The Wizard Returns: Book Three of the Wizard Born Series (16 page)

“Good.” He patted his chest with his hand. “You have a good heart.” He regarded Jamie with raven-dark eyes, his face serene. “You look like you are still troubled, though.”

Jamie looked at the ground and scratched his forehead. “Have you heard about the bear who’s been killing hikers lately?”

“Yes, but I think there’s something funny about that story, too.”

“It’s not a bear. It’s a demon.”

His brow wrinkled deeply. “A demon? Now,
that’s
something you don’t see every day. I can see why you are so troubled.”

“If I don’t figure out what to do about it soon, we might
all
be in trouble.”

“It is immune to your magic. The Red Witch’s magic, too.”

How does he know that?
“Yes. We went to see a voodoo queen down in Louisiana, but she didn’t know what to do about it either.”

“Never met a voodoo queen. I’ve heard they can be difficult.”

“If she doesn’t like you, you can bet she’ll be difficult. She’s old as the hills and knows a lot about magic.”

“But nothing about demons.”

“No. I don’t suppose...well, maybe you might —”

“I don’t know either.”

Darn. It was worth a shot
.

“But somewhere, somebody knows, or knew, and wrote it down, I bet.”

Jamie leaned back against the fence and crossed his arms. “Why do you think so?”

“This might be the first demon anyone has seen in a long time, but there are plenty of old stories about them. That makes me think that demons have been here before.” He shrugged. “But what happened to them? Where are they now? I don’t think they would leave voluntarily, and demons are practically immortal, so I doubt someone killed them. Somewhere, somehow, someone figured out a spell for them, and they probably wrote it down.”

“But where? Is it in a diary, or a book? Is the book in New Zealand, or Denmark or somewhere? We’re looking everywhere we can think of, but so far, we haven’t found a thing, not even a hint that such a book exists.”

“Maybe you are not looking in the right place.”

“I don’t know where else to look. We’ve checked all of the spell books that we have, went to see the voodoo queen, and I’ve checked about a zillion web sites, seems like.”

“Think, Jamie, the Magic Man. Where is the biggest collection of books about magic that you know of?”

Um...back on Eddan’s world, I guess. Probably at Renn’s old house. He hoarded magic books.”

“Who are Eddan and Renn?”

Jamie took a deep breath and told him the story of Eddan, the dying sorcerer, how he had somehow managed to transfer his memories and power to Jamie, and how Renn had tried to kill Jamie, thinking he was Eddan reincarnated.

The old man sat perfectly still and listened patiently, then nodded when Jamie finished. “That is an amazing story. That explains how you got your magic.” He tilted his head slightly to one side and narrowed one eye. “Do you think the books are still there?”

“Probably. I don’t think anyone is crazy enough to steal them from Renn’s house. Everyone is too scared of him, and I doubt they’d know he’s dead.”

“So the answer to your problem is simple. Go to Renn’s house. There you will find the answer to your dilemma, I believe.”

Jamie started to argue the point, but paused when he considered what the old man had said.
He’s right
.
Why didn’t I think of that?
“But...it could be dangerous. If I make a doorway there, it’ll attract other sorcerers. It’ll be like lighting a bonfire at night.”

“Dangerous, maybe, but more dangerous than a demon?”

“No.” Jamie looked down the road for a moment and bit his lower lip hard. “But dangerous enough.”

“So, do you take the risk of going back to this world of sorcerers, knowing that you might find your answer, or do you stay here and continue doing what you are doing, which is....” He spread his hands.

“Spinning my wheels. Spinning my wheels while more hikers get killed.” Jamie knew what he had to do. “You’re right. I have to go there, sorcerers or not.” He grinned sheepishly. “Thanks. I guess I owe you one.”

The old man chuckled. “I didn’t do anything. I just listened. But...if you ever wanted to do me a favor someday, you could take me to this world of magic and wizards.” His eyes were hopeful.

“I can take you to other worlds that are probably safer. I know of one that has three moons that’s really amazing.”

He shook his head. “I want to see Eddan’s world, as you call it. I want to see a place with so much magic, before I am too old.”

“Oh...sure, I guess. How will I get in touch with you?”

He reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a business card, then handed it to Jamie. Jamie read it aloud, “Uncle Charlie’s Fine Carvings.” Jamie regarded the old man, now with a name, and less of an enigma. “So you’re Uncle Charlie?”

He picked up his walking stick from his lap. “I sell these at my daughter’s shop downtown. The tourists like them.”

“Do you mind if I hold it?” The old man offered Jamie the stick and Jamie took it. He wrapped both hands around it and closed his eyes for a moment, probing it with his mind, half expecting to find magic in it, but there was none. It felt smooth to his palms, despite the many carvings, tiny animal shapes and interlocking geometric patterns. He examined it closely, rolling it between his fingers, inspecting every detail. “It’s beautiful.” He handed it back to Uncle Charlie. “I’d like to have one of those someday. How much?”

Uncle Charlie eyed Jamie, his face unreadable. Finally he said, “How about a trade? You take me to this other world...Eddan’s world, and I will make you a stick like no other, your personal staff. You will pick out the wood first, a piece that resonates with your spirit, and I will make a special carving that is only for you.”

“How will I know if it’s the right piece of wood?”

“You will know. You will be able to tell before I carve it.”

“Is this a special Cherokee thing? Becoming one with the wood or something?”

“This is a special Uncle Charlie thing.”

Jamie eyed the stick one more time and said, “Deal. I’ll call you sometime, if I think it’s safe to go to that world.”

“Thank you, Jamie.” The old man gazed across the field and smiled. “I could be the first Native American on another world. I wonder what my ancestors would think.”

* * *

Jamie waited until Rollie was in the shower and his mother was cooking dinner before telling his father about the Uncle Charlie. Carl listened patiently, sitting with Jamie on the family room couch, the television turned up to mask their conversation.

Carl had his cell phone in his hand, and he gave it a quick look before quietly saying, “I thought you told me Eddan’s world was too dangerous?”

“I really don’t know what it’s like there now. Maybe Renn killed off all the other sorcerers. Maybe it’s safe enough.”

“Maybe?”

“Unless you have a better idea. We could keep doing what we’re doing, which is basically sifting through worthless websites in the hope that we find something. Or maybe the demon will leave on his own, though I doubt that.”

Carl glanced at the kitchen before leaning closer to Jamie and speaking in a near-whisper, “Don’t tell your mother, because it’ll upset her, but there was an attack this weekend at a campsite. Two campers were killed, but a third escaped. She ran and fell down a deep ravine, which might’ve ended up saving her life, because the demon didn’t find her, somehow. But she spent about ten hours lying in the rain with some bad injuries before a search party found her. She’s pretty banged up, so they air-lifted her to a hospital.”

His expression turned grimmer. “She was ranting about being attacked by a monster with red, glowing eyes.” He gave Jamie a knowing look and tapped his skull with one fingertip. “The doctors are attributing that to her head injury.”

“Oh boy.” Jamie raked one hand through his curly hair and sucked a deep breath through his teeth. “That’s bad.”

“It could have been worse. It rained all weekend, so the campsite was pretty much deserted, except for those three.”

“We need to go to Eddan’s world right away,” Jamie said firmly. “Maybe even tonight.”

“Not without John Paul! I should hear back from him any minute.” Carl’s phone chimed and he checked the display. “That’s him now.” Carl read the message and said, “He can’t go until Saturday morning.”

“That’s six days from now! The demon can do a lot of damage in six days. We need to go right away.”

“No.” Carl stood and slipped his phone in his pants pocket. “Not this time. You are absolutely
not
going without me and John Paul. Is that clear, or do I have to paint you a picture?”

Carl gave him a stern look, chin thrust out G.I. Joe style, and Jamie had no choice but to give in. “Yes sir,” he mumbled. “But that’s not a good time for Fred, or Rollie, either. Fred’s got a dance recital with her students, and Rollie has to work.”

“I think it’s better that way. Just you, me, and John Paul. Fewer people to worry about.”

“But what about Fred’s magic? That might come in handy.”

“Just borrow her pendant. You can use that, can’t you?”

“I guess.” Jamie rubbed his cheek and stared at his knees while he considered it. “Fred’s gonna be mad, though.”

“I don’t want you tell you’re your mother we’re going. She’ll worry too much.”

“She’ll be madder than Fred.”

“I can always apologize later. Remember, it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.”

Jamie sighed. “Not from Mom, sometimes.”

* * *

Jamie and Rollie leaned against the Buick the next morning while they waited for Fred to join them. Rollie’s shoulders were slumped, and he kicked idly at the concrete driveway with the toe of his black Converse sneaker.

“You seemed pretty bummed last night after your mom left,” Jamie said.

Rollie only shrugged and stared at his feet.

“Things still the same at your house?”

“They’re worse.” Rollie took a long, slow breath. “My...parents might be splitting up.”

“Man, I’m sorry Rollie.”

Rollie glanced at his house, a dejected look in his brown eyes, and turned his gaze back to the driveway. “My mom’s really mad at my dad right now...because of the way he’s dealing with me and our magic and everything. He can’t seem to get over it.”

“Has your mom?”

Rollie shrugged again. “Sorta.” Rollie looked across the street. “Fred’s coming. Let’s not talk about this around her, okay?”

Jamie watched Fred walk up the driveway, and a look of concern crossed her face as she neared them. “Something wrong?”

“No.” Jamie gave her a quick kiss. “Just tired. Had trouble sleeping.” He opened his door and said, “Let’s go, before we’re late for school.”

They got in the car and Fred said, “I had trouble sleeping, too. I was still excited about my visit with Momma Sue.”

“What did you do there?” Rollie asked as the car backed out of the driveway.

“She taught me how to make a truth potion, but we spent most of the time talking about magic, and responsibility and stuff. Ethics, kinda.”

Jamie steered the car down the road and said, “What ethics?”

“How it’s wrong to use your magic to hurt people, or to let other people use your magic to hurt people, like Rita and Cassandra did. Some of their customers were basically criminals, and those two women were okay with that. Momma Sue would never sell a potion to somebody if she thought they were going use it for something bad.”

“How can she tell?” Rollie asked from the back seat. “Couldn’t people just lie about what they want it for?”

“It’s hard to lie to Momma Sue, Rollie.”

“I believe that.”

Fred flipped the visor down and did her morning makeup inspection. “I talked to Melanie last night. She set up a group page for us, so whenever you want to search for stuff about demons, just log on and it’ll keep track of the web pages you visit. That way, if somebody else wants to search too, they won’t duplicate your efforts. It also has a place where we can leave notes to each other.”

“Good ol’ Melanie,” Rollie said. “Maybe we’ll actually get somewhere with this soon.”

“She’s coming to our dance recital this weekend. You guys are coming too, aren’t you?”

“I gotta work, and Jamie’s going to Eddan’s world to see if he can find any good magic books.”

“What?”
Fred turned and stared at Jamie, thunderclouds forming in her green eyes.

“Thanks a lot, Rollie,” Jamie said. “I told you not to say anything.”

“You were gonna go there without us?” Fred’s voice grew sharp. “You told Rollie, but not me?”

“Rollie overheard me and my dad talking about it, and I, uh, was gonna tell you today, when I had the chance, and, uh —”

“Oh, right. Like I’m gonna believe
that
.”

“Well, it’s true. My dad doesn’t want my mom to know, so I haven’t had a chance to tell you, and —”

“Oh. So your dad’s going.” Her tone was icy. “Not me. Not Rollie.”

“John Paul’s going too,” Rollie added.

“
Rollie?
Dang!” Jamie glanced at him in the rearview mirror.

“Oops. Sorry, dude.”

Fred crossed her arms and glared at Jamie. “All right, Jamie. Explain.”

“Well you see....” He grimaced with one side of his mouth while he collected his wits. “My dad forbade me to go without him and John Paul, and the only time they can go is Saturday morning, which is when you and Rollie are busy.”

“So, let’s go sooner. Let’s go today.”

“I can’t, Dad told me not to.”

“He told you not to go to Momma Sue’s, but you went anyway.”

“That was different. This is definitely more dangerous, and my Dad thinks it’s better if you two don’t go.”

“I’m good with that,” Rollie said. “I don’t want to go someplace where a wizard might show up out of the blue and blast me into a piece of charcoal.”

“I’m not sure that would happen.”

“That’s not what you said last night. You said —”

“Rollie! Is this your idea of being helpful?”

Rollie grunted an apology. “Don’t mind me. I’m just the guy in the back seat with the big mouth.”