“If anything, Sabrina lives for structure,” Jason agreed.
The elevator whirled, the doors opened, and Mrs. Cuttlebrink rushed out. “Sorry, Annie, dear. Jason. There’s a back log at the front entrance,” she said as she opened the library doors with thick, antique keys.
She did her morning routine, holding the doors open, turning on the lights, switching on the computers. “My office, if that works,” she directed them as she logged in to the computer.
“She seems a bit hassled this morning,” Annie commented as they sat in the guest chairs in the librarian’s office.
She joined them shortly, summoned her bag, and pulled out a pile of folders and a book. “I explained last week some of the representations of a square, yes?” she asked as she sat. She pulled open a book with sticky notes marking several pages.
Annie nodded.
“We missed a really, really big one.” Mrs. Cuttlebrink handed Annie the book. She read quickly and glanced up.
“The earth is round,” Annie said as she referenced the highlighted section from Mrs. Cuttlebrink. She passed it to Jason.
“Yes, it is. The idea of the four corners of Earth is merely mythical. There’s the biblical version, the flat earthers version, and the idea that there are four quadrants of Earth,” Mrs. Cuttlebrink advised.
“Let’s say no to the flat earth theory. I’m guessing the Fraternitatem won’t know about that anyway. What are we looking at?” Annie asked.
“Well, from the mentions in the Bible, it appears to mean bringing people together from all over the Earth,” the librarian said.
Annie thought for a moment. Jason said, “It’s a nice thought, but that would leave four quadrants. Yes?”
“I would figure you could divide the earth by the western and eastern hemisphere and north and south of the equator,” the librarian said.
“So, if that’s one of the meanings of the square symbol, could we assume we’re looking at four portals, one in each quadrant. If the Louisiana market holds one of the portals…” Annie said.
“Find that portal and that should lead you to the other three. In theory,” Mrs. Cuttlebrink added.
“The side of evil has gone through a lot of trouble to hide the market,” Jason said.
“They’re definitely making it hard to find them and easy to hide whatever it is they’re doing.” Annie stopped for a moment.
“I think with the Solomon’s knot, you’re close. I would think that means the Fraternitatem is making a play for the market,” Mrs. Cuttlebrink noted.
Jason glanced at his daughter and grimaced with worry.
“I’ll keep researching the idea of the four corners and see where the portals might be located. If you find the portals let me know and I can change the parameters,” Mrs. Cuttlebrink said.
With the new information, they left the librarian to catch up on her work for the morning.
*
“Where to next?” Jason asked as they exited the library.
“Well, unpaid help, you want to make a potion?” Annie asked.
Jason smiled. “Lead the way.”
The lab location hadn’t changed, but over the years, the lab had grown into something sophisticated and far more high tech than it ever had been. At the door, Annie said, “A few months ago, the lab was attacked with a magical bomb. It’s been rebuilt and it’s very different than what you last saw.”
“I’d expect it would have changed,” Jason said. He walked through the door, a look of awe on his face.
“Wow!” he murmured as he entered. When Jason last saw the lab, it was smaller, half the size as it was now, and it didn’t include the gym that was attached. His eyes darted across the space, taking in the increased number of examination tables, the equipment that was stored on shelves below, the higher number of cabinets and nonmagical investigation instruments. Even the new door to the showers had been upgraded and the incinerator tube no longer existed in the middle of the floor.
Standing at the first table were lab analysts Minka and Roscoe. “Hey, Annie. Great to see you back. And is this the Jason Pearce?” Minka asked.
Annie introduced her father to Minka and Roscoe and explained why they were there.
“Busy morning then,” Minka said.
Perkins Abernathy walked into the lab from his office and stopped short when he saw Jason standing there. They had been friends nine years ago; he was the one who performed the autopsy on his friend’s lifeless body. “Jason,” he murmured.
While it hadn’t been announced widely through Wizard Hall, word had spread amongst Jason’s friends. Perkins was both a friend and a wizard council member, so he was aware of Jason’s return. But as it was with most of his friends, the idea he was back was happy and troubling at the same time. Perkins had been one of Jason’s closest friends since they were young children. His happiness was clear as the two men embraced.
“Sorry I haven’t been by,” Jason said. “Originally—”
Perkins held up his hand. “No need to explain. I know why. And I could say the same. I’m just amazed to see you here. And working with your daughter.”
Jason smiled and they walked to Annie waiting at the table.
“She brings me the most interesting things.” Perkins smile was a mixture of happiness and caution. He pulled out a plastic bag with the bandana Milo found in Annie’s neighbor’s yard. He sighed deeply. “We had Emily’s DNA on file. The hair is most definitely hers.”
“And the body we buried?” Jason asked.
“I don’t know how they did it. I would guess either they broke in here and tampered with the evidence, or their magic is scary good,” Perkins said.
“How likely is it they broke in?” Annie asked.
“Not very likely,” Perkins answered.
“It was twenty years ago. How good were our DNA techniques?” Jason asked as he stared at the bandana.
“As good as the nonmagical techniques. That’s what we used,” Perkins said.
“Their magic is strong, but they’re an ancient organization. I don’t think their magic is good enough to fool a DNA test,” Annie said.
Perkins knew Annie well enough to know where she was heading. He signed into his computer and pulled up the roster of employees in the lab in 1999. He printed off the list. “We had several employees in and out that year. They were all vetted, background checks, criminal records, the works. Some were dissatisfied with the amount of nonmagical techniques we employed to do our jobs. Others… well, one other came and went within six months. Just didn’t cut it.” Perkins handed Annie the list.
“Thanks. I’ll see if anyone on this list has ties to the Fraternitatem. Well, at least what we know.” Annie folded the printout and stuck it in her pocket.
“We should figure out who’s buried in Emily’s grave,” Jason said.
“As you’re technically dead, I need either Annie or Samantha to sign off on it.” Perkins pulled out the standard form. Annie perused the document and signed her name.
“We’ll take care of this tonight. Is there anything else we can help you with?” Perkins asked.
Annie pulled out the scroll she received from Douglass Rand. “I need to make this potion. I’ve been told it will open the portal to the main market.” She handed him the scroll. Perkins grimaced and bit his tongue as he read the ingredient list.
“It’s… well, huh. These ingredients are something. Each ingredient is dangerous in itself. To use so many in one potion seems a bit overkill, so to speak. But then, the market is inherently evil.” He took a breath. “I guess you’re making a new cursed athame?”
“That’s my plan. I’m guessing pouring the potion in the portal location isn’t the way to go, though I’d like to take additional potion with us, just in case,” Annie said.
Perkins laughed. “You are a potions master, so I will say this: Yes, we can do that, under two conditions. One I need to be here when you make it, and two, you must promise to be careful with this in your possession.
”
“Agreed. The biggest question is; do you have these ingredients? Like you said, they’re a bit poisonous.”
“Who do you think I am?” Perkins asked as he led the wizard guards into the gym to mix the potion.
*
Perkins entered a very large walk-in closet only accessible by a small group of people with the correct clearance. He shot a spell into the magical lock, donned his gloves, and sorted through the potion ingredients, pulling what was needed.
While he organized, Minka set up the Bunsen burner, cauldron, and the mortar and pestle on a table set up in the middle of the newly refurbished gym, while Roscoe turned on a large industrial fan to suck up any contaminants released in the air.
“Suits on, please,” Perkins said as he donned his contamination gear. When the group was protected, he handed Annie several jars, each containing one poisonous plant: poison ivy sap, giant hogweed, poison hemlock, foxglove, jimson weed, and oleander. She removed one leaf from each container, dropped it into her mortar and began grinding them into a thick, mushy consistency. When the poison was exposed, it was dumped into the cauldron filled with clear water, and the unfinished potion was set on a low flame. She cleaned out the mixing bowl and started on the next group of ingredients, including one small drop of arsenic and a poison from arrow poison frog.
As Annie dropped each ingredient into the cauldron, Perkins monitored her work and carefully mixed the heated liquid as he maintained the temperature. Noxious fumes rose from the cauldron and into the fan through the ventilation system.
“Nice,” Annie said through her heavy mask.
Perkins checked the potion again, measured the temperature in the cauldron, and stirred. Patiently, they waited for the potion to shimmer to a clear color. “It’s ready for the athame,” Perkins finally said.
Annie summoned the knife she kept in a scabbard strapped to her leg. The hilt was a dragon, for Jason’s birth year on the Chinese Zodiac. Its eyes were two small emeralds, his birthstone. The tail had been forged to wrap around the ten-inch-long blade, made of elven steel. It gleamed in the artificial light.
“It looks like you’ve hardly used it,” Jason said.
“Look again. I always have it with me,” Annie said as she passed the knife to Perkins. He held it with tongs and lowered it carefully in the bubbling potion.
“And the spell,” Perkins began.
It was in Latin, so he ran his hand across the words, casting a translate spell. He grimaced when the spell wouldn’t translate and took to reciting it in Latin with his hand above the cauldron. When he finished, a black light popped from his palm and hit the potion with a small explosion. They stepped back and waited, but nothing more happened.
“Is that it?” Annie asked as she glanced inside the still bubbling cauldron.
“That’s it,” Perkins advised as he used the tongs to remove the athame. He lay it on a towel; the knife glowed with magic.
Annie bent over the athame. The potion bubbled against the metal, sizzling as the magic changed the metal, cursing it. When the metal stopped glowing and sizzling, it lay still as if nothing had happened. Perkins dried the knife with the towel, took off his glove, and touched the cool metal.
“Easy enough. Stay safe at the market,” Perkins said as he handed Annie her newly cursed athame.
“Thanks. I hope it brings me good luck.”
Chapter 10
The knife lay on Annie desk. She grazed it with her fingers lovingly.
“I remember when I got that. My parents had it made for me when I became a guard,” Jason said thoughtfully.
“It’s beautiful. Thanks for leaving it to me,” Annie murmured.
Jason picked up the cursed athame. “I was going to give it to you when you became a guard. I’m sorry I missed it.”
“So am I.” She pulled out the Fraternitatem grimoire. “I wonder if the potion was here.” She passed the book to Jason.
“You want me to dig for it?”
“You’re the unpaid help. So, yeah. By the way, how did you become my partner in this?”
Jason opened the grimoire and began to peruse their spells, potions, and other notes. “Just lucky I guess.” He smirked. “I’m sure Spencer would love to have you back.” He turned another page.
“I’d love to what?” Spencer asked as he passed her cubicle.
“Miss me?” Annie asked.
He joined them in her office and sat beside Jason. “I do. But it looks like you’ve had a better offer.” He glanced at Jason who was getting lost in the grimoire.
“Eh. He’s a hack.” Annie glanced at her partner. “You doing okay?”
Spencer sighed. He and Gibbs, as opposite as they were, had been close. Annie understood how hard it was on Spencer to lose him.
“Every day is different. This meeting of the entire Wizard Guard, he’d have hated it. Knowing that hits me hard,” Spencer said.
Annie glanced at her phone. “I almost forgot. I suppose we should get there.”
They headed to the conference room where Milo was already seated at the head of the table. It made no difference to him that he was retired and Cham was in charge. With Jason back and Annie in trouble, he felt it was his responsibility to return to the wizard guard, however that meant. “It’s odd to see you here,” he commented as Jason sat beside him.
“Weird for me too,” Jason said.
Once a wizard guard, always a wizard guard.
Annie took a seat beside Shiff and Brite where they waited for the other wizard guards to trickle in from the all satellite offices. “How are you?” Brite asked.
“I’m better. Itching seems to lessen during the day when I’m busy,” she said.
“Sleeping okay?” Brite asked.
Annie observed Brite carefully. While they had known each other prior to the trip to the past, they grew close while there. She worried about him. He was pale and drawn, and his eyes were encircled with purple. “On and off. You look like hell.” Annie tried to sound teasing, though she knew it wasn’t funny. What they had been through had been difficult on them. Since their return, they had been avoiding each other and the feelings that came with it.
“Feel like it. I’m sorry I haven’t called.”
Annie shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I haven’t either. Too much baggage to unpack.”
She glanced down and saw his right hand graze Shiff’s. He pulled it away as the other guards from satellite offices began to enter the conference room.
Annie recognized most of the wizard guards; she had either trained them in some fashion, or she’d worked extensively with them on past cases. When wizard guard partners Isaak Denberry and Eddy Woods entered, they sat on her left.
“Hey, Annie. How are you?” Isaak asked.
“Not bad. Hanging in there. It’s good to see you guys again,” she said.
“I like Cham’s initiative. I forget how fun it is working at the hall,” Eddy said as several new recruits made their way into the room, taking seats in the back.
“They look a little scared,” Eddy joked.
Annie chuckled to herself as Cham took his place at the front of the room and let the din wind down until all eyes were on him.
“Great that everyone could come in today,” he began. “As everyone knows, my plan is to have a monthly meeting with the entire U.S. Wizard Guard. If we need to meet on a more regular basis, we can do that online. So, we have a few issues we need to discuss.”
Cham switched on the television with a map of the world on the screen.
“As everyone is aware, Annie came back to the present with a great deal of power,” he began.
All eyes were on Annie now. Normally, being the center of attention wasn’t a problem for her, and she had no issue speaking in front of large groups, but this situation felt different. She placed shaky hands in her lap. Brite reached over, held her hand, and squeezed gently, not letting go.
“We’ve contacted all wizard guard units across the world and
advised them that we think the Fraternitatem of Solomon is on its way back, not only to kill Annie for her power, but also to use that power to take control the market. We obviously don’t want the market in their hands. They’re powerful, secretive, and dangerous.” Cham pointed to the map. “Here we have all of the markets that we’ve already searched. The purple dot is the market Annie investigated. This has the symbol in the square pattern.” He switched to the picture of the Fraternitatem symbol. “It might be a Fraternitatem symbol based on the Solomon’s knot.”
Annie raised her hand. “Sorry to interrupt. It’s been a long morning, but I’ve spoken to Mrs. Cuttlebrink. We think we have an answer to the square.” She explained the representations of a square in the course of human history. “Yes, I know the earth is round. We think it means the earth is divided into four quadrants: north, south, east, and west. Four markets that probably have that symbol in the pattern of a square.” Annie passed out the picture of the wall with the glyphs showing the pattern. “We couldn’t find a portal. No humming or buzzing, no hazy anomaly, no cold air. We’re not sure if there’s even a portal in the market.”
A new guard named Starla Lakin spoke up. “So, what the point of all this?”
Annie knew Starla in passing; her few conversations in the last year with the new guard had been about potion creation after Annie taught Starla’s potion class when the younger guard began her training. Beyond that, Annie had never worked with her.
“Well, for starters, we think we have a way to find the portals to the market. We found that pattern behind a storage shed in the Louisiana market. I received a potion from the adventurer named Douglass Rand, the owner of the Witches Brew, who swears it opens the portal to the market. I’m going tonight to verify this. If anyone wants to come, let me know.” Before Annie could take a breath, ten hands rose in the air. “Okay. I’m not choosing. You all can decide which three of you are going. I don’t want to make a scene at the market.” She smirked.
“So. I guess we need a new plan to find the other portals. Any ideas on how to go about that?” Cham asked. He specifically looked at Lial.
Wizard Hall Chronicles Box Set Page 148