"Sometimes," she allowed. "But not always. Not always."
Christopher shifted uncomfortably and took a long sip of his now cold coffee. "So why are you helping me now?"
"Because," she said, putting down her coffee cup and turning to him. "At least one of the people you're looking for is impossible. And if the magic is coming back enough to do what I think it is, this is just the start of your problems."
Chapter 17
Civig stood behind Dan and shifted from foot to foot while he examined the refrigerator.
Dan growled in irritation and slammed the door, turning to pace across the kitchen. "She said I can make something happen if I want it badly enough. Why can't I make the tunnel appear now that I know it's here."
"I don't know, Dan," Civig said. "Maybe it was because I was on the other side trying to come through?"
Turning a speculative eye on the gnome, Dan nodded. "That might have been part of it. Do you think you could get back through?"
With a sigh, Civig went to the refrigerator door and opened it. The long, dark hallway appeared, the glowing blue plants were larger and covered more of the walls, vines spreading like veins down the rock.
"How did you do that?" Dan asked, looking through the door. He put his hand out to touch a flower and it stopped inches from the closest one, a shimmering barrier appearing beneath his fingers.
"I expected to see it when I opened the door," Civig said. "And I've been there, spent a lot of time there, it's my way home and I'm not fooled by illusions."
"The refrigerator isn't an illusion," Dan protested, pushing harder against the barrier. He drew his fingers back with a curse, shaking his hand.
"Did it bite you?" Civig asked.
"It shocked me," Dan said, holding his hand against his chest.
"That makes sense. It's how your world translates power these days."
"These days?"
"Your people know electricity, it's taught everywhere, it powers everything. In the past, it might have been fire, or ice, or stabbing knives, depending on where you were. As your knowledge changes and grows so do your internal myths."
"That's fascinating," Dan said, reaching out to touch the barrier again.
Civig shook his head. "And always you go back to see if it will bite you again. You humans have no sense of self-preservation. No respect for the ways the universe can hurt you."
"It can't kill me, can it?" Dan said, his hand halted between his face and the barrier.
"It can, if you test it too far. Say, if you took a running jump at it. Parts of you would make it through. Maybe even enough to figure out who you were."
"But if I just touch it?"
Civig opened his mouth to reply but the ringing doorbell cut him off.
"Pizza," he said when Dan looked confused.
"Right," he nodded. "I ordered some, didn't I?"
Dan abandoned the barrier and Civig closed the refrigerator door. When he returned with the pizza, Dan sat on the floor in front of the refrigerator and set the box next to him. Civig sat on the other side of the pizza box and flipped it open.
They both took a slice. Civig nearly inhaled his. Dan stared at it for a minute then moved his concentration back to the door.
"It's not going to change form just because you're staring at it," Civig told him around a bite of pizza.
"I'm thinking," Dan told him. "It might help."
"Thinking at it probably won't help, either," Civig said.
Dan frowned at the refrigerator, handing his slice of pizza to Civig when he'd finished the last one in the box. Civig was nice enough to dispose of the pizza box, too, leaving Dan to continue deep in thought.
"I'm a Bard, right?" Dan asked suddenly. "That means I make magic with music."
Civig waggled his hand. "Kinda. You make magic by making things. Your creative talent lies in music, and that does seem to be the most common one for humans, so your magic comes through your music."
"So, what, if I was a sculptor, I'd make magic statues?"
"There have been a few of those in human history, mostly they've passed into legend now, but I've seen some of the things in your art museums so I know they didn't die out."
"Really?" Dan's face was speculative but he shook his head. "Right, not the point."
"You have a point?" Civig teased gently.
"My point is that my magic works with music. I write a song and want something badly enough when I'm singing it that the world moves to make it happen, even if I'm not consciously asking it to."
"That's how it has worked so far," Civig agreed.
"Right. So, if I write a song, want something while I sing it, and know that what I'm singing will happen, I can shape how it works."
"The intention is the important part," Civig said slowly. "And everything requires power. Small changes don't require much power, a nudge here and there and there you go. Making something do what you want it to do when it goes against its nature requires more power."
Dan nodded, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Alright, so I want to make a door, which is already a door, connect to more than one place. And allow me to pass through it."
"That seems logical," Civig said.
"And I have to put what I want it to do to music?"
With a sigh, Civig nodded.
"Become what you are, be more than you are, let the power to transform flow through you," Dan muttered. He started looking around for something to write with, and his eyes fell upon a dry erase marker stuck to the fridge. Something appropriate to write on didn't spring immediately to mind so he started writing on the fridge.
The lyrics flowed through him, the music following so he hummed as he read back through the words that flowed from his marker on to the door. He didn't seem to notice the change in frequency in the hum from the refrigerator when he hummed with the words he was writing.
He stopped for a moment and looked up at Civig. "Do you think I should write it in Gaelic?"
Civig, who hadn't missed the changes in the refrigerator shook his head. "Maybe, if it doesn't work. But I think you'll be fine."
"Right, English first, Gaelic as a back up. I'll have to change some of it to make it scan properly if I do," his voice softened until he was muttering to himself, going back to make notations, and drumming the fingers of his left hand against the floor.
When he was satisfied, he stood up and walked to the living room, completely oblivious to the darkness outside or the nap Civig had decided to take on the couch. He picked up each guitar and picked out a few chords, then put it down, none of them sounding quite right. They were all meant to be amplified in some way and that didn't feel right.
Finally, he came to the acoustic guitar he'd taken to the forest to summon Samireal. It had worked there and it didn't need anything extra. The first few chords felt right on this guitar and he nodded.
He returned to the kitchen and sat in front of the refrigerator, marker at the ready to make adjustments as he needed them. Hours later, he was finally satisfied with the song. Civig had woken up and was watching him with rapt attention.
Dan's eyes were red, his hair mussed and wild, and his fingers ached but still he played. He could feel something gathering around him, if only he could make it do what he wanted. He needed more power, more focus, more...him.
An idea formed in his tired brain. He'd live-streamed new songs before and, while it was early, he knew he'd get a few people watching.
Grabbing his phone, he sent out announcements of an upcoming live stream then jumped in the shower. He knew he looked like hell but a quick wash and some eye drops would make him look human, at least.
"Dan, what are you doing?" Civig asked.
"I had an idea," Dan told him, digging through his closet. "It's brilliant."
"What was it?"
"Trust me," Dan looked at him, his smile wide and slightly manic.
Civig frowned but didn't interrupt again.
When he was dressed, carefully casual and still sl
ightly disheveled looking, he picked up his phone to find several hundred excited replies.
Excellent.
He found his tripod and set it up in his kitchen, using his phone to gauge where he needed to be for the best effect. Once he got the rest of the gear set up, he resumed his place on the floor, certain this was where he needed to be.
With a deep breath, he started the program for the live-stream and flipped his hair out of his face the way he knew a lot of his fans liked.
"Hey, there, guys! I've been up all night working on a new song and I thought some of you might like to hear it. I know it's early so thanks for getting up with me."
He started playing and Civig shivered.
Chapter 18
It was the screaming that told Winifred something was wrong. It was early in the morning and she and Nate had fallen asleep on the couch. Kujo and his pixie had gone back to their apartment, nothing solved, late into the evening.
Fear and adrenaline woke her up, the smells of both coming through the open window and hitting her right in the gut. She was on her feet, heart pumping with excitement, before she realized what was going on. It was only then that she heard the screaming.
The window in their living room looked out at the parking lot for the strip mall next door. Half the store fronts were for lease but it contained a check cashing place, a cheap Chinese restaurant, a dollar store, a used book store and a more upscale gym than was really appropriate for the neighborhood.
Nothing but the gym was open this time of day.
As soon as she thought about it, a body flew through the front doors of the gym, shattering glass and bending metal. The screams grew louder and a great hulking form shoved itself through the doors.
Grey-green skin covered the bulging muscles and distended belly on the eight foot tall monstrosity. He, it was most definitely male, grabbed part of the broken door and yanked. The screech of tearing metal put her teeth on edge until he'd snapped off a long piece of steel.
"Nate, Nate!" Winifred called, rushing for the door. Nate was already putting on pants, having fallen on the floor when she stood up abruptly.
"Call the others," he told her. "I'm right behind you."
She ran out the door and down the stairs, her hand reaching for the phone she hadn't grabbed. When she rounded the corner, Kujo and Izzy were running out of their apartment, both still struggling to get their shoes on.
"We're here," Kujo called. "What's wrong?"
The sound of crunching metal answered him and Winifred ran out the door.
The monster had started to destroy cars in the parking lot, swinging his metal club at them and laughing at the destruction he caused. Some of the people from the gym were standing in the doorway, most of them on phones, though some were just staring at the destruction.
Winifred stopped on the sidewalk between the apartments and the strip mall and stared. Nate threw a blanket around her shoulders and she pulled it across her chest, only vaguely aware that she was still naked.
"What do you want to do?" Kujo asked, his body tense with anticipation.
"Stop him," she told them.
A horrible, howling wind tore through the parking lot and the monster turned to look at her, his blood shot eyes narrowed in indignation. Nate and Kujo ran, Izzy hard on their heels, and attacked before he had a chance to swing his club.
Though much shorter, Nate and Kujo worked him hard, fists pounding hard against flesh until he grunted in pain. Izzy did her best to land a blow but kept having to duck out of the way. The monster turned to swat at her with his weapon and Kujo grabbed her and moved behind him, out of his way.
Using the opportunity, he pounded hard against the monsters back. Izzy saw her chance and ran up Kujo to leap on the monsters shoulder. Her sharp fingernails dug into his flesh and he cried out in pain. Sharp teeth flashed before she bit him hard on the neck.
Blood so dark it flashed the color of rubies in the early morning sun before it turned black started running down his chest. It splashed on Nate as he closed to attack again and he started to glow.
Suddenly, every blow he landed made the great monster cry out in pain as blood flowed from every injury. The monster dropped his metal club and Kujo picked it up. Lifting it as though it were nothing, Kujo swung at the monster.
The metal met with the side of the monsters head and it collapsed like a broken beach ball. Izzy jumped and rolled as the monster came crashing down, her eyes bright with excitement.
Sirens were wailing in the distance and coming closer.
"We should leave," Winifred said, coming to stand next to Nate's shoulder.
"What? Why? We won!" Izzy exclaimed.
"Do you want to explain to the police what happened?" Winnie asked, her eyes dark, her hair still blowing in a wind that seemed to surround only her.
Izzy and Kujo exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
"Neither do I," Winifred said. "Nate?"
Nate's chest was heaving and he was covered in blood. He shook his head, body still thrumming with energy from the fight.
"Good. Let's go. I'm sure there's video but I don't think anybody knows who we are. Let them wait a bit longer to find out."
Chapter 19
Listrial took his cup and went to rinse it in the sink. Christopher let his eyes settle on the news, even if his mind was wandering elsewhere. A story about a fight in a parking lot came on and he felt Listrial's hand squeeze hard on his shoulder.
Cellphone footage of the fight showed three people attacking an ogre. There was a dark shadow behind them.
"I think we've found your fighter," Listrial said. "Did you know about the two others?"
"No, they're new. Where's the woman?"
"I believe she is the source of the shadow behind them. It's hard to get a clear idea of what's in it but I think I see a face. Can you get a clear picture of anyone involved?"
Christopher shook his head, watching the quick and brutal fight. The segment cut off the video just before the finish but the talking head reporting the story made it clear it was brutal and very final. Information was requested on the people who stopped the monster who had apparently rampaged through a gym early that morning before being stopped by the three heroes.
"Three," Christopher pointed out. "Maybe she's not with them."
"She was there," Listrial disagreed. "I'm sure of it."
"It says there's more information on the website. And the incident took place in Tuscon."
"Did you not know where they were from before?"
With a sigh, Christopher stood up. "No, I didn't. I was asked to help identify them but they people who asked weren't being terribly forthcoming with their information. Normally, it helps to know where I'm starting from but it's not strictly necessary."
Listrial followed him to his office and the disappointment showed on her face when they got there. Christopher laughed.
"Why the long face, your majesty? Something not to your liking?"
"Your office is very...normal."
"What, were you expecting the bat cave?"
She shrugged. "No, not necessarily."
He laughed again and sat in his chair. "You were. You were totally expecting the bat cave. And here I didn't think you kept up with pop culture."
"I am not completely uninterested in the world around me. I may cling to my past, as your father liked to say, but I have to stay very aware of the present."
"And your future?" Christopher asked, pulling up the news site. The information about the location of the fight was trivially easy to find.
"Unknowable, though I do control what I can."
Christopher looked up to find her staring at him, a half-smile curling her lips. "I believe you. And I have an address for the incident in Tucson. Care for a journey?"
"Of course. I assume you intend to fly?"
"Unless you can manage a portal the way you did the other night?"
She smiled sheepishly. "That bit of theatrics cost me dearly."
"Hopefully you got the reaction you were hoping for."
"Almost. It was the follow up that was far more rewarding."
He flushed and she smiled. "What do you need to be able to travel?"
"Not much. Though I should run home and pack. I'd suggest we simply purchase whatever is necessary when we arrive but there are some supplies I don't think will be easy to find."
"I can drive you home-" Christopher started.
"I'll take a cab," she told him. When he frowned, he leaned across his desk and cupped his cheek. His gaze met hers then followed the curve of her neck to the collar of his shirt, that was gaping slightly at her posture.
"I'd like to make sure you get home safely," he said, licking his lips slightly.
"I will," she told him. "I've managed this long without you, lover. Trust me that I can do it for a while longer."
"What kind of supplies do you need?" He asked, pulling his gaze away to meet her eyes again.
"Personal ones," she answered. "My scepter, at least. And some other things that haven't worked since the portals were closed but might begin to again."
"Alright," he said. "Hurry back."
She kissed him, gently at first, then bit his lower lip. "Book a late flight."
His heart raced as she left his office and he gripped the arms of his chair to keep from chasing after her. The security cameras that fed to his monitors fuzzed slightly as she passed in front of them and he wondered at it. He wasn't going to watch her get dressed, he'd never installed cameras in his bedroom, but he was fascinated by the way she moved.
She disappeared into his room and he turned his attention back to the news coverage of the flight. Most of the available footage was from cellphone cameras. What security footage existed suffered from the same issues his cameras did when Listrial walked past.
Movement at the edge of a couple videos caught his eye and he focused on those few seconds. There was a gun. Muffled shots sounded that he'd assumed had just been background noise. As close as the person was to the cellphone, the shots should have been much louder but the person holding the camera acted like they hadn't even heard them.
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