“Right now the bigger worry will be other strong supernaturals coming to challenge you. Though, I don’t think there will be that many. Sorcerers aren’t thick on the ground, and there are a lot of cities out there free for the taking.”
That was a nice thought, I wouldn’t mind it being uncomplicated, at least for now. I just wished I was half as confident as she was that I could take any sorcerer wanting to move on Chicago.
I asked, “What do you need from me to do your job?”
Aitheria sent, “I like this one.”
I replied silently, “Me too. She has ambition but won’t overreach herself, and believes absolutely that I’d never harm anyone without cause. She’ll ride my coattails as long as I’ll let her, and never betray me.”
Caroline took a moment to think about it before answering, “Outside of being available, I’m not sure yet. Technically the coven still reports to Ceara, except for keeping the secret. In those cases, you’ll be judge and jury so… I also might have a question about the business once in a while, mostly it will run itself.”
I smiled, “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging out to dry. Maybe we could do this once a week so you can pass on the non-critical stuff going on?”
She seemed relieved by that, and we paused again as the food arrived at the table. As for me, it never hurt to have more friends and allies, holding Caroline at arm’s length wouldn’t do me any favors. Plus, it would be worth the effort…
My afternoon felt open, so I closed up the office and went out of the city to somewhere I could be alone, and practiced fire and air, while meditating. Zale still hadn’t found us yet, but the more prepared I could make myself the better off I’d be. Mostly I stuck with invisibility while wielding other power, such as real fire, and small twisters that were man sized.
I also pushed myself, trying to reach further and expand my spheres of fire and air access. I was definitely getting better with invisibility, but it was hardly second nature yet. It wasn’t that I thought I’d use that skill all that much, but it was very complicated and a good way to train my mind to do many things at once.
It was as I was moving around, constantly modifying the light to hide my presence, that an idea hit me, something that Jaben hadn’t ever considered. Though, now that I had it seemed kind of obvious.
Illusions.
I started by trying to modify the light nearby me in an attempt to create the illusion of a small flame. The first result was kind of laughable, it was completely opaque which made it look wrong, and it didn’t move like a flame would. It looked more like a picture of a candle flame, than a real candle flame. It was also incredibly difficult, turning invisible involved twisting light that was already there, bending it around me from every possible angle so I remained unseen.
Creating an illusion on the other hand meant controlling light and changing it into something that wasn’t already there. It was more than bending light, it was changing light, modifying the frequency of what was there and only for the shape I was looking for. Then just to make it more difficult, there were many different frequencies in even the smallest flame.
The longer I tried and failed, the more I was determined to make it work. I was having so much trouble with the little flame, that my desire to create intricate illusions of people and things seemed more and more impossible. But I was stubborn, and it was great practice to improve my understanding, and channel my element of fire.
I called bull crap on myself, it had nothing to do with practice anymore, I was obsessed. Even if it took me centuries I wouldn’t stop trying. I wasn’t sure exactly why, maybe simply because I couldn’t do it yet. Most of the things I’ve tried with magic came pretty easy to me, but then I hadn’t really done much beyond the basics had I? And this was a challenge.
I also worked with air, trying to generate sounds, from a whispered voice, to a shockwave that would splinter a tree. Ironically, the latter was very simple, while the subtlety of a whispered voice took a lot of effort. Vibrating the air to create sound waves was easy, duplicating the intricacy of a voice, and language, was something else entirely.
Destruction, blowing things up, destroying enemies, that was the easy thing. Like a toddler hitting things with a hammer. Perhaps a toddler of the most powerful supernatural race, and a hammer most could not survive, but a baby nonetheless. To advance, I needed to practice, and learn the hard stuff, the subtle things. I imagined one day being able to create an illusion of a person, and using air magic to make the sounds of ruffled fabric, speech, the sound of the boots falling on the ground as they walked and talked.
But I also wondered if my mind was even capable of so much intricacy, controlling millions of points of light at once, in concert. Just the idea of it was staggering.
It was getting late in the afternoon, and I knew Sierra would be home soon. I hadn’t made much progress, but I knew it would take time. In a way I was counting on it, it took the practice that I needed to do anyway, and made it a lot more interesting. I wrapped myself in the power of air and ordered it to take me home.
Chapter 12
Friday, June 10th, 2016, 5:46 PM
For the second day in a row I had a story to tell the pack. This time of course, about being in charge of Chicago, though in charge was certainly an exaggeration. Responsible for, might be a better term. We were sitting around the table out in the backyard, werewolves just didn’t like being inside much. It was Derik, Selene, Carrie, Gerald, Clint, and Sierra was in my lap. It seemed to be her favorite place to sit, and I had no objections at all.
They took the news well, and were supportive. Of course, it was Gerald that pointed out the obvious.
“You might want to keep a close eye on your human family. Most supernaturals won’t want to fight you for the city, but an especially sneaky one might come at you sideways. Demand you step down in their favor, or harm your family.”
It was a good thought, and I was surprised I hadn’t considered it, especially when I had considered that it was the primary reason and worry that made me take out the council, instead of simply leaving the city in the first place. It was certainly possible, but it would be hard for anyone to pull off. Not when I could easily locate and rescue them. Of course, if a friend or member of my family were dead already, that might be horrifically bad for who did it, but in the end they’d still be dead.
“What can I really do though to prevent that from happening, besides deal with it quickly if it does happen I mean.”
Selene asked, “Can you link to them? The way you did with Katie when the rogue pack was attacking I mean. I understand you did the same with…”
She let her voice trail off, obviously not wanting to say Diana’s name. I had linked with her when Jaben and the rogue were hunting the council, and she’d been pissed about it. It’s beyond ironic the council and her had died by my hand less than week later, when I’d gone to such lengths and risked my life to save them just last week. All dead besides Ceara that is. I shook my head trying to shake off the dark thoughts before I started to wallow in depression.
I frowned, unsure of the idea, “I could, but the idea makes me feel uneasy. In Katie’s case I had permission and she’d had full disclosure, and we all did it with the knowledge it was very temporary. It’s rather an invasive thing, it would be a violation of the privacy of their minds and lives. Plus, for it to really do any good it would have to be for the rest of their lives. I’m not sure it’s the best thing.”
Carrie tilted her head, “We could create a protection amulet of sorts, especially if Tara helped us. One that could alert us if they were in danger by another supernatural, or even around one of us. But how could we convince them to never remove it without explaining why?”
That was actually a good idea and I smiled. I’d hoped my power would alert me if they were in trouble, but I knew I really couldn’t depend on it, not unless I was constantly watching with will behind it, which I knew would be impossible. My power was erratic when it came to those
close to me, and I believed the reason for that was Air was the power of cool intellect. The emotions I held for those close to me didn’t entirely disrupt my power, but it did have an effect.
Before I could answer her, Derik came up with the same answer I had, and he said, “Compel them. It’s perhaps a little invasive, but you’d only be forcing them to wear something. Not exactly the same as having access to their minds all the time.”
Sierra added thoughtfully, “You should do the same for Mike, Jenna, and Aiya.”
“So maybe two necklaces, or would earrings be better? Bracelets? I was thinking for Mike and Jenna, and my aunt and uncle we could just… borrow their wedding rings for an hour or two. Would that work?”
I didn’t get along with my uncle very well, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t watch out for him too. I’d have to go shopping tomorrow for my cousin and Aiya. For once I didn’t mind that I’d had trouble getting close to people, at least the list was small. I wasn’t worried about the pack, they could already send me emotions through the ally bond, to call me and the others if necessary.
Selene nodded, “Sounds like a plan. Earrings might be better. Necklaces and bracelets generally accessorize clothes, being forced to wear one necklace for the rest of a woman’s life sounds like a nightmare. Diamond earrings go with anything.”
I decided she would know since I was hardly an expert in, or even acquainted with, women’s fashion. It wasn’t like I couldn’t afford it now, so I’d go with that. My conscience squirmed, and it took me a minute to figure out why.
“Including Mike, Jenna, and Aiya is a great idea, but since they know about our world, I’m less inclined to mesmerize them and just tell them the truth.”
Clint nodded, “Have we missed anything, or anyone? What about Tara and this new vampire, Caroline? Most of our world knows you’re allies with both. Granted, they’re both capable supernaturals themselves, they might even be offended that they’d need you to rush in and save them, but…”
Sierra laughed, “I’m not sure about Caroline, but I’m pretty sure Tara would object, or tell Ben he needs to wear jewelry himself, so she can rescue his butt.”
I felt the humor and chuckled lightly, but of course she was right, and that sobered me quickly. The women in my life were not weak. Not even the human ones. I was kind of afraid of giving Aiya a choice, she might say no. I knew feeling guilty for putting targets on their back was stupid, it would be the people that came after me for either power or some other reason that were at fault. But I felt it just the same. I couldn’t protect the world, or even be responsible for everyone I knew, but my heart wasn’t feeling that message.
Derik chimed in again, “There are also other complications for Caroline. A coven is hardly united like a pack, there are factions within it, and politics. If we used the proposed spell of having antagonistic supernaturals around them on her jewelry, it will be going off constantly even if she’s not in true danger.”
Carrie waved that away, “That’s not an issue, if Tara and Caroline get involved they both have magic. We can figure out a way for them to deliberately trip it if they need help unlike the humans. It would even be a much simpler spell.”
“It seems like a plan, let me check and see who is onboard.”
For my three family members who lived in ignorance I wouldn’t give a choice. I did call Mike and Jenna who agreed after a long explanation, they would surrender their wedding bands when I came by tomorrow for a short time. When I called Aiya she gave me crap for interrupting her date, and then told me she didn’t wear jewelry. I was totally clueless. I’d never even noticed. In my defense… guy. She finally relented though and agreed to wear an ankle bracelet.
That was all the humans.
Tara laughed in my face, or she would have if we weren’t on the phone, because she had already created one, using one of my hairs. She could contact me at any time through her magic already. She also said she’d be happy to work with Selene and Carrie on creating some similar enchantments for everyone else.
Witches are scary.
Caroline also agreed when I spoke to her, but she was a bit shocked at the offer.
So I had to pick up a pair of diamond earrings for Caroline and my sister, and Aiya was coming with me to pick out her ankle bracelet, since I’d be incapable of picking something tasteful. Apparently.
The conversation broke up after that and went back to just normal every day talk and banter that any family would share, as we waited for dinner to be ready. Of course, I started checking on everyone once in a while, getting it done tomorrow was pretty quick, but my mind stubbornly worried about what could happen tonight. It was apparent that I’d messed up enough, been in the spotlight enough, that it was just a matter of time before my enemies found me.
I sent, “What’s the plan when Zale finds us? He has to be in the city by now, right?”
Aitheria didn’t even hesitate, “I’ll destroy him before he can take word back to his lord. It isn’t perfect, because they’ll know something happened. But they won’t know exactly what, if they found their target or if their scout ran into something else. At best, it will buy us a little time. Most likely they’ll send more elemental scouts and their mortal allies.”
Supernatural allies, like the ones that killed my mother, and tried to murder me as a child.
It also brought up the same old questions. I had elemental and supernatural enemies. But why? I knew it had something to do with the essence of an elemental, the elemental soul that lived in the core of my body, but that didn’t really tell me anything. I dropped my train of thought as Sierra stood and helped me up from the chair, it was time for dinner…
Chapter 13
Friday, June 10th, 2016, 9:02 PM
I had never been that bothered by the idea of vampires feeding on blood. It wasn’t like the movies. Old vampires hardly had to feed at all, maybe once a year. Even newborn vampires only fed every few days and were quickly weened to weekly within a few months. I wasn’t sure exactly why that was, but I knew they had the power of air in them, it was what made their bodies faster and stronger, it made their minds sharper, and it gave them the power to mesmerize.
Probably the most notable attribute was the constant healing that ran through their body, staving off all disease, aging, and even healing wounds quickly. A newborn could heal a small wound in just a day, completely gone. An old vampire, over a thousand years in age, would heal a mortal wound in seconds.
That part was obvious, as they aged, they could draw more power, making them faster and more durable. My best guess was my own experience, using the power of air to speed up my body fatigued me. Perhaps blood was needed to offset that, otherwise despite the healing the vampire body would eventually consume itself. But… that was just a guess. It also bore the question why the older more powerful ones didn’t need more blood, perhaps their body changed or simply became accustomed to the power. I didn’t know.
The truth was, despite examining a vampire, I had no idea where they got their air power from, or how they got it. It was all automatic, so even Diana hadn’t been able to tell me that.
When vampires feed, their target enjoys benefits as well. Vampires only feed about as much as a blood donation at the red cross, so there was very little danger toward a human because of it. The only exception to that of course, was a rogue vampire who enjoyed causing pain or even death. The other benefit humans received was a temporary connection to the vampire’s healing. The wounds from the bite would clear quickly, and it would even heal other physical scrapes or discomforts elsewhere on the body.
In short, unless a vampire was a sadistic bastard, feeding was actually beneficial and the human would be much healthier after. As a result, I’d never been fussed about vampires feeding at their club, Spirits. It seemed to work out just fine, it was dark, they could mesmerize their victims to forget, it ensured the humans had a good time, and the other humans couldn’t sense anything wrong in the dim light while having fun drinking and da
ncing.
No harm no foul right?
Except when I checked on my family this latest time, right after nine, I discovered my underage cousin Amy, who was more like a sister to me, wasn’t at her best friend’s house at a sleepover as she had told my aunt. Nope, she was dancing away at Spirits having a good old time.
Suddenly, vampire feeding didn’t seem that beneficial to me. The idea of a vampire feeding on my, I’ll say it again, underage cousin, pissed me off to no end. Of all the damned clubs in Chicago to sneak off to, she had to go to that one? The one good thing was she had the under twenty-one bracelet on so she wasn’t drinking. But still, she shouldn’t have got in the place at all being under eighteen, not just under the drinking age of twenty-one.
It wasn’t exactly hypocritical, there was a sensuous element to a vampire feeding, and I really hated that idea right now. I knew she was probably safe, and I was just being an overprotective big brother, but she’d also lied to get there.
Truth be told, I was more concerned about the human element in the club, rather than the vampires. But the idea of either of those elements taking advantage of my cousin had me rather angry. My heart picked up speed as I thought of all the things that could happen to her, and I tried to calm it down fast, but of course Sierra heard it, and scented my surge of anger and worry.
“What’s wrong?”
I cleared my throat which had gone dry, “Amy’s at Spirits.”
Sierra shook her head and sighed, “You want to go drag her home?”
I frowned, I very much did.
“What do you think? I mean, sneaking off to a club at the age of sixteen is what teen girls do right? I can’t shelter her from life, and so far she really isn’t in danger. I’m just having nightmares about a vampire taking more than blood from her, or some dirt bag with a date rape drug trying to ply her with drinks. I know that’s not really all that likely.”
She shrugged, “You can’t wrap her with bubble wrap and protect her from everything. There’s a line though.”
Sorcerer: Betrayal: Power of Air (Book 4) Page 7