When I open my mouth to answer, he shakes his head. “Simon and Paul, I mean. Not Quinn. I think we can trust him.”
“I agree. Quinn has been trying to read Simon’s thoughts, but I think he blocked them with some sort of spell.” I hold up the notebook. “So I looked up an unblocking spell.”
Charlie’s eyes grow wide. “Wow, where did you get a spellbook?”
I show him the first page and he gasps when he reads my father’s name.
“It’s not a spellbook,” I explain. “More like a diary with some spells in it. But anyway…” I flip back to the anti-blocking spell. “These are the things I need. Can you get them for me?”
He scans the lines and gives me a thumbs up. “I have some stuff in my car, for emergencies. Leave it to me.”
“But he’ll see…” I begin, but I cut my objections off when he walks to the far wall and starts chanting under his breath.
He moves his hands around, a bit like Jeep does when he’s raising the dead. Dust rises from the floor and hovers in front of him, pressed together in a ball. Charlie moves his hands in a circle and the ball mimics the movement. The words he utters come out more urgent and suddenly the ball lunges forward. It explodes into tiny specks of dust when it hits the wall. The specks crawl into the crevices like ants and one by one, the bricks are pulled out, until a hole as big as a man appears.
I gasp and Charlie winks at me over his shoulder. “I got into a fight here a couple of months ago, you know. I accidentally put a hole in this wall and promised to fix it. While doing so, I decided to put in a personal emergency exit.” He steps outside into the parking lot and quickly fills the hole with the grease from his hands. In the dark corner of the restroom, the difference is hardly noticeable.
When someone comes in I pretend to wash my hands.
Thankfully he leaves again before Charlie takes down his grease wall and steps back in.
Within seconds, the brick wall is back in place.
I stare at his grinning face. “I love magic.”
He hands me three candles, a lighter, a wick, a small bottle, a pair of scissors and a dandelion. “Here’s everything you need. Don’t take too long. I’ll tell the others you’ve had too much beer.”
I dive back into the cubicle. “See you in a minute.”
He walks to the door.
“Oh, wait,” I call after him.
He turns around. “What is it?”
I put the candles on the toilet seat. “There’s something I don’t understand. I thought only Mages could cast spells. Simon isn’t a Mage, so how did he block his thoughts?”
Charlie shakes his head. “Any magical creature can, in theory, cast a spell. Mages just have more talent for it than others. Lots of magical beings practice for years and are still unable to perform that kind of magic.”
“So that means Simon must be pretty strong.”
He sighs. “I’m afraid so.”
“Okay, you’d better go back, before he suspects something.”
I close the door to my cubicle and put the candles in a triangle around me. I lay the notebook open on the water reservoir and read the instructions. “This should be easy enough.”
I hear the restroom door opening and make puking sounds, while dipping the wick into the glass bottle, which is filled with ethereal oil. Then I carefully remove the petals from the dandelion and rub them onto the cord. I wait for the restroom door to open and close again before I light the candles.
Softly I read the words.
“Powers of High, hear my call.
Cut the block that hides it all.
Make all evil show its face,
to the people in this place.”
I light the wick, wait for the first petal to catch fire and cut the wick in half above the toilet. Smoke curls up when the two halves hit the water and I flush quickly. I blow out the candles and put the notebook back behind my waistband. When I realize I don’t have anywhere to put all the stuff I’ve used, I leave the cubicle and throw everything in the bin next to the door. Then I hear a scream, followed by panicked footsteps.
CHAPTER 11
I peek around the corner of the restroom door. The crowd has split into two groups. A large group of relatively normal looking people, backing up against every wall, window or table they can find. And a small group in the middle of the room, consisting of a bulky man with the head of a bull, a person with a slender human body and limbs like a tree, a man with greasy black hair, a mouth covered in slime and yellow eyes in hollow sockets and a crouching zombie dressed in rags, that licks its sharp teeth.
I spot Charlie just two feet away and dive towards him. “What happened? What are those?”
He whispers back with a worried look. “Your spell must have gone wrong. Just before you came out of the restroom, these four changed shapes and started hissing at us and baring their teeth.”
So this is my fault? I hit myself on the forehead. Then I bend back towards my best friend. “But what are they?”
“Can’t you tell?”
The man with the bull’s head paws the ground and everyone nearby presses their backs harder against the wall.
“That’s a minotaur. That monstrous thing is a boogeyman.”
“Wait, those are real, too?”
He shrinks back against the wall. “Unfortunately.”
“What about that tree-like creature?”
“That’s an ent.”
I study the flailing branches and the bark that covers its face, if only to keep my mind off the boogeyman. “I thought ents were benevolent beings.”
“No species is naturally good.” He tilts his head. “Well, except for angels and fairy godmothers.”
“And the other one is a zombie?”
Charlie shakes his head, meanwhile keeping an eye on the monsters in front of us. “That’s a ghoul. It feeds on corpses.”
I try to swallow the lump rising in my throat.
“You should reverse the spell,” a voice on my other side says.
I look up at Quinn. “How did you know-“
He moves his thumb towards Charlie.
I sigh. “I don’t know how to reverse it. I don’t even know what went wrong.”
The minotaur charges with a loud grunt and people dive in every direction. Some of them change shape too. Dragon girl slams her tail into the ent’s chest, while a snake-like creature slithers around its legs. Sparks in all colors light up the room. The ghoul shrieks with delight before jumping the people on the other side of the bar.
Charlie grabs my arm and pulls me back into the restroom. “I’ll help you.” He looks around, while the shouting in the bar rises in volume. “Where did you put the spell ingredients?”
I reach into the bin and pull everything out.
Charlie scans everything quickly. “Good. Put everything back where you cast the spell.“
He reaches into his pocket for a piece of paper and a pen and follows me to the cubicle.
“Why did it go wrong?” I ask while putting the three candles back in place.
“You probably didn’t focus on Simon.” He holds up the piece of paper and pen. “Write down the exact words of the spell. Then read them backwards, light the candles in reverse and extinguish them with one handful of water.” He writes down a few lines before handing the pen and paper to me. “Then read this.”
I do as he says, take a deep breath and try to read the spell backward as best as I can.
“Ecalp siht ni elpoep eht ot,
Ecaf sti wohs live lla ekam.
Lla ti sedih that kcolb eht tuc.
Llac ym raeh hgih fo srewop.”
I light the candles again, but in reverse order. Then I swoop some water out of the toilet and throw it over the flames. I turn the piece of paper around.
“As water meets fire, this spell will be broken.
As fire meets water, it is now unspoken.
Undo what was done.<
br />
Don’t harm anyone.”
The noise behind the door dies down. Only a soft weeping can be heard, followed by multiple footsteps withdrawing.
Charlie collects the candles and flushes the piece of paper. “Well done.”
I stuff my hands into my pockets. “I’m really sorry. It was a stupid idea.”
He tosses his hair over his shoulder and pats me on the back. “Yours was not the first spell to backfire, you know. And it was for a good cause. It’s fine.”
I shuffle my feet. “So what happened to Simon? Did the spell work on him, too?”
“Oh, he showed his evil face alright. And then took off through the window. I’m guessing we won’t be seeing him again for a while.”
My hands ball into fists. “That’s too bad. I would have liked to kick some information out of him.”
Charlie brushes some dust off of his beach shirt. “Violence doesn’t solve anything.”
“I know, but my hands itch. Who knows what he has done.”
“That’s just it. We don’t know.”
“But the spell told us something, right? He’s not under some sort of dark influence. He’s genuinely evil.”
Charlie stares into the distance. “Yes, I guess he is.”
I put my arm around him. “At least we’ve still got each other. You and Quinn didn’t change.”
His head turns abruptly in my direction. “You didn’t trust us, either?”
He doesn’t sound hurt, just surprised.
I shrug. “How could I? You all lied to me…” He opens his mouth to protest, but I hold up my hand. “That wasn’t your fault, but I didn’t know that. I was attacked by demons. I saw two of my best friends fighting. I found out the Devil is real. How could I know who to trust?” A thought pops into my head. “When you were fighting Paul, why didn’t either of you use magic?”
He grins. “I created a magic free zone just outside the building. I knew he’d have to walk through it.”
“That’s smart.” I let go and walk to the door. But before I open it, the meaning of his words hits me. “But does that mean Paul’s power is stronger than yours?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Is he also a Mage?”
Charlie shakes his head. “No, he’s an elemental, like Simon. An earth elemental.”
I rub my face hard. “I don’t even want to know what that means.”
I open the door into the almost empty bar. Great, I ruined the bar and its business.
“Don’t worry,” Quinn says, stepping towards us. “Things like this happen sometimes. Customers will come back.”
Stop reading my mind.
His shoulders move up. “Sorry man, I can’t.”
Never mind. Let’s get out of here.
I move past the broken chairs and bleeding people on the ground. My throat tightens. If just four creatures can do this, what would happen if the Devil reached Earth?
The owner of the bar is mumbling something, his eyes fixed on the pieces of glass scattered everywhere.
I walk over to him. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He shakes his head, while words keep tumbling out of his mouth.
A tingling sound makes me turn around and my mouth falls open. All the fragments of broken glass are pulled together by an unseen force. They rise up like a mini tornado and form brand new glasses. They float towards the bar, where the owner falls silent and puts them on the shelves.
“Have a nice evening,” he says.
I give him a half-dazed wave and walk outside. Charlie and Quinn step out behind me.
Quinn looks around, his eyes squeezed to slits. After scanning the whole street, he turns to me. “No sign of Simon. Where to now?”
Before I can make up my mind, my mouth answers. “Let’s go to Darkwood Manor. It’s time you guys meet my Shield.”
CHAPTER 12
Quinn came on foot, so he rides with me. His black curls almost touch the ceiling, but it doesn’t bother him. We are both silent, lost in our own thoughts. Charlie follows us in his own car.
After I park in front of Darkwood Manor and watch Charlie step out of his car and gaze up at the mansion, I turn to Quinn. “Can we really trust Charlie?”
Quinn watches Charlie’s every move, as he approaches the house and walks around it slowly. “Yes, he has a pure soul.”
My mouth drops open. “You can read that, too?”
He smiles at me. “Sometimes.” He pushes his shoulder against mine. “Don’t beat yourself up. Nobody suspected Paul and Simon to be evil.”
Not even you, and you can read minds.
“Exactly,” he says. He grabs the door handle and gets out. With his hands on his hips, he surveys the mansion and its surroundings. “Nice place you’ve got here. And well protected.”
That makes me finally feel a bit better. “Thanks. Are you ready to go in?”
I realize it still looks creepy as hell, but I haven’t had time to fix it up yet.
Quinn doesn’t look bothered though and Charlie comes back around whistling admiringly. “You’ve got yourself a palace here, Dante.”
“Yeah, a haunted palace.” I give him a crooked smile.
He throws his head back, laughing. “You forget we’re magic kind. We don’t scare that easy, you know.”
I shift my gaze to the mansion. “So this house doesn’t look scary to you?”
“Sure it does. You could shoot a horror movie here. But the ghosts inside are your friends, aren’t they?”
His cheerful demeanor lightens up my mood. “Absolutely. So are you ready to meet them?”
He waves at the door. “Lead the way.”
I unlock the door and walk into the kitchen. It’s empty. “Guys? Are you here? I’d like you to meet my friends.”
Four figures materialize in their usual seats. They wave at Quinn and Charlie, who greet them with respectful bows.
While Quinn studies Jeep´s tattoos, Charlie’s eyes slide over every part of Vicky’s perfect body. He catches my eye and winks. “It’s great to have new friends, isn’t it?”
“Watch your feelings, Charlie,” I warn him. “Vicky can read them all.”
He has the decency to blush as Vicky wiggles her eyebrows at him. Quinn only looks up briefly from his conversation with Jeep. He doesn’t appear to be interested in Vicky at all, which is fine with me.
Charlie wastes no time changing the subject to magical powers. Just when it’s Taylar’s turn to tell him that he doesn’t have a power, I notice the empty seat next to D’Maeo. “Where’s Maël?”
“Still recovering,” D’Maeo answers. There’s concern in his voice.
“Did you find a spell to help her yet?”
They all shake their heads.
“So we do have to go back to the Shadow World.”
D’Maeo rubs his eyes. “It’s no use, Dante. The tree is gone, remember?”
“There might be a trace of it.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Charlie steps closer, his eyes big and incredulous. “You’ve been to the Shadow World?”
“Yes, we had to. Maël was banished there.”
Charlie is still gaping at me. “You went to the Shadow World and survived?”
I laugh. “Well, obviously.”
He moves his head from side to side and I reach out to him. “Are you okay?”
He doesn’t respond, so I push him into the seat next to Vicky and shake his shoulders. “Charlie? You’re freaking me out, man.”
Quinn joins us and puts a hand on Charlie’s head.
I look up at him. “Can you read his thoughts?”
“No, they’re too jumbled up.”
D’Maeo waves at us to give him room. “Let’s just give him a minute.”
We all step back and wait. My eyes never leave his face. I can’t remember ever seeing him like this. Charlie has always been down to earth and optimistic. He doesn’t scare easi
ly.
I search the kitchen cabinets for a glass and fill it with water from the tap that’s thankfully working.
I push it into Charlie’s hands. He grabs on to it, but that’s the only movement he makes.
I squat next to him and try to meet his eye. “Charlie? Tell me what’s wrong.”
Finally he takes a deep breath. The glass slowly moves to his mouth and he gulps down the water. “This is bad,” he mumbles.
I take the glass from him. “What is bad?”
“You’ve been to the Shadow World?”
I shrug. “Yes. So?”
Quinn sits down opposite Charlie. He looks as lost as I feel.
“You’re trying to keep the Devil from coming to Earth,” Charlie continues.
“Yes, apparently I’ve been chosen.” My fingers make quotes in the air when I say the last word.
The dazed look vanishes from Charlie’s face. He stands up and starts pacing. “I didn’t realize it until now. I didn’t recognize the signs, you know. But when you mentioned the Shadow World…”
“What is so important about that?” It comes out more irritated than I wanted.
“Do you know how many people – living people – went to the Shadow World and came back?”
“I’m guessing not many.”
He forms an O with his fingers. “None. Zero.”
I sigh. “So? Maybe we got lucky. Or maybe we just got through it because we helped each other."
His gaze moves from one ghost to the other. “You all went? Well, that confirms it.”
I throw up my hands. “Confirms what, Charlie? Can you be a little clearer?”
He sits down and cups his head in his hands. I can see his eyes moving. He’s putting things together.
I force myself to stand still and wait until he’s ready. Taylar opens his mouth, but stays quiet. Jeep doesn’t even make a joke. Vicky reaches for my hand. For a moment I think I see Quinn flinching, but that might have been my imagination. D’Maeo just folds his arms patiently, not worried at all by the looks of it.
After minutes of silence, Charlie wrings his hands together. “Since I found out I’m a Mage, I’ve been studying prophecies.”
The Second Premonition Page 7
