The darkness is complete. I can’t even see my hand in front of my face. I know because I wave it in front of me just to make sure. Just as suddenly as the enveloping darkness surrounds me, it’s gone, and I’m in a beautiful bar with an oak counter and tables and red cushioned stools and chairs. Simple tapestries adorn the walls and a great fireplace covers one wall near the bathrooms, with a peculiar old wooden chart listing species eye color:
VAMPIRES = BLUE EYES WEREWOLVES = GREEN EYES SHAPESHIFTERS = SILVER EYES WITCHES = GOLD EYES DEMONS = ORANGE EYES ZOMBIES = YELLOW EYES
FEY = PINK EYES
HUMANS = NO LUMINOUS COLOR CHANGE
I take all this in and the gaping faces. Why is everyone staring at me? Have I stood in something? With a discreet sniff, I rule out that scenario thankfully. “Okay, why are you all staring at me, and what’s with the weird chart?” I inquire, pointing to the eye color chart above the fireplace.
Clearing his throat Victor stares intently at me. “It’s a species eye color chart.”
“So my eyes changed to gold, weird, but okay, what’s the problem?” I demand. Seriously, why are they all staring at me unless…?
“Your eyes went violet, not gold. I’ve never heard of anyone having violet eyes…what exactly are you, Candi? I mean, I know you’re a witch, but are you more? But how can it be? I mean, it’s not possible right? But Big Michael did call you Double Magick Woman…”
Victor, who has been steadily pacing stops in front of me, stares into my eyes for what feels like an eternity. With a spreading smile, and a slight shake of his head, Victor seems to come to a realization that causes him great pleasure.
“We have got to find the book of prophecies.”
“Okay, actually we have to stop a murderer.”
Looking at Victor I wonder if he’s okay. “What is the big deal about this prophecy book anyway?” I finally demand in frustration. “I mean seriously, I never heard of it until a couple of days ago.
“Was it really only a couple of days? Flipping hell! Anyway, never mind about how long it’s been. What was I saying…?” I trail off, going slightly red at how quickly I fell into bed with Victor, flushing even redder when I realize I can’t wait to repeat such a fantastic experience again, or...I put the brakes on my mental thought. I don’t want or know how to finish it.
“Look, let’s get you something to eat.” Gently taking hold of my hands, Victor leads me to the counter so I can order. The bar is thankfully empty, except for our small group and the barman, who appears to be in shock.
“Okay, well, that was different,” laughs Jasmine breaking the ice.
“Certainly one way of putting it. Here’s the menu, Candi, and…yeah.” Kheda trails off, for once looking at a loss for words. Rubbing his left hand over his mouth, he seems to shake his surprise off. Looking at Jasmine, he finally relaxes.
“Thanks. I could murder a mug of coffee, if you have any please,” I ask the barman who still hasn’t moved. Opening the menu, I peruse it, giving me time to gather my thoughts. “Okay, can I have the hot chicken salad, a jug of water with lemon in it, and my mug of coffee please?” I politely ask the staring barman. I look at the others with a raised eyebrow.
“We’ve already ordered, but asked Simon not to send our orders up until you’ve given yours,” Victor supplies. “Simon, can I have a quick word with you, please?” Excusing himself, Victor goes around the counter and out a door with Simon following him.
“So, what’s with the strange sign anyway?” I ask, as I wonder what Victor is saying to Simon.
“It’s so anyone who enters can tell what paranormal species has walked in. When you walked in everything went black for you, but we all saw your eyes light up with their supernatural color. Though, what yours is I have absolutely no idea…” Kheda trails off looking at the sign above the fireplace.
Crossing over to inspect the strange sign, I notice above Vampires there is a space, as if something else could fit. Seeing Victor come back, I call him over and point it out. With a look of surprise on his face, he lifts it down from the wall, gently runs his long talented fingers above Vampires = Blue Eyes.
With a look of resignation he goes to put it back, I reach for it spreading the tips of my fingers evenly across the area where something else could be written, before pressing firmly down into the old wood.
A quiet click is the only sound it makes, before the section I’d pressed smoothly lifts up to reveal a hidden compartment containing an old scroll. I reach in and remove the scroll passing it to Victor. I close the now empty compartment and attempt to put the plaque back. Kheda moves quickly and takes it from me, hurriedly putting it back on the wall. He drags Victor and me back to the bar with a hiss of “Hide it,” directed at Victor, nodding at the scroll in his hands.
****
I watch Victor quickly stuff the scroll in his pocket, and with great effort shake the surprise from himself, just before Simon arrives carrying a jug of lemon water with four glasses, a pot of coffee, and a mug which he puts in front of me.
“Thank you, Simon. Shall we sit at a table?” Picking up the tray, I march to a table big enough to hold all of our food and us comfortably, which thankfully happens to be in the farthest corner away from the bar. Imagine that!
I quickly unload my tray and pour myself a glass of water and a mug of coffee. I guzzle my first glass of water, and then happily sip my coffee. Jasmine, Victor, and Kheda grab their drinks and follow me. Once we’re all seated, I turn to Victor expectantly. When he doesn’t move, I blurt out, “Are you going to open it or what? Come on, I’m going to explode from curiosity if you don’t.” I encourage him, as I practically jump up and down in my seat.
Looking at me, Victor bursts out laughing, extracts the scroll from his pocket, carefully unrolls it, reads it to himself, pauses and rereads it again before looking at us with a baffled expression. Finally he hands it to me to read.
Victor,
Time’s gone by with no hope of the Pharaoh’s book of prophecies being realized. I’ve kept it by me these many years, but now I will put it somewhere safe.
Follow the clues I leave behind to find it. I only hope I’m doing the right thing, and it is you who finds the two magicks one. Be careful on the quest I am sending you on, and only share this with those you trust with your life, and mine as well. The Protectors have many who would stop you from finding the book of prophecies.
Remember, to find what is missing you must retrace your steps to where you saw it last. Be safe, find the two magicks one, and destroy The Protectors once and for all. I hope to see you again, but I fear it is a wish not to be realized. In this life and the next, I wish you happiness.
V
“V is your sire?” I ask for lack of anything else sensible to say.
“Yes. It seems we need to...ah, here’s our food.” Victor smiles as he quickly takes the scroll from me re- rolls it and puts it in his pocket in a blink of an eye.
“Tattoo Parlor is very good, and I definitely recommend going there,” I hastily say.
“Thank you, I was wondering if it was any good because of its name more than anything,” Jasmine replies as she scrunches up her face prettily. “Oh yummy, our food has arrived and I am starving.” she beams at Simon, making him smile back at her.
“Rib burger and chips?”
“Yay, that’s mine,” states Jasmine, licking her lips in anticipation.
With a smile, Simon places her dinner in front of her.
“Mashed potatoes, sausages, and peas?”
“Mine thanks,” Kheda scowls, obviously not impressed with this pup of a boy looking at Jasmine in such a way.
Seeing Kheda’s expression, I stifle a laugh, which turns into a cough. Catching Victor’s eye, I realize I’m not the only one trying not to laugh at Kheda.
“So the warm chicken salad is yours.” Simon smiles as he passes me my dinner.
“Thank you.” Smiling back at Simon, I take my plate from him, only to notice this has caused Victor to glower at the poor man. My salad looks divine, crispy lettuce, hot chicken, peppers, carrots, croutons, hot baby mushrooms, coleslaw, and grated cheese with a Caesar dressing drizzled over it. Hmm, yummy. I can feel my mouth watering in anticipation.
“Ah, and your steak, Victor,” flushes Simon, as he quickly passes Victor his dinner before scuttling away.
“Poor boy, you two are terrible,” I murmur, with a nod of my head toward Victor and Kheda, so they know whom I’m talking about. I fill my fork up with delicious crispy salad, chicken, carrot, and coleslaw before popping it into my mouth and munching away on it happily.
Stifling a laugh at their expressions, Jasmine hastily bites into her rib burger and moans in delight.
****
Silence descends on our table, as we all dig into our food, until with a happy sigh we all finish. Leaning back in my chair, I drink my coffee and pour myself another mug topped off with loads of milk. A comfortable silence descends on us, broken eventually by Jasmine inquiring about the scroll.
“What did it say?”
Victor quickly informs them, and we all sit in brooding silence for a while longer, until Simon arrives to remove the plates.
“That was lovely, thank you. Can you give my compliments to the chef please?” I beam.
“And mine as well,” Jasmine pipes up. “Man it was divine.”
“No problem, ladies. I’ll pass on your compliments.” Simon smiles before hurrying away with the plates.
“So what happened earlier to upset you so much,” Kheda inquires curiously.
I quickly update Victor and Kheda on the morning’s events. Surprisingly it doesn’t take long to do so. I tell them what happened on my way to the pub. “I think we should all stick together as much as possible. I mean, if they’re using black magick, we can’t take any chances. Also carry plasters with you. If you cut yourself, you need to make sure you don’t leave any trace of your blood behind. Blood magick is the most powerful, and trust me, you don’t want to mess with a witch pumped up on blood magick,” I finish with a grimace of distaste.
We fall into contemplative silence for a while, each of us digesting all we’ve found out, until Kheda’s phone rings. Standing up, he walks away from the table before answering it. All of us have exceptional hearing and by the looks of it, everyone is trying not to listen to the one-sided conversation.
Until we see the blood drain from his face. Now he has our full attention. A second later Kheda hangs up and runs a shaky hand through his hair, returns to us. A shadow flits across his face, and in that second he arrives at a decision.