Magi Saga 1: Epic Calling (45 page)

She spotted a few of the Legacy Magi she had met before amidst the throng of people and Gentle Water guided her over to a small grouping of them. She recognised Maria, Israel Roth and Royston Kendrick in the group of four she was approaching. Maria moved round next to her as she walked up.

‘Hi there, you made it. You look gorgeous tonight Mandy. Can I call you Mandy?’

‘Of course, and thank you, you look awful stunning yourself,’ Amanda said, admiring the long red dress Maria was wearing and carrying off with aplomb.

‘You’re too kind. So, what do you think?’ she said, indicating the room and the party.

‘I think it’s amazing, I really do. I’ve never been to anything like this before, I’m blown away.’

Maria smiled, ‘That’s great, so, do you know everyone?’ she said, meaning the group of Magi that were stood there.

‘Yeah, well, everyone but the guy in the glasses, who’s he?’

‘That’s Ekkehardt Möller, he’s our resident tech guy. He does wonderful things with computers, technology and Magic. Careful though, you might scare him off in that dress.’

‘I’ll introduce myself later I think,’ she said. ‘Did I spot a few celebrities in here a few moments ago?’ Amanda started to walk away from the group of Magi with Maria, off to a gallery overlooking the main gathering of the rich and famous.

‘You did, there’s a few in here tonight, I think we have Brad and Angelina and a few others. You could introduce yourself a little later if you like, this is an event the Legacy sponsored, through a dummy company of course, so just say you work for the organisers and wanted to say hi.’

‘Oh, it's no bother, I wouldn’t know what to say,’ Amanda said shyly.

‘What? But you’re a Magi, just think of everything that you can do that would scare the socks off of them both and I’m sure you’ll do fine.’

‘Okay. Say, where’s Feather tonight? Isn’t she…you know…with you?’

‘Oh, she’s off into town tonight, no doubt making someone’s night. We have a very open relationship. Are you involved with anyone?’

‘No, I’m afraid not. I’m free and single at the moment,’ she said, looking out at the many couples throughout the room. As she did so, she felt Maria’s fingers gently touch her behind her shoulder, and trace a line down to the small of her back. Amanda looked back at Maria with a slight frown, wondering what she was doing touching her like this. As she gave Maria this confused look, Maria’s fingers went lower, and then over the rise of her bum. Amanda squirmed away slightly, a shiver running down her spine.

‘Maria, a-hem, I’m not sure what you think you’re d…’

‘Are you sure I can’t tempt you with some forbidden fruit Mandy?’ Maria purred, looking up into Amanda’s eyes, her expression filled with lust. She stepped into the space Amanda had created between them and with the same hand she had traced the lines of Mandy’s back with, she took firm but sensuous hold of one of Amanda’s bum cheeks and pulled her close, their hips touching.

Amanda’s eye’s widened.

Memories of a night back in New York flooded back to her, back when Georgina had been her closest friend.

During their time as prostitutes, Georgina had also continued to get the odd job from the Escort Agency that she used to work for. She was on good terms with them still and they would occasionally throw jobs her way, or sometimes an old regular would ask for her. Georgina had once asked if Amanda wanted to come along on a job some time if the situation was right? Amanda had agreed and Georgina informed the agency.

Before long one had come up and Amanda went along. It was totally different from the street work. The money was OK, although the agency took a chunk, and the job was very different. She had to spend time with someone and give him the total girlfriend experience.

Afterwards Georgina asked what Amanda thought to it? Amanda said it was OK. It felt a little weird because by the time the actual sex came round she felt like she knew the guy she was with, so it was harder to switch off, but at the same time it felt less seedy, less dirty, she said she would do it again.

The particular night Amanda was thinking about though was the third Escort Agency job Georgina had been asked to do with Amanda, and the client had been asking for something new. Georgina had just got off the phone and turned to Amanda.

‘We have another Agency job if you're interested AJ?’

‘Sure, what is it? Two guys again?’ she had asked.

‘Err, no, this is something new. You don’t have to do it, but I thought I’d ask. It’s one guy, he wants a threesome, and would want us to touch and stuff too.’

Amanda’s eyes went like plates, wide and round. She just looked at Georgina, dumb struck at the thought of it.

‘Erm, no offence Georgie, but I’m not a lesbian!’ she had eventually said.

‘I know AJ, and neither am I.’

‘But you would be ok to do this?’

‘Sure! I’ve done it before. It’s no big deal. Look, there’s another girl I can go with who I’ve worked with before so don’t feel pressured. I just thought, you know, we know each other well enough to know there’s nothing in it. So I thought you might be up for it. That’s all.’

‘Sorry Georgie,’ Amanda said, feeling very hot and flustered, ‘I don’t think that’s for me, but you go ahead.’

Georgina went with the other girl, and had reassured Amanda that she wasn’t interested in her in that way at all. It was a job, nothing more, and eventually Amanda had been put at ease. It was the second time Georgina had shocked her like that. The first time was when she admitted she was a Hooker, and then this revelation, that she swung both ways.

When Georgina had returned from the job, Amanda just couldn’t resist asking about it. It had been on her mind all afternoon, she wondered if she should have done it, what would it have been like, would she have enjoyed it? When Georgina had got back, Amanda just had to talk to her about it, asking her what it was like? Georgina had laughed.

‘I thought you weren’t interested in it? You’re not a Lesbian are you?’ she giggled.

‘No,’ Amanda replied. ‘I’m just, you know, curious. That’s all.’

Georgina laughed once more, and smiled warmly to Amanda before telling her about the first time she went with a woman for a client and how it had felt. She had said it felt exhilarating and incredibly arousing. It was the forbidden fruit, something you only thought about in your most private moments, and there she was actually doing it. Being with another woman was different to being with a man, it was more loving and tender, and your partner often knew just where to touch you. It was some of the most explosive sex she had ever had, she explained.

Amanda had listened, and oddly, she found herself getting vaguely aroused by it. She didn’t quite know what to think about that, she was a bit disgusted at herself for having these feelings she didn’t think she wanted, and she did her best to banish them from her head. She had stayed in the shower longer than usual that night.

Forbidden fruit, the same phrase Georgina had used, and now Maria had used it too. Amanda didn’t consider herself any different to most straight girls, her interests were in men, but she would be lying to herself if she said she had never ever thought of what it would be like to have sex with a woman. These were private thoughts, something you barely dared admit to yourself, let alone someone else. But she had indeed had them. After Georgina had gone on that job with the agency, Amanda had occasionally thought about Georgina in that way, but only in very private moments.

Now she stood here, in her slinky dress and sexy underwear with, and let’s be honest here she thought, a really quite beautiful and voluptuous woman who’s right hand was now kneading and squeezing her left buttock and pulling Amanda closer, their tummies touching. For those few seconds she let her do it, it was exciting, she felt a warm tingling sensation in her groin which was very pleasant and quite seductive, but her conscious mind took over, and she gently took hold of Maria’s wrist and removed her hand.

‘Maria, I’m flattered, I really am. But I don’t think I really swing that way. I like you, I really do, but let’s just keep it friendly hey?’

Maria didn’t resist Amanda, and smiled warmly, ‘Can you blame me for trying? No harm done, don’t worry about it.’

‘I hope I’ve not offended you.’

‘Offended me? Heavens no, not in the slightest.’

‘Grand, I was worried I might have.’

‘All you did Amanda was to let me know your position in regard to me. That’s it, nothing else. I’m not offended.’

‘Ah, that puts my mind at rest.’

‘That isn’t to say of course, that I don’t still find you attractive. Whoever you give yourself too is a lucky person.’

‘Heh, well, thank you, but the feeling needs to be reciprocated I believe.’

‘Indeed it does. So, in the meantime, see any guys in here we should grace with our presence, and perhaps have some fun with?’

Amanda smiled for a moment, ‘Well now, let us see?’

These children have been exposed to horrific events over the past couple of nights, and I recommend a full mental evaluation to help them recover from what they have seen.

Experts from the natural history museum will be here in the morning to take a look at the artefact the boy brought in.

We’re returning it to their room for the time being as its removal seems to have agitated all of them.

- Notes on a Police report

Police

London

4am.

Stephan tapped his fingers against the chair he sat in. It was grubby and identical to the two which Liz and Fran were sat in next to him. The small interview room had been plainly decorated with a small table and a few other spare chairs. One other person stood in the room, a woman, dressed in her Police uniform who sat opposite Liz trying to console her. Liz had been crying for nearly half an hour now, but she had calmed down a lot from when the other officers had first informed her that Ben’s body had been found within Stephan’s house.

Stephan sat in a little world of his own, consumed by his own thoughts, he felt agitated and ill at ease because they had taken away the golden book for an examination. They had promised to bring it back, but while it was out of his sight, Stephan felt oddly vulnerable.

They had hidden on the streets of London for the rest of the night and much of the following day after the attack on their home and their encounter with Vito. They had wandered about, picked up some food, and didn’t really know what to do.

Liz had been the first to bring up going to the Police early that day. But Stephan had said no, Fran hadn’t been keen either, it didn’t feel right. They knew what they’d seen and they didn’t feel like the Police could help them.

Liz no doubt had been thinking of Ben and their parents and the killer. He needed to be brought to justice, but how would the Police capture someone who could use Magic?

It had been late in the day when they passed an electrical store only to see Stephan’s house on the televisions inside it. The Police had discovered the bodies of their parents, so Liz mentioned turning themselves in again, this time Fran had agreed.

Stephan’s resistance against going to the authorities had waned as well, now the police knew of the deaths of their Parents, things might be different, they might be able to help them, their flight from the killer might be finished.

Standing there, outside that shop, Stephan had cried, they would let the Police take over now, and maybe they had been imagining the Magic and the strange things they thought they had seen. Stephan had to admit, they were under a lot of stress. After all, it’s not every day your parents and your best friend are killed violently before your very eyes.

It had been a thought that had occurred to him a few times already, and one that intensified when he saw the News story. Maybe they had imagined it all, maybe it wasn’t all Magic and Wizards, maybe it could all be easily explained by the shock of the past nights events.

The Police were looking for them, and as soon as they made themselves known at the front desk of the first station they went to, they were taken inside.

There had been questions and tears and plenty of melodrama since then, the golden book itself causing quite a stir. They had told the police everything, including the parts about Magic, and the Police only nodded. According to their psychologist, it was stress, pure and simple, that had turned the killer into someone, or something more than human. It wasn’t unheard of, and could be easily explained.

Stephan had finished with his crying for the time being, and for the moment, while the book was gone, he felt on edge, defenceless, and he didn’t like it.

The minutes passed, and the door suddenly opened, a Policeman walked in holding a clear plastic bag, inside of which was the golden book.

He smiled once at Stephan, who was watching him carefully, and placed it on the table. ‘Don’t touch it please, leave it in the bag, its evidence now. I’ve only brought it back in here because you wanted it close to you, and for the moment at least, we’re fine with that. But leave it in the bag okay? Understand?’

‘Yes,’ said Stephan.

The officer nodded to the female officer next to Liz and seemed satisfied. He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Stephan leant forward and looked carefully at the book, it looked fine, no marks or anything on it that shouldn’t be there.

He didn’t like the idea that it would be taken away from him again, but he knew he didn’t have much choice. They had told him it would be most likely returned to him anyway, after the case had been closed, but that seemed like an age away.

Stephan looked back at the girls, Liz had calmed down a lot, and both she and her sister were listening to the Police woman talk in low tones to them. A councillor had already spoken to Stephan, and he suspected there would be much more of that to come in the future. Not something he was really looking forward too.

When it came, the bang sounded muffled and low, like an explosion heard from a great distance. In fact, they felt it more then heard it as the room shook for a second with the sound. Stephan looked up, alert suddenly, straining his ears to hear something, anything. Next to him, the Police woman stood up and quickly made for the door, ‘Stay here,’ she said, and left the room, locking the door behind her.

Stephan looked at the girls, he suspected he wore the same expression they were, one of slight shock and sudden fear. All three of them were silent, listening for what would come next.

How long had passed? Seconds, minutes maybe, who knew?

‘Do you think…’ Liz began, but she didn’t seem to know how to finish the sentence, although they all knew what she was thinking.

Then they could hear a series of rapid fire bangs, then another set, and another.

‘Gunfire,’ Stephan said. He remembered the sounds from trips to firing ranges in the USA.

‘What?’ asked Liz.

‘Are you sure?’ Fran asked. They both looked scared, and he knew he probably did too.

‘Pretty sure,’ he said, and got to his feet. ‘I think we need to get out of here,’ he said as he picked up the gold book and placed it back in the backpack that had been left in the room with them.

‘She told us to stay here though,’ Liz said.

‘Do you want to be here when that killer walks in with his knife?’ Stephan said.

‘No…’ said Liz, her bottom lip quivering.

‘Then we have to go, now.’

‘But how, the door’s locked.’ Fran said. Liz started crying again.

‘We’ll break it down.’

‘Can you do that?’

‘No idea,’ he said as he zipped up his bag and slung it over his shoulders. He walked up to the door and tried it, it had been locked tight.

The sounds of gunfire and further explosions were getting louder, closer. The girls were on their feet now, holding each other and looking very scared. Stephan only hoped he could get through the door.

‘Stand back, but once I’m through, follow me, quickly,’ he said to the twins. They nodded at him.

Stephan backed up, braced himself, and ran at the door, only for it to open a second before he hit it with his shoulder. He fell into the arms of a man stood outside who caught him easily.

Stephan felt more than a little shocked by this, and pulled himself from the figures grasp.

‘Who the hell are you?’ Stephan asked. The gunfire sounded much louder now. This guy didn’t look like a cop, in fact, he didn’t even look English, he looked like a Native American.

‘I’m Raven, and I’ve been looking for you, I need to get you all out of here, before Nate finds you.’

‘Thanks, but I don’t think we need your help,’ he said defiantly, fed up of people offering to help and only hindering them. Stephan turned and beckoned to the girls, ‘Come on, we’re getting out of here.’

The twins stepped forward and walked behind Stephan and out into the hallway to the right.

‘You don’t know what you’re doing, what you’re up against. I can protect you.’

‘Steph, he might know what he’s doing. Maybe we should listen to him.’ Fran said.

‘We’ve listened to enough people telling us what to do tonight, we were doing fine on our own until we came here.’

‘Listen to your friends Stephan,’ said Raven, ‘they know what they’re talking about.’

A door further down the corridor on the left, beyond Raven, slammed open as the body of a Policeman was sent flying through it. Raven turned to look, Stephan stared past Raven to watch also, and saw the nightmare from the previous night step out from the dust and smoke cloud billowing from the room.

Nate, grinning to himself, easily stepped over the body of the policeman and saw the Kids and Raven a short distance away from him. ‘Raven, greetings, how nice of you to join the party, and I see you brought me some friends.’

Raven looked about to retort with a smart comment, but Nate quickly raised his arm, a gun in his hand, and squeezed off five or six shots in rapid succession.

Stephan tensed, the bullets were aimed at him, but they never struck home.

Blue light flared up in streams of energy as the slugs slammed into some kind of invisible barrier just in front of Raven. They ricocheted off the force field and buried themselves in the wall and ceiling while Raven grunted with effort as the barrier discharged the energy, the blue light fading..

The girls were screaming, the window behind them had cracked, while Stephan stood there, wide eyed.

The bangs had turned into clicks as Nate emptied his gun, frustrated with it, he dropped it on the floor, it was useless to him now.

‘Nice trick Raven,’ Nate said, clearly unhappy.

‘I’m nothing if not prepared,’ Raven answered.

Suddenly Stephan felt a touch dizzy, and then very dizzy, and he grabbed the wall to keep himself from falling over completely.

‘No!’ Raven cried, and Stephan felt the wave of dizziness sweep from him while all about him the shadows of the room seemed to shift, and the world didn’t seem quite real for a moment.

Stephan looked up, Raven stood with his arms raised, palms towards Nate looking tensed, he turned to look at Stephan, and spoke through gritted teeth, ‘Run, down the stair well there,’ he pointed. ‘Get out of here, I’ll follow you.’

Stephan got back to his feet very unsteadily, the twins coming to his side and helping him up. They backed away from the confrontation that was happening before them, but didn’t quite run.

There was a further bang from a door being slammed open further down past Nate where he had stepped into the corridor, and police flooded into the hallway holding guns and dressed in riot gear.

Nate turned just in time and raised his hands as the Police opened fire. Red and gold light flared up like fire in front of Nate as he defended himself from the police.

Raven didn’t hesitate and ran towards Stephan and the girls, ‘Run, go, now!’

Stephan backed up and then ran, the girls ahead of him, already going through the door to the stair well. Stephan followed, barrelling through the door way and running down the stairs, taking three or more at a time.

‘Keep going,’ shouted Raven as they went, huffing and puffing.

‘Come on, go, go, go,’ said Stephan to the girls, urgency in his voice as he tried to keep them running at full tilt.

Within moments they were on the ground floor and quickly found a fire door, then under Raven’s directions they soon found themselves outside in a side alley. To their left the main street and the front of the building where they could hear sirens blaring, and the sounds of a crowd gathering.

They went the other way, weaving between buildings and climbing over walls until they finally hit a street, where they slowed to a brisk walk.

In the morning air, on top of a nearby building, a figure appeared from thin air, where there had been no one before. Nate looked down on the street, watching the kids with Raven as they made their escape.

That had been messier then he had wanted, but they were on the run now, and he could follow them fairly easily. That book may be valuable, but it made escape difficult. They couldn’t Port to Paris with it, which was no doubt where that Legacy stooge was taking them right now, so they would have to get there the hard way, and Nate thought he knew how Raven would do that.

Several streets away from the Police station they stopped in a fairly busy street to catch their breath, although Stephan noticed Raven wasn’t out of breath at all.

He stood close to the girls, his arm around Fran’s waist as he looked at Raven.

‘You’re a wizard aren’t you,’ he said.

Raven looked at him carefully, ‘We use the term Magi, but yes, you could say that.’

‘I knew it! I knew I wasn’t seeing things.’ Stephan felt somewhat vindicated, ‘And that guy, Nate, he’s one too, but a bad one.’

‘That’s right. Now, how are you all feeling, no one’s hurt or anything?’

They all said they felt fine, to which Raven looked satisfied.

‘Now look, I can help you,’ Raven said, ‘I can protect you from him, but you need to do exactly as I say and you have to come with me now. We need to get to Paris, I have friends there, you’ll be safe. Do you understand?’

Stephan’s head wheeled. Paris? He had never been to Paris, it wasn’t his parents kind of holiday. He broke that chain of thought before it went too far, he didn’t need to get upset now.

‘Yes, I understand,’ Stephan said.

‘We do too,’ said Fran, speaking for Liz who still seemed a little dumb struck.