Hired Luck

by Mel Todd

  "Well, Carelian, let's go see what my options are."

  He only flicked an ear at me, so I sighed and left him there. Cats, really. Soon enough I lost myself in the maze of school forms, applications, and transfer information.

  Chapter 34

  Familiars don't follow any rhyme or reason that has been validated. They usually resemble Earth creatures, but not always. They are always intelligent, and it seems like they can speak telepathically with whomever they wish. But though people long for them, we don’t know why one person gets them and another doesn't. There have been merlins that had familiars that were executed because of the evil they did with their magic as well as hedgemages that never did anything except simple spells. ~ History of Magic

  .

  I was so lost in my search through the Byzantine maze of academia that until Jo called my name and pulled me out of my haze, I had no idea how much time passed. I saved my information and turned to look at her, and she had a huge smile on her face.

  "What?" But I couldn't help but smile also. Carelian made his way over, twining between our legs.

  "They said I have one of the worst cases they've ever seen. Normally this is addressed in grade school or high school and there were things I could do to help with it. But they said absolutely I qualify for assistance." She all but glowed. I don't think I'd ever seen anyone so glad they were diagnosed with a learning disability before.

  "This mean I don't need to kick some butt? Beat up on people until they treat you right?" I made punching motions with my hands.

  She let loose a peal of laugher and pulled me into a one-armed hug. Her hug was tight enough I ignored the need to breathe until she released me.

  "No. They’re sending out notes to my professors to allow me oral testing in most everything except math and the science coures, and then I’m allowed to verify with an aid or a teacher what the questions on the tests say. They’re providing me with software that will let me talk into the computer and do all my reports orally, as well as access to all the books via audio. Plus, they’re giving me licensed versions of some fonts that are supposed to be better for people with dyslexia. As for spelling and word use? As long as it sounds correct, it won't be counted against me in my classes."

  "See! I knew you could get what you needed." I picked up Carelian and slipped him into the carrier, still a bit surprised he didn't complain or fight, not that I would ignore my good luck, and we began walking out.

  "That just leaves you dealing with the FBI people."

  "I want to work as an EMT," I blurted out, the words surprising me. "I still need some money, as I won't ask your parents to support me in addition to you." I'd read up on financial support. While the government paid tuition and housing, it didn't cover the incidentals like books, supplies, or food. That meant I still needed some sort of job. Most kids had their parents sending them a few hundred a month, or work study. Jo had saved her money while she worked full-time for her dad, and her parents were giving her three hundred a month for other things. But I didn't have that, and my savings would disappear rapidly. Plus, I was tired of being broke all the time.

  Jo was about to respond when a woman stepped out of a hallway and we collided with her, sending her to the ground as even I was larger than she was.

  "Oh Merlin, I am so sorry," Jo gushed, dropping to her knees to help her up. I moved back a bit to get out of the way. The woman was tiny, with long dark hair that hung in an intricate net of braids down her back and brushed the top of her butt. As she rose, I took in the bright colored sari styled top over jeans. But what really grabbed my attention was the merlin tattoo on her temple - Entropy/Non-organic/Time. I didn't think I'd ever seen that.

  "Are you okay, please tell me you're okay?" Jo was still talking, but I watched the beauty of the woman register with her and she changed subtly. She was standing straighter and doing the little pose she always did when she thought someone was cute. I rolled my eyes.

  "No worries, I should watch where I'm going more. I know they say don't text and drive—I obviously need to not text and walk." She held up her phone, smiling, and it transformed her into stunning. I could see why anyone would be captivated by her, and her voice, low and melodic, only amplified her beauty.

  "But you're sure I didn't damage you?" Jo bit her lips looking worried and I knew damn well she was making them redder as neither of us had put on any makeup, not that I almost ever did. But Jo loved to dress up and be fancy. Heels and dresses were fine with her, if she had someone to wear them for.

  "It takes more than a little tumble to damage me." Her bright brown eyes turned to me and before I had a chance to react, she moved towards me in a fast gliding motion that reminded me of the acrobatic martial arts movies I'd seen. She reached up and brushed my hair away from my temple, revealing all of my crazy tattoo.

  Unnerved, I stepped back out of her reach, uncomfortable with anyone being that close into my personal space, especially when I didn't know them.

  She however didn't move. She tilted her head and smiled more, adding something I recognized as a sultry smile because of Jo practicing in the mirror. A very practiced sultry smile.

  "How lucky for me I didn't run into you two young ladies." This time she shared the smile with Jo, who was much more affected than I was by it, at least from the way her eyes lit up. But her eyes went back to me, leaning in a bit. "Everyone in the merlin circles has been chattering about your double emergence. Though the reactions are mixed. I know Steven keeps bragging about finding you, but I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Are you attending classes here, Cori?"

  Her familiar use of my name made me even more uncomfortable, as did the knowledge anyone was talking about me. I shifted back another half step, oddly wary of this woman. "Next semester, I think."

  "Ah, well then I will hope to see you around." Her eyes dropped to my chest, and for a split second I thought she was checking me out, but then she smiled and reached out her hand. "This must be the familiar you acquired in such a dramatic fashion." Before she could touch him, Carelian who had been watching all of this with what I associated with fascination, pulled his head down and hid from her.

  Smart cat.

  "Ah, he is still shy. Don't worry, he'll get over that." She turned and started away, her ass swaying so hard I thought she might have a limp. With a sudden whirl she spun back around and smiled. "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Indira Humbert, one of the three merlins on staff. Remember, you'll need an advisor when you start, Cori. All merlin students do. I’d be delighted to work with you." Again she gave a smile that I was sure was meant to get my heart racing and libido up. All it did was make me think about snakes hiding in the grass.

  "I'll look forward to seeing you again," Jo said, not quite drooling, but I resisted the temptation to elbow her, hard.

  "Oh, I do hope so. Both of you," she all but purred as she sashayed away, the phone going into her pocket.

  We stood there watching her go. "Wow, she is something. Why can't I find someone like that? Smart, sexy, and not afraid to show it."

  "I agree with those adjectives, but I'm not sure I'd want you to find someone like her." I didn't know how to explain it, but I thought the entire thing had been staged, and I didn't know why. To meet me? Why?

  I pushed it away. When it came to my advisor, I'd worry about that later. Much later. Like in January when I'd actually start.

  "Where to?" I asked as we got out into the open. The application packets I'd been working were not completed yet. I needed to decide on a major, but that meant more thinking. It was looking like I might come in as a junior, but I still needed to take some lower level classes, pretty much everything to do with magic. But adding to my stress every single transferring credit had a 'pending approval' note on it.

  Jo glanced at her phone. "I've got class in an hour, and a paper to hand the teacher, but I'd like to hit the campus store first. Joanne said I could ask for talking software and a headset, and the font CD. I've got time
. Besides, maybe…" She trailed off and laughed.

  "What?" I knew I was missing something.

  "I really am a horrible person. First lusting after that woman, who was clearly trying to get you to bite her hook and now getting excited about maybe running into Sable."

  "Ah, is Sable the one you had hoped would be at that disaster dinner at the Varsity."

  Jo blushed, a subtle red going up her cheek. "Yes. And I am still feeling horrible about that, though you know they would probably fawn all over you now."

  "That doesn't make it any better. Worse even. You need better friends."

  "I have better friends. You. But I don't think Sable would have done that. I haven't been hanging with them as much. And you were right. They think being a mage is something special and even denigrate hedgies."

  I cast her a look. "Denigrate?"

  "I can listen. I just apparently need to listen to more audio books. It’s reading the stuff that’s hard." She came to a halt. "Do you know that is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders? I almost feel lighter. I kept thinking I just wasn't trying hard enough, and Mami would get so upset at my grades in English. She loved those courses, though math was always her favorite. Now maybe I can explain to her why."

  "I think you should. Why don't you head up there this weekend, just you, and spend some time with your parents? I think they would like that."

  She shot a questioning look at me. "But what about you?"

  "I think I'll spend time reading up on familiars and seeing about on-call weekend work as an EMT. I'm not willing to give that up, not right away. If I do that, maybe I can find a balance with all this. If it helps, it looks like my entire first semester will be on magic classes and nothing else, but then I'll be in as a junior."

  "Oh, awesome. Maybe if this dyslexia stuff helps, I'll be able to catch up in my classes."

  "You can't be that far behind, you're barely a month in," I pointed out.

  "In reading I am. It was taking everything I had to keep up. Being able to listen to it, I can crank it up to a faster speed. Plus, I can listen while I walk, or," she grinned slyly at me, "we work out."

  I groaned, but I knew I needed to. "Then see, everything is good." We walked into the bookstore and I watched Jo's head pivot as she looked, then locked on someone. "I take it she's here?"

  Jo snapped her glance back at me, ducking her head. Watching the flush rise up her cheek amused me. "You must really like her. Normally you aren't so avoidy. You tend to go in, ask her out, and let the chips lay."

  Jo groaned even as she headed over to customer service. "I know. I just can't. Heck, I don't know if she likes girls. But she’s smart, funny, has talents, and wow, is she something else." We reached the desk, and Jo turned to get the extra aids she needed while I backtracked her gaze to find who was the object of her affections.

  I can see why she caught Jo's eye.

  Her skin was the same color Jo's would get when we spent all our weekends at the lake. Jo turned a pretty dark brown like a medium roast, while I went lobster red, then a pale peach. The girl, well woman as she had to be roughly the same age as us, had a lithe build that implied she went to the gym. It was yet another reminder that I really needed to work out. Her hair was stunning though. While most mages had long hair and braids, making it easier to do offerings, hers seemed to be twisted around itself in little corkscrews that she had tossed together to form designs. All in all, I was jealous. From here I couldn't see much else, other than vaguely pretty, and I didn't want to stare.

  "I can see the attraction," I said my voice dry when Jo came back to me. She looked at me, a bit panicked, but must have realized I hadn't gone over to the girl.

  "Yes, she's pretty. But she's also wicked smart and funny. I think she said she was an Army brat. Dad retired, I think."

  "Are you going to ask her out?" I was tempted to introduce myself but figured Jo had been through enough for one day.

  "Maybe, after I get caught up. Not until." She cast one last look at the girl, who I noticed had seen her from the flash of a smile I caught.

  Carelian rumbled a loud purr then a whine and wriggled. "Oops, I think I need to let him out for a bit." Outside there were lots of grassy areas. It was the MageTech campus, which meant there were at least some familiars. We headed over that way and I let him down, watching carefully. He looked so tiny compared to everything and everyone, it made me nervous.

  Huh, I didn't realize how much him being in that bag, purring, calmed me down.

  "Well," Jo started, dragging out the word so I glanced at her. "We have me all sorted out. I almost feel hopeful, though I'll need to spend some time tonight installing all this stuff, and maybe your help if the instructions get a bit wonky."

  "Always," I said, having gone back to watching Carelian. He acted like a cat, at least in grooming and bathroom habits. I needed to follow up on the idea that I could teach him to use a toilet. That would make things much nicer.

  "That means you need to deal with your mess; the one you created to help me." She shoulder bumped me a little and I groaned.

  "The temptation to run away is strong. But, you're right. Can't hide or avoid it forever. " Carelian was still investigating and I pulled out my phone and powered it on, cringing back like I expected it to shout at me.

  Beep, beep, ding, ding.

  The sound of alerts and messages continued for a full minute before they stopped. "Huh. Fifty-six text messages, ten voicemails. I really don't know if I care." I looked anyhow. A few from Siab, one each from Niall and Chris, and one verifying my registration code for the MageTech admissions process, the rest from Alixant. His name of Steven burned on my screen. I needed to change it.

  I glanced at the other messages, they were along the lines of Alixant was really mad, though Siab asked if I was okay. I sighed and scrolled through his. Anger, frustration, and demands, all came through the list of texts and I didn't care. I wasn't a slave, not really, and even with a waiver I still got to take personal time. He would just deal.

  I froze when I got to the last text message, locked on the words.

  "Cori? What's wrong?" Jo asked. Carelian had finished his investigations and was rubbing against our legs, but his tail flicked back and forth. I could tell he wanted to chase something.

  I need to take him to a park so he can chase squirrels or something.

  It was an idle thought and I didn't take my eyes off my phone.

  "Cori?" Jo prompted leaning over to see if she could read my screen.

  "He says he apologizes and asks me to come in Monday morning. To enjoy my weekend, but that we need to talk." I said all of it in a flat voice, hardly able to fathom the words.

  "Huh. Well, I guess if you're going to get executed Monday, we should party this weekend?"

  Her irreverent comment made me laugh. "No. You're going to see your parents Sunday and explain all this. And I'm going to take Carelian to the park." His ears perked up. "And we are going to spend Saturday getting you all ready to rock the academic world. But," I wiggled my phone in front of her. "Don't you have a class to get to?"

  "Oh, crap." Jo was up and gone before I finished laughing. Trying not to think about the Monday ahead, I went home to look up nearby parks that didn't have dead bodies in them.

  Chapter 35

  The Egyptian government has announced they are extending their mandatory service for all magicians. The Middle East already has the severest restrictions on magicians. This extension of a decade for all magicians to twenty years is unexpected. Already the Middle East is one of the few areas where even hedgemages are required to be marked. They also use branding instead of tattoos like every other country under the OMO. ~ History of Magic

  The weekend went just as planned. Jo and I fought through updating her computer with new fonts, the audio translation for class texts, the headphones, and the computer software. But once we finished, in one hour she had read, well heard, two chapters and passed the quiz. Something she admitted had taken her three hour
s before and she couldn't pass because she didn't know which word answers were which. She headed to her parents’ Sunday and Carelian and I went to the park. He still rarely said anything, but I suspected it was something that wouldn't last. Either way, he chased squirrels but let them go each time, did flips over blowing pieces of paper, and charmed at least three teenage girls.

  Jo came home glowing and she had a lightness about her that made her all but radiant. I just hugged her tight and we got ready for Monday.

  I'd achieved a strange state of apathy regarding Monday. It wasn't that I didn't care but more that nothing else would shatter my balance now. I knew what I wanted, and what I would no longer give up.

  Too bad my stomach didn't listen to my mind as I walked up to the office with Carelian in his pack. I walked in at seven-thirty and the others were already there but what caught my nose was the smell. The aroma of fresh coffee and pastries, not donuts but turnovers if my nose was correct, enveloped the room, making it more welcoming than any day prior. Siab and Chris were at the table with coffee in cups, and Niall was standing at the wall display with Alixant. They all turned as I stepped through, making me feel like I had a spotlight on me.

  "Good morning, Cori. Grab some food and take a seat. We'll start in a minute."

  I blinked at Alixant. His tone was polite, almost friendly - more than he'd been since this whole thing started. Thrown off kilter, I let Carelian out, stroking his back as I did so. He gave a soft purr then headed over to my chair. I'd woken him from his nap after chasing things under my bed all night. He jumped into the chair, curled into a red ball of fur, and fell asleep in a way I envied.

  Oh sure, keep me up all night, but you get to sleep all day.

  I mentally glared at him and got back the feeling of amused agreement. Shaking myself, I walked over to refill my coffee and grabbed a turnover. My nose had been right, apple and peach. With coffee and turnover in hand I approached the table, feeling unsure.