Messing Up Magic

by Winnie Winkle

  Zayn set Joseph down and looked at Theo.

  “It’s OK, Joseph, that’s Zayn’s girlfriend,” Theo said, keeping his voice light and squatting down to be eye level with Joseph. His eyes flicked up to take in Zayn’s face. “She’s on our side. Drink this water, and head back. Tell the others she is with us. If you see an alien closer to you than a hundred yards, you hightail it to the jail. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Sir. I do,” Joseph said, lapping from the bowl Theo handed him.

  Zayn stared at Theo. As Joseph headed out the door, he erupted. “Black witch?”

  “Yeah. She’s not shifting, Zayn. Haseya’s a little, uh, intimidating in her witch form.”

  “Under these circumstances, this healing is the best I can do," Haseya told the injured witch who nodded as Haseya returned to the battle.

  In front of her, a witch was sending an orb, and beyond that, the dust showed where the aliens were shooting their weapons, trying to hit two witches. Haseya saw one stumble, going down to her knees as an alien pulled the containment chamber off his back. Haseya dropped into the earth, materializing next to the alien, touching his forehead and changing his chamber into a tumbleweed. His shrieking filled the air as he fell to the ground, holding his head with a piteous cry.

  Haseya ignored him and lifted the witch, healing her from the wound, then turning once more into the dust and shouting. Over and over, she healed and taught, letting other witches shrink and orb her howling victims, moaning in the knowledge of the pain they wrought in their lifetimes, as consolidated karma fell into their minds.

  Come.

  Haseya paused, surprised, then sunk into the earth, rising at the feet of Topper until she towered over her in silence.

  “I need to understand what you’ve done to them,” Topper said, her voice serious.

  “They have blocked their emotions. I am placing the pain, sorrow, and fear of their many victims back into them, so they can learn what they are.”

  “Is this one dead?” Topper gestured to an orb with a silent, still form within it.

  With a wave, Haseya removed the orb, and the alien fell into her black palm. She placed a finger in its chest, feeling its life-force. “It is overwhelmed, but it lives," Haseya replied, her voice indifferent.

  “I ask that you not kill them with these lessons of yours, my sister,” Topper said, looking into Haseya’s eyes.

  Sister. Sister? I appear as a Skinwalker and she sees a sister?

  “They would only die if they were never kind, only always cruel,” Haseya told Topper.

  “We must choose to be better. No killing. The laws they break are not ours, the justice served will not be by us. We fight only to preserve and protect.”

  Haseya looked at Topper and nodded. “No killing," she agreed as she fell back into the earth once more.

  Topper recast the alien into an orb with a sigh and caught another orb as it whizzed around the corner. Sixteen.

  Jonah yelped as the shot hit his leg, causing him to fall and roll in the dust. He tried to rise, but his leg wasn’t doing what he wanted it to do. Panicked, he got up on three legs, limping, dragging the damaged limb. It hurt. He wanted to cry but in wolf form, he couldn’t.

  I guess being a runner wasn’t such a great idea. Jonah whimpered and kept hopping, searching for a dwarf or troll to help him. Why isn‘t anyone around? The dust settled, and the hackles rose on Jonah’s neck and spine. Jonah growled deep in his throat at the group of aliens, holding a few dwarfs, that blocked his path.

  “Run!” they screamed at Jonah, as the aliens started to suck the dwarfs into containment chambers. Jonah wheeled, afraid, moving in an awkward half-trot. A witch cast spells, her hands a blur. One alien shrank, but they forced the witch to vanish under the heavy fire of their guns.

  Jonah limped but kept going. He knew these aliens were too close to town, that they’d gotten past the trolls and witches somehow, and that Theo needed to know.

  I’m getting away! They either didn’t see me leave or they think I’m just an animal! I can do this, I can…

  The alien patted his containment chamber, “This one appears promising.”

  A barrage of spells blasted at them and shrunk two of the aliens. The remaining aliens pulled together, then faded back to report and regroup.

  Orbs flew in. Topper caught them. Twenty-three.

  14

  The first skirmish over, the little town regrouped, taking stock. Theo looked at the assembled. They were dirty, sweat-stained, and dust puffed off their clothes as they half-heartedly tried to brush each other off. The children in the jail had spent their day making a meal for the fighters. Sandwiches and cake disappeared as parents and neighbors patted the children’s heads.

  “Thank you," Topper said, bending down to smile at a small witch with red curls. “You did well.”

  Theo caught a vamp’s eye. The children bowed to applause as the vampires corralled them back to the jail for the night. Rising, Theo addressed his town.

  “I am happy to report no deaths today. While there were injuries, Haseya healed most on site, keeping our talented witches ready to fight. Today, our witches captured thirty-seven aliens.”

  The crowd applauded with enthusiasm, and the witches waved, smiling.

  “Now for the bad news. The aliens captured two trolls, four dwarfs and one of the werevamp cubs.”

  The crowd gasped and muttered. Theo let the news run over them, raising his hand for silence after a minute.

  “The fact they got that close to town is worrisome. They were into the inner ring of protection. While delivering a message, Jonah ended up in the wrong place at the worst time. The witch in that section took heavy fire but shrank three of the aliens and retrieved one container, freeing our dwarf friend, Abraham.”

  Gesturing to a box placed on the platform, Theo stepped aside as Abraham climbed onto the box and stood to address the crowd.

  “Neighbors, I wish I had better news. They’re hunting the dwarfs and trolls. Each time they caught one of us, they adjusted the sensors on their scanners, making it impossible to hide. I’ve lived a long time. A soldier has a certain look. The first ones, the three-eyes, they are not soldiers, although they fight well. These others though, are well trained, learning and adapting as they fight. Tomorrow will be far more difficult.”

  Topper stood and stepped up onto the platform. “Two witches sustained injuries too severe to allow them to fight in the field. I’m moving them to the town, and two warlocks will take their places tomorrow. For those who are unaware, Haseya joined us on the field today; both in healing the injured and fighting the aliens, she was resourceful and saved many witches from injury.”

  Topper looked around intending to point to her, but Haseya was nowhere to be seen.

  “I’m pleased to report that we have, with the aliens captured earlier, forty-one total captives. However, we have only two of the soldier-type ones. They are our top priority tomorrow. If we can reduce their numbers, this will help us push back the attack.”

  Theo stepped forward once more. “This was a good day. Tomorrow will be much more difficult. We may lose people, the aliens may overrun our town. This fight belongs to everyone. What say you, Magic?”

  The murmuring began, soft but growing, as neighbors talked out options. After about fifteen minutes, Theo sensed a decision and raised his hand once more.

  Simon, Jonah’s werewolf father, stepped forward. “Theo, we agree, for the most part. We want to open the portal to the Glacian homeworld and send the children, including Joseph, and a request for Coalition support. We know they don’t have to help us, but we should ask.”

  The first time Frost, a Glacian, came to Magic, the citizens of Magic figured out how to create a window between the two worlds. It was a rare occurrence that the town opened it, but this sounded like a prudent move.

  Simon continued. “That way, we can use the vamps and warlocks more effectively. We also think many of our citizens own the night and we should
use this pause as a chance to spy.”

  Theo looked at the nodding heads.

  “Prepare the children, and I’ll write an explanation for them to carry with them. They depart in fifteen minutes. Simon, a word privately?”

  Simon nodded, looking like he knew what was coming.

  “This is your decision, but I think Joseph’s connection to Jonah may prove useful in locating him. They always sense the location of the other one.”

  “Their mother said the same thing.”

  “I’ve got to write my request to the Glacians. If Joseph goes, I’ll need the name for the manifest.”

  “It’s a hell of a thing, Theo.”

  The men gripped hands and bumped shoulders.

  “Last week, my biggest job was keeping pants on the Djinn,” Theo agreed. “Time to kick these aliens out of our peaceful little town.”

  The entire town stood in the square, and Theo handed the oldest child the letter for the Glacian Council. As the portal opened, the children stepped through, waving to their parents and vanishing. When the portal closed, Simon ruffled Joseph’s fur.

  “Stay close, Son. Understood?”

  “Yeah, Dad. I can feel Jonah, he’s in the ship with the bad aliens. He’s hurt.”

  “The day will be ours, Joseph. We will get Jonah back.”

  Joseph looked up at his dad , feeling his power flex. “I wouldn’t want to be an alien tonight, Dad.”

  Simon laughed. “You should see your Mother, Son. She’s ready to rumble.”

  Theo and Topper sat in the empty jail. The cell held a single orb containing the unknown Aliens. Across the square, the remaining orbs sat in the bank, on the floor of the safety deposit box room.

  “Why are you here?” Theo addressed the tiny, pissed-off aliens, and raised an eyebrow.

  “My goodness, are they mad,” Topper remarked,

  Topper, once the orb was in place, covered the cell in a sheet of magnifying glass, so they could see every expression or attempt at trickery. She presented the aliens with a mirror; they saw nothing but themselves in all their tiny glory.

  “I might have bent that glass to make them look smaller than they are,” Topper whispered.

  Theo shot her a side eye and grinned.

  “You should smile more, it suits you,” she teased, still whispering.

  “Why are you here?” Theo asked the prisoners again. “I’ve got time. You, however, will continue to shrink until you perish. When you answer questions, you will increase in size. Your fate is entirely in your hands.”

  Topper’s eyes sparkled. She could bend that glass all night, letting the aliens believe that what was changing was them. She held her fist up for a bump, and Theo’s eyes twinkled back as he tapped it.

  The aliens exchanged looks, and one spoke. “It is you who will die.”

  “You think? From where I‘m sitting it looks like we have a third of your forces contained after a single skirmish. Enlighten me, please, on how this attack is going so well for you.”

  “You are nothing! We are legion. We take what we need and wipe the rest from existence.”

  Theo looked at Topper and held up a thumb and forefinger, moving them together slightly. Waving her hand, Topper adjusted the glass to reflect the orb shrinking, while the bed in the cell stayed the same size. Their reward was an angry noise from the orb.

  “Stop! How are you able to subjugate the natural law of your planet? We demand answers!”

  Theo pushed his finger and thumb slightly closer and Topper obliged.

  The aliens exchanged looks. Theo looked at their hard, scaly greenish-grey skin, elongated body, and well-developed arms and legs. Unlike the three-eyed race, these looked fit and like trouble. Soldiers. Committed to their mission. I doubt they’ll divulge much.

  “We are here to retrieve the scientists you stole.”

  “By shooting up my citizens and trying to attack my town? Why not send a landing party to meet and discuss terms?”

  “You appeared hostile.”

  Theo snorted. Catching Topper’s eye, he increased the space between his thumb and forefinger by a small amount, and Topper adjusted the mirror. The aliens exchanged another look.

  “If you return all our party to us, we will leave your planet.”

  “Taking no specimens?” Theo drew the word out, watching the aliens. Their narrowing eyes gave him the answer.

  “I think the Coalition can handle you. This is their problem. You dumped it in my lap, but I don’t have to keep it.”

  This had an effect. The two stiffened their bodies and exchanged a brief look as Theo watched carefully.

  “You are not a Coalition planet. Why would they care about this low-tech race?”

  “Why do you?”

  “We will prevail, Earth human. You are nothing compared to the power you are unleashing. Your puny efforts will fail, we will take what we need and destroy the rest. The Coalition will fall. Calling them is an idle threat.”

  Theo raised an eyebrow, jerking his head towards the door. Topper nodded, stepping silently outside with Theo behind her.

  “They are sending an invasion fleet. My impression is that they operate beyond Coalition law. This is bad, Topper. Far worse than I thought. Can you find Haseya?”

  “She came when I called once, Theo. All I can do is ask.”

  “Then ask! Please, Topper.”

  Ooh. Beg me, Lawman. “Consider it done, Theo.”

  15

  Haseya stood outside the ship, melting back into the earth and rising in another spot, observing and melting to nothing again. She flowed quickly, gone before they turned towards her, but she felt they might see her on their little boxes, which was useful information. So far, she had touched only the three-eyed ones and not learned of the new, scaly ones. This would change now.

  As she rose behind one, she tapped the creature with her mind, putting him to sleep, then floating him in silence to the ground. Working quickly, she felt in his mind and body, then tapped him once more, falling into the earth as he awoke, jumping to his feet and scanning the area.

  Did I fell asleep? I see nothing from this scan, so I must have dozed. Better to say nothing than incur the wrath of the Commander.

  Haseya rose again, away from the ship.

  Come, sister.

  Haseya dropped, then rose from the earth and looked at Topper.

  “Thank you for coming to see me. We learned these new aliens are mounting a force against us, Haseya. This could be a massacre and the end of Magic. What have you learned?”

  “These are evil creatures. They have little to no good in them. My teaching would kill most. They want to steal and kill, and they have a great tribe behind them. Unlike the three-eyed ones, there is no higher purpose that defines them. These warriors have no calling to the light. You were right to send the children. They intend to enslave them, trophies of the battle.”

  Topper swallowed. “Theo wants to speak with you. Shall we?”

  Haseya fell through the earth as Topper popped to the jail. Theo was standing outside as Haseya rose in front of him. Topper stepped outside and joined them.

  “They are waiting for more ships and warriors,” Haseya said, her death voice chilling Theo’s part-human heart. “Once these ships arrive, there will be no mercy, they intend to kill or enslave every being. Catching a shifter is a priority. If they are successful in containing the ones that shift, they will kill the three-eyed ones, since they no longer need their services. There is no room in these beings for anything but darkness. They thrive on desecration, turmoil, and fear.”

  Theo looked at Haseya and rubbed his forehead. Have you met your boyfriend? These guys sound like space Djinns.

  Theo cleared his throat, asking, “What would you do with this situation, given what you know?”

  “I cannot heal them, they are fully what they are,” Haseya answered. “My teaching is their death, but vengeance is not my path. I would contain the situation and remove the vulnerable, who are,
now, your trolls and dwarfs. They hold no useful skill or desirable powers for these invading warriors. They’ll seize them for slaves.”

  Theo looked at her. “Can you hide them?”

  Haseya’s eyes gleamed. “Yes. I can put them in a safe place, but I must shift to do so.”

  “Right before dawn, we will create a diversion, if needed, while you move them.”

  “What have you learned of the werevamp cub?” Topper asked. “Is he safe?”

  “The alien I examined did not have that information. I will find out for you. I’ll return the hour before dawn,” Haseya replied.

  “Thank you, my sister,” Topper said, holding Haseya’s eyes in her own for a long moment.

  “What was that about?” Theo asked.

  “If she gets a safe opportunity, I asked her to steal Jonah back.”

  “Fair enough.”

  I wonder if that was everything. Knowing Topper, I doubt it.

  Theo left the job of guarding the jail to Simon and his son Joseph and moved towards the town square, accompanied by the vampires and warlocks.

  “You’ve been patient. You were ready to defend the town if the aliens made it that far today,” Theo told them, “but, if you want to do more, I have an idea.”

  The expression on their faces told him they wanted blood and not just for dinner.

  Theo nodded, saying, “They are standing watch outside their ships. Vamps, I want you to go to the bank, down to the vault, and shift to bat form. It’s the only place I can think of that might mask the shift. Once in form, pair up with a warlock and leave for the ships. Learn everything you can about those ships! If you can capture any of the soldier aliens without being seen, do it and send the orbs to Topper. We believe there are 38 of that type left, but more are coming. We need to thin their numbers and get information. Are there questions?”