A Tale of Two Tricksters

by Debbie Newcomb

  “Why didn’t he check you?” Julie asked after they sat down.

  “I think he remembers everyone who’s ever come in here,” Jenn replied. “He only checked my ID the first time I came here.”

  “Weird,” Julie said. She looked a little pained. “Keep talking. Give me something else to focus on.”

  Jenn cast around for ideas. “Do you have your classes picked out for next semester?”

  “Of course,” Julie replied. “I’m starting to take more social work classes, which is good, but I’ve got a few gen eds I couldn’t test out of. You?”

  “General management. I’ve got an English class as one of my gen eds, too.”

  Julie laughed. “I feel bad for that professor. You argued with our English teacher about everything.”

  “But I always found something to back it up in the text, so he had to give me points for it,” Jenn replied with a smirk.

  “You did that on purpose,” Julie said.

  “Only every time.” Jenn shrugged. “Some people just can’t take a good argument.”

  “And some of us can,” Luke said.

  Jenn felt herself tensing immediately as he put a hand on her shoulder. She stopped herself from tearing his hand away and instead she gently removed it.

  “Luke, this is my friend, Julie.”

  “Hello,” Julie said.

  “Pleased to meet you again,” Luke said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

  Jenn almost felt better that he tried to charm the pants off of every girl. Almost. “She needs your help. Can we talk in your cave?”

  “Any friend of yours is a friend of mine,” Luke said expansively.

  “Right,” Jenn replied sarcastically, getting up.

  They walked over to the door and Jenn watched Luke open it to see if there was a trick to it. It looked like he just unlocked the lock and opened the door. The three of them walked into a cave and Luke shut the door behind them.

  “So,” he said, “what seems to be the trouble?”

  “I’m a mind-reader,” Julie blurted. She looked at him strangely for a moment. “But I can’t read your mind.”

  “No, you wouldn’t be able to,” Luke said.

  “How did you do that?” Julie asked.

  “Practice. I can help you not to read everyone else’s mind. I’m assuming that’s why you’re here?” He turned to Jenn.

  “I couldn’t think of anyone else who could help,” Jenn muttered.

  “My dear, I’m here to help anyone learn their magic better.”

  Jenn wished that Luke didn’t say “my dear” quite so warmly when he spoke to her.

  “Thank you,” Julie said, drawing Luke’s attention back to her. “I was worried I was going to go crazy.”

  “Many people do when this happens to them,” Luke said, walking down the hall. Jenn and Julie fell into step next to him. Jenn wasn’t sure how Luke ended up in the middle, but she didn’t like it.

  “Oh,” Julie replied quietly.

  “Don’t worry,” Luke said. “There’s not too many people around here, so it should be easier for you to think.”

  Julie smiled. “You’re right.” Then she looked confused. “But the bar is right down this hallway. I don’t feel anything from over there.”

  “You wouldn’t,” Luke replied.

  “Oh,” Julie said.

  Jenn was pretty sure Julie had just read her mind about how they were now under the prairie, but Julie didn’t say and that was probably for the best.

  Luke stopped and opened the door to the big cavern where Achi lived.

  “Wow,” Julie said. “It’s just like you remembered it, Jenn.”

  “You couldn’t keep her out of your mind?” Luke asked Jenn, raising one eyebrow.

  Jenn immediately felt inferior. “No. It’s not like I’ve ever needed to before.”

  “I suppose not,” Luke said, but Jenn still felt like she had fallen short of his expectation for her. And she was mad that part of her cared.

  Luke introduced Julie to Achi and Abe. Abe declared that Luke would be better able to help Julie learn her powers and that he needed to go. “We’re having a big event tonight,” he said mysteriously.

  “Then we won’t keep you,” Luke said.

  Abe slid under the water and was gone.

  Jenn looked at the water to make sure he wasn’t there. Luke grabbed her right arm to turn her around and his grip was just enough to hurt Jenn’s sore muscle. Jenn flinched and Luke immediately let go. “If you’re not feeling well, I can help you feel better,” he offered with a smile.

  “I’m fine,” Jenn snapped. “Just sore from your death trap.”

  “I did apologize for that,” Luke replied.

  “You really didn’t,” Jenn told him. She glanced at Julie. “Whatever. We’re here to help her.”

  “Of course,” Luke replied. “I was thinking the two of you should help each other.”

  “Okay,” Julie said.

  “It must be really bad for her to be this desperate,” Jenn thought. Then she remembered Julie was reading her thoughts. Julie gave Jenn a strained smile.

  “Julie, I’d like you to start by focusing on reading only Jenn’s mind.”

  “Why me?” Jenn asked.

  “Because you’re here anyway, so you may as well be useful,” Luke replied. He turned back to Julie. “After you get the hang of reading just her mind, you can try to read no one’s mind.”

  “Why don’t I just start there?” Julie asked.

  “It’s easier to take it down to one mind first,” Luke replied. “So, focus on only reading Jenn’s mind.”

  Julie looked at Jenn and the focus she brought to bear was almost frightening. Jenn looked her in the eye for awhile until that got uncomfortable. Then she looked away, but that was almost worse. Of course, Julie knew all about Jenn’s discomfort and that only made Jenn more annoyed. Still, this was helping Julie.

  After awhile, Luke said, “I think you’ve got the hang of that. Very good. Now, try to read no one’s mind. It’s a little like meditating.”

  “Okay.” Julie sounded unsure. She closed her eyes.

  Jenn looked at her. It was strange to feel so much concentration, but not get the piercing stare that went with it.

  “I heard that,” Julie said.

  “Aren’t you supposed to not be reading my mind?” Jenn asked.

  Julie sighed. Jenn decided to think about Julie in detail just to annoy her. Julie’s eyes had a particular shape to them that Jenn hadn’t seen anywhere else, even in Julie’s siblings. When they were open, Julie’s eyes were filled with a happiness and life Jenn usually only saw in children. Julie seemed to glow through her skin and she had a knack for making your problems seem much more manageable, while offering the right amount of sympathy with her facial expressions. Jenn wasn’t sure how she did that. Julie’s hair was long, black, and a little coarse. Occasionally, Julie would braid it back, but she usually just put it in a ponytail when it was getting in her way. At the moment, it was loose and spilled over her shoulders onto her chest. Julie’s boobs were pretty small, as they went, but Jenn supposed they were proportional to Julie’s body.

  Jenn looked at her friend’s face for any kind of reaction, but she didn’t see one. “She must be doing well not to react to that,” Jenn thought. Still, Jenn wasn’t done with her assessment. Julie was a little under average height and as skinny as she had been in high school when she’d been on the soccer team. Jenn wondered if Julie was still as strong as she had been then. Doing stadium runs will give you great legs, which probably also gave Julie a great butt. Jenn looked down Julie’s legs to her feet in sandals and noticed what looked like a simple drawing of a flower on Julie’s left foot. Jenn wondered if it was a tattoo and if so, what Julie’s parents had said about it.

  Julie’s eyes opened. “I did it!” she exclaimed. Then her face fell. “Oh, the thoughts are coming back in again.”

  “That takes a little practice for it to be a
utomatic,” Luke replied. “Still, you’re doing very well for your first lesson.”

  “You’re not doing much,” Jenn accused.

  “Everyone has their own way of doing these things,” Luke explained. “If I tried to tell Julie in detail what to do, it probably wouldn’t be the way most comfortable for her and it would take her much longer.”

  “I guess,” Jenn replied, not terribly convinced.

  “Now, the next step is to try to read someone’s mind who is actively resisting,” Luke continued. He turned to Julie. “Would you like to rest before we try this?”

  Julie smiled a little uncertainly. “I think I would,” she said.

  “Probably a good idea,” Luke replied. He gestured to the set of outdoor furniture near the lake. They all sat down in white metal chairs around a white metal table that had a hole in the middle for an umbrella.

  “Is all of your furniture this nice?” Jenn asked, rubbing off a little of the rust.

  “Of course not. Don’t you remember the furniture in my bedroom?” Jenn wanted to punch that smirk off of Luke’s face, but he started speaking again before she could say anything. “Sometimes the guests here don’t know how to interact with human furniture,” Luke explained. “I found it’s best to put in something sturdy.” He smiled at Jenn. “Can I get either of you something to drink?”

  “What have you got?” Julie inquired.

  Luke smiled and got up. “Mostly wine,” he said, looking at the cavern wall in front of him. There were many small holes and Jenn could just see the tops of wine bottles sticking out of most of them.

  “You use the rock as a refrigerator?” Jenn asked.

  “Of course,” Luke replied. “It’s far easier than trying to get electricity in here.”

  Jenn had to admit he had a point. “Probably best to get a Moscato,” Jenn said. “Julie likes sweet drinks.”

  Julie nodded and glanced at Jenn while Luke was turned around. Jenn shrugged. She had no problem drinking while they were in here as long as she didn’t drink too much.

  “Although you don’t like sweet drinks,” Luke pointed out to Jenn, coming back to the table with a bottle and three glasses.

  Jenn shrugged. “It’ll do.”

  Luke poured them all a bit too much and set the wine bottle down. “To good beginnings,” he said, holding his cup up.

  “What beginning?” Jenn asked, not clinking her glass just yet.

  “The beginning of Julie learning to use her power,” Luke replied with a smile.

  “Sure,” Jenn replied. It was just a toast, after all. She clinked her glass with the other two and waited for Luke to drink first.

  After his first drink, Luke put his glass down and smiled. “Jenn, I promised that no harm would come to you while you were in here. Do you not trust that promise?”

  “Just making sure,” Jenn replied. She took a sip of her wine. It was an excellent Moscato. Damn him.

  “I know what will make you feel better,” Luke said. He turned to Julie and looked into her eyes. “I promise that no harm will come to you while you are here,” he told her.

  Julie blinked rapidly. “Thank you,” she managed.

  Luke smiled and turned his attention back to both of them. It was almost like Julie had been in a spotlight before and Jenn wondered if he had done that to her the first time he promised her safety.

  “So, ladies,” he said. “While we’re taking a break, tell me about yourselves.”

  “Oh, I’d rather hear about you,” Jenn said with a very fake smile.

  “Very well,” Luke replied. “I came here many years ago to find a better life. I certainly found it. I’ve got a good life for myself and I’m able to live off of the interest of the money I’ve invested, which gives me plenty of time to help others with their magic. I’ve seen what happens when I’m too late and the results can be devastating. The magic user will sometimes go mad and destroy everyone close to them.” Luke shook his head sadly.

  Jenn looked over at Julie. Julie’s hand was gripping the arm of her chair so hard her knuckles were white and her lips were pressed into a thin line. Jenn gently put her hand on top of Julie’s and Jenn could feel Julie’s hand relaxing under her. Jenn took her hand back after a moment.

  “Thanks for that,” Jenn told Luke sarcastically.

  “You asked to hear about me,” Luke replied, “and that is my life’s work.”

  “Great,” Jenn replied, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t hear the part where you are a con man.”

  “Oh, my dear,” Luke answered. “Everyone uses everyone else, it’s just about how good you are at doing it.”

  “That’s not right.” Julie argued, still tense.

  “Oh?” Luke asked.

  “I’m studying to be a social worker. You don’t go into a broken home and try to help because you want something from the people there.”

  “Of course you do,” Luke answered, looking confused. “It helps your reputation to be able to save a situation that looks dire. If you can keep the child in their home, it gives you less paperwork, while easing your conscious about how they now have a safe place to live, and helping others is something that you do to feel better about yourself.”

  Julie opened her mouth and shut it again. “How can you have so little faith in people?”

  “I’m sorry,” Luke replied, sounding genuine. “It’s been awhile since I’ve talked with someone who has as much faith in them as you do.”

  “You don’t think I have faith in people?” Jenn challenged.

  Luke smiled. “You clearly don’t trust me,” he pointed out.

  “You’ve given me every reason not to,” Jenn shot back.

  “But I think you have some faith in people still,” Luke continued, “for now, anyway.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Jenn asked.

  “I’m sure Luke was just trying to annoy you,” Julie said smoothly. “Right, Luke?”

  “Oh, Julie. Half the fun of talking to Jenn is annoying her.” Luke shot a smile at Jenn that made her stomach flip. Jenn glared back. “I can tell that you’re an only child,” Luke told her.

  “The miracle baby,” Jenn agreed sarcastically.

  “Miracle?” Luke asked.

  “Never mind,” Jenn said, drinking some more wine. “So, how does it work to block someone from reading your mind?”

  “That depends on the person doing the blocking,” Luke replied, letting Jenn’s abrupt topic change go by without comment.

  “You never give a straight answer, do you?” Jenn asked.

  “No,” Luke replied with a grin.

  Jenn realized Julie had rested her hand on top of Jenn’s. Jenn realized that now she had the arm of her chair in a death grip. Slowly, Jenn relaxed her hand.

  “I’m ready to try it if you are,” Julie said to Jenn.

  “Sure,” Jenn said. “I guess I just go with whatever?”

  “Whatever seems the best way to you,” Luke agreed.

  “Great,” Jenn replied, settling herself in her chair. “Okay, go ahead.” She imagined her mind in a big safe. The door swung shut and the lock twirled. There was no getting in.

  “A safe?” Julie asked almost immediately. “You know that wasn’t the right way to go.”

  “Fine,” Jenn replied, closing her eyes. She imagined a padlock on her mind, clicking shut. The key was far away.

  “A padlock?” Julie asked. “Now you’re just thinking about where you would hide a key for it. Huh. Some interesting places.”

  “One more time,” Jenn demanded.

  “All right,” Julie agreed.

  Jenn imagined her mind erased. There was nothing to find so it was impossible to read her mind.

  “Wow,” Julie said after a moment. “You did it. I can’t even tell that you’re here!”

  “Really?” Jenn asked, opening her eyes.

  “Oh, there you are,” Julie said, opening her eyes as well.

  Jenn frowned and looked toward Luke. His chair was empty.
It made Jenn uncomfortable to realize he had gotten up and she hadn’t noticed. A quick glance around told her that he wasn’t in the cave. “Don’t say anything,” Jenn thought at Julie. “Let’s go see where he went.”

  Julie looked around and raised an eyebrow at Jenn.

  “Come on!” Jenn thought at her, standing up.

  Rolling her eyes, Julie stood up as well and they walked to the door. Quietly, they walked into the hallway. Jenn left the door just a little bit open behind them so they could get back inside quickly. Jenn had seen the room to the left of the big cave and there wasn’t a door anywhere close on the right side, so she went to the door across the hall. She put her ear up to it for a moment and didn’t hear anything. Jenn eased the door open, being as quiet as possible. It looked kind of like their high school chemistry lab.

  Jenn and Julie looked at each other. “Why does he have a lab?” Jenn wondered. Julie shrugged. Jenn pulled the door shut carefully and moved down the hall to the room across from the junk room. She put her ear to the door and heard a man talking. “Come listen,” Jenn thought at Julie.

  Julie frowned at Jenn, but then put her ear to the door as well.

  “…find them,” the man said. He sounded angry.

  “I have been looking,” Luke replied defensively. Jenn immediately wanted to know who this other man was.

  “You have not been looking hard enough. Do not let me find out that you were the one who hid them,” the man threatened.

  “I’d be careful threatening me,” Luke retorted.

  “Why?” the other man asked. “You’ve already put yourself back in a cave. All I have to do is keep you here and bring the serpent, but we would need to bring back your wife to tend to you. Where is she?”

  “She’s out exploring the worlds,” Luke replied, “something I could be doing if I wasn’t stuck here.”

  “Once you find Huginn and Muninn, then you will be able to join her,” the man stated, “but you will need to find them quickly. We are growing impatient.”

  “Remember that the last time you chained me in a cave, I brought about Ragnarök and I can do it again,” Luke promised, pronouncing the strange word easily.

  “You waste my time,” the man said. “When I come back, you had better have them.”