“We brought it,” Karla said.
“They have it upstairs,” Jessica added.
“My dad had seemed thrilled about getting that book out of the house… even if it will be for a short time,” Karla continued.
Ellen slightly grinned before asking, “Did one of you guys drive here, or…?”
“Dad drove us,” Karla said without allowing Ellen to finish her question.
“Since my dad had sold every car, but one—which was what he had wanted to do before he was forced to take that job in Alaska six… seven months ago by Grandfather—he controls the car,” Jessica slightly grumbled. “So most likely, Karla and I will need a refresher course on driving before we’ll get the chance to drive again.”
Ellen made a sympathetic facial gesture before assuming, “So, I guess you two didn’t see Everett.”
“The doorbell rang as we were coming down,” Karla replied. “That could’ve been him ringing the bell.”
“Oh, I’ve seen that,” Jessica said while gesturing towards the TV.
“Andie hasn’t,” Ellen said in Andie’s behalf.
“It’s a good movie,” Karla said as Jessica sat on the middle section of the couch next to Ellen. Karla took the other end. “I don’t mind watching it again.”
“Hello,” Everett called out while descending the stairs.
“Hey, Everett,” Ellen, Jessica and Karla called while looking towards the entrance to the room.
Within seconds, Everett stepped into the living room.
“Hi, all,” Everett said as Ellen noticed a notepad looking object in his left hand.
“Hi,” Andie said.
“You’re going to take notes?” Ellen asked in a confused tone.
Everett glanced at what was in his left hand before saying, “It’s my sketchpad.” Everett looked towards Ellen as he continued to walk towards her. “I’m creating a graphic novel. I brought it over to show you what I had so far.”
“I’m not a graphic novel reader, but sure; I’ll look at yours,” Ellen said.
Everett stepped up to Ellen, and while holding out the sketchpad for her to take, he said, “It’s not done though.”
“Okay,” Ellen acknowledged while taking the sketchpad.
As Ellen flipped to the first page, Everett stepped over to the desk chair, grabbed it, pulled it over to the couch near Ellen and sat down.
“So what is your comic book about?” Karla asked.
“It’s about a dragon rider and his dragon,” Everett shared.
“Tell us about it,” Karla requested.
“Guys,” Ellen interjected. “Andie hasn’t seen this movie yet, and we should respect her to let her watch it without us talking.”
“Alright,” Karla said.
“Thanks,” Andie said shyly, barely loud enough to be heard.
“You’re welcome,” Ellen said with a slight grin before turning her attention to Everett’s graphic novel.
Ellen read the twelve pages that Everett had finished before telling him, “Interesting.”
Ellen held out the sketchpad for Everett to take. As he took it, he echoed, “Interesting? Is that you being nice, and not wanting to tell me that you hate it?”
Ellen amusingly grinned before saying, “I don’t hate it. I’m not a graphic novel reader, but yours does look interesting. I like what you have so far, and once you get more wrote out, I’ll read it.”
“Okay,” Everett said before flipping to the last blank page and pulling out a mechanical pencil from his pocket. “Okay. Describe the New Orleans’ wizard to me.” Ellen suddenly fell into a trance. “Ellen, describe him to me. Ellen? Ellen?!”
“She’s having a vision,” Jessica informed as everyone in the room stared at Ellen.
When Ellen didn’t come out of her vision after several seconds, Everett asked, “How long do her visions last?”
“I don’t know,” Jessica said.
Ellen overlapped Jessica with, “Shit! Shit! Shit!”
“Ellen?” Everett questioned.
“He knows where I’m at,” Ellen informed while leaping to her feet.
“Who?” Everett asked in a confused tone.
“The wizard in New Orleans,” Ellen informed as she looked towards Everett. “I couldn’t find my way out of the vision before he saw my location. He knows where I’m at and now he’s going to come after me.”
As Ellen was making her way around the coffee table, Everett asked, “Where are you going?”
“To tell the others,” Ellen said before rushing towards the stairs.
Everett, Jessica, Karla and Andie stood quickly and followed.
Everyone in the upstairs living room turned towards Ellen as she rushed in.
“Are you okay, Ellen?” Sadie asked before she could volunteer.
“I’m not,” Ellen quickly said in an anxious tone. “I had a vision of that wizard in New Orleans. I tried to back out when I realized what I was seeing, but I couldn’t. He saw where I live.”
“First of all, don’t panic,” Trevor said as he and the others stood. “We have plenty of time before he’ll be capable of performing Immortal Magic. So take a calming breath.”
“Okay,” Ellen said before taking a deep breath.
“Now tell me,” Trevor requested, “what was he doing when you saw him?”
“He’s a funeral director… a mortician,” Ellen said. “He was wearing a full length apron and was embalming a corpse when I had a vision of him.”
“Being a mortician would give him a way to dispose of his victims,” Devon said.
“I realized immediately that I was having a vision… a vision of him, and when I tried to back out, he grinned and said, ‘Not so fast.’ I don’t know how, but he held me in place until he knew my location.”
“He must’ve had cast an incantation that snared you,” Galvin pointed out. “Those incantations don’t last long, but they do last long enough for him to discover your location.”
“So I found out,” Ellen retorted as the house phone rang.
“Eleanor is back,” Andie informed as Allyson moved towards the phone. “She’s warning us that the wizard in New Orleans knows where to find Ellen.”
“Old news, Grandma Eleanor,” Ellen announced.
“She’s also telling me that he has a double sacrifice in place,” Andie continued.
“Why a double sacrifice?” Blaire questioned.
Andie listened to Eleanor before saying, “This wizard calls upon a spirit of a recent deceased with the first sacrifice. A spirit of a recent deceased is new, weak, confused and easily manipulated. The recently deceased doesn’t provide adequate power needed for the wizard to perform Immortal Magic though, but one can still raise a wizard’s power enough to defend against a more powerful spirit… an older spirit. Once the wizard has that protection, he will call upon an older spirit with the second sacrifice.”
“So that’s how he’s doing it without becoming spiritually possessed,” Trevor verbally took note of.
“Ellen. That wizard in New Orleans is able to teleport himself to long distances, and Eleanor is estimating that you have three hours before he completes the second sacrifice and teleports to you,” Andie continued.
“Three hours is plenty of time to get set up,” Trevor assured Ellen as Allyson was returning.
Before Ellen could respond, Allyson shared, “That was Winona on the phone. Cory is still with her, and Cory had received a visit from Spotted Pelt. Spotted Pelt had warned Cory that a wizard from New Orleans would soon be coming here. Winona assumed that it was the same wizard that you guys had told her about, and they’re on their way here.”
Everett, Jessica, Karla and Andie gave Allyson curious looks as Jessica asked, “Who are Winona, Cory and Spotted Pelt?”
“Shamans from the fourth wizard line,” Ellen shared. “Well, Winona and Cory are anyway, and I met them today. Spotted Pelt is a spirit of Cory’s ancestor that Cory can see. Anyway, do Winona and Cory know where we live?”<
br />
“Their rented van has a GPS and I gave them the address,” Allyson informed.
“Shouldn’t they meet us where we are setting up the trap?” Ellen questioned.
“Do you have a location for the trap?” Allyson asked.
“That hasn’t been discussed yet,” Ellen admitted.
“We haven’t a location yet for the trap, nor do you have the dogs that you are wanting,” Devon pointed out.
“Crap!” Ellen uttered. “Where am I going to get dogs in this short notice?”
“My dad might be able to help you to find the dogs,” Everett suggested.
“I’ll give your dad a call,” Harris said before stepping away.
“We should set up the trap in Skidaway Island State Park,” Ellen suggested.
“We’ll keep the park in mind, but we can’t limit ourselves to only one option,” Blaire said.
Ellen thought for a second before nodding agreeingly and saying, “I should call Wesley and Melanie.”
“Why call them?” Andie asked.
Ellen thought of her answer before saying, “They have special skills.”
“Who are Wesley and Melanie?” Everett asked.
“Melanie’s parents live next door to Andie,” Ellen quickly said. “And Wesley is Melanie’s boyfriend.”
“And they have special skills that will help us to fight a wizard who practices Immortal Magic?” Jessica asked incredulously.
“Are they wizards or shamans too?” Karla asked.
“No,” Ellen admitted.
“Then how can they help?” Jessica asked.
“I can’t say,” Ellen replied.
“They’re benevolent vampires?!” Andie uttered.
Ellen shot Andie a curious look before asking, “Grandma Eleanor had just told you that, didn’t she?”
Andie nodded while asking, “Melanie’s a vampire?”
Ellen sighed before telling Everett, Jessica, Karla and Andie the details of her day.
As Ellen was finishing her story, Everett smugly took note of, “Oh, so Wesley—AKA Patrick from Halloween night—is a vampire.”
Ellen shot him a curious look before asking, “And why do you look like the cat that ate the canary?”
“On Halloween night, you had looked at me as if I had lost my mind for trying to see Wesley’s aura,” Everett accused as Harris was returning with a piece of paper in his hand. “Most likely vampires don’t have auras, so I was right to think that there was something off about Wesley.”
Ellen amusingly grinned before saying, “Okay, okay. I’m sorry for not taking you seriously when you couldn’t see Wesley’s aura. But at least we know now that a person with an unseen aura—unseen by you of course—might be a vampire.”
“Ellen,” Harris called to grab her attention. Ellen and the others looked. “Everett’s dad might know where we can borrow about three to five dogs.” Harris held up the paper. “He wants you and me to meet him at ‘Quentin’s Salvage Yard’.”
“Alright,” Ellen agreed.
“I’ll go with you,” Everett announced.
“I guess it will be okay,” Harris began. “Your dad didn’t say anything about you coming along.” Harris then looked towards Jessica, Karla and Andie. “No one else needs to go though, and Detective Delaney is leaving now, so we need to leave as well.”
“I’m ready,” Ellen said.
“So am I,” Everett added.
“Let’s go,” Harris urged before he, Ellen and Everett headed towards the door.
While reaching the door, Ellen said, “Oh, uh, we still need to call Wesley and Melanie.”
“We’ll call them when we get back,” Harris said before opening the front door. He then gestured for Ellen and Everett to leave out first.
Chapter Twenty
As Ellen, Harris and Everett were leaving the house, Winona, Riley, Brad and Cory drove up. Riley was the one driving. Winona was in the front passenger seat while Brad and Cory were in the backseats.
“Winona’s here,” Ellen informed as Riley was parking the van.
“Yeah, I see that,” Harris said as he stopped walking.
Ellen and Everett stopped walking as well.
Ellen, Harris and Everett waited patiently for Winona’s group to step up.
As they were walking away from the van, Everett shared, “That… that tall gal and that guy about her height have florescent greenish auras.”
“Those two are Winona and Cory,” Ellen informed. “They’re shamans, and I was wondering about the color of their auras.”
“Who are the other two,” Everett asked.
“Riley’s the tall guy and Brad’s the shorter one,” Ellen said before Winona’s group could join them.
“Harris. Ellen,” Winona’s group said while stepping up.
“Good evening,” Harris said.
“Hi, all,” Ellen said before gesturing towards Everett. “This is Everett; my boyfriend.”
“Hi, Everett,” Winona’s group said.
“Hi,” Everett echoed.
“Ellen, Everett and I are off to run a quick errand…” Harris was only able to get out.
“Is it anything that you need help with?” Cory quickly asked.
“It’s nothing that we need assistance with,” Harris informed. “We’re just going to talk to someone about getting a few dogs.” Harris then gestured towards the front door. “Anyway, just knock on the door. Allyson will let you in.”
“Okay,” Winona and Riley said.
Brad and Cory just gave a polite nod.
As Winona’s group continued towards the house, Ellen, Harris and Everett continued towards the car.
A short time later, Ellen, Harris and Everett were joining Lance on the sidewalk in front of a large double-gated salvage yard. Both gates slid on tracks and they were both in the open position, and the sign that told the business operating hours was fastened to the fence on the right of the opening at an adult eye level, along with a ‘beware of dogs’ sign and the ‘Quentin’s Salvage Yard’ sign.
Lance stared at Everett as he was walking up.
“If I would’ve been thinking, Everett, I would’ve told you not to come,” Lance told him.
“This isn’t dangerous to be here, is it?” Everett demanded while glancing at Ellen.
“It’s not dangerous,” Lance assured him. “I come here to speak with Quentin on occasion as part of my job, and I don’t… or at least I didn’t want my job and my family life to intermix. But since you are here, there’s not much I can do about it. So let’s go, and you are to mind your manners.”
“Yes, sir,” Everett said before he, Ellen and Harris followed Lance into the salvage yard.
Lance led Ellen, Harris and Everett across the salvage yard towards the office. Ellen and Everett looked at their surroundings during their short walk.
When Quentin saw that Lance was stepping in, he slightly bowed his head in defeat, and a slightly bitter expression came across his face.
After letting out a slight sigh, he looked towards Lance and asked, “Detective Delaney, how can I help you this evening?”
“I’m here to collect that favor that you owe me,” Lance said as he, Ellen, Harris and Everett moved from the entrance to the counter.
“Let me guess,” Quentin began. “You want me to piece together a car for the boy.”
“We aren’t here for a car or car parts,” Lance quickly said as he, Ellen, Harris and Everett stepped up to the counter.
“What other way can I help you?” Quentin asked in a confused tone.
“When you lock up, you set loose five… six dogs in the yard,” Lance began. “I’d like to borrow them.”
Quentin laughed before questioning, “You would like to borrow my dogs?”
“That’s right,” Lance assured him.
“Mr. Delaney,” Ellen said while overlapping Lance.
Lance turned to look, along with holding up a finger for Quentin to wait. “What is it, Ellen?”
Ellen stepped closer and—with her lips within view of Quentin—whispered, “This salvage yard will be closing soon, and it has hiding spots.”
“Whoa! Hiding spots?!” Quentin quickly questioned.
“You heard me?” Ellen quickly asked while facing him.
“I can read lips,” Quentin quickly replied. “And what in hell are you planning on hiding?”
Lance thought for a second before sharing, “Quentin, we need use of your salvage yard and dogs to set a trap for a very dangerous person.”
“What the hell’s going on, Detective Delaney?” Quentin demanded.
“I told you,” Lance said. “We need use of your salvage yard and dogs to set a trap for a very dangerous person.”
“I have a strong feeling that this isn’t a police matter, and therefore I want the gory details,” Quentin informed. “Like, who is this person? And why are you after him?”
“You’re better off not knowing,” Lance assured him.
“Like hell I’m better off,” Quentin retorted. “When it comes to this facility and my dogs, I want to know.”
“Okay, I’ll put it to you this way,” Lance began. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me,” Quentin requested.
Before Lance could respond, Ellen spouted out, “I’m a sorceress who can control animals, and an evil wizard who can emulate God-like powers has targeted me. So I need the use of your salvage yard to set a trap and your dogs to trigger the trap.”
Quentin shot Ellen a look as if she had lost her mind. As he turned towards Lance, he said, “Whatever is going on here, I can handle it. So I say again, try me.”
Lance cleared his throat before gesturing towards Ellen and saying, “What Ellen had told you is what’s going on.”
“You can’t be serious,” Quentin shot at him.
“Ellen is a benevolent sorceress,” Lance told him. “And as she said, she can control any animal.”
“Any and all animals,” Ellen added. “And if you want proof, take me to your dogs.”
Quentin stared incredulously at Ellen for a moment before sighing and saying, “Follow me.”
Ellen nodded before she, Harris, Everett and Lance followed Quentin.
Quentin led them out of the office and through the salvage yard to the far side of the yard where a forty-foot wide, eight-foot long and four-foot tall partitioned pen was housing six Rottweilers.
Phoenix and the Dark Star Page 33