Protection of Magic: The Revelations of Oriceran (The Leira Chronicles Book 3)

by Martha Carr

  Leira cautiously approached the energy with her own, using the same skills she would have used entering a strange house for the first time. She looked at every angle, ready to pulse a blast of energy. She drew near a trail, nudging it with her own as a section bubbled and popped, sending out sparks. A boobytrap. Sparkling black and blue pieces flew through the air as Leira let her energy catch a piece absorbing it into hers. A sharp pain stabbed at her temple and she winced but held on, feeling for the intentions buried inside.

  "They took the necklace to D.C. to hide it." Leira opened her eyes, still squinting from the pain.

  Correk put his hands on both sides of her head as his fingertips glowed, pulling out the dark magic. The pain gradually receded.

  "How do they live with that much pain all the time?" asked Leira, rubbing her forehead. "They've gone to Washington but I couldn't get an exact read on where. And one other thing was buried in there. A faint pale blue trail of a purer magic."

  Correk looked up, concerned. "They have a captive?"

  "Not sure. It was Hannah Beecham. She left a distress call, asking for help. I heard it clear as day. She said contact Lacey Trader in the Silver Griffins. She needs help."

  “There’s no time to help the young witch. We need to call the Silver Griffins.”

  “I don’t like it, but you’re right. Even if Hannah betrayed them, they should still know one of their own is in danger. And as much as I hate it, we let Katie Toler have a clear shot at taking back the necklace. We have a few Willens we need to worry about more,” said Leira.

  ***

  Katie Toler was backed into a corner on a soccer field in Fort Ward, in Alexandria, Virginia, fighting three Rhazdon followers who were doing their best to escape with the prized necklace. The park was closed temporarily for repairs. A ruse set up by the followers so they could more easily hide the necklace beneath one of the monuments. It wasn't going as they planned.

  Katie showed up before they could deposit the necklace and they were equally pinned down, holding on to the precious artifact, too afraid of the priest who led them to let it go and run. Katie was following a tip from an old friend of May's who had soured on the movement but was still friendly with some of the members. The necklace was being moved to somewhere just outside of D.C. temporarily.

  Rumors abounded about where the necklace was but Katie was too smart to just chase leads and drove around the area till she got close enough to be able to follow the trail the powerful artifact was leaving. It had a strong signal all its own that went out for more than thirty miles.

  Like bread crumbs through the forest to the gingerbread house. A nasty witch was at the end of this trail too, flanked by two wizards.

  Pzzzzztttzzzttt! Brrrrzzzzzzzttttzzz!

  The tendrils of electric fire snapped back and forth burning whatever it touched. Katie had already managed to take out a witch with a lasso of fire that left the witch crumpled on her side, still smoking but alive.

  The sky directly above them was red and purple, the electricity being absorbed into the clouds and sent right back down to Earth again. From a distance it looked like a breathtaking force of nature in a small storm.

  "Surrender the necklace and you can back out of here." Katie yelled across the distance between them. She stood out in the open, dressed in leather, her tendrils swirling around her head. She had come prepared for battle and wasn't backing down.

  "Not gonna happen bitch!" yelled one of the wizards.

  "May happen anyway but I'll have to step over your dead bodies to pick it up. Either way is fine by me." Katie snapped her arm back, using the trail of magic like a white hot whip, flicking it through the air over the length of the soccer field.

  Snap!

  The flame licked the neck of the wizard, drawing blood and leaving a trail of blisters. He jerked his hand back sending a spray of sparks across the soccer field, obliterating the netting around the goal as he fell to the ground.

  Katie saw an opportunity and snapped the energy back again, hurling it forward with all her might, just long enough to grab the branch off a nearby oak tree, breaking it right at the trunk.

  Craaaaaack!

  She hurled the thick branch at the heads of the remaining witch and wizard.

  The witch ducked just in time, leaves grazing her head but the wizard caught it full in the chest, lifting him off his feet and flying through the air before landing face first in the dirt. The witch helped to pull the branch off him as Katie advanced, still sending out a strong and steady flame. The wizard's nose was broken and he could barely see from the dirt in his eyes.

  "Take the necklace and get out of here. I'll make sure you get away. I'll use our backup plan."

  "Not that," said the witch. She was dressed in jeans and a light jacket and looked like she should be standing on the sidelines of the soccer field watching her kid score a goal, instead of hurling dark magic at an approaching agent of the Silver Griffins.

  "The movement must succeed. We must bring Rhazdon's teachings back for the sake of magic before the gates open. Go!"

  The white light was blinding the wizard as he mumbled the spell ending with, "...the pure of thought shall prevail."

  The ground began to tremble and Katie stopped her advance, holding her arm steady. A look of concern came over her face but she wasn't backing up. It wasn't in her game plan.

  The ground cracked open in small fissures all across the soccer field as shimmers of gray light poured out shooting straight up ten feet in the air, instantly changing to razor thin, sharp ice. Katie saw the cracks under her feet and without a second thought ran for the cover of the field house as fast as she could, the sheaths of ice making a slicing and swooshing sound right behind her. A blood curdling scream echoed against the ice behind her from the wizards trapped on the field.

  "Open!" she shouted at the door in front of her, holding out her hand as the door flung itself open and she dove headfirst for the concrete floor inside, just as the last slice of tall deadly gray ice shot into the air at the entrance to the door.

  She rolled over, looking at the opaque wall of ice up against the door. "I have to admit, I did not see that coming. You bitches play a little meaner than I realized. Drank the Kool Aid and everything." She picked herself up off the floor, brushing off the leather. Her mouth was set and she was already working on her next move.

  "Might actually need reinforcements this time." She shook her head in amazement. "How is one necklace worth all this trouble?"

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  "Is it okay that I invited him?" Eireka had pulled her long hair back on the sides with two silver combs and was wearing a silk purple shirt that flattered her pale skin. Leira saw what her mother had on and realized her mother cared how the night went. No one wore silk to go eat pizza.

  "Of course it's okay. We love Donald." Leira held the door open for her mother as they walked into Home Slice Pizza.

  "I would have held the door," said Correk as he walked inside. The troll was left at home with a salad, happily stuffing cherry tomatoes in his mouth. There was a group consensus that he needed a break from faux food.

  "There he is, Donald!" Eireka waved, smiling as she picked up her pace. A tall man with broad shoulders and thick silver hair stood up, sliding out of the booth, nervously wiping his hands on his jeans. He was just as Leira remembered him. Only the color of his hair had changed.

  Geez, he's wearing his best duds too, thought Leira.

  "Makes you wonder if they missed each other all these years." Correk stood next to Leira watching the two embrace. Donald looked like he was having trouble remembering how to hug someone.

  “I don’t remember ever seeing him that nervous.”

  "We should probably walk over there, don't you think?" Correk gave a gentle push in the small of Leira's back.

  "Donald, hey, nice to see you again! Can you believe it?" Leira heard her own high-pitched voice. Let this all go well tonight. She hugged him, patting him on the back and stepped b
ack.

  Correk gave a small wave and slid into the booth, grabbing Leira's hand to pull her in next to him before she could sit by her mother.

  "Well, I guess I'll sit next to you," said Donald, sliding in next to Eireka.

  Leira leaned closer to Correk and whispered, "I think my life I didn't have is flashing before my eyes."

  "Don't be so dramatic. Your mother is on a date with her grown daughter and a magic Elf from Oriceran. Perfectly normal."

  Leira spit out a little of her water, coughing as Correk patted her hard on the back.

  "You okay there, honey?" The waitress appeared at their table, gently patting Leira on the shoulder.

  "Went down the wrong way," she managed to get out, still coughing a little.

  "Everyone know what they want or you need a minute?"

  "If the rest of you don't mind, I'd like to order for the table," said Donald, shyly glancing over at Eireka. "We used to have a usual," he said to the waitress.

  Eireka's face lit up and she sat up straighter. "That's right! You remember." Her cheeks were flush as she let out a giggle.

  Correk pressed his hand on top of Leira's sending a small jolt of energy through her.

  "I'm not going to do something," she hissed quietly to him.

  "I was more concerned you'd pass out from it all."

  She drew up one side of her mouth but turned it into a crooked smile when her mother looked in her direction. This can be her night. I'll just be here for the pizza and to annoy Correk. That's more than enough.

  "A large pepperoni and mushroom tried and true," said Donald, resting his hands on the table, then in his lap, then back on the table.

  "This is painful," Leira whispered to Correk.

  "Only for you," he replied, pushing her back on to her side of the seat.

  "Sounds delicious," said Correk. "And a Dr. Pepper."

  "You don't even know what pepperoni is," said Leira. "I'll have a Shiner Bock."

  "I tried Cheetos and Twizzlers and Pop Tarts and that's all gone well. I'm sure this will too."

  "Are you not from these parts?" asked Donald.

  "This'll be even better than that stuff!" said the waitress.

  "He's from New Zealand. They have their own kind of junk food there," Leira added quickly. "He's decided to stay here for the indefinite future." Eireka nodded, relieved.

  "Oh, so like a resident alien. We'll take two Shiner Bocks," said Donald, nodding at the waitress.

  "What?" Correk startled.

  "Exactly like that," said Leira, laughing. Correk raised his eyebrows and looked at Leira who laughed even harder. He rolled his eyes.

  Eireka was practically beaming.

  I miss Hagan, thought Leira. All these feelings out in the open would be killing him more. At least that would be something to entertain me.

  "Tell me about how you two met." Leira rested her arm on the table.

  "Good for you," whispered Correk.

  "Your mother had a flat tire on 5th Street during rush hour in the right-hand lane. Cars honking everywhere. You were strapped in your seat in the back, just as calm as could be. I pulled up expecting to see a frazzled mom gripping a steering wheel but instead..." He looked over at Eireka who smiled shyly. "Your eyes were shut and you had the most peaceful smile on your face."

  "I was meditating," she said, not taking her eyes off Donald.

  "He must have the best six pack abs of anyone in Austin," whispered Correk, "based on your mother's basic criteria."

  Leira pinched his thigh hard adding a little zing of magic, still smiling at Donald and her mother, tilting her head to the side, smiling.

  "Two moons!" shouted Correk, jumping in his seat.

  "You okay over there?" Donald smiled easily, taking Eireka's hand in his. Eireka looked directly at Leira, arching an eyebrow and narrowing her eyes just long enough to get the message across. Leira shrugged and widened her eyes innocently.

  "Anyway, that was all it took. I thought, I need to find out more about this beautiful lady and her peaceful kid. Didn't last nearly long enough." He looked down for a moment.

  "It's okay, Donald. You can talk about it. They cleared my records and admitted they made a big mistake. Even paid a settlement." Eireka was still smiling at him but there was pain in her eyes. Donald gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  "Fifteen years for a mistake." His voice was barely above a whisper.

  The waitress arrived with a pizza stand and the oversized thin crust pizza. She plopped white paper plates next to it and a pile of small white napkins. "Parmesan and pepper flakes are in the shakers. Right back with the beers and the Dr. Pepper," she said, wiping her hands on a towel tucked into the apron around her waist, already walking away. Donald took charge, passing out the pizza to the ladies first and slipping two large pieces onto a plate for Correk.

  Correk bit into the pizza right away, grease dripping down his hand. "Hot! Hot! Hot!" He held his mouth open, fanning it with a napkin.

  "Greenhorn. I told you not to do that the last time we ate here." Leira handed him his water and he filled his mouth with water still chewing. "Is that how they eat in New Zealand?" She drew out the last two words.

  "Consequences of enthusiasm," said Eireka, moving her foot under the table till it brushed against Correk's foot and she could send a small amount of healing energy his way. He immediately felt better.

  Everyone settled down and ate and the conversation died down. Eireka and Donald stole glances at each other and ate their pizza with forks and knives. Sure sign of a date at Home Slice.

  "I'm the favorite," whispered Correk.

  "If you need to think that," said Leira, opening her mouth as wide as she could to take in as much pizza as she could.

  "That was oddly impressive," he said, louder, "Didn't know you had it in you."

  "And now on you," said Eireka, laughing.

  Leira looked down and saw the droplets of grease on her front.

  "Price you pay," she said, her mouth full. She chewed just a little more and waited till Eireka and Donald stole another glance at each other before she nudged Correk and opened her mouth.

  "See food. Get it? Seafood. See food?"

  He rolled his eyes again at her. "Retribution will come when you least expect it and are probably asleep and will involve a troll."

  "He would never turn on me."

  "His services can be bought with a doughnut. We both know it. Sleep well tonight."

  "You two known each other long? You seem like brother and sister."

  Leira was about to answer when she felt a familiar rush of energy come right through her. She jerked, dropped her pizza on the plate and pressed her hands against the seat, trying to steady herself and look calm.

  "Swallowed wrong." She was looking for a good cover as the surge grew stronger. She could sense the magic was surging, doing its best to protect her. Something magical and dangerous enough to threaten her was close. Please don't let it be that damnable dark mist. Not here. Not now. Not my favorite pizza joint.

  Correk took another bite slowly, giving her a sidelong glance, trying to determine what to do next. The smile on Eireka's face became strained. Only Donald seemed oblivious.

  She took a slow look around the room but couldn't see anything strange. No weird holes opening up by the pizza oven. She kept her breathing steady, taking long, slow breaths, her palms starting to sweat. This is not good, not fucking good.

  She looked up at Correk just as her eyes glowed. His face gave him away for only a moment as he held her gaze, hiding the telltale sign from everyone around them. She did her best to smile and leaned closer to him, whispering. "I can't control it. What's happening? It feels like something dark is nearby, getting closer."

  Correk pushed his leg against Leira's, drawing some of the energy into himself. His leg started to shake, rattling the table. Eireka put out her foot again, creating a triangle of energy, pressing it against her daughter.

  "What's going on? This an earthquake?
" Donald looked around at the other tables but no other table was shaking. He looked at Eireka but she was keeping her eyes on her daughter, no longer pretending to smile. Donald slowly looked at Leira, and saw the start of glowing symbols creeping up Leira's arm. Correk slipped her jacket around her shoulders. He put a hand on the table, pressing down hard to stop it from shaking.

  "What the fuck is happening here?" Donald said, quietly, looking around to see who else noticed but they were too busy eating pizza.

  "You want anything else?" asked the waitress, holding the check in her hands.

  "No!" they all said in unison.

  "I'll take that." Donald came halfway out of his seat, grabbing the check out of her hands. If we could get a box. Great." He kept smiling, waving the check as he sat back down.

  The energy surged again, whipping through Leira and passing into Correk and through Eireka making a complete circuit. Leira felt her jaw tighten as she did her best to hold the magic down to a minimum as it sped faster and faster. The air rushed out of her and she suddenly relaxed, her jaw dropping open as she let out a long, "Ahhhhhhh."

  Floating just over Donald and Eireka's head was her grandmother but she was covered in a thin film that separated her from Leira.

  "The veil is getting thinner," said Correk, quietly, concern in his voice.

  Donald turned and looked in the same direction but saw nothing. "What veil?" No one answered him.

  "Leira...get help...you need to build the energy." It sounded like a repeated echo blending together. I can hear my grandmother.

  "I can hear her! I know, I figured that out. I understand. I'll need reinforcements."

  "I knew you could do it." The eerie blended echo came through but only Leira, Eireka and Correk could hear her. Donald kept looking around, a worried expression on his face.

  "I'm gonna go pay the bill," he said, sliding out of the booth.

  Mara smiled at her granddaughter just as the black mist crept around the edges. She gave a small wave and pulled back her energy, cutting off the connection. Leira fell back against the padded booth.