by Peter Saenz
“Come on Tobias, the goddess isn’t ready to receive you yet.” The warm motherly tone of her voice surprises me. She places the cup down and instead of laying Tobias down as well she leans him toward her and cradles him in her arms. With her free hand she pushes his hair back and kisses his forehead before resting it on her cheek. It reminds me of Tobias pushing the hair from my forehead only an hour ago.
“You know Tobias?” I ask.
She smiles at me and says, “I should hope so. I was his mother’s mid-wife. My family and Tobias’ go back a long way.”
Then it hits me. “You’re Anna, aren’t you?”
“Smart boy. Mika, can you take Devin and his friend down to your apartment? I’m sure after all they’ve been through they’ll need a little R&R.”
Mika nods and moves over to the room’s entranceway. The idea of leaving Tobias causes a bit of panic in me.
“Oh but I can’t leave...”
In a reassuring tone Anna says, “Don’t worry about Tobias. He’s in good hands. He just needs to rest and let the herbs take effect. I’ll keep watching over him until the fever breaks. I’ll make sure your cat friend there is comfortable as well.”
I’m still a bit unsure but I grudgingly nod my head as well. Fenrus and I walk over to Mika and the three of us exit back into Anna’s living room.
“He’ll be fine. My grandmamma has healed people for years. We just have to wait it out.”
Her words encourage me.
“Can I wait for him here?”
“No, I’m afraid grandmamma’s friends won’t like it. They’re out on the roof deck getting some sun but when they come back down I don’t think they’d appreciate seeing your...friend here. No offense.”
I’m suddenly confused and a bit alarmed. “What do you mean? Are there more witches here?”
Mika giggles. “No, not at all. You have nothing to be alarmed about. I’ll explain everything to you soon. Let’s just go down to my apartment so you can get settled in. I’m sure you’re probably starved.”
I hadn’t thought about it but it suddenly dawns on me that I haven’t eaten anything in close to two days. I can feel my stomach move in anticipation for something solid to eat. Fenrus and I follow Mika out the front door and back into the elevator. We arrive one floor down and walk into her unit. The difference between the two floors is remarkable. Although the floor plan looks to be the same, the décor is starkly varied. Whereas Anna’s apartment is very decadent and old world, Mika’s is very contemporary and modern. Neon signs hang off brick walls and a large computer work station takes up a good section of one of the corners. Through an archway I can see modern stainless steel equipment in the kitchen and a 10 speed racing bike stands upright along another wall.
“I’m gonna to go down and get your bags. Make yourself comfortable. The kitchen is through there. Help yourself to whatever’s in the fridge.”
Remembering I am a guest I say, “Oh, let me help you with the bags. They’re pretty heavy.”
Mika simply smiles and says, “I’m stronger than I look. Really, just get something to eat and I’ll be right back.”
With that she turns from us and exits back into the outer hallway, closing the front door behind her. I suddenly feel helpless and lost. I hear whimpering and look down toward Fenrus. In my head I hear, “Don’t be sad. I feel they are good people. They’ll help us.”
“You really think so?”
Fenrus’ voice reassures me, “Yes. Their concern for Tobias was genuine. We just have to wait for him to get better.”
I bend down on one knee and hug Fenrus tightly.
“Thanks Fenrus. Say, are you hungry?”
I hear Fenrus enthusiastically say, “Yes!”
We both head toward the kitchen and I open the refrigerator door. Inside is a cornucopia of food. I quickly grab a container of lunch meat and open it. I grab a few slices and hand feed a few to Fenrus before eating several myself. Once the lunch meat is gone I reach in and pull out a half stick of pepperoni sausage. I bite off a few pieces and feed them to Fenrus and pretty soon the two of us manage to polish off the sausage as well. I then bring out a bucket of cold fried chicken and place it on the counter top. I close the refrigerator door and move to the stainless steel kitchen sink. Through the clear glass upper cabinets I can see a stack of large bowls. I grab one and fill it with water. I place the bowl down and Fenrus immediately begins to drink. I then grab a large drinking glass from another cabinet and fill myself a glass of water as well. The taste has never been so welcome. When we have our full I go back to the chicken and begin breaking off pieces of meat from the bone. I toss them toward Fenrus and he catches them with his mouth. We’re halfway through the bucket when Mika returns with our things. I’m embarrassed at how much food Fenrus and I have polished off and try to slowly finish chewing what’s in my mouth.
After dropping the bags onto a nearby couch Mika walks over to us and pulls a piece of chicken for herself and begins to eat. Between chews Mika says, “This probably would have tasted better last night when it was still hot but I figured you’d probably be so hungry you wouldn’t mind if it was cold or not.”
I become confused again. “You bought this for us last night, before we even got here?”
“Yeah. Grandmamma told me that we were going to be getting company and that I needed to stock up on food. I wasn’t sure what you like to eat so I got a little of everything. Have you tried the pudding yet? There’s this chocolatier nearby who makes the best chocolate pudding. You’ll swear you’ve never had anything as good.”
“So it was Anna that told you where we’d be?”
“Of course. She’s the one who told me where to wait for you and around what time you’d be there. She’s a really gifted Seer. I don’t have that gift but it runs strongly in the family. She told me that I will be too late to stop Tobias from being hurt but that I needed to help you stop the man in black and get the both of you back here as soon as possible. I have to say, I was a little shocked when I saw you in full werewolf form. I’ve never seen one before. To be honest, it was a little scary. I could tell though that you were trying to protect Tobias so I bit the bullet and jumped in to help. You have no idea how afraid I was that you were going to bite my head off and slash me to little pieces.”
“Uh, thanks...I guess. To be honest all this werewolf business is pretty new to me too. The first time anything like that has happened was last night. You don’t have to worry about the crazy savage stuff though. I’m guessing that’s all made up for the movies. When I transform my adrenaline is definitely high but I think like a normal person. Actually, as a witch it’s pretty great since I’m able to tap into the nature around me for anything I might need.”
“Wow, that’s pretty cool. Your aura was pretty massive though. As soon as you changed I imagine any sensitive witches in a 10 mile radius probably picked up on your magical energy. That was another reason why I wanted to get us out of there as soon as possible.”
Her words hit me hard in the stomach. Was I responsible for putting Tobias and Fenrus in danger? Am I doing it now? Visions of several covens, including Malik’s, storming through the doors dance through my head and suddenly my appetite disappears. I’d never forgive myself if something were to happen to them because of me. Still, something else is now troubling me. I was near a fully changed werewolf just last night and I didn’t sense anything until I was a few feet away from him. I didn’t even know he was there until I saw him with my own eyes. How is it I’m giving off noticeable attention but he isn’t?
“Mika, earlier today, did you sense any magical energy from the guy in black?”
She stops to think a moment then says, “Not really. His aura was very subtle. Yours on the other hand was pretty bright.”
“And now?”, I ask.
“No, not that much. You have a different magical presence about you but now that you’re human again, it’s not that noticeable. Why do you ask?”
“The other night
I came across the guy in black in full werewolf form and only sensed limited magic from him. The cat sleeping upstairs was the only other person able to see it too.”
“Ah.” Mika gets a look of understanding and says, “Cats have a special sight all their own. They can sometimes see things even witches overlook. They’re very special in that regard. That’s one of the many reasons why they’re so respected in the Wiccan world.”
Suddenly my shortcomings become very evident to me. “I’m afraid my lessons have been a bit limited. Over the past few years I’ve been intensely trained in the Craft, but once I was taught the basic ground work of how Wicca works our coven master immediately threw me into learning a lot of the more physical spells. The lessons in-between were either glossed over or completely ignored.”
“That’s a shame. There’s a lot to learn about the Craft besides spells. The old saying about knowledge equaling power has so many more meanings than the obvious. My mom used to say...”
At this Mika stops speaking. A look of sadness goes over her face. I get the impression we reached a topic she isn’t yet ready to delve into. I try to ease out of it by changing the subject.
“I really hate to ask, but do you think I could use your shower? I’ve had these clothes on for a few days now and I’d really like to freshen up with something new.”
“Oh, of course. Your bags are over there. I’ll go and get you some towels.”
Mika heads toward a doorway on the other side of the apartment and disappears. I go over to the bags and find a clean set of clothes. I then notice that alongside the bags is the sword from earlier. I pick it up by the black leather handle and examine the blade better. Despite its strong resemblance to the many swords I’ve seen in 80s ninja movies, I take a better look at the blade’s etchings. They don’t seem Asian at all but rather Greek. I’m close to gliding my finger along the wording but suddenly remember my newfound weakness to silver. I put the sword down and find Mika has returned with the bath towels.
“Here you go. The guest room is through there. It has its own bathroom attached to the suite so make yourself at home. If you don’t mind, I’m going to go back up to grandmamma’s apartment to see how Tobias is doing. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“Thanks Mika. I really don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just get some rest and we’ll figure out everything later.”
Mika then goes back out the front door, leaving Fenrus and I to ourselves again. The generosity and kindness both Anna and Mika show me is completely unexpected and appreciated. I’m a complete stranger to them yet they’ve taken me in without any hesitation. The past few months have been pure hell for me. The kindness shown to me by Tobias and now his friends... I’m completely humbled.
I wander into the spare bedroom and find it neatly organized. Along one wall is an open door. I walk over to it. Through the doorway I see a nice sized bathroom. The shower is a spacious walk through shower with full length glass doors and a multi-choice shower head. The slate tile backsplash gives the shower a very masculine look. I place my fresh set of clothes and towels Mika gave me on top of the toilet and begin removing my clothing. I leave them in a pile on the floor and turn the water on. After a couple adjustments the water becomes a comfortably heated temperature and I step in.
“You wanna come in too Fenrus?”
Fenrus woofs and steps in after me. I close the door and allow the hot water to cascade over me. Pure heaven. I wash myself, then Fenrus before returning under the water. The stress of the past few days falls off of me as easily as the dirt and grime. I can’t remember the last time I’ve ever felt so pampered. It feels so nice that once I’m done rinsing I sit on the floor and let the water continue to work its magic over me. Fenrus sits next to me and does the same. I rest my head back against the tile and before I know it I feel myself nodding off.
I imagine myself back in Malik’s manor. Wandering down one of the upstairs corridors, I hear intense screaming coming from one of the rooms ahead. In front of me I eventually find a lit doorway. Inside I find Malik, Luke, Cole and Kevin sitting in a circle. Laying within the circle is Zack. He’s completely nude and writhing in pain. To my surprise Malik is sitting in a wheelchair. He is obviously not in the best of health but still carries a look of determination. The others however have looks of anguish and fear on their faces. The coven chants in unison, which only manages to increase Zack’s pain. In the background I hear bones snap and a sickening sound of flesh repairing itself. Just as Zack’s screams reach their crescendo, the chanting stops and Zack’s arched back slams to the floor. He’s unconscious now but his once mangled body now appears to be completely healed.
“Malik, I don’t think he’s ready for the next step. Weak as he is, his spirit will never have the strength to fight for control. His body may be healed but that makes it all the more dangerous if something were to go wrong.” Luke looks like he’s about be become sick after saying the words.
Malik takes his advice to mind for a few moments then barks, “Kevin, go down to my private study and bring me the open book on the desk.”
“Yes Malik.” Kevin then disappears out through the door.
A concerned Cole then says, “Are you sure you’re up for this Malik? No disrespect meant, but you’re still pretty weak yourself. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
A devilish smile spreads across Malik’s face. “Come over to me Cole.”
Cole gets a fleeting look of terror on his face but quickly gains his composure. He stands up and walks over to Malik. He gets on his knees to better meet Malik’s eye level. Malik takes his hands and places them on either side of Cole’s face. He then pulls Cole towards him and passionately kisses him. A few moments into it Cole completely submits himself to Malik and kisses back with enthusiasm. Luke turns his head to look away. Malik suddenly jerks Cole’s head away from his in mid-kiss. Cole looks confused but Malik just smiles at him.
“Thank you for your concern but don’t be fooled. I’m not as helpless as I look. I’m growing stronger already. Soon I’ll be out of this god damn chair and back to my old self again.”
Malik lets go of Cole’s face, allowing Cole to stand and move back to his original spot. Luke looks back at Malik and says, “But are you sure this is the way you want to go about getting your revenge? There are a lot more...safer ways of getting to Devin and Tobias.”
A calm anger ignites in Malik’s eyes. “Yes, there are safer ways Luke, but I want them to feel pain. I want them to know what true terror is like. No one does what they’ve done to me and gets away with it. No, this is exactly what we’re gonna do and on All Hallows Eve they’re going to get exactly what’s coming to them.”
I’m suddenly awakened with the sensation of being licked on the cheek. When I open my eyes I realize I’m still sitting in the shower with Fenrus beside me. In my head I hear, “You can’t wonder long in one place Devin. The others will eventually sense you’re there listening. They’ll be able to track you back to your body and find us.”
I’m still a little groggy from waking up but immediately sense the danger in his words.
“Sorry about that. I was just so tired...I couldn’t help myself. Before I knew it I was back at the mansion. Come on, we’ve used up enough water. Let’s get out and dry off.”
I get up to turn the water off but before I do Fenrus relieves himself down the drainage pipe. I can’t help laughing and do the same. When we’re both done I turn off the water and open the glass shower door to grab a couple of the towels. I dry off Fenrus first with one towel and then myself with the other. I’m still exhausted but after the shower I also feel like a million bucks. I slip into the fresh clothes and throw the towels and dirty clothes into an empty hamper standing against the wall. The fresh after shower feeling is wonderful. We then wander back into the spare bedroom area and sit half upon the bed, letting Fenrus sit beside my free leg hanging off the side.
“So what now?”
Fe
nrus thinks for a few moments then says telepathically, “We can’t leave without Tobias. He’s done so much for us already.”
“I feel the same way but at the same time, wouldn’t he be in more danger if he stays with us? At least here he has people he knows and who care for him. Wouldn’t that be the safer place for him to be?”
Fenrus looks deep into my eyes and I hear, “You should give him that choice to make for himself.”
A bit crestfallen I say, “You’re right. He deserves that. So, we wait until he’s healed and then ask him what he wants to do. I don’t feel comfortable putting someone else’s life at risk because of me but fair is fair. How do you think he’s doing?”
Fenrus closes his eyes and stands very still. After a few moments he opens them and I hear, “He’s still pretty weak but Anna was able to negate most of the poison from his system. He’ll sleep soundly through the night.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
I yawn and stretch out my arms. I then slide my forearms across the slightly cold bed and lay across the well cushioned bed comforter. It’s so sumptuous I can feel my body tingle with delight as my eye lids draw heavy again.
“Do you think it will be alright if I close my eyes for a bit?”