by Antara Mann
Awen took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and seemed to contemplate my question for a long moment. Opening his eyes he then asked me slowly, “You’ve met a lot of monsters and evil supernaturals during your gig at the Magic Council, haven’t you?”
“Yes, indeed, but I’ve never seen anything like those vampires.”
“Yes, I know.” He paused as if searching for the right words, and I noticed the slight wrinkles that had formed on his forehead. As old as Awen was, he didn’t look any older than thirty-five. I’d always viewed him as my father, though — a mentor with vast experience and knowledge.
“Alex, have you noticed that lately your magic has been attracting all kinds of supernaturals, monsters in particular?”
I had never thought about that, honestly. I tried hard to remember. Kicking monsters’ butts is the everyday life of any supernatural consultant, but come to think of it, I had been doing a lot more of it recently.
“Kind of, but that’s part of the job, right?” I told him.
“It’s not only that, child. See, your magic and power are… let’s say enticing. They attract other supernaturals to you like a magnet. That’s the reason why I wasn’t thrilled about you working as an independent consultant for the Council.”
I stared at him, not quite following his reply. “Okay, but what does that have to do with the vampires I fought off last night?”
He smiled at me indulgently, like a parent to a child. “I believe your magic has attracted some hellish creatures. From what you described to me, it sounds like someone summoned demon souls into vampire bodies. But what’s worse is that they are controlled by a very accomplished sorcerer. At least, that’s what I think is happening.”
I gaped at him and he continued, “It’s a pretty advanced dark magic, so the mastermind is very powerful, no doubt.” He stood up and took another thick tome from his library, skimmed through the pages, then showed me the demon section. “It is explained here, my child. Read it for yourself.” He placed the book into my hands. I stared at the pages, which featured drawings of various kinds of demons.
I hate these creatures, the voice in my head said, calmly but unmistakably. I hated demons just as much as my inner voice did.
I gathered all my mental strength and searched in the book for summoned demonic souls. I scanned a few pages, then found what I was looking for. I read aloud, “A very rare type of demon is the one unleashed by a powerful evil wizard or sorcerer. Such a supernatural can summon incorporeal demonic souls from hell and place them into ghosts or into the bodies of vampires, thus creating a fearful supernatural monster having the attributes of both a demon and its original monster soul.” I skipped a few passages describing the incorporeal demon-powered ghosts and continued reading about vampires. “A vampire, on the other hand, upon connecting with the demonic soul, can retain some of the physical appearances of vampires like red eyes or pale skin, but it is exceptionally intelligent and coordinated. The demonic soul also makes the body very resilient and resistant to physical harm and injury. If the summoned demonic soul is a powerful one, the vampire may have a normal skin complexion and lack the characteristic smell of rotten meat. An important note is that the wizard or sorcerer transfers their abilities and whatever elemental magic they may have to these demon-powered vampires and can control them. The monsters can be easily killed with silver — a silver bullet or a drawing of a benevolent occult symbol like a pentagram over them is the only way to slay such creatures.”
After reading the last sentence, I shut the book, and looked into Awen’s beautiful blue eyes. “This description portrayed the type of vampires we fought off last night, down to the smallest detail. Kagan must have known this, or else he has powerful intuition, because he drew a pentagram above them.” I furrowed my brows. “But I'm not quite sure whether it was the vampires’ special abilities or the killer who was protecting them from the fireball I hurled at them. If it was the killer, he must be a dark wizard or a sorcerer — the vampires’ magic tasted really vile,” I mused and then drank the remaining coffee in a single gulp.
“Most likely. If the sorcerer or wizard has control over fire like you, he would have made these creatures immune to it. It all has to do with his abilities. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes. Thank you for everything, Awen. You’re awesome.” I hugged him and got up. Time was running out, and I needed to teleport myself to Kagan’s place. He would probably be pissed if I turned up late. “I have to go, though. Thanks again; the cappuccino was delicious, by the way.”
“You’re most welcome, my child,” he replied.
I was headed for the door when Awen’s melodious voice made me stop in my tracks.
“But Alex, tell me something: Since you started this assignment, how many times have you been attacked?”
I sensed something I had never heard in his voice — hesitation. This was really quite unusual for him.
“A couple of times; that’s why the Magic Council’s wages are so high.” I envisioned the big pile of cash I would receive at the end of my assignment and smiled.
If you make it that far, the voice remarked.
Oh, shut up! I snapped at it. I wasn’t in the mood for such grim comments and teasing.
Awen sighed heavily and stood up. “My child, I’m afraid it is more than just your regular workday routine. A word of caution: I have the suspicion that the mastermind behind the vampire attack has targeted you and may be trying to kill you, so he can take over your magic.”
Chapter 14
Awen’s words echoed in my mind, my heartbeat speeding up. I heard myself say, “Isn’t that what all villains do?” I chuckled nervously and tapped my foot on the squeaky floor. There was no point asking him if he was certain: Awen never spoke unless he was sure.
My mentor squeezed my hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Alex. I didn’t want to frighten you; just be alert.”
I nodded. “I’d better be going.” I left his house and shut the door behind me. However, before teleporting myself, I had to do one more thing: I went straight home and took my enchanted silver knife from the cupboard shelf. Awen was probably right. Somebody was trying to kill me or at least harm me — I recalled the ambush in the street right after our first visit to the Hellfire Club. But what Awen said was worse: They might want to take my magical powers. I had no intention of simply surrendering to them — at least not without putting up a good fight.
The knife’s blade glinted in the daylight and it took my breath away. It was so beautiful, yet frighteningly powerful. The runes engraved on the blade only intensified the prickle of magic on my skin. A quick glance at my watch reminded me I needed to hurry in order to arrive on time; it was already nearly ten o’clock.
I reached for my magic, which was now bubbling in abundance inside me. The moon was waxing and my peculiar magic pulsed and vibrated in me, wanting to be released. It felt so good to connect with it and unleash even a tiny part of it that, when I arrived back at Kagan’s apartment, I was grinning from ear to ear.
“Hello, gorgeous!” the fae greeted me. “You must have had a hell of a time back at your place. You’re beaming with happiness.”
No, it’s just connecting with my inner power, I thought, but said nothing. Kagan was clad in a tight dark gray t-shirt that accentuated his muscular chest and biceps. Before I could stop myself, I realized I was actually ogling him. Damn it!
Great. Don’t drool over him, girl! Don’t let him know you like him in that way, my inner voice commanded me. Good luck with that.
Kagan smirked at me and asked, “You like what you see? It took a lot of fitness and fight training to get this body.” He winked at me and I rolled my eyes.
“I could help you master your magic with some special training, if you’d like,” he offered.
“The only thing I’d like right now would be to punch your face,” I snapped at him.
“Oh, hello Alex,” Brendan greeted me, easing the tension in the room. The werewolf had
come out of the bathroom; he was naked to the waist, and a towel hung loosely over his left shoulder. I also saw Carlos in the room, dozing on a couch.
For magic’s sake, why is he half-naked? I thought in irritation. I instinctively averted my eyes and stared at the wall, then turned my head in Brendan’s direction without looking at him, and said, “Don’t tell me you’ve just woken up! How is that even possible? We’re on an investigation. I rushed in here to be on time, and you guys aren’t even fully dressed!” I had to admit I was in a cranky mood, but it was very unprofessional for Brendan to sleep this late on a workday.
I felt the werewolf’s murderous glare on me but before he could snap back, Kagan intervened. “Easy, Alex, I’m in charge here. Brendan and Carlos had vivid nightmares last night, probably because of the vampire ambush yesterday. I let them sleep a bit longer than normal.” He looked over at the shifters. Following his gaze, I saw that Brendan’s expression was impassive, and I sensed that the wolf had calmed down.
I sat on the sofa and tried to sound nonchalant as I asked Kagan, “So, chief, what are the plans for today? By the way, I’d like to share something with you regarding the investigation.”
His face lightened and I saw a faint smile tug at the corner of his mouth. “We’ll roll up our sleeves and get back to work, that’s for sure, but not before we have a good brunch. I won’t be able to think straight until I satisfy my hunger. Let’s have a decent meal and then we’ll talk business, okay?”
I had no option but to agree. In half an hour we were out of Kagan’s apartment. He had teleported us to Temptation, a cozy — and fairly expensive — restaurant in Lower East Manhattan. It was a hotspot for upper-class supernaturals and, like all other magic restaurants and bars, it was invisible to humans. And pretty much to lower and middle-class supernaturals too, I thought bitterly. The entrance looked ridiculously elegant and magnificent: Golden letters on matte glass spelled out the restaurant’s name, sparkling with all the colors of the rainbow, though red predominated. Potted pines the height of a man stood on both sides of the entrance and, next to them, three-headed dogs and venom-spitting snakes guarded the door. But what pushed the security over the top were the monsters handling the dogs and the snakes — two gigantic bogeymen that looked as if they had been taken from the set of a horror movie. Dressed all in black, their faces hidden behind big black masks, they emanated pure horror and dread.
I saw Brendan’s and Carlos’s eyes glint to the distinct yellowish color of shifters, but Kagan was unflappable. He nodded at the two bogeymen and they stepped aside to let us pass. Once we were inside, enticing magic tickled my senses and I suddenly felt ravenous. Now I understood why they called this place Temptation. The restaurant owner hadn’t spared any expense. The floor was made of marble, the tablecloths of silk, and golden chandeliers sparkled on the ceiling. I took a look at the clientele too: First-tier mages, a few shifters, and a bunch of fae.
Temptation was the type of place where a meal cost more than a pair of designer jeans or boots, and I would much rather spend my money on those things rather than on a meal, no matter how delicious. Given the fact that my balance was in the red because the Steaming Cauldron was nearly dead in the water, I could hardly afford anything before I got my paycheck from the Magic Council. But of course, before I could collect a paycheck, we first had to catch the culprit. I hated this vicious cycle: Why did everything have to revolve around money? I turned to the fae, slightly worried.
“Uh, Kagan, I don’t know about you, but my pockets are quite thin at the moment. I can barely afford a cup of coffee here,” I said, then glanced at the menuboard. I gasped: A cup of coffee here cost forty dollars. This was insane!
“I agree with Alex — even if we billed the Magic Council, it’d be seen as an over-the-top indulgence,” Brendan chimed in.
“Wait, you expense your meals?” I asked incredulously. Apparently they not only paid very high wages, but also covered the investigators’ expenses. Oh, and not to forget, they provided them with BMWs too.
“Yes, but it applies only to regular employees,” he said.
Not independent consultants like me, I thought bitterly.
“Hey, guys, no need to worry — it’s on me. I’m the one who suggested the restaurant, and it’s really not a big deal for me, anyway.” Kagan motioned us to a table and we took our seats. If he was okay with paying for our brunch, I was perfectly fine with that. Besides, the place looked to have delicious cuisine and frankly, I wanted to try it — and I didn’t think I could ever afford to eat here on my own. Like really, never ever.
When I opened the menu, I wasn’t disappointed. Temptation offered all kinds of food: steaks, pork, burgers and fries, Asian, Latin-American, Middle Eastern, Chinese, and Italian. Italian was the cuisine I most adored, so I picked a big green wizard pizza with extra pepperoni, mozzarella, and mushrooms, and a magic smoothie called Crescent Moon Magic. I smiled inwardly, recalling my own hidden magic. Brendan ordered a big steak, and Carlos a vegetarian meal, while Kagan chose a boxty.
“Dude, what the hell is that?” Carlos asked. I was curious to learn also.
The fae smiled and said, his Irish accent more marked, “It’s a traditional Irish potato pancake. We have to keep our culture alive. I am a fae, after all, am I not?”
A waiter came, interrupting our conversation. He took our orders and served our meals extraordinarily quickly. I was astonished that anyone could prepare a meal that fast. Then it dawned on me: magic. Of course!
“So, they make all those dishes with magic, right?” I asked, sipping my smoothie. It was pretty tasty too — milk and ice blended with a strawberry mixture that gave the drink a divine flavor. And then the magic came, rippling on my tongue: First a sizzling lightning, followed by a gust of wind and finally the sensation of the ocean tides. I swear I could see the silver light of a crescent moon gleaming on the ocean water. It was an amazing experience, and it did refresh me.
“It’s delicious, isn’t it?” Kagan asked. I tried not to blush, but I did — and I had no idea why.
“It sure is,” Carlos said in between morsels of his vegetarian meal and salad. Brendan nodded in confirmation, too busy with his own dish to speak. The pizza I had ordered was divine. It cost an arm and a leg, but oh boy, was it worth it! After Kagan signaled for the bill — it would be a hefty sum of money, I was sure — he said, “So, now that everyone has had enough, let’s talk business. Alex, you mentioned that you had news?”
“Uh, yes.” I cleared my throat. “It’s about a Wiccan coven in my home town — Ivy Hills, Connecticut.”
“What about it?” the fae asked suspiciously.
“The leader of the coven, Desmond, owns an occult bookshop just like ours. My business partner and best friend, Naomi, showed me an issue of Forbes with you on the front cover, and when I asked her about it, it turns out she obtained the magazine from his shop. Naomi said that according to Desmond, one of his Wiccan brethren had probably bought and given the magazine to him.”
“And that’s it?” Disbelief was evident in the fae’s voice. The shifters were still picking over the remains of their dishes, only half paying attention to what we were saying.
“Do you recall what Elliott Rumford said? That the victim joined a coven, and that he probably met the sorcerer there who might be the culprit?” An uneasy silence fell over the table at the word 'sorcerer,’ and I went on. “Also, don’t you think it’s a strange coincidence that a guy interested in the occult has a magazine with you on its cover just at the moment you’re involved in the case?”
He regarded me for a moment, then said condescendingly, “Alex, do you know how many covens there are in America? It’s rather silly to think that a coincidence like that qualifies as a ‘lead.’”
Carlos and Brendan had pushed their plates away and were watching us expectantly. Were they expecting me or Kagan to let our tempers flare? I wouldn’t give them such a show.
“It’s not only that.” I tried to quickly t
hink of a way to explain to him about my inner voice’s advice. Things couldn’t get worse than they already were, so I began by saying, “I had a hunch, and my hunches are part of my… my magical package, so to speak. I am sure there’s something strange going on with this coven.” Although I said it quite firmly, intellectually I wasn’t so sure. I hoped the voice knew best; otherwise I’d make a fool of myself.
Kagan studied me for a few more seconds, then said, “Is this part of your special powers, like healing and occasionally seeing into objects’ pasts?”
I nodded.
He sighed and said, “Okay, you win. Brendan and Carlos — get the address for that bloody coven from Alex and check it out, but do it quickly. Right after that I want you two to head to the Hellfire Club and watch out for our lad from last night, the skinny one. You should probably wait and hide behind a wall near the club. It is quite possible that our man may not go in, if he even turns up at all. That boy is important — he’s our only link to the mysterious sorcerer who I believe is responsible for these murders. Damn,” he exclaimed, remembering something. “We are running out of time — we have eleven more days to catch the culprit before a supernatural apocalypse showers the earth.”
“…And threatens the very existence of humans and supernaturals alike,” I added. At Kagan’s look, I explained, “It’s more melodramatic this way.”
Kagan glared at me, his eyes asking me if I was making fun of him and the investigation. I had to give him credit: Even angry, he still looked quite sexy.
“Oh, don’t be such a wet blanket. We need some humor from time to time, in order to survive,” I said in reply to his scornful look. No one at the table dared to utter a word and I continued, “I gave some thought to our murder cases and I’ve come to the conclusion that maybe someone from the inside is trying to stir up this ‘magic apocalypse,’ as you put it. What if someone from the Court of Hell — or even Kai himself — is behind all this?” I mused aloud, and looked Kagan straight in his beautiful, blue, dangerous eyes. I felt like I could stare into them for hours on end.