Chapter 21
Hakeem hoped everything would be okay when he got home. Jackson wasn’t answering calls or texts and Eddie was on his way back. He had to have faith everything was alright, returning his focus to the task at hand.
Dr. Arianna Widows calls him over to the test site.
A large table stood in the middle of the lab, a small mana well at its center.
It didn’t hold nearly as much mana as the one back home, but it served as a power source for their experiments.
It’s connected to a large magic circle, inscribed with runes and sigils of arcane scripture, surrounded further by a tempered glass case for safety.
“All systems green, the spell circle is stable. Mr. Al-Najim, how are the mana reserves in the well?” Dr. Widows doesn’t look up from her notes as she addresses Hakeem, trusting him to do what is required as he has been for the past years they’ve worked together.
“Mana reserves are above required levels, we are clear to proceed, Dr. Widows.” They worked alone tonight, Hakeem had earned his spot by her side from countless years of dedicated work.
“Lab test number seven for experiment eight dash two point O, remote waterspout. Beginning spell activation on your command.”
“Proceed.”
Hakeem clacks away at a keyboard opposite of where Dr. Widows stood, the mana well reacting to the input.
Slowly, mana from the well’s reserves pours into the spell circle.
It begins to glow with soft sapphire and emerald lights.
Within the area of the spell circle a breeze begins to pick up and moisture is drawn from the air.
As the wind picks up speed and the water begins to take shape, the two elements begin to combine into one. “Waterspout formation is stable at fifty percent, Dr. Widows, increasing mana output on your signal.”
Dr. Widows let her gaze linger on the forming swirl of wind and water, the experiment proceeding as planned so far. She hopes tonight would be the night of their first success. “Proceed with an increase of mana output to seventy-five percent, Mr. Al-Najim.”
Hakeem allows more mana to flow into the circle, strengthening the spell.
The wind rages and more water intertwines with its gale.
A towering spiral of water forms within the containment field.
At this point the spell would begin to destabilize without a caster directly controlling its flow, but tonight it seems to be holding steady.
Dr. Widows can’t fight the smirk growing on her face, an expression Hakeem unconsciously copies.
“Mr. Al-Najim, how’s it looking over there?”
“All the systems are still green, Doctor. Fail-safes online.”
“Proceed with increasing output to one hundred percent, let’s see if the spell can remain stable with the modifications added.”
“Increasing output to one hundred percent,” Hakeem types away furiously on the keyboard before him. The mana well glows brighter as more mana is funneled into the spell circle, “Now.”
The waterspout grows further in size and power, the glass containing it within the spell circle’s area trembling from the force. The air in the lab grows humid and supplies begin to quiver under the power of the growing winds. “Status report, Mr. Al-Najim.”
“All systems green, fail safes online, stability levels holding, duration expected to last ten more seconds with current mana supply.”
They hold their breath, this is the farthest they have gotten with this certain spell experiment. If this worked they could move on to field testing. Dr. Widows hoped an item imbued with this spell could change the way fires were fought in large areas. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five.
The wind would draw in the flames while the water extinguished them. The moisture in the air resulting from the spell helped to deter the spread of flames. Four. Three. Two. She dedicated her life to working on many remote spells to help rescue efforts, her work has saved thousands. 1.
The spell begins to wind down, the mana well’s glow dwindling.
“Mana reserves below safety level. Spell duration complete. Stability levels peaked at ninety percent, well within safety range.” The winds die down and the water evaporates.
The glass containing the spell has stopped shaking, moisture clinging to its walls, but it remains standing.
“Experiment 8-2.0 lab test #7, success.”
Hakeem and Dr. Widows exhale heavily, their shoulders relaxing in tandem.
She tucks a strand of her white hair that had come loose behind her ear, Hakeem wipes the moisture from his glasses.
She offers him a kind smile which he wholeheartedly returns, the night was a success.
“Good work tonight, Mr. Al-Najim, let’s tidy up and go home. ”
The experiment results are documented and, pending review, will hopefully be cleared to begin field testing. The materials used are put away in their proper spots and Hakeem and Dr. Widows lock up the lab after it’s all cleaned up.
“Did you need a ride home tonight, Hakeem? I know the trains are still running but I certainly don’t mind since it’s on my way.”
Hakeem keeps in step with Dr. Widows as they exit the labs while checking for any updates from Eddie. “No thank you, doctor, I should be fine.”
Hakeem stops in his tracks, an icy chill creeping up his spine when he sees that there are still no new messages from Eddie or Jackson, the twisting feeling in his stomach returning with a vengeance.
“Hakeem? Everything okay?” Dr. Widows raises an eyebrow as she pauses to turn and look at the man whose face has drained of all color.
Hakeem clears his throat, shaking his head to try and clear the ominous feeling. “I’m fine, doctor, I just need to get home.”
She isn’t convinced as she looks him up and down. “In that case driving will be faster, come on.”
Hakeem wanted to argue, feeling guilty about taking up Dr. Widows’ time even if he thanked her with home-cooked meals, but he knew he needed to get home fast. The drive went smoothly, but that didn’t stop Hakeem’s leg from bouncing a mile a minute. Something that didn’t go unnoticed by Dr. Widows.
“How are your boys treating you?”
Hakeem is caught off guard by the question, though it would do him good to focus his mind on a positive for now. “Huh? Oh! Jackson and Eddie have been good to me, we even adopted a young raccoon.”
Dr. Widow’s amusement is clear in her giggle, “Is that so? What an interesting little family you seem to have found for yourself.”
Hakeem gives a small smile, eyes gazing off into the passing view. Building lights and trees blurring by, similar to how they would look when he would ride behind Eddie on his bike. They even pass by a record shop Jackson showed him on a walk with Princess. “Yeah, it is. I’m glad I found them.”
Hakeem finds himself going on and on about the past few weeks, how every passing day the boys seemed to grow closer.
He went on about how a foot-tall raccoon had them all wrapped around her paws and how they paid so much attention to him when they had magic lessons in the apartment.
He hadn’t noticed the smile growing wider across his face, filling his cheeks and making his eyes shine.
How caring they’ve been since the encounter and how they would laugh even when they argued over the most trivial of things.
He didn’t notice Dr. Widows pull up to the Alexandria building until she clears her throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but I think it’s time you get back to these amazing roommates of yours.” She chuckles, amused as Hakeem’s face grows red from realizing how much he had talked about Jackson and Eddie.
“Oh, sorry. Thank you again, Dr. Widows. I’ll see you later.”
“Good night, Hakeem. Oh and one more thing.”
Hakeem spins on his heel to look at her through the rolled down window of her car. “Yes, doctor?”
Dr. Widows gave him a warm, motherly smile. “You take good care of each other, alright? What you’ve found is hard to come by.”
Hakeem turns his face, unable to look directly at Dr. Widows at the moment. “Of course, doctor, thank you again. Good night.” She waves as she pulls away and drives off.
Hakeem shakes his head and regains his focus.
His hand tight on the strap of his messenger bag, Hakeem quickly adjusted his glasses and marched through the lobby toward the elevator.
He needs to make sure everything is alright.
Eddie hadn’t replied to any follow up messages.
He had grown worried since it was much earlier than any of them would be asleep.
He steps out of the elevator on the penthouse floor, readying himself for whatever waited for him behind the double doors before him.
“Oh my staaaaaaars-” Hakeem is shocked and left speechless, mouth agape.
A good chunk of the apartment was indeed messed up, to put it lightly.
Deep cuts scarred the floor, a railing lay destroyed, and the door to Jackson’s room looked caved in.
The damage seems to have stopped just past the large couch, which is torn and tattered at the back.
On said couch is a sleeping Jackson, using Eddie’s broad chest as a pillow.
It looks comfy.
Now is not the time to appreciate how delicately Eddie’s muscular arm drapes over Jackson’s lean frame.
How cute Jackson looks clinging on to Eddie’s shirt or how softly Eddie snores as Jackson is rocked further to sleep by the rise and fall of Eddie’s stomach.
What Hakeem did notice was the redness of Jackson’s nose and the puffiness around his eyes.
Along with two distinct marks on Eddie’s neck.
The smell of dried blood catches Hakeem’s attention, eyes trailing to a cloth that had been discarded on the floor by the couch.
Princess Bandit stirs in her sleep before slowly waking.
She perks up the instant she lays eyes on Hakeem, who was carefully closing the door behind him.
She chitters happily and scurries to his side where she is gently swept into Hakeem’s arms. “Hi, Princess, what happened here?” All the small raccoon could do is chitter frantically and gesture widely to the damage done and the two men sleeping on the couch.
“Guess I’ll have to wait till the morning for answers. With Jackson’s help we can fix this all up with a wish.”
Hakeem bites his lower lip in consideration as he gives Princess Bandit the scratches she was demanding.
“No. I didn’t spend nearly two decades of my life studying magic to rely on wishes.
Princess,” He holds the raccoon to his face, expression full of determination, “I’ll fix this tonight, myself.
Then we can get the full story in the morning. ”
He’s sure the raccoon doesn’t know what he’s saying but her approving nod makes him question that theory.
Hakeem draws the wand Jackson had entrusted him with, hand tight on its leather grip.
The twisted cedar and clear quartz buzz as the wand spurs to life in his hand.
With a flick and a swish he calls a blanket down from his room, placing it gently over Jackson and Eddie.
“You two sleep well. You took care of me, now let me take care of you.” His voice is a gentle whisper and filled with a growing fondness that at first terrified him.
Now it warms him to think of a future with the two men.
Hakeem makes his way to the terrace, Princess Bandit scurrying close behind.
Pointing the wand to the mana well, green light comes to life as the magic within answers his call.
Jackson’s magic was his to use as needed, as he had been told so many times.
It’s now he would let himself indulge in controlling so much mana at once.
The green mana flows from the well, turning silver as it encases Hakeem in a halo of power.
Closing off the terrace, filled with mana that threatens to flatten him to the ground, Hakeem makes his way to the second floor.
The stairs were a slight struggle under the weight of the magic, free hand on the wall to support himself.
He stands before what he deduces is the origin of the carnage, Jackson’s room.
It was ripped apart worse than the rest of the apartment, taking the brunt of whatever caused all this.
The bed torn to shreds, the walls scarred by deep cuts, dust and debris coating the floor.
He’s relieved both men seemed okay, but his heart twists at the idea of what could have caused such an outburst.
He takes in the room and the surrounding area that had been damaged.
He maps it out in his mind as he begins to build the spell.
The wand flares to life, waves of silver mana emanating from Hakeem as he speaks the ancient words, tracing his hand in the air in intricate patterns, spurring the mana into action as he raises his wand; like a conductor’s baton.
Princess scurries away from behind him, scrambling up to top perch of her cat castle.
“Stitch and Sew, Heal the Rift. Turn back the Clock, Undo the Shift. What Magic Marred, Let Magic Mend. Not a Scratch, Not a Hair to Rend. Return what’s Lost, the Unjust Toll. Rewrite the Fate, Make it Whole.”
“Restora En Masse!”
Wisps of silvery light fly from the tip of Hakeem’s wand, tracing the damage done to the apartment.
Wood reforms, metal bends back into shape, cracked glass mends together and stone reshapes around deep cuts.
Hakeem lets the magic flow from him as he makes his way back down the stairs, guiding the spell from Jackson’s room to the cuts on the floor and tattered back of the couch.
Hakeem collapses into the loveseat, magic dissipating from his grasp.
Restora itself is a simple spell that was built upon to create more powerful and specific versions, he just hadn’t realized the damage was extensive enough to use all the mana stored in the well.
His body tenses up as the spell comes to an end, pain radiating through each joint and muscle.
Though his stamina has improved recently, larger spells still take their toll.
“There, all fixed. Isn’t that better, Princess?”
Princess Bandit had watched Hakeem work in awe from her spot atop the cat castle. Hakeem’s eyes grow heavy as his body sinks further into the cushions. Princess takes this as a sign for snuggles.
“Ow, ow! Careful, Princess, I’m a little sore. But yes, you can have cuddles.”
The raccoon purrs as she curls atop Hakeem’s chest, the weight pushing him further into sleep’s embrace.
“Maybe I’ll just rest my eyes for a moment, then I’ll head to -”
Hakeem falls asleep before he can finish the thought.