Chapter Thirty-Eight
Victor stands in utter silence, his mouth slightly open, watching his childhood friend walk outside, holding a drink in each hand.
Superior Charles snuffs his cigar at the edge of the lap pool before walking to the door. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”
Lucas doesn’t say much as he stands by the door. Victor is still trying to process what’s going on. Lucas walks over to the chairs and places the drinks on the small table. “Why don’t we have a seat?” Lucas suggests.
Victor slowly walks closer to Lucas. “What the fuck is going on here?” Victor looks over Lucas’ body. “Is there an illusion charm or something?”
Lucas laughs, “No, no. It’s me. Your best friend, Lucas.” Victor wraps his arms around Lucas, nearly knocking their drinks off the table. Lucas laughs some more. “Sounds like you’re having some issues grasping what’s happening around you.”
Victor pulls back with a shocked look on his face. “Wait! Does this mean . . .”
Lucas nods. “Yes. I’m a warlock.”
Victor punches Lucas in the arm. “What the fuck, dude! We’ve been friends for years, and you never told me?”
“You still punch like a bitch. And you know the first rule of fight club,” Lucas jokes as he rubs his arm.
Victor dramatically cocks his head. “Don’t start with me right now. I don’t think you understand what I’m going through.”
“You mean the whole Grand Warlock thing? Yeah, I’m aware,” Lucas mentions as he takes a seat.
Victor is thunderstruck, plopping down in the chair next to his best friend. “How do you know about all this?” he questions loudly.
“Because my superior is interested in you. She gave Superior Charles her invite to give to you,” Lucas responds.
“First question, because I need to know . . . how old are you?” Victor asks.
Lucas laughs, tossing his head back. “Out of all the questions that must be going through that pretty little mind of yours, that’s the first question you ask me?”
“Well?”
“I’m still one year older than you,” Lucas replies, setting his drink back on the table.
“And to follow up with your next set of questions: I started training at eight. Jon is also a warlock and is 30. He and I were inherited into our covens by our parents. Jon and I have been invited to join a coven together, but we are happy being a part of two separate covens. We do not have any abilities like you. And I specialize in Water, Air, Fire, and Light. While Jon specializes in Fire, Earth, Air, and Shadow.”
Victor looks at Lucas with astonishment. “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?”
Lucas’ laughs echo around the walls. “You have no idea how good it feels to tell you finally. Well, you’re an empath, so I’m pretty sure you know.” Lucas gives Victor a perplexed look. “Which is surprising that you never picked up on any of this all these years.”
Victor shrugs his shoulders as he reaches for his drink.
“I mean, I never really thought about it. I always was drawn to you when we were teens, and I knew we would be great friends. But it never dawned on me that you were a warlock.” Victor pinches his eyebrows together, pondering, “So you weren’t pressured to not mingle with the mundane? ”
Lucas shakes his head as he swallows his drink. “Nope. My superior doesn’t give a crap about all that. She’s only concerned that we don’t expose our magic. Come to think of it, I don’t think she approves of romantic relationships with the mundane. Unless they are trustworthy.”
“Frank, Elliott, Amber, and Lupe know about me,” Victor mentions over the rim of his glass.
“I heard about what happened at Amber’s birthday.
It caused a huge uproar with many covens,” Lucas explains.
“Some covens won’t come forward to take responsibility for those witches who attacked you.
But I haven’t told our friends I’m also a warlock.
Don’t want the whole, ‘Ohhh, you should have been there for Victor. Why didn’t you know Victor was in trouble? ’ talk with our friends.”
“So, why are you here?” Victor explores. “And the timing of it all?”
“Superior Charles contacted me shortly after the attack on Amber’s birthday.
He wants you to see a familiar face to help you discuss this.
I was busy substituting some young water witches, but I didn’t want to distract you with your own training.
After your encounter last night, he called me to come over as quickly as possible,” Lucas explains.
Victor perks up when he remembers the events from their time in New Orleans for his birthday. “Wait a minute. Did you know about the test Madame Jeanette was doing? Did you lead me to her when we were in New Orleans for my birthday?”
“Actually, no,” Lucas responds. “I wasn’t aware of any of that.
I was there under the pretense of celebrating your birthday, especially after your break-up with your asshole ex-boyfriend.
But then, you discovered Jeanette’s shop.
Jon gave me this look as though he knew this would happen.
He told me after the trip that he saw Jeanette watching us as we were bar hopping.
When we walked inside, we worried our covers would be blown.
But Jeanette knew to play along as if she had just met us. ”
“When did you find out?” Victor asks.
“It was after you agreed to talk with Leopold,” Lucas answers freely.
“Jeanette contacted Jon and thanked him for bringing you to her. I didn’t understand what she meant until I realized she had a vision, and it came true.
I then realized the whole endeavor was to test you to make sure you were the one they’ve been looking for. ”
“And the reason you’re coming forward now?” Victor asks as he looks into his empty glass with a sad face.
“I wanted to surprise you after you finished the first part of your training. It’s been concentrated, and I didn’t want to disturb you,” Lucas mentions.
“It’s a big deal when empaths have learned the common specialties for whatever reason; don’t ask me why.
I was hoping to be the one to teach you Light Magic.
But I was told no. However, I can be there when you learn.
And Jon has permission to be there when you learn Shadow. ”
Victor looks through the window and sees everyone sitting around in the living room. “Everyone in there wants me to become this Grand Warlock. What are your thoughts?”
Lucas looks inside and studies the crowd.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t know anyone else qualified,” Lucas says sincerely as he turns his attention back to his friend.
“I’ve seen how good a leader you are. Remember when we used to work together in the theme parks during parades?
You were always on it with getting things ready in the area you were assigned to lead, and made sure everyone understood their tasks.
And let’s not forget all the times we played paintball.
You always had a strategy ready, and almost every time, we won. ”
“Three times we lost, and that’s because the bitch thought I was an ass giving orders and didn’t know what I was talking about.
And she was always the first one to get shot.
Who invited that trollop anyway?” Victor and Lucas snicker at the memory before Victor sighs and becomes serious.
“But this isn’t paintball. This is real.
And I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking.
I literally came into all of this without a thought in the world.
It was as if I knew I was supposed to be here without question.
But now, everyone expects me to become this person when I don’t even know if I could become that person. ”
Lucas pats Victor’s leg. “I believe in you, Bestie. And I will always be by your side. And now that you know I’m a warlock, you can always come to me if you need to talk.”
“Thank you, my friend.” Victor hugs Lucas. They squeeze each other tightly.
Victor and Lucas pick up their drinks and walk back inside. When Victor walks into the living room, everyone goes silent and looks over at him. It was almost as if they sensed that Victor wanted their attention. He takes a deep breath before he speaks.
“We cannot allow what has happened in these last twenty-four hours to cloud what’s in front of us,” Victor proclaims as he looks around the room.
“If we are to be ready for what comes next, I need to keep up with my training. Regardless of what dangers may come my way, I must be prepared. I don’t know what my uncle wanted last night or if he is behind any of this.
We don’t know what’s going on with Morgana or Florence, and I don’t give two shits about Derek. ”
Victor takes a slow breath as he looks around at everyone. “I’m still coming to terms with what I am supposed to do. And that’s become the warlock that you need me to be.”
Superior Charles smiles as he raises his glass. “To our young empath and his journey.” Everyone raises their glasses and repeats after Superior Charles.
Lucas leans over so only Victor can hear. “That’s the leader I remember at paintball.”
The next day, Victor stands by the dresser, putting the finishing touches on his suit, while Leo walks out of the closet holding an oblong box. Victor senses Leo admiring him.
“My eyes are up here,” Victor says to Leo without looking.
Leo chuckles as he walks over to Victor. “You’re starting to enjoy your empathic ability. I guess talking with Lucas yesterday put you in better spirits. And I see you’re going to start wearing your silver shirt and tie.”
“Platinum silver,” Victor smiles as he looks himself over in the mirror. “And talking with Lucas for a while did help me. I could always confide in him when I needed help figuring things out.” He turns and sees the box in Leo’s hands. “What’s all this?”
Leo smiles and places the box on top of the dresser. “Well, I was going to give this to you after you finished your basic lessons. But after your uncle’s unexpected visit, I felt it was necessary to give it to you now.”
Victor steps up next to Leo, gazing at the box.
“Wow.” He gently slides his hand across the box.
“I feel . . .” Victor opens the box and is mesmerized by the beauty of the small black sword.
He gently hovers his hand over the length of the blade.
He stops when he reaches the pearl embedded in the black metal.
“What do you feel?” Leo asks.
Victor looks up at Leo. “Hmm?”
“You said you feel?” Leo repeats.
Victor grips the blue handle and picks up the sword. “The magic in this sword.”
“That’s interesting because I could barely feel any of it,” Leo mentions.
Victor gives Leo a cocky look. “Because this sword is made for an empath.” Victor moves to an open area of the room and starts swinging the sword around.
“Have you handled swords before?” Leo asks, impressed by Victor’s skills.
“Besides the one between my legs?” Victor jokes as he gazes at the blade’s beauty.
Leo laughs, “Yes, besides the sword between any man’s legs.”
Victor extends his arms out, pointing the sword at the wall. “No.” He pulls the sword back and inspects it. “For some reason, it feels like I’ve handled a sword before. Maybe it’s the connection I have with it. I’m not sure. Maybe you can explain how magic like this works.”
“Sadly, describing magic could take more than just an afternoon.” Leo moves some tissue and pulls out a sheath harness.
“Come here.” Leo helps Victor place the harness straps over Victor’s shoulders.
Once Leo gets the harness fitted just right on Victor, Victor twirls his new sword around and places the blade into the sheath flawlessly.
“Okay, now you’re just showing off,” Leo remarks as he steps back and admires Victor.
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to wear the blazer. The handle is poking out too high above my shoulder,” Victor mentions as he picks up his blazer off the bed. He looks back in the mirror after he slips his blazer over his shoulders. “Whoa! It’s like I don’t have a sword at all. How?”
“Magic,” Leo jokes as he sparkles his fingers around in a circle. “You ready?”
“Where are we going?” Victor asks.
Leo walks over to a mirror on the opposite wall. “Time for you to learn Fire Magic. And the big island has the best source of fire.”