by Tara Lain
The opening appeared in the air, Jazz stepped through and, as usual, was thrown into the darkness of the closet. For a second, he merely breathed. He hadn’t slept in… he couldn’t remember exactly, but a long time, and the blackness pressed against his eyelids.
Come on, get going.
He reached for the heat to recapture his invisibility. Okay, let’s get on with it.
When he stepped into the hall, at first all was quiet. Made sense. It was like 4:00 a.m. But listening carefully he could catch the murmur of voices coming from the usual location—the office of loverboy, the red-haired professor.
Jazz ran with soft steps down the hall.
Randy was talking and sounded really stressed. “…like he had a stroke or something. Just weird. He remembers some shit, but nothing important.”
“So he has no idea of his role?” That’s the professor… what’s his name? Hillebrand?
“Doesn’t even recognize Nardo’s name.”
“There has to be magic involved.”
“Maybe, but man I couldn’t tell. I saw the girl go up the stairs earlier, but she’s human. The guy I was supposed to look for, the cute asshole from the club, never came in. In fact, neither did the kid who lives in the other apartment. Maybe Odan really did have a heart attack or something.”
Hillebrand sounded way annoyed. “He’s a mage, Randy. How likely is that?”
Randy didn’t reply.
“So the Vanessen kid got away from you?”
“Yes. He got away from Micel. I didn’t see it, so I don’t know how, exactly, but Odan was pissed. Now he doesn’t even seem to remember.”
“It’s not a total crisis. We have a standby, although I was hoping not to use her.” There was a heavy sigh. “Where’s Odan now?”
“I left him in that apartment.”
“Is there a chance he’s dissembling?”
“Diss—oh, you mean lying? No, this dude’s seriously confused.”
“What does Micel say?”
“He doesn’t know.”
“What a clusterfuck. Go tell Micel what’s happened. Tell him I have this under control. Meanwhile, you both need to watch for the Vanessen kid.”
He sounded whiny. “Seriously? I mean, what’s the deal with this dude? Odan said he was some college kid who happens to know a little magic. I want to do something that helps the cause.”
“How noble of you. So perhaps it will change your mind if I tell you one simple fact.”
“What’s that?”
“Nardo wants him.”
Jazz found out an interesting fact. Invisible guys can shiver.
BEBOP WANDERED idly through the park, but his glance kept straying back to the spot where Jazz had disappeared. Hope he’s okay.
The tiniest gray in the sky signaled that he’d made a night of it stalking around the park. It was a wonder he hadn’t been arrested. At this point he should wait for his coffee vendor to open, grab an extralarge cup, and go to his appointment with his PhD adviser. He couldn’t let her down since she’d kindly agreed to see him on Sunday. After that he could catch some sleep.
Nothing was happening by the Arcantaria portal, so he curved his steps toward the arch. He’d seen those three people go in and one out of the invisible entrance not long after he’d arrived, but nothing since then. Somehow he guessed even wizards weren’t weird enough to have 5:00 a.m. meetings.
As he got close to the arch, he paused to yawn and rub his tired eyes. When he looked up—holy shit! There was a doorway, as clear as if someone had drawn it in the air with a sparkler. It hung there, glittering.
Whoa. Arcantaria and now this. Since when can I see invisible magic stuff? He stared. Wait. What the hell am I waiting for?
BeBop ran full speed across the plaza in front of the arch. The door started to wink, and its edges began to fade.
“Nooooo.” Like some dude in a football game, BeBop hurled himself into the air and through the sparkling door-like rectangle. Oh man, is this gonna hurt! He took a breath and tried to curl in a ball to take the impact of flying body on concrete…
…but it never came.
Of course, what happened wasn’t exactly comfy. He smashed into what must be a carpeted floor, slid, and whacked his head into something large, hard, and wooden. Ouch!
Where am I?
Then his brain registered the oohs, gasps, and shrieks happening around him. He opened his eyes.
He was sitting—well, lying—crumbled against a large credenza on the floor in a big room at the center of which stood a conference table with maybe ten chairs. More than half of them were filled.
People, mages he assumed, stared at him openmouthed—two women and three men, uh, males, whatever. One of the males, an older guy with white hair and a serious expression, got himself together first. He said, “Excuse me, but who are you, and how did you get here?”
BeBop took his time gathering up his body, slowly rolling to a seat and then rising with great care as he adjusted his clothing. He hoped he looked purposeful and assured. In the real world, his brain was exploding. Think fast, Bopster!
Finally he wiped his hands down the front of his three-piece suit. “Please excuse me, sirs and madams. I’m afraid I rather overbalanced my entrance.” He made a deep bow. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Benjamin Bopherson, professor of advanced mathematics at NYU and nephew to Master Xander Bopherson of the Freeseekers of Fukurokuju.”
One of the women sputtered, “But-but you’re human. How did you get in here?”
The man who’d spoken originally held up his hand. “We’re pleased to meet you, Mr. Bopherson. Of course the Freeseekers and your uncle are known to us and regarded with great honor. With that said, while he might know of them, I wouldn’t expect your uncle to be able to penetrate our secret places.” He raised silver brows. “How, may I ask, have you been able to do it?”
BeBop took a breath. “The ability to see the hidden appears to be a skill of mine.”
The mage’s eyebrows rose even higher. “Explain, please.”
BeBop waved a hand. “I was in Washington Square Park approaching the arch when a door literally opened in the air. I decided it was an invitation and ran to enter it. The results were as you saw.” He grinned. He couldn’t help it.
An attractive woman, younger, with dark hair, grinned back. “So you didn’t require any magic. This door simply opened for you?”
“Yep.”
This time she laughed.
BeBop allowed his expression to sober. “But I think the portal knew I have an important message for you.”
“Oh?” That was the white-haired male.
BeBop nodded. “There are mages trying to get a jailbreak going for your prisoner.”
“We have many prisoners.”
BeBop narrowed his eyes. “But you know exactly who I mean. You all heard that before Nardo got into the battle that ended in his capture, he kidnapped someone who started the chain of events. The person he kidnapped was me.”
Everyone at the table reacted. A couple actually gasped.
“So I’m here to tell you there are those who think Nardo’s a big damned deal and want to release him so he can perpetrate his big-dealness on mages and humans alike. I’d as soon this didn’t happen.”
The mage said, “So that’s why you came here? To warn us?”
“I guess so, since I’m here.” He smiled.
The mage didn’t. “You expect us to believe that you saw the doorway to this place and ran through it? That no one helped you or that you coerced no one?”
Uh-oh. “Yes, I expect you to believe it because it’s the truth. I’m my uncle’s nephew. I wouldn’t lie.”
“That, young human, is quite a story.” The mage waved a finger, a door opened, and two huge males dressed in black walked into the room.
Double uh-oh.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“FOCUS YOUR mind in your chest, feel the heat build, let it spread to all your limbs. Experience the l
ightness. Now let that lightness become transparency. Think invisible. That is the reality. Know it in all your cells.”
Dash listened to Hillebrand’s voice and worked at reciting his multiplication tables to keep from becoming invisible.
“Dash, I can’t believe you’re trying.”
“Sorry, sir. Uh, Brand. I guess invisibility isn’t one of my skills.” Dash fluttered his eyes open.
Hillebrand stood over him, arms folded, looking unhappy. “That’s extremely unfortunate. Invisibility is a very useful power.”
“Have you always been able to do it?”
“Yes. I mean, I assume so. I didn’t realize I had the power until I, like you, was at Arcantaria.”
“Can we work on teleportation?”
Hillebrand shook his head. “No, I’m sorry. I have some pressing concerns this morning I have to attend to. I’m anxious to improve your skills, however, so if I have time, I may get you out of class for a training session.”
“You seem worried.” Dash tried to appear empathetic without showing too much interest.
“Yeah, well, what’s the old saying? Life’s what happens while we’re busy making other plans. I need to deal with a heaping dose of real life this morning. Nothing to worry about.” He wiped a hand over his forehead.
“You look tired.”
“I am. Hardly got any sleep last night. That’s what happens when you try to make the world a better place.” He chuckled. “Keep working on the invisibility. It will extend the scenarios in which I can use you.”
I’ll just bet it will. “I’ll keep trying.”
Hillebrand gave him a half smile. “Remember what Yoda said.”
Dash grinned. “Do or don’t do. There is no try.”
“Remember that.” Hillebrand walked out of the obstacle course looking weighed down.
Dash watched him go. I choose do.
He ran out of the obstacle course and headed for the dining room. He’d have a few minutes to eat before class. When he got there, he glanced around, and Kitty and Anastasia waved from their favorite table near the back windows.
Dash stopped in the line and got some eggs and bacon, then carried the plate to the table and ran back for coffee.
When he finally settled in and took a bite, Kitty asked, “How was your lesson?”
“Fruitless.” He chewed quickly.
“What do you mean?” Anastasia gave him a look.
He shrugged and spoke softly. “I’m not sure how much I want to share with Hillebrand about what I can do, so I’ve been holding a little back.” That was almost the truth.
Kitty leaned in. “We’ve got some news for you.”
“What?”
“Professor Hillebrand’s giving Anastasia a special assignment.”
“What kind?” He looked at Anastasia who wore a little frown.
She said, “I don’t know exactly, but he said it will be at another facility.”
Dash raised his eyebrows. “He’s taking you out of Arcantaria?”
She nodded. “Yes. He says he’s going to transport me to this other location.” Her eyes widened. “He needs someone who can summon and who’s steady.”
Kitty nodded. “That sure describes you.”
“He says it’s a critical position, even though the work’s menial.” She sipped coffee. “Apparently, he lost one of his best people and needs to shift some staff around.”
“He picked the right person.” Dash tried to sound calm, but he was wracking his brain. Another location? What were the chances it was right across the park? “Uh, is he teleporting you?”
That thought blew her back in her chair. “Oh gods, I hope not.”
“Since we’re not supposed to know where we are, he’s going to have to disguise the location somehow.”
“I suppose so, but I’d choose blindfolds over teleportation.”
Dash chuckled while his mind whirred. He forced himself to take a casual bite. “When is this happening?”
“I’m not sure, but he said to be ready.”
Kitty put a hand on Dash’s arm, and he felt the tingles of both her power and her kindness. “What do you think this means, Dash?”
He stared at his bacon and then remembered to eat it. “I don’t know. He could just need a good person for a regular job.”
“But you don’t think that, do you?”
Suddenly, he had to say it. “Have either of you heard of Nardo?”
Anastasia shook her head.
Kitty said, “Who’s that?”
“He’s a master mage who got arrested by the MagiCouncil last summer.”
Kitty’s face lit up. “Oh yes, I heard rumors about some mage big shot who was ripping off humans. Is that the same story?”
“Probably. I’m not sure of all the things he did.” Aside from trying to kill me and my friends. He kept his tone casual.
“Why did you think of him?” Kitty looked really interested.
He wiped his mouth on his paper napkin. “It occurs to me that there must be someplace they hold prisoners like Nardo.”
“That makes sense, although I never really thought about it before.”
He glanced at Anastasia who was staring at him with wide eyes. He said, “What if somebody, or a group of somebodies, didn’t agree with one or more of those prisoners being held?” He chewed his bacon. “What if they thought the MagiCouncil made a mistake?”
Suddenly, Kitty looked up, and her mouth opened like a fish. “Oh my gods, you think the Olympus Club is going to break somebody out of jail. That’s why we’re being trained to be better than the rest of Arcantaria—so we can defeat other mages?”
“It crossed my mind.”
Kitty leaned in close. “Do you think it’s Nardo we’re supposed to break out?”
Be cool. He shrugged. “I thought of him because he seemed like a big deal. I mean, how often do we hear about a mage being arrested?”
Kitty slapped a hand over her heart. “Gods, Dash, this is scary. I mean, if we asked to back out, do you think they’d let us or…?” She stared around the dining hall suspiciously.
“No telling.”
Anastasia said, “Of course, we don’t know for sure that the club’s purpose is bad. It seems like the members really believe that they’re benefiting all magery.”
Kitty frowned. “Kool-Aid. If their purpose was noble, don’t you think they’d have told us what it is?”
Anastasia nodded. “I guess.” She turned to Dash. “Do you think my new assignment has something to do with the purpose of the Olympus Club?”
Dash nodded slowly. “That also crossed my mind.” He glanced at the clock. “Damn. Late for class. Meet you for lunch.” He hopped up, bussed his tray, and trotted toward his classroom. As he rounded the corner of the hall where his spells class was held, he bumped something, staggered forward, smacked the wall, and teetered before managing to right himself. “Damn.”
A soft voice said, “Uh-uh-uh, nice mages never swear.”
Dash spun around but nobody was there.
The invisible Jazz gripped Dash’s hand. “I need to tell you some stuff.”
Dash glanced around. “Follow me.” He headed for the obstacle course. When they got to the locker room entrance, Dash held the door for Jazz, then slipped inside and peered out onto the course. It seemed quiet. “Stay invisible. If someone comes I can say I was talking to myself.”
Without starting an obstacle course program, he walked out to a bench and sat. He felt the warmth of Jazz’s thigh pressed against his.
Jazz whispered, “Two things. First, Odan lost his memory, and I gather—”
“Wait. How?”
“Dij and Fatima. He was threatening Carla. Dij fossilized him. Then it turns out our little Fatima can restore life just like that.” The sound of fingers snapping came from thin air. “But some memories stay gone.”
“Holy crap.”
“Yep. Anyway, it appears that Odan had some key position in the whole rescue Nardo
thing. Now they haven’t got him.”
Lightbulbs and all that. Dash nodded. “I think they’re recruiting a friend of mine.”
“That sounds good for us.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, well I also found out why they’re trying to abduct me.”
“To neutralize your power?”
“No. Because Nardo wants me.”
“What?” Dash spun to face Jazz as if he were visible. “What the hell does that mean?”
“No idea, but I’ve gotta confess, it gives me the creeps.”
“I’ll second that.”
Warm lips pressed against his, and Dash reached out to hold invisible shoulders.
Jazz pulled away. “Gotta go. BeBop’s out in the park watching the other portal.”
“To see who goes in or out?”
“Yeah, but he’s looking for a way in.”
“Uh, human, remember?”
Jazz chuckled. “Not human. BeBop. Let me out, will you?”
Dash complied. “Be careful, man.”
“Love you,” Jazz said.
Dash felt another peck on the lips and then nothing but air.
JAZZ RACED down the hall, dodging an occasional student. He needed to get back to the park. He hadn’t told Dash, but he felt uneasy about BeBop. This creepy, crawly sensation kept wiggling up his spine. That usually meant Dash was in trouble, but Dash was fine. So maybe Jazz was developing a connection with BeBop?
He paused at the big, open rotunda that separated him from the hall he needed to go down to get to the portal. So far no one he’d encountered had been able to see him. Either that or they were way good actors. But crossing the rotunda exposed him to a lot of eyes, and if someone saw him, he had no place to dodge. Oh well, I made it across with Dash. Once more into the breach as Henry the Fifth said.
With a big breath, he set out at a modest pace. That way, if anyone did see him, they might take him for another student. Clearly some classes had let out because a lot of mages sauntered through the rotunda, most of them heading in the same direction. Probably to the dining hall. Jazz was moving the opposite way, so once he clipped the shoulder of a male mage. The guy frowned like he wanted to tell somebody off but then glanced around confused. Jazz kept walking.
