Chapter Fourteen
Leo walks to a dimly lit corner of the warehouse. He looks over his shoulder to see if anyone has noticed he has stepped away. Then he takes a deep breath and answers his phone.
“I’m a little busy right now,” Leo says harshly.
“Hello to you, too,” the person on the other end says.
“What do you want, Derek?” Leo asks with annoyance.
“I don’t understand why you’re getting so upset talking to your husband. I haven’t spoken to you in over a week,” Derek says defensively.
“You know I’m mentoring someone right now,” Leo remarks. “We just started training.”
“Yeah, the empath. Is he cute?” Derek asks.
Leo squints, acting as though Derek is standing before him. “Why does that matter?”
“Because I want to know about my competition,” Derek responds with a tinge of jealousy.
Leo looks back over to see Victor smiling. Karl pats Victor on the back, expressing his pride over a task. Leo knows he should be paying attention, but his husband is calling, which means he’d better answer.
“How long do you think you’ll be away?” Derek asks.
“I’m not sure, Derek. He’s an empath and in his early 30s. This could take some time since he has a lot to learn,” Leo explains, doing his best to hold back his irritation.
Derek sighs, “I don’t understand why they chose you as his mentor. Why couldn’t they find someone else with more experience with empaths?”
Leo pinches the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know, Derek. I’ve been a mentor for a while, and they probably figured I would be the best for his lessons.”
“That damned council should give you a break. You’re hardly home to be with me,” Derek comments in a pouty voice.
Leo gives Derek an annoyed expression, even though Derek can’t see it. “Derek, we don’t even live together anymore. We haven’t lived together for over three years now. I’m only still your husband because it’s binding.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t still try, Leo.”
Leo pauses and looks back at Victor. He takes a deep breath before responding, “Look, Derek, I’m in the middle of this lesson. I need to let you go.”
“Fine, whatever. Call me back later.” Derek hangs up before Leo can say goodbye.
Leo sighs deeply as he puts his phone back in the inside pocket of his jacket and returns to observe Victor’s lessons.
After a few hours of practicing under the bright lights, Victor breaks a sweat. Karl looks cool as a cucumber. He notices the beads of sweat on Victor’s forehead and casts a breeze to help cool him off.
Victor drops his hands to his sides. “I’m sorry, I just feel so tired.”
Karl steps back and crosses his arms. “Not to worry. Let’s take a break.
” He snaps his fingers, and the leather-clad woman walks over, pushing a dining cart.
The men bring over a couple of chairs. The woman locks the cart in place and then lifts the metal covers off the plates.
The smell of lemon and salmon fills the air around them.
“I hope you enjoy the dinner I’ve prepared for you,” Karl says. His assistant rolls her eyes, knowing she was the one who prepared it.
The three of them sit and start eating while Karl’s personnel stand off to the side with their hands clasped.
“Leo mentioned that your first specialty is Water,” Victor tells Karl.
“That’s right. That’s how I got us salmon for dinner,” Karl replies as he chews away.
“So why are you teaching Air Magic?” Victor curiously asks.
Karl finishes his big bite of salmon before he answers. “Air is the main ingredient for Water, Fire, and Earth. All three need Air to survive. Air is also easy to manipulate and can dilute several attacks when used properly. It’s also easier to teach than Water.”
Leo looks up as he’s about to take a bite.
“In other words, he’s a show-off, and for him to always show off, he became an instructor in Air Magic since there is such a high demand for air instructors.
” Victor chuckles as Karl gives Leo a pointed look.
Leo smiles as he takes a bite and winks at Karl.
“Wise ass,” Karl huffs.
“Show off,” Leo smirks.
“Why didn’t you try to make Air your first specialty?” Victor asks.
“It’s because my exams showed Water was my strongest,” Karl replies.
“Exams?” Victor looks over at Leo, “What exams?”
Leo is caught off guard as he tries to finish a large bite of food in his mouth. “All those of magic have to go through a set of exams to see where they are to be placed.”
“Why wasn’t I given any exam to take?” Victor queries.
“Well, we’re sort of doing things a little bit backwards,” Leo answers. “I think the council wants you to start learning magic now. The exams will be later. We need to visit a warlock who can administer the exam for empaths. Right now, he’s busy and needs time to prepare.”
Victor looks between Leo and Karl. “Why am I learning magic before I know what I should learn first?”
“Those with abilities can control all forms of magic,” Karl responds.
“Empaths, in particular, can conjure more than one magic spell at a time. It’s challenging for someone like me to achieve.
I can conjure Water, Air, and Light. But it’s difficult for me to conjure two at once.
I’ve dabbled in Earth and Fire, but my magic can’t handle them.
So, I just focus on the three I’m good at. ”
“Which is why he’s jealous that you are going to learn all of them,” Leo comments, giving a sly wink to Karl.
Karl rolls his eyes at Leo and turns back to Victor. “So, what did you think of Jeanie?”
“Jeanie?” Victor questions.
“Madame Jeanette,” Leo says without looking up from his plate with a mouth full of food.
“Oh!” Victor says as he puts his fork and knife down. “She’s nice, but a little interesting. I think she likes me. And she does love her tobacco.”
“That’s her artifact to help with her seer ability,” Karl comments.
Victor looks over at Karl and blinks a couple of times in confusion.
Leo notices and responds. “Jeanette uses the tobacco smoke to help with her premonitions. She’s very good at it.
Seers generally use an object to aid their premonitions, such as a crystal ball.
Some of the best seers are traditional and use crystal balls as their artifacts.
On the other hand, Jeanette figured out that the smoke from her tobacco pipe works for her.
“The pipe used to be her father’s, who gave it to her before he passed. At her father’s funeral, she took a hit from the pipe and noticed something in the smoke she puffed out. She believes her father fabricated his pipe to help her become a better seer.”
Karl turns and looks at Victor. “And as an empath, you will figure out something similar. You might wear a piece of jewelry, like the ring you have on that’s helping you with Air Magic. Which was a good idea, Leo.”
“Thank you, Karl,” Leo says with a smile.
Karl continues, “You might find a trinket, a coin, maybe even a pin that will help you amplify your empathic ability. Or it might be so natural for you that you might not need anything at all. You’ve probably already been told that empaths are rare.
Not many people know what empaths need except for them.
Most artifacts you will discover were created by empaths years ago, before the civil war between witches. ”
Victor ponders before he speaks. “You two say empaths are rare, but there was one in the restaurant the other night. And she didn’t seem to know what to do.”
Karl and Leo look at each other before Leo speaks. “She is an empath. However, she’s older, like a lot older. Her abilities are starting to fade. She can still do smaller things like read auras or help with an investigation, but as for fighting, she’s not someone you want to bring into battle.”
“Abilities are very mental,” Karl adds. “I once knew a telepath. But sadly, he took his own life when he reached 180 years old. He couldn’t control his telepathic ability anymore.
And since no one knew how to correct it or what artifact could help him, he descended into madness.
Some superiors tried to contain him so as not to hurt himself or others, but he killed himself as they tried to bind him. ”
Karl becomes silent for a moment, lost in deep thought.
He shakes his head and looks back at Victor.
“I think you’ll know how to help yourself and other empaths.
You’re younger than any of us here. Hell, I’m older than Leo by fifteen years and look like I’m in my early 40s.
I’m still discovering new artifacts that aid me with my Water and Air Magic.
Some work and some don’t. And you’ll do the same. ”
“You both have mentioned superiors. What are you talking about?” Victor asks
“A Superior is the head of a coven,” Leo explains. “They are chosen by the elders and other high-ranking officers of the coven. My superior has been in his position since before I joined. You will meet him soon.”
Karl and Leo wipe their mouths while Victor takes the last bite off his plate. As Victor puts down his utensils, Karl gestures to his staff to take the cart away.
Karl puts a hand on Victor’s shoulder, “Okay, let’s go back to practicing.”
An hour has passed, and Victor finally makes an air bubble between his hands. He is pleased to maintain one longer than the others. “Damn, finally. I think I’m getting this.”
Karl pats Victor on the back, “That’s good. Now, concentrate on pulling the air out of the bubble, but don’t pop it.”
Victor complies with Karl’s instructions. He can feel his hands growing cold as the pores in his skin inhale the air. The bubble starts to look cloudier than before.
Karl’s smile grows bigger, and then he looks over at Leo. “Leo, toss over a small fireball.”
“You sure he’s ready?” Leo asks, uncertain about the request.
Karl nods and steps to the side. “Now, Victor, Leo will toss over a small fireball. I want you to catch it in the bubble.”
Victor nods in response, trying to keep his focus on the bubble.
Leo stands up and flicks his wrist as he walks over to stand across from Victor. A small blue ball of fire appears in his palm. He underhand tosses the fireball over to Victor. Victor eyes the fireball and moves his hands and arms, catching it on his first try.
Karl crosses his arms and smiles proudly. “Nice job! Now, concentrate on the air that’s inside the fireball. You want to pull the air out of the fireball just like you did with the bubble.”
Victor looks at the fire inside the bubble. He doesn’t notice that his breathing has slowed, and his heartbeat begins to slow down. All he can hear is the breeze blowing around his ears.
As Victor focuses on the fireball, Leo looks over and notices something. He’s unsure as to what is happening.
Karl notices Leo’s confused expression. “What’s up?”
“I’m not sure,” Leo answers as he slowly walks over to Victor.
As Karl makes his way around Victor, he jumps back. “What . . . what is this?” He twists his neck as Leo approaches. “Leo, what’s going on?”
Leo shakes his head, “I have no idea. I don’t know how to react.” They look at Victor, who still hasn’t noticed their confused and concerned expressions.
Victor’s eyes are glowing white.
A moment later, Victor’s eyes glow brighter. Then, the fireball is extinguished, and the bubble pops. A huge smile grows across his face. He looks up at Leo and Karl.
“I did it!” Victor says proudly. When he looks over at Leo and Karl, he notices the bewildered and startled expressions on their faces. He shifts his eyes between them, but they do not respond to Victor’s joy. Victor turns around to see if there is something behind him, but there is nothing.
He looks back at them, his eye returning to normal, and begins to worry, “What’s wrong?”