The Moonstone (Enchantment Book 1) (12 page)

"Ok, enough talking, we need to practice your skills! The day is getting on and we'll need to leave soon enough."

He waves his hand and the illusion powder vanishes instantly.

"You know, Lou, one of the common gifts of those who have the sign of Ether is persuasion. It allows you to implant an idea, a concept, in someone's subconscious. Some even have the principal gift to manipulate, which is much more dangerous, because this gift has the power to control souls, and that, against their will. However, the Council has forbidden the use of manipulation, except in extreme circumstances. As for persuasion, you can suggest without going against an individual’s free-will."

He takes out a blue ball from his pocket and places it on the table in front of him. He then takes a cellphone out of his pocket and dials a stored number.

"Yes, Madeleine, could you come here for a moment," he says, a smile playing on his lips.

"Persuasion works on all living beings, but, as you are new to this, the human spirit is easier to influence."

To listen to him leaves me a little cold as I still consider myself human at this point, at least for the moment.

"Don't take it like that, Lou. You know, it's a fact, humans are more vulnerable, their spirits are filled with emotions and that, as wonderful as they are, render them more fragile."

A lovely Hispanic American woman comes over to us and she’s dressed in a very cliché short-skirted maid's uniform. I can't help but shoot Charles a disappointed look, and he sends it back to me with a shrug and a complicit wink.

"Lou, this is Madeleine, my maid. She will be able to help us with our little experiment," he says, extending his arm to Madeleine in an invitation to join them by the table.

"Mr. Charles, what is it now?" inquires the woman, with a sly smile that alludes to the fact that she doesn't only clean Charles' house. His fascination for humans extends beyond their literature, obviously. I take a mental note to ask him later how the Council feels about his dalliance.

"Come over to the table, darling, and listen to me carefully. Madeleine, tell me, what color is the ball?"

The woman gives him an amused smile and answers, "But sir, it's blue."

"Lou, go and ask her the same question, but as you are asking the question, imagine the ball clearly in your mind but change its color. Concentrate and when the image is clear in your mind, ask the question."

I don't contest and I proceed to visualize the ball in a bright yellow. "Madeleine, tell me, what color is the ball?"

"But, it's yellow, miss," she answers; more intrigued by the fact that she was asked to answer the question twice than by her own incoherent answer.

"That's all Madeleine. We're done for today."

"Very good, sir," she replies, leaving and looking disappointed not to have had more time with her dear Charles.

Once the woman is out of sight, I can't help but exclaim: "My God, that's incredible, a little weird, but incredible. I hate to think of all the homework and other jobs I could have avoided, all that time wasted. And for the woman, is she aware of our world? And your relationship with her... Madeleine seems rather close to you..."

"Wow, what a lot of questions! And what makes you think there’s something going on between Madeleine and me?"

"Feminine intuition," I say with a slight smile.

"These are just fun and games, nothing serious, just a flirt without any concrete action...The Council would never permit it. I believe that she’s enticed, but for me, she’s more like an interesting object, a study subject, too. She’s not aware of our world, she believes that I’m a reclusive scientist and maybe the fact that I’m isolating myself from the world makes me attractive to her. As for the little trick you just played on her, she'll never be the wiser. For all she knows, she thinks that she answered blue both times. It's another advantage of the gift, the subject is never aware of a thing. Ok, we still need to try out your main gift; time manipulation. But we'll only have time to skim the surface of it; you'll go deeper once you are at the Academy. We know that it works, though, you used it on the road yesterday."

He turns back to the table, concentrates and grabs the small shining marbles.

"To control time, you must create a bubble around yourself. This bubble allows you to distort the curvature of time and permits you to control it. The larger the bubble is, the larger the space around you that you are controlling. The stronger it is, the longer the period of time you can control. On the other hand, it’s difficult to control the size as well as the strength of the effect. I suggest you start by mastering the control of the size of bubble around you for a short period of time and then you can try to amplify the effect. What you experienced yesterday was very large and very long from what Gertrude told me, but you did that on the spur of the moment, which only increases your power. That’s probably not something you’re going to be able to reproduce easily. The bubble isn’t visible, but you’ll feel its range. To use it, concentrate your energy around your solar plexus as if you were trying to feel all your body heat in that one spot. Then, you push that energy out as far as you can and keep maintaining the sensation. I’ll throw these marbles towards you and you should be able to stop them in flight. They will either slow down or stop, depending on the strength of your field. Tell me when you’re ready."

I do as he says, but I’m not able to tell if it’s working, so I nod to him, just in case.

"Ouch!" I say, getting one of the marbles right in the stomach.

"Take your time, it's important that you feel each step. The more you train, the quicker your reaction time will be, which is essential for eventual combat."

I concentrate, putting both hands on my stomach and willing all my body heat to rise into my torso. I feel my body tremble softly, a bit like a shiver, and the heat focuses on one point. I take a deep breath and with one thought, I repel all the energy around me. A million sparks run through my body in a fraction of a second and I feel the energy like two magnets that repel each other, all around me at a distance of about a meter. Seeing the look in my eye change as I was filled with joy and a feeling of completeness, Charles understands that the moment has arrived and throws a marble at me with all his might. It stops in flight when it reaches the edge of my bubble and I’m able to grab it to then drop it on the ground. Once the marble is safely on the ground, I feel the bubble burst as if it were made of soap. I feel somewhat tired, but elated at the same time.

"Did you feel that? It feels good, doesn't it? We feel it each time we use our gift. Beware, though, the stronger it gets, the more exhausted you’ll feel and the longer you’ll need to recover after the fact. We are done for today. Go and pack your bags, we'll leave for the city soon. You'll see, you'll love it!"

"Promenons-nous dans les bois pendant que le loup n'y est pas..."

"Let's stroll in the woods while the wolf is away..."
French children's song

Flicka left earlier because she had to go meet her parents for supper before signing in at the Academy. Charles promised to drive me there on his super cool 1950 BMW motorcycle with sidecar. After more hugs for Gertrude and a bag full of goodies for later, she finally lets me leave.

"Don't worry, Lou, we'll see each other in two weeks and if there’s anything that comes up in the meantime, we put our cell phone numbers on your phone, so don't hesitate to call, my dear."

I finish putting my few belongings onto the motorcycle, not much considering Flicka insisted on choosing my wardrobe and officially forbade me from bringing any of my own clothing other than my jacket. Charles hands me a helmet and aviator styled glasses with the smile of a child who is sharing his favorite toy. I frown at him and put it on without a comment. Since I'll be in a sidecar beside the motorcycle, I might as well look the part, and it seems to make him happy. I get into the sidecar while Charles climbs onto the motorcycle wearing a helmet and glasses that are identical to mine. I hear a piercing sound in my helmet and then a familiar voice rings out.

"I equipped these antiques with microphones and speakers, that way we can communicate during the trip."

We take off and, honestly, I understand why so many people prefer the motorcycle to the car. It provides such a sense of liberty compared to the closed shell of a car. We fly down the road in almost perfect silence, but Charles finally breaks it with a more serious tone that usual.

"Do you know why I like Moby Dick so much? It's because of the dichotomy between good and bad, that, and that which is which it depends on your point of view. The hunter could represent the good side because he hunts the whale that is causing pain and fear and that ripped off his leg. But we can also see it from the whale's viewpoint, which, by its very nature, is defending itself against a crazed hunter who puts his crew in jeopardy all in the name of vengeance. I tell you this, Lou because life and the choices you’ll have to make will be intrinsically linked to that story. Even more so for you, who straddles both worlds; choose well, have faith in yourself and, most of all, see things from all viewpoints, nothing is black and white, but always shades of gray."

I answer by nodding, his words speaking to me. The following minutes are passed in silence with a few smiles exchanged between us.

We approach something I recognize as Green Mountain Park, so strange that a park could be hiding a city, it would certainly not go unnoticed! I can't understand!

"I have to park here for a couple of moments and they'll come and get us... we can't go into the park with a motorcycle!"

Charles takes out his cell phone and contacts someone, telling him that we’re at the southern entrance. He hangs up and relays that they’ll be here in a few minutes.

"Who, exactly, are they?"

"They’re the guardians. You know, hiding a city of ten thousand inhabitants is no small feat. The protected parks are perfect for us. The guardians are enchanters whose sign is Air. Some of them have the gift of illusion. They can create a mirage in front of an object, say, should a vehicle appear, and they’ll come and get us so that we don't attract attention. They’ll bring us there along with the motorcycle."

"And as for the city, how do you keep it a secret?"

"The same way. The guardians are placed at the four extremities of the city and create a complete illusion. If tourists pass by the city, all they see is a forest. They can even walk through the trees and not be aware of a thing. Their steps are controlled to allow them to walk around objects. Watching humans walk blindly through the city is one of our favorite summer pastimes. Young enchanters have their pictures taken with them and collect as many as they can.”

"I can imagine that it would be interesting to watch. And nobody has ever discovered you?"

"Maybe a few times, when a new master of illusion fails at his job, and in that case, I make a tidy profit because I am called on to create forgetfulness potions. Mine are the best to be found in the country, that's how I paid for my magnificent house by the lake. So three cheers for novice guardians! But don't tell anybody I said so..."

He winks and points to a sudden whirlwind heading straight for us. He looks from left to right, and as there is nobody there, the whirlwind transforms into a forest green Jeep Cherokee. Two twenty-something young men step out of the vehicle. Both have the look of army sergeants and are expressionless. They motion for me to get into the Jeep and Charles follows me in. The bigger one of the two gets onto the motorcycle. We all leave at the same time and go off into the woods where nothing seems different.

"Why aren't I invisible, won't I be spotted?"

"No, silly, others can't see you, we’re surrounded by a mirage that the two guardians have created, but only for those who are outside the bubble."

We roll along for about a half-hour and the jeep stops in front of what seems like a simple forest. I ask myself where the mirage begins or are we already in the city? The motorcycle enters the woods and suddenly disappears completely, like a fish slipping into the water. The jeep advances slowly and heads straight for a tree.

"Be careful! We'll crash into it!" I yell, breathless and frightened to death.

Charles and the driver burst out laughing. Suddenly we literally pass through the tree and I feel like Dr. Jackson from Stargate when he goes through the gate, although, on the other side, instead of an arid desert, there’s a whole city. Words cannot describe my surroundings. I feel as if I’ve been plunged into a parallel universe. The style of the city is stuck somewhere between two eras, the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s and the distant future. It could only be described as Steampunk that is described in science fiction novels. Yes, that's the best way to describe it. The cobbled roads are paved with square stones that are laid in a chevron pattern; the buildings are made of cement and forged iron and decorated with mullioned windows. The buildings are of various shapes; there are domes, cubes, and some slightly crooked towers. Covered bridges float over our heads, joining buildings from either side of the street. The surroundings are quite simply stunning. Small roads pass through buildings like streamers that rise and fall. Charles' motorcycle seems to fit right into the decor.

Many people walk in the streets, all dressed in a fashion that is both elegant and eccentric at the same time, my leather jacket couldn't fit in more perfectly. People around us seem happy and comfortable, greeting each other with smiles and nods. Maybe this is all I need to finally feel at home. Some people bow in the direction of the Jeep, probably a sign of respect for their guardians. I admire this attention, but I can't help but notice our driver's fierce glare in the mirror. Do they all have the look of soulless ghouls, a little like the guards who are posted at the gates of Buckingham Palace?

Opening the window a fraction, I catch a whiff of a thousand succulent aromas; it's an incredible combination of sweets and vanilla cake. I smile, thinking about the diet that will now and forever be part of my life and I salivate as I try to catch sight of where these delicious odors originate. A small side street is full of multicolored signs advertising products with delicious names, such as Lolypop and Mom's Cakes. I wonder if I'll get a chance to come and wander here. Just thinking about getting to visit each one of these businesses and my stomach starts to rumble. Charles smiles and winks at me. He opens his jacket and takes a couple of caramels out of his pocket. My God, how did I get through life without him?!

After a few more minutes of amazement, we arrive at what seems to be a majestic white stone building. A stone fence surrounds it and I can read the inscription, which states Warriors Academy.  So, this is where I'll spend the next couple of weeks! The building is surrounded by magnificent trees, all of them in budding with pink rose-like flowers, which only adds to the fairy-like atmosphere of the place. With its multiples towers and huge windows, the building, looks like a castle. The car stops in front of an immense iron door and the driver nods to Charles, who gets out of the car.

"Come on, dear, it's time to get you signed in," he says, waving to the second driver who gets off the motorcycle and they leave immediately in the Jeep without a backward glance.

"Are guardians always that cold?" I ask Charles, picking up my only bag.

"Hmm! I guess they’re suspicious when a new face comes into their precious city. You know, all us enchanters take our work seriously, but there are some who take a bit more pride than others. I think that’s a good thing; the protection of our cities is a guarantee of the safety of our people. We can't have idiots becoming guardians. Well, do you have all your things? I’ll give you a tour and Flicka will join us in about an hour. You need to get ready because tonight is the welcoming ball and believe me, you don't want to miss it!"

"A ball? I… I don't know if I'm going to be able to meet all those people. I'm not much of a socialite and as for making a first impression, I don't think that it's the best idea."

"Don't say such ridiculous things, you'll be perfect and Flicka will be with you. Believe me, she won’t take no for an answer. She’s been talking about this ball for months and you’re her latest pet project. The whole reason she left earlier was to go and get your dress."

He tosses me another of his winks before putting his arm around my shoulders for reassurance. He opens the groaning door wide and reveals a magnificent white marble hall. The contrast with the old-fashioned exterior is remarkable because what I see before me is completely modern. A large, square crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The room is also square and contains only one piece of furniture, a shiny black desk behind which is seated a young woman, straight-backed and filing her nails. She lifts a questioning eyebrow and walks towards us, hungrily, giving Charles a come-hither look. He doesn't look away but instead returns it to her with a smile.

"Oh, Charles!" murmurs the young woman, pronouncing each syllable as if she were kissing him rather than speaking to him.

"It's been so long since I've seen you here. Tell me, is this the girl you were telling us about?"

She gives me the once over, studying each of my features, shaking her head back and forth as if in disapproval. I must say that even in this outfit, magnificent as it is, my discomfort must still be plain.

The young woman is dressed in an incredible dark green fitted dress that goes perfectly with her blonde hair, which is impeccably styled with a peekaboo fringe.

"Can you tell me where I can find Bethany? We don't have much time," he says, his tone displaying his unease.

The woman gets closer to Charles and runs her fingers through his hair, all the while whispering in his ear.

"Of course, whatever you want, Charles. You know I can never refuse you."

Then she's gone in a flash.

"Where did she go?" I say, looking around the room for her.

"She teleported. Sienna's sign is air and her gift is that of teleportation. She went to find Bethany, the principal."

He runs his fingers through his hair as if to erase Sienna's invasion of his personal space.

"Is there something between the two of you?" I ask, giggling, and barely hiding my snide grin.

"No, not at all, she just has an active imagination. She’s too..."

"Too what, Charles?"

She cuts him off, reappearing an inch from his face, hands grabbing the lapels of his jacket.

"Uh, Sienna, please, we've already discussed this. You're not my type, that's all," he says to her, gently removing her hands from his jacket. She gives in easily and straightens his lapels.

"I wonder if you even have a type, Charles! You know, most men would kill for a chance with me. Keep resisting me, and it only makes me want you more. You don't know what you're missing, sweetheart," she replies, returning in a flash to finish her manicure behind the desk.

"Bethany will be with you in a couple of minutes and she told me to tell you to start your visit without her. She'll catch up with you later."

"Thanks, Sienna, see you later!"

Charles walks ahead of me and I smile at the woman who looks at me with disgust. Poor her! If only she knew where Charles' heart lay. I walk double time to catch up with him just as he goes through the door at the end of the room. The door has intricate moldings and shines like polished silver. On the other side is a corridor of undulating translucent white walls that are shaped like waves that seem to float us towards the interior of the building, a fluid illusion that is both comforting and invasive at the same time. It reminds me of running through sheets that are hanging on a line to dry. The air is fresh and lilac-scented. I feel instantly reassured and comfortable.

"I’ll show you the selection room. It's here that the warrior selections will be made. When Bethany arrives, we'll show you to your room and then we'll get you signed in. Most people at the Academy live in the city, or with friends. Flicka begged me to let you stay at her place, but I think it's in your best interest to stay here and mix with others to be on the lookout for signs. If she asks, just tell her you need to stay at the Academy to better understand the world of enchanters. Don't forget, darling, nobody can know the truth. We'll see each other again when it's time for testing and we'll see what happens after that. For the moment, you need to create a strong team and when the moment is right, we'll be able to call on them for help."