by Robin Roseau
"What does that mean? Otherwise being human?"
"Humans are not the only sentient life on this planet. Most of the other races are able to pass as human, but they are not human."
"ET phone home?"
"Fae, a variety of were-creatures, and vampires. Vampires used to be human, of course."
"Were-creatures?"
"Werewolves are the most common."
"Full. Of. Shit."
She smiled slightly. "I admit, proving those claims is more difficult for me. But I can prove I can manipulate magic. Perhaps you will accept my word of 'witch', although I understand if in your head you consider other words."
"You're going to, what? Do a magic trick?"
"I guess you could say that. Perhaps more than one."
I slid my tarot deck across the table to her. "I should pick a card?"
"Some witches are able to turn off seeing auras. Some cannot. Can you?" I nodded. "Are you watching my aura?" I nodded again. "Then I shall begin."
I didn't understand what she did, but her aura began to change. She lifted her hands, and a portion of her aura flowed down her arms and collected above her hands, forming into a complex shape, a pattern I recognized as meaningful, but I couldn't have explained it or told you what it did. I stared at it.
"I presume you aren't convinced yet."
I stared. "You can manipulate your aura."
"My aura and my magic are so deeply intertwined it is impossible to recognize between them. I do not manipulate my aura; I manipulate my magic." She nodded to the space between us. "This is the result."
"Pretty light show." I leaned back. "It's just a trick."
"Lyra, I will not hurt you. That is not why I am here. On the contrary." She looked past her magic at me. I noticed only in passing; I couldn't take my eyes from the light show hovering between us.
"Nut job," I muttered, but I was no longer convinced.
The spell -- and it was, indeed, a spell -- flew at me, far faster than I could react. It slammed into my face then settled about me like a net. It didn't hurt, but I felt the spell wrapping around me before settling in. In my shock, I reared back in my chair, nearly tipping over backwards.
"What did you do?" I yelled.
"Calm down," she ordered. And immediately I settled down, staring at her, my mouth open in shock. "Close your mouth." And I did. But inside, I began to panic.
What had she done?
"I'm not here to hurt you," Verity said. "But you needed a demonstration, and you're going to get one. That was an obedience spell. It is very powerful but short lived. I'll cancel it once I'm sure you're convinced."
"What do you want?" I whimpered.
"Stand up." I immediately stood. "Touch your nose with your finger." Without a thought, I obeyed. She gave me another half dozen orders, and I followed each of them instantly.
"If I were petty, I would order you to abase yourself to me. If I were petty, I would take offense at being repeatedly called a 'nut job'. Am I a nut job, Lyra?"
"No. Please don't hurt me."
"I have no intention of hurting you, Lyra. I really do want us to be friends." She paused. "We're going somewhere more comfortable. I am going to demonstrate that if I wanted, I could kidnap you, right now, and you wouldn't even try to stop me. Then we are going to go talk, and I will cancel the spell."
"You don't have to do this, Verity. I believe you."
"You don't believe I mean you no harm," she said. "And so I am going to prove if I wanted to, I could."
"I believe you."
"Quiet." I immediately closed my mouth. "When I say, we are leaving the shop. You will tell you friends that we're going for a walk and will be back shortly. You will be cheerful, as if you are very pleased to walk with me. But you will not leave my side, and you will go where I take you."
"Please don't do this."
"Take my arm like you might a girlfriend's." She stood up, and I stepped over to her side, taking her arm.
"Smile now. You're pleased to be with me. You like me. I like you. Act like it."
I put on a smile and gazed adoringly at her. I couldn't help it. She smiled back, and then we were moving.
When we got to the main store, Felicity was with a customer. Jaime glanced over at us and smiled. "We're going for a walk," I said. "We'll be back shortly."
"Take your time," Jaime said. His smile broadened. A few seconds later, we were on the sidewalk.
I continued to smile at Verity, holding her arm and acting as if we were the best of friends. But inside I was in a panic. I tried to stop. I tried to stop smiling, but I couldn't. I tried to release her arm, but I couldn't.
"Please don't do this," I said, still smiling.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Lyra," she said, and her voice sounded kind. "There are other versions of this spell that are easier to fight. They have other strengths. When it starts to wear off, you'll be able to fight it, but I'll cancel it long before then. Come along." We turned left, walked down the street, and she led me to the passenger door of a car. I didn't recognize the style, but it was sporty and looked very expensive. She opened my door.
"Get in, put on your seatbelt, and then sit quietly with your hands in your lap looking straight ahead."
By the time I fully complied, she was sitting in the driver seat. "Look at me and smile."
I turned to face her, smiling. She was watching me, wearing her own smile. Inside, I was seething, and if her spell weren't controlling me so completely, I was sure I'd be a blubbering idiot besides.
"I'm convinced," I said. "Please let me go."
"We'll see," she said. "Close your eyes and turn forward again." A moment later she said, "You will do nothing to displease me, Lyra. You will only do exactly what I tell you. Hold your hands out so I may give you a cup. Do not spill the contents."
I lifted my hands, and a moment later she placed a cup into my hands. It felt like a simple, plastic cup, the kind someone with children might use instead of glass. By the weight, I could tell it wasn't empty.
"There's a potion in this cup," she said. "I brewed it especially for you. Do you know what it is?"
"Please don't do this."
"It's a love potion, Lyra. Keep your eyes closed. You will drink the potion, and then you will fall deeply, hopelessly in love with the next person you see. You are going to drink the contents, turn your head to look at me, and then stare into my eyes while the spell takes permanent effect. Drink it. Every drop. Now."
Obediently, I lifted the glass to my lips. I expected some vile concoction, but it was thick, sweet, and fruity. I poured it down, shaking the cup to dislodge every last bit. She took the cup from me.
"Turn and face me," she ordered. "And then open your eyes and look directly into mine."
I turned my head and opened my eyes. "Please let me go, Verity." But I stared into her eyes.
Nothing happened, or if it did, I couldn't tell.
"Remain calm," she ordered. "Sit there quietly, staring at me and smiling as if you are pleased to be here."
The smile returned, and I couldn't take my eyes from hers.
"I lied. It was just a smoothie. But it could have been anything, and you would have drunk it. Am I wrong?"
"No," I whispered.
"It wasn't a spell, Lyra. Just a simple smoothie I picked up on the way here."
"Why?"
"To convince you. Are you convinced?"
"Yes. Please let me go."
"I'm going to, soon. We're going to get out of the car. You're going to take my arm and treat me like a new girlfriend, someone you desperately want to be with. We're going to head to the shop and then to your apartment upstairs. We're going to have a little something to drink and talk. Somewhere along the way, when I'm sure you won't respond too badly, I'll cancel the spell."
I continued to stare. I couldn't even close my eyes. I couldn't look away.
She had complete, utter control over me.
"I imagine you're frightened. Part of
me is sorry about that, but it was necessary. I will explain all that if you let me."
"It's not like I can stop you."
"The spell wears off eventually, Lyra."
"And you couldn't cast another?"
"I could. I'm not going to. Do you understand what we're going to do?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to try to fight me?"
"I don't think I can."
"If you somehow signal to your friends what is happening, I will be forced to defend myself. Someone will get hurt. I don't want to hurt anyone, Lyra. If I wanted to hurt you, I could. Think about that. Now, behave while you sit there, and I will open your door. You may stop looking at me."
I slammed my eyes shut and turned away from her.
Verity climbed from the car, and a moment later, my door opened. "Release your seat belt and climb out," she ordered. "Take my arm again. Smile at me. Act like my girlfriend."
I did all that.
* * * *
We made it to my apartment, acting like new girlfriends the entire time. Felicity and Jaime watched us step through the store, both of them smiling at us, neither saying a word. Once we made it to the apartment, Verity asked, "Do you drink tea?"
"Yes."
"Brew us a pot," she ordered. She followed me into the kitchen and watched my preparations. Lacking additional orders, I found I had some level of control, but I didn't know how to make use of it. I glanced at the knife block on the counter, the handles sticking out.
"You will do nothing that might displease me," Verity said.
I decided to test it. I tried to reach for a knife. I could lift my hand in that direction, but I couldn't actually take one of the knives. Verity leaned against the counter, watching me.
"You don't want to hurt me, anyway," she said. "You're frightened, but deep down you perhaps recognize I don't intend to hurt you."
"What do you want?"
"Friendship, Lyra. And a little more."
"Do you have a love potion waiting somewhere?"
"No."
I turned to her. "Could you make one?"
"Are you inviting me to?"
"Curious."
"Yes, I could, but unless accepted willingly, they tend to be problematic."
"So you would use this spell to make me drink it?"
"That would still be coercion. Tricking you isn't any better. Lust is easy. Love is tricky."
I turned back to the tea. It still needed to steep another minute or two, but I pulled out teacups. I looked over at her. "If we sit in the living room, they'll be up eventually."
"That's not a problem," she said. "Lyra, as long as you don't force me to, I don't intend any harm here."
I nodded then picked up the tea and two cups and led the way into our living room. We took seats opposite the coffee table, and I poured for both of us. We each picked up our tea and sipped from it. Then she set her own cup down.
"Are you convinced I am what I say I am?"
"I am convinced you did something that makes me obey you," I said.
"Oh, a true skeptic," she replied with a smile. "Did you prefer an explanation other than magic?"
"You could have drugged me."
"I don't know how to prove I haven't. You saw what I did."
"Smoke and mirrors."
She leaned back. "Do you need other demonstrations?"
"Is that a threat?"
"No, Lyra," she said gently. "It was an offer to cast other spells."
"Are you going to create a fireball or turn lead into gold?"
"No. My magic is limited to affecting other people." She lifted her hands and began to form another spell in the space between us.
"Please don't," I whimpered.
She finished forming the spell. I watched it hanging between us and gulped. "What does it do?"
"Lust. I thought it appropriate given what we discussed earlier."
I stared at it. She didn't throw it at me. "You said you needed a potion."
"No, you asked if I could make a potion. I can. Basically I wrap this spell into the potion, and it is triggered by drinking it. But the potion isn't necessary."
"You could still be drugging me somehow."
"Have you ever heard of drugs that leave someone clear headed but entirely obedient?"
"That doesn't mean they don't exist."
"Have you heard of aphrodisiacs that are irresistible? I imagine they would be quite valuable. Do you want to feel this spell?"
I moved my gaze to her. "Verity..." I whined. I hated the sound, but I was right on the edge of panic, and it was only her magic that was keeping me in my seat.
She waited, watching me.
"Maybe you're a witch, but I'm not," I admitted finally.
She did... something... and the spell, hanging between us, began to shrink, and I saw the magic become absorbed into her aura. She took a breath and then looked at me.
"I wish a calm conversation. If I cancel the obedience spell, may we have one?"
"I don't know," I said. I looked down at my hands.
"Lyra," she said gently, "may we please have a conversation?"
Slowly, I nodded.
"I will cancel the spell when you ask," she said, "if you promise a conversation. We can leave the spell in place if necessary to maintain your self-control. It is your choice."
I looked up at her. "I bet you have some spell that forces me to be calm."
"I do, but it would make you loopy. I believe you need a clear head."
"Please cancel the spell."
"Do you promise a calm conversation?"
"I might need a few minutes to calm down."
"I want to hear the word 'promise', Lyra."
I stared for a moment. "Please cancel the spell. I may need a minute to calm down, but I promise we'll have a calm conversation afterwards. I do not promise to remain calm, but I will do my best."
"Thank you. Lyra, if you attack me, I am more than able to defend myself."
"I won't do anything like that unless you threaten my friends."
"I will defend myself, Lyra, but otherwise I have no intention of hurting you." She'd been saying that a lot. I wondered if I could believe her.
"Please cancel the spell."
"This takes another spell. It is going to be uncomfortable, although not painful. I am not hurting you. I am only taking the spell back. It will probably take some of your magic with it, but if so, it is an inconsequential amount, and it regenerates naturally." She didn't wait. She lifted her hands, formed magic, and then looked at me. "Ready?" When I nodded, she moved the spell towards me, somewhat slowly. I could have avoided it, and she hadn't ordered me to sit still. But I let the magic settle over me.
She was right. It felt weird. Once the magic touched me, I couldn't see it anymore, but I could feel it. It settled around me like the first spell had, but then I felt a pulling sensation. It lasted for several seconds, and it was, indeed, uncomfortable. But then there was something best described as a pop, and I felt the second spell pull the first one from around me. There was a brief flash of the magic, all of it absorbing back into Verity.
I slumped.
"We're going to test it," Verity said. "Stick your tongue out at me."
I lifted my head and stuck my tongue out.
Verity frowned. "But-"
"Maybe order me to do something I don't want to do."
She laughed a brief laugh. "Touch your nose." When I failed to obey, she nodded and leaned back on the sofa.
I turned away then picked up my tea and stood up. I walked to the window overlooking the street below and stared down, watching the occasional car drive past.
"I know you have questions," Verity said, not leaving the sofa. "I will answer some. Unless you agree to what I have come here to do, I will only answer some."
"Why are you here?" I didn't turn around.
"I will answer that, but you won't understand the answer until we've had a much longer conversation. I've come to offer my pr
otection to you."
At that I turned around. "Why do I need your protection? It seems like I need protection from you."
"I understand why you feel that way. Lyra, I haven't hurt you. I scared you, and I did so quite deliberately. It may not seem like it, but it was for your own good."
"Why?"
"So you would believe me. So you would understand the risks."
"The risks of angering you?"
"No. The risks from people with fewer morals than I have."
Conversation
I turned back to stare out the window, sipping from my tea. My thoughts were in a turmoil. She had dumped a lot in my lap. I was somewhat surprised when Verity appeared beside me, holding the teapot. She lifted it, and I held out my teacup. She topped off my tea then returned to her seat on the sofa. I didn't turn to watch her.
I stood at the window for perhaps ten minutes, neither of us saying anything. Finally I asked, "What did you come here to say?"
"I am a witch. So are you. You'll have to accept my word for now. We are rare but far from unique. I already mentioned the other creatures you probably thought were myths. There are others I haven't mentioned, and probably some I don't know about."
"So?"
"There is a basic precept of power."
I turned to her. "Oh?"
"Power exists to assemble more power."
I stared for a moment. "That seems like a loaded sentence."
"It is. You represent a source of power."
"And you're here to take my power?"
"I would consider that hurting you. To say 'no' would be a simplistic answer. But 'yes' is wrong. I am here offering my protection from those who would take your power."
"They can have it."
"Lyra, your power regenerates. They don't just take what you're currently holding. They take you. They enslave you. You become a mindless, obedient husk, existing only as a sort of magic battery."
I turned to face her full on, my stomach in knots.
"And so, you're offering to let me be your mindless, obedient husk instead?"
"No. I am offering to protect you."
"I assume there is a price."
"You would pledge your loyalty and obedience."