by Evie Wilde
Despite Braeden’s objections, I stepped to the middle of the field, determined to create the world’s greatest fireworks show. Instead, I cast an out of control fireball that destroyed half the stadium and injured dozens. The stadium still laid in rubble today.
“What’s wrong?” Dash asked. “Look like you don’t feel well.”
His confidence in me was already low, so I saw no reason to tell him I'd been banned from Old Chicago, as well as a dozen other cities. My goal was to lay low and not do anything stupid. At least now I understood Edius may have had something to do with the fireball destroying the stadium, though the people of the city wouldn’t care to hear my excuses.
Braeden moved between us and stared at the city with us.
“You remember?” I asked.
Braeden nodded. “We’ll have to stay away from crowds as we move around the city,” he said. “You can’t draw attention to yourself.” He looked at Dash. “It’s going to be up to you to help her do that.”
Dash smirked at Braeden and looked at me, wearing his best poker face.
“Didn’t you…” Oliver began, but Braeden quickly cut him off. Oliver then handed each of us a map and pointed out important places and things. He’d marked a path on each map, paths leading us to our mentor.
Braeden studied the map and shook his head. “This takes us right through the city crowds.” He looked at me. “We can’t do that.”
I was the elephant in the room. We were going to have to figure out how we would traverse the city without me being recognized. For the most part, everyone seemed cool with having to make the effort to keep me hidden.
“I have an idea,” Kyler said. “We dress her up. Change her appearance.”
“Well, we know you can turn her into a frog,” Dash said, and everyone laughed.
“Smartass,” Kyler said and shook his head. “We need to make her ugly.”
“No thanks,” I said.
He nodded. “Like the witch in that movie, Wizard of Ohio.”
“Of Oz,” I said. “And you can be a flying monkey.” The others laughed, and Kyler shoved his hands in his pockets. “No thanks.”
Dash chuckled and slapped his hand on Kyler’s shoulder. “We can protect her from the crazies,” Dash said. “And hopefully from herself.”
Dash walked away and passed through the city gates. The others paired off and went their own directions.
“Thanks for the support,” I said.
“You’re welcome.” He smirked, and I’d had enough.
I looked at our destination on the map. Oliver had written Barbarus the Magnificent next to a small building. Barbarus was going to be our mentor. “I’ll see you there,” I said to Dash.
“You need our protection,” he yelled.
I stopped and turned. “I can take care of myself, thank you very much. Besides, I don’t want you to get caught up in the crowds of people who will be asking for my head. I wouldn’t want you to get your hands dirty.”
The city had grown darker and colder since the last time I visited. I pulled my robe tighter and moved the hood over my head. Unless someone studied my face, they would never know the person inside the robe.
I studied the map and found it took me nowhere near the stadium I’d destroyed. I took the next street and found it clogged with people. The Old Chicago Spring Festival was in full swing. Vendors sold food and crafts. People drank beer, stumbling through the streets. Others had their faces buried in their iPhone 25. I looked up at the apartment buildings, every window aglow with a computer screen or television. The streets were absent of kids.
When I glanced at the map again, I saw the path Oliver had drawn to Barbarus’ house had changed. And right before my eyes the path changed again. Edius. He was near.
The quickest way to Barbarus’ was going to be through the shadier, more undesirable parts of Old Chicago, the parts no amount of magic could help. When the world began accepting magic was real and witches and warlocks actually existed, something happened to mankind. It allowed the dark arts to seep into society. Parts of cities and villages accepted the dark side of magic, like Old Chicago had. Things fell apart quickly, creating borders where there had been none.
I took a left at the next street, a street lit by old lampposts. A street lined by ladies of the night, men of the night, and everything in between. There were no cars or trucks or vehicles of any kind. People pissed in the streets and dropped their trash wherever they pleased. I stepped onto the sidewalk, trying to stay in the shadows, watching every man, still feeling as if Edius was nearby.
“Hey, baby,” a man said and stepped from between two buildings. He wore pants and shoes but no shirt, his chest a collage of tattoos. He grabbed my arm, and I jerked away. “That’s no way to treat a fella.”
Two more men appeared, and the three surrounded me. Briefly, I wondered where my protectors were, the group of four guys who were destined to keep me safe. “I don’t want any trouble,” I said. My hands began to warm, my mind already moving into defensive mode. Here I could destroy buildings, and a large section of the population wouldn’t care.
“We’re not looking for trouble,” one of the men said. “We’re looking for a little action. I think you got exactly what we’re looking for.” He nudged one of the others. “What say you, guys?”
“I say we drag her back into the alley and show her what a real man can do,” the other guy said.
I let out a loud breath. “I need to get moving, or I’m going to be late,” I said.
They closed in around me, each needing a mint. “You’re not going anywhere,” the third guy said. “At least not until we’re done with you.”
I considered giving them more than a little action, but quickly talked myself down; though, they would have looked good as cockroaches. I didn’t need the attention, so I shoved my hands in my pockets.
But it was too late. I had the attention. “I remember you,” a woman said as she stepped from the shadows from where the men came.
“Shit,” I said, recognizing her, the woman who warmed up to Braeden right before I destroyed the stadium. I really did need to get the hell away from them.
“How’s he doing?” She looked around for Braeden. “Guess you don’t know. I didn’t think he’d put up with amateur hour for too long.”
I rolled my shoulders and leaned my head left then right, trying to relax, trying to subdue the anger heading toward my hands. “You need to let me be on my way,” I said.
“You know this bitch?” one of the men asked the woman. I glared at the man, and he smirked. I tucked my warming hands inside the sleeves of my robe. He’d made a grave mistake, and it was taking everything I had not to set him ablaze.
“She’s the witch who destroyed the stadium a few years ago,” she said. “Practically ruining the entire city. Where’s your boyfriend?”
I started to ask which boyfriend, but that sounded cocky even to me. I tried to move between two of the guys, but they quickly closed ranks. “Look. I just wanna pass through without any problems.” I glared at the woman. “I don’t wanna hurt any of you.”
“You’re not supposed to be here,” she said. “In fact, the authorities would pay a pretty penny to know you’re here.” She nodded at the men.
I stepped in the opposite direction, and the men blocked my way again. There would be no choice. I extended my hands through the ends of my sleeves, my palms red, the fireballs already forming. My body had instantly gone into attack mode.
“Back away,” she told the men. “This witch is crazy.’
“Fucking right,” I said and slipped between the men as they parted. I didn’t look back to see if they were going for help or if they’d decided to pursue me. All I knew was I needed to get out of view.
I spent the next twenty-minutes navigating the streets and avoiding people, always looking over my shoulder. Against ordinary people and lower-tier witches and warlocks, I didn’t need help from the others. But I knew deep down when it came to battling
the likes of archmages and experienced witches, warlocks, and wizards, I would need their help.
An hour after I’d left Dash, I arrived at Barbarus’ location where I found Dash waiting, whistling as if he’d been waiting days for me to arrive. “What took you so long?” he asked. He glanced at his wrist as if he were checking the time on a watch he didn’t have. The bad boy was back in full swing.
“I ran into a group of people who wanted to throw me out of the city.” I crossed my arms. “We should have brought butter.”
Dash frowned. “Why?”
“Because they were almost toast.”
“That would've been real smart.”
I shook my head and bit my lower lip. His sarcasm was never-ending.
“You do realize you could have avoided the entire situation. You didn’t even have to travel the streets.” He pointed at the glowing sliver across the street. “It’s a waypoint,” he said. “They’re all over the city. Only the smartest witches and warlocks can use them.” Another dig on me.
“I have used them, Dash,” I said. “I forgot about them.” I took a seat on the small brick wall with him. “Edius is around here. I felt his presence.” I told him about the map and, though he said nothing, I could see it on his face he thought they’d all made a mistake by letting me go off alone.
Dash patted my leg. “I’m glad you made it here safely,” he said with exactly zero emotion. He motioned over his shoulder at the house. “I think the old man is waiting on us. Let’s go see what adventure they have in mind.”
He walked past me and headed up the walkway toward the house, leaving me in his wake.
“Ah, you finally made it,” Barbarus said when he answered the door. “I was beginning to worry.”
Barbarus was an older wizard, his white hair and white beard something from generations ago. He wore a blue robe and on his blue robe were hundreds of yellow quarter-moons. He embellished the role of wizard. Oddly enough, he wore no shoes.
He offered us a seat and sat across from his, motioning at the steaming drinks on the table. “Crow’s tea?” he offered.
Dash and I glanced at each other and then shook our heads. Barbarus sipped from his cup and studied us over the brim. His eyes shifted back and forth. I looked around the room. Nothing stated a world-class wizard lived in the house.
“It’s all in another room,” he said to me and sat his cup on the table. He nodded at us. “Why is it you two can’t work together? You act like a husband and wife who’ve been married too long to talk to each other.”
Dash and I looked at each other. Barbarus didn’t seem to be the type to listen to excuses, so I kept my mouth shut. But he also wasn’t the type to accept silence.
“See what I mean,” Barbarus said. “Two old married people.” He pointed at us. “Now someone tell me what the hell’s going on."
Dash and I spoke at the same time and then clammed up immediately. We did it again, and Barbarus planted his palm against his forehead. He pointed at me. “Ladies first.”
Dash sighed in frustration and flopped his hands in his lap.
“Well,” I began, “I think we just don’t know each other as well as we should. I think it would help if we talked and understood each other. If we’re going to be a team, then we need to act like a team.” Hoping to not make things worse, I stopped there. Dash deserved a chance to defend himself.
“Awesome,” Dash said. “I don’t see it that way at all.” Agitation rode every word he spoke, but I didn’t sense it as an agitation toward me. There was something else eating at him. “Everything she touches she destroys.” He shook his head. “Do I really need to go down the long list of cities who’d rather not have her visit?” He glanced at me, and I sensed nervousness.
“Why do you think that happens?” Barbarus asked Dash.
He shrugged. “She has a temper.”
“You’ve experienced this temper?” Barbarus asked.
I turned in my seat and tucked my legs beneath my bottom. Getting hot, I removed my robe, catching Dash studying my body.
“Once,” Dash said. “And I had to save her from herself.” Proud of himself, he smiled.
“So you’re basing your entire opinion on one incident you witnessed?” Barbarus asked. He returned the cup to the table and stood. “Let’s go so I can see what you’ve got.” Dash and I watched each other as Barbarus left the house.
“That was a setup,” Dash said. He followed Barbarus out, and I trailed behind. Barbarus entered the woods far ahead of us, and Dash looked back at me, and our eyes locked, but I wasn’t sure how to read his eyes.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Cassandra
I followed Dash into the woods, walking next to him but neither of us saying a word. Barbarus kept a pretty good pace for an older man. He never looked back, but seemed to be listening to our footsteps. Upon seeing Barbarus, I remembered viewing his picture on the wall in the Magic Museum. We were being trained by one of the best in the world, though his age seemed to be wearing on him. The campus definitely needed an influx of new blood.
Barbarus didn’t really take my side back in the house, but I believed he understood the problem between Dash and me. His one question to Dash and his lack of a response to Dash’s response said as much. I wished Dash could understand things could be better between us if he would knock down whatever wall he’d erected. I sensed maybe he’d been emotionally hurt by someone in his past, though I couldn’t be sure and really didn’t think it was my place to pry. Part of me believed maybe a woman had broken his heart.
Barbarus stopped in a clearing surrounded by forest, though in the distance I could see what I'd only read about in books: a magical circle and four warp gates. The gates looked like large stone pergolas and something stolen from Stonehenge.
“Over here,” Barbarus said. His voice was raspy. He noticed me looking at the warp gates. “Nothing to be concerned about, yet.” He pointed me to the center of the clearing and placed Dash several feet away. He was about to find out if Dash’s comments had merit.
The clearing was nothing special. Dirt and rocks made up most of the ground, and a few large boulders sat around the periphery of the clearing, nothing for me to damage. I guessed that was the real reason he brought us to the location.
“The tests are simple exercises of your elements,” Barbarus said. “I’m here to evaluate and improve your craft, not to use your past against you.”
I knew his comment was for me and not Dash. “Okay,” I acknowledged. I remembered what Oliver and Kyler had said about leverage, so I planted my feet and prepared for the first test.
Barbarus moved back several steps behind Dash. “Your first test is a simple fireball,” he said.
“Not a problem,” I said.
I raised my hands in front of me, my palms up, and concentrated, not wanting to fail in front of Barbarus and especially not in front of Dash. A small fireball appeared above each palm, and then my mind began to float, stealing my concentration. The fireball grew, each spreading beyond my hands. I knew it was happening, but I had no idea how to stop it. I’d had the same trouble at Wayfair City, Old Chicago, and the fae village. When the fireballs became too large to control, I heard Barbarus’ voice.
“Calm, Cassandra. Will them back to size with your mind.” His voice was soft but distant. “Easy. Easy. Breathe and control the magic with your mind, not your hands.”
But it wasn’t easy. Nothing about magic or my elements were easy. The fireballs continued to grow, and I began to wobble on my feet. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, but neither hand responded, threatening to embarrass me in front of my mentor and the guy who had said I would fail. “I can’t hold them,” I said. “They’re going to explode.”
“You can,” Barbarus commanded. “And they won’t. Hold them steady, Cassandra. You can do this.” And then everything calmed. My shoulders relaxed, taking in an odd energy. The energy traveled into both my mind and hands. The fireballs simmered and shrunk until they were a n
ormal size. I watched them in disbelief, moving each closer to my face and then moving them away. They were small and tight and deadly. I passed them between my hands and they remained small, steady, ready to be cast.
Still feeling a tiny amount of pressure against my shoulders, I turned to find Dash behind me, his hands on my shoulders, sweat racing down his face, his eyes shut, neck strained. “Dash,” I said in a whisper. “Dash.”
Dash opened his eyes, the whites streaked with red veins. “Are you okay?” he asked, looking at the fireballs hovering above my hands. He nodded at the boulder thirty-yards ahead, each a large target that would be hard for even me to miss. “Be careful, Cassandra. Concentrate and aim.” He placed his lips close to my ear, and I thought he meant to kiss me. Instead, he gave me a warning. “Barbarus keeps looking toward the trees,” he whispered. “Something’s wrong.” He nodded toward the right where something in the treetops moved.
“Okay,” I said, but my mind could not tear itself from his hands on my shoulders or his lips next to my ear. Any other time the moment would have been heavenly, but I knew we were in danger. From the corner of my eye I saw branches shudder and trees sway.
“Careful,” Dash said again. “When you cast the spell, be ready to cast another at whatever is heading our way.”
“Edius?” I whispered.
“No, something else,” Dash said. “A witch, maybe.” He placed his hands on my arms as if helping me with the spell. “Steady. Remember, reload immediately.” He stepped back.
I pulled back my hands, impressed I was able to stay in control. I placed all my concentration on the boulders, imagining them to be Edius. I thrusted my hands forward and the fireballs found their mark, exploding and setting the ground ablaze. I had little time to celebrate the small victory.
The sky darkened, and Barbarus suddenly raced toward us. He raised his hands and cast a spell, covering us with a protective dome. Through the dome, I could hear the witch cackle. We turned in time to see her cast a lightning spell at the dome. The dome disintegrated, and the lightning struck Barbarus, sending him flopping to the ground. He managed to cast his own spell at the woman, but she dodged the half-hearted spell. Barbarus moaned and writhed on the ground. I looked on in disbelief as one of the world’s most famous wizards lay lifeless on the ground. We were on our own.