7

Waking up was wonderful. I felt gooood. I actually caught myself humming as I took care of the morning ablutions. Not having sex for the next three plus weeks was probably going to be the most difficult resolution I’d ever undertake, however long I might live, but I was quite certain I’d manage it.

I thought for a moment, then opened the book.

There is 97.6% that Kristen Clark possesses high wizard potential, based on Christine Felvers’ impressions.

I was not surprised. Like attracts like, and I was almost willing to bet that anyone with wizard potential tended to associate with other potentials. That would make things a bit easier, but it might also make it harder to minimize the initial acquisition phase.

There was also the matter of what I’d once thought of as the ‘real world’. Most of the people I’d initiate would be teens, and I needed to find a way isolate them, first at my home and later at the safehouse I’d buy. The impact of the ‘real world’ was another problem, because I was feeling more and more divorced from it. Making money just didn’t mean anything to me anymore, and I was having trouble even thinking of school or the ordinary people I associated with. There was an irremediable gulf between us now, but I still had to live here, and I much preferred to do it in the manner I had thus far. That is to say, on my terms, or as far as I could go in that direction.

I went to the computer, drafted a ‘quitting by reason of ill health’ notice to my two employers, in one case apologizing for my inability to complete the bit of programming they’d just sent. Fortunately, I’d thought ahead and had everything ready, including the medical details, so it took less than ten minutes. I was already rich, and the information I had trickling in would suffice for ‘investment acumen’. I even spent half an hour following up on data and sending sell and purchase orders.

I spent the next half hour making appointments with four realtors. I had to specify my requirements, and lied a lot about who I was and what I did. Out of pure intransigence – I really didn’t want to move, and I was more than slightly pissed at the very thought – I picked a different identity to present to each realtor. At the very least, it would be good disguise practice. Heh, maybe Chris would like to play the wife.

Next came a spell I needed to learn, a first circle transmutation that copied text or imprinted text from mental image. I immediately made use of it, copying precise plans for the shrines I would need to have installed in less than a month. I started to search for local craftspeople of repute who’d be able to build them, but it was time to prepare for my visitors.

First came the necessities. I prepared a lot of food, and ate like a starveling. I used the time to query the book about the training I needed to offer my wizards. It made for interesting reading material, and the book made sure to advise me that I would not be able to use their powers to directly augment mine until I passed the sixth circle enhancement ritual and learned a few spells from the first circle of mind.

A mellow chime indicated that there was someone outside, approaching the gate. I frowned momentarily, unable to even guess who might want to bother me.

Salesmen and vandals knew better then to tread in this neighbourhood.

After too many friends and acquaintances made far too many pointed remarks about what a great place for a party my place was, I stopped inviting people over. My parents had made me promise I’d never have parties at home, and I got very annoyed at having to repeat that, over and over again. That, a bit of deliberate anti-social behaviour, and a few displays of malice, served to get the popular crowd and all the gold diggers off my back, a couple of years ago. A vast relief.

I activated the security monitor for the gate. It took less than a second to recognize Jack Kingston’s battered car, and I had a good idea what was involved.

He was moving towards the intercom, looking around cautiously. The security system was fairly impressive, and I’d made sure to pass around a few fables about what happened to people who intruded on my home. It was only a day later when I overheard the terrible rumours flying around school. A few people, mostly those who recognized the improbable when they heard it, actually asked me about the rumours. My bland reply, that I just couldn’t talk about matters of security, intensified the rumours to a fever pitch. But it did mean that no school chums would drop over, unless they really needed to.

I activated the sound, “Hey Jack, I’ll be with you in a minute,” and closed the circuit. I was already dressed, as I had to drive over and pick the girls up in twenty minutes, and I added the little pistol as a bit of insurance. Using magic where people might notice was to be avoided, for all the obvious reasons.

I opened the gate and stepped through, and offered Jack about twice what his sister could have earned in a ten-hour shift, “Real sorry about that,” I winced at the thought of having to deal with Linda, “I don’t usually forget things, but I’ve been real busy. I have to go pick up my girlfriend, so I really can’t offer you any hospitality.”

Jack didn’t take the money. “It’s not enough?” I asked, somewhat surprised, “How much should it be?”

“No man, that’s more than twice what it should be,” he shook his head.

“Hey, seriously, keep the change. Serving as an intermediary and having to take shit from Linda, you’ve bloody well earned it. Keeping up with a dozen toddlers for a day makes for a nice relaxing change of pace from that bitch.”

A small upward curve in the left corner of his mouth, the hint of a smile, showed that he quite agreed. He took the bills, and leaned back in a studied casual pose, “Since when do you have a girlfriend? I distinctly remember overhearing you say that females are a waste of air,” he asked with eyebrows raised.

“Well, come on, be serious. I was fourteen, and you’ve seen MY sister.”

Jack nodded acknowledgement.

“Since yesterday. No, I suppose Saturday would qualify.”

“A dnd freak chick? I don’t suppose there are any other girls there?” he asked.

“I didn’t know you played.”

“Well, I don’t. But a girl who does might be human. Linda and her friends might not be as bad as your sister and her pack of roaches, but they’re plenty bad. I don’t date much, really, and I’m in between at the moment. More than you, of course, but then again, you’ve only taken one girl out that I know of. I never did figure out why you’d pick Diana, and then blow her off.”

“Inflatable sex dolls offer better conversation,” was really the best explanation I could give, “and I didn’t date because I couldn’t find anyone who interested me in the slightest. I’m afraid my group is mostly oldies, at least all the female ones are. If I find someone, I’ll send her your way. Doing my thing for evolution, and I don’t think I can handle more than…” I shut my mouth.

“More than?” he repeated.

“Slip of the tongue,” I smiled tightly, “and I really do have to go. My girlfriend’s known me for a year, and if I’m late, she’ll start panicking. Once again, my apologies.”

Jack could take a hint. A “No problem,” a wave, and he was off. I bet that he had major wizard potential, and I could foist a disciple off on him. If I found someone appropriate. Worth a try, anyway, if not necessarily any time soon.

It was more than a bit unsettling, finding that I’d started to think of everyone according to their wizard potential. On second thought, it was probably completely typical and predictable of me. Besides, who would say ‘No’ to a four-century lifespan plus magic powers? Besides the nitpickers who would rather not fight for their lives against demonic monstrosities and elemental lords, that is…

Dammit, I thought furiously as I buckled in and started the car, I need more battle magic. Desperately, and quickly. I’d see what I could do about breaking the first circle of energy manipulation today. I do hope Ellis does a proper job of the book search, and sends me the book list as soon as possible. That he hadn’t thus far meant that he was taking the job very seriously, or that something unfortunate had taken place. I was betting on the former, but there was a deadline.

I was furiously planning things all through the drive, so much so that I didn’t even think of Christine.

That changed immediately when I stopped the car. Chris opened the door, slithered in, threw a bag into the backseat, and attacked me.

She fairly leapt on me, and I was thrown back against the door by her weight. She found my mouth and kissed me hard, thrusting her tongue and grinding herself against me. I was kissing back and hugging her quickly enough, and actually lifted her from the passenger’s seat and onto me. I was growing excited, and the car wasn’t really the place for this.

It took the application of superior strength to make her stop the rain of kisses. “God, but it seemed like a completely loony dream,” she whispered, green eyes wide, a tear actually leaking from one. “I didn’t dare practice the spell on my own, just in case… and it’s so hard to believe,” she looked at me. “We really are going to practice magic today, right? Oh, and I can stay the night. I arranged things with Kris.”

“Yes,” I replied softly, “we really are going to practice magic. Can Kristen stay, too?”

Chris hit me, but it was half hearted. “Yes, she probably can if she really wants to,” she admitted. “Do you really think she can be a wizard, too?”

“I don’t think one way or the other, but the book is pretty certain that she can, and thus will be. You didn’t actually tell her about the magic, did you?”

“Are you nuts? She’d never have listened. I just mentioned the pool and hot tub, and like I said, she did want to meet you.”

“Why did she want to see me, anway?”

“Well, I did sort of describe you,” she admitted, “but I think there’s something more. She’s been much too quiet recently, and if Kris isn’t telling me, it’s probably trouble.”

“What sort of trouble?”

“I don’t know. I think it’s something to do with beating up people. I mentioned your juji… whatever that is, the fighting thing, and she perked up noticeably.”

“Sounds simple enough. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you not to use magic in public, other than times where desperate measures are called for, right?”

“Please, just how much magic do I know? Be serious.”

“Oh, I am, and that much will change. According to the book, I can teach you what I know much faster than you’d be able to learn on your own. Something to do with the ‘master-apprentice’ thing,” I fudged things a bit.

“So what will we be learning today?” Chris asked, eyes shining, and went back to rubbing herself on me.

“Chris! I don’t want to repeat things. Let’s get your friend, and… by the way, which is Criss and which is Cross?”

“Oh, pooh. Spoilsport,” she moved back a bit. “Obviously, she’s Cross. I’m the nice, reasonable girl, and she’s the one with the temper.”

“Right,” I lifted Chris back to the passenger seat. Woof, maybe she could stand to lose a bit of weight.

With Christine giving me directions and adding the occasional snide comment, it took less than five minutes to reach Kristen’s place. The street was full of shops, and above them a number of stories that contained apartments.

I was driving slowly, and there wasn’t anyone behind me to grow annoyed.

“That her?”

Three big guys were standing around a girl. All I could really see of her was brown hair. The body language was not promising.

“Yes,” Chris sounded scared, “I think she’s in trouble.”

That much was fairly obvious. “Can you use a gun?”

“A gun? No!” Chris recoiled.

“Then stay in the car.”

There was just enough room, and I parked the Mercedes smoothly, left it running, and was out of the car in an instant.

“Come on, Kristen, where’s your bag? We’re late.”

“Logan?” I heard her say, from behind the wall of flesh. Up close, they looked even bigger. High school seniors, probably.

“That’s right, Chris is waiting, come on,” I said, sounding impatient.

They turned to look at me. They didn’t look ugly, they just felt ugly.

“Why don’t you just split, runt,” one of them said, the other two laughing in response, “we’ve got business with the chick.”

Then they actually turned back to her, ignoring me.

Hmmm, options.

I could try talking, magic, pistol or just make them hurt. Martial arts or no, you don’t really want to pick a fight with more than one guy at a time. Jackie Chan makes it look easy, but it isn’t, even when the bozos don’t know the first thing about fighting. The advantage superior numbers grant, the ability to employ multiple axes for assault, is usually decisive.

This wasn’t usually, and the same could be said of surprise. In addition, I was angry, which also wasn’t unusual.

You really don’t want to use your fists if there’s any way to avoid it, even after toughening them up for years. Open handed attacks, kicks, elbows and knees are better. Or you could carry a collapsible police riot baton.

The bit of metal telescoped into a smooth length, and I struck for the kidneys, neutralizing one of them instantly.

I moved while they were frozen, shattering an elbow and snapping off a kick at the knee joint, and another one bit the dust. The third had a white, shocked look to him, and managed to snap off, “Fucker!” and aim a fist my way.

I met it with the metal rod, the snap of small bones shattering audible. The must have hurt so badly, the scream stuck in his throat. I looked at Kristen, and raised an eyebrow in question.

Her eyes were bright and wide, her mouth open in a perfect O. Kristen, I managed to notice, was all brown. Brown hair, deep brown eyes, and a much lighter hue of brown skin. She stood perhaps a bit shorter than Chris, with an athletic build and bearing.

Kristen blinked, then took a step forward and kicked him in the crotch, using the momentum of her movement and lending her full weight to the kick. Soccer, I recalled, wincing internally.

I elbowed the head of the first guy I hit, and he fell down. Kristen was stepping on another set of genitals, and then moved towards me and kicked the last of them in the balls.

I restrained her from doing more, more afraid for her than for them. She went wild in my grip, and then relaxed as Christine ran in and hugged her.

Chris chivvied her into the back seat, and we took off. I tried not to listen to the girls as I drove, concentrating on the road.

I’m not a walking armory, but I make it a firm rule never to leave home unarmed. The collapsible baton is my weapon of choice, easily concealed and not automatically lethal. The idea of reward or punishment in the afterlife in accordance with your actions and/or beliefs had always struck me as somewhat ludicrous, a puerile remuneration for the money spent on priests and pretty temples. Reincarnation, sans the path of enlightenment, had always held more appeal. Which is to say, when I was really angry, I would attack to cripple, not to kill. A lifetime of pain and misery was the punishment I sought to inflict.

Not that I’d been in all that many fights, or put many people in the hospital. Just twice, actually. Violence is hardly my first choice, but I don’t hesitate when it’s required. The general reaction in the ‘civilized’ portions of the world to violence and death was puzzling and self-contradictory, in my opinion. ‘Violence never solves anything’ was the product of such incredible blindness and self inflicted ignorance… as naturally, the defeated, dismembered and the slain had no one to speak for them or recollect.

To me, it was just another tool, if a tool of last resort. With two encounters in such a short period of time, I had the distinct feeling that I would have to harden myself to accept much, much more. I was in no wise inured to violence, but then again, I’d unknowingly signed on for what was, essentially, a never-ending war. The exigencies of such conflict would doubtless leave marks. At least I hoped I had one advantage: I didn’t fight fair.

I didn’t know how Chris would face the fact that a wizard’s life was not all sugar and roses, but it struck me that Kris would probably do well. My sister wouldn’t have too much trouble, either, but then again, she made a sport of killing insects, piecemeal.

I could hear Criss and Cross speaking in more normal tones, talking about my ‘cool’ car and then house, while I settled the car into the garage.

I helped Chris out of the rear, then took Kristen’s hand and helped her stand. I noticed that both of them wore shorts and t-shirt, showing a lot of skin – and looking wonderful and edible. Kristen’s eyes were a bit red.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” Kristen looked everywhere but my face, “just peachy.”

“Are you girls hungry?”

Chris smiled knowingly, rubbed her stomach and growled, eliciting a small smile from Kristen.

“Follow me. I’ll give you the grand tour later.”

They sat at the kitchen table, and I turned around and activated wizard sight, staggering slightly at the drain. I turned back, leaned on the back of a chair, and looked.

Kristen blazed brighter than Christine, which was only to be expected. I raised a brow at Chris, and she nodded vehemently.

“Hey, what is it with you two?” Kristen complained. “I mean, from what Chris said, I was expecting you to get all smoochie together, not exchange weird looks.”

“Well, let me show you what it’s about,” I sat down heavily. “I’ll show you a magic trick, and then you’ll repeat it,” that did seem to be the easiest way to frame it.

Once again, I made the spell chant loud and precise, and spellfire erupted from my finger. I broke the spell, and looked at Kristen.

“Now, really,” she spat, obviously skeptical, “that’s not funny.” She shot Chris a nasty glare.

Chris responded by repeating the spell, letting the flame dance for a full ten seconds. “No trick, Kris. Try it.”

Kristen gulped, and took a sip of water. She looked at me, then at Chris, shook her head, and tried it.

It didn’t come as easily for her as it had for Chris, or for me for that matter. It took more than twenty repetitions before she got it right.

“The world is a different place now, for you as well, full of magic and danger,” I told her, and took a big bite out of the tuna sandwich in front of me, chewing and swallowing. “To break the spell, which is drawing energy from you, lower your index finger.”

For a while, we ate in silence, letting Kristen digest more than just food.

“So what other tricks can you do?” Kristen asked.

I looked at her plate, mentally apologized to mom, and quartered it, cutting it into four exactly equal pieces.

Kristen licked her lips, suddenly uncertain.

“There’s an awful lot more to it, Kris, but I discovered magic existed nearly a week ago, so don’t expect too much out of me. For Chris, it was just yesterday. It’s not as simple as the stories. You don’t just wave a wand and utter a phrase in pig latin. At least, not yet, for us. There’s a full reality people aren’t aware of. Listen.”

It took over two hours to explain, adding many details that Chris was also unfamiliar with. I stressed the danger, and the need to gather together and practice. I answered questions, and showed them the book and consulted with it when they went bizarre, asking about flying saucers and little green men. Neither were mentioned in demonic or elemental lore, or anywhere else for that matter. I showed them and taught them three more first circle spells.

Then we stopped for lunch, and both girls were bubbly and animated. It startled me. I didn’t think they were truly unaware of the dangers, not now that I’d outlined them. Perhaps I was too much on the doom and gloom side.

I did understand why they were so excited about magic, of course. It would be much easier for them, for wizards with a connection to an archwizard, or a potential one, could learn very quickly from their ‘master’, as the linkage facilitated things.

After lunch, I taught them three more spells, and let them practice. We sat in the garden, and I began studying with a perfect focus. It was peaceful, fragrant, lovely, and I had a pair of pretty girls next to me. I was happier than the usual run of things.

I learned three more minor first circle spells, and then began to work on breaking the first circle of energy manipulation, studying a spell that would harden air, to serve as a shield. It could also be used to choke beings that needed to breath if you put enough power into it or function as binding chains, and a greater version of it existed that immobilized air elementals that were composed of living air.

I also understood the book’s insistence on my learning to cast the sterility spell. In retrospect, it was obvious. The third circle ritual was all about sex, and casting a spell while having sex. I had to learn to separate body and mind as much as was possible during the sex act, and climax while performing all that was needed to finish the ritual.

After three hours of spell practice for the girls and learning a new second circle spell for me, I tried to cast it. I called the girls over, and explained what I was going to try, showing them where I was going to create a small area of hardened air. I cast the spell successfully, and staggered back, terribly drained. In the back of my mind, the images that sustained the foot-sized area of solid air flickered, conflicting with the wizard sight I maintained.

“Step on it, now,” I managed to speak out, and Chris squealed in delight as she supported her weight on one foot, standing on nothing. Kris, impatient to try it, pushed her off and stepped up. Naturally, Chris just had to push her off it in turn.

With an explosive sigh and a terrible headache stabbing all through my skull, I released both spells. Having the wizard sight active had been a lot of help, allowing me to actually see the tiny manipulations of power our spells created. It was like watching the tiny movements and precise art of a master jeweler, working with moonbeams and threads of light and flaring plasma.

“Girls,” I croaked, and coughed to clear my throat, “I don’t know about you, but I’m starved. We need to practice, but don’t forget that too much magic can kill us. Be wary, watch the limits of your bodies, and don’t try too much at once.”

“Yes, daddy,” Kristen quipped, and darted towards the kitchen. Chris chased her, but all I was up to was doddering behind.

We ate, everyone pausing now and then to cast a little spell. The girls’ delight was infectious, and I was soon feeling better. I shot Chris a questioning look, pointing my eyes at Kristen, and Chris hesitated. After a moment, she pursed her lips and nodded.

We were mostly done, so I rose and said, “Why don’t I show you around the mansion?”

They were obviously enthusiastic about the idea, and I gave them the short version of the tour. They ‘ooed’ and ‘aaahed’ over all the artwork and knickknacks my parents had gathered from all over the world, were likewise impressed by the technological conveniences, and had trouble believing the size of the library.

I invited them to sit down in a luxurious sofa, maneuvering things so that Kristen would be between Chris and me.

“Kristen, I know this must be hard for you, but could you tell us what the problem with those guys was? They didn’t pick you at random. Please,” I emphasized as she seemed to curl in on herself, looking determinedly down at the glass table just ahead, “we need to know. What threatens you, threatens us. We’re wizards now, and we’re living on the edge. Chris told you what happened just last night. There is no real safety for us, and whatever they did to you is over. You have power now, and soon you’ll have a great deal of power. One place we really don’t need problem from is ordinary people, mortals. Oh yes,” I smiled at the abrupt reaction, as both girls sat straight and looked me in the eyes, “We’re going to live as long as I want us to, so long as something doesn’t kill us. Time will never touch us. You’ll always be beautiful,” my smile widened.

“Please, tell us. We NEED to know,” I entreated her.

Chris hugged her shoulders, and I squeezed her hands, and a few seconds of loaded silence passed.

I could feel her trembling, but she finally decided to open up, “I… they started bothering me a few months ago. When we played soccer. Just words, at first, then they started tackling me, grabbing, and calling me names. Nobody did anything, and it escalated. It got worse and worse, but I managed to avoid them. When the summer vacation began…” her face wrinkled up, and she started crying, “they caught me. They hurt me, made me suck their cocks. Then they got me again, later. They wanted to do more, but they were afraid, someone was there. I was avoiding them… I didn’t know what to do. They said their parents are big shots, nobody would believe me, I didn’t have any proof, they’d kill me…” she was sobbing, and we made a hug sandwich.

She let it all out, crying harshly, and we held her.

Kristen hiccupped, and said, “there’s another one of them, there were four.”

“Well,” my voice was icy, “like I said, what threatens you, threatens us. You recall the spell that allowed you to cut a leaf? When you learn to apply wizard sight, you’ll be able to do quite a bit more with that little spell. The bastard will die slowly, and no one will understand what sliced his liver apart. Now I just need a name…?”

“Rich, that’s what they called him, I don’t know his full name,” she whispered.

“Does he go to your school?”

“No, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t.”

“Well, if you’re up for it, I can teach you a spell you can use to put a mental image onto paper, or use to copy something that’s already written down. With a picture, I’m sure I’ll be able to find him. At the least, he’ll probably be visiting his ‘mates’ in the hospital.”

“Are you really going to kill him?” Christine asked in a small voice.

“As I’ve said, Chris, we’re in a war for the sake of our lives and humanity. If you think I’m going to tolerate any mortal harming one of my wizards and living to talk about it, well… you’re mistaken. You’re not really advocating that we allow rapists and would be rapists to walk?”

“Well,” she bit her lip, in such a fetching manner that I just had to lean forward and kiss her. She started back, but my hand brought her head back, and we kissed softly for a while.

Kristen broke us up. “Come on guys, you’re crushing me between you. I need to breath.”

“What was that for?” Chris asked, breathless.

I shrugged, “You just looked too cute for words, good enough to eat,” I sent her a leer over Kristen’s head.

“Anyway,” Chris coughed, “Wouldn’t that be taking the law into our own hands?”

I shook my head. “Chris, think. We exist in a layer of the world that only touches upon ordinary human lives and rules. None of them apply to us, really. I mean, magical malfeasance?”

The girls smiled, and looked thoughtful.

“Besides, do you really want to see Kristen suffer interrogations, and the bastards end up with community service, because they’re young, rich, and white, the fucking salt of the earth, people whose lives we can’t possibly ruin because of ‘youthful overenthusiasm and misjudgement’? We’re the beginning of something enormous. If we survive, we’ll remake the world. No,” I added as they both stared at me skeptically, “I’m not being egotistic or showing signs of megalomania. I’m not talking about next month, year or decade. But in a century or two, we’ll have thousands of wizards, and possibly a few more archwizards. Technology might not catch up to magic, and even if it does, we can use both, and I just can’t see physical sciences making an impact on magic. Which does not mean that it’s impossible. Of course, I’m talking about the very long term. In the short term, we must survive and prosper. And I don’t think Ms. Cross here will feel good with those fuckers alive. Right?”

Kristen nodded, her eyes hard, her expression flinty.

“I’m not going to trample on laws just because I can, and neither should you. But laws and rules aren’t justice, and we, unlike most people, can afford justice. And retribution, too.”

“Kristen, do you think you’re ready to learn that spell?”

She nodded, and I opened the book for her, and brought her half a dozen blank sheets of paper and a heapful of refreshments.

“Chris, why don’t we leave her to it?” I winked at her.

“Good idea,” Christine nodded enthusiastically.

“Have fun!” Kris called after us.