Chapter 11

Finally, classes were going like they were supposed to, hell even better now that I had the elder’s son helping. Beginning the second week, I had increased all their power to almost twice what it had been, though nowhere nearly as strong as mine. The whole time, I had also been trying to increase Celina’s power. After a few days, I finally felt an increase there. I had put more feelers out on the brother but still got nothing. I was beginning to think I might have actually killed him; either that or he’d gone further underground than I thought he might. Cloe was far stronger than I thought she would have been. Starting the second week, she still hadn’t broken, damn now I was starting to feel like shit. It was never a good thing to break the spirit of such a strong woman.

That night, returning home, I finally took all three clips off her; though I didn’t relieve her, I did finally ease her torment.

“What’s the matter, Tyrome? Ya going soft? She said I could almost feel her thumbing her nose at me.

“No, I don’t want ya getting killed if that damn brother shows up, me included, so why not be a good girl and calm the fuck up a while, huh?” I told her, hoping against hope, that she took it to heart and actually gave me a break.

I should have known it was too good to be true as I saw her open her mouth to start in on me. “You forget who you are talking to! I am a member of the council! I could...”

I shot her with a silent spell to shut her up, “I gave you a chance, and I don’t like breaking women, not your type, but so help me, you are pushing me there, woman! You’re almost as bad as my last wife always thought she was better, half my power, but still she thought she was better. You see where that bitch is now, I can tell Cloe, and you’re headed down the same damn path!”

Cloe’s eyes grew wide as she saw the truth in what I’d said, but still, I could see the rebellion deep in her eyes. Sure, I’d gotten through, but that was all I hadn’t really gotten anywhere. Walking out, I was about to reach for the door when I felt a presence I didn’t really like the feel of. Drawing up at least ten wards, I waited for the inevitable blasting away of the door. Sure enough, not 10 seconds later, the door was splintered.

“Tyrome, you bastard! What spell did you use on me, you piece of shit! Half of my powers are gone, you piece of filth! When I catch you, I’m going to gut you like the piece of foul piece of shit you are!” The voice of the brother I had partially stripped of power came through the open doorway.

“Yeah, it’s good to see you again, too, Tron! So you liked that little spell, huh?” I laughed.

Roaring, Tron blasted away again at my doorway, “You little prick! You’re a dead son of a bitch!”

Laughing again, I replied, “Been called worse than that, Tron. You can do better! Geez! How lame can you get?” The blasts started to come faster. Good, I’d really pissed him off; any time now, I could take him down with no problem. I’d started to move when I remembered Cloe, and she was unconscious. Wrapping her in several spells, I leaped out, freezing Tron as he was preparing another volley.

Leaning close, I snarled in his ear, “You bastard! How dare you come after me! I want you to remember this, but only this!” Reaching in, I began to rip away at every power he had and a few new ones that were starting to emerge, god, really nasty ones at that. Finally, there was nothing left, and leaning close, I whispered, “I was an enforcer for a reason; as far as I know, there are only two that can permanently remove magical abilities besides me; I am the newest, number three. You’re lucky this time I only removed them for a few weeks, next time.” Here he was sobbing, huddled against the wall, “I remove them all, and they set you free in the human world where I am sure you’d do real good.” Flashing out, I appeared at the prison Tron had been in; the guards stepped back as I growled, stripping him naked, I began to take several charms off him. “Been a busy boy, I see, naughty.”

Shoving him into magic-resistant restraints, I sent several wards, then restrained his legs. “Never again will you get out. I’ve made sure of that!”

Again, as I had done to my now ex-wife, I closed the door, then the wall over the door; I could hear Tron screaming that I had murdered him. Ignoring him, I waved my hand, and all was quiet as the wall thudded closed.

Turning, the council was behind me, “Again, we are in your debt, Mage Tyrome,” the elder said. “The conditions you have included in this and your ex’s cells are being considered for many others.”

Bowing, I started to leave and then turned back to the council, “I was questioning a squealer earlier, and he said that Tron had help from my ex and another, a very powerful other. If it is indeed his return, we all must be prepared. Though I am far more powerful than I was back then, I am afraid that he will easily overcome me now. May I have the permission of the council to increase my power in order to combat him?” I asked.