“Well, this is curious.” Angelique added obliquely.
“It can’t be… “ Gaia said.
“Do we have another bowl of Twinkies?” Jack asked, lighting up a joint. “Because I sense the Mother of all munchies coming on.”
We were gathered in the parlor once again, a fire warming the space where we were sitting in a circle. I had just told them about my morning chat with my predecessor, and it had brought the mood to a standstill.
Evelyn, however, was unbothered. "Trev and I have dealt with free-floating magick before." she shrugged. "Remember Sao Paulo?"
“Evie,” Trevor replied, “that was a pissed off psychic who had just enough personal mojo to project herself into her ex’s places and steal their penises. It’s not like conjuring an army.”
“However,” Raina jumped in, “everything that’s been sent against us has already existed somewhere. None of it was conjured fresh.”
“Really?” Jack asked. “Even the giant bats?”
“Chiro demons." Vincent replied. "Not actual demons, but creatures created by magick and selective breeding. They're man-made, but not new… they go back to the Ottoman Empire."
“We could,” Raina continued, “possibly, be dealing with a psychic magician with a killer teleportation spell.”
“Well, that’s better than an unfathomable well of unknown and thus impossible to defend against wild magick.” Trevor said, cocking a grin.
“That still limits how much help we Fae can be for intelligence gathering." Gaia said. "Our magick is all earth-based."
“I thought it was crystal-based." Jack said, his voice showing the effects of the weed.
“And we get crystals out of where?” Raina asked, rolling her eyes.
“The new age shop downtown?” he replied hopefully.
At that, Trevor got up and walked over to Jack. Without a word, he grabbed Jack’s smoldering joint and took a bit hit.
“I thought you preferred alcohol.” Katsu said, watching him.
“I do.” Trevor replied, hitting the joint again. “But I’ve seen this guy… “ he jerked his head towards Jack,”… tear a secure network down and rebuild it before breakfast. If this stuff can make him that clueless, then maybe I’m missing something.”
Now that’s funny!
The meeting broke up, and everybody started to file out of the room. Everyone, that was, except for Gaia, Jack, Katsu, and Vincent, who were huddled together off to the side. Curious, I walked over to see what was up.
“If this is for a surprise party, I can leave.” I said, leaning into their orbit.
“That’s okay.” Vincent said, smiling. “I’m just pulling together an improbable strike force for a side mission.”
“Sounds like D&D.” I said, grinning.
“The cameras really helped in the fight against the giant bats.” Jack said. “Vincent thinks we should set some up where we get reports of suspicious spooky activity.”
“How are we going to set up cameras all over the world?” I asked. “I mean, your WiFi is bitchin’, Jack, but it’s not that strong.”
“That’s where I come in.” Katsu said. “My sister and I communicate across long distances by opening up tiny portals and speaking through them. We can leave the portals open as long as we need. The portals are microscopic, but they’ll let sound through.”
“Which means that they’ll also let WiFi signals through.” Jack said next. “I can set up solar-recharging cameras with their own broadcast capability. With Katsu’s micro-portals… which we can set up right next to the units… we can get a clear feed while using the bare minimum signal strength.”
“Which will reduce the chance of their being discovered.” Katsu added.
“We can set up the portal on this side to be, like, a centimeter away from the router.” Jack continued. “A Windows Vista computer could send a clear signal over that small of a distance!”
“They’re starting out in the area just outside of Durban, South Africa.” Vincent said. “At least, that’s where we’ll start. They won’t be going into the city proper, but rather the sub-tropical forest just outside of the city. That’s where Trevor and Evelyn’s sources have detected some mammals of unusual size being moved by supernatural means.”
“I’m going for wildlife control.” Gaia said, raising her hand.
“I’m in too.” I said.
Vincent looked surprised. “Really?”
“I’ve been feeling restless lately.” I said. “I could use to get out of the house again.”
“So soon after Virginia?” he asked.
“Well,” I replied, “You’ll still have you and Angelique, Raina, Hatsu, and the Hawkinses here, so it’s not like we’re scattering and leaving the lake untended again.”
“Well, I think Angelique wanted to work with you… “Vincent started to say, but I cut him off.
“Oh, we have loads of time for exercises.” I said quickly. “Besides, if my power really comes from the earth… the entire earth… then maybe I should experience more areas of that earth.”
Vincent held his hands up. “You are a grown woman, and the Sorceress.” he said, grinning. “You call the shots.”
“Great!” I said, smiling. “When do we leave?”
“Six this evening.” Gaia said. “We want to set up base camp after dark, and they’re five hours ahead of us.”
“What should I pack?” I asked.
Gaia smiled. “Bring your phone and charger. I’ll take care of the rest.”
* * *
Zap! Zap! Zap!
Raina sent streaks of energy at each round card I tossed in the air and nailed every one. “Awesome shot!” I exclaimed as one bolt shot through two targets at once.
“Thank you.” she said, never slowing down at her exercise. As fast as I flipped the thin cardboard targets up in the air, she shot them down, a hole burned in the center.
“Maybe I should take you to South Africa with me.” I said. “I hear that the mosquitoes down there can be brutal!”
“Like I want to be your bug zapper.” she teased.
“You okay holding the fort down while I’m gone?”
“You mean along with the two ancient vampires, two more top occult mercenaries, and a five thousand year old Japanese conjurer? I think I’ll do fine.”
We stopped when I ran out of cards. Raina, smiling, walked over and sat next to me, opening a soda.
“Gaia’s not telling me how we’re getting there.” I said.
Raina took a drink. “Well, I know that traveling in and out of the Twilight Fae realm is way more complicated than the Wood Fae, so it’s probably not that.”
“Maybe it’ll be eagles.” I grinned.
“Beats walking.” she said, shrugging. We sat in silence for a moment before Raina spoke again. “So, I take it things with Angelique have gotten even more complicated.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“A lady who loves ladies knows. Besides, you’ve known Angelique for ten thousand years… avoiding her like the plague would raise suspicions in even the most clueless about love.”
I nodded, but then stopped. “Wait, do you think that Jack knows?”
“I said clueless about love, not the terminally stoned.” she replied, and we both laughed.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do about all this.” I continued after the laughter died down. “I just feel… overwhelmed by everything. I just don’t have the brainpower to deal with everything plus a potential love triangle, too.”
“Well, you don’t have to deal with anything extra right now.” Raina said, patting my knee. “Angelique’s been a vampire for sixteen hundred years. I think ‘patience’ is a quality that she mastered a long time ago.”
I knew that she was right, but I couldn’t help but feel anxious to leave.
Who’s the impatient one now?
* * *
Okay, THAT was abrupt!
We had just been in Jack’s basement domain… Jack, Kat
su, Gaia, and myself… getting ready for our journey. Our extremely limited luggage sat in a small pile to the side, and we were dressed for the sub-tropical forest.
Well, we humans were khaki-ed up. I thought. Gaia wore the same silky, shimmering clothes that she always wore. Katsu, though still in her traditional Japanese robes, had brought more regular clothes for working in… not that she’d probably wear them.
We had gathered in a circle for what I assumed was a briefing on how we were traveling when suddenly the lights went out and we were plunged into darkness. A few disorienting seconds later, and the rich smells and deep sounds of nature rushed in.
A few seconds after that, and I started to see the jungle around me. It shimmered with a much stronger glow than the sleeping woods around our home, and I marveled at the incredible amount and variety of life around me.
Woah. This is cool!
“It is way too dark!” Jack said, frozen in place.
“Hold on.” Gaia replied. She moved her hands up and apart, and a bubble of energy flowed from her hands and surrounded our adventuring party. She moved her hands again, and it grew to about thirty square feet.
The change, to me, was immediate. While the life energy of the plants and trees were unchanged, the amount of animal and insect life was more sparse within the bubble.
Gaia waved her hands again, and a few fairy lights sprang to life, illuminating our surroundings.
We were in a clearing in dense woods, a cornucopia of tropical plants and trees surrounding us. Most of the plant species were alien to me, but the energy flowing from them was unmistakable.
“Is the force field secure?” Jack said warily. “There’s, like, a million bugs and beasts out here that could really fuck you up out here.”
“The shield is secure.” Gaia assured him. “No poisonous or venomous creatures will bother us in here.”
“Great!” jack said, rubbing his hands together. “Now we can set up the tents!” He looked around the clearing. “We didn’t bring tents.”
“If we don’t have to worry about bugs, then the only thing to shelter from is rain.” Gaia said, smiling. “Watch this.”
She waved her hands yet again, and the trees shook above us. Branch after branch started snapping off and arranging themselves over us, while leaves wove themselves in and out to fill the spaces between the sticks. Soon there was a broad canopy over us, going to the forest floor on three sides.
“Nice!” Jack said, nodding.
“It also gives us cover from accidental discovery.” Gaia said. “From above, this looks like the tree canopy.”
“Just another section of forest.” Katsu said, grinning.
Gaia made a gesture and sturdy-looking footlockers appeared at the edges of the shelter. “I’ll conjure some hammocks for us to sleep in once we get our stuff stowed.” Gaia said next. “Annabelle, I have a bag packed with forest-appropriate clothes for you with the other stuff.”
I grabbed my canvas bag and took it over to the footlocker to arrange things. A moment later I heard Jack cry out.
“Shit, shit, SHIT!” he cursed.
We all rushed over to him to see what was wrong. He was kneeling by a puddle just outside of the shelter, near to the pile of luggage, looking distraught.
“Dude, what’s the emergency?” I asked him.
“My medicine bag was a few feet away from the main stack.” he replied. “It must have fallen right before we transported.” He looked up at me. “All of my weed was in it.”
I looked at the canvas bag at the bottom of the foot-deep puddle. “Oh! Dude, that sucks.”
“What am I gonna do?” he said. “Believe me, you guys do NOT want to be around me sober these days!”
Gaia rolled her eyes. “Jack, where are we?”
“Just outside of Durban, South Africa.” he replied.
“And what is Durban famous for, drug wise?” she asked next.
Jack’s face lit up. “The Durban Poison strain?”
“Poison?” Katsu said, concerned.
“It’s just a pot name.” Jack assured her. “But it’s a legendary strain. Pure Sativa… good for mental alertness. Real wakey-weed.”
“Come with me.” Gaia led Jack to the edge of the bubble, to a patch of impossibly tall, yet instantly recognizable plants.
“Woah!” He said, his eyes wide.
Gaia picked two massive, fourteen-inch buds from the plant and handed them to Jack. "These should last you an hour."
Jack’s eyes were wide. “These are awesome.” he exclaimed. He looked up. “How am I gonna dry and cure them for smoking?”
Gaia snapped her fingers and the cannabis flowers dried and cured in a second, leaving Jack with a quarter pound of smokable flower.
“Anybody got any wraps?” he said, smiling.
“Hold that thought." Gaia said and disappeared into the forest.
* * *
Later that evening, the four of us were sitting around a blazing fire. We sat at the edge of the shelter, an additional shadow bubble floating above us to obscure the firelight. Jack took a hit from a massive joint and passed it to me.
“This is working out quite well!” he said, eyeing the smoldering doobie.
I glanced at the book that has provided the paper for the weed to be rolled in. “Where did you find a bible?” I asked Gaia.
“There’s a missionary base came in a nearby village.” she said, taking the joint from me and taking a hit. “They have a warehouse of bibles.”
“And they’re useful for a change.” Katsu said, taking the joint from her.
“A million and a half touring musicians and performers all know about the rolling capability of bible pages.” Jack said. “It seems that the tales are true.”
“So what’s the plan for tomorrow?” I asked.
“The equipment will be airdropped tomorrow." Gaia replied. "Then we'll start placing the cameras. The first candidate for surveillance isn't far from here."
“I’m going to look around with my, I don’t know what to call it… second sight?” I said. “Maybe I can detect the remnants of any magick used, wild or otherwise.”
“Well, I’m going to go to bed.” Katsu said, rising. She undid a clasp on her robe and the entire thing fell off to the ground, leaving her naked. As she walked away, she looked back at Jack. “Coming, my love?”
Jack quickly handed me the joint. "Good night everyone." he said and hurried to catch up with his lover.
Gaia snapped her fingers and a hammock, big enough for two, appeared in the shadowy recesses of the shelter. She snapped her fingers again, and a sheet dropped in front of the hammock, giving the couple some privacy.
“It’s soundproof, too.” Gaia told me softly.
“Thank the Gods.” I whispered back.
We passed the joint back and forth until it was a tiny stub. The cannabis smoke, which had just the hint of black licorice flavor on the exhale, had left me relaxed but not foggy.
Perfect for activity!
“So are all Twilight Fae poly?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Polyamorous?” she asked back. “Well, that depends. We’re really not all that hung up on who’s pleasuring whom, if that’s what you mean. Like I’ve said before, we can only become pregnant by a conscious decision, so our culture never put any unusual restrictions on sexuality. Giving someone an orgasm in our society is like someone giving someone else a neck rub in yours.”
“There are plenty of people I wouldn't want to do even that, honestly.” I replied.
“Exactly!” Gaia said. “So while we’re freer than you might be, we’re not indiscriminate.”
“You said that it depends“ I continued. “What are some other limitations?”
“Even though we’re not exclusive sexually, we do form extremely intense emotional bonds.” she replied. “When two Twilight Fae go through the joining ceremony together, they’re bonded on an almost spiritual level. So while they may not sleep together every night, they WILL be
there for important times… celebrations, high holy days, and so on.”
“Have you ever been joined?” I asked.
She grew quiet for a moment. “Once. Long ago.” she said. I was going to ask her more, but she got up and walked away without another word.
* * *
The next day I wandered through the forest freely. The rest of the gang were off placing the first cameras, so I decided to take a look around.
The energy was… thick was the only word I could think of to describe it. The life energy was so strong that I could see it during the day in the shadows cast on the forest floor by the tree canopy high above.
It actually helped me wander. I could look behind me and see a path of energy that I had stirred up by moving through it.
So getting lost isn’t an issue.
I saw unfamiliar flowers of every color, shades of green that I thought only existed in computer graphics programs, and undergrowth that swayed gently in the breeze. I heard wild animals making sounds all around me, and even spied a few leopards in the distance.
This place is pure magick! I thought.
I saw movement to my right and stopped to take a closer look. I quickly jumped behind a tree, however, when I saw what it was.
A person! I thought furiously. Gaia said that this area was uninhabited! If any of the local crime gangs around here… or worse… discover us, it could make things WAY more complicated!
I watched the person approach. It was a woman, dark-skinned, wearing brightly colored clothes as well as a traditional-looking head-piece.
Okay, she doesn’t LOOK like a gang member, or a malevolent magician I thought.
She walked closer. “You can come out now, child… I intend you no harm.” she said, looking at the tree I was hiding behind.
Busted! I stepped out and tried to make myself look intimidating. “What do you want from me?” I asked firmly.
I wasn’t prepared for her answer. She laughed. “That’s very good, Sorceress…” she said, smiling, “if I were anyone else, I might be frightened.”
“Fine.” I said, deflating slightly. “Who are you, and how do you know me?”
The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga Page 24