The Salem Concord Book 1: Interview for a Wizard

by J. A. Areces

  ***

  Jesse gave a victorious cry as he turned to the right close behind the wizard, down the street and up over the buildings.

  “Hurry!” shouted the wizard back to Jesse. “We have no time to lose!” Beifar held on to his staff with one hand, and with the other the tip of the broom. He leaned as low as he could and shot off ahead.

  Jesse looked down and saw Donnelly Park underneath him. He then stretched forward, gripped the tip of the broom tightly, and the broom zoomed after the wizard.

  It was a cool evening so it wasn’t long before Jesse’s hands began to grow cold. He tried not to think about it, but it was difficult. Jesse was flying along side Beifar until he couldn’t take the chill any longer. He sat up slightly, slowed down and then pulled up behind him, leaving the wizard to fly in front to break the bitter wind. Jesse used this little trick many times before behind large trucks to protect him from the cold when traveling on his motorcycle. The wizard’s cloak flapped in the wind but his large, grey, hat never moved from its position on his head. Jesse glanced down to see Mount Dora disappear behind him. At first they were following the highway, headed west, but then they turned away and crossed over open country. The city lights ahead served as a beacon. Jesse could not believe that he was actually flying. It was like driving a motorcycle, he thought. He leaned to the left and the broom followed, then he leaned to the right, instantly the broom obeyed the command. He pulled up, soared a few feet over the wizard, and then pushed the broom down slightly, and it complied. Jesse was overjoyed. He knew that it wasn’t the moment or the best situation to feel the way he felt, but he couldn’t help it. He was flying! The permanent grin on his face said it all.

  Down below traffic grew heavier, highways merged and streets became more common. Soon, the buildings became larger and tall hotels loomed closer. The wizard pulled up on his broom and climbed higher. Jesse imitated and followed close behind as they zipped above buildings to avoid being detected. The wizard leaned to the right, and headed towards bright searchlights that bounced off low clouds pointing the way to a huge amusement park.

  Jesse leaned slightly lower and pulled up beside him. “That’s not Disney World!” he informed Beifar.

  “You know how to get there from here?” shouted the wizard over the rush of the wind.

  Jesse nodded.

  “Then you take the lead, and I’ll follow!”

  This was exactly what Jesse was waiting to hear. He nodded affirmatively and returned thumbs up with his free hand. Jesse gripped the broom handle tightly, leaned as low as possible, and took off. The wizard found himself lagging behind. He tucked his staff under his arm, gripped the handle hard, and shot off after Jesse. Together they flew over the amusement park, Jesse in the lead and Beifar close behind.

  Jesse couldn’t control the excitement he felt. He pushed down on the broom lowering it closer to the park. Then he whipped around a huge roller coaster ride, zooming in and out and around, and then headed up and over the park. The wizard followed. Jesse heard Beifar release a victory yell, and smiled.

  Down below, a small crowd saw them fly over and shouted excitedly. The passengers on the roller coaster ride weren’t sure what they saw, but yelled anyway.

  Jesse saw the bright lights from Disney World a little further in the distance. In no time he was flying over Downtown Disney and around the various hotels that occupied the Lake Buena Vista Village. To his left he could see the huge Epcot Center Ball. He turned to his right toward the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella’s Castle. That’s when he spotted something else flying before them. He glanced over his right shoulder to Beifar, who was already aware. They both stretched out on their brooms to gain more speed, the wind whistled louder in their ears, as they went faster.

  Claw looked over his shoulder only to discover that he was being followed. He stretched out on his broom, pushed down and leaned to his left.

  Down below, a monorail train full of passengers traveled from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom. A small boy gazed out the window straining to catch the first glimpse of Cinderella’s castle. Claw swooshed down across his window and under the train. The boy jumped back, shocked, and immediately sought his father’s attention by tugging at his arm. He pointed out the window, and his father glanced out reluctantly, humoring the boy. He was tired and weary-eyed after a long day at the park. Jesse flew by in pursuit of Claw. The father jumped back astonished. Several of the passengers started to comment about the flying object while others screamed in fear. Jesse only heard the screams. The wizard was right behind Jesse; he dipped past the window and rolled under the train, coming up on the other side. The moving train rocked as everyone shifted from one side to the other hoping to get a better view. Claw pulled up ahead of the train, just a few feet above the tracks. The startled driver leaned forward wide-eyed and taken aback. Jesse dropped down followed by the wizard, his robe flapping ferociously in the wind. Not far ahead loomed the Magic Kingdom.

  Beifar carefully inched his staff forward, and when he finally acquired aim, a burst shot out from the tip that whizzed by Jesse, just missing Claw.

  Jesse reacted by leaning to his left, as Claw made a quick turn to the right, the wizard followed. Jesse sat up and stopped, the rushing train passed, almost knocking him off his broom. He glanced back to spot Claw and the wizard flying straight toward the Contemporary Hotel.

  The massive monorail entrance to the Contemporary Hotel opened in the center of the hotel resort, the tracks ran right through the building. Huge, impressive, mosaic walls decorated the inside of the hotel. Guests marveled at the detailed artwork as they waited to catch the monorail. Claw followed the tracks right into the hotel. Beifar followed. The surprised guests yelled, gasped, and most scattered, but some thought it was part of an elaborate, special Halloween show being put on by the Magic Kingdom and just stood enjoying it in awe and wonder. Claw leaned hard to his right as he passed the station, and made a complete circle around. Some of the guests jumped the rails for a better view. Claw glanced back only to discover the wizard just a few feet behind. He headed towards the other end and flew out the building with the wizard in pursuit. Jesse flew in just in time to see them both leave the building. He rushed by the people as they all watched and applauded in disbelief.

  The wizard followed Claw as he maneuvered and rolled around the train rail towards the Magic Kingdom. Claw flew low and under the monorail station’s roof as passengers departed a train that pulled up. The passengers shrieked, ducked and scurried out of the way just in time as the chase continued. Yahoos, yelps, shouts and applause were heard from the passengers, as Claw flew out and over the lake, leaving him exposed to the wizard. Beifar took another shot, the blast streaked across the top of the lake, just missing Claw. He turned hard to the left as the blast continued ahead, lighting the dark waters below, disappearing into the night. The wizard turned around and continued the chase.

  Claw headed straight towards the main entrance. Everyone watched in amazement as he came over the water, through the main gate, pulled up and flew over the old train station, with Beifar just a few feet behind him. Claw dropped lower, just a little above the unsuspecting crowds of people there for the Halloween parade. The Headless Horseman rode past the crowd as the music blared through multiple hidden speakers. Claw swooshed low onto Main Street, USA. The crowd cheered, thinking he was part of the parade. Claw circled around the small park at the beginning of Main Street, and then headed down towards Cinderella’s Castle. The wizard Beifar was right behind him. The Halloween parade floats were starting to come out of the side alley doors. The driver of the first float stopped in complete surprise as he witnessed the flying broom chase. He grabbed his hand phone and called for security. The parade was instantly forced to stop. Claw guided his broom straight towards the castle. It stood tall in the dark night, painted in haunting purple lights. The Headless Horseman rode directly ahead in Claw’s path w
ith its giant pumpkin head held out high for everyone to see. Claw quickly came up from behind, and whooshed on by. The people jeered. The horse stopped and reared up on its hind legs causing the rider to drop the pumpkin head and hold on so as not to fall. Pieces of broken pumpkin littered the floor. Claw didn’t bother to look back. He flew right over the small park and the ramp that led into the castle. He pointed the broom straight through the entrance. The mosaic murals were but a blur of color, as he quickly came out the other end, causing everyone to duck out of his way. Again, shrieks of excitement and applause could be heard from the crowd. The wizard never let up for one moment and stayed close behind Claw, almost running into King Arthur’s sword stuck in the stone just past the exit. Claw shot out of the castle like a rocket with his adversary right behind him. The parade music played in the background as everyone darted for protection.

  Jesse was far behind. He flew over the main entrance to the Magic Kingdom only to find everything in disarray. All the trains were ordered to stop and the park was under security lockdown. He flew over the old train station and found chaos on Main Street as everyone still commented and pointed toward the castle. Jesse leaned low on his broom and headed down Main Street U.S.A towards Cinderella’s Castle.

  Beifar chased his foe around Cinderella’s Golden Carousel ride and stayed on him as he took a sharp left down a smaller street, past the Peter Pan ride and the It’s a Small World ride. Claw flew low and, at times, just a few feet above the ground hoping to thwart his seeker through Liberty Square. The confused people screamed, diving out of his path as he made his way through the crowd knocking over anyone not quick enough to flee. Beifar kept his broom just above the people but, as Claw approached another passage into Adventure Land, he was forced to follow at the same level, slowing down to avoid the populace and allowing Claw to gain distance. Raven Claw zoomed up, past and over the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and turned right toward Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

  Jesse flew into Fantasy Land around the opposite side of the castle. He slowed down not knowing which direction the others advanced. Instead of heading for Big Thunder Mountain, he turned right and flew towards Tomorrow Land.

  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was lit up and towered above all the other buildings. Its rocky-finger pillars stretched upward while runaway mining cars rumbled below as they darted in and out of dark caves loaded with exhilarated passengers. Claw approached the mountain and raced in and around its pillars, attempting to lose Beifar. They both flew inches from the rough surfaces. Below, passengers waiting in the long line watched elated. Claw pointed his wand at a pillar as he mumbled strange words, and the pillar crumbled down towards the wizard. Beifar escaped disaster by quickly leaning to the side. Claw dashed toward the castle. He flew over the Riverboat ride and the Haunted Mansion, back through Fantasy Land, around the Carousel ride then around Dumbo the Flying Elephant and circling the Mad Tea Party ride. Beifar gained on Claw but the constant spinning made him dizzy so he sat up on his broom just as Claw came up behind him, pulled up tight on the inside, shifted his weight and gave Beifar a swift kick. The wizard lost control, spinning around in the air, and crashed into Ariel’s (The Little Mermaid’s) Grotto.

  Raven Claw laughed wickedly as he pulled up to Cinderella’s Castle. Slowly and cautiously he climbed and circled the towers, taking bright green tubes from his leather bag and setting them on different windowsills. He finally rounded the highest turret as guests inside the restaurant stretched out the windows to get a better look. The broom came to rest inside an ornate balcony, its small golden tower gleamed in the eerie, purple light, and from here Claw enjoyed a perfect view of the park. Claw leaned the broom against the wall behind him and turned to face the crystal ball that was already there. He rubbed his hands together, feeling very triumphant, and then stretched them out over the crystal ball only to quickly recoil. He reached over his head and patted himself proudly on the back.

  “Well, done!” he assured himself.

  Jesse grew tired and frustrated from his search and stopped to rest on top of Space Mountain – the indoor roller coaster ride that took place in the dark. He searched the park as he held on to tall, strong beams that stretched up into the night like futuristic lasers. Cinderella’s Castle was glowing bright green. Jesse leaned forward gazing intently and noticed a bright light coming from the balcony of the highest tower. A silhouette figure moved sinister-like before it.

  Claw stretched out his hands and placed them on the crystal ball. It illuminated a bright light casting the mad wizard’s shadow against the castle wall. Smoke swirled violently inside the orb, and seven dragons twisted to reveal six distinguished looking men standing in a circle.

  “Who dares to summon us with Lord Bane’s crystal ball?” asked one of the six.

  The mad wizard bowed before the crystal, “It is I, my Lords, Raven Claw Fidgewidge. I wish to submit to the Circle of Sorcerers my application for an interview.”

  “You are a mad man!” shouted another sorcerer. “We want nothing to do with you.”

  One of the six addressed another, “I don’t understand, I thought Alex took care of this mess?”

  Raven Claw Fidgewidge continued, “My Lords, I understand that this application is a bit unorthodox, but it’s time that the Society thinks outside the box.” He straightened, “Allow me to demonstrate.” Claw reached into his UPS coat, and pulled out his wand. “I’ve developed a new kind of weapon that will place the Society in a whole new arena. Dragon Breath diluted and shaken, not stirred, with the correct spell becomes a deadly nightmare to whomever it is cast upon. I’ve placed several throughout Cinderella’s Castle, facing every direction and once I cast the spell, everyone in the Magic Kingdom will experience their worst nightmare… never to wake up again.” He laughed at the thought. “You see my Lords, what I bring to the table is complete power. If you select me as the new sorcerer, together we can rule the world.”

  The sorcerers in the crystal ball cried out in opposition to Claw’s mad plan. He ignored them and turned away facing the park. He spread his arms wide, holding his wand in his right hand, and threw his head back looking up into the night sky. He took one long breath, closed his eyes and focused.

  Jesse watched as the man in the balcony stood facing the park with outstretched arms. He was sure it was Mr. Claw. The realization that Claw reached Cinderella’s Castle, and probably beaten Beifar, was paralyzing but he knew that he needed to do something fast; something courageous in order to save the people in the park from a fatal nightmare. Each second that past was one too many. Jesse had no plan and there was no time to come up with one. He swallowed hard, let go of the steel beams, leaned forward, kicked his feet up, and shot toward the castle.

  Beifar Mahgo slowly rose out of the mermaid’s grotto. His head pounded from the blow as he rubbed it softly, discovering the cut on his forehead. The kick to his head was strong, and he pictured his forehead having a deep impression of Claw’s heel. A man climbed over the rail and helped pull the wizard out of the cold water, as his wife and four children stayed behind.

  “Are you alright?” he asked concerned.

  “Mike,” his wife called out after him, “come back you might get hurt,” as the kids just watched.

  Beifar was soaking wet, his hat drooped over to one side. He waved his hands, and he was suddenly dry. Mike stepped back amazed, and leaped back over the rail to join his family.

  “Oh, no!” shouted the wizard. He reached into his pant pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He flipped it open. “Ruined” he complained.

  BOOM!

  A huge explosion roared from the castle.

  The startled wizard gasped, thinking Claw was launching his plan and that it was too late. To his relief, it was nothing more than the fireworks show over Cinderella’s Castle commencing.

  Then Beifar saw Jesse break from Space Mountain toward the highest tower of the castle. He looked ahead and
observed Claw standing on the balcony with his arms outstretched. Beifar needed to act fast. He needed to beat Jesse to the castle or else Claw could easily…the wizard pushed the thought out of his mind. He had no time to think or waste time over what ifs. Beifar stretched out his right hand and his staff flew out of the grotto into his grasp. He faced the castle, raised the staff over his head and brought it down hard on the soft grass.

  FLASH!

  Beifar was gone.

  Jesse was racing toward the tower balcony. Claw momentarily turned to address the crystal ball when he heard the approaching sound of Jesse’s broom. He turned just as Jesse was almost upon him and waved his wand. Jesse felt the broom fly out from underneath him, and he came crashing into the balcony, his helmet cracking against the hard wall. He dropped in a heap and pain overcame his entire body. Claw ignored pleads from the sorcerers in the crystal ball and made his way to Jesse. He leaned closer recognizing his employee.

  “Well, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting guests, especially you. I guess you’ll just have to die here.” He said. Jesse stirred, moaning. Claw reached down and pulled Jesse to his feet leaning him against the wall. “Wake up!” he shouted. “I want you to see this. I want you to see what you will be accused of! You might as well. You’re going to be famous.”

  The explosions from the fireworks intensified over the castle.

  FLASH!

  Beifar appeared on the balcony and overheard the sorcerers in the crystal ball demanding that Claw cease his insane plan. The two-second distraction was enough for Claw to wave his wand, ripping the wizard’s staff out of his hand and over the wall.

  “Well,” said Claw, “this is going to turn out better than I thought.”

  The wizard thought fast, he needed to distract Claw.

  “Jesse,” shouted Beifar, “remember the Excerises?”

  Claw laughed, “He’s not a wizard!”

  Jesse felt his hands, legs, body, his entire self, and putting aside the pain, nodded.

  “Now let it out!” shouted the wizard. Claw reached over and grabbed Jesse around the neck. Jesse panicked.

  “Looks like your little plan didn’t work.” Claw laughed. “Did you really think a Folk could stop me?”

  “He beat you before.” Beifar took a step forward.

  Claw pressed his wand at Jesse’s neck.

  “Really, I don’t recall?” Claw grinned.

  “He’s here, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, I suppose…”

  “DO IT!” commanded Beifar.

  Jesse reacted to the command like he was back playing high school football and, without giving it another thought; he shut his eyes and yelled. He shouted with all his strength. He clenched his fists hard and curled his toes as he gave it all his might. Jesse felt his throat begin to swell and sore as he let out the loudest yell he could, feeling every part of his body tense. His heart felt like it was about to explode; his eyes hurt, his lungs ached, and his head throbbed.

  Claw held on tight as he took his attention away from Beifar. That’s all it took, by the time he regained himself, Beifar retrieved Mily Breezy’s wand from his inside pocket cloak. It was aimed at Claw.

  “Tough luck,” said Beifar.

  “I’ll kill the boy,” threatened Claw, as he tightened his grip on his wand.

  “Go ahead, he means nothing to me. I only needed to get to you. I used him, just as you did.”

  Claw smiled. He liked it. Clever, he thought.

  “Oh,” continued Beifar, “in case you haven’t heard, your brother Nicholas Fidgewidge…”

  “What about my brother?” Claw squinted.

  “He’s dead…I killed him. That’s how I found you.”

  “Nicky…” Claw twitched. His mind screamed with rage. His feelings overcame him. He wanted to scream, hit, and kill. He wanted revenge, and for a split second his feelings became a roaring tornado as he lost focus. That was enough.

  “Ligo!”

  A bolt flew from Mily Breezy’s wand, and struck Claw right between the eyes. He dropped his wand and fell back, still holding on to Jesse. He was bound by the hex, incapable of any movement.

  Jesse thrashed about setting himself loose.

  The six sorcerers in the crystal ball faded away.

  The wizard Beifar captured his man.

  Beifar stretched out his arm, summoning his staff. After it returned to his grasp he waved it and Jesse’s broom returned, as the fireworks continued overhead.

  “That football exercise really works.” Beifar smiled at Jesse. “I think you’re going to have to teach me how to do it.

  Jesse gazed intently at Beifar. He wanted to say something . . . something to lighten the moment . . . anything, but nothing intelligible came to mind so he remained silent, as he endured the pain that emanated from every nerve ending in his entire body.

  “You’re going to have to fly back alone while I take him in,” instructed the wizard. He leaned down and took hold of Claw. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast?”

  Jesse nodded yes.

  “Thank you, Jesse; I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Jesse just smiled.

  The wizard tapped the staff on the ground and . . .

  FLASH!

  The wizard Beifar and Claw were gone. The instant the wizard left, Jesse thought of what he should’ve said to the wizard – “I guess you got to test fly the broom after all.” Oh well, the important thing was that they survived the ordeal and saved everyone at the Magic Kingdom.

  Jesse turned to his helmet; it was useless now, but he was grateful that he wore it. It saved my life, he thought. He looked out over the park, felt the breeze and grabbed the broom. Without any hesitation, Jesse saddled, leaned forward, and kicked his feet up.

  Jesse flew up and over on his broom. He noticed how one by one the green glass containers containing the dangerous Dragon Breath were being removed from the castle windows. He drew closer and recognized wizards and witches appearing from out of nowhere, wearing long robes and funny hats. One by one they cautiously took a container and waved their wand over it until the magic potion within each container faded. They vanished almost as quickly as they appeared. Jesse assumed that they were from the Department and sent by Beifar.

  The fireworks exploded in different colors over the purple castle, reflecting off the tower windows. There was no trace of the dangerous green glass containers, no trace of the wizard fight and no trace of the crystal ball. Jesse made one more turn around the castle, feeling triumphant. He helped to prevent a disaster. Jesse couldn’t have felt prouder. Pointing the broom upward, he slowly climbed over the highest tower of the castle and flew away. Down below, the astonished crowds pointed as they witnessed a man on a broom zoom through the multiple lights.

  Jesse enjoyed the ride back to Mount Dora. He rested back on the broom and allowed himself the pleasure to take in the view from up high. The big city lights were behind him and Mount Dora Lake was in his view, beyond the rolling hills and large trees. The moon shined over the water and the dotted homes lit the landscape below.

  Jesse flew over the park. A few teenagers, still out late trick or treating, spotted him pass overhead. They tried to chase him on foot, but couldn’t keep up. Jesse never noticed being seen or chased by them, his mind was back on the evening events. He kept asking himself one question, “Did I cause that burst of light that caused Claw to be distracted?” If the answer was yes, then the conclusion was that he was a wizard

  Jesse landed gently behind Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store. His motorcycle was parked where he left it earlier that day. It seemed so long ago. The streets were completely empty with no sign of trick-or-treaters. Tomorrow would be Monday, and another workday, Halloween came and went.

  The front door to Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store was unlocked. The bell rang triumphantly as Jesse entered. The la
st time he heard it was when the UPS man surprised him with being Raven Claw. He never, in his wildest dreams, suspected him of being Claw. The UPS man was a quiet man who kept mostly to himself. The most he ever said to Jesse was the story about Ira Lefkoff that caused him to have the terrible near death nightmares - - well, that made sense now. Claw was making sure that Jesse would be afraid of something so that his evil curse would work. Otherwise, it was “how’s it going” or “sign here please” and always “have a good day.” Now he understood why the UPS man was so adamant about carrying the fragile boxes up to the office himself; the contents were important for mixing the potions that would have caused everyone to die from fright at the Magic Kingdom.

  Jesse locked the door behind him, leaned his broom against the front counter, and made his way through the store. The crystal ball had unexplainably returned to the same spot in the middle of the room. Jesse threw a witch’s robe over it. He had had enough of the Secret Society of Seven Sorcerers and enough of magic for now. He went up the stairs to Claw’s office. The room was exactly the way he left it. Jesse closed the door and stood looking around the office while thinking that Raven Claw was a lunatic, and that all this time he was being set up. Jesse crossed his arms and considered what would have happened to him if it were not for Beifar. He would most assuredly have ended up like Ira Lefkoff – accused of a horrific crime and later killed by a nightmare or vice versa, either way he’d be dead. The last thing he ever imagined on that first day he met the wizard was that Beifar would end up saving his life.

  “I owe him big time.” He said to no one.

  Jesse took a deep breath and began to pick up and throw away everything. He wanted no proof or memory of Claw.

  Jesse finally finished picking up late into the night and hauled away three full trash bags to the garbage dumpster. There was no longer any trace of Raven Claw ever being a part of Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store except, of course, for the crystal ball, but then again, the crystal ball didn’t really belong to Claw. He stole it from Lord Bane, and now that Claw was gone and Lord Bane was dead, well, the crystal ball belonged to him. Jesse liked the idea. It looked at home in the middle of the store – as if it always belonged there. Jesse took his broom, locked the front door of the store, jumped on his bike and drove home.

  That night, after he washed up and found a special place for his broom in his small apartment, Jesse lay down in his bed, rested his head on the pillow and slept peacefully. There was no near death nightmare.