by John O'Riley
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Jake asked.
“I’m the only one who can do this unless there’s a category six in the area,” Josephine said.
“I could call Jennifer,” Jake offered.
“Go ahead.” Josephine knew it would take too long for Jennifer to arrive on the scene but at least it was something.
Josephine began to feel shaky as her mind and body strained with effort. Even though she was flooded with power from the mini vortex, she couldn’t keep up this kind of exertion. Soon, it took all her will and focus just to keep the curses immobile and they were as strong as ever. It looked like the white magic may take even longer to dispatch these three creatures than the last time she’d used the enchanted garden.
“I can’t hold it much longer,” she warned.
Her knees buckled and Jake caught her before she could fall.
“Are you all right?” Jake eyed her with concern.
“We need to get back,” Josephine said weakly.
Jake and Alex helped her walk farther from the creatures. An instant later, the black smoke coalesced into the three shaved men. They immediately ran towards Josephine and would reach her in mere seconds. Terror and frustration made her want to scream.
“You two need to run! You’re probably secondary targets,” Josephine said.
“We’re not abandoning you,” Alex said.
Jake and Alex both shot telekinetic waves at the curses but it didn’t even slow them down. The closest creature grabbed Josephine by the throat in a crushing grip. Before it could kill her, she directed another assault at the three curses which caused them to explode into black smoke. Josephine slumped to the ground but managed to hold herself up into a sitting position as she summoned all of her reserves to delay the inevitable. Hot, shooting spears of pain ripped through her body as she strained to keep the curses inactive. Several seconds later, her control slipped again and the creatures popped back into existence in their human form. Jake grabbed her shoulder with one hand and Alex’s with his other. An instant later, he transported them to the garden entrance at the side of the house. The curses were no longer visible as the house stood in the way but Josephine knew they would be able to sense her.
“Good thinking.” Josephine flashed a weak smile at her grandson. “We’ve got two teleportation enchantments left and I’m too depleted to use them.”
She took the pendants off and handed them to Jake.
“Where should I take us next?” Jake asked.
“I don’t know but make it far away,” Josephine said.
Jake slipped the pendant around his neck and helped her stand. The three curses turned the corner of the house and came into view, dashing toward their target.
“Take us to the police station in Bradenton,” Alex suggested. “It’ll buy us at least an hour.”
Josephine tensed with anticipation at the rapid advance of the creatures that were only ten feet away. Jake had to act quickly or it would be too late.
“Jake, get us the hell out of here!” Josephine exclaimed.
The closest curse reached his hand out towards Josephine’s bruised throat just as Jake activated the teleportation enchantment. Jake, Alex, and Josephine now stood in front of the Space Needle in Seattle. Josephine shivered as a gentle but chilly breeze swept over her. The sky was obscured by a thick layer of gray clouds. Alex’s mystified gaze took in their new surroundings.
Josephine leveled a puzzled look at Jake. “Why did you bring us to Washington state?”
“My favorite vacation was when you took me to Seattle and I always thought the Space Needle was cool.”
“You were only twelve when I brought you here. I hadn’t realized it made such an impression.”
Jake grinned with mirth. “Besides, this is one of the farthest places from Sarasota that you can be without leaving the country.”
“That’s true,” Josephine agreed.
“You’ve still got one teleportation enchantment left to take us back home,” Alex said.
“That’s true but we should stay here at least long enough to let Josephine recover,” Jake said.
Josephine had started to relax knowing that she was safe from the construo letalis curses but her stomach clenched with renewed anxiety when she thought of Mark and her friends who may be in danger because of their relationship with her. She dialed Mark’s number on her cell.
“Hey, Josephine. I was just getting ready to call you. Perry said you wanted to talk?” Mark’s tone was guarded.
Josephine’s face flushed with embarrassment as Jake and Alex were nearby and listening to every word of her conversation.
“Mark, I wanted to propose that you move in with me and that we extend the power center in my backyard to encompass the front yard and house. I think it will be a quicker process than starting from scratch at your house,” Josephine said.
“I’d love for us to live together and I love YOU,” Mark said with fervent passion.
“I love you, too.” Josephine turned her back on her colleagues as Alex was making faces at her. She quickly explained what had occurred and warned him that he may be a secondary target.
“I’ll be careful. I’ve got three of my teleportation pendants with me. I discovered that they recharge after I use them. It takes about a week,” Mark said.
“That’s great news! That means there shouldn’t be any danger of YOU running out. Too bad only white magic practitioners can use them,” Josephine said. “Do you think you could stay with Alice and Helen until we know for sure the construo letalis curses are still after only me?”
“Sure. I’ll teleport over there right now.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
Alex made kissing sounds as Josephine disconnected the call. She turned to glare at him and he burst into boisterous laughter.
“Very funny, Alex,” Josephine grumbled.
“We should probably report to Mr. Nutter,” Jake said.
“You’re right. I’ll call Ben right now.”
Josephine dialed Ben’s cell and he picked up almost immediately.
“Josephine, talk to me.”
She outlined what had happened and that she was now in Seattle.
“There haven’t been any reports of attacks so I’m not sure where the three curses are. The Valituras reneged on the 24-hour notice they gave us and declared war on the United States as of right now. Luckily, all of the government officials are in hiding and safe. How long do you need to recover your strength again?” Ben said.
“I’ll be okay in a few hours. We’re standing in a vortex and I’m tapped in right now,” Josephine advised.
“That’s good news. Keep me apprised of any changes.”
“I will.”
Josephine put her phone away and told Jake and Alex about the war.
“How can the Valituras declare war on us? They aren’t even a country,” Alex scoffed.
“They’re always hidden in the shadows so this will be a war of terrorism,” Josephine said.
“I agree,” Jake said.
“Hopefully, we’ll get a break and discover who the members of the Valituras are.”
Alex turned and sneezed.
“Bless you,” Josephine said.
“Thanks.”
“It’s almost time for lunch. I think we should have a bite to eat in the Space Needle,” Jake announced.
“Sure. Why not?” Josephine responded.
“Sounds good to me,” Alex agreed.
The three of them made their way inside and took the elevator up to the saucer-shaped portion of the building and were seated in the restaurant next to the wall which was comprised entirely of glass and offered a panoramic view of the Puget Sound and the Seattle area.
“This is very impressive,” Alex said.
Josephine had to admit that in spite of the dreary gray skies, Seattle was beautiful with the clusters of evergreens in the forest areas spread throughout the city in addition to the gemlike buildings and skyscra
pers that were dominated by reflective, glistening windows. A dark-haired waiter with a friendly but professional demeanor took their order for drinks. Josephine badly needed a glass of wine or liquor but she was still technically on the job so she had a cranberry juice while Jake and Alex had sodas. As she took her first sip of cranberry juice, she was overcome with her dire musings and her vision blurred with tears. Josephine’s hand trembled so she set down her glass and tried to hold back the anguish and despair that washed over her. Alex and Jake regarded her with horrified and stricken expressions on their faces as she sobbed. The two men exchanged helpless looks then turned to face her again.
Alex cleared his throat nervously. “Don’t cry, Josephine. You’ll be okay.”
“I’m so tired of people trying to kill me all the time,” she choked out as her throat constricted with anguish. “Everyone I care about is in danger because of me. I feel like some kind of magnet for death or something.”
Jake handed his grandmother a napkin and she blotted her eyes.
“Everyone who works in the police force has some enemies,” Alex said in a soothing tone. “But the only ones who have attacked you are the Valituras. Once we take care of them, you’ll be safe.”
A small hysterical laugh escaped Josephine’s lips. “And how are we ever going to catch all of them? They’re everywhere. They’ve been in hiding for centuries.”
“You’ll be all right.” Jake patted her arm reassuringly.
“Excuse me, guys.” Josephine rose to her feet with surprising abruptness and retreated to the restroom. She locked herself in one of the stalls, leaned against the door and squeezed her eyes shut. She stood there for several long moments taking deep breaths and struggling to calm herself. She wondered if maybe it was time to consider joining the Phoenix Community. They were extreme radicals and isolationists but at least they were safe. Or were they? Could anyone in this country be safe with biological weapons being released by the Valituras? Josephine’s thoughts churned wildly. She’d never been so tempted to contact Brad Lyons and tell him she was ready to sign up. Unfortunately, she was pretty sure that life in the Phoenix Community would be too stifling with the rules that were in place to keep them hidden.
When Josephine had recovered herself, she joined Jake and Alex at their table and could tell they were relieved she was no longer crying. If she was in a better mood, it would have been comical.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked.
“I’ll be okay once all the Valituras are locked up behind bars,” she said.
Chapter 10
Because Josephine had three construo letalis curses intent on murdering her, she had received permission from the chief of police to stay in Seattle for the day. Because of the Freeman secrecy enchantment and her oath to keep their magic a secret, she couldn’t tell her boss about her plan to ask the Freemans for help. Instead, she had to tell him there was a civilian contact that wouldn’t help her unless she protected his anonymity. Ben had accepted this without hesitation but Jake and Alex were both curious and reluctant to leave her. The three of them stood in front of the Space Needle as they argued about her strategy.
“I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone with a stranger when you have deadly assassins hunting for you,” Alex said.
Josephine offered an apologetic smile. “We really lucked out by ending up in Seattle. This is an opportunity I can’t pass up. I really need to speak with my source about the curses that are gunning for me.”
“Are you sure you can trust this person?” Alex regarded her with skepticism.
“Definitely.” Josephine forced a look of confidence on her face even though she knew she could never trust the Freemans completely because of their extremist ideals. She was grateful Mark was nothing like the rest of his family.
“Something seems off about this.”
“Have you turned into a category six or something?” Josephine teased him.
“It’s called human intuition. No magic needed,” Alex said.
“I can’t approach my source unless I go alone.”
“I don’t like this at all.”
Josephine leveled a sympathetic gaze at him. “I know you’re not comfortable with the plan but you’re not abandoning me. This is my best chance to live through this ordeal.”
“All right,” Alex said with great reluctance.
“Thank you.”
“So what are Alex and I supposed to do while you have your secret rendezvous?” Jake asked.
“Why don’t you guys just enjoy yourselves? We’ll meet back here at seven for dinner and then we can return back to Sarasota and call it a day,” Josephine said.
“All right.” Jake offered a casual shrug.
Josephine kissed Jake on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
She turned and began to walk toward Broad Street.
“Hey! Don’t I get a kiss, too?” Alex called out.
Josephine turned and blew him an imaginary kiss. Alex threw her a wry grin and she laughed.
“See you guys, later,” she said.
Josephine pulled out her cell and called for a taxi. Soon, she was riding in the back seat of a cab and heading for the Freeman Enterprises Manor. Josephine knew this mansion wasn’t Cyril’s home but instead a place where he conducted business. He hadn’t given her the address to his residence but he’d given her his cell phone number. She called on the way over.
“Josephine, what an unexpected pleasure,” Cyril said.
She hesitated with surprise as she didn’t understand the reason for this warm reception.
“I’m in Seattle and I thought I’d pay you a visit,” Josephine said.
“That’s great. The teleportation mirrors for you and your friends will arrive tomorrow. Should I have them come early so it can be installed before you go to work?” Cyril asked.
“That would be great.” Josephine paused as sudden guilt stirred in her over contacting him just to use as a resource. “I actually have a favor to ask. I’ve got three construo letalis curses trying to kill me in Sarasota. I teleported here so I’m safe for the day but I was wondering if you had any weapons or spells that could be used against them?”
“I see.” Cyril paused and she wondered what was going through his mind. “Of course, you have full access to my library here. There are no known weaknesses for these curses but we do have powerful antidotes and more information about possible strategies for dealing with them.”
“That’s good news. I’ll be over in about ten minutes or so,” Josephine said.
When the taxi pulled up to the mansion gates, she was blown away by the immense mansion and the huge yard which must have been over two acres. She could see a large hedge maze behind the mansion with beautiful landscaping in the front yard as well. Josephine paid the driver and approached the closed gates. She pushed the button on the call box.
“This is Josephine O’Connor.”
“You may enter,” an unfamiliar voice said.
There was a loud clank as the gate unlocked then opened. Josephine noticed three security cameras perched up on poles behind the gate. She traversed down the long winding driveway to the front door where Cyril was waiting.
“Welcome, Josephine,” he said.
“I’m surprised your butler didn’t answer the door for you,” Josephine said.
“I wouldn’t do that. You’re practically family,” Cyril said.
Josephine forced a polite smile even as she reeled with shock over this statement. She now understood the reason for his friendly behavior. He wanted a new category six in the family and expected her and Mark to marry soon. She had no intention of doing so ever again. Five times was more than enough to let her know that marriage was a huge mistake. She just wasn’t destined for true love. Even though it seemed she had it with Mark, reality always sets in and the relationship is always doomed to failure once the vows were exchanged and they had that piece of paper. Josephine would never share her feelings with Cyril as it was none of his business
and she was afraid to be so blunt with Mark. She knew she must have that talk with him at some point but she didn’t sense he was getting ready to propose to her anytime soon. As Josephine stepped inside the house, she sensed a mini vortex which began halfway across the foyer and ended somewhere near the entrance to the hedge maze in the back yard. The marble floor sparkled in the radiant light spilling from the brilliant chandelier overhead.
“I didn’t realize you have a mini vortex here,” Josephine said.
“It’s a great help to us in creating powerful enchantments quickly,” Cyril advised. “If you visit our offices, you’ll find that they all have the same advantage.”
“You’ve created an impressive empire.”
“I maintain and expand what our ancestors already established for the family,” Cyril said.
“And it’s safe to visit your offices without risking exposure to your secrets?” Josephine asked.
“It’s completely safe. Only family members or friends of the family who’ve taken the secrecy enchantment work at the offices. You might want to think about working for us.”
“Are you offering me a job?” Josephine teased.
“Yes, I am. The title of the position is secondary technician. Starting salary would be $240,000 a year plus quarterly bonuses. Eight weeks paid vacation plus medical. You could live in Sarasota and commute via teleportation for two months out of the year but the rest of the time it would be necessary to take up residence in the Seattle area.”
“What would I be doing?” Josephine regarded him with curiosity.
“Our magical network must be maintained because all of our enchantments are linked together as well as power generators so they can be used repeatedly. For instance, the teleportation mirrors.”
“I was wondering about that. So the mirrors actually draw energy from a remote power source?”
“Yes, they do,” Cyril confirmed.
“That’s extraordinary. This technology would revolutionize our society.”
“It gives us an advantage we would lose if we were to share it.”
“What a shame. It would change everything,” Josephine said.
“Perhaps.” Cyril leveled a dour frown at her. “But it’s more likely that if everyone had this knowledge, civilization would become unstable and collapse like it did before.”
