Wizard Hall Chronicles Box Set

by Sheryl Steines

  “I saw Sami and John last night after you left,” Jason said while pouring his coffee. His footsteps were heavy against the wood as he entered the den and sat beside her. He glanced at the Book of Shadows. “Damn that book got thick.”

  Annie smiled and turned to the first page. “I met her. In England. Bega and Svenson.” She showed Jason the first entry.

  “I never noticed that before,” Jason said.

  “The magical book is a little more fluid than I thought. After my trip, some things changed, I think,” Annie said. Some magical objects weren’t easily controlled, including a family’s Book of Shadows. Those items often changed, as family experiences changed whether they knew it or not. Annie returned to the last passage she reviewed.

  “Whatcha’ looking for?” Jason moved closer to the book. Annie passed him the picture of the glyph she found in the market and explained what they thought it was.

  “I’ve never seen this. I’m guessing it’s not in the book,” he offered.

  “How do you know Great-Grandma never saw this?” She chuckled and passed him the book. “Be useful. I’ll make breakfast.”

  Annie was a potion master, an expert rank of someone who had completed extensive study and performed well on a difficult test. She had an affinity for mixing ingredients and often times used that skill to cook. Today she thought she’d try omelets. She pulled the ingredients from the fridge, lay them out like she was preparing a potion. Gently she blended the eggs, adding salt and pepper and a bit of garlic. She poured the mixture slowly and stirred until fluffy. She folded in the gruyère cheese and mushrooms.

  “That smells good,” Jason said. He sat at the table and returned to the book, perusing and snooping through the pages as he learned what Annie had done over the years.

  “Thanks. I actually like cooking,” she said as she scraped the eggs onto a large platter and carried it to the table. “I have toast coming,” she advised, popping several slices in the toaster.

  “Where’d you learn to cook?” he asked as he took a bite.

  “I’m a potion master. It’s the same principal.” She took her own bite of eggs. “Anything in there?”

  “No. Great-Grandma never saw that symbol. I’d be happy to research it for you at the library,” he offered.

  “I have Bucky searching for it. Though the internet might not have an ancient magical symbol listed.” She closed the Book of Shadows and slid it across the table.

  “I just want to get to know you while I’m here.”

  Annie held her breath and let it out slowly.

  I explained this to him.

  “I know. Cham presented me with two options. I’m trying to open myself up to you.”

  “You conjured me,” he reminded her.

  She took one last bite of eggs and started on a slice of toast. “I can’t be held responsible for the magic I perform in my sleep.” She winked.

  Jason laughed. “You need me to keep you safe and I need you to let me,” he said.

  Annie knew she had called for him because she was afraid of Emily, of the Fraternitatem. She needed him here.

  “Just remember, I’m twenty-four years old. I can take care of myself,” Annie said firmly.

  “Fair enough.” He placed the last bite of eggs on his toast and took a bite. “It’s good.”

  “I know.”

  *

  Though Jason promised he would remain hidden while living at Annie’s house, he quickly grew bored. He longed to get out and be useful in keeping his daughters safe. When it came down to it, he essentially begged both Cham and Milo to be allowed to work.

  Originally, Milo was dead set against it, worried that Jason being here would upset the magical balance. What they came to realize was that, as a corporeal ghost, he didn’t need to breathe, or eat, and he didn’t produce any magical energy. Milo finally relented, and ideas were thrown around on how to keep Jason hidden outside of Wizard Hall and out of the sight of the Fraternitatem, who watched Annie carefully.

  Ryan, preferring to keep his government transparent, held a mandatory, secret meeting of the Wizard Council, where he informed them that Jason Pearce had returned as a corporeal ghost and was going to work at Wizard Hall on cases. It went as well as Ryan could expect. There was several witches and wizards who had reservations, who worried about Annie’s safety, and who refused to vote in favor.

  In the end, it was agreed upon with stipulations.

  First, Jason was not to walk the neighborhood around the house. There were no exceptions to the rule. Second, he could teleport from the house to Wizard Hall without a disguise. Any other wizard location required one. Third, he was given a new name, Michael Shine, so that employee records could be forged in the computer system and identification issued. No one really believed the Fraternitatem could hack into the system, but they took the precautions just in case. The final stipulation was that Jason’s presence would be known as needed, which primarily extended to managers and above, as well as any employee that would be working with him. Jason agreed without complaint.

  Jason glanced at his wizard guard ID. “Is this really necessary?” he asked Annie as he stood inside her cubicle.

  “Dad, seriously. You know all cases have to be documented. Technically, you’re dead. Can’t document it as Jason Pearce,” Annie said pragmatically. “And that name isn’t one you used before. We checked.”

  “Fine.” He sat in her guest chair and put his legs on her desk. “I really can’t go back to my old life. I gotta say, though, it was great seeing Bertha again. She looked like she saw a ghost when I showed up.”

  Annie chuckled. “You’re such a dork.”

  Jason flashed a smiled. “So, what are we doing next?” Jason asked.

  Annie took what Cham has said to heart, that she needed to try with her father and include him in her life. She’d let him shadow her for now, until they could get him into his own investigation. She glanced at him. “Bucky Hart sent me a text. He’s got something. We’ll see him first. Oh, and this.” Annie summoned a phone. “I programed everyone’s number into this. I wasn’t sure if you wanted something more substantial. It’s a burner phone, so it should make it hard for anyone to find you. You’ll be able to call and text.” She handed it to him.

  “Thanks. This will help.” He turned on the phone and stared at the screen. He sighed. “I’ll need to play around with this. Not sure how much has changed.” He pocketed the phone.

  “Ready?” Jason followed Annie through the passageways of Wizard Hall. She led him downstairs to the basement and the telecommunications department, where Bucky was waiting for them.

  “Some things are exactly the same. Other things, I’m not sure I’ll get used to,” Jason admitted as they entered.

  “You’ll love what Bucky can do,” Annie said.

  Jason followed his daughter to the back end of the department. He watched in fascination as packages were received through magical tubes, landing in large wheeled containers. His jaw hung open as employees quickly typed on small laptops, scanned police radios, magically used nonmagical office equipment, sent emails, and floated notes back and forth. Annie gently tugged his sleeve to have him follow to Bucky’s cubicle.

  “Sorry. It’s changed,” he said as Annie knocked on Bucky’s cubicle wall.

  “No worries.” She smiled first to him and then to Bucky. Bucky nodded, placed his hand on the wall, and cast a muffle spell.

  “The family Pearce. I’m honored,” Bucky said as he quickly cleared two chairs of stacks of files and loose papers.

  “I was surprised to get a text so soon,” Annie admitted as she sat beside Bucky and introduced him to her father. After shaking hands, Jason stood beside Annie in awe as Bucky pulled up several screens on all three of his monitors.

  “Well, I found something interesting in the symbol I wanted to show you immediately,” Bucky told them. On one screen, he enlarged the single image first showing the rectangle with the circle at the center. He continued to zoom in u
ntil they could clearly see a dot at the center. Jason moved closer to the screen as Bucky continued to enlarge the picture.

  “That looks like chain links. What is it?” Annie asked.

  “Glad you asked. I searched and found what I think is a Solomon’s knot,” Bucky said.

  Annie sat back in the chair. “A Solomon’s knot. Coincidental?”

  “If you believe in coincidences,” Bucky said. Annie shrugged. “I uploaded all the pictures from you and the other wizard guards and scanned them. I’ve been searching for all of these square, circle, Solomon’s knot combos to see if they form a pattern or if they’re random. While all of the pictures contain the glyph, none of them appeared to be placed in any pattern, that I could discern.”

  “That’s a lot of glyphs on a lot of walls. How are you sure there aren’t any other patterns?” Jason asked.

  “I’m running a computer program that will find that glyph in a clear pattern. If there is one, the computer will find it. So far, nothing.” Bucky pointed to the top computer screen. Annie and Jason watched for a moment as the program searched one picture and looked for patterns. When none were discovered, the computer searched another glyph and repeated the process.

  “Okay. If this is the only location where multiple glyphs form a pattern, there might be something there,” Annie said.

  “Did you find the telltale portal sign?” Bucky asked.

  Annie sighed. “Not yet. We were hoping the glyphs meant something.”

  “If this is how they’re hiding the market now, anything’s possible,” Bucky said.

  Annie grimaced.

  Jason stepped closer to the screen, reviewing the Solomon’s knot. “Can I take the leap and assume that if this a Solomon’s knot, that indicates a connection to the Fraternitatem?” Jason asked.

  “Have you ever believed in coincidence?” Annie asked.

  “No. And it sounds like you don’t either.”

  “No. It scares me knowing they might already have control,” Annie said.

  “I don’t think they do yet. They probably have their hands in how the market will be shaped. If they had control, you would feel it already. Those small markets, Archibald Mortimer, the other Wizard Guard units. They need your power for an all-out take over,” Jason reassured her. Annie wasn’t convinced.

  “Thanks, Bucky. That’s definitely interesting,” Annie said.

  “About the other thing you asked…” he stopped and glanced at Annie.

  “Is there anything on Emily?” Annie asked.

  “I still haven’t found her per se. But an Emily King earned a degree in archaeology at Tel Aviv University. The reason I mention it is that she’s the same age as Emily Pearce and it’s the same degree as Dr. Arden Blakely. Is King a name you have a connection to?” Bucky asked.

  Annie looked at Jason.

  “No. It’s not in my family and I don’t believe it’s in hers either. She could have gotten married. Maybe there’s a marriage license of an Emily to someone with the last name King,” Jason suggested.

  “I made some assumptions. I’ll have to rethink those. I’ll look for that. I do think she’s been living in the Middle East though,” Bucky said.

  Annie blew out stale air. “Thanks. I think you’re right. We’ll let you get back to work.” Bucky handed her a folder complete with copies of all pictures. They said goodbye and Annie led Jason out of the telecommunications department to the library.

  “Mrs. Cuttlebrink for research?” Jason asked as they entered the large basement room.

  “Just curious,” Annie said.

  It was the first time she had been to the library since returning home. She stared at the doors and touched the carving of herself. “I saw these doors hanging on a Viking longhouse in Jorvik. There were only a few carvings; most of this hadn’t happened yet.”

  Jason touched her shoulder. “My brilliant girl. You can see all that you saved, right here,” he said.

  “I’m still trying to comprehend it all.” She let go of the carvings and entered the empty library. Hearing nothing in the stacks, she walked to the office, where she found the librarian reading a thick tome.

  “Annie, dear. How can I help…” Though Mrs. Cuttlebrink knew Jason was back from the dead, she hadn’t seen him. She held her breath as she stared at her old friend, taking in his young face, his hair, his eyes. “Jason. Welcome back,” she said breathlessly.

  “It’s good to see you, Sabrina.” The two friends came together in a hug.

  When they separated, Mrs. Cuttlebrink said, “I heard, but I couldn’t believe it. I’m so glad to see you.” She was a bit teary eyed as she offered them seats.

  “So, Annie, Jason, how can I help you?” she finally asked.

  Annie passed her the picture of the square, circle, and the Solomon’s knot and explained what they learned from Bucky.

  The librarian stared at the picture. “I can say I’ve never seen this particular combination before. Just from researching so many cases over the years, I know the square has been used as a symbol over the course of human history. Things like, community, integrity, structure, balance. It can represent north, south, east, and west as well.”

  “I wonder if it’s like a map to tell us where the portals to the market are,” Annie said.

  Mrs. Cuttlebrink stared at the picture again. “Quite possibly. It can also represent horizontal and vertical planes. The circle with the dot at the center has represented the sun or the alchemical symbol for gold. But that’s not a dot per se. So the Solomon’s knot,” the librarian said.

  “Bucky found that clue. It sounds like whoever’s responsible for the puzzling disarray of pictures probably borrowed them from other cultures and multiple meanings,” Annie said.

  “I rather doubt the merchants and the Fraternitatem were interested in the meanings of these pictures. I’m guessing they gave you these clues to distract you from finding the market.”

  Annie took out another picture illustrating the square pattern. “That particular combo formed a pattern. A square.”

  Mrs. Cuttlebrink stared at the picture of the wall, the glyph highlighted. “So they do. I wouldn’t spend time looking for a meaning to the glyphs. I would definitely concentrate what that pattern represents and how it helps you find the portal. I’ll research this and see what we have on the subject. Where was the market you found this in?”

  “A smaller market in Louisiana. We think the portal to the main market can be found there. But we didn’t feel that humming or buzzing, and there was no chill.”

  “That is perplexing. I’ll get back to you when I have something.”

  Chapter 6

  Annie stood outside Gibbs’s cubicle. He had been a man of few words and few possessions, so his walls were mostly bare. His books and artifacts that he chose to display were sparse, but neatly lined on the shelves along his wall. His notes were still lying in the in box. The room looked like it did before they left for the past.

  She held back the tears as she entered, this time doing what no one else dared do: sitting in his desk chair, an old, well-used seat. She could feel the indentations he had made over the years.

  “What are you going to do with his things?” Jason asked as he sat across from her in one of the two guest chairs.

  “I don’t know. I need to catalogue his stuff. If there’s anything really dangerous, we’ll confiscate it and lock it up. Anything else…” She looked around at his things. “If there’s anything else, I guess we pass it out to his friends.”

  Spencer stood at the cubicle opening. “Hey, Annie, Jason.” he sat in the last chair. “I haven’t had the will to come in here.”

  “I was in here yesterday, but in a different capacity. Today”—she glanced around the small cubicle— “today, it feels weird. Sad. I guess we could wait, though.” She summoned a vial of Gibbs’s blood, something all wizard guards submitted to on the off chance it was needed. She would need it to get into his locked drawer.

  “It’s ti
me. We need to find and remove the dangerous items,” Spencer said. He glanced at his hands and then to Annie. “I’m sorry I hadn’t been out to see you. I was angry and I think I blamed you.”

  “I understand. I blamed myself too.” Annie pulled the nearly empty box with the elf ear inside and placed it at the center of the desk. “I say we remove all of the personal stuff. Dangerous things will go to Artifact Hall, and we can distribute his personal items to those who want something of his?” she suggested to Spencer.

  As tears fell from her eyes, Annie placed Gibbs’s blood inside his blood lock and listened for the lock to pop open. When it did, she opened the top drawer and looked inside.

  “The magic that killed him was ancient black magic,” Spencer said.

  “The man who killed him used black magic to keep himself alive for over a century, to create the demons that wiped out hundreds of people. Gibbs didn’t deserve that kind of death.” Annie leaned back and closed her eyes.

  “He volunteered to protect you knowing he might not come back. He went because he wanted to protect you and so I could… I could stay with my family.”

  Annie saw the guilt in Spencer’s eyes, his jaw clenched in worry. “It’s not your fault.” She wiped the tears from her cheek.

  “He’d be so pissed at us for sitting around crying over him.” Spencer reached for the wooden box inside the top of the credenza drawer and maneuvered his crystal across the wood. It glowed bright white. “Not evil,” he said as he stuck the box in the cardboard one on the top of the desk. “Will you be all right?” he asked Annie.

  She nodded and returned to Gibbs’s items, sorting them into the boxes. The evil magical items pile was smaller than they expected: one personal box and three with magical artifacts, plus a pile of books. Jason glanced inside the items with good magic and pulled out a small amulet, a magical protection necklace in the shape of the Eye of Horus. “I wore this the night I died,” Jason said. His hands trembled, perhaps at the memory or the knowledge that it meant enough to Gibbs to keep it all those years.