Chapter 6- Taz
(THEN)
SITTING IN one of the sequestered study rooms in the Union library is lame. Even lamer is the fact that I got detention during Saturday spellcasting school. Why do I even have to be here? We’ve been tasked to quietly read about hexes for a whole hour.
And the lamest fact of all―Luther Westbrook, the golden child himself, is actually doing it.
He sits at the adjacent wooden table, silently reading. Gazing at his muscular neck is making my throat dry. Somehow, being quiet in his presence makes the time feel longer. So I go about my favorite pastime, pestering him.
“That book is boring.” I sit down on his table. He grants me one quick glance before staring at the pages again.
“We’re supposed to be―”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I say, waving his words away. “Professor wants us to quietly read as punishment. Just because we were practicing moving dirt with spells.”
“I was practicing,” he mutters. “You were just messing around, challenging me to see who could make the biggest earth wall.”
“And you accepted,” I retort with a smirk.
“Yeah, well, that’s why we’re both here.”
“It’s lame if you ask me. This is spellcasting school. You should be able to cast spells, it’s in the name!”
He snorts. “I know, right? Asking us not to use our powers?”
“It’s counterintuitive,” we both say at the same time.
This makes him dart up and stare at me in shock. The moment hangs in the air―we both finally agreed on something.
After a few seconds, Luther bristles and goes back to reading his book. Returning to swinging my legs back and forth, I say, “Hey, I got a fun hypothetical question. A real sexy one, too.”
“I’m ignoring you,” he says in a low, sing-song voice.
“Where is like, the ideal place to lose your virginity?”
At this, Luther freezes and looks up at me again. It’s…adorable. Maybe I’m something other than straight, perhaps I’m bisexual or gay. But Luther certainly isn’t, so I can’t dwell on that. Still, messing with him and getting those brown eyes to stare at me is a fulfillment like no other.
“Wha…wha…what?” he stammers.
“I already know where I want it to happen. How about you?”
He’s still frozen, gaping at me. “Where do you want your first shag?” I ask.
He sputters and looks down. Clenching his fists, he mutters, “Who says I haven’t yet?”
“It’s no big deal. I haven’t yet. Too busy with spell school. Who has time for a social life?”
“I hear that,” he replies, still looking down. The thrill of him agreeing with me in this tiny room is unlike any other magic.
“So, like, where do you want to do it?” I’m sure he can hear me grinning.
“I…I don’t…”
“Unless you and Necia have done it already,” I say with a smirk.
“No!” he answers quickly. After glaring at me, he looks back down, avoiding my gaze. He hasn’t turned the page of his book at all, the entire time I’ve sat here.
“Necia and I are just friends.”
“Ah.” The quiet is irksome, so I continue, “Probably gonna get a hotel room. A real fancy one. Paris, France, if I can.”
“Don’t you have to be an adult to book rooms?” He’s still not looking up, but I adore that he’s so invested in my future sex life.
“Oh yeah, sure. Maybe when I’m eighteen I’ll book a room. Better yet, I’ll conjure up a keycard or float onto a balcony of sorts. Break into some other bloke’s room, an expensive one. Then have my first time there.”
“Romantic,” he mutters. I don’t miss the way his fists clench.
After ten seconds, it’s clear he’s not going to answer, so I hop up. “Well, I’m gonna go read on the other side of the library. See if there are any actually interesting books to check out.” Picking up my book, I stride away. “Or other teenagers to check out,” I add with a smirk.
Before I can step out the door, Luther’s voice makes me freeze up. “The beach. On a blanket. A secluded area, with a fog perimeter to keep us from getting caught. Or something.”
I turn to look at him, and I swear he’s blushing as he stares at the table. In fact, I bet I am, too. With one last grin and nod, I casually walk out of the study room. My inexplicable pull toward Luther Westbrook might be my favorite mystery.
(Now)
Days after the mission in New Mexico, I’m at the Union library, where I often go on my free mornings. My day job back in Virginia can wait; there have to be answers here. Sure, the layout hasn’t changed since I was a teenager, but I’ve barely scratched the surface of the catalogue.
I scribble on my stack of looseleaf paper the name of the latest book I’ve pored through.
After letting out a frustrated noise, I stand up from the wooden chair and casually put back the leatherbound tome into the bookshelf slot.
That compendium was useless, but it’s one book closer to my goal.
I won’t rest until I learn everything I can about the Other Side.
That monster knew exactly what I was looking for…
“Taz Devries.” I turn to the voice, and a huge smile grows on my face.
“Gear.” I give Girish a bro hug. “How’s my favorite agent of SPELL?”
“Am I?” He pushes up his glasses and shrugs. He’s been a chill bloke since our school days, but I haven’t gotten to properly catch up with him. “Well, I am an agent, but more on research. Behind the scenes.”
“You’re a valued asset. Come.” I point to the wooden pair of seats between us, and he nods. After we sit down, I look around to notice we’re alone in the library. “What brings you here?”
“I work here sometimes. You know me and books.”
That makes me smile. “Smart. We need all agents of SPELL to be sharp.”
“So, you’re officially gonna be an agent?”
My cheeks warm, and I loosen my collar. “It’s uh…as-needed basis. Per diem.”
“Well, a bunch of us live in Cosmo. We could hang out sometime?”
The thought of going to a bar and getting drinks with Luther makes my blood boil―antagonism or arousal, what’s the difference?
“I’m pretty busy. Running my shop, undoing major hexes for the Union. You know the like.”
“Speaking of which…” Girish pushes three books in front of me. I grin at the sight of my own books on the table. “Can you sign these copies? It would be sweet to have the real author’s signature on the tomes.”
He hands me a pen, and I nod. While I sign the first book, I fill the silence. “So, how’s life on the research side of SPELL?”
“It’s fine. It suits me better. Don’t want to be in the middle of a mission and then…” Girish makes a circle in the air with his finger near his temple, and I frown.
“That’s still happening, huh?” I recall moments in our schooldays when Gear’s precognitive headaches made him leave class early.
He shrugs. “I live with it.” I slide the books back to him, and he smiles. “Awesome, thank you.”
“It’s no big deal.”
Girish levels a look at me. “Gosh, it’s so good to have you back.
I seriously think you should consider signing up for a SPELL internship.
You could probably get expedited since you went to school with us, and you’re doing all this work already.
Saving the world from the Other Side monsters is noble as fuck. ”
“Hey, we’re all doing our part.” I idly tap the wooden table to my right. “You heard all that the other day? The New Mexico incident?”
“I talk to the chief,” he says with a shrug.
“Right. What…what’s happening, you think? Since when do Other Side monsters possess mortals? The priest didn’t know anything about magic.”
“I don’t know. The only theory I can think of…well, I don’t know if anyone will trust me.”
“I’m all ears.”
Girish shrugs and looks away. “The monsters have always tried to get free. But the reports lately have shown more and more…know how to talk.”
The memory of the cloud beast with five eyes taunting me sears my brain. “Yeah?” I whisper.
“It’s possible they’re evolving. Gaining sentience. More and more rifts are popping up. We wizards are getting more creative, who’s to say those dark creatures aren’t?”
I tap my lip. “You may be on to something. But we were going to intervene with that dastardly cult, not a monster. Was the intel wrong?”
“Maybe. More analysis is needed. I’d hate to think what would happen if the two are linked. Mortals and mages harboring demonic beings from the Other Side on purpose?” He shudders, and the very notion gives me nausea.
Girish stands up. “I gotta go. But hey, maybe I’ll talk to you during the next mission.”
“Perhaps you will.”
“Stupendous. You and Luther make a great team. You always have.”
“Yeah, we’re a real dynamic duo,” I say with as much sarcasm as I can muster.
“I’m serious, man. You two have always made each other better wizards.”
I shoot him an incredulous look. “Better wizards? Annoying, yes, but better?”
“Between you and me, he always had more drive in school when he thought about how well you were doing. After you left, he acted like…”
My breath is caught in my throat as I wait for him to finish his sentence. Girish continues, “Anyway, I hope you seriously consider making this per diem gig a full-time thing.”
The disappointment in not hearing the rest of his sentence is heavy in my soul. What did Luther used to think about me? Wait, why do I care? “For sure.”
We stand up, but I nearly stumble when the papers underneath my hand slip off the table. Way to go, Taz. This is what you get for thinking naughty thoughts about Luther Westbrook.
“Shit, my bad,” I say.
“No worries, I got it.” Girish leans down to pick up my sheets when he freezes. I awkwardly stop moving and wonder what’s going on. His eyes are glazed over as he scrutinizes the falling sheets of paper.
Wait―is he having a vision? I remember his precognitive abilities were inconsistent at best. It’s rare for a wizard to have the innate skill of divination, but seeing the future could be useful.
“Girish? Gear? What do you see?”
He moves some papers around so they make a small circle. I hold my breath and stare into his white eyes. He must be gazing into my future. The stars know I could use some guidance, but is my old schoolmate more skilled at precognition nowadays?
After a long five seconds, he shakes his head and proceeds to pick up the papers. “Sorry about that.”
My throat goes dry as I study his face. He seems perfectly neutral when he hands me back my sheets. “Girish. Gear.”
“I, um, have to…” He pushes up his glasses, suddenly uncomfortable.
“Gear, please tell me what you saw,” I say with a quiet urgency.
He winces and looks around. We’re still alone, and I need answers. “Look, my precognition isn’t always accurate,” he replies.
“Try me,” I say, my voice nearly a whisper.
He scratches his neck and looks away. “I could hear you…overjoyed.”
“That sounds promising. When?”
“A near future. You’re hugging someone and saying like… ‘I can’t believe you survived living in the Other Side.’” Girish shrugs and steps back in a panic. “Listen, I don’t know what I saw!”
My eyebrows rise. “Wait, Gear.”
“I don’t know, Taz.” He raises his hands in surrender and keeps walking backward. “I’m sorry, I can’t control when I divine someone or not! I…I have to run.”
With that, he dashes off like he’s seen a ghost. I’m alone again in the library, unsure of how much to believe in his vision. I don’t want to cultivate the ember of hope that the one person I’ve been looking for most of my life is still okay.
Girish accidentally saw my future, but why do I have more questions than answers?