Post by StoryGirl83 on Aug 27, 2008 23:15:04 GMT -5
Chapter Fifteen – Crystal Cage
Back at Mark’s apartment, the two siblings were setting up a circle of crystals. When the doorbell rang, Mark didn’t even look up. “Beth.”
“I know,” Beth mumbled, standing. “I know.” She walked out into the hallway and up to the door. She stood there for a moment, her eyes closed as she tried to distinguish between the different emotions she was feeling around her. Since none of them seemed to be animosity or a similar emotion, she opened the door slightly.
Chris and Gary stood there.
She’d never met him before, but she had seen him around sometimes when she came to visit her brother. She didn’t think he was in any of Mark’s classes, but she vaguely remembered seeing him with Kali, so she figured this must by Gary. Besides, Chris had called to warn them. “Are you sure bringing him is a good idea?”
“Best one we have at the moment,” Chris admitted. “Kali is worried that the demon will come after him. Do you have everything set up?”
Beth nodded, her eyes never leaving Gary.
Gary turned to Chris, uncomfortable by the scrutiny. “I said I would leave her brother alone. Is this really necessary?”
“Yes,” Chris insisted, “because you already attacked Mark once.”
Beth pulled the door opened the rest of the way, letting Chris and Gary in. She kept a wary eye on them as they walked toward the living room. “Mark, we’re coming.”
In the other room, Mark was standing, examining his and Beth’s handiwork with the crystals. At the sound of his sister’s voice he exhaled a long hard breath and looked up as the three entered. He eyed Gary warily.
Gary gulped as he looked Mark in the eye. Earlier, he hadn’t given himself time to do that, time to think about who Mark was or the fact that like him, Mark was a person. Ever since then he had been thinking of nothing but. Now, looking at Mark, he was utterly terrified, and so glad Kali had arrived when she had.
“Gary,” Chris voice brought Gary out of his thoughts, “step into the circle.”
“Why?” Gary asked, frowning at the circle of crystals. “It’s just some crystals. How’s that going to protect anyone?”
“Just get in there.” Chris’ voice didn’t leave room for argument.
Gary started toward the circle of crystals, almost on auto pilot. About halfway there he stopped and looked at Chris. “Arie . . .”
“Will be as safe as possible,” Chris assured. “I trust those two.” Chris smiled as if he found the statement amusing.
Gary sighed and walked into the center of the crystals. He stood there and waited. “Now, what?”
Chris exhaled and began to chant. “Demonic powers bound within, keep him safe and us from him. Two way lock, no one may break, until a counter said or safety we make.”
As Chris finished, a thin shimmer of light sprang up in a dome, vanishing as it topped out.
Gary reached up his hand, pulling it back quickly as soon as he touched the shield. “If pain is the object, it works.”
“Magical protection is the object,” Chris informed him.
“Exactly how long does this last?” Gary wanted to know as he looked down at the crystals, a new appreciation for mere crystals, growing by the second.
“Listen,” Chris avoided the question, “we need to deal with this demon. How do we get him here?”
“I don’t know,” Gary admitted. “He always came when he wanted to, when I was thinking of backing out.”
“Which means, he knows,” Chris stated looking at the young man.
“Maybe,” Gary gulped. The very thought was terrifying.
The sound of Wyatt’s phone ringing, prevented Chris from coming up with a response. He pulled the phone out of his pocket, opened it and put it to his ear. “Hello.”
Kali was on the other end in the backseat of Wyatt’s car with Arie. “Hey, Chris. We’re on our way back.”
“Is Gary’s sister okay?” Chris asked, looking over at Gary. “He keeps asking.”
Kali glanced at Arie next to her. “More okay than Gary. She’s a witch.”
Chris blinked in surprise. “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” Kali agreed, amused. “Anyway, we called their brother and told him to be careful. We also explained the situation to Arie’s mom and she’s going to stick with her husband. She wasn’t too thrilled at the idea of us taking Arie, until I mentioned Wyatt’s name. Then she was beyond thrilled.”
Chris scowled. “The curse of the twice blessed.”
Gary looked up speculatively.
“The promise of the Charmed actually,” Kali teased.
“Arg!” Chris groaned. “Worse!” A smile twitched on his lips and he laughed. “Any idea how soon you will get here?”
“A few minutes,” she informed him, looking out the window at the scenery. Winking at Arie, she added. “I just wanted to warm you that Arie is a little more combat ready than Mark and Beth. She may try to help.”
Arie gave her an annoyed look, but a her eyes laughed.
“How’d she get trained without Gary knowing? Or does he know?”
Gary looked at Chris questioningly.
Chris ignored Gary and listened to Kali’s response.
“Martial arts classes among other things, but no, Gary doesn’t know . . . yet. How are things on your end?”
Chris snorted. “Except that we have no idea how to get this guy here, we’re fine.”
“All right,” Kali grinned, “I’ll see you in a few minutes. Bye.”
“Bye,” Chris replied before hanging up.
Kali hung up, too, and turned to Arie. She had a mind to find out more about this unusual girl.
Back in San Francisco, a familiar warlock was sitting in his den. The room was immaculate, not a think out of place except for a crayon drawing taped to the side of a computer PCU. The drawing bore a vague resemblance to the warlock. It was signed only with a “D” in the bottom right corner.
The keyboard had been moved and in the space left behind was a large bowl with an image of Chris hanging up the phone on it. The warlock looked at the image thoughtfully. “Interesting.”