Doorways to Infinity: Book Five of the Wizard Born Series

by Geof Johnson

Jamie crept closer with his invisibility shield still surrounding him, eyes focused on the man on the floor. It was difficult to see his face in the weak light, with his chin low to his chest and his features in deep shadow, but it could’ve been Cage. It was hard to tell if he was even alive, he was so still. Maybe he got shot and died right there. That would be too easy.

  Jamie took a few more steps and paused, watching, listening. He looked down at his feet and saw that he stood over two parallel lines of white powder striped across the floor, disturbed by his footprints. Tiny flakes floated in the air around him.

  The man on the floor looked up and grinned.

  It’s a trap! Jamie realized.

  Everything went black.

  Jamie became aware, sitting at a weathered wooden table inside of a circular room with stone walls. “This looks familiar,” he muttered. Then he noticed someone sitting across from him, an old man, with long gray hair and beard, wearing a dark robe and an amused smile. Eddan the Sorcerer.

  “What the….” Jamie spluttered. “How are you here, I mean, where am I? Is this your tower? I thought it was destroyed. What is going on?”

  Eddan rested one elbow on the table and raised his index finger. “You are unconscious. I believe I am what you’d call a construct, or an avatar.”

  “But how? I mean….” Jamie pushed one hand through his hair. “You’re dead!”

  “I believe you have created me from your vast store of my memories, which you have organized contiguously to help you in this time of dire need.”

  “What? So…you’re not real?”

  “Not exactly. But you are in danger, and you do not have much time, so we should not extend this line of conversation.” He leaned forward and pointed his bony finger at Jamie. “You have been overcome by a witch’s spell, and I believe you are locked in a closed compartment, like a closet or a chest. If you focus very hard on your senses, as I have done, you will be able to confirm this.”

  “Can’t I just wake up?”

  “Not without outside intervention, but you must escape soon or you will run out of air and suffocate.”

  “Hold on.” Jamie closed his eyes and concentrated, and he could vaguely hear his breathing, and it sounded like he was in a tight space, almost like a clothes closet. He blinked and nodded. “I think you’re right. If Cage did this, why didn’t he just kill me?”

  “He probably wants to interrogate you, first. You were using magic in his presence. He will want to know how.”

  “That makes sense. So what am I going to do?”

  “You cannot summon your will while you are unconscious, therefore you cannot use your power to escape. You need to contact Fred and get her to help you counteract the witch’s magic that has hexed you.”

  “How am I going to do that if I’m unconscious?”

  “Through your special bond. Her dream talking skills may be able to aid you.”

  “But we both have to be asleep, and she has to find me, not the other way around. It’s not my power that does it.”

  “I know, but it is your bond that makes it so easy.”

  “But so what? Even if I can contact her, how will she be able to help me?”

  “She is with Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley. I believe that Fred can join her magic with theirs and nullify the witch’s powder that has poisoned you.”

  “Poisoned.” Jamie tightened his mouth. “Morbid way to put it.”

  “It will kill you soon if we do not hurry.”

  “Are you sure we can do this? I’ve never heard of anybody doing anything like this before.”

  “It is unique, but I think it is possible. You are a special sorcerer, Jamie Sikes. I have never known another like you. And Fred is a special witch. Together, you are something extraordinary, and your bond is strong, stronger than you even realize. That is why I think you can perform this task.” He shook his finger urgently at Jamie. “But your time grows short.”

  “So how does this work?”

  “Send your thoughts out to Fred and find her.”

  “Uh…okay. I’ll try.” Jamie closed his eyes again and released his mind, letting it flow away from him in all directions like an expanding vapor, imagining that he was only asleep, not unconscious, and would soon be with Fred, lying in a dream meadow with her, or on her couch in her dream living room, his head in her lap and her beautiful face smiling softly at him. Fred, he called. Fred, can you hear me?

  It wasn’t long before he heard her voice. “Huh? Jamie?”

  “Yes. It’s me, and I need your help.”

  “How are you talking to me? We’re not asleep.”

  “I know. I’m unconscious because I got hexed by Cage’s witch powder. I think I’m about to suffocate in a trunk or something, and I don’t know where I am.”

  “What?” Her voice rose in pitch. “That’s awful! What are we going to do? I’ve got to get everybody organized to search for you and—“

  “I don’t think I have time, but we have a plan.”

  “We? Who’s with you?”

  “Eddan. He’s helping me.”

  “Eddan? How can that be? He’s dead.”

  “I know it sounds weird, but I’ll have to explain it later because I’m in a hurry. He thinks you can help me counter the spell that’s affecting me if you join up with Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley and send your magic into me through our special link.”

  “That’s a wild idea. Hold on.” Jamie heard some indistinct muttering, then Fred returned. “They said they’ve never tried anything like that, but it might be possible.” He heard a few more moments of muttering before Fred came back. “Momma Sue said to stay relaxed and focused on me, and we’ll try to send our combined thoughts into you and see what’s going on. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” He nodded to himself. “And Fred? If this doesn’t work, I want you to remember that I love you, and…I’ll always be with you in some small way, and—”

  “Hush. I know you love me, but we need to get to work now. Calm down and focus.”

  With little air left, Jamie slowed his breathing and centered his mind on his connection with Fred, and nothing else. Soon, he felt something, a tingling of magic, seeping into him, slowly but steadily. After several long seconds, Fred said, “Mrs. Malley said she recognizes the spell. We’re going to try to deactivate the ingredients of the powder that are in your bloodstream and your brain. Hold on, and be perfectly still.”

  Jamie waited and the tingling inside his body intensified. He began to feel warmer and warmer, until his skin felt hot, and he imagined he was glowing like one of his miniature suns. “Fred, I think it’s working.”

  “Hush.”

  He had the sensation of rising, swimming to the surface of a deep lake, slowly at first, then faster and faster. He thought of Eddan at the last moment, and Jamie wanted to say goodbye and regretted not asking him the questions that had bothered him for so many years. Why didn’t you help the people of Rivershire during the plague? Why are there no other powerful sorcerers on Earth? Why did you choose my parents when you were selling the house?

  He could hear his breathing now, distinctly, and he smelled the strong scent of cedar. “Fred, I’m waking up!”

  He opened his eyes to pitch-black darkness. He was lying on his back on something soft, like blankets, in a tightly closed space. He raised one hand and his fingertips met wood, slightly rough as if unfinished, inches from his face. I think I’m in a cedar chest. He put both palms against the lid and pushed with all of his strength, but it didn’t budge. To heck with that. He summoned his will and commanded, “Open!”

  The lid exploded away from him, shards and splinters flying upward to the ceiling, some bits falling back onto him so that he had to cover his face with one arm. When the deluge of wooden shrapnel ended, he sat up, brushed himself off, and got his bearings.

  He was in a modest little room. A single oil lantern burned on a nearby desk. Next to it was a chair, covered with clothing. A wardrobe stood against the far wall, and coat
s hung from pegs by the open door.

  Jamie bared his teeth and growled, “Cage,” and he climbed out of the chest and stood up straight, eyes narrowed and his jaw tight. “I’m coming for you.” He ramped up his magic hearing and listened, and off in the distance, he heard a set of footsteps again.

  He erected his invisibility shield and dashed out into the hall, which was lit by a single electric bulb hanging from the ceiling. Jamie glanced at the floor, checking for more witch’s powder, and decided not to risk continuing on foot. He levitated and flew down the passageway, then slowed and turned at the end, following it to where he knew the footsteps had come from.

  He zoomed onward, considering what he would do to Phillip Cage once he caught him. Nothing pleasant. He’s going to need a barrel full of healing potion when I’m through with him. Jamie was furious that Cage had nearly killed him, and Jamie’s anger pushed him ahead ever faster, streaking recklessly through the dusky passages of the monastery.

  He passed more empty corridors and chambers, and when he encountered closed doors blocking his way, he blasted them open and flew through them without hesitating, his shield protecting him from the debris. When he neared the center of the sprawling building, he came upon a large, vaulted hall that must’ve been a chapel at one time, and on the wall was an open door, with light spilling out of it like a beacon.

  Jamie flew to it and slowed at the entrance, then peered inside. It was a small room, and in the far corner was a man kneeling on the floor with his back to Jamie, hastily stuffing clothes into a duffle bag. Jamie hovered in the doorway, and the man seemed to sense his presence and turned his head.

  It was Phillip Cage.

  He looked exactly like the photo Eric and Terry had shown Jamie weeks before, with an Everyman’s face, short dark-blond hair, and an average build. Even though Jamie was still invisible, Cage stared intently in Jamie’s direction as if he could somehow see him. Cage said, “Who’s there?”

  Jamie modulated his shield so that he became visible but was still protected, and the air around him shimmered faintly yellow. Cage’s eyes flared when he saw Jamie and he said, “What the hell?” Cage snatched a handgun from the floor beside him, raised it and fired three shots at Jamie, all in the blink of an eye. The bullets hit Jamie’s shield and bounced off harmlessly.

  Cage’s jaw dropped and he rose to his feet with his weapon at his side. “Huh? How are you doing that?” Jamie didn’t answer. He floated in the air, glaring at Cage. Cage levelled the gun at Jamie again and squeezed off more rounds, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, until he emptied the clip and the trigger clicked uselessly.

  Cage threw the weapon aside and reached for his waist, and that’s when Jamie noticed the black utility belt full of vials. The witches’ potions! Before Jamie could react, Cage snatched one out and flung it in one rapid motion, directly at Jamie. Jamie flinched as the white powder filled the air in front of him, but its progress was halted by his shield. Jamie held his breath for an anxious moment, waiting to see if the witch’s spell would affect him, but he felt nothing unusual.

  Cage reached for his belt again. Jamie needed to respond, and quickly. There was no guarantee his magical defenses would protect him from all of Cage’s witchcraft; Jamie had never tested his magic against Fred’s, and he didn’t know what his power could withstand. Jamie’s best option was to fire a blast, but he would have to drop his shield, and he would be completely exposed. His mind raced as Cage’s arm snapped forward like a rattlesnake strike. What can I do?

  Cage hurled the contents of the second vial at Jamie, a potion, and it spread out as it sailed toward him. Jamie recoiled as it struck his shimmering, magical barrier. The liquid stopped abruptly in midair, less than an arm’s reach away, and ran down to the floor like rainwater on a window.

  Cage’s hand went to his belt a third time, but Jamie didn’t wait for Cage to pull out another spell. Jamie suddenly flew forward, and the leading edge of his shield caught Cage squarely in the chest. Cage lurched backward and his head smacked against the wall. His eyes closed as he sank to the floor.

  Jamie hovered over the inert man for a moment before settling to his feet and dropping his shield, careful not to step in any of the witch’s powder that was scattered about. He clinched both fists and scowled. “Dang!”

  Jamie felt cheated. It had ended too quickly. He was still upset about being hexed and nearly killed by Cage, and in his anger he had imagined a more exhilarating confrontation with this dangerous man, in a more intriguing location — a vast chamber, where Jamie could fly around like Superman, laughing while Cage shot ineffective weapons at Jamie’s shield. And Jamie would respond, firing bolts of incredible energy like…like….

  Who would fire bolts of energy? He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. One of the Norse gods, maybe? No, Jupiter. He hurled thunderbolts, didn’t he? His reverie was interrupted when Cage groaned and began to stir, so Jamie reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a plastic tube full of Fred’s magic knockout powder.

  At least I have the counter charm for this stuff. He flipped off the cap with his thumb and poured some onto his palm. But I bet you don’t. Cage’s eyes fluttered and he raised his head as Jamie knelt and blew the powder into his face. Cage’s chin dropped and he slumped like a toy soldier whose batteries had died.

  Chapter 22

  Jamie opened a doorway to the storage room they had first entered and he stepped through it. Waiting inside were Eric and Terry, with Fred, Momma Sue, and Mrs. Malley. Three strange women were also with them, thin, pale, dark-haired and dark-eyed, with dingy, threadbare dresses and scuffed shoes. “Oh,” Jamie said when he noticed them. “What have we here?”

  Fred gestured at the women and said, “These are Cage’s witches, Dumitra and Celestina, who are Romanian, and Timea, who’s Hungarian, I think.” The third woman nodded and a weak smiled flickered at her lips. “They had a translator, but apparently he ran off when the gunfire started. But that’s okay, because Dumitra speaks a little English, as well as Hungarian.” Fred chuckled. “But Cage didn’t know.”

  The one named Dumitra grinned and bobbed her head. “We not tell.” She tapped her chest with one finger. “Our secret.”

  “Um….” Jamie knitted his brow. “Shouldn’t these women be handcuffed or something?”

  Momma Sue glanced at them before answering, “From what we’ve been able to gather, they are victims. They’re all outcasts from their communities because they are witches, so Cage took them in and promised to help them, but he just used them, instead. He gave them a place to live, but he forced them to make potions for him. He threatened to throw them out if they didn’t serve him, and they had nowhere else to go, so they submitted to him.” Momma Sue sighed. “Sammi was right all along about them. I should’ve listened to her.”

  “So what do we do with them?”

  “We’ll figure that out later.”

  Jamie looked around the room. “Where is everybody?”

  “Still somewhere in the building,” Eric said. “We came back here when we stumbled across Fred’s group with these witches. We’re getting ready to start searching again. Did you have any luck?”

  Jamie smiled. “A little.” He turned around in the open portal and faced the limp form of Phillip Cage, still lying where Jamie had left him. Jamie flicked his fingers and the unconscious assassin floated through the glowing doorway into the storage room, minus his belt full of potions, his head slumped to one side, eyes closed.

  “You got him!” Terry thrust her arms in the air as Jamie settled him onto the floor. “How’d you do it? I heard about Fred and Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley waking you up with their magic, but what happened after that?”

  Jamie filled them in on how he’d found Mr. Cage and subdued him, and then the others told him about their searches through the monastery. Eric and Terry had killed three guards and another had escaped in one of the SUVs, but they weren’t concerned about him.

  Carl, John Paul, Rollie and Nova returned during
the discussion, and Jamie had to repeat his story from the start.

  After he finished retelling of his encounter with Phillip Cage, Jamie glanced around the room again and said, “So where are Bryce and Melanie?”

  “Still searching, probably,” Terry said. “We had to split up when we came to a fork in the passageway, but they should be back soon.”

  “Jamie?” Fred said. “I’m worried about them. They must be lost. Can you find them and bring them back?”

  “As long as they’re wearing their lockets.” Jamie made a small portal, put his hand through it, and retrieved his carved walking stick. He grasped it with both hands, closed his eyes and concentrated. His mind filled with thin glowing lines, and two of the brightest were together, the ones pointing to Bryce and Melanie. “I found them. I’ll go get them.”

  He opened a magic doorway to a dark hall. “Bryce?” he called into the gloom. “Melanie?”

  He turned when he heard Bryce’s stricken cry. “Jamie!” Bryce stumbled toward Jamie with Melanie in his arms. She looked unconscious, and Bryce’s cheeks were wet.

  “What happened?”

  “She’s hurt,” Bryce said, his voice cracking. “She’s hurt really bad. She’s been shot.”

  “Ohmygod! Bring her inside.”

  Bryce carried her through the portal and everyone in the room gasped when they saw her. That was when Jamie noticed the blood dripping from Bryce’s arms onto the floor, and Jamie sucked in his breath through his teeth. This is bad.

  “What happened, Bryce?” Fred rushed to his side, as well as almost everyone else.

  “She got shot. We found a guard in one of the halls, and Melanie started twirling her pendant, but she was a little late, and he still managed to pull the trigger of his rifle before he got stunned. The bullet ricocheted off the floor, I think, and came up under her vest. Can you help her with your healing jelly?”

  “Not with a gunshot wound. I’m sorry!”

  Carl yanked off his jacket and laid it on the floor. “Put her here, and everybody step back so I can have a look at her.”