I spent the following week learning what I could about magic from both Gail and Killian. Jeffrey visited a few times and offered some tidbits to enhance the tricks and spells that I’d already learned, but, for the most part, he simply annoyed me with his nagging suggestion that we should utilize Jason’s skills to get Nora back.
I, on the other hand, stubbornly held out for news from Anton while I focused on honing my newfound skills to optimum.
I was getting good at creating fireballs. My ability to throw them with accuracy was still wanting, but I felt confident none-the-less. I was also becoming adept at teleportation on a local level. It wasn’t astral projecting. That’s when the physical body stayed behind. My physical body actually went with me. Both Killian and Gail felt it was the wiser move, since someone could tamper with my body if I left it behind. I could return to a body that was severely dam
For the next few days, we incorporated telepathy and psychic impressions into my training. Both Killian and I were accustomed to – and appreciated- a certain amount of structure in our routine. Because of this, we’d set a time and date for our rescue mission to begin. With a deadline in sight for the use of my skills, it gave me a stronger determination to focus on what I was learning and how well I was learning it.By the time we were ready to travel through the portal in search of Nora, I had to admit that I felt a little like a super woman. I could pull the particles of energy that were all around us out of the atmosphere and use them to create a decent electric ball that radiated so much energy as to become fire. Hence, it was called a fireball. I’d even built up the strength in my arms so that I was able to achieve a decent distance when throwing it.I had the ability to make myself invisible if the need arose.
Gail pushed away the plate of pasta that she’d devoured with such gusto that one would think that she was the one who’d just finished three hours of grueling physical and mental training instead of me. “I want to go with you on your mission.”Killian shook his head. “It’s too much to ask of Esmerelda and me. It will take all of the magic and strength that we have to stand up against Marduke and his minions. We can’t be using any of it on things like protecting you.” Seeing the hurt look on her face, he added, “It’s nothing personal. If we were stronger, I’d gladly let you come alone.”“I’m not as weak as you make it sound,” she pouted. “In fact, I’m the one who taught a good deal of what Esmerelda knows to her. I can hold my own.”“Indeed you can,” I said with a nod. I looked at Killian with
Killian was careful to park the car behind the shed where it wouldn’t be easily seen. Bypassing the spot where my captors had parked on that horrific night helped me to push the memories deeper into the recesses of my mind so that I could focus on what lay ahead.I slowly pulled my body from the front passenger seat of the SUV. Even though the sun was peeking over the horizon, the tall pine trees prevented it from illuminating our surroundings with much more than a fine, hazy glow. We would have to rely on the small flashlights that we’d brought along with us to light our way to the portal.“Do you remember where you came out?” Killian asked as he pulled at the collar of his coat in hopes of more warmth.I shook my head. “Not exactly.”“She should be able to see the portal,” Gail said with a voice that hinted of disdain mixed with jealousy. “She has the ability.&rdqu
My first instinct was to escape via the portal that I’d only just traveled through. To my dismay, before I could get my feet to obey my mind, Marduke waived his hand and closed it.“Killian!” I gasped as I frantically tried to reopen it to no avail.“He was never going to be allowed through,” Gail said with satisfaction.An amused smile formed on her lips as she watched me struggle to use my magic.“You’re with them? Him?” I spat as I gave up my foolish attempt to undo the magic of a powerful dark lord such as Marduke. “I thought you were our friend. You sure had us fooled.”“You need to give him a chance to explain what he’s all about,” she said with a tone that was similar to the one she’d used with me when she had me believing that we were friends. “The society has lied to you in so many ways. You need to listen to
Instead of bringing clarity to the situation, Marduke’s tale made me all the more confused.He told of how he’d been a member of the society centuries earlier. He personally knew the founding members, including my parents. His claim was that he held a position of authority, but was overthrown and banished when he disagreed with and refused to admit certain practices and policies into order. These practices included allowing couples to syphon magic from each other’s shine.“What harm is there in couples sharing their magic?” I asked.His lips formed a weak smile. “Is it really sharing? The stronger one is always the syphoner; thus, weakening the weaker one. Without restrictions, the weaker one could be permanently altered. Yes. There is much harm. You know, firsthand, how it temporarily depletes the body’s life force. I am aware of how Jason repeatedly syph
We were just outside the door of what could have been a quaint looking bungalow had a fresh coat of color been added to it when Gail hesitated. “There’s something that you should know before we go in.”She was prevented from explaining further when the thick and severely weathered oak front door swung open. My jaw dropped so low that it almost hit the ground and my eyes threatened to leap from their sockets and roll along the sickly foliage lined worn brick pathway that we stood upon as I took in the sight of Jason. Standing proud and bold, he wore only a pair of pants. The sexy, muscled torso that I remembered so well was completely exposed. He looked just as shocked to see me as I was him.He was the faster one of us to regain his senses. His voice was low to the point that it resembled a soft growl as he asked with a demanding tone, “What are you doing here?”Still stupefied, it took a few excr
I found myself tucked into my very own shabby chic bungalow a few hours later. It was just as well. Although the place felt cold and lonely, it at least spared me the company of Gail and her rapist lover, Jason.Sleep eluded me until, succumbing to the overwhelming heaviness of my heart, I cried myself into the depths of dark oblivion. When I awoke to a faint haze outside my window -which I interpreted as the sun rising over my gloomy horizon- my eyes were still red and swollen. I pulled a washcloth from the well-stocked linen closet and, after soaking it in cold water, pressed it against my throbbing eyelids. It brought a semblance of comfort and normality back to me.I found the kitchen just as well stocked as the bathroom had been. In fact, I was forced to admit that the place lacked for nothing in the line of needs and comfort. If only it wasn’t so shabby in appearance.With a cup of freshly brewed coffee in on
Since time wasn’t measured in the same way there as it was in my home dimension, I could only guess at how long I’d been performing the tedious task of opening and closing portals at Marduke’s leisure. I tried to keep track with my wristwatch and a journal, but that fell by the wayside during my second month of service when I learned that clocks didn’t work in the same way in alternate dimensions. Since their purpose was to measure time, it was conceivable that they wouldn’t measure equally. So, I gave up on the journal and just tried to keep a record in my head.As close as I could fathom, I’d been serving Marduke for almost a year. My agreement with the other world leader was that I’d decide whether to stay on for 10 years or give my notice of leaving after a year or two. I would soon have to make that decision.The primary reason that I’d agreed to do it at all was becaus