by John O'Riley
“Maybe you should close your eyes so you can’t see what’s happening,” Perry suggested.
Alice gave him a get-real look. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Perry squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his bulky frame against Mark for support..
“I think he was serious,” Helen murmured.
The daggers whipped through the air and tore at their white shield again.
“Can you teleport us out of here?” Nathan asked.
“Not a chance. Those enchantments take more power than shields. If I tried to transport us away from here, I could only take three of us. Besides, the protection spell would fail and I’d probably be knocked out before I could finish the teleportation spell,” Mark explained.
“That sucks,” Alice remarked.
“Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts,” Perry murmured under his breath. “Rainbows and unicorns. Rainbows and unicorns.”
“I don’t believe this.” Alice shot the light being a disgusted look.
“We’ll be okay. Nothing can get past the shield. We just have to wait this out,” Mark said confidently.
It seemed to take forever for the red smoke to thin out. Once that happened, it receded rapidly until it was gone. The black smoke outside the restaurant still pressed tight against the windows though.
“Someone keeps releasing dark energy out there,” Mark said. “If it’s Frederic, he must have been given a lot of weapons.”
“Someone really wants us dead.” Alice leveled a grim look at the swirling black mass outside the restaurant.
The daggers were lying on the floor all around them and continued to lash out but after so many attacks, their energy levels were almost depleted. The front door to the restaurant opened and Frederic stepped inside. He wore jeans and a blue tee shirt and had two large cloth satchels strapped to his sides. He grasped a large black wand in each hand as a chilling smile marked his face.
“You’re still alive, I see,” the dark wizard said.
“You’re still an ass, I see,” Alice mocked.
The daggers leapt from the ground and whipped into the air to strike against the white energy shield one final time before their energy was spent. They clattered against the floor and Mark’s shield still glowed with intensity.
“You failed,” Mark said. “You might as well leave.”
“I haven’t finished with you just yet.” Frederic pulled a long black satin rope from his satchel.
The rope glowed crimson for several seconds as he activated it and then it leapt from Frederic’s hands like a snake striking. It crossed the room with lightning speed and wrapped itself around the white energy sphere, squeezing with a tight, crushing grip.
“How is dark magic touching your protection?” Nathan asked with concern.
Frederic’s eyes shone with malice. “It’s mainstream magic which doesn’t have a problem interacting with white magic.”
He pulled out another long black rope which hurtled across the room and wrapped itself around Mark’s protective field. The white luminescence began to flicker under the strain. Perry opened his eyes and gasped with horror.
“It’s breaking through,” Perry whispered.
Mark’s shield began shrinking. “Everyone get closer. I need to conserve energy.”
Perry was already pressed firmly against him. Everyone else herded together to form a tight pack around Mark. Frederic issued a sinister laugh as he took in their plight with anticipation and glee. The white energy field continued to shrink until it was almost skin tight with everyone standing on the edge.
“Now do you see that white magic comes at a cost?” Frederic taunted them.
“I’d like to kick his sorry ass,” Alice muttered.
“It looks like it might come down to that,” Nathan said.
Mark couldn’t work any other magic except to scan Frederic for information. Their only chance was to buy some more time with a distraction. If Mark could get him to talk, it might keep Frederic occupied and delay any further attacks until the dark energy faded. Surely, Frederic didn’t have any more with him as he’d unleashed four different dark energy vessels that Mark had counted. As Mark probed at the fragments of reflected light energy around the dark wizard which was enough to read, he became aware of the psychometric energy. This startled him into inaction for a moment as he’d never perceived psychometric energy before. As far as he knew, it was a category six ability unless you were using a special psychometry enchantment.
Mark opened his psychic receptors fully and impressions trickled into his mind. “You’re receiving help from an administrator. She told you I’m the greater threat.”
Frederic had started to reach into his satchel but stopped as his face registered surprise and a sudden guardedness.
“How do you know that?” the dark wizard asked.
Impressions continued to whisper in Mark’s mind in spite of Frederic’s privacy shield. It wasn’t much but there were enough details to rattle Frederic’s confidence perhaps.
“I’m picking up a lot about you. I know where you live. You’re no longer safe from the Feds because I’m going to tell them exactly where you are,” Mark said.
Frederic flinched as though he’d been struck but he quickly composed himself. “I’ll kill you before that happens.”
“I’ll have plenty of time to make the call before my shield collapses,” Mark fibbed. Unfortunately, his protection could give away any second. He just couldn’t predict when that would happen. Even now, the white glow of the sphere flickered erratically.
“You’re lying,” Frederic snarled as he pulled another long black cord out.
“I know the administrator has been visiting you a lot recently. I know she’s a woman. Very soon, I’ll know exactly who she is,” Mark said.
The information about the administrator wasn’t coming through. Mark wasn’t really picking up on very much at all. He was hoping Frederic would just flee knowing Mark could discover the truth as the Valituras took extreme measures to keep the identities of their administrators a secret. Frederic blanched at Mark’s statement and he looked torn with indecision as he failed to immediately activate the black cord.
“If you don’t leave right now, I’ll discover who the administrator is and I’ll make sure to report it to the authorities,” Mark threatened.
After several seconds, Frederic activated the black cord in his hands and sent it hurtling at Mark’s protection.
“Then you’ll have to do so on your last dying breath,” Frederic said.
Nathan grabbed his nephew’s arm just as the white glowing sphere surrounding them collapsed. The thick black cords reached into the group of wizards with lightning speed, ignoring everyone except for their intended target – Mark. The cords wrapped around Mark’s throat but stopped about a foot away from their intended spot as Nathan’s shield activated. Nathan directed it around the two of them in an almost skin-tight field so that it would last longer. Mark heaved a sigh of relief but knew his safety was short-lived. Even as powerful as his uncle’s magic was, it would only give them a moment or two. Alice whipped out two of her power wands and unleashed a telekinetic wave at Frederic. Nathan drew his own wand out and fired a barrage at the dark wizard as well. Frederic’s protection was already active and flared into brief visibility as it deflected Nathan’s and Alice’s attack.
The cord’s shifted as they pulled tight around Mark’s neck, straining to break through his uncle’s shield. Terror lodged in Mark’s gut and tightened his throat when he sensed the protection failing. Nathan activated his backup with haste. Mark knew that Nathan only saved two of his amulets for backup rather than half like most people which meant he had less than a moment to live. Mark knew that once he was dead, Frederic wouldn’t stop with him. He’d murder everyone else. His friends and uncle would die because of him. Mark focused on the trickle of light energy that was still in his possession. Now that he wasn’t using it for protection, he might be able to do something else. Mark directed it at the cor
ds as he willed the light energy to take over the spell and command the cords to become dormant and under his command. Nathan’s shield buckled and the cords latched around Mark’s throat. Before they could tighten, they went limp and fell in loose heaps on the floor.
“Perry, Helen. Grab my hands and direct light energy into me again,” Mark said.
Helen and Perry hesitated for a second but were quick to comply with his request. Mark directed as much of the light energy as he could into a sphere the size of a beach ball. It winked into existence halfway across the room between them and Frederic. It shimmered with a silvery, white swirling light and glided towards the dark wizard. Frederic stumbled backwards reflexively as his eyes widened with horror.
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
“I’m going to neutralize all of your dark and mainstream magic,” Mark announced.
The sphere of light wasn’t very fast but that was his intention. Mark wasn’t even sure if he could do what he’d threatened but he was hoping to scare Frederic away. The dark wizard tripped and almost fell but managed to keep his footing. Alice and Nathan unleashed waves of telekinetic energy that smashed against Frederic’s protection. That seemed to be the last straw for the dark wizard because he turned and darted out of the restaurant, disappearing into the dark oily smoke outside. The sphere of light energy drifted after him but halted at edge of the wall of dark energy just outside the door. Mark knew that white magic was stronger than dark so he pushed with determination and willed the sphere to continue on its path. The sphere of light wouldn’t budge. It broke into half and formed two smaller spheres then splintered into a bunch of smaller ones until Mark lost control of it. The light energy winked out of visibility as it splintered into ever smaller pieces.
“He’s gone. I’m scanning the area. The dark energy is weakening, too,” Alice informed them.
Perry held his hand out towards Mark in a high-five. Mark slapped his hand against Perry’s which made him break out in a congratulatory smile.
“Way to go, Dad!” Perry congratulated him.
“Good work, young man,” Alice said.
Their gazes fell on the unconscious diners littering the floor around them and they sobered.
“That was a close call,” Helen remarked.
“Yes, it was,” Nathan agreed. He glanced at the wall of dark energy which was almost gone and receding rapidly. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter 22
Josephine was working on a police report for a case she’d just solved when a sense of foreboding pulled her attention away. The sound of Alex and Jake typing from the other side of the work station along with the faint murmuring, rustling of papers, and typing from other workstations comforted her as they served as a reminder that some things in her life were in a state of normalcy. She would never have imagined she would actually enjoy listening to these sounds but it was so nice to be in a place that was relatively safe and where she wasn’t currently under attack by creatures or demented wizards trying to murder her. Unfortunately, something felt wrong. Josephine reached out with her mind and scanned the perimeter for any signs of danger.
The sense of foreboding grew stronger and Josephine’s breath sharpened. She furrowed her brows with concentration as she tuned her psychic receptors to their maximum range. After a moment, she could still find nothing wrong but her intuition was screaming at her now. Her heard thudded wildly in her chest as she rose to her feet and kept stock of her surroundings. Alex and Jake were both still engrossed in their work.
“Riley, Jake. I think something’s happening,” Josephine said.
Alex and her grandson glanced up at her. They immediately stood up and checked the room for any signs of danger.
“What’s wrong?” Jake asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t pick up anything specific. I feel like I’m in danger though,” Josephine said. “I wonder if Frederic found a way…”
“Did he somehow sneak in here and become invisible?” Alex eyed his surroundings with renewed wariness.
Josephine frowned as she realized thinking about Frederic had triggered her flare of panic to greater intensity. She focused her scan on herself and groped awkwardly for the connection she shared with Mark and Helen. She couldn’t find it. She still didn’t fully understand how this phenomenon worked or how to use it. After several moments, she found the links and realized that’s where the source of her anxiety came from.
“Mark and Helen are in danger!” Josephine exclaimed.
“Do you know where they are? Can you talk to them?” Alex asked.
Josephine closed her eyes and it took a moment to tap into the connection.
“Mark, can you hear me?” she thought.
Josephine waited several seconds for him to respond. She was about to try again when his thoughts came to her.
“Josephine, are you all right?” Mark asked.
“I was going to ask you the same question.”
“We were attacked by Frederic at Triple Play Burgers. We chased him off though. I was just about to call you.”
“No one’s hurt, right?” Josephine asked.
“We’re all fine. I have Frederic’s address. He knows I have it though,” Mark said.
“Let me write this down.” Josephine rushed to her desk and grabbed a pen and paper. “All right, I’m ready.”
Mark gave her the information and she jotted it down while Jake and Alex walked up beside her and peered down at her notes.
“I love you, sweet heart,” Josephine said.
“I love you, too.”
She offered a grim smile. “Frederic attacked Mark and the others at Triple Play Burgers.”
“Is Frederic knocked out?” Jake asked.
“No, he escaped. I’m not sure what happened but Mark gave me his home address. I’ll report this to Ben so we can head out,” Josephine said.
She rushed down the hallway to the chief of police’s office and burst inside the room. Ben was typing on his computer and gazed up at her with surprise. Josephine filled him in on their lead.
“Take Scott and Fletcher with your team. I’ll contact the other enforcers for backup to meet you there,” Ben said.
Josephine was glad for the extra muscle. She didn’t work with Scott and Fletcher much but they were capable detectives. Jake drove their police cruiser with Scott and Fletcher trailing in their own car. They arrived at Frederic’s house in record time and parked a short distance down the street so their presence wouldn’t be readily apparent in case the dark wizard returned. Josephine scanned the house and determined no one was inside before Scott and Fletcher took cover in the yard in case Frederic returned. Josephine, Alex, and Jake entered the modest white house and began searching for information and leads. Josephine activated her psychic receptors and tuned into the subtle energies around her. Impressions filtered through her mind and she could tell Frederic had repeatedly used an ignotus spell to cover his tracks in case he was ever discovered.
There was a presence of someone else who’d visited him and provided support recently. Josephine couldn’t pick up any trace of this individual but Frederic had left behind his own psychometric energy. She could sense that it was an administrator for the Valituras. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough left for Josephine to read. She didn’t glean much information as she checked out each room in the home. Disappointment warred with excitement as she retraced her steps and began examining what was left behind for clues. Even though she couldn’t derive much in the way of psychic information, Frederic had lived here so he must have left something behind. Especially when he didn’t know he’d be discovered. Josephine could tell that he hadn’t returned since his confrontation with Mark and her friends. The time signature wasn’t recent enough for that.
Josephine, Jake, and Alex gathered in the living room to coordinate their efforts. Alex methodically went through the couch cushions and checked for hidden compartments while Jake did the same with the oak entertainment center. Josephine sto
od in the center of the room as she continued sifting through the energy. After several long moments, she detected something in the wall near Jake. She walked over and deepened the scan. Jake leveled a curious look at her.
“There’s something hidden here.” Josephine placed the palm of her hand against the wall. “It’s a privacy field made to camouflage the extra wards placed here.”
“Is it his stash of dark magic?” Jake crossed the room to watch.
Alex stopped his own search to join them. It took awhile for her deactivate the wards then she pressed her hand more firmly against the wall and a large block-shaped portion depressed a couple of inches. There was a soft click and an eight foot by twelve foot section of the wall slid up to reveal a hidden closet containing a bunch of shelves packed with magical tools and weaponry. Dark energy permeated the air and wafted out like an invisible fog that made Josephine shiver.
“Our backup is here,” Josephine announced.
Jake and Alex turned to gaze behind them. A moment later, Jennifer and half a dozen officers carrying large empty satchels labeled EVIDENCE, trouped inside the house. Jennifer’s frizzy red hair was tied up in a pony tail and her freckled face was a mask of cool competence.
“Good work, guys.” She swept a congratulatory smile at the three wizards as she joined them in front of Frederic’s stash and handed them each an evidence bag to confiscate the weapons. “I’m going to search the rest of the house. Were you able to read anything about the Valituras or Frederic?”
“Nothing substantial. It seems there is an administrator who visited him on a regular basis and she’s a woman but I can’t pick up any details. We just opened this hidden room but I haven’t finished scanning it yet,” Josephine said.
“We might as well both do it together,” Jennifer said.
Alex and Jake retreated a short distance to give the two women more space as they tuned into the psychometric energies of the closet. Josephine wrinkled her nose with displeasure at the revolting sensations of the dark energy but there was nothing readable. A very effective ignotus enchantment had wiped out any useful information. It frustrated Josephine to know she was so close to uncovering the identity of an administrator of the Valituras yet she failed to obtain any useful information. She closed out virtually all of her cases so easily but the Valituras were very talented with covering their tracks. Without warning, the nearby window shattered and sharp fragments of glass rained over them. Josephine cried out in pain as one of the pieces sliced a long, thin jagged tear on her right arm. A scorching wind burst through the broken window and she could see flames swirling in the air.