he started to relax a little though.
“You have multiple security enchantments on your door,” Gary observed.
“Yes, I do.” Josephine raised her hand toward the door and activated them.
“Most people just have one,” Gary remarked.
“I like to be prepared,” Josephine told him. “Let me show you the guest room.”
The guest room happened to be down the hall on the end directly across from her room. It was spacious and she hadn’t filled it with much furniture. It had a queen sized bed, several pictures of her family hanging on the wall, a rocking chair in the corner, and a dresser which she kept empty.
“Thank you for letting me stay here,” Gary said.
“Sure.” Josephine smiled reassuringly at him. “Let me know if you need anything. I’m going to bed.”
“I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
Josephine couldn’t help but feel somewhat tense when she lay in bed. She stared up at the ceiling and tried to relax. Now that she’d had time to process the situation, she realized she’d put a target on her back for the serial killer. If he was going after Gary, she was conveniently putting herself with him so he could take care of them both at the same time. Of course, Gary and Josephine were two powerful wizards without the constraint of an aequitas enchantment. That offered a protection which the serial killer wouldn’t know about. Josephine mentally went through the reasons why she was safe but it didn’t help her anxiety. It wasn’t until a long time afterward that she drifted into a troubled sleep. She woke up a bit late and had only just stepped out of the shower when someone knocked at the door.
Josephine quickly threw on some shorts and a blouse so she was presentable and answered the door. Helen greeted her warmly and stepped inside. Luckily, Josephine had started the coffee before showering so it was already brewed at this point.
“I have something to tell you,” Josephine said.
Gary stepped into the living room clad in only a t-shirt and red boxers. Helen’s eyes widened with astonishment and she shot her friend an embarrassed look. Josephine’s face flushed as she realized what this looked like. Gary’s dark hair was disheveled and he gazed questioningly at them.
“Gary, this is my friend, Helen,” Josephine said by way of introduction. “Helen, this is Gary. He’s the other category six I told you about. He was attacked last night so I let him stay here where he’d be safe.”
“Wow! I’m surprised the police didn’t offer protection,” Helen said.
“They had someone standing outside the condo all night but he must have left before you came over,” Josephine said. She turned to her guest. “Would you like some coffee? Alice will be over in a little bit.”
“Sure. Let me take a shower first.”
Alice arrived a short while later. Soon, the four of them were seated at the dining room table sipping coffee.
“You had an exciting night, young man,” Alice commented.
“Yes,” Gary said.
The sound of a dog barking caught their attention. Josephine frowned with displeasure. Robert’s poodle had a habit of going into barking fits over random time intervals. She never knew when it would happen. Sometimes, it would wake her out of a sound sleep. Robert must not go to bed until well after midnight.
“That damned dog. I’d like to throw it off the side of the building,” Josephine grumbled.
“It doesn’t bark that often,” Helen said.
“You don’t live here so you can’t hear it as often as I do,” Josephine said.
“Paula sent him a letter, didn’t she?”
“He’s gotten it by now. Obviously, it hasn’t helped.”
“Too bad they allow pets in this complex,” Helen said.
“Isn’t he breaking some sort of rules with his dog barking like that?” Gary asked.
“Yes but I doubt they’ll kick him out because of it,” Josephine said.
“If you keep complaining, they’ll send someone to check on him and if he’s caught with the dog barking, he’ll probably get a heavy fine,” Gary said.
“Do you really think so?” Josephine asked.
“Yes, my grandmother lives in a complex in New York. She had a similar situation.”
“Hmm,” Josephine said thoughtfully.
Gary finished the rest of his coffee and excused himself. He left for work a short while later.
“How long is he staying with you?” Alice asked.
“I don’t know. He’s welcome to stay until the serial killer is caught.”
“That could take forever with someone who’s skilled with ignotus enchantments,” Helen pointed out.
“I’m sure if it drags on for too long, Gary will move back into his own apartment,” Josephine said.
“It’s about time to go to the gym,” Helen said.
“I’m almost finished.” Alice swallowed another gulp of her coffee. “Just give me another minute.”
“No need to rush,” Josephine said.
“It gets crowded after nine,” Helen fretted. “People hog the machines.”
“Okay, I’m done.” Alice got up from the table and rinsed her mug out in the sink.
After making a brief stop at the gym and finishing their routine, they went to Siesta Key beach. They lounged on lawn chairs and sunbathed in relative silence. Josephine enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and rolling waves. Before the Disaster, this beach had been miserable to visit because of the crowds.
“Alice, I need to talk to you,” Josephine said when Helen left them to wade in the water.
Alice turned and gazed inquisitively at her. “Yes?”
“Promise you’ll keep this just between us. I’m sure Helen wouldn’t approve.”
“I promise! Tell me!” Alice said eagerly.
“I’ve tapped into the vortex here at the beach before,” Josephine blurted out nervously.
“You did?” Alice stared at her with surprise then regained her composure. “What happened?”
“It was a great experience,” Josephine told her. “The laws existed for so long that I don’t believe anyone really knows what happens.”
“Are you addicted to the power vortex?” Alice asked.
Josephine hesitated as she considered the question. She did feel an uncomfortable urge and desire to connect with it but the urge didn’t feel overpowering like one would associate with an addiction.
“I can choose not to tap into its power at any time. I’ve only connected with the vortex several times,” Josephine responded.
“You have to be very careful. Everyone knows that tapping into the vortex is what made Brenda crazy and that she eventually caused the Disaster.”
“I know but I don’t think the story is accurate. I think she may have already been crazy.”
“You don’t know that for sure, do you?” Alice leveled a concerned gaze at her.
“No, but I can�
��t just blindly accept everything I’ve been told anymore.”
“When’s the last time you tapped into the vortex?” Alice asked.
“About four days ago,” Josephine replied.
“I think you have good judgment when it comes to magic and your limits,” Alice said.
Alice turned back to her original position facing forward out to the ocean as Helen returned to sit beside them.
“Life can be so strange,” Josephine commented.
“You can say that again,” Alice agreed.
They returned to their condos and Josephine worked on making enchantments in her empty wands and pendants which is what she did when she was bored. She mainly worked with protection and telekinetic enchantments since they were one of the most basic ones. She also had a teleportation wand she was working on. It had always been too advanced but now that she was free to practice whatever form of magic she could, she had experimented with it. It was very complex and required vast quantities of power. Fortunately, she had more than enough power. The ability to align the energy matrix just right was the tricky part. Josephine lost track of time as she worked on the spell. She finally called it quits when her stomach rumbled loudly.
She popped a frozen dinner in the microwave and waited for it to finish. Gary arrived while it was still heating. He was wearing a pale blue uniform and name tag which identified him as a pharmacist.
“I didn’t realize you were a pharmacist,” Josephine said with surprise.
“Most of my family works in the medical field. My brother, Dan, and my Dad are both doctors,” Gary said. “Dad has a doctorate in magical medicine but Dan’s only a category three so he has the standard degree in medicine.”
“Why didn’t you become a physician, too?”
“I can’t stomach the thought of cutting people open,” Gary said with chagrin. “It’s something I could never overcome.”
“I can understand that,” Josephine said. “Would you like something to eat?”
“No, I stopped by McDonald’s on the way here and had a burger.”
“Okay.”
Gary paced the room as Josephine sat down with her dinner.
“I wasn’t able to stop by the beach and tap into the vortex because a police car was following me. They’re keeping a close eye on me. I need to get my trace energy shield back up. The psychic impressions are terrible. I can’t concentrate and it’s making me very anxious.”