by L. R. W. Lee
Think of them as bubble bath, Pell.
Ain’t no way bugs crawling on me feels like bubble bath. But maybe… maybe I can imagine… but what?
My brain dredges up running water or snowflakes driven by a storm. I quickly reject both. But then I envision… they’re Harpoc’s shadows—Ooo, this has potential—Okay, Harpoc’s shadows are… caressing me… all over.
I can get into this narrative. Yes, Harpoc’s caressing me, allll over.
My inner minion shuts up at that, and I snort.
A smile breaks across Nuria’s face. “What?”
Dark swirls continue making the entire room dim, but I shake my head, grinning. “I’ve come up with a way to think about the feel, differently.”
“Care to share?”
“Nope.” I can’t help but chuckle. Harpoc’s magic is caressing me, everywhere.
Nuria just rolls her eyes. “However you did it, you’ve had a breakthrough, so good job. But you need to….” She looks about.
“Do something about all that.” I’m still feeling Harpoc, all over me, and I can’t deny, I’m liking it.
“Yes. I want you to picture your body drawing in the shadows.”
“So reverse it.” Oh, this will be fun… drawing Harpoc inside me.
Oh, come on, Pell, my inner minion whines.
Shush. You wanted me to master this.
Harrumph.
“Exactly.” Nuria’s almost laughing at me, almost. It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that I’m bouncing from foot to foot with excitement, no, never.
“Okay, here goes.” I still and plant my bare feet shoulder distance apart in the soft mat, then turn palms up and inhale deeply.
I picture Harpoc rubbing me, fondling me, then coming into every single part of me. My lady bits warm as I do, but more importantly, the shadows begin flowing back into me, just a little at first, then more and more. I can’t see anything, even Nuria whose right beside me, they’re so thick, but I’m on a high.
Ohhh, Harpoc, Harpoc, Harpoc.
I moan.
Chapter Twelve
I suck in a breath and my cheeks burn.
Like waking myself by talking in my sleep, I realize too late that I’ve actually made that very telling sound out loud. Ahhhh!
“Finish.” Nuria’s having a hard time keeping her professional composure—she’s practically snorting but trying to quash it.
The dark swirls are only a whisper of what they were.
I try to wipe the smile off my face to no avail as I re-envision… well, what I’ve been, and the last of the wisps disappear back inside me a minute later.
Nuria’s smiling, rubbing her long neck with a hand. “You enjoyed that entirely too much.”
I grin, unrepentant, as she hands me back my ring and I slip it on. I have to admit, despite the fun I’ve turned secret magic into, it feels better when my ring sits back on my finger where it belongs.
“Kidding aside, I’m glad you had that breakthrough. I’ve never had someone repulsed by the sensation of secret magic since they always start training as soon as they manifest. So I learned something today, too.”
She’s not touching what I accidently reveal. Good.
She heads to her bag and grabs a water, then hands me another and sits, resting her back against the wall.
“How long have you been Harpoc’s commander?” I take a swig of water.
“Long time. I was one of the first twelve to enlist in his service.”
I take another swig. “What made you want to work for him?”
“I’m the older of two daughters. My younger sister delighted in cooking and gardening and female activities. I hated such things. Mother didn't know what to do with me. Much to her disgust, Father was no help to her in directing my path either.” She chuckles. “I think I was the son my father never bore because he always brought me along hunting and fishing and such, and because of it, I excelled at those things.”
“So a regular tomboy.” I can see that.
She smiles. “Indeed. Harp used to seal all secrets across all universes, but as populations grew, he needed more capacity. I heard about the opportunity and above Mother’s objections, and with Father’s support, I enlisted. I’ve worked my way up the ranks, made my father proud, Mother, too even though it took years to get her to admit it.” She laughs.
I nod as I take another sip. A happy story.
So she’s one of the first twelve. Harpoc mentioned needing more capacity and creating a team to help him. “You’re pretty old then, too.” Her full curves tell me she’s older, but I’ve no idea how old.
She covers her mouth, barely holding back spraying a mouthful of water, then swallows quickly.
“Making your rounds of the old folks? Would you moan for me, too?” She guffaws.
My eyes go wide, as that moan bites me in the butt. “No, it’s not like that.” I spit the words out.
She slaps her thigh. “Glad we cleared that up.”
I cover my face with my hands, which only makes her laugh harder until she reaches over and pats my shoulder, still grinning. “You’re too much fun to embarrass, Pell.”
I hold up my hands in surrender, because Harpoc said the same.
I take several long drags, then clear my throat, hoping to change the subject. “Have you always lived in the Empire of Secrets?”
She bobs her head, swallowing.
“So how do you feel about sealing secrets?”
Nuria tosses her long white locks over a shoulder then tilts her head. “What do you mean?”
Despite yesterday’s revelation, I still consider Earth my home, and I want the double standard abolished. I’m sure it’s not the only place in the universe with this problem, so I tell her about the corrupt politicians that get my blood boiling.
She’s quiet throughout my telling, listening intently, brows furrowed, violet eyes locked with mine. It’s a bit intimidating. Like Harpoc, she’s intense when she’s focused.
I end with “Sealing their secrets allows them to live above the law. It’s not fair.”
A corner of her mouth hitches. “Girl, very rarely is life fair, so if that’s all your objection is over—”
“What’s wrong with fighting unfairness?” My retort probably comes too quick.
“What you’re describing is a lack of power. You seek to make those with more power than you, subject to some authority, to diminish theirs.”
I hadn’t thought of it in terms of power, but yes, I want them to be subject to the same authority I am.
“And that’s fair to them?”
My mouth drops open.
“These people have earned their power, yet you think it’s fair to diminish it.”
It feels like she’s slapped me upside the head, and I struggle to come back with a retort. “But… but living by laws that govern everyone equally, is that not what it means to be a citizen of a civilized society?”
She smiles. “Perhaps, but it seems those people don’t care about that.”
I take a deep breath. “That’s an understatement.”
She puts a hand on my thigh. “I believe sealing secrets preserves civilizations from chaos, which means it preserves societies. Beings die when there’s instability.” She clenches her jaw.
I tilt my head.
“My parents and sister were killed when there was an uprising on Elisdon Isle, my home. It’s just north of Nemus Isle.” She exhales heavily.
I suck in a breath. So not a happy ending after all. “I’m so sorry.”
She shakes her head. “The uprising stemmed from a dispute over water rights. My father farmed in addition to hunting and such. He was among those who didn’t have their own supply of water when a drought struck. Those who owned their own water supply refused to share, claiming there wouldn’t be enough for anyone if they did. With their survival at stake, you can imagine my father didn’t just sit down and take it. No, he led an uprising to change things.”
My stomach twists, anti
cipating the end I know is coming.
“I was nowhere in the area when it all came to a head.” She closes her eyes. She blames herself. “One thing led to another and before it ended, several homes were destroyed and beings killed, my family among them.”
I sigh heavily.
She straightens. “So when you talk to me about fighting unfairness, trust me, I understand.” Her eyes pierce me. “Before that, I never really thought about what I facilitate by my work. But after, I realized that keeping the peace and avoiding chaos, whether that includes sealing secrets or not, is critical at just about any cost. It saves lives. It’s debatable whether that uprising could have been avoided in my parents’ case, but anymore I’m after avoiding chaos wherever possible, because every life I help save is someone’s mother or father or sister or brother.”
I nod, it’s the only response I have to her gut-wrenching story. But I also realize, she’s of the same mind as Idris as well as Harpoc. I understand why. I don’t blame her, she’s been through a lot—not all scars are physical—but there will be no swaying her.
What did you expect, Pell?
I ignore my inner voice because it’s clearer than ever that my ambition is going to be nigh impossible to achieve, and that doesn’t sit well.
“What I find fascinating”—she eyes me up and down—“is that… you… don’t agree with the practice.”
She elongates the word, and I’m not sure how to take it. You because Harpoc brought me here to help fix that leak, which supports secret magic? Or You being a friend of the god of secrets? Friends don’t agree on every issue.
“How’re you feeling?” Nuria asks. She rises, then turns and extends her hand, pulling me up. “Ready to give it another go?”
“Sure.” But I can’t help sigh to myself.
I follow her to the center of the blue mat that stretches across every inch of the floor and stand opposite her. She motions for me to hand over my ring again.
I slide it down my finger but hesitate before I pull it fully off. I’ve worn it my whole life and had no clue what it does. Imagine if I’d taken it off before coming. What would have happened? I shake my head, then hand it to Nuria.
“Control it,” Nuria says, as dark wisps begin seeping from me.
Revulsion, at that… feeling… starts in an instant.
It’s Harpoc, I remind myself. Yes, Harpoc… caressing… everywhere. The shadows obey and pull back inside me.
“Good.”
It’s not hard to hold them with this narrative, and I fear I’m enjoying myself too much. I’m glad Harpoc doesn’t know he’s my muse.
“Okay, let some of your magic out, then I want you to direct it over there.” Nuria points toward the wall just down from our stuff.
“How?” The letting out part is easy, that happens automatically, but directing it?
“Not too much. Pull some back in.”
I do, then she says, “Will it with your mind. Command it.”
“Like talk to it? Tell it what I want?”
“Command it. Tell it who’s boss. It doesn’t take kindly to suggestion.” She takes a step back, away from me.
I give her a long look. She’s speaking of it like it’s got a mind of its own. Maybe it does, it nearly strangled her earlier, and Harpoc was frustrated with it, saying that sometimes he hates secret magic.
I size up the wisps of shadow that float around my knees and point. “Go over there.”
Nothing happens.
I look to Nuria for answers, and the instant I do, I feel pressure, and my knees smash together. Then I’m flipping and I grunt as I land, face first, in the mat.
I push up to find Nuria, arms crossed, smirking.
“What happened?”
“I told you, you need to command it. Tell it who’s boss. Suggestions result in crap like that happening.”
I right myself to standing. Boy does it have a mind of its own.
“Try again.”
“Command it,” I say to myself, mentally preparing.
Nuria bobs her head.
The shadows have continued pouring off me and spread out so I draw some of them back, until they form a cloud of wispy gray before me.
I stare at it. All right magic, you are going to learn that I control you. “Magic… go… over there.” I add force to the command, then grit my teeth—because that’ll help—and point.
Ever so slowly, like a willful toddler—not that I’ve known many—the shadows float toward where I’m still pointing. I almost tap my foot like some of my caretakers growing up when I dawdled. Only after the ball of wisps ends up where I want, do I drop my focus and look to my teacher.
“Very good.”
She gives me a series of other places to direct my shadows and over the next probably hour and more I practice.
It comes more and more naturally and my confidence grows. Maybe I can do this.
“Will I be able to do everything Harpoc can?”
“Such as?”
“Heal, conjure weapons, shield from bad weather, clean and repair things, lock a door, block the smell of secret magic.”
Nuria’s eyes go wide.
I keep rattling off stuff Harpoc’s done. “Oh! Manipulate computer systems.” What else? “Oh yes, and fly.”
“Why did Harpoc block the smell of secret magic?”
“Because I accidently loosed a sphinx, a harpy, and King Midas on Earth.”
Her head jerks back. Clearly Harpoc hasn’t filled the Core in on our adventures. She only shakes her head and murmurs to herself, “Geez, Harp.”
“It will take training, but yes, you should eventually be able to do most, if not all of those things, and more.”
Shadows have been flowing out of me as we speak, but I’m feeling confident so before she has to tell me what to do next, I command my magic—I can’t help laugh. First time I’ve called it “my magic”—“Come. Coalesce.” I put force into the command, then focus.
“You didn’t—” Nuria shouts, then grabs her hair.
Chapter Thirteen
Blackness swallows me in an instant and I feel my feet leave the mat.
I’m flying, but I’ve got no wings, and the ceiling’s fast approaching—my stomach plummets. This room is two stories tall.
My head hits first, slamming into the white surface, then my shoulder and a knee.
Nuria yells.
A weightless feeling overwhelms me because I’m free-falling. It’s like that roller coaster stomach drop off the first steep hill but it doesn’t stop.
I shriek.
I hate falling. Can’t stand it. Nope. Nope. Nope.
But hatred doesn’t stop me because I’m still falling. Falling. Falling.
Another scream.
Freaking. Falling.
I land hard, despite the floor’s padding, and my knee twists. Pain shoots up my leg and blue mat fills my vision as I sprawl out.
I can’t catch my breath.
Nuria’s there in an instant. “Breathe, Pell.”
I’m trying, but nothing’s happening.
Air. I need air.
She rolls me over and pulls me up to sitting, bending my good leg and drawing it up to my chest.
I’ve no idea what that does, but a gush of air suddenly fills my lungs.
Air. Blessed, air.
I gulp it in, panting.
I’ll live. I’ll live.
But a drum solo that started the instant I collided with the ceiling—it mimics Animal from The Muppets—overwhelms me. I grab my head, hitting “the spot” and make myself yelp. Pain shoots from my knee, up my leg, alerting me to more damage.
“You need a healer,” Nuria says as she lays me back down, then shoves my ring back on my finger.
“You.” Words are hard.
“Me, what?”
“You. Heal.”
“I’m not competent with head injuries or I would.” She bolts to standing. “I’ll be right back.”
She disappears in a s
wirl of her own shadows.
I’ve no concept of time, Animal drumming like he is, and I alternate between closing my eyes and watching wisps of my magic swirl and dart about, brushing me every so often. I was foolish to think I’ll ever control this magic.
Soon after, Nuria reappears from a dark swirl, along with a black-robed, eggplant-skinned female with gray hair, pointed ears, and black and silver horns that jet straight up a good six-inches.
“Here, Aimil.” Nuria strides for me.
The hunched woman shuffles forward, her dark eyes running up and down me, then she eases herself down to the mat, while Nuria rounds to my other side and kneels.
The scars on the healer’s jaw are more pronounced as she leans over and extends her purple hands over my head, but then her eyes narrow, and she takes a whiff of me.
Her head jerks back and she gives Nuria a quick look.
I’m probably not seeing straight, but I swear the commander shakes her head.
“What?” The single word sends stabbing pain through my head, and I’m sorry I ask.
The healer ignores my question, they both do, as she places her hands, one on either side of my face, and applies gentle pressure to my temples.
Pain shoots through my head and I open my mouth to cry out, but it’ll make it all the worse, so my mouth just opens and closes as I fist my hands in agony.
Animal was just warming up.
The pain becomes excruciating as she applies more pressure and tears fall. But then it starts to ease, just a little at first, then vanishes completely not long after, and I let out a breath and relax, wiping my tears with a bare arm.
Be gone with you, Demon Animal.
I yip when I move my knee without meaning to.
The healer moves from my head, down to my knee, and places a palm on it. It feels different than when Harpoc healed my bruises, but soon my joint no longer throbs.
“Any other injuries she needs to address?” Nuria translates the healer’s inquiry from hieroglyph.
“My shoulder hurts.” I grab it.
Aimil places a hand over where it throbs the worst, and like the other injuries, it’s soon feeling good as new.
“Anywhere else?” Nuria translates.
My loose magic continues floating around the room as I do a mental check of the rest of me, then press where that bruise was on my head, but it no longer hurts. In fact, everything seems to be in order.