Shadows & Lights (2)

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Aberdare Multimedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadows & Lights

AWAKENING

 

 

1

 

 

Johanez Johntson

 

 



All Rights Reserved; This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part, nor transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy nor otherwise without the express consent of the Publisher.



Valiant Digital © 1995 in Association with Aberdare Multimedia © 2009

Copyright © 2006. Johanez Johnston

 

 

This First Edition Published in Canada in 2012 by Valiant Digital.

The author asserts intellectual property rights of all materials contained within.




 



 

Chapter 2

 

The car glides to a halt in front of the old Lion’s Head Inn and we alight from the car before Ferule whisks it away. In the public eye, I feel slightly embarrassed as to our somewhat childish choice to wear the tights, but it is too late to turn back now. Proceeding into the Inn’s foyer, much like as we had exited the house earlier, excepting of course Ferule’s presence with us, Uncle Vlad introduces himself to the concierge. We were immediately surrounded by a swarm of staff waiting to take our cloaks and of course several more members of the Inn staff lining themselves up for inspection as though we were somehow royalty.

 

“…And this is Narissa.” Uncle Vlad finishes, having introduced all of us.

 

“I am most pleased to meet your acquaintance, Duchess.” The concierge proudly proclaims. “It has been a very long time since we have had you visit us.”

 

“I’m sorry,” I answer. “But I do not remember ever having been here before.”

 

“My apologies, Duchess.” The concierge offers back. “The last time you were here, your mother and father were carrying you and your sister.”

 

“Thank you.” I politely add as my eyes fall upon the huge portrait hanging from the wall above the reception desk. The portrait was of a young woman, not much older than I am now, dressed in a full-length white gown. Her long red hair and green eyes leap out of the portrait directly at me. Stepping forward ignoring the Inn staff and proceeding directly thru their midst, they parted their positions to allow me to step closer towards the portrait. The concierge remains close behind me as I crossed the floor to take a closer look.

“The portrait was a gift from your parents, Duchess.” The concierge offers in explanation. The ring I wear tingles slightly as though vainly attempting to divert my focus upon the image that starkly resembles me in almost every detail. Quickly returning from almost a trance, I fold my hands in front of me much like Professor Montay often does lately.

 

“A gift I am sure you have diligently maintained in my absence.” I politely reply, but hid my disgust of the dust and cobwebs adorning the portrait’s frame. “I am sure Ferule will be pleased to know it is still here.”

 

“Y-Y-Yes, Duchess.” The concierge stammers in reply to the sound of Ferule’s name.

 

“I will be requiring the use of our suites.” I ever so politely command.

 

“Yes, of course, Duchess.” The concierge dutifully replies as I sense Ferule’s presence approach me from behind.

 

“If that little toad even tries to kiss your feet…” Ferule’s voice angrily echoes in my head.

 

“You will leave him be, Ferule.” I calmly project back. “Give him a minute to become reacquainted with you, and allow me to be escorted into the dining room before you offer him any assistance.”

 

“As you wish, Mistress.” I hear Ferule’s voice now calmly echo inside my mind.

 

“I’m famished, dinner?” I offer to everyone. We are escorted directly into the main dining room, which the tables and chairs have obviously been arranged to accommodate our party and fully staffed in preparation before our arrival. The dining room, filled with the usual clutter of clinking glasses and cutlery before we enter, becomes deafeningly silent as we cross the floor to our waiting table. Escorted by the concierge who refrains from offering me his elbow as that would have been a social blunder, and dutifully half a pace behind me, he introduces me to the Maître d'hôtel. I accept his offer to be seated and wait for everyone else to be offered their seats as well. The staff all dressed in matching uniforms with white gloves seems to be extremely nervous. The silence in the dining room remains as I noticed all attention seems to focus upon myself.

 

“Ferule…” I project, “I could use some of your patience here.”

“Yes Mistress?” Ferule speaks as he glides to my right side.

 

“Please have everyone return to their dinner, with my compliments.” I speak softly. I regard the formal place setting and nervously hook one ankle behind the other as I offer my hand and ring to Ferule.

 

“It shall be done as you command, Mistress.” Ferule accepts, kissing my ring and backing away slowly to converse with the Maître d'hôtel.

 

The tension in the room breaks almost immediately as each and every occupied table has our staff paying them the same attention they had just been focusing upon me. Sitting to either side of me is Annie on my left and Cathie on my right with Professor Montay and Uncle Vlad seated across from us. Our red and white tights make the three of us resemble a vaudeville trio, or at least I think so. I think perhaps it might be prudent to mingle with the other guests, as I notice this dinner is to acknowledge the endowment to the school.

 

“Uncle Vlad,” I speak softly and directly to him. “If you ever do this to me again, I will be forced to disown you.”

 

“It is for your own good, Narissa,” my uncle replies. “Besides, Ferule is the guest of honor for this evening.”

 

“But you could have at least prepared me for the history this place has.” I retort.

 

“Enjoy yourself, and try not to attract too much attention.” Uncle Vlad returns.

“Well, How about it?” I offer to my counterparts. “Shall we mingle?”

 

“Oh, Yea…” Annie replies sarcastically.

 

“Definitely.” Cathie adds. And together the three of us rise simultaneously and separate to opposite corners of the dining room. Ferule would later comment that I seemed to glide across the room with such elegance I would have done my mother proud. My red hair cascades equally in almost perfect symmetry behind my shoulders as I approach the first familiar face I know, Principal Marriott.

 

“Good evening and thank you for coming.” I offer politely as she almost drops her fork into her lap with a portion of her prime rib.

 

“Good evening, Duchess.” She replies back, not recognizing me at all.

 

“I trust classes will begin with their usual punctuality on Monday, Principal Marriott?” I enquire. She now recognizes me and almost falls off her chair with fright.

 

“Miss Narissa… I mean Duchess,” she corrects herself, “How...? You never mentioned you were related to…”

 

“My lineage was meant to be kept a secret and I trust shall remain that way.” I quickly finish before she stammers another question. It is true. My poor self-esteem and lack of confidence the binding spell had imposed, which now removed, appeared to her to have been a carefully rehearsed act. My distinct lack of any disposition to my previously mentioned relationship with her is replaced with her willingness to continue the act when school resumes.

 

“Why yes, of course.” Principal Marriott concurs. “I shall inform the teaching staff to do the same.”

 

“You will tell no one,” I counter to her offer. “As my sister and my cousin will both be attending the fall term.”

“Yes, of course, Duchess.” Principal Marriott almost stammers. “I understand completely.”

 

“And please, do not use my title at anytime around me, or in referring to me.” I speak in a quiet yet commanding tone. “To do so may be detrimental to your continued employment, as you know my given name, and have my permission to do so.”

 

“Y-Y-Yes, Narissa.” Principal Marriott now stammers.

 

“Don’t forget.” I speak, mimicking the closing a clasp locker with my hand across my mouth. The man seated at the table with her must have been her mate, but it was the young man seated at their table that deeply intrigues me, as he bears absolutely no resemblance to her or her man at all, that I quickly deduce is not even related to them. I might have even suggested to myself that he was perhaps someone I should know, but for some reason I am finding it very difficult to place. Staring at him, he notes my presence and since no one offers to introduce him, he stands and introduces himself with confidence.

 

“Jeff, Jeff Brule,” he clearly states. “Senior Class President, Class of 1928.”

 

“I am most pleased to meet you, Jeff.” I reply, and offered him my hand and ring, and without skipping a heartbeat, though I think mine did, he kisses my ring and remains standing as the gentleman I would eventually come to know he is. My heart races, and barely able stop myself, I almost crawl back into the shell I used to be. Knowing not what else to do, I fold my hands in front of me as a shield to his stare, and I smile.

 

“The pleasure is indeed mine.” Jeff spoke. “May I call you Narissa?” Pausing briefly before answering, and as he was privy to my previous conversation with Principal Marriott, I was inclined to agree.

“You must come by and visit sometime.” I offer with modesty, and of course not answering his question makes me almost regretting my mistake.

 

“If my studies permit,” Jeff replies, “I would like that.” As he also notes my change of subject.

 

“Consider it an open invitation.” I also offer. Jeff remains standing for another moment, before I offer him to return to his meal as I excuse myself and turn to leave.

 

“What a hunk!” I think to myself, at least I think is only to myself after I turn around.

 

“Hey, Narissa…” I hear in my head from Cathie. “Take it easy with your projections, and who’s a hunk?”

 

“Never you mind.” I softly project back to Cathie. “I met him first.”

 

“You’ll have to give me the details later.” Cathie projects back to me from across the room. It is then I noticed our dinner was arriving at our table, and I should return and be seated. Cathie and Annie joined at the table almost simultaneously.

 

“You’re right, sis” Annie whispers to me. “He is a hunk. OOH!.” Almost blushing from the comment my sister makes, I know instantly my sister is not going to let this one go. She seems to almost enjoy watching me squirm with her little gestures. I am relieved to deduce she has not even come close to being ready for lessons on communications by being unable to initiate a projection to me. We seat ourselves once again and wait briefly for our dinners to be served. Dinner itself passed quickly without any fanfare, though I feel the eyes of the room raking me. I note Ferule is impatiently fussing while seated at the head table as the guest of honor.

 

“Calm yourself Ferule.” I softly project to him.

 

“Yes Mistress.” His voice echoes back to me.

“You’ll do fine. Just use some of the charm you always use on me.” I offer to him.

 

“I am not accustomed to this much attention, Mistress.” Ferule silently focuses to me. Professor Montay catches me lost in my thoughts and playing with my cutlery.

 

“You are more like family to him than anyone else, my dear.” the Professor whispers across the table from me.

 

“I think I know a way to formally acknowledge Ferule’s gratuity and allow him to retain his composure to a greater degree.” I state openly. “Is it not prudent for an honored guest to be introduced by someone in a position of not only authority, but trust as well?”

 

“What do you have in mind, my dear?” Professor Montay responds.

 

“I think I should be the one to acknowledge Ferule’s contribution to the alumni.” I conclude as a mater of fact to everyone.

 

“A wise choice, Narissa.” Uncle Vlad adds into the conversation, to which he motions for the Maître d'hôtel forward and mentions my request. The Maître d'hôtel instantly excuses himself, and proceeds directly towards the head table and the District Superintendent. The Maître d'hôtel returns directly with the response to my request and I politely excuse myself from the table. My uncle of course rises with me, showing the old school gentleman he is, along with smiles from everyone else.

 

My uncle offers me his elbow and escorts me towards the head table. I nervously fight back an almost instinctive reflex to flee, and seeming to have sensed this from me, my uncle gently pats my hand resting in his arm as he escorts me forward. The District Superintendent rises from his seat and speaks to the audience as I approach the raised platform the head table is perched upon. By this point my nervousness soothed by my uncle’s gentle touch, allow me to feel Ferule’s own nervousness dissolve. My own courage gently raises me above the fear trying to drown me.

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” The District Superintendent speaks into the microphone from the podium. “Honored Guests and Alumni, I welcome you and it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Lady Narissa.

 

The applause startles me, but much like the shot at the start of a horse race, I release myself from my uncle’s arm and step up onto the platform. I notice the men seated at the head table rise, of course all of them following Ferule’s lead, to their feet as I approach the podium in the center of the head table.

 

“Thank You,” I begin, to which Uncle Vlad bows graciously and retreats back to our table, as the men of the head table return to their seats. My first public speaking and with the realization that courage was not the absence of fear, but rather the existence of something more important than fear, I address the entire dining room.

 

“Ladies, Gentlemen, Honored Guests, Alumni, Staff and Students of Linwood. I have requested and have been granted the opportunity this evening, to introduce someone to you, whose gratuity and charity I have always known. His gift to you is an extension of that same gratuity and charity.” I hear Ferule’s thoughts becoming the words I speak as though I have personally heard him rehearse this speech.

 

“And it is my pleasure to acknowledge his personal donation to Linwood. A gift entrusted to the District for the future and present students of Linwood to reap benefit from, thru high standards of educational resources. I personally wish to thank everyone present, in acknowledging his vision of ‘Esprit de Corps’ the students of Linwood may proudly wear each and everyday as they attend to their studies and to the Staff of Linwood in their continued duty to instruct the minds they have as their charges.” I conclude, and my words float into the dining room as though borne upon wings to find everyone’s attention, not focused upon myself, but upon Ferule who beams proudly as though he has personally delivered each and every word I utter.

 

“Join with me in welcoming him among you.” I speak clearly. “I give you, Ferule Drago” The following applause leaps into my ears with ferocity that Ferule’s presence shields me from any immediate danger as he rose and glided towards my position at the podium. I immediately sense gratuity from him like I had never experienced before. His mind briefly opens completely to me, as he seems to connect with me with a fondness only a friend can have provided before the window quickly shut around him.

 

“Tread carefully, Mistress.” His voice echoes inside my mind. “I have many secrets I can not allow you to know yet.”

 

“I know enough to know that you would never do me any harm, Ferule.” I remind him with a warm glow accompanying my most recent projection and the window opens once more. This time I can almost feel the rough scales and the smell of the surrounding cloud of brimstone, as bright green eyes stared back at me thru the misty shadows within his mind. I now knew Ferule’s deepest secret and he calms himself as he shares it with me. Ferule becomes modest as the applause continues, and refrains from making any speech as I have already stated the words everyone wanted to hear spoken.

 

“There has been only one other who can see me as I truly am,” Ferule projects deep into me. “You are very much like as she was at your age.”

 

“I know, Ferule.” I hid from everyone as I project my mind into Ferule. “I felt her presence when I first saw her portrait. She loved you more than you ever allowed her to, and I thank you for sharing that memory with me Ferule.”

 

“You are so much like her in every way.” I hear him pass to me. I slowly withdrew from Ferule, but his mind remains open to me.

 

“I leave this open for you, Mistress.” I hear Ferule allow only me to know. He is a powerful green Dragon and his own power fed into me thru the open window he left for me. Such great strength combined with a seemingly endless supply of love coursing into my mind with such speed that it allows Ferule to remain completely calm. Linked together I can almost feel my hands against rough scales. A dragon, I keep to myself. The most powerful and faithful of all familiars and he had chosen me long before I was even born. Bound to his duty by promise to her, he has watched over me thru each of my few years compared to his own.

 

“I love you too, Ferule.” I project in a focused beam to match Ferule’s. The simple act of my link completed the circle and the power, which flowed thru me, separates the clues from his memories. The barrier. I had found the door Ferule was forbidden to open until the one person capable of controlling it is ready to know what he knows. To feel what he feels. To give back what he longed to receive for so long. I have found the key and how to use it correctly. I give Ferule a kiss on his cheek and withdraw from his limelight. The images and shards of memories dancing thru my mind, I diligently begin to seclude one piece at a time, as I make the few paces off the platform and onto my uncle’s waiting elbow so that I can be properly escorted into the protective circle surrounding our dinner table.

 

The remainder of dinner and the following reception continue far into the night, and I had been soundly asleep before I smell the brimstone and hear the chains shackling him to the anchors he longed to be freed from. The open window allows a gently blowing breeze to accompany the first rays of sunlight into the bedroom suite I slumber in. Clutching my wand as I try in vain to remain asleep, I somehow manage to tap my wand against the shackle bolts restraining him as my sleep is shattered with a dull roar.

 

I’ve done it. Barely awake and no longer asleep, Ferule carries my mind back to me. My focused projection remained open until bright rays of the morning sun, lights every inch of the room. I am now fully awake, firmly clutching my wand and staring directly into the deep green eyes of a four hundred year old green dragon while he snorts brimstone at me. Gently rubbing his head, as some people display affection to a dog, Ferule stares straight back at me.

“Welcome home.” I warmly greet him as he stretches out completely across the floor. Ferule’s massive size makes him appear ferocious, but he is a gentle giant to me. Playfully snorting one final time, Ferule rolls himself into a cloud and emerges in the form everyone else knows him as. “And it’s going to be hard to keep you a secret if you keep doing that.”

 

“Yes, Mistress.” Ferule replies. “She smiles upon both of us.”

 

“I know, Ferule.” I add to our conversation. “I can feel her too. We’re one-step closer to giving her the rest she’s been longing for. I just have to figure out where all the pieces go now.”

 

“There is time, Mistress.” Ferule acknowledges. “She is far more patient having to endure a much more cruel prison than I had.”

 

“I know.” I reply as I try to make sense of all the pieces and clues. I was being very impatient, as I admit almost in desperation. The solution would come to me, but I need to know if I was at least starting with the right pieces. I gently locked my thoughts safely away to be examined again later, while Ferule exited the Inn suite to see to breakfast preparations. I pampered myself with a nice long hot bath and prepare myself for the day ahead.

 

Ferule has of course laid out my wardrobe ahead of time, and I was pleased to see he has noticed my humor with the red and white striped tights, as my wardrobe contained another brand new pair. I have become accustomed to Ferule pampering me with the carefully chosen clothing spread out on the dressing table. There was absolutely no reason to change a thing, as I would have chosen nothing less than the perfection already waiting for me. Dropping my bathrobe and towel, I quickly donned my undergarments before inspecting the simple white blouse and black pleated skirt. As though magnetized, my ring seemed to want to adhere itself to the clothing as I held each of them up.

 

“Do I dare?” I asked myself. I willed my wand to my hand with no hesitation and flicked my wand from my shoulders to below my waist instantly transporting the garments onto my frame. Another metered flick of my wrist and my long red hair spun into a neatly woven pair of braids across the top of my head that made me look like I had horns, before becoming a single braid that ended halfway down my back.

 

“Perfect, if I do say so myself.” I confidently stated.

 

“Well done, my dear,” I heard Professor Montay’s voice calmly stating, much like a teacher finding a student up to no good. “You should refrain from doing that, as you may find yourself inadvertently choosing to do so when it neither appropriate nor safe.”

 

“Yes, of course Professor.” I was logically forced to conclude.

 

“I notice you have chosen another pair of tights.” Professor Montay quipped. “While they may have been appropriate for last night’s festivities they may not necessarily be appropriate to wear with your school uniform.

 

“…Unless everyone else is also wearing them.” I quickly concluded. I could tell Professor Montay was willing to admit defeat on this issue, if and only if, my prediction was true.

 

“I guess we will have to wait and see if female half of the student body finds your fashion sense to be popular.” Professor Montay calmly replies with a hint of sarcasm.

 

“I think it may be an easily recognizable method for the staff to separate Linwood Students from, oh – Deer Lodge Students?” I calmly replied, deflecting her hinted sarcasm in a manner of logic she found no reply to.

 

“That is the perfect accessory for the uniforms, Mistress.” Ferule’s accepting voice added into the conversation. “But of course a similar necktie for the male uniforms would balance things perfectly.”

 

“Yes, of Course, Ferule.” Professor Montay accepted in her defeat, though such a small victory for myself. I would soon be finding myself at the opposite end of a very nasty disposition if I ever tried to do that again at any time in the immediate future. Professor Montay swiftly exited the bedroom suite and headed to the foyer where she stood waiting for Annie, Cathie and myself to line up in single file to head to breakfast. Noting her displeasure, I wasted not a moment to manually fit the matching jacket to complete my ensemble. I swiftly insert my wand into the slender pocket meant for its storage within my skirt.

 

I pause long enough to slip my feet into a pair of mid calf leather boots, as though failing to do so would have risen Professor Montay’s already brewing disposition to over boiling. I take my spot as last in line, allocating more than enough space for Annie and Cathie to position themselves, and waited calmly along with Professor Montay. I stare straight ahead, as my view becomes blocked by the back of Cathie’s head, followed abruptly with Annie halting in front of both of us. I note the red and white tights theme is continuing today, and silently we march ourselves towards the staircase and proceed into the foyer below. It is a very hollow victory indeed, but it has a very high price. I am to find myself under such a heavy and strict code of discipline as to stagger the imagination. Playtime is officially over.

 

We descend the staircase with Professor Montay leading. As we approach the foot of the staircase, I once again feel a pull towards the portrait similar to the previous evening, but fight back the urge to follow it under Professor Montay’s lead. I have stepped over the boundary of decorum and she is not easily going to let me forget it. As if an outstretched arm is trying to pull me back as I advanced, I suddenly halt. The memories I have neatly tucked away try to spill out. I am stopped dead. The temptation to defy Professor Montay grew strong, but this time the price I am willing to pay is nothing less than my life. Feeling it deep into my core, I sense Professor Montay advancing from behind me; her anger though metered is rising quickly. Her hand extends almost touching my shoulder, before she feels the wave that blasts from within me. The wave is meant to halt her, and have her take notice of the portrait.

 

It is completely changed from the previous evening. Now cleaned, lit with daylight, but there was something almost luminescent about it that captures my eyes and refuses to release me. I stand defensively postured. This time, when Professor Montay extends her hand to my shoulder, I feel not the absence of fear, but the courage to join with me.

 

“What is it, my dear?” Professor Montay asks.

 

“Something is different.” I state. “Something is moved.”

 

“Then take your time,” Professor Montay states calmly. “If something is different, you’ll find it.” I look into my own memory of the portrait. A mental snapshot of how it looked last night, and trying so desperately to compare it against the portrait as it now appears. I loudly snapped my fingers, much louder than the staff have ever heard anyone do so before. The sound echoes off the walls like a gunshot.

 

“Close the drapes.” I command. I offer no explanation as to my demand, but the staff tarries too long to close the last set of drapes. I snap my fingers loudly once more. “Close them all at the same time!” I command them to repeat. The drapes are re-opened then on my command they are all shut together.

 

“Have you found something, my dear?” Professor Montay asks.

 

“A piece of the puzzle,” I reply. “A very big piece.” I very politely make a wave and the drapes are once again opened, this time they remain open, and I march ahead of Professor Montay to breakfast. Her footfalls raced behind me as I approach our private breakfast table.

 

“We must leave here immediately, no questions, we must leave now.” I command to Uncle Vlad.

 

“Of course, ladies… we must depart.” My uncle softly speaks in a hurried tone. And without protest, everyone rises from the breakfast nook and heads directly out the door and onto the street with the Concierge hot behind us.

 

“Duchess…” The Concierge pants almost out of breath. “Have we offended you?”

 

“NO” I coldly stated, quickly dismissing the Concierge. “Ferule will collect our belongings for us.” I added politely as I alighted into the now waiting cab, and together we all sped off.

 

“Now,” my uncle demanded in explanation.

 

“We’ve been watched.” I stated as a matter of fact. “It is no longer safe, as their agents now know where I am.”

 

“How do you know?” Professor Montay asked worriedly.

 

“The curtains…” I offered in explanation. “She gave me a warning last night and I ignored it. I will not make that mistake ever again. By the time they arrive, they will have found us gone, but as they expand their search they will find us.”

 

“How long?” my uncle asked, trying to formulate a plan.

 

“Not long, we must make it to the house before they find us.” I concluded.

 

“But what about Ferule?” my sister commented.

 

“Ferule can take care of himself.” I added. “And they will not wish to confront him if they find him, nor will they be able to follow him.”

 

“Driver,” my uncle tapped the glass separating us from the driver. “Quickly and there’s a large tip if you get us there before the hour strikes.” I deduced our drive to the Inn took just under forty minutes.

 

By my estimate we had less than half that. With my mind I expanded my thoughts to the driver and bound him in a trance. Becoming the driver in my mind, I floored the accelerator and the cab’s engine responded with a roar. The tires screamed as the car accelerated onto the highway. We needed to make ten minutes. The old cab bounced down the road like a rocket.

 

“Everyone hang on.” Uncle Vlad commented taking notice of the strong concentration I was performing. Still fully aware of every spoken word, my self imposed meditation served two useful purposes. To arrive back at the house in the shortest amount of time possible, and second if he was found, the cab driver would be unable to know where he was going or how he got there. We had Victoria Estates within view in just over eight minutes. We made two extra so far. The strain was starting to wear on me, but I refused to release the driver from his trance. We rode like the wind, as the car sped down the road at more than twice the posted speed limit. Upon entering the Victoria Estates town limits, I slowed the cab to a more modest speed though still racing thru the street. The cab driver in his own right was a well-trained operator, and manipulating his reflexes proved an easy task to allow the cab to arrive more sedately at the house, totaling just under seventeen minutes.

 

Everyone else exited the cab as I placed a powerful binding upon the driver as though moving from a spark to a flame. Uncle Vlad left a sizable note for the driver as promised, which I levitated into his shirt pocket and lastly instructed the driver to sedately return to Valley View, where the binding would lift his trance, and he would not be able to remember where he drove us or how he returned. Everyone raced into the house and I slowly ascended the front stairs. I took note of a sense of danger fast approaching.

 

“Ostium-Claudo-Obfirmo”, sealing the portal so no one could pass.

 

“Ventus per Aqua, Convoco!” I commanded with a wave of my wand. By the sheer will of my mind I drew the clouds around and filled the sky with strong winds capable of forcing anyone in flight to descend to the ground where the following rain drenched me to the skin before I completed the last few steps onto the front porch. I made only two more steps before I collapsed onto the hard wooden doorsill.

 

When I awoke, I knew not the time, nor did I even know where I was. The sweet smell that followed a rain welcomed me as I opened my eyes to find my uncle sitting beside me. I was still on the porch.

 

“That was a very brave, but foolish thing you did, sealing the portal behind us.” Uncle Vlad states. “But also wise, as cast outside would prevent anyone from entering the house should they defeat the portal, and prevent any of us from foolishly trying to exit the house should you have been taken.”

 

“I’m sorry, but it was all I could think of, as they were almost upon us.” I whisper, still very weak.

 

“The wind you summoned, threw them so far off their path that I daresay by the time they were released, they knew not were we had been, nor were we are now.” Uncle Vlad tells me with approval.

“And the rain removed any trace of our path, including where we started.”

 

“Beginners luck, perhaps? I retorted in modesty. I looked into my uncle’s deep blue eyes, and found an expression of deep wisdom.

 

“Measure yourself very carefully, my dear.” My great uncle calmly states.

 

“I have much to learn still.” I reply.

 

“Yes, but a time and place for everything.” Professor Montay’s voice quietly yet affectionately speaks. “Well done, Narissa.”

 

“You coming?” Annie and Cathie ask together while finally appearing from behind Professor Montay. With Uncle Vlad’s permission and Professor Montay’s consent, we seclude ourselves in Karl’s Bookshop and proceed to gather reference material from his entire inventory. While still serving an almost endless stream of customers arriving to purchase their own texts for the impending school year, collectively we compiled a listing of what we hoped would be approved reading to be included with our study sessions.

 

Through our deductive skills, we managed to segregate all of our chosen texts, to assist one another in learning all we could about the relationships between our individual and distinctly unique skill sets. Annie commanded sound and light with supreme confidence, along with imaginative transportation adaptations. Cathie’s communications skills we found extended to all manner of creature as well as the unique skill of transforming mass into any shape. My own command of the elements of earth, wind, fire and water, provided me with an almost endless supply of raw material to which I could provide a base from which Annie and Cathie could deploy their own skills from, in addition to directing these elements at will.

 

Of course each of us shared similar traits in the basic use of alchemy, in addition to the recognition of biological and organic material. These last skills were nothing more than learned behaviors and memorization. We all continued to inspect Karl’s inventory and began to fill one bookcase with the texts we had found scattered throughout the bookshop. We had chosen to place all of our findings, no matter how obscure, into some sort of indexing system we found appropriate, yet would leave anyone else disinterested in the bookcase’s contents. It was this task we found to be a definite challenge with Karl moving some of the texts on us from time to time in an affectionate display of assistance.

 

It was nearing tea time when Annie found, hidden away in a corner of the storeroom on a dusty shelf on the top of a very old case, was a very elegant text that seemed as though it repelled the dust on the shelf around it from encroaching upon the space it occupied. A stand matching the text’s covering material was stored along side it. The text, even in the dimly lit storeroom, seemed to reflect light from the outside cover. The text also defied any attempt to open it, though it seemed to have no apparent locking device. The text itself bore no markings of any kind, and gave absolutely no hint as to its contents. Together we paraded the text and the two pieces of its stand into the reading lounge, where Karl was preparing to serve a late afternoon tray.

 

“Karl, do you have any idea what is in this text?” I enquired as we approached him.

 

“Oh, you found it.” Karl replied to our question about the text. “That was donated to me a very long time ago and I have never been able to open the cover. I always thought that it was curious to have a book that was unable to be read.”

 

“Karl?” Cathie asked next. “Who gave it to you?”

 

“That will always be a mystery,” he answered, “I found it on the door sill one day, sitting on top of the stand that came with it.” As he poured the four of us each a cup of tea to which we all promptly sat and pondered the text’s purpose together. From where Cathie sat, she made a comment about the similar manner in which the sunlight pouring thru the bookshop windows reflected off both the stand and the text, as we had prominently relocated them in the center of the reading lounge away from the dusty prison of the storeroom. Having now completed compiling our lists, and run out of Karl’s complete inventory, we prepared a reading schedule together, that hoped would meet with Professor Montay’s approval. The text and stand, faded from being the focal point of our attention as we cleaned up after tea, and we collectively prepared a small selection of texts to be included with our studies this evening with Professor Montay.

 

Annie remained in the front of the bookshop attending to customers, while Cathie and I busied ourselves with bringing more stock to replace the purchases taken from the shelves throughout the day. A few of the senior class students entered the bookshop while we went about our duties. For Linwood Students, we had arranged complete sets of texts into groups by class levels, making it much easier for the students to find what they needed. During my repeated trips to the storeroom and back, I noticed one of the students had taken an interest in the three neat stacks of texts we had compiled for ourselves. Before she had the opportunity to inspect them further, I politely offered her my assistance.

 

“Oh, no thank you.” She replied. “Though curious that whose ever these are for, they have extra study being given to them.” I then noticed we had stacked the required texts for Linwood on top of our segregated reference material.

 

“My cousin, my sister, and I have extra study with a private tutor.” I offered in explanation. “I hear the District Exams are murder.”

 

“You got that right.” The student returned, obviously equating my statement from her own personal experience. “You’re a student at Linwood too, this year?” she added.

 

“We are third year.” I answered. “And you are seventh year. You’ve already covered this material.” I stated, trying to deflect her attention back to her own studies.

 

“I notice you and the other two, are wearing the same tights that came with our new school uniforms.” She commented. “I think they’re a pretty neat idea. Who ever chose our uniforms wanted to give us something that sets us apart from the Deer Lodge Students, and they do make a fashion statement.”

 

“Yea,” I quipped. “Makes us all look like rebels...”

 

“…Against a system meant to control us.” She quipped back finishing my statement. It was then that all attention was diverted to the text sitting in the middle of the reading lounge. Perched on its stand, it was shimmering in the sunlight like the fender of a dark colored car, and one of the other students had burned the tips of her fingers when touching the text. With her fingers heated to what appeared as nothing worse than the discomfort of sunburn, the students collected their purchases and departed while we returned to finish the task of restocking all the shelves. Annie and Cathie seated themselves to enjoy another cup of tea with Karl as I curiously approached the text.

“You two need to see this.” I stated openly as I brazenly placed my whole hand on the text’s cover and stroked the surface. It was stone cold.

 

“Oh, girls…” Karl added. “That text seems to allow only certain people to touch it, and it seems to have chosen the three of you.” As all three of us now curiously caressed the cover. The reaction of the student from earlier having touched the text, made me wonder even more important the text was in relation to us. We removed ourselves to our teacups and pondered our discovery while the text shimmered like a mirage in the desert. Karl passed the text and stand, and retrieved a small book hidden amongst some books adjacent to the bookshelf we had appropriated for storing our reference material. As Karl passed the text, I noticed the stand vibrate slightly, but attributed it to nothing more than his steps across the wooden floor.

 

“This came with it.” Karl announced. “Though I do not have a key to open it.” He handed the small book to Annie, and though it appeared similar to the text, it was actually the same size as an appointment book or even a diary. The cover of the book appeared to be bound in a way making it impossible to discover where, or if there actually was, a lock. As it was fast approaching our evening study time, Annie stuffed it into her book bag, and the three of us collected our study materials. We departed soon after and arrived just in time to find Professor Montay waiting patiently for us. Wasting no time, we quickly headed into the sitting room and deposited out study materials onto our desks. We remained standing until Professor Montay beckoned us to take our seats.

 

“Ladies,” Professor Montay began. “You three represent generations of witches taught the same lessons in a formal school setting. However, with the untimely passing of your parents and the need for secrecy, I shall be your only tutor to see that your lessons are completed to the same high standards as set by the Council Executive comprised of the five most prominent witches and wizards of our order. Normally you would have been attending classes amongst your peers and graded on your individual performances by the assigned professors whose specialties are the subjects you are being taught. As you are not in such a formal setting, I shall not insist upon anything other than punctuality. As you waited by your desks this evening, shall be the manner in which I expect to find you when I enter at the appointed time.” We remained silent.

 

“Is this perfectly clear, Ladies?” Professor Montay politely yet firmly asked.

 

“Yes professor.” We all calmly answered together.

 

“You shall receive two lesson periods.” Professor Montay continued.

“The first being review of past lessons, followed by a dinner break daily at seven until seven-forty five, then concluded with a new lesson and work assignments. Your study period for your Linwood studies will follow afterwards with lights out no later than ten o’clock. I shall not be able to allocate any more time to you than that. Your daily regime will begin promptly at six every morning with a period of physical activity for thirty minutes. Breakfast will be at seven-forty five leaving you with plenty of time to be at Linwood for nine o’clock.”

 

“Professor..?” I began to ask.

 

“Questions at the end, please…” Professor Montay directed and she continued. “On the week ends when Linwood Classes are not in session, I shall be able to find the three of you performing regular duties at Karl’s bookshop for which is the price of your access to the reference material of his inventory. I notice you have each compiled some reference material and shall be sharing it amongst yourselves. And finally, the rack provided near the inside of the door shall be where your wands will be stored unless otherwise directed, during study and lessons. This last part is non negotiable and shall be strictly observed.” Professor Montay having obviously concluded her instructions paused.

 

“Do you have any questions for me, Ladies?” Professor Montay now asked of us.

 

“May we wear our school uniforms?” Annie asked first.

 

“No,” Professor Montay responded and explained further with, “The reason being is to remind you that this study is to never accompany you to Linwood except locked within your minds.”

 

“We have specific clothing to wear, Professor?” Cathie asked meekly.

 

“No,” Professor Montay responded with a hint of sarcasm. “You shall be attired as uniformity is the key, Ladies. Other than that, it shall be at your own discretion.”

 

“Professor, what do you know about this book?” I asked, while with the will of my mind I levitated the small book from Annie’s book bag and placed it upon the podium.

 

“Narissa?” Professor Montay’s voice cracked. “Where did you find this?”

 

“I’m sorry Professor,” I apologized, not realizing the small book sitting on the podium would have solicited such a response.

 

“Seeing as how your first lesson is now dictated by answering the question now set before us, I shall instruct you on how to find hidden runes and extraction of information from magical artifacts.” Professor Montay answered.

 

“First identifying the object.” Professor Montay solicited our known history of it.

 

“We got it from Karl.” Annie offered first.

 

“Careful…” I projected quickly to Annie and Cathie. “We need to find out what it is without letting the Professor know about the text.”

 

“He’s had it for quite a long time.” Cathie added, fully understanding my projection. “And he’s never been able to open it.”

“It has not done any harm, nor done any specific good.” Annie added. “As Karl has handled it and so have I.”

 

“Good…” Professor Montay noted. “You show excellent collection of information.”

 

“It is obviously hiding its contents for a specific person to be able to open.” I added. “Or was designed by its owner to only be opened by them.”

 

“Very well done, Ladies.” Professor Montay added praise to her voice. “What else do you know, or may have learned about this object already?”

 

“Very little…” I offered. “That’s why were asking for your assistance.”

 

“Cathie…” Professor Montay directed. “Your wand, my dear.” As we had not yet placed our wands in the specified place, we each had them still hidden in the slender pockets within our skirts. Cathie withdrew her wand.

 

“Sometimes we can have a protected item reveal information about it from a simple command…” Professor Montay stated. “By tapping your wand upon it and stating the reveal command ‘Ostendo’.” Annie and I both nervously waited for Cathie to attempt casting the reveal command.

 

“OSTENDO!” Cathie spoke clearly while tapping the book twice with the tip of her wand. The next moment, we could clearly see a curious outline of a tri-foil knot appear. I deduced quickly it might require more than one of us to cast the same command.

 

“Annie draw your wand and do the same.” I projected. Before Annie could complete my suggestion, the outline began to fade.

 

“OSTENDO!” Annie stated while tapping her wand upon the book as well. This time the outline became much more clear and distinct, though began to fade even quicker than before.

 

“OSTENDO!” I added, while completing two taps on the book’s cover. We completed this before Professor Montay could stop us. After casting my command, the image on the cover became fully visible and remained that way.

 

“Tres Virtus, ladies…” Professor Montay praised us. “Which none of you, required instruction to deduce.” The book remained with the image on the cover actually solidifying into an embossing. We examined the image carefully along with the professor.

 

“Anything else, ladies?” Professor Montay solicited.

 

“Professor…?” I asked politely, though thru some deduction of my devious mind. “Did you instruct Karl to give this to us?” Professor Montay’s expression, along with her previous comment about the power of three, along with the symbol appearing on the cover gave me my answer long before she spoke.

 

“Excellent deductive reasoning, Narissa.” Professor Montay stated. “I shall have to make some of your future challenges more difficult.” Together, the three of us began to giggle, as we noted the smile beginning to curl on Professor Montay’s face.

 

“But Professor…” I asked. “If you meant for us to learn something about this object, why have Karl give it to us when you could have just done it yourself?”

 

“By having you bring it forward, instead of my introducing it as a lesson object,” she stated, “You in particular Narissa, showed logical reasoning in your attempt to learn more about it.”

 

“But, now you’re going to leave it to the three of us to figure out how to open it.” I offered in return along with asking, “And you’re going to assign us to complete that with no assistance, Right Professor?”

“You are correct, Narissa.” Professor Montay stated. The book remained exactly where it was while Professor Montay made mental notes on how we continued to examine the book further.

 

“The power of three.” I softly projected to both Annie and Cathie. “This one is going to be tricky without some guidance.”

 

“Give us a hint, Professor?” Cathie asked. To which one of the reference books jumped onto my desk as Professor Montay exited the room.

 

“I will see you ladies in ten minutes.” Professor Montay quipped. The strict code of discipline factor was kicking into high gear, but I was coming to know how much more devious than myself, that Professor Montay could be. Then it hit me. Since it was meant to be a lesson aide and as such was in no way meant to harm us, we could safely open it without fear of injury. Simplicity and the power of three.

 

“D’uh…” I concluded aloud. “Hold it, the three of us at the same time. And say ‘Aperio’ together.” We followed my suggestion and the next instant the three of us were hanging upside down with the book lying on the floor, open but displaying an image that looked like a stopwatch. Professor Montay entered the room moments later and examined the time in the stopwatch image.

 

“Very impressive, twenty-three seconds.” Professor Montay noted. “Let this be a lesson, Ladies, that protected items always carry some sort of secondary protection in the form of a trap for unsuspecting witches to spring.

 

“Yes, Professor.” We replied together. Still hanging upside down looking rather silly with our bottoms exposed, Professor Montay mused herself with levitating our wands and placing them in the rack.

 

“You have less than ten minutes, Ladies.” Professor Montay quipped as she exited the room again.

 

“She’s nasty, but funny.” Cathie stated.

 

“How do we get out of this one?” Annie asked.

 

“We just have to do the obvious, to reverse the effect of the trap.” I offered. “After all, she’s not going to leave us here thru dinner. Same thing, this time say ‘Claudo’.” I levitated the book from the floor while Annie moved the three of us closer together. Once we all had a firm grip on the book we stated the ‘close’ command together. The next instant we were upright, sitting in our chairs, the book firmly closed once again resting on the podium, and together we waited for Professor Montay’s return. As she promised, she returned less than ten minutes later and announced dinner, to which we marched ourselves into the hallway and lined up after we each scooped our wands from the rack.

 

Smiling mischievously, with the flick of my wand I added a long tail to Professor Montay’s robe along with a nail securing it to the floor before I pocketed my wand. We began to proceed towards the stairs as the Professor stopped dead in her tracks having the tail become taught. With her shriek, the three of us looked back.

 

“Ten minutes, Professor?” I quipped, before racing down the stairs and into the sanctuary of the dining room before Professor Montay arrived with an equally mischievous grin, and definitely nowhere near ten minutes. I noted Professor Montay’s use of humor as a powerful tool to motivate us, but at the same time wondered if there was to be limits set later, or if we had to declare a truce.

 

“Professor…?” I asked, oh so very politely. “Is the lesson over, or is there more?”

 

“There will be more, Narissa.” Professor Montay notably quipped; to which my mind raced as to the extent of the price I was going to have to pay for this time. Dinner was promptly served by Ferule moments later to which I was forced to sit for ten minutes as my cutlery was firmly attached to the ceiling during that time.

“Ten minutes, Narissa” Professor Montay noted. I winked at Professor Montay fondly as both Annie and Cathie giggled as to the payment for my previous behavior. I could tell that not only were our study sessions going to be a lot of fun, but Professor Montay had every intention of having us remember our lessons well. Our second period following dinner was taken with a further exercise of the book, where this time we managed to open the book and not be vertically opposed, followed by being able to read the instructions for our next lesson to each other, that Professor Montay had carefully hidden in the book. I turned in that evening long before ten o’clock and was fast asleep soon after hitting my pillow. My last thoughts were of Ferule’s deep green eyes as the smell of brimstone filled my room.

 

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