Now You See Me

by Debbie Viguié

  “The opal...it had magic placed on it so that the fire would only come out if the wearer...if you...manifested magic. Given your age I had thought you weren’t going to. I’m so sorry.” She whispered the last, tears again glistening in her eyes.

  “Sorry that I have it?” Opal asked.

  “Sorry that I didn’t tell you, prepare you,” Tanya said. There was so much pain in her eyes as she looked at Opal. “They didn’t want me to, and, as you got older, I didn’t think I’d have to.”

  Opal stared at her in shock. “Who didn’t want you to tell me?”

  “Your parents,” Tanya said with a shuddering sigh.

  “Why?” Opal whispered, feeling suddenly even more sick to her stomach than she had a few minutes before. Her parents had known this could happen to her. And they’d never said anything.

  “Your mom wanted you to have a normal life, to be normal, so desperately. And your father wanted to honor her and her wishes. I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Tanya said. She stared at Opal intently for a moment. “But you knew, you knew before today that magic existed,” she said.

  Opal nodded. “Yes.”

  “How long have you known?”

  “Not long.”

  “It was Mal. Mal’s a magic user, isn’t he?” Tanya asked.

  “You mean, you don’t know?”

  “I’ve suspected, but no, I don’t know,” Tanya said.

  “Yes, he is,” Opal said. It seemed pointless to try and deny it at this point.

  “I figured as much. I’m guessing that the trouble when he was younger was magic related?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, he should be a Magician already.”

  “Yes,” Opal said, staring at her aunt and wondering if this was what going crazy felt like.

  “Poor kid,” her aunt said. Her eyes suddenly felt like they were drilling into Opal’s, searching her soul. “What happened to you today?” she asked.

  Opal licked her lips. How much should she reveal?

  As though reading her mind her aunt reached out and took her hand and squeezed it. “There have been enough secrets in this family for too long,” she said.

  The truth will set you free.

  Her dad had always said that. She just wished he had lived it. She wished he had told her, warned her what could happen. The enormity of it all crashed down around her and suddenly she found that she was the one fighting back tears.

  Dad, why couldn’t you have been the one to tell me? she thought, anguish tearing at her.

  “Mal was...injured. I got scared. I touched him and I healed him,” she said, wincing slightly. It sounded so much nicer than the whole truth.

  “And by injured, you mean attacked by a Trickster?” Tanya asked.

  Opal couldn’t stop her cheeks from flushing. She forced herself to look up and meet her aunt’s eyes. She nodded because she couldn’t get the words out.

  “Did he kill him?” Tanya asked.

  Opal was taken aback by the straight-forward way in which her aunt asked the question.

  “He got away,” Opal whispered.

  “Then he’ll be back,” Tanya said.

  “I think so,” Opal said, unable to hide the misery in her voice.

  “Okay.”

  Tanya stood up slowly. She pulled a chair out from the table and sat down on it. After a moment Opal did the same.

  “I was so scared,” Opal burst out. She hadn’t meant to admit that, but she tried so hard to put on a brave face for Mal, to not burden him more than he already was. She had to tell someone.

  Tanya reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I know this can be a lot to deal with.”

  “You said living here especially could be difficult. You said that because of the magic, didn’t you?” Opal asked.

  “I did. It can make things...hard.” Tanya glanced down at the ring on Opal’s finger. “It can also make them special,” she said gently.

  Opal followed her gaze. “The ring’s been in Mal’s family for centuries.”

  “I guessed that. The opal has been in our family for a long time as well.”

  Opal shuddered. “My mom gave it to me...”

  Tanya cleared her throat. “Actually, I gave it to you.”

  Opal stared at her, still trying to understand everything that was happening. “Are you a magic user?” she asked.

  “No, but I had a cousin of ours who put the spell on it so we’d know if you were.”

  “Why?”

  “So that if you did manifest the magic I could get you help, training. I also did it to ease your mother’s fears. She had grown paranoid, afraid that you’d manifest the magic, even more afraid that she wouldn’t know one way or the other. With the opal she could see for herself every day whether or not you had.”

  The sick sensation was coming back, wrapping itself around her insides. “Do you think that’s why she left?” she asked.

  “I don’t think you had anything to do with it,” Tanya said, her voice taking on a ferocity as she said it. “Never for a moment think that you had anything to do with whatever it was that happened to her.”

  Opal nodded, wanting with everything in her to believe that was true. She couldn’t think about it right then anymore. She quickly changed the subject.

  “The cousin who put the magic on the opal, is he still alive?” she asked hopefully.

  “Unfortunately not. He was quite old and he died not long after that. Natural causes,” Tanya hastened to say at the end.

  “Oh.”

  “I’m sorry, but as far as family goes, we’ve got each other and that’s pretty much it,” Tanya said, her tone wistful.

  Opal managed a smile for her. “That’s okay, we don’t need anyone else.”

  Tanya smiled and looked again at the ring on Opal’s hand. “Something tells me I’m going to have another relative soon enough. A nephew-in-law.”

  Opal stared at her in surprise. “Why doesn’t that freak you out?” she asked.

  “When I realized I wasn’t going to have children of my own I often thought about helping plan your wedding one day.”

  “What is it with people in this town?” Opal asked. “Like I told Mal’s father, we’re not getting married anytime soon.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Tanya asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Yes!”

  “He has told you the significance of this ring, yes?”

  “I know. He put half his heart, half his soul in it,” Opal said, grabbing the ring and twisting it around on her finger.

  “Yes. I have no magic, but I know how the spell works, what to do. When you’re ready, I can help you put part of your soul into the opal to give to Mal. If that’s what you want.”

  Exhaustion washed over Opal at the very thought. She leaned her head into her hand. “That’s assuming I can even figure out how to use magic on purpose.”

  “We’ll have to find you a teacher.”

  “Mal said his teacher might be able to help.”

  “That should work,” Tanya said. “Just don’t push Mal into trying to teach you.”

  “Why?” Opal asked, unwilling to admit that was her plan.

  “The Apprentice - Teacher relationship can be intense, and not only in good ways. Your teacher will push you. There will be times that you hate him, maybe for hours maybe for months. They’re not there to be your friend. I can’t even imagine the kind of strain that would place on a couple.”

  Opal nodded. She had a hard time picturing Mal being that hard on her. Still, maybe it was a good idea to meet with his teacher.

  “It’s going to be okay, we’ll get through this,” Tanya said with a wan smile. “Now, you have to be starving. We should get some protein in you.”

  As tired as she was she had forgotten about food but suddenly Opal was very aware of how hungry she was. “I think that would be a good idea.”

  “Tell you what, let’s order from the steakhouse. A nice prime rib would probably b
e a good thing right now.”

  Opal’s stomach rumbled. “I think I could take down a huge slab,” she admitted.

  “No doubt. You put a great strain on your body today, one it’s not used to yet.”

  Yet.

  The word spun round and round in Opal’s mind as her aunt got up and grabbed the house phone. She sat there, trying not to think of what the future was going to look like. Every time she did she felt overwhelmed. She listened idly as her aunt ordered the food. A minute later she sat back down.

  “Food should be here in half an hour. We’ll both feel better after we eat. We’ll be up to tackling our next task then.”

  Opal looked up with a frown. “Our next task?” she asked.

  Tanya nodded. “As soon as we finish eating I’ll help you find and destroy every picture of you there is.”

  26

  “What did you say?” Opal asked, staring at her aunt in shock.

  “We’ll destroy all the pictures of you. I know I’ve got dozens in the house. I’m sure you’ve brought some and there will be more on your phone. Social media is going to be tricky, but I think-”

  Tanya stopped talking abruptly and stared at her. “What?”

  “What do you mean we have to destroy the pictures?” Opal asked.

  Tanya looked surprised. “Mal hasn’t told you about that yet?”

  Opal shook her head. “He...he hasn’t said anything about pictures, except that first day, he didn’t want me taking one of him.” Her mouth felt suddenly dry.

  Destroying pictures.

  Like her aunt sitting at the kitchen table burning her mother’s picture. Or the fact that whoever had broken into the school had torched a picture of her mother and done nothing else. Agitation flashed through her. She had been fidgeting with Mal’s ring and suddenly she realized she had pulled it off her finger. Startled, she jammed it back on, but it was too late.

  With a loud popping sound and a flash of blue lightning Mal appeared right in the middle of the kitchen. He was down on one knee, his hands on the ground. He glanced up sharply and saw her and Tanya.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” she began.

  He stood slowly, eyes fixed on Tanya. “Opal, what’s happening?” he cut her off, voice tense.

  “It was an accident,” she gasped.

  He said something under his breath and stepped toward Tanya. Blue lightning crackled in his eyes.

  “It’s okay, Mal, I know,” Tanya said, seemingly unfazed by having him suddenly appear in her kitchen.

  He stopped and glanced at Opal who nodded quickly.

  “Well, this is...awkward,” he said.

  “If you plan on marrying my niece, it’s about time we had an honest conversation,” Tanya said.

  “We’re not-”

  “Cut the crap. Whatever she’s telling people is one thing, but you and I both know what that ring means,” Tanya said sharply.

  Mal nodded slowly. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Have a seat,” Tanya said.

  He nodded and pulled out a chair and sat down. He glanced at Opal. “Are you okay?”

  She wasn’t sure exactly how to answer that. “As well as can be expected,” she said at last.

  “It probably wasn’t a great idea that you left her alone immediately after her discovering that she was a magic user,” Tanya said. The older woman took a deep breath. “But, then again, there’s more than enough blame to go around. The important thing now is that we help her get through the transition period as smoothly as possible.”

  “I agree,” Mal said. “Did she tell you?” Mal asked, casting a curious look at Opal.

  “I didn’t have to,” Opal said, touching the opal around her neck.

  Mal’s eyes followed and then widened slightly. After a moment he smiled.

  “I told you it needed the fire pulled out of it. Just like you apparently did,” he said softly, reverently.

  “Apparently Aunt Tanya had a cousin put the spell on the opal, so it would show its fire if I did magic.”

  Mal nodded. “That makes sense.” He turned to Tanya. “Obviously I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

  “Good. I’m assuming you’ve already warded the house for protection?” Tanya asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Glad that’s already done. Now, before she inadvertently summoned you here, I was trying to tell Opal that after dinner we needed to destroy all the pictures of her we can find.”

  Mal nodded. “Yes, you’re right. I should have already thought about that.”

  “Something tells me you’ve had a lot on your mind in the last hour,” Tanya said wryly.

  “I don’t get it, why do we need to destroy my pictures?” Opal asked.

  “You know how some cultures have a superstition about a picture stealing your soul?” Mal asked.

  “Don’t tell me that’s true.”

  “No, it’s not. But, a picture does steal a portion of a magic user’s power,” he said.

  “So, that was how you knew I took a picture of you that first day?”

  He nodded. “I could literally feel the power leave me.”

  “And that’s how you knew when I fake deleted it?”

  “Yes.”

  “That is just so weird.”

  “You want to see something weirder?” Tanya asked.

  “What?”

  “Take a picture of Mal right now, while his eyes are open.”

  She looked at Mal who nodded.

  Opal retrieved her phone from the duffel bag. Her hand was shaking slightly as she took the picture. She pulled it up and then jumped, startled. Mal’s eyes were reflecting light, glowing.

  She turned the phone and showed it to him and Tanya. They both nodded. “Anytime a magic user gets caught on camera with their eyes open, you get that same light effect, sometimes different colors, but always, the eyes look like they’re glowing. It’s the power leaving them that makes the eyes glow like that,” Tanya explained.

  “But, I’ve seen that before. Like, a lot of times.”

  Mal smiled. “There are a lot more of us out there than you think, and some who don’t really use their magic all that much get careless about how many pictures of them are taken. Now, if you’d be so kind as to delete the picture.”

  Her hands started shaking harder and it took her a moment to get it done. Tanya frowned and reached out to grab her hand. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s just...” Opal began. Her voice had started shaking, too. She felt like she was going to be sick again. “The picture of you and mom when you were little. Mom was covering her eyes. And, the wedding picture I have of mom and dad, her eyes are closed in it. I always thought they had a crappy photographer. But...even the picture in the trophy case at school, the one that was destroyed, her eyes were closed.”

  “Opal,” her aunt said softly.

  But she kept going. It was like she couldn’t stop. Maybe she was afraid to. “When I was little my dad took pictures of mom and me all the time. Then, after she disappeared, the pictures seemed to as well. He only had their wedding picture. The one I have now.”

  Grief, hot and ugly, was roiling up in her now. She hadn’t cried for her mom in years, but the tears were threatening to come now. The loss seemed suddenly fresh, as though it had just happened a few days ago instead of over a decade earlier.

  Tanya grabbed her hand. “Opal, look at me,” she said.

  Opal looked up. She saw her own pain mirrored in her aunt’s eyes. “Yes, your mother had the magic, too.”

  A cry escaped Opal’s lips and she felt like her heart was being ripped out. All these years later to discover that she had something in common with the woman who had left her and her father felt like a physical blow. “What happened to her?” she whispered.

  Tanya shook her head slowly. “We don’t know.”

  Opal thought of the Trickster that had nearly succeeded in killing Mal a few hours before. “Do you think someone killed her?” she asked, barely abl
e to get the words out.

  “I pray every night that she’s still alive and will find a way to come back to us,” Tanya said fiercely.

  “You were the one who broke into the school. I told you I saw the picture of her and you destroyed it,” Opal accused her.

  “Yes, I did. It nearly killed me to do it. It’s been so long I had almost forgotten what she looked like, but I burned it and I’d do it again, because I love her too much not to.”

  “Dad...”

  “He wasn’t a magic user, but he knew about your mom, her past. When she vanished I came out. It took days for your father and me to scour your house, looking for any pictures, checking every storage box in the garage, destroying everything we could find, just in case someone...someone took her. When your mom decided to turn her back on magic, she got so careless. There were literally hundreds of pictures of her. Vacations, graduation and wedding pictures. She and her college roommates had even had Christmas cards made up one year. We spent months trying to track down every one of those that her roommates could remember mailing out, trying to get them back from people. It was a nightmare. And all in the hope that she was alive somewhere, she’d be trying to escape no matter what it took, and if she had all her power she might find her way back to us.”

  Her aunt began to cry. “Your dad was even going to destroy that last wedding picture, he was so desperate to help her if she was alive and in need of help. At that point, though, so much time had passed. I told him not to. I told him that in case she was dead or had left of her own free will that there needed to be one picture for you to have, to remind yourself what she looked like.”

  Opal got up and moved over to her aunt. She threw her arms around her neck and they both cried. She looked up and saw Mal, tears shimmering in his eyes, staring at her helplessly. She reached out a hand toward him and he took it and squeezed it hard.

  “I didn’t know,” he said, after a minute had passed. “But, now that I do, if she’s alive somewhere, I promise that I’ll help you find her,” he vowed.

  “Thank you,” Opal whispered around the lump in her throat.

  The food arrived shortly, providing them all a much needed break. Fortunately Tanya had ordered way too much food so there was enough for Mal as well. As she started filling her empty stomach with the prime rib Opal began to feel a bit better, calmer, at least.