Marked: Thoth's Legacy ~ Book One

by S. E. Jackson

  Izzy worked to tamp down on her impatience. “I would appreciate it. Anything you can tell me would be more than I know now.”

  “I do remember that when Agnes and I tried to find her before, no matter what avenue we pursued, your mother’s past remained something of an enigma. It was like she appeared out of thin air. We couldn’t locate where she had come from. No family, no previous address, there was nothing. And after she left that night, she just disappeared.”

  “That means she’s dead.”

  “Not,” he paused, “…necessarily.”

  “How could she still be alive and not leave a trace?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “She could be living under another name. Maybe she doesn’t remember who she is? I don’t know. I do know you have her magic. That quality. I wouldn’t be surprised to find you can work with all of the elements. We should discuss this more. Devise a training plan just for you when you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready now.”

  “Not yet. Soon though.”

  Izzy wanted to push, but she could tell he wouldn’t budge on this. She wasn’t a child to be protected.

  “Go get your mojito before they’re all gone. I hear they’re something of a specialty of your guardian.”

  Izzy chose to follow his orders and return to the group. If she said what was on her mind at that moment, he might never tell her what she wanted to know.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Izzy

  A few days later, dusk had settled over Izzy’s backyard, but she was determined to practice what Sebastian had taught them before their next lesson the following night. Dressed in her softest pair of yoga pants and loose-fitting cotton shirt, she forced herself to go through the motions again. She would not cave to the comfort of her couch and whatever passed for dinner from her freezer until she felt confident in her abilities.

  Back straight, and eyes closed to focus, Izzy stood, ready for battle.

  “Shield!” she commanded herself in a fierce yet subdued voice.

  She opened her eyes and cursed. “This was so easy yesterday. What am I doing wrong? Dammit, dammit, dammit!” She heard Sebastian’s instructions in her mind. Call for the wind, be one with it.

  Wind, blow your breath with all your might

  Lend your power so I might fight,

  Your strength is my core, your tenacity, my key

  As I will, so mote it will be.

  Nothing happened.

  “I don’t understand,” Izzy told the empty yard, perplexed.

  The wind answered Izzy’s unspoken question. You asked for help while you fight, yet not a foe do we see in sight.

  Izzy tried to not let her frustration show. “So, because I don’t have an enemy now, no shield?”

  Smart you are, wise you will be, the wind is your tool, just set your will free.

  Izzy smirked. “Thanks for that.” She couldn’t stop herself from muttering under her breath. “That’s about as clear as mud.”

  The key comes alive at twenty-five.

  “Key? What are you talking about now? What key?”

  The wind swirled around her now, its gusts creating almost a tunnel effect.

  Destiny waits for no one, it’s time for action.

  Isadora could feel her frustration rising again. “Act on what? Is it really so important to be so cryptic?”

  Beware your friends, your enemies wear disguises.

  “Fuck off, then.” Isadora spat the words, done with the conversation.

  Exactly.

  Apparently, sylphs had the last word too.

  The wind died away to reveal an army of gnomes in her yard. They stood in a mass in front of her, hundreds of them. A slight motion had her glancing upward. They lined the trees, every branch it seemed. Each one of them looked at her expectantly. Had she accidentally called them with her practice earlier?

  “I’m good, you guys. Thanks for coming though,” she offered the assembled mass a weak smile.

  One of the gnomes toward the back of the group stepped forward. The other gnomes ahead of him shuffled aside one by one to allow him passage. Each bowed and murmured words in a language Izzy had never heard. Without knowing what they said, she was certain of their respectful nature. An urge to bow, curtsy – to show some form of deference - came over her. She bent her knees and slightly bowed her head as the gnome approached.

  “Ohhhh….” Murmured whispers raced through the group.

  “I appreciate the honor you bestow on me, but it is I that should bow to you, Marked.”

  Isadora rose from her admittedly awkward pose and surveyed the man as he came to a stop a few feet away. “Why would you bow to me? And, I keep hearing that, ‘Marked’. What does that mean?”

  “Do you not have a mark? A symbol which appeared well after your birth? It speaks to you sometimes with an itch or pain?”

  Dumbfounded, Izzy didn’t speak for a moment. “How do you know about that?”

  “It’s magic,” he cleared his throat, “your magic is luminescent. To one of our kind, your light calls us from far away. We’ve been waiting for your return. And now, here you are. How can we assist you this evening?”

  “What do you mean - waiting for me? I don’t understand any of this. Explain.” Izzy demanded.

  “It’s too soon. Fate is fickle and the knowledge isn’t mine to give. In time you will learn of your destiny. Be patient and let the elements aide you in your path.”

  “My path to what?”

  “All will be revealed in time. Don’t rush to find what is not waiting for you yet. Worry instead on the now.”

  “Arcane, ambiguous bastards. Perfect. This caps my night.”

  “You were practicing your shield?” the gnome ignored her outburst and changed the subject.

  “The sylph said without an attacker they won’t help.” Izzy shook her head. She couldn’t believe she was even having this conversation.

  “We’ll be your foe. Then you can practice,” the gnome leader stated decisively. He turned to his gathered forces and shouted. “Attention men, full frontal assault, you heard her, she needs our attack!”

  Without further warning and with zero time for preparation, Isadora watched as targets were launched in her direction. Some of the little assholes had even lit their arrows on fire. It felt like staring down on the wrong end of a thousand little missiles. Then it happened.

  Wind began to swirl. At first, just a slight breeze. Its speed and strength grew exponentially in mere seconds, too fast for human eyes to see. The wall surrounding her thickened and expanded in breadth. One after another, their weapons were flicked away. Each and every projectile aimed in her direction fell to the ground as if rendered impotent.

  Izzy remained frozen. Her mind emptied from the initial fear she experienced. She couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

  Now, do you believe? We’re by your side, your call we heed.

  “The sylph speaks the truth,” the leader of the gnomes agreed.

  “I…I need to think about this,” Izzy turned and hurried without further thought toward her house. She stopped as she reached the door and turned toward the gnomes.

  “Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say. It felt odd to thank them for their attempt to kill her. But, they had tried to help.

  Her eyes darted from gnome to gnome for a moment. They watched her just as expectantly as she feared she regarded them. She motioned to the door. “I think I’ll call it a night. Thanks again.”

  With that, she spun to the door, turned the knob, and escaped to the sanctity and sanity of her home.

  ◆◆◆

  “Shields up,” Sebastian called to the line of witches. “Be mindful of the time it takes for your protection to snap into place. You are only as good as your weakest spell.” He paced down the row, evaluating shields, stances, their eyes.

  “Chin up, Wren! You must be ready to look your opponent in the eye. Half of any battle is reading your adversary’s next move from their expressi
on.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  Izzy turned her head and flashed a grin at Cass. “Wren sounds like she’s joined the military.”

  “You could stand to find a little appreciation for the seriousness of this matter yourself, Isadora.”

  The virtual slap on her wrist had Izzy’s spine snapping to a ramrod position. Her gaze flipped from the laughing eyes of her friend to his stern ones. “My apologies,” she mumbled.

  “I don’t want your apology, Isadora.” He stopped walking and stood to look down at her. Even with her height, he towered over her. “It’s not my ass that will be demolished and left for dead should you ignore your lessons. You and your friends, however. Are you prepared to see them fall one by one? Or perhaps yourself?”

  “I understand,” she chewed the insubordinate words as they rose on her tongue and swallowed them lest they find her more trouble. She knew he was trying to help. Even knew that his lessons were important for everyone. It was just hard to constantly stay focused on the message of doom and gloom. It sucked really.

  “You’re done then? We can proceed?”

  “Yes, of course.” She almost apologized again but forced that down as well.

  Pain struck fast and with pinpointed accuracy at her shoulder. In an instant, Izzy went from annoyed to alert. “He’s here.”

  Sebastian rolled his eyes. “We need your theatrics less than your comic sense. If you’re going to continue to be a nuisance, I am going to have to insist you go inside.”

  “No.” The single word snapped out of Izzy. Sebastian did a double take, eyes narrowing. She showed not a trace of alarm nor fear – she wouldn’t allow Gideon that.

  “He? You’re referring to Gideon?” Sebastian looked past the women to the woods beyond.

  “Yes, you don’t feel him? He’s close. Watching us,” Izzy held herself still, refusing to squirm while she felt Gideon’s eyes slither down her body. Bile eased up her throat but she would not give him the advantage of knowing how much she reviled him.

  “Ladies,” Sebastian raised his voice to be heard. “Go inside. As quick as you can. Make haste, I’ll be there shortly to explain.” His hand shot out and wrapped around Isadora’s forearm. “You stay with me,” he instructed in undertones.

  “We should call the sheriff,” Izzy urged.

  “To do what?” Sebastian was only half listening now. “The sheriff doesn’t have the tools to fight him. Put up your shield, protect your friends. How large can you make it?”

  “I don’t know, I haven’t tried anything like that.”

  “Try it now,” Sebastian demanded.

  She reached for the words she’d spoken earlier.

  “You don’t need a spell! Have I taught you nothing?” Sebastian screamed. A breeze picked up around them, “Yes! You are the wind, just be!”

  Izzy remembered the sylph from the night before. We’re by your side, your call we heed. Then, something just clicked. The wall of wind widened almost instantly. Izzy heard her friend’s gasps and cries as they raced toward the house.

  “Beautiful,” Sebastian cooed in awe. “I knew it was in you.”

  With his hand still wrapped securely around her arm, he walked her backward. “Hold it,” he breathed the words. “You’re doing great. We’re almost there.”

  Izzy’s focus faltered.

  A bolt of lightning pushed through the sky and landed where she had stood moments before. Her feet and legs tingled in reaction.

  “We weren’t hit,” Sebastian yelled to be heard above the wind and rain that now slashed against them. “The elements are yours. Don’t let him win!”

  Izzy was soaked to the skin in an instant from the downpour. Everything happened so fast.

  “Tell the rain to stop!” Sebastian shouted again.

  Something about his words penetrated. Izzy dropped her head back and felt enveloped in sunshine. Skies clear, the clouds pushed away as the sun bullied its way into view. The breeze chilled her skin as it zipped by.

  “You did it.” The awe in Sebastian’s voice pulled her out of the trance. “That was bloody amazing.”

  Izzy dazedly turned toward the house, surprised she was steps from the door.

  “In, you go,” Sebastian’s words were soft. He pushed her past the threshold and into the room where everyone was gathered. En masse, the women moved toward them, but Sebastian ordered them back. “She needs dry things, a towel, and a hot cup of tea, I think. Maybe a drop or two of sugar, or better, some bourbon in it for the shock.”

  “Oh my gosh!” Cass ignored Sebastian and raced over to Izzy. Arms wrapped around Izzy, Cass lent her own strength. She was determined to singlehandedly keep her friend upright. “You were amazing! How did you do that?”

  Izzy looked down. “Cass, I don’t know. I haven’t the faintest clue.”

  Despite Cass’ small stature, she didn’t falter even as Izzy leaned in further for strength. “We’ll find out.” Cass’ voice remained as strong as the rest of her. “Just remember, no matter what, you’ve got me.”

  “Back ‘atcha, Cass.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Izzy

  The following day Izzy was busy on the sales floor at Indulgence artfully arranging the merchandise. Meanwhile, Cass minded the register and assisted customers. Dodger did his part by sleeping the afternoon away in his cage behind the counter and not demanding attention. Mind on the events from the previous evening, Izzy was not fully concentrated on her task.

  “That’s a pretty high stack you’ve got going on there,” Cass called out. There was a lull between customers and only the two of them were in the store for the moment.

  Izzy blinked and jerked back into the present. Several homemade soaps toppled from the tower she’d created as they gave way to gravity and tumbled back toward the table and floor.

  “Oops.”

  Cass pushed away from the counter. “I’ll help.”

  “You don’t have to,” Izzy argued, angry with herself for allowing herself to become distracted. “I’m the idiot not paying attention to what she’s doing.”

  Cass picked up several soaps off the floor and placed them back on the table. “I don’t know. I think you might be allowed a momentary lapse in concentration. Things have been a little crazy lately. For you especially.”

  “You’ve got that right.” Izzy started slamming the items, one on top of the other, scowling as she worked. Cass gently pushed Izzy’s hands away and took over the display.

  Hands fisted in frustration at her side, Izzy growled. “What is wrong with me?”

  “Who says there’s something wrong?” Cass looked around the store. “Show them to me! I’ll beat them to a pulp.”

  Izzy rolled her eyes. “Haha. You have to admit I’ve been more hindrance than help today.”

  “That’s my best friend you’re talking about. I suggest you watch your tone.” Cass stood hands on hips, staring at Izzy. Her brown eyes were wide and assessing, “I will take a bitch down. Don’t think I won’t.”

  Agnes walked into the store, her gaze darting between Izzy and Cass and evaluated the scene. “What are you two fighting about? Did you forget you are running a business?”

  “Not at all,” Izzy demurred. “And we’re not fighting.”

  Agnes raised a brow but decided to move on to more important matters. “Regardless, I wanted to see if you had any of that moisturizer that I like in stock. I noticed I was almost out this morning.”

  “I made some just as a few days ago,” Izzy walked a few steps over to a display near the wall.

  The phone rang, and Cass excused herself to go answer it.

  Izzy listened with half an ear to the Cass’ end of the conversation, but almost immediately deemed the phone call unimportant and tuned her out.

  “Oh, this is nice.” Izzy dragged her attention back to Agnes as she held an open vial of bath oil to her nose. “I like this a lot.”

  “Wren uses that. She loves it.”

  “Oh, well, I can�
��t smell like her. Help me pick another.”

  The pair sifted through the choices of oils. Agnes sniffing then rejecting until she found an acceptable scent. “Yes, this is nice.”

  Izzy smiled. It was nice for them to be having an uncomplicated moment for a change.

  “You know,” Agnes hesitated.

  Izzy sighed as the short-lived moment disintegrated. Agnes never tip-toed around her words. She was direct, in your face. Izzy knew this did not bode well.

  “Sebastian hung back last night,” Agnes continued. “after everyone left. He believes that he should work with you one on one.” Her eyes appeared calculating as she regarded Izzy. “He feels you might be in danger.”

  “I’m fine,” Izzy assured her. She almost reminded Agnes the gnomes and sylphs were watching out for her when she realized that she hadn’t told Agnes about them. The oversight gave her pause. The store was hardly the place to bring it up. She would talk to Agnes about it later she decided.

  Izzy reached over and squeezed Agnes arm. “Tell him I appreciate the thought, and I might take him up on the lessons. But, I’m as safe as any of us are. I’m not letting some jerk with a blood fetish run me out of my home.”

  “I’m proud of you.” Agnes appeared sad for a moment, and Izzy wondered why. “You’ve grown, such much, so fast.” Another customer walked through the door, breaking the spell. “I need to get back to the library. Let me know if you change your mind. My home is always yours.”

  “Thanks, Agnes.”

  Agnes hurried over to the counter to check out while Izzy turned toward the new customer. “Can I help you find anything?”

  Izzy’s head jerked when she heard Agnes ask Cass, “Is that my earring? I had all but given up finding it.”

  The customer pulled a swatch from her purse. “I need to match some candles to go with my living room. I’ve searched everywhere but it’s so hard to find this exact shade of green.”

  Izzy’s mind raced at Agnes’ comment. The earring was hers. No excuses, no nothing. She had hoped she’d been wrong but now, Izzy didn’t know what to think.