The Cost of Magic #19
Feb 10th, 2009 by Jack Lhasa
This is the 19th section of my novel. If you haven’t read the first 18, you might want to start here. Section 19 ends Part 1 of this novel.
And So He Walked
—-
They were roused from a light sleep around 7:30pm by the ring of Minus’ phone. It was Kotoko. Minus answered.
“What the Hell, dude,” Kotoko was clearly frustrated. “I’ve been driving around for almost an hour. The street you said you lived on. It’s not here! I’m fairly certain it doesn’t even exist!”
“It’s alright, Kotoko,” Minus seemed very calm, and this calmed her down. “Do you know anything about synchronicity?”
She started to answer, but someone was opening the passenger door to her car. She reached for her purse, scrambling for the mace.
“Hi, I’m Minus. I think you’ve heard about me.”
“How the.. What? Where did you come from?” She wasn’t as confused as she should be. It seemed almost normal that Minus was now sitting in her passenger seat.
“My place. Go ahead and pull out of this parking lot, and go the right.”
Kotoko did as she was told.
“There will be a road on your left, the sign will say, ‘King’s Lane.’” Minus was directing her to his house and Jane.
When they approached the street sign, Kotoko was astounded. She had driven by this area a dozen times, and there had been no King’s Lane. She was certain. But there it was. A gravel driveway. She turned on to King’s Lane.
“My place is the only house back here. You can park next to my truck. Jane will be waiting for you at the door. I’ll take care of the groceries.” Minus said as Kotoko parked her jeep.
He got out of the jeep and reached into the back seat, picking up some bags. Kotoko went to the door, where she saw Jane peaking out. Minus could see them hug each other, and the tears that followed.
Kotoko went in, and Jane bolted all the locks behind them.
“What about Minus?” Kotoko was no stranger to magic, but she was clearly confused at the situation.
“It’s okay,” Jane said through the tears, “he’ll meet us in the basement.”
They continued through the house and into the basement door. Jane turned all the locks and knobs, locking them in again.
As they went down the flight of stairs, Kotoko was surprised that Minus was standing there, pouring three glasses of wine. She could see all of the grocery bags on the small counter he stood next to, and the luggage full of Jane’s clothing was by an opened closet on the other side of the room.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kotoko. I didn’t mean to startle you. I’ve heard a lot about you. Jane tells me you have interest in the occult?”
He reached into the drawer of pills and pulled out two tiny blue capsules.
“Take these.”
And Kotoko did. She swallowed them with a large drink of wine. She was startled again for a moment, as she realized that she did not drink and had never taken drugs. Why had she done what he said without thought or question? As soon as these thought passed through her, her mind was quieted. She felt calm, and relaxed, and at home.
“Wait, you’re a straight, aren’t you? You must be. Jane said you were good at divination,” said Minus. Both of the girls looked confused.
“Like, you don’t drink, or take any kind of drugs, right?”
“No.. I mean, yeah, I don’t do anything like that.. But I just did, didn’t I? Why am I not bothered or worried?” Kotoko tried to look stern, but she wasn’t really able to.
“Okay, no worries. Those pills. Not drugs. Not real drugs anyway. It’s a metaphysical relaxer. Opens your senses, and leaves you calm. No dangers or addictions. Now had you actually been into pills, I’ve got stuff around..” Minus trailed off.
“No, I feel great.. It’s like my soul let go of my fears and pretensions.” Kotoko was surprised at how easily she understood things, and how clear and fluid her thoughts were.
“You’re not bothered because it was me who gave them to you. Just like you weren’t all that upset when I got in the car seat next to you. I don’t really know why that is, but Doctor Mancini has told me things like that before. A lot of people have really..
“Anyway, just relax, we’ll fill you in and you’ll fill us in, alright?”
Jane and Kotoko nodded in unison.
The three talked for what seemed like hours. Then there was an odd, snapping feeling, and Kotoko left, and Jane went to sleep.
Twenty minutes later, Minus locked the basement and front door behind himself, and started walking due north.
Jane, Kotoko, Mancini, and Othin would all awake the next morning, around the same time, feeling unusually happy.
At that exact moment, Minus would see two ravens, perched on a tree older than the continent, and feel horrible despair. He did not enjoy this the last time.
—-
Jack
I Listen.
The Cost of Magic
Section #19
End: Part 1
And So He Walked
