Magic Born

by Caethes Faron

  “If that’s the case, then he needs to tell you. You have a right to know.” He took a bite of meat, but that didn’t occupy him long. “I don’t like this. He shouldn’t have reacted the way he did toward you. A mage has been murdered and her daughter is under threat and untrained. You belong with the Magesterial Council, and Casper should take you to them.”

  “I’m sure he has his reasons. Besides, I don’t see a better option unless you have one.” I needed something to go right, and I didn’t appreciate Alex poking holes in my situation.

  “I don’t trust him.” An irritated, defensive edge entered his voice, as if I was his to worry over. I appreciated the concern. “I hate the thought of leaving you here with him.”

  My heart lurched. “Do you have to go so soon?” Anxiety laced my voice.

  Alex met my gaze, as if he were thinking of how to respond. After a moment in which I thought my heart would pound out of my chest, he gave me a warm smile and his eyes softened around the edges. “No, I can stay for a while.”

  I released the breath I’d been holding. I couldn’t mentally cope with losing the security of Alex’s now familiar presence. My life had changed too much too quickly.

  After I’d eaten as much as I could without puking, I climbed into the four-poster bed and snuggled under the covers. Without a word, Alex stood and shifted into his panther form. He paced in front of the bed a few times before settling on the floor, facing the door. My protector.

  Between Alex’s protection and the medallion’s, I should have felt like the safest girl in the world, but I couldn’t help an uneasy feeling that true safety would be a long time coming.

  Chapter 10

  A ball of light glowed above me, brightening as I fully woke. The light stretched until I saw the empty floor at the foot of my bed. The absence of Alex jolted me upright. The rest of the room remained exactly as I had left it.

  A tiny marble sat on the bedside table next to my phone. That must be the communication orb Casper had spoken of. Not having had the best experience working magic, I filed it away as a last resort. I hadn’t the faintest idea how to work it.

  I needed to find Alex. He’d talked about leaving me here with Casper, but I didn’t think he’d do it, especially while I was asleep without saying goodbye. He could be out hunting, but again, that didn’t seem likely. Muffled voices came from the other side of the door that connected my room to Alex’s. I breathed a sigh of relief. Now that I thought about it, it seemed obvious that he’d be there.

  I used the en-suite bathroom and then grabbed the last few pieces of fruit from the food tray and went to the door. I pressed my ear up against it, trying to get an idea of what I’d be walking into. What little I could hear definitely sounded like Alex and Casper. I don’t know who else I expected, but they sounded neither angry nor particularly happy. When I entered, they both looked up from where they sat talking in Alex’s sitting area.

  Alex stood as soon as he saw me. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yeah, I did.” I was surprised dreams hadn’t interrupted my rest, or at least none violent enough for me to remember. “How long was I out?”

  “You slept right through the night. It’s early morning now.”

  Transforming into a morning person was at least one good side effect of this entire ordeal.

  “Alex and I were just discussing how to proceed.” Casper kept his seat and Alex resumed his. There were only two chairs in the room, so I sat on Alex’s untouched bed facing them. The tight tone of Casper’s voice led me to believe that their discussions had been strained at best.

  “I’m willing to try whatever. Like Alex said, I don’t know what I’m doing. Whatever you guys think is best.” My only desire was for them to get along. I didn’t need the added complication of a tense relationship between the only two people I could count on.

  “Excellent.” Casper smiled, genuinely pleased with my response. “I’ll let you freshen up and eat some breakfast, and then you can join me downstairs.”

  When Casper stood to leave, I noticed his attire had changed. Gone was the contemporary power suit he’d worn in his Magical Games office. Now he wore a dark forest-green shirt which appeared to be made from a thick, soft material. The black pants seemed both foreign and familiar at the same time. The material seemed to be some type of leather and could possibly have come from an animal that didn’t exist on Earth. His calves were encased in shiny black boots. The most striking difference was a red robe he wore. Gold thread embroidered it in a similar pattern to the throne chair downstairs. The robe had to have some significance; I doubted he’d wear something that so obviously clashed with his red hair unless it held importance. He turned and left the room, the robe billowing slightly behind him.

  “So what were you two talking about?” I took Casper’s vacated seat across from Alex.

  “He wants to try some different spells to get the necklace off.”

  “That sounds reasonable.” I shrugged, and Alex tightened his jaw muscles and shifted in his seat slightly.

  “I’m glad you think so.”

  “You don’t?”

  “I think your place is with the Magesterial Council. The fact that he hasn’t taken us to Elustria or even notified the Council of your situation isn’t right.”

  From what I gathered, this Magesterial Council was the governing body for mages in Elustria. Knowing what I did of Casper, he didn’t seem like the type of man to always play by the rules. You didn’t get to the top of the competitive gaming industry by coloring in the lines. Alex was clearly more of a rules man.

  “There might be a reason he hasn’t contacted them yet. It’s been a long time since you’ve been to Elustria. He’s probably just trying to keep me safe. He knew my mother.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I’m just antsy to get moving.”

  A pang of loss went through me at Alex’s apparent desire to be done with his mission and therefore with me. We didn’t know much about each other, but he was the one who started this entire thing, and he’d saved my life. The stress of this situation had forced a stronger bond than two people normally made over the course of a couple of days. Logically, I knew all that, but that didn’t make any difference. I’d miss him when he was gone.

  “You’ve done what you said you would. Don’t let me hamper your plans.” I wondered if my eyes betrayed how much I didn’t want him to heed my words.

  “No, it’s nothing like that. I just…” His voice drifted off, and I realized I wouldn’t get an answer.

  “I’m in desperate need of a shower. I’ll go get cleaned up and then we’ll head downstairs together.”

  The rejuvenating effects of hot water and soap should not be underestimated. When I stepped out of the shower, I felt like a completely different woman than the one who’d stepped in. An outfit had appeared on top of the chest of drawers for me, nothing fancy, just some loose drawstring pants, suitable for working out, and a tank top. The fresh socks and underwear were heavenly. I tied my shoes and headed to Alex’s room only to be stopped by a fresh breakfast tray sitting on my table. I took it as a good sign that my appetite had reverted to normal levels. The warmth of the shower had lured me to take longer than I should have, so I grabbed a croissant and an orange to eat on the way downstairs with Alex.

  Next door, I found Alex waiting at the table, eating an apple. The only sign that he’d showered was his damp hair. He still wore the same enchanted clothes my mother had given him.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t resist a long shower.”

  “No problem. You deserve it. You ready to go down?” He stood and looked me over but didn’t comment.

  “Yep.” I walked to the door, and he beat me there, holding it open for me. Having a personal protector was pretty nice. We’d made a lot of progress from our initial impressions of each other.

  On the way downstairs, I tried peeling the orange, but couldn’t get it started. Alex saw my obvious ineptness and stuck his hand out in invitation. “Thanks,” I said
as I handed him the fruit.

  In one swift motion, he carved a line down one side of the orange. If I’d blinked at the wrong moment, I would’ve missed it. I couldn’t believe what my eyes had seen. “Did you just make your nails grow?”

  “Shifter trick. If I start to shift and then stop, I can get my nails to shift just long enough to cut something.”

  “Handy.”

  He finished peeling the orange and handed me one half. Sweet juice exploded in my mouth. In a few bites I had eaten the entire thing, and Alex handed me the second half. I swallowed the last of it as we met Casper in the same living area we’d been in yesterday.

  “Good, you’re here.” Casper spread his arms in greeting. “Glad to see the clothes fit. My people had to guess at your size.”

  “They’re good.” After a full night’s sleep, refreshing shower, and a normal breakfast, I’d gained some confidence, because I didn’t hesitate to say, “I was actually hoping we could spend some time in the library. It looks fascinating.”

  “I’ll show it to you later,” Casper said. “For now, while we’re working with the talisman, I think it best we stay away from the priceless books.”

  Casper sat at the end of the sofa, kitty-corner from the chair he gestured for me to take. Instead of taking one of the other chairs, Alex sat next to Casper on the sofa so he could face me.

  “You’re welcome to shift if you like. Given that you’re on Earth and don’t have access to a portal to take Kat to Elustria, I assume you enjoy spending most of your time as a cat.”

  “I’m fine, thanks.” Alex’s voice lacked genuine gratitude. Everything Casper did seemed to irritate him.

  “Suit yourself.” Casper didn’t appear the least bit perturbed by Alex’s attitude. He focused his dark brown gaze back on me. “We’re going to try some different spells to get the necklace to release. The most important thing you need to do is want the necklace to come off. If any part of you wants the necklace to stay on, it won’t release.”

  “I want it off.” That qualified as the biggest understatement of my life.

  “I know you do, but there might be a part of you that wants it because of its magic or because it’s the only thing you have of your mother’s.”

  There could be something to that. While the necklace had caused me nothing but grief, it was undeniably cool. But it was a type of cool best appreciated from afar.

  “I’ll keep that in mind, but I definitely don’t want it on me anymore. I didn’t know anything about my birth mother before Alex showed up, so I don’t feel any sentimental connection.” The more I got to know about Meglana, the more that could change. As time passed, it would likely get more difficult for me to genuinely want to give up the talisman.

  “All right then, we’ll proceed. Since the talisman has made it clear that it won’t come off willingly, I think you’ll need to perform the spell with me. I’m going to mutter a few counter spells to defend myself, then I’ll place my hands on top of yours and that will be your cue to say ‘talisman, release’ with me. It’s a simple phrase, but you need to say it in a commanding tone. It should obey you.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Just like with the teleportation ring, it might help to close your eyes and clear your mind so you’re not distracted.”

  I nodded and took a deep breath as I closed my eyes.

  “Place your hands on the chain at the nape of your neck, where a clasp would be. As we give the command together, picture the chain breaking.”

  “All right.”

  Casper muttered something in a language that I didn’t understand then placed his hands on top of mine. Together we said, “Talisman, release.”

  Nothing happened.

  I jerked the chain, but it held tight.

  “Don’t get frustrated. This is going to take time. Remember that once we get the talisman off, you can always wear it again. It’s not a permanent separation. Keep that in mind to reassure your subconscious and the talisman.” Casper spoke in a calm tone which helped curb my frustration. I wanted the damn thing off.

  “I keep telling myself that if I can get the necklace off, I have options.”

  “Good. This time I want you to try to do it on your own. It might not like my interference.”

  I closed my eyes and repeated, “Talisman, release.” Still no luck.

  For the next few hours, Casper and I tried different commands and spells, some in English, some in a language I didn’t recognize. We tried them together and then just me, and nothing worked.

  Exasperated, Casper rose and walked behind me to try it himself. The same snap as the first time sounded. I twirled in my chair to see him against the wall.

  “I’m so sorry! I don’t know what’s happening.” Why the stone had to attack one of my only allies in the world was beyond me.

  “Dammit! You’re not trying hard enough.”

  Alex jumped to his feet and came to my side. His close proximity calmed my nerves and took the edge off the situation. Every time he came to my defense, I felt a twinge of desire I promptly squashed. I wouldn’t be that cliché girl.

  “Hey, she’s trying the best she can. This is obviously not going to work. We should go to Elustria and have the Magesterial Council take it from here.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Casper waved a dismissive hand at Alex. “You’re a shifter who’s spent his entire life Earthside. Things aren’t as neat and clean back in Elustria, and it’s certainly not safe for her to travel there. A sorcerer assassin killed her mother and is now hunting her. The sorcerers control the fabric between our worlds. We can’t take her through a portal until I’m assured of her safety.”

  “If you’re not going to take her to Elustria, then at least give her a break. She’s been at this all morning. She needs to eat and rest.”

  My stomach growled at the mention of eating. While a nap sounded heavenly, I didn’t want to stop or show any sign of weakness. Sure my body was tired, but I was more tired of being beholden to this necklace, held captive to a power I couldn’t control.

  “You’re right.” Casper straightened himself. “We should take a break. We’ll try again after lunch.”

  A stone capable of devastating harm remained firmly around my neck. An assassin hunted me and may be able to track any attempt at escape through a portal. The only two people capable of helping me were fighting. I was attracted to a shifter I couldn’t possibly have a future with, and I had a term paper due in a week. But I’m sure lunch would help.

  Oh how I wish I had never opened the door for Alex.

  Chapter 11

  Back in my room, food waited for me on the table and Alex joined me with his lunch just like before. No sign remained of how the food had appeared. I had no idea if it appeared out of thin air by magic or someone delivered it, but the hot roast beef sandwiches and potato salad were welcome, no matter how they came to be in my room.

  “How are you feeling?” Alex didn’t touch the food in front of him, concentrating entirely on me. The lines around his face showed his concern more than his eyes or his words did. Tension appeared in those lines, as if he could only relax when assured of my well-being. I didn’t understand why he cared so much. I was nothing more than an assignment, a promise to his father, one he had fulfilled already. The sensation of having someone care was familiar and foreign at the same time, like when you come home after a long trip away and find your home exactly as you left it and realize that you’re the one who’s changed. It had been a long time since someone had cared, and while I liked the feeling, I hadn’t grown accustomed to it.

  “I’m fine. I just want to get this necklace off so I can move forward.”

  “Then you need to insist that he take you to Elustria. Casper is obviously unable to remove it.”

  I knew Alex thought going to Elustria was best, but Casper seemed equally sure that it was better to stay here. At least here I was in my home world. Elustria seemed infinitely far away and foreign. T
his was the first time I’d so much as left the United States, and Alex wanted me to leave the world. It wasn’t something I could agree to easily.

  “What about the assassin? Casper thinks I’m safer here than traveling through a portal. Is what he says about the sorcerers true?”

  “It is true that they try to closely monitor all the portals, but Casper has a way to get through. Even if you had to use a sorcerer’s portal, they would let you through. They want mages out of Earth.”

  “But what if he finds me there?”

  “Once in Elustria, you would be under the protection of the Council. An assassin wouldn’t be able to get close to you, I promise. The question is, do you trust me?”

  I took a bite of my sandwich to give me an excuse not to answer right away. Everything about the situation worried me. Insisting I go to Elustria was as strange to me as insisting that we not. I had no frame of reference and no ability to make a judgment call. The only information I had was my gut feeling. When I consulted my gut, I knew I could trust Alex, that he wanted the best for me. I didn’t get the same feeling from Casper, but he was also the only mage I’d ever met in my life. He was the only one who had a possibility of removing the necklace and teaching me more about who my mother was—who I was. Alex, while well-intentioned, could only do so much. By his own admission he hadn’t been back to Elustria in ages. If it were essential that I go there, my mother would have left instructions for me to go there. Instead, she’d left me a dangerous necklace and done something to it to make it stay on me.

  “Of course I trust you, but it’s different for me than it is for you, Alex. I’ve never been to Elustria, and while it seems completely normal to you, the thought of leaving this world behind scares me. Everything in my life has changed in little more than a day. My entire identity has been toppled, and I’m left to rebuild it. I’ve abandoned everything, and the only thread of my life I have left is the familiarity of at least being on Earth. Casper knew my mother, and right now, that has to be enough for me.”