Chapter Thirty-One
Victor and Leo enter a small room with windows that look out onto a field. Victor walks closer to the window and sees lines of agave plants sprawling for almost half a mile. He lifts the window open, feels the cool breeze, and can smell the agave roasting in a nearby building.
“?Bienvenidos a mi casa, mis amigos!” Eddie enters the room, holding a bottle of tequila in one hand and three shot glasses in the other. “You’re just in time. This bottle is from my latest batch.”
“Nice to see you again, Eduardo,” Victor proclaims with a smile.
“Please, just call me Eddie. There’s no need to use formalities here, my friend.” Eddie then walks over and hands Victor and Leo a shot glass.
“No salt and limes?” Leo asks.
Victor chuckles, “Please forgive my friend. He doesn’t know how to drink tequila like a Mexican.”
Eddie laughs as he pours everyone a shot of tequila. “?Salud!” Eddie cheers. They knock back their shots, and Leo’s face goes sour. Eddie pats Leo’s shoulder hard and says, “Come now, it wasn’t that bad.”
Leo can hardly breathe, saying, “Smooth.”
Victor hands Eddie his shot glass. “If this is how you greet your guests, I might visit more often.”
Eddie pours himself and Victor another shot. “You’re welcome anytime, mi amigo. Leo, uno más?” Leo shakes his head, and Eddie laughs.
Eddie holds up his shot glass for another toast. “Arriba. Abajo. Al Centro.”
Victor finishes, “Y Pa’dentro.” Eddie and Victor clink their shot glasses together and knock back their second shot. “Damn! How come I’ve never seen this brand before?”
Eddie sets down the bottle on a small table and takes back the shot glasses. “Tres Brujos is expensive. You won’t see it at normal liquor stores.” He claps his hands and rubs his palms together. “So, let’s show you to your rooms.”
Victor follows Eddie outside and down a sidewalk along the house.
He looks out to the field and sees the workers collecting agave to be taken to the ovens.
The workers are not using magic to collect and shave the agave for transport; everything is being done manually.
As Victor scans the field, he can see their auras intertwining.
The workers are enjoying themselves and take pride in their work.
Victor then stops for a moment and takes in the sweet smell of Mexican pastries. He walks up to a doorway and sees several people baking in a kitchen. Tejano music is playing on the radio. Everyone smiles and laughs as they knead the dough or take the bread out of the ovens.
Eddie leads Victor and Leo down another hallway and up a flight of stairs. “I hope you enjoy mi casa while you’re visiting,” Eddie says as he looks back at them.
“Is everyone here a person of magic?” Victor asks.
As Eddie rounds the banister, he responds, “Almost half of my workers are witches or warlocks. But everything made here is done by hand to keep the tradition alive and proper.” He turns around and stops at a door.
“Almost everything.” Eddie winks at Victor as he opens the door. “Victor, this will be your room.”
Victor walks into a room decorated with vibrant Mexican decor. Beautiful tiles cover the wall which his bed rests against. The linen curtains hanging above the balcony door flow in the breeze from outside. He’s starting to feel a little relaxed, either from the setting or from the tequila.
“Buenas Tardes, Senor Russo!” says a midwestern voice behind Victor.
Victor’s relaxation comes to an abrupt end when the maid arrives. “Hello. I didn’t realize you work here.” Victor notices Leo leaning against the door frame, trying to hide his laughter. Eddie smiles with his arms crossed, amused by the situation.
The maid walks over to a set of suitcases by a tall dresser. “I go wherever you go, my dear. I am, of course, your personal maid. I just want to make sure you have everything here.” She looks around and says, “Mr. Leon, I don’t see Mr. Russo’s suit.”
Eddie steps into the room. “His shirt is being cleaned right now. It will be arriving later tonight.”
“Okay, well, then I’ll just start putting your things away for you, Mr. Russo.” As the maid keeps yapping away, Victor starts rubbing his temples.
Eddie chuckles and puts his arm around Victor’s shoulder. “Come, let me show you the rest of mi casa.”
As they leave the room, Victor stops and says, “Actually, would it be possible to make a trip to Magi Scriptor Sartor in New York?”
Leo and Eddie are taken aback and look at each other. “May I ask why you would like to go?” Leo inquires.
“I wanted to look at something I saw in one of their cases. I’ve been thinking about it lately and wanted to ask about it,” Victor explains.
Leo shrugs. “We weren’t going to do any training today, and dinner won’t be ready for another couple hours. We can go.”
“No,” Victor responds a little too sharply. “I mean, I can do this myself. It might be good practice for me to do a few things alone.”
“What if it’s not safe for you to go alone?” Leo asks, worried.
“I’ll be fine and won’t take long,” Victor affirms.
Eddie holds out his hand. “This way, my young empath.” He takes Victor into a room with several mirrors. In the middle of the far wall is a mirror with a gold frame. “This mirror will take you directly to Magi Scriptor Sartor in New York. Just press your palm in the center and walk through.”
Victor presses his palm against the mirror, and it goes hazy. He looks over his shoulder, “If I’m not back in 30 minutes, you can come after me. Will that make you feel more comfortable, Leo?” Leo nods, and Victor walks through.
Victor walks into the store, and as soon as he takes his first step, he jumps back when he almost bumps into someone. “Clarence! You startled me.”
Clarence has their hands on their hips and a judgmental expression on their face. “And may I ask why you’re here to see me?”
Victor looks bewildered. “How–”
“I have my ways,” Clarence says as they turn to walk away. “Also, after I saw what happened to your shirt, I figured you’d be coming to see me. Didn’t you get the second suit?”
Victor follows Clarence into the main shop. “I don’t like how I look in it. The dark blue doesn’t bring out the color of my eyes.” Clarence smirks as Victor continues, “I wanted to see if you have a shirt and tie in something particular.”
Clarence twirls around and places one hand on their hip and the other on a glass case. “How particular are we asking?”
Victor takes a deep breath and licks his lips. “Platinum Silver.”
Clarence slowly walks over to Victor and crosses their arms. “That is very particular.” They squint their eyes and start to study Victor. “Are we looking for a full suit?”
“No, just the shirt and tie,” Victor answers.
Clarence gets up close and personal with Victor as they look into Victor’s eyes. “May I ask why you want to change from blue to platinum silver?” Clarence tilts their head to the side without breaking eye contact. “Could this have something to do with your recent experience?”
Victor inhales sharply in response.
Clarence turns and walks away. “I’ll have it delivered with your other shirt when repairs are finished.”
Victor chases after Clarence. “I was also wondering if there is an artifact you might have.”
Clarence holds out their arms as they continue walking. “Look around. You might find something you like.”
Victor rushes past Clarence to stand in front of them. “I need to look for a charm.” As Clarence turns down another aisle, Victor speaks loudly, “I need it for protection in the astral plane.”
Clarence stops and stands at attention. They slowly turn on their heel and place one hand on their hip. “Now, why would you need an artifact like that?”
When Victor returns to Eddie’s home, Eddie greets him. “Did you find what you needed, mi amigo?”
“I did,” Victor answers. He looks behind Eddie. “Where’s Leo?”
“He’s in his room, waiting for dinner. But let’s talk first. Join me for a drink?” Eddie and Victor head outside on a veranda that overlooks the agave fields. The sun is setting behind the mountains in the distance. “Please, have a seat. I had some margaritas made.”
“If you’re trying to capture my heart with tequila, you might want to add some chips and salsa to the mix,” Victor jokes.
Eddie laughs as he sits and hands Victor a glass. “I’m sure my husbands wouldn’t mind adding a fifth into the mix.”
“Three husbands,” Victor asks, shockingly. “Where do you find the time for them?”
“I’ve had many, many years of practice.” Eddie taps his glass against Victor’s. “Tell me, why did Leo mention you’re upset with him?”
Victor raises an eyebrow and takes a sip. “I see he is asking his chancellor to find out for him?”
“Well, as his chancellor, I always have concern over anyone in my coven who is upset,” Eddie replies as he sits and crosses his legs.
“But I’m not in your coven,” Victor says as he takes another drink while looking out to the field.
“Not yet.” Eddie sips his drink before he continues. “He mentioned that you’re mad at him. He feels that it’s all because of Derek.”
“I really don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss this,” Victor remarks, still looking out in the field.
“I’ve noticed how you two look at each other. And I don’t like Derek any more than you do. But whatever Derek did shouldn’t allow you to stay mad at Leo.”
Victor stands up abruptly. “Chancellor Eduardo, please don’t take this the wrong way, but what is happening between Leo and me is none of your concern.” Victor turns and heads back inside. “If you don’t mind, I would like dinner sent to my room. I’ll see you in the morning for training.”
As Victor walks back inside, Eddie leans back in his seat, stroking his chin.