The Bewitched Box Set

by W. J. May

  Storey’s heart, always willing to forgive, hardened. He was an asshole. She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind when Eric’s hand squeezed her shoulder. “Steady,” he whispered before turning back to face his mentor. “Paxton, any idea of how long it could take?”

  Paxton shook his head vigorously. “Oh dear. I don’t know. I just don’t know. I can’t fix the tears with the Louers travelling back and forth.”

  “So we have to stop the Louers first?”

  “Right.” His head bobbed up and down. “I think so.”

  Storey glanced over at Eric to find him studying her, a questioning look in his eyes. “I can’t deal with them all. Not this way.”

  “I know. The problem, as I see it, is the lack of information. There’s no way to know how many have crossed into our world or how many more might come in a second wave.”

  “We don’t want that to happen. This has to be sorted out and fast.”

  A weird sound ripped through the air. Storey backed up. Her stomach dropped. She knew that sound. It ripped through the room again. The crowd of people, sprawled across the floor, just starting to relax, jumped to their feet and cowered in a tight group.

  “They’re coming! Save us!” Hysteria erupted and the group scattered, with some people trying to hide under the tables and chairs. Eric’s father jumped to his feet and raced to the door. “Save me.”

  Storey snorted. “Figures.”

  The Councilman glared at her. “It’s their duty. My life supersedes theirs.” He turned to glare at Eric, still standing at her side. “Eric, take me to a safe place.”

  The ripping sound sliced through the room. Storey jumped at the noise and spun around. She couldn’t see the Louers, yet past experience told her it wouldn’t take them long to break through the last barriers. She wondered how many there were in existence. Paxton wouldn’t know and the Louer population could have changed drastically over the centuries, regardless of how many had been originally banished.

  The others screamed and crouched lower. Mothers huddled protectively over their children. Storey took out her sketchbook and stylus. She couldn’t afford to hide. Besides, there was no place left. She sat down in her favorite position on the floor and opened to a clean page. She’d need a new sketch book soon. Could she use the back side of her drawings or would that mix two together and create something she really didn’t want to see? Best to not try for now.

  Eric crouched at her side. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m getting ready,” she whispered nodding in the direction of the ceiling over the monitors. “They’re coming in over there.”

  She spoke softly. “Stylus. I need your help. The Louers will be here any moment. How can I stop them from entering this room?”

  Seal it.

  She grinned. “Perfect. Let’s do it.” She put the stylus to paper and studied the picture slashing down at double speed. Her stylus raced across the paper, stopped, scribbled in place before continuing at a pace so fast she couldn’t discern the lines as they appeared as part of the picture.

  She tried to watch, but the frenzy of movement was just too hard to follow. Just like that, her hand stopped. She shook out her arm as she studied the image in front of her.

  Eric leaned over her shoulder. The picture showed Paxton’s lab, the full essence of the space down in a few strokes. A plastic layer appeared to cover the entire space.

  “Sealant?” She laughed. Looking up she caught the panicked look on everyone’s face. She bent her head. “Hey, Stylus. How about sealing each Louer and sending them back to their own space.”

  Too many.

  “Hmmm. This world is also too large to seal, correct?”

  Correct.

  She rambled ideas aloud. “So how can we seal the space or the Louers? If we could do that, could we send them home any easier?”

  Eric shifted his position to sitting on the floor. “You do realize you’re sitting here in a life and death situation and talking aloud to a pencil?”

  Casting a quick glance around, she realized her actions weren’t exactly confidence building. “Eric, I have to toss out questions and see what rises for answers. The stylus isn’t good at offering information. It answers my questions, though. Think of this as a brainstorming session.”

  He nodded. “Go for it.”

  Shooting him a quick smile of thanks, she returned to talking to the stylus. “Is there a way to put a tracking number or something similar on each Louer so that we can move them home as if sent by computer or codex?” She wasn’t making any sense. She knew that, yet somewhere in there had to be an idea, a starting point.

  “What are you thinking?” Eric frowned.

  “I’m trying to figure out a way to track them all and then send them home before sealing the door, somehow forever. Then open a door to their new world. That’s presuming they don’t have technology that allows them to return here. And presuming that they like their new world enough to not to want to try to return here. Can we put a codex on each one and send them back or something similar? Obviously not that, as it would give them our technology.”

  “We can’t go and catch them all in order to do that.”

  “Maybe we don’t have to.” She asked the stylus, “Stylus, can we do something like that?”

  No.

  “Okay. I can’t just erase them one by one. I can’t seal every room one at a time. There has to be something more global.”

  “Like what?”

  “The stylus can track each one,” she stared at her pen. “Stylus, that’s correct isn’t it?”

  Yes.

  Storey nodded. “Eric, do you have a way to move supplies across dimensions? Or large items from one spot to another? Like supplies to another city?”

  He pursed his lips. “Yes, we can. We place codes on the items and send them through the gates, using codexes to set the destination.” He studied her face. “Where are you going with this?”

  Excitement bubbled through her. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Why can’t we can track them, slap on codes and ship them home? The next issue is how to subdue them? And how do we stop more from coming over?”

  Paxton interrupted their musing. “I can fix the field so they won’t be able to come across without getting injured. They might try it once or twice, but by the time they figure it out I could have the tears fixed.”

  Eric stood up, stretched then squatted beside her. “That could take a long time.”

  “I know. I was hoping more people would have styluses and could help. Either that or have Paxton’s stylus give us all locations and teams can go out at the same time. I doubt there are more than a dozen here at one time.”

  There were fifty in the first sweep. Her stylus moved freer on its own.

  “How many are still here?”

  One dead, seven wounded and taken home. Two escorted the injured home. Forty left on this side.

  “Forty isn’t so bad.” She winced. Just forty opportunities to be captured or killed.

  “I want to help.” The burly man from the group stood up. “She’s created a safe place for everyone, so they can stay here while we go hunting. I want to do my part.”

  “And me.”

  “I’m helping, too.”

  Before they realized what had happened, all the males in the group had stepped forward. Eric studied them. “Are any of you trained for codex use?”

  “I’m in the reserves,” said one of the younger men.

  “I still think this is a bad idea,” protested Paxton, facing the group. “You have no weapons, and they are bigger and stronger and meaner. None of you know what you’re doing.”

  “Has anyone got a better idea? Do you have an army here? Security forces?” She asked the room in general. “We need to solve this ourselves before they return in greater numbers, now that they know how minimal your defenses are. Paxton, with the help of your stylus, can you organize teams to rescue your people from the Louer’s dimension? If we can get them toget
her in groups and send over teams with codexes, you could take them home very quickly. We need to make sure the Torans are here and the Louers are back on their side. Then we should be able to seal the tears while opening up the dimension in-between.”

  Frustrated, Eric ran his hand down over his face. “We’re going to have to coordinate this very carefully. It could be dangerous. Storey, I don’t want you in the middle of this.”

  Sadly she looked into his dear face. When and how had he become so important? So special to her? “I already am,” she said simply. “Any of us could die on this mission, including you. There’s no choice. The window of opportunity is now. Their numbers are down. Paxton might be able to reduce the numbers crossing over but if their numbers grow, there won’t be any stopping them.”

  “She’s right. If we’re going, let’s get a move on.”

  Eric looked around. “Two trained in codexes? No more?”

  “Send one over to retrieve your people. Make sure more codexes are taken over there. Let the men who are prisoners use them. You’ll move people much faster that way,” Storey said.

  Eric glanced over at his father, as if considering his participation, then shook his head. Storey agreed. The man had to have some redeeming qualities. He was the leader of Eric’s people after all. It seemed to be her that brought out the worst in him. And once he’d slid down into that level, well...he seemed to revel in it. Maybe they could make peace when this was over.

  “Fine. Two codexes, then two teams. One to do retrievals and pull in more men and the other to start dealing with the Louers until more teams can come to help.”

  “Right. Can we find a way to speed up the process? I won’t know how long things are going to take until we get started. Paxton is needed here, otherwise I’d say take his codex as well.”

  “What about his stylus?” The same burly man took several steps toward Paxton, who backed up ahead of him.

  “That won’t work, his is soulbound, too.” She lifted her stylus. “Can you give us coordinates right now for several Louers, a small group? Preferably in close proximity to where we are now?”

  A distinct, deep humming filled the air. Several women ducked even though Storey tried to reassure them all was well. “It’s my stylus. He’s locating the Louers.”

  Her hand jerked, and the message appeared as if by magic. There are nine Louers approaching the Center.

  “Nine in one bunch. A bit many?” She bit her lip, then shook her head. “The location means we need to take them first before they take over the rest of the building.” Storey stood up and walked over to Eric. “I think we should go as a group and see how we fare. Four of us against nine of them is completely doable, particularly if we have the element of surprise,” she added with a grin.

  Eric looked at the eager faces around them and gave in. “It’s almost a quarter of them. Not exactly a small group. We’d be better off going for a couple at a time.”

  Paxton shook his head. “No time.”

  “Right.” Eric shrugged. “We’ll give this a try and evaluate after this test group.”

  “Stylus, do the Louers have guns?”

  No.

  “Where is the best place to capture them?”

  In the basement.

  “Except that’s where they caught all of us.” Eric stood with his hands fisted on his hips.

  “True. Where and how, Stylus?” Humming picked up as the stylus computed information. In the meantime, Storey checked over her backpack, making sure she was as prepared as possible.

  In the anteroom of the outside entrance to the basement. They will enter there.

  “Eric, do you have weapons to use?”

  “Some.”

  “Stun guns? Tranquilizers? Something along those lines? You keep saying how advanced you are, so what do you have?”

  “We are more advanced,” Paxton spluttered.

  Exasperated, she said “Then you should be able to subdue these things before we even see them. Don’t you have gas you can put into this small anteroom? For that matter, you should have the ability to pipe gas into the ante room without us ever venturing near.” She turned to the Councilman. “You run this place. Do you have defensive measures in place?”

  He stared at her, disdainful fury marring his pudgy face. “No. Why? We’ve never needed anything like that before. We don’t live in your society where you make war on each other all the time. We’ve never worried about our safety until you came here.”

  Storey groaned. “Not that again. You know what the problem is with your world? You’re all talkers with no action. You’d talk yourselves to death if given a chance – at least that way you wouldn’t have to worry about the Louers finishing you off.”

  She snatched up her bag off the floor. “I’m going down to the basement to do what I can to slap codes on these nine. Then we can ship them back where they came from. Either come with me and help or stay here on your fat butt and do nothing like you always do.”

  She strode to the door, pulling her small notepad from her pocket. “Stylus. Directions please.”

  Go through the door and turn left.

  “Wait,” cried out one of the women, “What about the sealant on this room? If you go out it’ll break the seal and we’ll be vulnerable again.”

  Hmmm. As much as she had no use for the Councilman, the women and children didn’t deserve a life of servitude with the Louers. “Stylus, can it be resealed?”

  No.

  “Can we leave without disturbing the seal by using codexes?”

  Yes.

  She spun around searching for Eric. “Eric, are you ready?”

  “Yes, just checking the status of the armory.”

  “How come you have an armory if you don’t need such a thing,” she asked mockingly of Eric’s father. That pompous windbag really pissed her off. She wouldn’t mind if he was captured again. It’s not like he was doing anything to help save his people.

  Eric shot her a sideways look. “Because at one point in time, we did need it. Therefore, for a long time we kept the training and weapons current. Then the threat died off and well...” He shrugged. “That could be a problem too. The weapons might be there, but I’m not sure what condition they are in.” He motioned to the other men. “We’ll go there first.”

  “Then let’s move or we’ll be too late.”

  He walked over, that wide cocky grin back on his face. Reaching out for her arm, he nodded to the others. “I’m dialing now. Step over.”

  The group rushed over in time for the black air to swirl around their feet and block out the rest of the room.

  About damn time. This place would crumble with old age before anyone got down to business.

  “Still as impatient as ever, I see,” murmured Eric beside her.

  She bent her head to hide her grin. If he only knew.

  * * *

  Chapter 17

  At the basement, they split up. Eric took several men and headed to the armory. Storey and the remaining two men headed for the anteroom. She didn’t know what they could do on their own, but hoped something would come to her on the way. The burly man strode at her side. The younger, pimple-faced, barely adult male loped along on the side. The teen smiled at her. She smiled back. “What’s your name?”

  “Horath.”

  She raised her eyebrow, “That’s an interesting name.”

  He straightened, even his smile brightened.

  “My name is Jendron.” The burly man grinned knowingly at her. “Neither of us is mated.”

  What that had to do with anything, she didn’t know. She knew enough to keep her mouth shut though.

  She was grateful to see Eric ahead of them at the entrance to the anteroom. His nostrils flared. He lifted his head, almost sniffing the air. “They’re here already.”

  “Good,” she murmured. “Let’s get in there and take them down.”

  He looked at her sideways. “How?”

  “With the gun you’re carrying.”
/>   His face broke into a half smile. “You’ve got that right. We have three stun guns. Old but still functional, I hope. Still, we’ll be lucky if we shoot four or five. What about the others?”

  Storey smiled and tapped her sketchbook. “I’m not without some resources.”

  “True. But it takes time to draw. You aren’t going to have that time.”

  “No,” she said. “I won’t. Maybe you’ll be able to handle them all and I won’t need it.” She didn’t bother telling him she’d been working on an idea. She opened her sketchbook, stared at it and started drawing. She created the same door that started this whole mess from her bedroom. She fell into the project with the same intensity she put into all her drawings.

  She barely noticed when Eric set up position and motioned to the others to be ready. One hand on the doorknob, he turned back to Storey. “Are you ready Storey? In three, two, one...”

  Storey raised her head and watched. Her hand, stylus gripped tight in her fingers, sketched at a mad pace. The gate was almost done, the latch, the shading. Just another minute. She watched the men even as her hand, the stylus clenched tight, drew at a furious pace.

  Eric reached for the knob. He kicked the door wide and jumped in low. Storey peered into the room. Darkness, complete and utterly blinding, greeted them. There should have been some light from the windows, at least. Nothing. All her instincts screamed at her.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He cast Storey a frown and nudged her to silence. Pulling his weapon forward, he entered the darkness. One step. Two steps. All he could hear was heavy breathing from those trying to peer into the room from behind him. A bright light flashed. He blinked, then blinked again. Black smoke wafted at the floor level.

  The smell hit him first. Sour and cloying, the fetid aroma filled his nostrils and threw him off stride. He bent slightly, gasping for air. The black smoke thickened. Then it hit him. He scrambled backwards. It was a portal.

  “Watch out,” he yelled in warning. “It’s an active portal.”