He blinked and suddenly shifted position. Startled back to reality, I forced myself to ask the question I’d been waiting to explore all evening.
“How do you know I’m safe from the Shadow right now?” I asked quietly.
He turned his gaze slowly from the sea to my face.
“Oh that, well, it’s an odd talent.” He said, bemused.
“Sometimes, I can detect pieces of the future.” His eyes narrowed carefully waiting for my reaction.
“Are you telling me that you can see the future?” I asked suspiciously.
Ren cocked his head before speaking. He toyed with a twig as his eyes danced between my face and the sea.
“It’s probably not what you are imagining. My sight is very narrow and it usually only works for people I know well. In order to see anything, I have to relate the person to a specific object, a place or an emotion.” He explained.
“Whatever, that’s amazing.” I said incredulously.
Considering his explanation further, I asked. “But… how did that help you in my case?”
He sat up, thoughtfully choosing his words.
“How to explain it? In your case, for lack of an object or place, I used your emotion. I focused on the feeling you emitted when you recounted the event at the concert. I used that feeling as a marker, then searched your future for the marker.” Ren pursed his lips and rolled his eyes to the sky searchingly.
“I guess you could compare what I do to shuffling through a deck of cards.” He added.
“For example, say I identified your initial emotion as the queen of hearts and when I shuffled through your deck of cards, I didn’t find it. That would mean you should be free of any event that would cause that type of emotional response. Of course, my sight when it comes to emotional markers is not excellent, only a couple of days.” He explained.
“Hmm, and you can’t see just anyone’s future, right? Why were you able to see mine?” I asked.
Lying back on the blanket, I gazed at the stars in an attempt to avoid looking into Ren’s face. His analytical tone sounded odd when discussing such an intimate activity.
“I really don’t know why I was able to see your future so clearly. It wasn’t a challenge at all. It was as if I walked through an open door. I was surprised. Until now, I’ve only been able to see for my family.” He said.
An open door. I continued to stare at the sky fighting to dampen the searing flames that threatened to burn my cheeks.
“Did you see anything else interesting while you were shuffling through my deck of cards?” I demanded with unintended sharpness.
My gaze firmly planted on the stars, I heard Ren shift and sharply suck in a breath before responding.
“No. I can’t interpret everything I see. I suppose this ‘gift’ would be more useful if I could but that’s not how it works. And, of course, I wouldn’t inspect anything other than the marker without your permission.” He said defensively.
My shoulders slumped with shame for accusing him of violating my privacy but nonetheless I sighed with relief. The thought of his ability to see into me so clearly was embarrassing.
“What is the easiest to predict, an object or a place?” I asked quickly attempting to change the subject.
“I guess objects, as long as I can touch them.” He mused.
My curiosity peaked. I rolled to my side and locked eyes with him. He sat cross-legged, his head tilted slightly to the side, studying me.
“Can you do a prediction right now?” I challenged playfully.
“I suppose, but I need an object.” He shrugged.
I thrust my left arm into his hands. “The bracelet. How will it end?” I asked dramatically and nodded toward my wrist. A leather bracelet Jane had given me fastened to my wrist, the knot sealed by wear. The only way it could be removed was obviously wear or force.
Ren grinned pulling my hand gently to rest in his lap. “Alright then. This should be easy.”
He clasped my wrist between his fingers and touched the bracelet lightly. His expression darkened.
My eyes traced the contours of his face.
“I see the bracelet slipping from your wrist and landing on a bed of thick underbrush, probably a forest. You’re moving quickly. Likely you won’t even notice it’s gone until you’re far away. Your hand is tan and slightly more lined. It’ll be quite a while before it breaks.” His lips curved forming a slight smirk as if he had seen something else that intrigued him.
“That’s all?” I asked.
“That’s all.” He shrugged again and sat up straight.
“Not much detail to your prediction.” I mumbled with disappointment.
“Details would take more time.” He said dismissively though his smirk had settled into a wistful smile. Before I could press him on the issue, he turned his face sharply from my view and reached for his backpack, signaling a change of subject.
“Eliza, as I promised, I have something to give you tonight.” He said slowly reaching into the bag. When he removed his hand, it held a worn leather book.
At the sight of the book, my heart leapt with unwarranted recognition. I sat up quickly, my senses sharpened with attention. Ren inched closer to me on the blanket, his expression solemn. The flame from the lantern reflected in his pupils as they flitted between the object in his hands and my face.
“This is for you.” He said placing the book in my hands.
A sharp spark stung my fingertips as the book slipped into my grip. The leather cover was buttery soft and smooth. My fingers caressed the cover searching for an embossed title, as no words were apparent in the dim light.
“Open it.” He instructed.
The cover of the book was thick but malleable, like a journal. As I lifted it, words on the page shimmered in the lantern light.
Witchcraft: A Primer
This book belongs to Eliza Gowan
The ornate script of my name cast a light of its own into the night. I stared at the page, speechless before managing to tear my eyes away in search of answers.
“Where did this come from? Did you get it for me? Who… wrote it?” The rush of questions spilled from my lips.
Ren’s eyes twinkled.
“I had it. It was mine. Before that it belonged to my uncle. Before that it instructed another student. It was written a long time ago but it is always rewriting itself…so to speak.” He stated cryptically.
“But my name?” I argued.
“Appeared when it was time for you to receive the book. Eliza, I’m still learning too, that is certain. But I guess I’ve learned all I can from the primer.” He said with a shrug.
“Well that’s good news.” I added jokingly.
He nodded and rolled his eyes playfully.
“This book has been with me most of my life. My Uncle Albert claims he found my name inscribed in the book before I was born and had to wait until I showed up to give it to me. I’ve had it as long as I can remember.” Ren’s eyes shifted and he pressed his lips together looking sheepish before continuing.
“I have a confession to make, Eliza. The truth is, I found your name in the primer the night after I met you. It is the real reason I knew I was meant to be your pharos. And… that I was responsible for breaking the shrouding spell that protected you.” He said and gazed furtively up at me.
“Why didn’t you just give it to me in the first place?” I asked suspiciously.
Ren’s brow creased as he met my eyes seriously.
“Eliza, the book not only wrote your name. It wrote what you need to know about witchcraft, at least for now. I couldn’t give it to you until you were ready to begin your real studies.” He said.
I bristled at Ren’s response and eyed the book warily. My heart raced as a million questions formed in my mind.
“But how did it know about me? You said it claimed you before you were born. When did it find out about me?” I asked. My fingers ached where the spark had stung the tips.
“I guess, always, or j
ust now. This is an old edition and the specifics of the spell that govern it were lost to us decades ago. The newer editions are more straightforward, their task being to instruct whoever possesses the book. This primer, rather, your primer chooses or at least anticipates its students. It’s unique.” Ren said proudly.
“And you don’t need it anymore.” I said softly.
“The last lesson the primer gave me was about Protection, specifically, protection of others of our kind. I think that lesson was meant to prepare me… for meeting you.” He said shyly.
A blend of emotions swelled in my chest. My grip tightened on the book in my hands. Salvation in a book, a small mercy in this new topsy-turvy world I had fallen into. Of all things, books were something I understood.
“Take a closer look.” Ren urged.
My hands trembled as I reached for the corner of the page. The pages were a thick parchment that appeared delicate from age but felt oddly firm to the touch. I barely lifted the corner of the title page before it rolled back swiftly on its own, as if expressing impatience. My hand recoiled. Ren stifled a laugh.
Introduction
Written and Edited by Dr. Atticus Abernathy
If this book has come into your possession and you are reading words on this page you are one of a dwindling tribe of humans born with a current of magic flowing through your veins. As you have hopefully deduced from the title of this book, the topic discussed on the following pages will pertain to the uses and misuses of Heka or magic. No matter how talented you might find yourself, this book will undoubtedly prove a useful resource in your most hopefully long and charmed life. It is the product of a laborious compilation of knowledge garnered and gathered, written and dictated from witches and wizards across the annuals of time and space.
Assuming you are a new witch or wizard, which you most certainly are or you would not be reading these words, you are woefully ignorant of the history of witchcraft and magic. Therefore, this brief (very brief as this is not a history book) introduction will begin at the beginning of things where magic began, which is at the point where we begin.
Like other species, humans were not always so prone to concrete explanation. In the beginning, in what we call now, our ancient cultures, magic knit into the fabric of human life as food, water, love, birth, illness, death, work, play, violence and all of the obvious facets of life. More importantly, in the beginning, the thread of magic, that which allows us to manipulate life’s energy force, lived within many more humans than it does today. In fact, most humans possessed some spark of talent allowing them to engage with the energy force that connected them to each other and the world around them.
However, for reasons we do not know, as time progressed just as physical traits are passed or shed along a bloodline, the “gene” of magic began to disappear. Though we do not know why the human race began to sever its ties with life’s energy force, we do know approximately when it happened.
According to our records, it seems the balance between humans with the magical gene and those without tipped out of favor sometime after the demise of the Ancient Egyptians. The Ancient Egyptian society was the last human culture to pair the existence of magic with the natural powers of earth and human life. It is their term, the last on record, that we use to describe magic, Heka, which is defined as “life force in action.”
As a consequence of the inequality between tribes of humans, the severed growing majority became increasingly suspicious and fearful of the magical minority. Over the centuries, there were many unnecessary battles between the ordinary humans and witches. To maintain peace, the magical minority receded further and further from ordinary human culture developing a discrete society of its own, coexisting amongst ordinary humans but shielding the existence of their bond with Heka.
And so here you are for what reasons, we do not know. You may be the product of a long bloodline of the magical minority or you many not. It is possible the magical gene, long dormant, has emerged within you and you are a rare aberration amongst the tribe of severed humans. Regardless of your reasons for being, it is important you understand your resources and your community.
By the fact that this book has fallen into your hands, it is obvious you have been identified by others of the Heka Society. Our society has citizens in every geographical location and we make it our business, as one day you will, to identify others of our kind and bring them into the fold. The governing body, the Heka Council, is supported by the Heka Service. The Heka Service polices the behaviors of our citizens. All members of the Heka Society will be asked to serve at least one term in the Heka Service. If you have not already been contacted by your local Service Agent when the time comes they will find you.
Good luck to you in your growth and development. May this primer serve you well until it is time for you to part.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Atticus Abernathy, PhD Heka History
I gasped at the next page.
Table of Contents
Lesson One – The Discipline of Mind Manipulation
“How could it know?” I whispered without looking up.
Ren clambered closer, his face hovered above the Table of Contents next to mine. His cheek graced my skin lightly sending a feathery ripple down my spine.
“Mmm… interesting. The book is not animate only bewitched. It prescribes lessons that should be helpful to the student based upon the student’s natural inclinations and gifts.” He said, studying the page.
“Why is there only one chapter?” I asked.
“It’s all you need for now, I suppose.” He said with a shrug.
“Master it and more will follow.” His eyes shifted from mine suspiciously. I wondered what he was holding back.
“How will it know when I’ve mastered the lesson? I mean, I can read it obviously but that’s not exactly the same as mastering it, right?” I asked. My level of concern rose as I reflected on the incident with Jane. In the area of mind manipulation, I had a lot to learn.
Ren hesitated to meet my gaze. His fingers twirled the beaten twig rapidly as his eyes met mine warily.
“Eliza, I should warn you. This is not like school. These lessons are meant to prepare you for the absolute worst case scenario you could possibly encounter. At times, the tests can be quite difficult both mentally and physically. That’s why I’ve waited to give you the primer until now.”
My heart fluttered and my ears grew hot.
“What do you mean? You’re making me nervous. I know how to study. As long as I can study, I’ll be ok.” I stammered my eyes locked with his firm gaze.
Ren’s expression softened. “Don’t fret but also, don’t get too caught up on studying. Trust your instincts.” He offered, scrambling to his feet.
“I guess you’d like to go home to begin your studies.” He said, though I took it more as a suggestion than intuition.
I did have a gnawing desire to delve into my newfound treasure.
“How could you guess?” I said with a hint of sarcasm.
Ren leaned toward me and reached for my hand. I tucked the book tightly under one arm before reaching for his in return. As he pulled me up I rolled awkwardly off balance from protecting the book against my side. My foot slid out from under me. As if in slow motion, I watched the lantern crash to the ground. The glass shattered instantly. A rivulet of oil slid from the cracked lantern and within seconds the flame raced after it chasing the slick into the grassy field.
The tendril of fire dashed across the open field toward the rocky cliff. Panic ripped through my chest as I steadied myself and reached for the flame as if attempting to catch it. Suddenly a gust of wind rolled in from the ocean, feeding the trickle of fire. The dry grass ignited and drew the fire across the field at an alarming rate.
I found myself alone in the field surrounded on three sides by the fire. Frantically, I searched the landscape for Ren. The blaze grew bright and hot. Its fingers reaching ever higher for the sky, sparks popped and exploded all around me
crackling menacingly. Smoke clouded my vision and irritated my lungs. The light made it difficult to see into the darkness. Several yards from my side, movement caught my eye.
Ren had dashed to a spot precariously positioning himself between the spreading blaze and the forest. From my weary assessment he was pinned within a few feet of the dense woods. The wall of fire seemed to lick and taunted him. He crouched low as if positioning to attack and spread his arms wide at his sides. His face was fixed in a calm mask of concentration, his eyelids low leaving slits for vision.
I assessed my position and scrambled to cobble together a plan of action. The blaze was rapidly engulfing the field but would likely slow considerably when it reached the forest line. It seemed the only logical move would be to run as fast as possible to the car to escape the fire then contact the emergency services. I considered the gravity of my terrible, clumsy mistake. What a stupid fool, I was.
Despite my shaky limbs, I managed to scramble awkwardly to Ren’s side. I was surprised to find him breathing deeply and staring with concentration into the wall of fire. His body was poised, legs bent and slightly askew one before the other, arms wide, back and neck straight and sure. Though the strain of the position and the waves of heat rolling against him should have caused him to perspire, he appeared cool and peaceful.
In my state of increasing panic my instinct was to attack him and drag him with me through the woods to safety but something penetrated the fog of terror and stopped me in my tracks. A sense of calm and presence of mind returned. Though I stood within no more than two feet of a hungry wall of flame I began to relax and focused on Ren’s face, his arms and hands. He didn’t turn or acknowledge my presence in any way, yet I was certain he was as aware of me as I was of him. The pounding blood in my ears receded replaced with the crackling pops and creaks of the fire and muffled puff of the sea wind meeting the flame.
Eliza's Shadow Page 10
