Chapter Thirty-Seven
The following day, Superior Charles, Superior Jackie, Madame Jeanette, and Akisha sit around the living room with Victor and Leo. Superior Charles looks out the window with his arms crossed.
“Are you certain it was your uncle?” Superior Charles asks.
Victor rubs his temples and moans. “For the last time, yes. I know it was my uncle. I don’t know why it’s so difficult for you to comprehend.”
Victor sighs and gets up from the couch. “Let me get my phone.” Victor walks into the bedroom.
Superior Charles turns around and looks at Leo. “Leo, I need you to get a second room. It’s not safe for you two sleeping together.”
“Everything is fine,” Leo responds. “Nothing has happened to me.”
“Leo, just beca—” Superior Charles stops talking when Victor returns to the living room.
“I know what you’re talking about,” Victor explains as he sits back on the couch. “Not only could I hear you in the other room, but your auras changed since I’ve returned.”
Superior Charles cocks an eyebrow. “I see your ability is growing stronger.” He clears his throat, “Well, as I was saying, just because nothing has happened doesn’t mean that temptation won’t arise.”
“We appreciate that you care about us, but we will figure this all out,” Victor affirms.
“The affection between the two of you is all over your auras,” Superior Charles remarks. “Everyone can see it, even if they aren’t empathic.”
“Then we’ll be extra careful,” Victor says, annoyance evident as he scrolls through the photos on his phone. “I think there has to be a reason why you haven’t heard from him since 1975.” He holds up his phone for the others to see. “Because who is this on my fifth birthday?”
Everyone is shocked by the photo.
Akisha takes Victor’s phone out of his hand. “That’s . . . How? He’s been in hiding ever since.”
“There are a few more pictures of my childhood,” Victor elucidates. “He stopped coming around when I turned eight. Around the same time . . . my mother got sick.”
The front door opens, and Wren walks in.
“Sorry I’m late. I got tied up looking for some books for Tabatha.
She’s got a witch who’s having issues with Water Magic.
” Wren is holding a tome in her arms, the size of a large laptop and five inches thick.
“I overheard your question, Akisha, and I think I discovered why we haven’t seen him. ”
Wren plops the heavy book onto the dining table and waves her hand over it.
The cover flips open, and the pages flutter until they stop on a page Wren wants.
“According to some records I found, Michael Russo died in 1972, which is weird that he would disappear three years later. So, either that man in Victor’s pictures isn’t Michael Russo, or he changed his identity. ”
Superior Jackie sets her wine glass on the coffee table. “Do you think you could find out if any warlocks somehow appeared unexpectedly in the records?”
Wren shakes her head. “Whatever he did, he did an outstanding job covering his tracks. Even my spells can’t find any discrepancies in the records. And I’m still waiting to hear back from Europe to get access to their records.”
“You only found out about this. How are you so fast looking for shit in a massive library archive?” Victor asks Wren.
“Oh, I’m very thorough,” Wren subtly responds as she closes her tome with a thick thud.
“And I already have access to every record around the globe except for Europe. You can thank the EU for their restrictions to grant access.” Wren turns to Madame Jeanette and asks, “Jeanette, did you see anything?”
“No, I’m sorry, chérie,” Madame Jeanette answers. “Everything Victor told us about last night doesn’t appear in my visions.”
“Victor, could I please talk with you on the lanai for a moment?” Wren asks.
“Whatever needs to be said to him, you can tell everyone,” Superior Charles remarks.
Wren stands tall to Superior Charles, even though she’s the same height as Victor. “With all due respect, Superior, Victor is not in a coven, and you are not my superior. Now, after I speak to him, he can decide whether or not to share this information.”
Victor and Leo are surprised at how Wren just spoke to Superior Charles. Superior Charles squints his eyes and flares his nostrils. Wren makes her way to the lanai, giving no fucks. Victor stands up and follows after her.
Victor closes the door behind him and meets Wren at the far end. “So, what’s up?”
Wren pulls out a small, worn-out book from her back pocket. “I have something you should see.”
“Is this the book about older blood oaths?” Victor asks, taking the book from Wren.
“It is. I dog-eared the page for you,” Wren informs.
Victor opens the book and studies the page. “There is a loophole of sorts. But it won’t be easy since Derek is currently locked up.”
Wren takes a very deep breath as she prepares herself to tell Victor some news. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you in private first.”
“WHAT THE FUCK!!” Superior Charles shouts, startling Victor and Wren.
“Well, looks like someone else just found out,” Wren comments as she walks over to the door.
Victor looks at Wren from the corner of his eye. “What just happened?”
Wren slides the door open and says, “Derek broke out.”
“WHAT THE FUCK!!” Victor bellows out.
When Victor walks back inside, Eddie and Chiyo have arrived. Victor looks at everyone and says, “Tell me this isn’t true.”
Eddie steps forward. “Yes, Derek broke out yesterday morning. We don’t know how he was able to break through the wards.”
Victor is befuddled. “But the bracelet that I placed on him. Can’t I send him right back?”
Eddie and Chiyo look at each other before Eddie looks back at Victor. “He chopped off his hand.”
Leo jumps up from his seat. “He WHAT?!”
Eddie walks over to Leo, holding up his hands.
“You don’t need to worry too much because he inflicted this injury on himself.
You will be fine with the blood oath. Also, he’ll have to use a significant amount of healing with whatever magic he’s using.
Derek won’t be able to astral project to see you anytime soon. ”
Victor pinches the bridge of his nose. “So not only do we have to worry about my uncle returning for whatever he could be planning, but now we have to deal with Derek coming after me again?”
Chatter engulfs the room. It becomes a white nose as Victor walks to the couch. The noise grows louder around him. When he takes his seat, it becomes louder and louder, to the point where he can’t take it anymore.
“QUIET!” Victor roars. A flash of light with a green hue pulses off Victor. Everyone in the room immediately stops talking and becomes calm without realizing what happened.
Victor stretches and rotates his neck and shoulders, keeping his eyes closed. When he opens his eyes, everyone is looking at him, stupefied. “What?” he asks, shifting his eyes between everyone.
Superior Charles walks over to Victor. “Outside. Now.”
Victor moans in aggravation as he follows Superior Charles through the bedroom and out onto the balcony. “Why didn’t you want to go out to the lanai?”
“There’s more sunlight here. And I need to look at you with natural light.
” Superior Charles closes the sliding door and turns around.
“Plus, there’s more privacy.” He walks over to the railing overlooking the waters.
“Your ability is growing. And it’s growing rapidly.
Do you know what you did just now?” Victor looks at Superior Charles with skepticism as he shakes his head.
“You pushed your aura off you, which caused everyone to calm down. Even me.”
Victor is dumbfounded. “I’m sorry? I caused you, a warlock more powerful than me, an empath, a superior, to calm down. Just by pushing my aura off me and onto you?”
“That’s what I said. And not many empaths can do that to me,” Superior Charles states.
Victor looks away as he ponders.
“What is it, young empath?”
“I can’t do this,” Victor says as he walks to the railing overlooking the bay.
“What can’t you do?” Superior Charles says sincerely as he looks down at Victor.
“All of this. It’s just so much pressure now,” Victor claims as he leans against the railing.
“What pressure are you talking about?” Superior Charles probes.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
Victor glances sideways at Superior Charles. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. I know you’re reading my feelings. I can sense it.”
Superior Charles places his hands on the railing and looks out at the water. “I want to hear it coming from you. What pressure are you talking about?”
“THIS!” Victor exclaims as he turns around with his arms open as if he’s expressing everything around him. “All of this. You! Them! Those goddamned invites you have in the inner breast pocket of your jacket.”
Superior Charles pulls out an envelope. “I’m surprised you knew I had these,” he says as he opens the envelope, filled with business cards of various shapes and colors. “Thank God we switched to business cards. We used to use gemstones back in the day. That shit gets heavy to carry around.”
Victor crosses his arms and leans back against the railing.
“I could sense the emblems. They embody the superiors of each coven. I didn’t tell Leo this, but ever since what happened at the restaurant and after I took Derek to the astral plane, my empathic ability has grown.
I haven’t been able to make heads nor tails of it, but it’s been causing me to sense more than just the feelings of those around me. ”
Victor nods to a couple of surfers wading in the water at least 100 meters from the shore.
“I can tell those two are enjoying their vacation.” He doesn’t look down during his following example.
“The couple to the right, three floors down, sitting and trying to enjoy lunch. She isn’t happy that her friend didn’t invite her to the inauguration dinner of the new superior of her friend’s coven. ”
Superior Charles looks over the railing and sees two witches eating in silence.
He focuses on them, “My God.” He looks back at Victor.
“You’re right. And I know the superior you’re talking about.
Are you sure you’re not also a telepath?
” Superior Charles’ humor does not amuse Victor.
Superior Charles notices and places a consoling hand on Victor’s shoulder.
“I know this pressure seems tough right now. But you’ll be amazing. ”
“If I were a telepath, I would understand why you think I’ll be the first Grand Warlock,” Victor retorts.
“So, tell me, Superior, why are you interested in me? A warlock that has just dived into the deep end, not knowing any of his family’s history.
Not having any family member to help him understand what’s going on. ”
“Why am I interested in you?” Superior Charles asks, trying to understand the question.
Victor looks up into Superior Charles’ eyes. “Yes. You were the first to show clear interest in me and invited me to your coven. Now, I have at least what, 30 more invites? Five are in Europe. But you, out of every superior, have more interest in me. Why?”
Superior Charles moves his jaw around, pondering his answer. “It’s what Jeanette showed me.”
“Explain.”
Superior Charles sighs as he takes out a cigar and lights it without even snapping his fingers.
“Normally, we are not supposed to discuss strong premonitions.” He takes a deep puff before he continues.
“But Jeanie is cautious about your ability as an empath. Additionally, I am one of the few empaths who are not in hiding and strong enough to guide you in the right direction. And everyone inside, including me, wants you to succeed.”
“Succeed to be the Grand Warlock,” Victor comments softly while looking out at the bay.
“For the most part, yes,” Superior Charles remarks.
“I just don’t understand why,” Victor states as he looks back at the Superior.
“Because it’s what else she saw.” Superior Charles goes quiet for a moment.
“Something is coming. We don’t know who or what it is.
But it scared her familiar as well. Unfortunately, no one was powerful enough to stop it.
” He turns his attention back to Victor.
“But you are. Your mother could have been; rest her soul. Even your grandmother would have been powerful enough. What wasn’t said is that Florence was your grandmother’s half-sister.
If she is still alive, as Derek claimed, she has something planned—and you’re in her way. ”
Victor pinches the bridge of his nose. “I swear to God, or Goddess, or whoever you pray to, if there is anything else you’re not telling me, I’m going to jump off this building.”
Superior Charles turns around to look at the door. “Well, then, I guess this is goodbye,” he says sarcastically.
Victor perks up at a familiar presence and spins around, seeing them stepping out onto the balcony.
“Lucas?”