Hidden Magic: An Ancient Magic Novel

by Stephany Wallace

  I nodded. His assistant came in and placed a file on his desk. He looked at it then at her.

  “Do you have a copy for Miss Anwell?” He asked irritated.

  “Uhm, no Sir I apologize. I wasn’t aware you needed one,” she answered looking at me contritely.

  He placed the tip of his fingers on his temples and closed his eyes exasperated. I tensed in my chair. He had always been relatively nice to me but he didn’t seem to have much patience for anyone else. Times like this, I was glad I wasn’t on the receiving end of his temper.

  “No of course not, Leticia. Why would you have anticipated that anyone other than me would need a copy of this file? It’s not like anyone else works in this damn office and will be handling the case besides me!” The sound of his palm hitting the desk reverberated through the room, matched only by the potency of his voice. The poor girl jumped next to me. I instinctively moved back, feeling the vibration of the desk in response to the assault.

  He took a deep breath as if trying to regain his composure.

  “Initiative Leticia. You need to develop some initiative. It is unacceptable for you to be this incompetent. As my assistant you should anticipate my needs and work on them without me having to tell you what to do every damn minute. Print five copies of the file and bring one to Miss Anwell. She will be handling the case with me as second chair.”

  He waved his hand, dismissing her. She turned around, walking to the door with her head down. He looked at me and continued.

  “The case pertains to a contaminated lake. It has caused gastro and skin diseases in the inhabitants of the two nearest towns who use the lake for recreational purposes. We discovered that a paver company located four miles from the lake has been clandestinely using it as a dumping ground for contaminated water left from their manufacturing process. There have been twenty deaths so far and another eighteen people are suffering from life threatening illnesses that we strongly believe are related to this. We have hired a lab to conduct the official testing but in the meantime I sent one of our guys to take a sample of the water and soil. The initial test indicates that the water contains large quantities of Calcium oxide, Silica, Alumina and a few other chemicals that are fundamentally found in cement,” he said reading from the file. “Some of these components are deadly poisonous to the human body, others are not harmful. However, the combination of these elements has created a slow acting but potent toxicity, that is gradually killing the people who frequent the lake. Now, here is where you come in. The lake is protected by the state, since it is a critical habitat for the Carpodacus Cassinii. It is an endangered bird otherwise known as Cassin’s Finch, which just happens to call the lake ‘home’. The bird is protected by the federal government under the ESA, Endangered Species Act, and there is evidence that the water is affecting it. There have been several found dead. That is where we need you. This will be a vast case for us and it will bring great light to the firm since it’s a double suit against the paver manufacturer. I will be first chair and handle the human illness side of it and you will be my second chair and handle the natural habitat/endangered species side of it.”

  My eyes were wide. “I’ll be co-chair?” I asked baffled. This was my very first case in the firm. No scratch that, my very first case period. I would be co-chairing the case with Mr. Cornelli, one of the owners, thank you very much. And, it would be like my own case. It basically was since I was leading the environmental side of it. The word “overwhelmed,” didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. This was too good to be true. Wait a minute, which lake was he talking about? The wheels in my mind started turning and I tried to remember the protected critical habitats in Seattle. While I recalled the lakes my thoughts were interrupted by his voice.

  He smiled again but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes. Paul Johnson and Felix will be third and fourth chair. Paul will work with me while Felix will be working closely with you.”

  And there it was, Felix and I working together? I internally gagged.

  “There is one very important detail of this case, I haven’t mentioned yet. It is in Arizona. Needless to say it will require that you travel with us a couple of times while we are gathering the evidence and interviewing the witnesses and families affected. Then we will need to return when the trial begins. Two more lawyers from our Arizona office will assist us with the research. You will meet them on our first trip there.”

  Crapola! I have to travel?

  Things were really getting difficult now. My Grandpa would never allow that.

  “I’m sorry Mr. Cornelli, but I’m afraid I’m a little confused. When I was hired my contract did not include any traveling requirements. I was not aware this would ever become necessary while I worked in this firm. Also, I am wondering how exactly I will be second chair for a state in which I haven’t taken the bar. Will I be required to transfer my scores and take the test in Arizona? Or will you be petitioning the court to allow me to appear before them?” My voice nearly shook as I spoke. I was about to be on the receiving end of his wrath, and it would NOT be pretty.

  “Are you declining the case Miss Anwell? Because I must say I would be highly disappointed. Not to mention it would eliminate any positive expectations I may have harbored regarding your future in this firm.” He stopped as he looked at me as though assessing me.

  Seriously? He changes the terms of my contract without notice and all of a sudden I’m irresponsible? Still, that hadn’t been as bad as I expected.

  He leaned back on his executive leather chair and crossed his arms over his chest. The intensity in his eyes made me either want to hide under the desk, or punch him. I hated when people made me feel this way.

  “I have been a lawyer for longer that you have been alive Miss Anwell, and I must say, your questions sound more like excuses. You don’t need to worry about insignificant things. You practicing in Arizona will not be an issue. We will take care of everything that is needed. However, if you are not able to acknowledge the opportunity this case represents for you as a serious Lawyer in this country, you might not be all that I considered you to be. Then my time recruiting you might have been for nothing. This might be the single most important decision you ever make Miss Anwell. I would advise you to make it wisely. This case can launch or end your career as a lawyer. Word travels fast, especially in this trade and I would hate to see a talented young woman like you, with such promise get burned before she even begins.” His voice was calm but deadly. I shuddered.

  Crapola, was that a threat?

  I swallowed hard and internalized his words. I didn’t even want to find out.

  “No of course not Mr. Cornelli. I’m not saying that at all. I’m truly honored for this opportunity and I’ll be glad to co-chair with you on this case. You will not regret it.”

  He nodded pleased by my answer. “Excellent Miss Anwell. I was right about you after all. The case is just beginning and there is much information to be collected before we can commence the proceedings. Our office in Arizona will do the leg work for us and keep us informed.”

  He stopped when the door opened and his assistant returned with the files. Her reddened eyes looked at me briefly. She handed me the file and I offered her a small smile. I felt horrible for her. “Thank you,” I said right before she turned and left the room without a single word.

  “The prep process will take about another two to three months, during which time I expect you to do research on your side of the case and begin working on your strong points and repercussions. This will allow you to create a strong argument. Any information received will immediately be given to you by my assistant to aid you in your research. You will be notified two weeks in advance, once the first trip is arranged. That is all.” He said, officially dismissing me.

  I took a deep breath as I nodded. His eyes returned to the monitor and I tensely walked to the door. My lungs burned from inhaling the heaviness in the air. The tension was thick. I opened the door and stopped when I heard him speak again.

&
nbsp; “Miss Anwell. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  What the? Did he really just ask me that?

  I turned around and caught the oddest expression on his face. It was so brief I might have actually imagined it. But for a moment he actually looked conflicted.

  “Yes Sir. Absolutely,” I answered, sounding more confident than I felt. I would have to find a way to convince Grandpa about the trips. At least I had three months to work him on this.

  He turned his face towards the monitor again and nodded. “Very well then.”

  “Ok,” I mumbled and stepped out the door.

  “What the hell was that?” I asked myself and sat at my desk. The stupid sound of motion camera reached me and I swore the damn thing was going to get ripped out of that wall if it kept following me. I sighed remembering what had happened. That had to be the strangest conversation I had ever had. Why would he make such a big deal about me accepting the case to then ask me if I was sure that I wanted to do it?

  I mean he had basically threated my first born child in there, just to give me an out?”

  Attempting to “shake” the odd experience off, I pressed enter on my keyboard and my monitor came to life. I looked at the file besides me and opened it then typed Cassin’s Finch into Google search and pressed enter.

  The Cassin’s Finch is a North American songbird small in size with a peaked head and a short medium, noticeably notched tail. Adult males are rosy pink generally, and display the most intense red color on their crown while females are brown-and-white with crisp, dark streaks on the chest and underparts. Their heavy beaks are straight-sided and fairly elongated. They exhibit long wings, the tips project farther down the tail than in other finches when suspended. Their status has been listed as ‘Endangered’ based on the 2008 federal study.

  “Wow. This has to be the cutest little birdy I’ve ever seen. Poor little birdy.”

  My heart literally squeezed in my chest for what was happening to them and the unfortunate people in those towns. I had to find a way to make Grandpa see that they needed my help and this was the right thing to do. I had to travel to Arizona no matter what.

  *

  I stared at my wall while I lay in my bed under the covers. It was well after midnight and Cyn hadn’t come.

  “Maybe today was just too stressful for my mind to bring him to me.”

  I told myself searching for a reason why I hadn’t seen him. The truth was, the day had definitely turned out to be nothing like I imagined it. The case and its implications, weighed heavily on my mind. It was normal that after everything I had been thinking about this afternoon. Following the meeting with Mr. Cornelli, my mind would be too preoccupied for goofing around with my “imaginary friend.” Right?

  I sighed and reached for my lamp turning off the light. I had a big day tomorrow. I would officially begin my research and study of the lake and its wild life. There was a lot I needed to do and rest was imperative. I wanted my mind to be sharp.

  “Have a peaceful night Cyn,” I whispered, repeating his words. My chest squeezed.

  CHAPTER 9. HOPEFUL

  CYNWRIG

  The children stood in formation on the training ground. Facing each other, they swung their wooden swords upwards, then down while their torsos turned sideways. The sound of wood hitting wood filled the air each time the swords connected, followed by Eisha’s command.

  “Once More.” She shouted and the children stepped back into position then forward. One attacked, the other blocked.

  My eyes followed their every movement, but it was not enough to hold my attention. The training exercises dulled, vanishing into the background. The silhouette of her still body, illuminated by the moonlight that filtered through the window blinded me. The feeling of her lips on mine, her hand holding me and destroying my existence with that simple act returned. Her voice teased me.

  “I wish you were real…”

  My chest constricted and I found it hard to breathe. It had been five days since I had last seen her. Gazed into her sky blue eyes, tasted her lips… gave into my desire. The experience had shaken me to my core. She awakened feelings that had been dormant for countless years. I needed her, all of her. I desired her presence in my life more than anything. But I was not worthy of her. She signified everything I failed to possess. Her heart was filled with wit and light, while mine was weighted by duty, agony and blame. Hers, a life experienced without hardship, while its presence had hardened mine. She was a Goddess in her own right, innocence in its purest form. Untouched by hatred, and the depravity this world grieved from. And I wanted to keep it that way. I wanted to protect her… I wished to wrap my body around her and keep her safe. Be a fortress, a refuge for her. Preserve the purity of her essence. Keep her away from ever having to endure the pain that I had been through. But above all, I wanted to be with her. My soul and everything I was already belonged to her. Worthy or not, and she belonged to me. Our essences were tied to the other in a way I could not comprehend. The connection was powerful and went beyond anything I knew. I wanted her to know I was real. I needed her in my life… in this world. My world. I would not hesitate to show it all to her, if she allowed me to. The truth was I could not fault her for perceiving me as an illusion, because she might very well be my dream.

  “Again.” Eisha’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

  The children now sat in a circle while Art assisted in the demonstration. I smiled. As strange as it was, the sight was one of comfort for me. It brought memories of the years of training with Eisha and my brother. Of all the weapon exercises, sword training had always been his favorite. He bragged about being so skilled, he could probably swing it with his eyes closed and win. I chuckled. That had prompted a dare from Eisha to which he had replied, “I could even wield two at a time, and not even miss a step.”

  That had resulted in my brother fighting with a blindfold on his eyes, and two wooden swords. It had also resulted on him limping home that night. His body covered in bruises that would take days to fade. He had learned the lesson, humility. And made it his mission to practice with me, blindfolded, every day for the next three months. Once he felt confident in his ability, he faced Eisha once more and won. Although to this day, she insists she allowed him to win. But whether that was the case or not, my brother became a force to be reckoned with. And the double swords became an extension of him. He was masterful in his use of the weapon. Possibly the best that ever was. His movements were fluid and instinctive. Very few things could get past him. And if something did, one thing was for sure. It only had a few seconds left. He was proud of his skill and not fond of mistakes.

  “Humility is one of our greatest strengths in life.”

  Mo meantóir’s words caused the guilt in me to spread like wild fire. After discovering her existence, her essence, I had not searched for him. My Goddess had taken my will away from me, and replaced it with an insatiable need to seek her. Was it wrong of me to give into this feeling? To pursue this sliver of hope presented to me? To hang on to it in the prospect that perhaps I was meant to be happy? Even if it was for the briefest of moments, I desired it to be possible.

  “Turn and block. Then crouch and swing the sword from below into his side.”

  My eyes followed Eisha. Sparring had always come easy to her. To see her in battle was to witness a beautiful dance, in which her body became the music and her axes happily sang. It was pure talent. She upheld that she was born to be a warrior. That it was second nature to her. But Art and I knew her hidden truth. She was meant for so much more. Her destiny was one of greatness. She just needed to accept its call.

  Lost in my thoughts I failed to notice the exercises had stopped. It took me a moment to realize what was happening. Art was picking up the axes from the ground while Eisha’s palm rested on the right side of her temple. Her eyes shut tight. I knew all too well what that meant. I rose from the ground instantly.

  “Children, take a moment of rest. Phelan and Seima will continue with the tr
aining,” I announced and my gaze fell on Phelan. He nodded in acknowledgement and moved to the center of the circle. His brow creased in worry while his eyes followed Art and Eisha’s progress towards her hut. Seima stood beside him. I fell in step with them and let my arm circle Eisha’s back while Art walked ahead of us to her hut. I held her hand and noticed her temperature had already dropped. I needed to lay her down fast. I slid my arm under her knees and carried her. She held tight while I rushed to her place. When we walked in the fire was already going, warming the interior of the room. I laid her down on the bed and rested her back to Art’s chest. He already sat there waiting. Instantly he held her close, his hand began moving up and down her right arm. The friction meant to aid her against the cold she usually experienced. I sat beside her and held the hand that reached for me between both of mine.

  “Do not leave my side, please,” she begged looking up at Art. Her voice was distressed.

  “We will be here, a chara.”

  Art answered and we exchanged a patient glance just as her body relaxed and she succumbed to the trance. Her eyes clouded and the familiar white glow emanated from them.

  I held her hand tightly between mine, while Art continued the friction. Her face became peaceful and there was a soft smile on her lips. Whatever she was witnessing this time was enjoyable, and for that I was grateful. Sometimes her visions were so unpleasant it took her days to recover. That would not be the case in this instance—The destiny that awaited Eisha was one highly revered among the Druids. Like her mother before her, she was an Ovate, a Prophet. Her mother, Venetia, had embraced her gift. She served as counselor to our village. She fully understood the process of death and rebirth and often assisted and guided the families of the transitioning soul to find peace and acceptance in its departure to the Blessed Isles. She was a traveler of not only space but also time itself, able to communicate with our ancestors and decipher the mysteries of the future. Her gift often let her to counsel closely with Mo meantóir and assist him in protecting the future of our people. She was loved and respected until the day she passed. It had happened during a trance. Unfortunately the vision she experience had been so extreme that her heart had not been capable of enduring it. Venetia’s screams of terror had awakened the village that night. Eisha, who was thirteen at the time and slept beside her mother, had desperately tried to wake her from the trance. She had not succeeded. Needleless to say the experience had left her scarred…traumatized. Once the magic awoke inside Eisha after rescuing Art, she began to experience the trances. The gift had been present all along but dormant. The first time it happened it was a scary moment for all of us. She had broken down and it took hours for her to finally calm. She was terrified of the trances and what she could experience in the visions. Customarily, an Ovate would be able to control the experience. Their power, knowledge and spirituality allowed them to willingly go into trance and out of it without missing a breath. Like a child opening a window into the night to gaze at the moon momentarily, then choosing to close it and end his observation. Eisha however, had not acquired such knowledge and she did not wish to possess it. If she had her way, she would have nothing to do with this ability. But it had chosen her and there was nothing she could do to stop it. The trances usually come to her unannounced, making her extremely susceptible to the process. It begins with a splitting pain in her temple. Her temperature drops and her body becomes weak, and unable to hold itself anymore. Her clouded eyes glow as the window to the cosmos opens for her, and the trance begins. Art and I have been with her every time, protecting her and helping her through it and out of it. I strongly believed that what Venetia experienced that night was the attack on our village. Unfortunately, she had been asleep and was not expecting the vision. Her mind had not been conditioned for the slaughter she would witness. Her heart could not endure the tragedy.