A Weapon Of Magical Destruction

by Katie Salidas

  Despite being on the top floor of the building, the room had no window, and the only light came from a fluorescent lamp above. Its harsh, unforgiving glow really set the feel for how her life would be in this facility. So much for the fantasy. But maybe that was the point. Admittedly, she wasn’t ready to face the truth of all magic could be. Cold, drab, and ordinary might actually be a relief at the end of the day.

  “You ready yet?” Grey knocked on the door but kept his distance. “We’re due in the training hall.”

  She hadn’t realized how long she’d been standing there in the room. He’d told her to drop her things and be ready. That must have been a while ago. “I’ve got nothing to train in, remember?”

  “Newbies.” Grey groaned and pointed to the drawer. “Suit up.” She didn’t see him retreat, but heard his footsteps as he wandered down the hallway.

  Drab gray shorts and a matching t-shirt. If only she had been allowed to pack a bag before they left. As much time as she spent in the gym, half her closet and dresser at home was active wear. The other option in the drawer looked like some kind of space age jumpsuit. She’d save that for later.

  When Grey returned, he crooked a finger and started walking away.

  She followed silently in his wake as he gave her the dime tour of the facility. The entire upper floor was agent-level: training halls, sleeping quarters, cafeteria, laundry, infirmary, and computer stations. There were other levels to the building, but when she asked, Grey evaded as usual, saying that was need to know info, and of course, she didn’t need to know just yet. She remembered prisoners being brought into the ASSET building back in Phoenix and suspected they had a space dedicated to prisoners as well. Not a place she wanted to see anyway.

  Grey led her down one hallway and through another until they came into a large space with padded floors that reeked of sweat with faint traces of blood. Punching bags had been hung from the ceiling in the back corners of the room. One wall had been entirely dedicated to mirrors, and along another wall was a line of benches next to cubbies filled with various sparring equipment.

  “Welcome to the non-lethal training room.” Grey smiled evilly. “Try not to die in here.”

  “Your confidence is so endearing,” Sage retorted, hoping to have a chance to knock that stupid hat off his head before the day was over. “Careful now, someone might think you actually cared about me.”

  “She’s all yours, Dev,” Grey shouted to the seemingly empty room.

  “Miss Sage, we meet again.” Devon appeared as if blinking into existence, startling her with his sudden proximity.

  “Where did you–” she started to ask, but realized she didn’t need an answer. Her kind were the ones with negligent powers. Materializing out of thin air was more than she would ever be able to do. Which of course meant that Devon was some kind of other.

  “Told you I knew you were special. I don’t let just anyone into my gym.” Devon gave her a hug, throwing his massive arms around her so tightly she thought she might pop.

  Finally a familiar face, though he was undoubtedly going to kick her ass during their sessions together. Tough as nails, Devon held nothing back. Brutal honesty was his manner, and that instilled a sense of trust that Sage knew she could count on.

  Smiling for the first time since she’d arrived, Sage pulled back to meet her trainer’s eyes. “So you’re a…” His were not the turquoise she’d become accustomed to, understanding that was a trait of her people. Nor were his the icy blue of the vampire she’d had a run-in with. Devon’s were a silver-gray. “Not a Terra.” She didn’t know what to call him. Words had been thrown around her since she arrived, with none really making sense. Shade and Ethereal sounded magical, but she had no real idea what they signified.

  “I’m no Terra,” Devon snickered, as if privy to an inside joke. “I’m not…special…like you. But I’m on your side.”

  “But also not human either?” she asked.

  Devon and Grey exchanged sideways glances. “She hasn’t been briefed?”

  Gray shook his head.

  “They skipped orientation,” Sage replied snarkily.

  Devon rose up to his full height, cracking his knuckles and flexing his muscles as he towered over Sage. “I’m what you might think of as an ogre.”

  He hadn’t used magic. Not that it should have any effect on Sage, being a Terra, but with just those subtle movements, she could have sworn Devon had doubled in size. Short as she was, looking up gave her a neck ache. She stepped back a pace to really get a good look at him. Ogres were supposed to be big ugly things; at least, that was what she’d come to expect from all the RPG’s. They were meat shields because of their size, but that was all just gamer stuff. He’d said it with no sense of humor, almost as if proud to use the term.

  “But you don’t look–”

  “Ugly?” Devon snarled at her. “Why would I?”

  “I didn’t say that. You did!”

  “You didn’t have to. I could see it in your eyes the moment I said it.”

  “I guess I just thought… you know… movies, games, there is a sort of character type.”

  “Propaganda!” Devon scoffed. “My people are cunning fighters. We’re the masters of warfare.” He beat his chest proudly.

  It was all she could do to keep a straight face. Some stereotypes did fit.

  “This whole supernatural other lives thing is all a bit crazy town. You don’t look like…”

  “Did you expect to see some burly green monster?” he asked.

  “Yeah. I guess,” she replied honestly. “I mean where’s the magic? The otherness? ”

  That earned a true smile from Devon. “You’re not ready for the scary shit yet.”

  “Might make this whole thing more believable.” Rip the bandage off, as Matt would say. Sage sighed, but it failed to release her tension. “I mean, how am I supposed to just know someone is special, when everyone I’ve met, apart from my troll of a boss, has looked like an everyday Joe?”

  “It gets better.” Devon exchanged another sidelong glance with Grey. “But you really need to prepare yourself or you might just go mad the first time you meet an Ethereal.”

  She was about to ask what that was, but Grey cleared his throat. “I need to get going. You got her?”

  “She’s in good hands,” Devon replied.

  Magic wasn’t supposed to work on her, but Sage suddenly found herself feeling infinitely better about things once Grey had left the room. She turned on her trainer, asking again, “So how am I supposed to know who is what around here? Everyone looks so normal.”

  “Enjoy the normalcy. It’s the ones you meet out there that will surprise you.” That seemed to amuse him.

  Maybe she was just so used to seeing the unusual that she’d never recognize the differences. More questions with no answers; par for the course around here. “Did you know? When you met me?”

  “I saw your mark.” Devon pointed to her arm. “Dead giveaway.” Sage moved her right hand instinctively to cover her wrist. “That’s why I agreed to train you. Some of us have glamours. Keeps humans from seeing our true selves. You Terras with your birthmarks are like walking billboards.”

  “Wait, so is that why I was seeing my boss turn into a troll? Glamour?”

  Devon snorted. “Bet that was a shock, eh?”

  “I might have screamed like a little girl.”

  “You are a little girl. We need to work on that.” He pointed to the mat. “Which is why you train with me. No mercy. We need to get you into fighting form before you’re sent out to battle.”

  “Wait? Battle? Are we at war?”

  “Figure of speech. Your people are, for lack of a better word, the enforcers of law. Which, at times, requires a bit of force to be applied.”

  “So you’re going to teach me how to kick magical butt. I’m cool with that.” Sage sank into a ready position.

  “How about we learn how not to get our non-magical butts kicked first?” He assumed a defensive
position. “You’ll be up against people accustomed to using their magic. Since it has no effect on you, that levels the playing field some, but doesn’t stop them from being able to drop your scrawny butt.”

  Brutal honesty. But at least she knew it came from a place of good. Devon inspired trust, where Grey had just been an asshole picking on her ignorance.

  “So do all creatures have special powers?” Sage kept her hips loose, ready to move in either direction, expecting one of Devon’s meaty fists to slam into her at any moment.

  “Creatures?” He threw an easy swing at her. “What are we, pets or something?”

  She deflected his fist across her body. “I don’t know the proper word, okay? Cut me some slack.”

  His next strike came low. “Be respectful when you speak. There are many races within our realm.”

  “So each one has unique” – avoiding his foot, sweeping her legs, she hopped back – “abilities and gifts?”

  “Better!” Devon smiled.

  Compliments from him were few, and distracted by his quick approval, she dropped her guard long enough to allow him to get in a nasty blow.

  The wind escaped her lungs as she collided with the padded ground, but knowing he’d be on her in a second, Sage blindly rolled to her left as she fought to regain her breath.

  “Some of our kind have active powers and some are passive. You, for instance.” He didn’t pursue as she retreated from his last attack. “Completely passive. Which is why you need to be able to fight.”

  “I’m magic neutral.” She panted as she backed up to the far wall. “Not passive.”

  “Could have fooled me.” Devon stood in the center of the room, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed by her retreat. “You’re not able to absorb or use magic, which means you can’t be fooled by it. But what you lack in active magic, you can make up for in skills, if you ever gain any.”

  She finally gained control of her breath. “And your power?”

  “The patience of a god!” He tapped a foot.

  Her ribs ached as she stood. The fall had bruised more than her ego, but he’d warned her: no mercy. “You can be affected by magic, right?”

  “Correct. Not that it will help you in this fight, Miss Neutral.”

  He wasn’t offering up his secrets, which meant he had some she’d eventually have to discover, but now was not the time. “Trolls?”

  “Not the prettiest among us, but they have glamour for that.” His stony expression faltered for a fraction of a second. “Keen mind for numbers, though. Just don’t piss them off. Terrible tempers.”

  “What else?” Sage came forward again and reset into fighting position, watching Devon’s hands, looking for a sign of his next move.

  Devon smiled and relaxed, letting his arms unfold as he walked, creating a perimeter around her. “You have your standard shifters.”

  Light feet, loose hips, ears like radar listening for direction and proximity. Sage paid attention, determined to stand her ground this time.

  He circled around her twice. “Shape-changers can morph into anything living and copy the physical identity of other people. Hybrids, like the werewolf, are able to change only into the animal form of the thing that cursed them. They’re a kind of stolen magic. Same with vampires. They’re humans infused with dark magic that alters them irreparably. They may have immortality, but it comes at a steep price.”

  A hand landed lightly on her shoulder.

  “Silver bullets and sunshine?” she answered proudly, springing to action. She twisted to the side and took hold of his wrist, bringing it around with her.

  “Yep!” Devon replied, breaking her flimsy hold. With practiced skill, he turned her momentum into his advantage and before she knew it, he had her by the arm. Tweaking it with just the right amount of pressure, he crippled her. One wrong move and her wrist would snap in half. She screeched as she worked to maneuver into a spot where she could gain any kind of leverage. “No mercy, Sage. Life or death: how do you get out?”

  Every move she made, he countered, keeping in control while she remained in eye-watering pain. The more she struggled, the harder he pressed on her pressure points, so she stopped struggling. She allowed herself to relax and submitted to his control.

  The moment she did, Devon’s grip loosened as well. “This is how you fight back?” he asked. “Giving up?”

  She didn’t respond, gauging the proximity of his body as she stood still in place. No pain, no gain, she told herself, as she threw her head back, hitting Devon in the jaw. The sharp sting shot through her skull, but his grip relaxed enough that she could pull away.

  Sage ran to the other side of the room, and as soon as she reached the wall, she turned and set herself for his attack.

  “You can’t always run from your problems,” he taunted, rubbing the spot on his jaw where she’d struck him.

  “Live to fight another day?”

  “That’s a victim’s mentality. You’ll never be an agent at this rate.”

  “No one asked if I wanted to be an agent.” she replied.

  “More victim’s mentality. Quit that shit right now. You’re part of a world very few are privy to. Be proud! Your people are regarded with the highest of reverence, next to the damn gods.”

  “But…” There’s always a but!

  “But I want to cry like a little baby because life is hard.” Devon mocked her with words she’d expect to hear from Grey.

  He was right. She got dealt a hand she’d never expected, but rather than see the silver lining, she’d been focused on all the negatives. Sage crossed back toward him. “You’re right. I’m a god-damned superhero.”

  Devon laughed so hard he snorted. “I’ll make you a deal. You shape up, I’ll make you a cape.”

  “Purple,” Sage demanded.

  “What?”

  “My favorite color.” She took the moment of confusion and came at him, fists flying for his jaw. “Oh, and how about crushed velvet?”

  He deflected, countering low to throw her off balance. “You’re going to be the Plush Wonder?”

  Her ankle sagged as she twisted awkwardly and tumbled to the mats.

  “More like roadkill.” Devon’s foot was already in motion when she looked up and narrowly missed his heel drilling down toward her stomach.

  She made it to her feet as fast as she could, but Devon was almost on top of her. With his hulking form towering over her, she knew she had to topple the beast if she hoped to gain the upper hand. “Captain Trainwreck at your service.” She threw the full weight of her body into his abdomen, the edge of her shoulder hitting the target of his belly button.

  He didn’t go down, but she managed to knock him off balance enough to get in a single punch as he fought to stay standing.

  “Enough for now.” Devon held his hands up. “You’re definitely a train wreck, but I like that you’re attempting to think on your feet. Knowing an opponent’s center of balance will increase your chances of using leverage against them.”

  “Was that an actual compliment?” Sage clutched her chest with an exaggerated gasp of shock.

  “You haven’t earned a gold star yet, but you have promise.” He smiled at her approvingly. “Thinking on your feet will be key for you. Not every encounter will be a physical one, but when backs are to the wall and you’re up against someone who’s used to using magic to do their battles, they will come at you hard and fast… physically.”

  “Don’t we get weapons?” Sage had pulled an impressive assortment from the boxes that belonged to her mother: throwing daggers and knives of all sorts. She could do some damage if given a bit of refresher with those. And that thought excited her more than it probably should have.

  “If you know how to use what you have right here” – he grabbed hold of her hands and shook them for effect – “then you don’t need to worry about other weapons.”

  “I’d still feel safer with something sharp and pointy.” She pulled away.

  Devon narrowed his eyes,
sizing her up. “A sharp mind trumps a pointy object any day. When you come up against the Elementals, that’s the only weapon that will work.”

  “Ele-what-now?” More words she had yet to learn the meaning of. People around this place seemed to enjoy throwing around terms that sounded ominously broad.

  “Special people whose magic works on physical objects. The general classification is Elemental.”

  “But you said magic doesn’t work on me.”

  “You may not be able to be hurt by magic, but that neutrality doesn’t always extend to the items you hold.” Devon nodded toward some benches. “Take a seat. I’m going to get you some reading material.”

  “We have study guides?” Sage snickered as she started walking.

  “Yeah, we do. Pretty smart, huh?”

  “Maybe open with that next time,” she suggested, with as much snark as she could muster. “Wait. So does that mean there will be a test?”

  Devon disappeared through a doorway that she’d have never known was there if she hadn’t seen him open it, which made her wonder what other secret passages might be right in front of her nose. And if there were secret passages, it would stand to reason that there were hidden rooms and cameras. She might well be being watched at that very moment. She slowly turned around, taking stock of the room with new wonder. Her eyes landed on the mirrors. Typical of most gyms, but this wasn’t a typical gym. Instinct said was being watched. And probably graded. Her stomach churned with anxiety.

  Devon returned with spiral-bound books in hand. “First thing you have to remember about magical others is we are neither good nor evil. We’re individuals.” He handed over the small stack of three books. “These will give you some basics on the most common of our kind you might run into and how they’re classed.”

  “And what am I supposed to do when I run into them?” she asked, still unsure of exactly what her role would be.

  “That will be based on individual assignments when you’re ready.” Devon looked down his nose at her. “And based on today’s performance, you’ve got a ways to go, so let’s not even worry about that now.” He must have sensed her low mood because his tone softened as he put a hand on her shoulder. “We all have to start somewhere. You just got dropped into a world you didn’t know existed. I’m kind of surprised you’re acting as cool about it as you are.”