Spirit of the Dragon: A Story of Magic, a Witch, and the Third Reich

by J Cameron Boyd

  Not wanting to offend anyone, Elizabeth threw caution to the wind and resorted to a little witchcraft. With her stomach expanded and the delicious smell of the Apfelstrudel, Mohnkuchen, and fresh coffee to tempt her, Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic desserts. Only, when everyone adjourned to the drawing room, the witchling remained sitting at the table.

  Minutes later Willow returned, curious as to why Elizabeth was still sitting there. “Are you going to join us?”

  Making sure no one else was within hearing distance, Elizabeth confessed her plight in a whisper. “I am so not feeling well. I really overdid on the goulash … on everything.”

  “I have just the trick,” Willow laughed. But instead of conjuring her solution up, she ran off in the direction of the kitchen. Returning with a small glass of what looked like water, Willow handed it over with the words, “Here, drink this.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” Elizabeth moaned. “I cannot squeeze anything more down my throat.”

  “Try, it will make you feel better.”

  Desperate, Elizabeth drank.

  “Gads, what is that?” she questioned, her face shriveling into a sour pucker.

  “A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water. Give it a few minutes, and then come join us. You’ll want to hear this. The girls sing like angels.”

  Ten minutes later, Elizabeth was entombed in an overstuffed chair enjoying a concert that ended far sooner than she would have liked. Nevertheless, the evening was beautiful, and to Elizabeth’s relief, by the time the Haas’s left, she was feeling much better.

  A little while later, snuggled in her warm cozy bed, Elizabeth smiled herself to sleep.

  ***

  Her slumber was shattered by the sound of screaming. Jolted upright, Elizabeth took but an instant to reorient.

  “Are you up?” Willow called from outside her door.

  “What’s going on?” Elizabeth yelled, hurriedly dressing.

  “Not sure, but it’s all up and down the block. Philipp thinks it’s a riot.”

  “Riot?” Elizabeth burst into the hallway. “Is it against the occupation?”

  Willow was already descending the stairs. Hurrying, Elizabeth caught up just as the witch ran out into the night.

  “Where’s Philipp?”

  “I told him to stay put,” Willow answered as she looked down the street to her right. “Oh my God, there’s hundreds of them!”

  “Who are they?”

  “I don’t know … wait … those are swastika armbands. They’re Nazis!” Willow exclaimed as the sounds of chaos magnified her realization. Suddenly she understood. Wide-eyed she turned to Elizabeth. “They’re attacking the Jewish homes!”

  Willow’s words hit Elizabeth like a blow to the stomach. If she had taken but a moment to research the place and date, she would have known why she was in Austria.

  “Stupid, stupid!” she yelled at herself as she tore after Willow, who had run into the street and turned left. “The Haas’s,” Elizabeth screamed, recognizing the direction the family had taken to go home. Their home was two houses down from the professor’s. In seconds, the witches were at the door.

  “They’ve been here,” Willow yelled, racing through the open doorway.

  Taking note of the shattered door frame, Elizabeth grimly followed, leaping across the threshold and heading up the stairs on Willow’s heels.

  The sight in the first room turned the witch’s fear to rage. Several men were crowded inside. The room was that of the Haas’s youngest daughter.

  “I got this, get to the next door. It’s Hannah’s.”

  Elizabeth moved, aware that the hall behind her was suddenly glowing purple. The witch hit the door with her left hand. Yellow sparks lit up the air as the door shot off its frame startling the three armed men standing by the bed. Elizabeth held nothing back. Her spell tore the life spark from all three. On the bed, lay the Haas’s sixteen-year-old pressed into the mattress by a burly hulk of a man.

  Again, light shot from the witch’s right hand. This time, a golden hue enveloped the man, tore him from his appalling deed, and slammed him against the ceiling before flinging him headfirst through the second-story window. An instant later, Elizabeth was by the girl’s side, doing what she could to lessen her horror.

  Outside Hannah’s bedroom, Willow shouted from the hallway, “Put her out. I need you!”

  Elizabeth stepped back, issued the spell, and raced for the door.

  The witch found Willow in the bedroom at the far end of the hall. Hurrying in, Elizabeth slipped on the large pool of blood lying just inside the doorway. Catching her balance, she heard Willow’s plea.

  “Help him!”

  Herr Haas was lying between the bed and the far wall. Elizabeth raced past six bodies to get to the girls’ father.

  “They’re dead?” she questioned.

  “Damn well better be,” Willow snapped, then added, “Oh God, I can’t stop the bleeding.”

  Only then did Elizabeth take a good look at the body Willow was kneeling over. It was the girls’ mother, and from her quick glance, Elizabeth was certain Willow was dealing with a severed artery.

  Turning to the husband, Elizabeth fought to pull him back. Her effort, as with Willow’s, came too late.

  ***

  Hours later, Hannah’s and Laura’s memories of the evening (all but the death of their parents) had been erased. With their injuries healed, the girls had but their parents’ fate to process.

  “Did you also do a cellular memory erasure?” Elizabeth asked Willow tonelessly.

  “Absolutely.” Willow regarded her with worried eyes. “How are you doing?” Elizabeth simply stood there, shaking her head. Placing her hand under Elizabeth’s chin, Willow lifted it until Elizabeth’s eyes met hers. “We’ll have a chance to talk later, but for now, just remember, there is so much in this world that is going well. Right now, we somehow got ourselves in the middle of a place where things are not what we want them to be. We work with that now, but if we are to help the world get past this, we can’t carry this horror with us.”

  Elizabeth reached out to Willow, and the two clung to each other. “I know that,” Elizabeth mumbled. “I know the good outweighs the bad. It’s in my face right now, but I will be able to step back soon and get a better perspective.”

  Philipp stepped into the room. “Sorry to rush you, but we need to get the girls to their aunt’s,” Philipp said. “I’ve just reached her. Their shop is in ruins, but the home is intact. She and her husband will be able to take care of the girls.”

  “I’ll get them ready,” Willow volunteered.

  “Wait,” Elizabeth cautioned. “This … um … what are they calling it…?”

  “Kristallnacht,” Philipp answered. “The word is, it’s occurred throughout the Third Reich.”

  “Damn!” Elizabeth took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She vaguely remembered this particular moment in history. “This is just the beginning. These girls won’t be safe until we get them out of Europe.”

  “I know a person in Canada,” Willow said, thinking of a friend of hers. “I’m sure she’ll help.”

  “Witch?” Elizabeth asked.

  “She’s a Piscion; Her mother is Piretian, father’s a human. She has a couple of kids, but I’m sure she can handle two more. I can take them tonight.”

  “Thanks.” Elizabeth looked at her gratefully.

  “I just wish we could help the others. There are thousands that were affected by last night’s rampage just here in Vienna,” Willow added.

  “It’ll number in the millions,” Elizabeth grimly stated. “And I, for one, plan to help.”

  “Count me in,” Willow acknowledged.

  Walking over to the witch’s side, the professor put his arms around Willow and affirmed, “I think we’ll find that others will want to help as well. We’ll get through this.”

  “In time,” Elizabeth agreed, remembering how horrible the war had actually been. And then sigh
ing heavily, accepted the fact that she had officially entered the bloodshed that would be known as World War II.

  “So much for not intervening,” the witch whispered.

  CHAPTER 7

  Year: 1939

  “Michael, we really could use your help with this.”

  “I can appreciate your concern. The situation is abominable. It’s just that, if there is anything we’ve learned, it is that history will have its way. What has happened will take place.”

  “But this time is no place for magic.”

  “Nor will it be,” Michael countered.

  “How can you say that? I’m almost certain a German general has the old Lantian manuscripts. Believe me, this human is not only capable, but he is also arrogant enough to think he can use the old magic without repercussions.”

  “You mentioned a Lantian in trouble in your request.”

  “I did,” Raul sighed, exasperated by the god’s change of subject. “Urik is missing.”

  “Is that so unusual? I thought you old sorcerers valued your privacy as much as your freedom.”

  “Granted, alone, his disappearance wouldn’t be a concern. But with my sources telling me a German general is looking for a way to get access to the magic that was once common, I fear the usual isn’t applicable. Especially with Urik’s recent fascination with time. I can’t help but conclude that my friend, Urik, is in trouble.”

  “But how could a human possibly get the upper hand on someone as powerful as Urik.”

  “He has the books!” Raul shouted.

  “Perhaps a breath or two is in order?” Michael said quietly but firmly.

  Raul knew Michael’s suggestion wasn’t a warning. The two were friends and had been since before the Lantian/Piretian war. It was this friendship and not the fact that Michael’s power far exceeded that of the magician’s that made Raul regret his raised voice. Still, the Lantian stubbornly refused to follow his friend’s command.

  Michael wasn’t actually a god. It was just that he and the rest of his cronies didn’t originate from this dimension. That fact alone made them god-like, especially since none of the rules of the third dimension applied to him and the others. From time travel to spatial displacement, there wasn’t anything they couldn’t do, except maybe intervene in the planet’s affairs in a way that worked out for everyone involved.

  A prime example of Michael’s powers was this baffling structure he lived in. It was a teleport center capable of teleporting itself. It was also a building of many descriptions. When it wasn’t impersonating a castle, it was pretending to be a cave, cottage, or even a small community.

  This time, Raul’s journey to see his old friend had him venturing into an abandoned farmhouse in the north of France. Once inside, he found the basement, then the false wall, and finally the castle door.

  How that building buried itself next to the old farmhouse was a mystery. Doing so without leaving a mark on the surface made it rather phenomenal. But for Michael and his gang of angels, or whatever they were, it was likely no more than child’s play.

  Raul’s obviously shallow breathing wasn’t missed.

  “Don’t pout,” Michael laughed.

  “This is serious. What if that German is torturing him as we speak?”

  “It’s difficult to believe a human could wield this level of magic. Doesn’t it take gold to do serious magic on this plane?”

  “When we reclaimed our birthright, we had to use gold. Even so, my old cohort and mentor, Galenus, was confident we would soon evolve beyond the need. General Haushofer might very well be proof of Galenus’s prediction. From what I have heard, he is extraordinarily powerful.

  “Fifteen years ago, he and his partner, Hanussen, murdered Rudolf Steiner, the most powerful human I’ve known. Then in thirty-three Haushofer got rid of Hanussen—a man I thought was of equal talent.”

  “Steiner’s death was a loss,” Michael agreed. “But I thought he died of natural causes.”

  “It was poison protected by a spell. Every magician I know couldn’t break the combination. We all tired. Isabel even tried, and you know how impressive she is.”

  Michael knew that Isabel, though a bit of a renegade, was one of the most talented of the gods. Her habit of taking the form of a Russian Blue cat raised eyebrows among many of their acquaintances but made her very effective in what she did on this plane. “You are certain the human was involved?”

  “I am. Karl Haushofer has had fifteen years to study our most powerful spells.”

  “Don’t tell me … even the cat tried to track him down?”

  “Uriel, too,” Raul nodded.

  “Avoiding either would take some doing,” Michael said, more to himself than to his guest.

  “That’s why the king of the Lantians asked me to talk to you. Jonathan said Haushofer has been building his power around the political movement in Germany. If he has Urik, there’ll be no limit to what he or these Nazis can achieve.”

  “The humans have been after a one world government since the day they started living near one another. Perhaps we should let them experience it?”

  “You’re not serious?”

  “No, just thinking aloud,” the god admitted, and also acknowledged to himself that the Lantian had made his case. The situation was indeed serious. He asked, “Okay, if Uriel and Isabel, couldn’t find this Haushofer for you, how can I help?”

  Raul took the deep breath he had been saving before beginning his answer.

  “Urik has a son. And though he is obviously a Lascion, a half-breed, he, nevertheless, is quite a talented magician. With his human handicap, however, he too has been unable to find his father or Haushofer. Still, his connection to his father makes him our best bet.

  “My sense is that the Germans are up to something that will impact all of humanity. We have to find Urik, and if he needs rescuing, save him. We also need to retrieve our books and make sure Haushofer can’t hurt anyone else.”

  “And you want what from me?” Michael asked.

  “The nature of this universe suggests a solution. When the feminine or masculine side of life tries to go it alone, or when the two forces oppose one another, you end up with an imbalance that wreaks havoc on every situation involved. But when the masculine is complimented by the feminine or vice versa, there is nothing that cannot be achieved.

  “My proposal is that we balance the raw talent of Urik’s son with an equally young and talented female.”

  “You think such a partnership will succeed?”

  “I am convinced that we have to try.”

  “You do know that I have no control over her decision?” Michael said, knowing exactly what female Raul was referring to. Of all the offspring he had fathered, there was only one who even came close to matching him in ability. Raul, himself, was too powerful to not know this kindred soul for what she was.

  “I merely ask permission to approach her. Choosing to help us will place her in harm’s way. Without a doubt, this is going to be a life and death struggle.”

  “As I said, she is her own free agent.”

  “Then if you will be so kind as to give me some information so that I can find her, I will ask her immediately.”

  “Of course. What do you need?”

  “A sample of her frequency, if you don’t mind.” Raul smiled as he held up a small orb.

  “Ahh, you have a new invention. Congratulations!” Michael looked amused as he supplied Raul with a bit of Elizabeth’s essence. Raul was wrapping the orb with the containment spell when someone entered the chamber, nodded to Michael, then stood quietly waiting for him. Michael returned his nod before turning back to Raul. “Oh, and I’d advise caution when talking about the boy. It seems Elizabeth’s uncle prophecied that there would come a time in her life when there will be … should I say … a different coming together of masculine and feminine energy. The part of the prophecy that really rubs her the wrong way is that she will have no say so as to whether she wishes to participate in this un
ion. Consequently, she tends to be rather standoffish when it comes to any male someone tells her she just has to meet. It would seem the universe has plans for that girl. Plans she doesn’t want to have anything to do with, I might add.”

  “Good to know. Michael, this is much appreciated.” Raul turned to go, knowing his audience with the leader of the band of angels overseeing the life and times in this section of the universe was officially over.

  ***

  Convincing the girl would not be easy. And the first thing he had to do was find her.

  ‘That’s going to be the easy part,’ he thought as he tossed the golf-ball size orb; throwing and catching it with the same hand. For a minute, the glowing orb rolled about in his right palm reminding him of the device waiting for him in his car.

  ‘That’s one of my finest inventions,’ he congratulating himself, thinking of how only Galenus could have come up with something as equally useful.

  “That’s twice today I’ve thought of that old chap,” he mused.

  Back when the planet was called Lantis and magic was common to all, only the gods and Galenus could go beyond what others were capable of.

  “Galenus,” Raul voiced the name again, recalling how much he missed his old friend. “Wherever you’ve gone, I hope you’re doing well.”

  Raul allowed a moment of silence to follow his wish—just in case an answer might be forthcoming.

  When it wasn’t, he headed to his waiting vehicle—a 1939 Packard. But now it wasn’t just a Packard. Only the outside of the vehicle remained a product of modern human technology. On the inside, it was a delightfully blasphemous combination of Lantian magic and Piretian science.

  “I should have done this sooner,” Raul admonished himself, thinking back to the time of Rudolf’s illness. In the past, he had operated under the assumption that a small, unnoticeable footprint was the best way to live among the humans.

  But when Steiner’s pain became unbearable, Raul was on the other side of the world still depending on conventional transportation. Steiner’s death put an end to such nonsense. Three weeks later he had his own automobile—only it was far from just a car.