Cracks in Reality (Seams in Reality Book 2)

by Siegel, Alex

  His face showed an entirely new respect for Andrew. Andrew enjoyed the success, but in a way, it had come too easily. He had expected such a malicious spell to be more work. Causing terror wasn't supposed to be so effortless.

  That's why I'm a war mage, Andrew thought. His unique talent was the reason he had the task of killing Blake. Andrew had an innate ability to destroy the minds of others. Once he was properly trained, he would be able to defeat even powerful sorcerers like Blake in theory. Of course, he couldn't be sure until he actually did it.

  "Dan, it's your turn," Tonya said.

  "Me?" Dan said. "No way! I'm not letting Andrew mess with my brain."

  "Nobody got hurt, and important lessons were learned. I would think a federal agent would appreciate the value of a training exercise."

  "This isn't training. It's infernal sorcery. It's illegal!"

  "How do you think Andrew is going to kill Blake?" she said. "With kindness?"

  "Then let Andrew practice on you."

  "I have to monitor the exercise, and Andrew would never willingly hurt Charley. That leaves you as the practice dummy."

  Dan stared at Tonya. "Did you get any kind of approval for this?"

  "You're bosses wouldn't understand," she said. "I was hoping for better from you. I promise you won't be harmed."

  He narrowed his eyes and turned to Andrew. "What are you planning to do to me?"

  "Just make you believe something that isn't true," Andrew said.

  "That doesn't sound too bad."

  "Depends on the belief."

  "You're just an apprentice," Dan said. "How do you know you'll be able to pull it off safely?"

  "I'm a specialist at mental sorcery," Andrew said, "and if I make a mistake, Tonya will step in. You're in the hands of experts. Come on. Don't you want to experience sorcery for yourself?"

  "I've seen what it can do. No thanks."

  "But you don't really understand it. This is your chance to learn."

  Dan glanced at the exit door, but Andrew knew Dan still saw a blank wall. Tonya's illusion would continue until she turned it off.

  After a long pause, Dan said, "OK. I'll trust you, but don't do anything elaborate. Just a simple demonstration."

  "Of course," Andrew said. "Your legs are broken." He backed up the statement with the power of sorcery.

  Dan collapsed to the floor. He grabbed his legs with his hands and grimaced.

  "You broke them!" he cried with shock and pain in his voice.

  Tonya walked over. "Stay calm. Your legs are fine."

  "No, they're not! The bones are shattered!"

  "Now you understand. Belief can be more powerful than truth. I could show you a hundred X-rays, and you'd still think your legs are broken. Your perception of the world is what's really fractured."

  Tungsten ran over and grabbed Dan's shoulders. "Get up. It's just a trick."

  "No!" Dan pushed Tungsten away. "Call a doctor!"

  "Listen to me," Tonya said. "If a sorcerer attacks your mind, you won't be able to resist, but you can control your own reactions. You don't have to panic. This is what I want you to learn today."

  "I don't care. Just fix my damn legs!"

  She walked over to one of the shelves. The supplies included a large collection of mechanical clocks ranging from watches to an antique grandfather clock. None of them had the right time. She grabbed a medium-size clock made of brass and wood which was at least a hundred years old. She wound the spring using a key in the back. She placed the clock on the floor in front of Dan.

  "Focus on the clock," Tonya said. "Let the precise, predictable movements of the hands guide you to a place where you can think more clearly."

  Dan stared at the clock. Andrew knew Dan would never be able to escape the illusion on his own. He lacked the talent, and no amount of training could make up the difference. The clock would help Dan deal with the situation better though. It was an image Andrew used often in his own training.

  After a few minutes, Dan seemed to settle down. "I'm not afraid now. My legs are still broken, but you can fix them. It's temporary."

  "Close enough," Tonya said. "Andrew, dispel the illusion."

  Andrew removed the false belief from Dan's mind. It was as easy as erasing a chalk board.

  Dan stared at his legs for a moment. Then he carefully stood up and straightened his karate uniform.

  "That was absolutely insane," he said.

  Tonya nodded. "Indeed. At the heart of sorcery, there is insanity."

  "But I thought sorcery was more than just mental tricks."

  "Physical sorcery is much harder, but Charley has particular talent in that regard. Would you like to demonstrate?"

  Charley smiled slightly. "Sure. I'll do the spoon bending trick." She walked over to a shelf and grabbed an iron bar which was a half-inch thick. She handed it to Tungsten. "Can you confirm this is solid iron?"

  He struggled to bend the bar. The muscles in his big arms bulged enough to stretch his uniform.

  "It feels solid." He returned the bar to Charley.

  She stared at the metal, and Andrew sensed her energy level flaring up. The invisible storm which always surrounded her doubled in size.

  "What are you doing?" Tungsten said.

  "Altering the molecular structure," Charley said. "Weakening the bonds."

  She twisted her hands, and the bar bent like soft clay. With a grunt of effort, she tore the metal into two parts. She handed the pieces back to Tungsten.

  He stared at them. "That's... unbelievable."

  "It's not that hard when I'm so close to a giant seam."

  Andrew knew that wasn't true. He certainly couldn't perform that spell. Physical sorcery was far beyond his capabilities, and he probably wouldn't even start practicing it for a year.

  "Where is the seam exactly?" Tungsten looked around.

  Charley pointed at a spot in the center of the chamber. "Right there. To me, it looks like a black electric arc. I can see it from a mile away."

  He furrowed his brow.

  "The demonstration is over," Tonya said. "You can finish your martial arts class now."

  The sorcerers went to the door, but Dan and Tungsten stayed behind. They still saw just a blank wall.

  "Oh, sorry." Tonya dispelled the illusion.

  Once they were outside, Dan said, "I'll admit that was educational, but let's not do it again. Lesson learned."

  "On that point, we agree," she replied.

  Chapter Three

  Blake had a feeling of satisfaction as he watched the construction crew work. Over a hundred men were slaving away in the desolate Arizona desert. Dump trucks, cement trucks, generator trucks, mobile cranes, and other construction vehicles were parked around the Titan II missile complex wherever space could be found. The sounds of cutting and drilling filled the air.

  Having a crime boss like Mr. Panetta as a partner had many advantages. Unions and inspectors never caused trouble. Cash to pay for expenses was always available on short notice. Workers showed up on time every time. Everybody was very respectful. A project that could've taken six months would be done in just a few frantic weeks.

  Blake walked over to a temporary elevator built in the silo where the Titan II missile had actually been stored. The elevator was just a cage mounted on a vertical railing. It went from ground level to the bottom of the silo over a hundred feet below. He rode the elevator all the way down.

  The noise grew much louder when he reached the bottom. Men were using giant saws to cut steel. Overly bright work lights and clouds of dust created a surreal environment. Blake clamped his hands over his ears and squinted his eyes. He wished he had remembered to bring ear protection.

  The construction workers were building a magic trick. Many years as a stage magician had taught Blake exactly how to create the effect he wanted. He wouldn't even need to rely on sorcery. Simple, mechanical props would fool both the US Army and the Bureau of Physical Investigation. His enemies would deliver the prize to h
im without even knowing they had done so. By the time they figured out the trick, it would be too late.

  Blake was satisfied everything was going according to plan. He rode the elevator back to the surface. Fresh air and relative quiet came as a great relief after the hellish environment below. He checked his watch and hurried off towards his car. He had a plane to catch.

  * * *

  Andrew yawned as he walked down the stairs in Tonya's house. He was tired and would've gladly slept until noon, but his harsh training schedule wouldn't wait. His first class was sorcery practice in the Fine Arts Building. If he ate a real breakfast, he would get nauseous during class, but he had to put something in his empty stomach. He usually settled for a glass of milk and a piece of buttered toast.

  Tonya and Charley were already in the kitchen. The women greeted him with a muted "hello."

  The décor in the kitchen reflected Tonya's slightly insane tastes. The legs of the chairs and table looked like white bones, but they were actually bleached, carved wood. A hundred tiny lights formed a perfect ten by ten grid on the ceiling. Big, yellow smiley faces were painted on the red doors of all the cabinets. A dense pattern of black and white tiles created a maze on the floor, and Andrew had solved it once. The maze wasn't easy.

  He opened the door of the refrigerator. All the items inside were precisely arranged in order of descending size. A one-gallon bottle of grape juice was at the upper left, and a lonely sprig of garlic was at the bottom right. Tonya became upset if anybody put food back in the wrong order.

  Andrew pulled out a jug of milk and placed it on the neon green kitchen counter. He found the bread in a cabinet. He took out a slice and dropped it into the toaster, but he was so tired he missed on the first try.

  Somebody grabbed his shoulder. "Hello, Andrew," a man said.

  Andrew jumped in surprise. He turned and found Keene standing there.

  "You shouldn't let an old man like me sneak up on you," he added. "It shows a troubling lack of focus."

  Keene was a master sorcerer who lived in Atlanta. Andrew had met Keene last year a few times because of a crisis involving his apprentice, Serkan. A banshee had killed Serkan in the end, and Blake had been responsible.

  Keene had thinning gray hair. His face was full of creases and wrinkles, but he was still vigorous and healthy. A prominent nose gave him a hawkish appearance, and brown eyes stared intently at Andrew. Keene was wearing a blue dress shirt with pinstripes.

  Andrew hadn't detected him in the room. Master sorcerers had the ability to squelch their energy signature temporarily, making them stealthy. Keene hadn't been invisible or inaudible though. Andrew should've heard him at least. I'm just not awake, he thought.

  "It's nice to see you again," Andrew said, "but what are you doing here so early in the morning?"

  "I told you I would come back," Keene said. "I have a special lesson planned for you and Charley."

  Andrew tensed. He had learned "special lesson" was code for "traumatic learning experience."

  "I appreciate the thought," he said desperately, "but I think Tonya's lessons are special enough."

  "The perspective of a fresh instructor is always valuable."

  Andrew and Charley exchanged worried glances. She also knew it would be a bad morning.

  Tonya was smirking in a way that didn't make Andrew feel any better.

  He finished toasting his toast. He splurged and put some jelly on it because he knew he might need extra energy. He didn't eat anything else though.

  Everybody sat at the kitchen table and ate their small meals. Charley was dining on grape juice and a little bowl of oatmeal. Tonya had coffee and a buttered bagel. Keene had a fresh fruit salad, the most elaborate preparation of all.

  "Did you fly in from Atlanta last night?" Andrew said.

  Keene shook his head. "This morning."

  "It's barely dawn now?"

  "I like to make an early start to the day."

  Andrew snorted in disbelief. "I guess so. How are things in Atlanta?"

  "Quiet," Keene said. "Just keeping an eye out for Blake."

  "Is the BPI having any luck finding him?"

  "No. If they caught him, you would hear about it. Speaking of which, Tonya told me your special training is going even better than she had hoped. You and Charley should be ready to start searching for Blake in a matter of weeks."

  "It's been hard," Andrew said.

  "I'm sure, but the idea of sending apprentices to kill a master is pretty crazy on the face of it. It only make sense because you're extraordinary apprentices undergoing extraordinary preparation. Now, eat your breakfast. We have work to do."

  Andrew grimaced.

  Everybody finished their light breakfast in just a few minutes. Andrew and Charley quickly did the dishes.

  The group went out to the foyer and put on their winter gear. As usual, Tonya's bizarre art collection caught Andrew's attention for a moment. One painting showed a beautiful woman with a large "pineapple" grenade shoved into her mouth. It was hard to believe an artist had actually painted it much less Tonya had purchased it.

  When everybody was ready, they went outside into the bitter winter cold. The sun had barely risen above the horizon and was providing no warmth. A hard crust of ice covered everything including the sidewalk. Andrew held Charley's hand and took small, careful steps. He had fallen on the ice before and still had bruises to show for it.

  The Fine Arts Building loomed directly ahead. Tonya was responsible for guarding the Theosophical Seam, so she lived right across the street. The building was two stories tall and clad in sand-colored limestone. Giant icicles hung from the edge of the roof creating a real threat to people walking beneath. The abundance of sharp peaks and Gothic arches always struck Andrew as excessive.

  The group crossed the street and a parking lot, and they entered the building through a side door. They took a moment to knock the snow off their shoes before heading down the steep staircase to the basement.

  The only sound in the basement was the constant rattle from the heating system. Tonya flipped a light switch, but only three quarters of the fluorescent lights came on because the rest were burned out. Andrew glimpsed a spider running on a pipe near the ceiling. Dry air made him rub his nose.

  The sorcerers went to the big, steel door which protected the seam chamber. Tonya used her body to hide the keypad as she punched in a long sequence. Even now, she didn't trust another sorcerer with the passcode. It was ironic because Charley was getting powerful enough to break open the door with sorcery. Keene certainly could.

  Tonya pulled open the door, and two BPI agents were sitting just inside. They carried assault rifles which were compact enough to fit under their blue jackets. The presence of the men didn't surprise Andrew. The seam had to be guarded twenty-four hours a day, and if Tonya wasn't around, agents took her place.

  It was another security precaution which didn't make sense to Andrew. The agents certainly looked tough and were well armed, but they had no defense against sorcery. Andrew could've used mind-control on them even with the door in the way. The monstrous Theosophical Seam provided more than enough power to overcome the short distance. Andrew could've tricked the agents with an illusion. They were at his mercy, and he wasn't even a full-fledged sorcerer.

  "Come back in an hour," Tonya told the agents.

  They nodded and hurried off without a word. They were obviously glad to get away.

  Andrew and Charley went into the chamber and sat at one of the small, wooden tables. Andrew had no idea what Keene would do to him, but a little preparation couldn't hurt. Andrew immediately began whispering the names of all the states in alphabetical order. The simple exercise would help clear his mind.

  Tonya pulled the door closed, and it shut with a loud clang. Andrew didn't see where Keene had gone. There was no place to hide in the small chamber.

  "Is Keene still outside?" Andrew said.

  "He's standing right next to you," Tonya said.

  He
looked around again. "I don't see him."

  "That's your fault."

  So it begins, Andrew thought.

  Keene couldn't make himself physically invisible, but he could create the illusion of not being present. As usual in sorcery, it was a matter of belief. Andrew didn't believe he could see Keene, and therefore, he couldn't. The effect was all in Andrew's mind.

  He turned to Charley. "Do you see him?"

  "No." She shook her head. "Not even a glimmer. He's really good."

  Andrew still couldn't detect Keene's energy either. Keene was doing an amazing job of hiding the invisible storm which always surrounded all sorcerers.

  Charley gasped. Her face twisted.

  "What's wrong?" Andrew said.

  "He's... hurting... me."

  She was clenching and unclenching her hands. Her wide eyes were staring at some imaginary horror in the distance. Seeing her in distress caused him sympathetic pain.

  "Hey!" Andrew said to the unseen Keene. "Stop that!"

  "Make me," Keene replied from somewhere in the room.

  "Oh. Is that how it is?"

  "Exactly. You must protect your girlfriend if Blake attacks her, so now is the time to practice."

  Charley moaned with anguish. Andrew felt a rush of anger and flailed his arms uselessly at the empty air. Keene wasn't playing fair.

  "Throwing a fit won't help you," Keene said.

  He was right. Great sorcery required a methodical, emotionless approach. Anger would only get in the way. Somehow, Andrew had to ignore the fact that the woman he loved was suffering horribly. That was the point of the exercise.

  He went deep into his own mind. He had an impenetrable fortress inside where nobody else could touch him. He always visualized it as a stone castle with outer walls a mile high. The blocks were a dense matrix of clocks and multiplication tables. The silence was absolute, and he could forget all his troubles.

  When he calmed down, he returned to the world. He could see Tonya and Charley in the seam chamber, but Keene was still invisible. Andrew had to solve that problem first by dispelling the illusion.

  Charley groaned again. He fought to regain control of his emotions before continuing.