Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Beginnings

by Lydia Sherrer

  “Hey, Pa,” Bobby said. “Come play with us!”

  “Uh…no, sorry son, not now. Me’n this gal here need to have us a chat.”

  “You mean Lily? Can’t y’all talk later? We’re playin’ a game.”

  Rob’s brow creased, and Lily could tell he was working on a kid-friendly version of what he was thinking. “Well, she ain’t one of the guests, so I’m thinkin’ she and her friend best skedaddle if they know what’s good for ‘em,” he finally said.

  “But, Pa, I know’em, and they’re my friends! They helped Shanika and she knows ’em too, so they ain’t strangers. Please, Pa, it’s my birthday. Can’t they stay?”

  Lily held her breath as Rob’s mouth formed a thin line. He looked back and forth between her, Sebastian, and his son’s pleading expression. The moment stretched into uncomfortable silence, and she knew she had to do something.

  Leaning in, she spoke quietly into Rob’s ear, making one last attempt at reason, “I promise, we’re not here to cause trouble, we just need to talk. You, Bobby, and everyone else here are in danger. Please, for the sake of your son, hear us out.”

  Rob exhaled sharply in annoyance but whispered back his assent. “Fine. But after the party. An’ if y’all cause a ruckus and ruin my boy’s day, I’ll whup ya both like a rented mule.”

  Forcing a smile back on his face, he released Lily’s arm. “Alrighty, Bobby, they can stay. Now don’t you play ’til the sun goes down. Food’s nearabout ready.”

  “Sure, Pa! An’ will you come play with us after that?”

  Rob’s smile turned genuine as he ruffled his son’s hair. “If you ain’t plumb tuckered out by then, Bobby boy. Now get on an’ work up that appetite. I made mac ’n’ cheese for y’all and I’m gonna need help eatin’ it.”

  “Yeah!” Bobby cheered and pumped his fist, obviously in favor of the plan.

  The children resumed playing with renewed vigor. They might have kept on forever if Lily hadn’t convinced them to tackle Sebastian all at once, thus ending the game. Tired but happy, they all went inside for a birthday meal of epic proportions, topped off with cake and ice cream, much to Shanika’s delight. Afterwards the party progressed to presents and more games.

  Through it all, Lily noticed the strange way Rob interacted with his son. He obviously loved the boy and took every opportunity to dote on him and be involved in the party. Yet his actions were exaggerated, and he tried too hard to stay busy. A few times when Bobby’s attention was elsewhere, she caught him staring at his son with a sad and distant expression.

  When the party was finally over, the guests began their trickling departure. Shanika gave them both a heartwarming hug before she left, assuring them she came to Bobby’s house every day by herself so there was no need to walk her home.

  Rob’s attitude toward them hadn’t changed over the course of the party. Now that the guests were gone, the air was thick with tension. Hoping to diffuse it, Lily offered to help clean up. After several surreptitious nudges to the ribs, Sebastian caught on and offered, too. Surprisingly, Rob accepted. They all got to work as Bobby gathered his new toys and carted them upstairs. Once everything was clean, Rob went up to make sure Bobby was settled and came back down carrying a small rectangular box.

  Knowing what was in it, Lily felt her pulse quicken. But she refrained from saying anything and stepped on Sebastian’s foot when he opened his mouth. They followed Rob to the kitchen table where he set the box down and motioned for them to have a seat.

  “Alright. ’Afore I have a dyin’ duck fit, tell me why I shouldn’t throw y’all both outta my house. Or, better yet, lock y’all in the closet and let the sheriff learn you some manners.”

  Lily and Sebastian glanced at each other, and through silent agreement Lily spoke first.

  “Look, Mr. Smith, let’s stop pretending we don’t all know what’s going on here, alright?”

  Rob stared hard at her for a long moment. Finally, he sighed and rubbed his face in frustration. “That’ll be a mite bit hard, since I don’t rightly know what’s going on m’self. All I know is, every time I push a button on that contraption, I get another day with my boy, an’ he gets another mighty fine birthday party.”

  Lily’s brow crinkled. “Wait—so, if you don’t know what it is, then how do you know how to use it?”

  “I ain’t got a cotton-pickin’ clue! I found it in that antique shop aroundabout…well, I ain’t rightly sure how long ago. I guess I lost count of the days. Anyhow, my boy loves history, an’ he’s always goin’ on ‘bout ancient civilizations and stuff he learned at school. This contraption reminded me of them funny calculators y’all see in textbooks, what are they called? With all them beads in a line?”

  “An abacus?” Sebastian offered.

  “Yeah, that’s the one. I know, I know, it ain’t the same shape, but it’s got all them dials with funny scribbles on ’em. He’s a sucker for collectin’ doohickies like that. I even caught him diggin’ out back once; dug a fair big hole ’afore I explained there ain’t no Egyptians or Hittites or Greeks as ever lived here. He’s a good kid, studies real hard. He just gets funny ideas in his head sometimes.

  “I gave it to him this mornin’…well, a passel a mornings ago, I guess. When he picked it up, it sorta glowed for a sec. It ain’t never done that when I touched it. I was fixin’ to chuck it, but he gave me a look like a kicked pup so I let him keep it. He fiddled with it all mornin’ ’til I made him put it away ’afore the party. That evenin’ when I was cleanin’ I picked it up an’ this piece popped out the end. I reckoned I’d broke the dern thing, so I tried to mash it back in. Things flashed around me real quick-like, and next I know it’s mornin’ again.

  “I sure was glad Bobby sleeps in on Saturdays, ’cause I near as had me a conniption fit. But then I saw all his birthday stuff was wrapped up and all the food was back in the ’frigerator. I didn’t have a doggone clue what to do, so I jus’ acted normal. Bobby didn’t remember a thing from the day ’afore an’ the party went along jus’ the same. No one said a thing ’bout it, so neither did I.

  “That evenin’, the second time ’round, I took it out and was jus’ staring at it in my hands when the dern button popped out again, exactly the same as ’afore. I…well, I couldn’t help m’self. It’d been a nigh on perfect day for Bobby, and I…I couldn’t let it go. So I mashed it again.”

  “And here we are, days’ worth of birthdays later,” Sebastian said scathingly. “Do you realize you’ve trapped the whole town in this loop? You’re keeping everyone here just to live your silly party over and over. That thing is a stolen family heirloom and a dangerous magical artifact. I’ll thank you to give it back.” He held out his hand.

  Rob didn’t react well to Sebastian’s demand. He grabbed the box, pulling it protectively toward him as he glared across the table.

  “That’s hogwash. I bought it fair an’ square.”

  Sebastian stood up. His tone was casual, almost joking, but his eyes glinted dangerously. “Regardless, sir, of how you acquired it, it’s dangerous. You have no idea the fire you’re playing with, so I highly recommend you hand it over.”

  That just made Rob’s expression turn harder. He stood as well, opening his mouth to demand their immediate removal, no doubt. But Lily spoke first, voice stern.

  “Mr. Smith, will you sit down, please. Sebastian, you too.” When they hesitated, she gave them both her most withering glare. Rob caved first and sat down; Sebastian followed suit.

  Turning to Rob, Lily spoke calmly but firmly. “Mr. Smith, it’s imperative you understand what’s going on before you make any rash decisions. As an archives manager, I have experience with these sorts of…artifacts. It may seem fantastical, but the device you have can indeed loop time. It creates a field of alternate reality and, as long as you continue resetting it, it repeats the time period set by its dials.

  “The problem is its…energy source is running out. The field is breaking up and going haywire in some places, creating dan
gerous anomalies. This whole loop could disintegrate, and every man, woman, and child trapped here could cease to exist, get stuck in between realities, be turned inside out, or who knows what else. And it’ll happen soon if you keep pushing that button. We need to break the spell, or better yet not reset the loop and let things return naturally to real time.”

  Rob stared at her, obviously trying to take it all in. “How’m I supposed to know if you’re tellin’ the truth and not jus’ spinnin’ a fancy yarn? An’ if it’s all that pow’ful, why would I give it over?”

  Lily sighed, exasperated. “You’d know if you took a minute to actually look around and see what’s happening. And you’ll give it to me because you love your son too much to risk hurting him. Even if the loop wasn’t in imminent danger of collapsing, this eternal repeat isn’t healthy. No matter how enjoyable, one day can never be better than a lifetime. I know you want him to be happy, but keeping him from living his life isn’t the way to do it.”

  She extended her hand, holding his gaze until his stubborn expression slowly crumbled. As it did, his shoulders slumped and his eyes filled with a weary despair that pierced Lily’s heart to the core.

  “I…I cain’t give it to you. His mama passed a few years ago an’ he’s all I got left. This here’s my last chance to be with him.”

  “What are you talking about?” asked Sebastian, alarmed. “He’ll have other birthdays. What’s so important about today?”

  “No, he won’t—” Rob’s words came out as a choked sob. “He…he’s got leukemia. The doctors s—say he won’t last more’n s—six months. This here’s the last birthday he’ll ever have. I found a way to make him live longer, an’ I cain’t give it up. I won’t!”

  A stunned silence fell.

  “Oh, Mr. Smith,” Lily said, voice gentle and eyes burning with unexpected tears. “I’m…I’m so sorry.”

  “Yes, yes. It’s all very touching and tragic, but it’s entirely beside the point.”

  A refined voice spoke behind them, making them all jump. Lily turned to see a familiar, imposing figure standing in the archway between living room and kitchen. Heart sinking, she realized the door must have been left unlocked. The wizard’s crisp suit was the exact same color gray as it had appeared to her in the antique store, though the rest of him now had color. His pale skin contrasted sharply with his raven black hair, and his eyes were a piercing blue, bluer even than Lily’s own. He examined their stunned faces with an unconcerned air as he casually pointed a sleek and rather lethal-looking pistol in their direction.

  “You!” Rob and Lily said at the same time.

  “Yes, me, and I’m done playing games,” the newcomer said. “This whole cloak-and-dagger business is incredibly tiresome. It’s been hard enough navigating in and out of this damnable loop, but thanks to that imbecile’s thick-headed stubbornness,” he said, gesturing at Rob, “the loop is now so unstable that magic use is out of the question. I’m forced to resort to the crude barbarities of you mundanes.”

  Despite his apparent disgust toward the gun in his hand, his aim did not waver.

  Looking at Rob, he continued. “That was quite a moving speech, Mr. Smith, but it doesn’t invalidate what the young lady told you. Your son and everyone else here is in for an unpleasant end if you don’t give me that artifact.”

  “You wouldn’t…” Rob said, his nervousness and uncertainty evident as he eyed the gun. “You’re bluffin’. Y’all are in this together!”

  “We are most certainly not together,” Sebastian interrupted, indignant. “That thing is mine. It’s been in my family for years. If anyone gets it, it’ll be me.” He stood up and glared at the man in the archway, not in the least intimidated by the pistol. Lily hoped desperately he wouldn’t do anything rash.

  “So, you’re a Blackwell, are you?” the wizard asked, eyebrow raised. “I’m sorry to break it to you, boy, but it’s not yours. Your family stole it, and I’m here to take it back.”

  “Wha—?” Sebastian’s mouth dropped open.

  “Nobody’s gonna take anythin’!” Rob said forcefully, standing up. “Y’all are gonna get outta my house, or I’ll mash the button on this thing!” He waved the box containing the lugal-nam menacingly.

  “Whoa, whoa!” Lily exclaimed, holding up her hands in a calming gesture as she, too, stood. “Just calm down, Mr. Smith. And whatever you do, do not push that button. The device’s power is giving out and if you loop it again we could all die, including your son. Please, sit down and we’ll discuss this like mature adults.”

  The man in the archway chuckled, though his tense body language belied his casual air as his eyes remained locked on Rob. “Yes, do take the young lady’s advice, Mr. Smith. I would hate to have to hurt someone.”

  Lily eyed the wizard, her burning curiosity driving her to distraction despite the danger. She could feel him radiating power like a small sun. Usually wizards kept their power heavily masked, so as not to shine like a beacon to any magic user who wandered by. But this man hadn’t the faintest hint of a mask, as if he were daring the world to take note. She also noticed he wasn’t wearing the ward-ring she’d seen earlier. That implied he knew what would happen to anyone warded against the lugal-nam’s magic when it reset. The in-between space was a dangerous place to be right now.

  With considerable effort, she put aside the questions clamoring to be asked and focused back on Rob. “Look, I can’t begin to imagine the pain you’re going through. But that doesn’t justify putting hundreds of lives in danger. What would your son say if he knew? And do you even know if Bobby wants to live the same day over and over? Have you asked him what he wants?”

  “I know he don’t wanna die,” Rob said, voice choking up again. “Every day after his party, he says it was the best day in his life. Why wouldn’t he wanna keep livin’ it, ’stead’a dyin’?”

  “But, Mr. Smith—”

  “Jus’ shut up!” he yelled, growing more upset. “I cain’t let him die.”

  “Look, let’s make this easy,” the wizard interrupted. “I’ll give you a hundred thousand dollars if you hand me the box. You can use the money for the best treatment possible. Maybe there’s something the doctors can do.”

  Rob shook his head “No. There’s nuttin’ they can do. Leukemia’s got no cure. This here’s the only way.”

  “Hey,” Sebastian said, shooting the wizard a nasty look before catching and holding Rob’s gaze, expression full of a tender sadness Lily had never seen before. “We don’t want your son to die, either, but we also don’t want anyone else to get hurt. I know what kind of pain you’re going through. I lost both my parents when I was a teenager. It was worse than dying, and it still hurts every day. I’d give anything, anything, to get them back. But I can’t. Even if I used that device and prevented their deaths, it wouldn’t fix things. They’d have still died in another life. I would have still spent years dealing with the pain. Even if I could get back a version of them in a different reality, our relationship would never be the same.

  “Trying to keep your son alive by playing with time is hurting your relationship with him. You need to let him live the life he’s been given and accept whatever comes after. He’s accepted it, and you should, too. You have no right to decide his fate, and you could be endangering him even further. You can’t change fate. You can’t play God. Please, just give us the device and let him move on in peace.” Sebastian held out his hand invitingly.

  Rob looked torn, glancing between Sebastian and the gun in the wizard’s hand.

  “Enough of this tiring debate,” the wizard said as he stepped forward. “Give me the box now or I’ll—”

  “You’ll do what?” Sebastian asked, expression switching from tender to hard in an instant. The wizard froze, looking warily at the yellow-and-black police Taser that had suddenly materialized in Sebastian’s other hand.

  “Uh…Sebastian, what are you doing?” Lily asked, nervous that the wizard’s aim had shifted to Sebastian’s chest. “And where d
id you even get that thing?”

  “Nicked it off the sheriff,” Sebastian said absently, gaze still fixed on the wizard. “The guy was thicker than an oak tree. Didn’t even notice. Not like you, Mr. Fancy Pants,” he continued, addressing the wizard. “You seem to know what’s going on, so I want answers. Who are you? How do you know my name? What do you mean, my family stole the lugal-nam?”

  “Hmm, lugal-nam? So you are a wizard? Strange, you don’t feel gifted. You, on the other hand, most definitely are.” The wizard’s gaze shifted to Lily and she felt a chill run down her spine at the hungry curiosity in his eyes.

  “Hellooo,” Sebastian said. “Over here. Let’s stay focused, shall we? Just because I’m not a wizard doesn’t mean I’m ignorant.” He sounded sarcastic, but Lily could see worry in his face as he tried to draw the wizard’s attention away from her.

  With a “this isn’t over” look at her, the wizard’s eyes shifted back to Sebastian and a condescending smile slowly spread across his face. “That lugal-nam was passed down from generation to generation in my family for hundreds of years before one of your ancestors stole it, wanting all the power for himself, I’m sure. I’ve been searching for it for decades. You Blackwells are hard to pin down when you don’t want to be found. I’ll commend you on that. Now stop being a fool and put the Taser down.”

  Sebastian hesitated, putting his free hand in his pocket and half drawing it out with a look of disbelief. But then his expression hardened into one of resolve and he put both hands on the Taser, holding it steady. “No. Even if my ancestors did steal the lugal-nam, it was to keep it safe and out of the wrong hands. I’m thinking those wrong hands might include yours.” Though his eyes were full of steel, Sebastian also quirked a smile, matching his opponent’s mocking expression.

  The wizard sighed. “Must we do this? Despite your forefather’s thieving ways, I hold you no ill will. If you help me get the lugal-nam, you and your companion may depart unharmed. I’ll even offer you ten thousand dollars to pay for your trouble.”