Chapter 7

Waking up was wonderful. I felt gooood. I actually caught myself humming as I took care of the morning ablutions. Not having sex for the next three plus weeks was probably going to be the most difficult resolution I'd ever undertake, however long I might live, but I was quite certain I'd manage it.

I thought for a moment, then opened the book.

There is 97.6% that Kristen Clark possesses high wizard potential, based on Christine Felvers' impressions.

I was not surprised. Like attracts like, and I was almost willing to bet that anyone with wizard potential tended to associate with other potentials. That would make things a bit easier, but it might also make it harder to minimize the initial acquisition phase.

There was also the matter of what I'd once thought of as the 'real world'. Most of the people I'd initiate would be teens, and I needed to find a way isolate them, first at my home and later at the safehouse I'd buy. The impact of the 'real world' was another problem, because I was feeling more and more divorced from it. Making money just didn't mean anything to me anymore, and I was having trouble even thinking of school or the ordinary people I associated with. There was an irremediable gulf between us now, but I still had to live here, and I much preferred to do it in the manner I had thus far. That is to say, on my terms, or as far as I could go in that direction.

I went to the computer, drafted a 'quitting by reason of ill health' notice to my two employers, in one case apologizing for my inability to complete the bit of programming they'd just sent. Fortunately, I'd thought ahead and had everything ready, including the medical details, so it took less than ten minutes. I was already rich, and the information I had trickling in would suffice for 'investment acumen'. I even spent half an hour following up on data and sending sell and purchase orders.

I spent the next half hour making appointments with four realtors. I had to specify my requirements, and lied a lot about who I was and what I did. Out of pure intransigence — I really didn't want to move, and I was more than slightly pissed at the very thought — I picked a different identity to present to each realtor. At the very least, it would be good disguise practice. Heh, maybe Chris would like to play the wife.

Next came a spell I needed to learn, a first circle transmutation that copied text or imprinted text from mental image. I immediately made use of it, copying precise plans for the shrines I would need to have installed in less than a month. I started to search for local craftspeople of repute who'd be able to build them, but it was time to prepare for my visitors.

First came the necessities. I prepared a lot of food, and ate like a starveling. I used the time to query the book about the training I needed to offer my wizards. It made for interesting reading material, and the book made sure to advise me that I would not be able to use their powers to directly augment mine until I passed the sixth circle enhancement ritual and learned a few spells from the first circle of mind.

A mellow chime indicated that there was someone outside, approaching the gate. I frowned momentarily, unable to even guess who might want to bother me.

Salesmen and vandals knew better then to tread in this neighbourhood.

After too many friends and acquaintances made far too many pointed remarks about what a great place for a party my place was, I stopped inviting people over. My parents had made me promise I'd never have parties at home, and I got very annoyed at having to repeat that, over and over again. That, a bit of deliberate anti-social behaviour, and a few displays of malice, served to get the popular crowd and all the gold diggers off my back, a couple of years ago. A vast relief.

I activated the security monitor for the gate. It took less than a second to recognize Jack Kingston's battered car, and I had a good idea what was involved.

He was moving towards the intercom, looking around cautiously. The security system was fairly impressive, and I'd made sure to pass around a few fables about what happened to people who intruded on my home. It was only a day later when I overheard the terrible rumours flying around school. A few people, mostly those who recognized the improbable when they heard it, actually asked me about the rumours. My bland reply, that I just couldn't talk about matters of security, intensified the rumours to a fever pitch. But it did mean that no school chums would drop over, unless they really needed to.

I activated the sound, "Hey Jack, I'll be with you in a minute," and closed the circuit. I was already dressed, as I had to drive over and pick the girls up in twenty minutes, and I added the little pistol as a bit of insurance. Using magic where people might notice was to be avoided, for all the obvious reasons.

I opened the gate and stepped through, and offered Jack about twice what his sister could have earned in a ten-hour shift, "Real sorry about that," I winced at the thought of having to deal with Linda, "I don't usually forget things, but I've been real busy. I have to go pick up my girlfriend, so I really can't offer you any hospitality."

Jack didn't take the money. "It's not enough?" I asked, somewhat surprised, "How much should it be?"

"No man, that's more than twice what it should be," he shook his head.

"Hey, seriously, keep the change. Serving as an intermediary and having to take shit from Linda, you've bloody well earned it. Keeping up with a dozen toddlers for a day makes for a nice relaxing change of pace from that bitch."

A small upward curve in the left corner of his mouth, the hint of a smile, showed that he quite agreed. He took the bills, and leaned back in a studied casual pose, "Since when do you have a girlfriend? I distinctly remember overhearing you say that females are a waste of air," he asked with eyebrows raised.

"Well, come on, be serious. I was fourteen, and you've seen MY sister."

Jack nodded acknowledgement.

"Since yesterday. No, I suppose Saturday would qualify."

"A dnd freak chick? I don't suppose there are any other girls there?" he asked.

"I didn't know you played."

"Well, I don't. But a girl who does might be human. Linda and her friends might not be as bad as your sister and her pack of roaches, but they're plenty bad. I don't date much, really, and I'm in between at the moment. More than you, of course, but then again, you've only taken one girl out that I know of. I never did figure out why you'd pick Diana, and then blow her off."

"Inflatable sex dolls offer better conversation," was really the best explanation I could give, "and I didn't date because I couldn't find anyone who interested me in the slightest. I'm afraid my group is mostly oldies, at least all the female ones are. If I find someone, I'll send her your way. Doing my thing for evolution, and I don't think I can handle more than..." I shut my mouth.

"More than?" he repeated.

"Slip of the tongue," I smiled tightly, "and I really do have to go. My girlfriend's known me for a year, and if I'm late, she'll start panicking. Once again, my apologies."

Jack could take a hint. A "No problem," a wave, and he was off. I bet that he had major wizard potential, and I could foist a disciple off on him. If I found someone appropriate. Worth a try, anyway, if not necessarily any time soon.

It was more than a bit unsettling, finding that I'd started to think of everyone according to their wizard potential. On second thought, it was probably completely typical and predictable of me. Besides, who would say 'No' to a four-century lifespan plus magic powers? Besides the nitpickers who would rather not fight for their lives against demonic monstrosities and elemental lords, that is...

Dammit, I thought furiously as I buckled in and started the car, I need more battle magic. Desperately, and quickly. I'd see what I could do about breaking the first circle of energy manipulation today. I do hope Ellis does a proper job of the book search, and sends me the book list as soon as possible. That he hadn't thus far meant that he was taking the job very seriously, or that something unfortunate had taken place. I was betting on the former, but there was a deadline.

I was furiously planning things all through the drive, so much so that I didn't even think of Christine.

That changed immediately when I stopped the car. Chris opened the door, slithered in, threw a bag into the backseat, and attacked me.

She fairly leapt on me, and I was thrown back against the door by her weight. She found my mouth and kissed me hard, thrusting her tongue and grinding herself against me. I was kissing back and hugging her quickly enough, and actually lifted her from the passenger's seat and onto me. I was growing excited, and the car wasn't really the place for this.

It took the application of superior strength to make her stop the rain of kisses. "God, but it seemed like a completely loony dream," she whispered, green eyes wide, a tear actually leaking from one. "I didn't dare practice the spell on my own, just in case... and it's so hard to believe," she looked at me. "We really are going to practice magic today, right? Oh, and I can stay the night. I arranged things with Kris."

"Yes," I replied softly, "we really are going to practice magic. Can Kristen stay, too?"

Chris hit me, but it was half hearted. "Yes, she probably can if she really wants to," she admitted. "Do you really think she can be a wizard, too?"

"I don't think one way or the other, but the book is pretty certain that she can, and thus will be. You didn't actually tell her about the magic, did you?"

"Are you nuts? She'd never have listened. I just mentioned the pool and hot tub, and like I said, she did want to meet you."

"Why did she want to see me, anway?"

"Well, I did sort of describe you," she admitted, "but I think there's something more. She's been much too quiet recently, and if Kris isn't telling me, it's probably trouble."

"What sort of trouble?"

"I don't know. I think it's something to do with beating up people. I mentioned your juji... whatever that is, the fighting thing, and she perked up noticeably."

"Sounds simple enough. I'm sure I don't need to tell you not to use magic in public, other than times where desperate measures are called for, right?"

"Please, just how much magic do I know? Be serious."

"Oh, I am, and that much will change. According to the book, I can teach you what I know much faster than you'd be able to learn on your own. Something to do with the 'master-apprentice' thing," I fudged things a bit.

"So what will we be learning today?" Chris asked, eyes shining, and went back to rubbing herself on me.

"Chris! I don't want to repeat things. Let's get your friend, and... by the way, which is Criss and which is Cross?"

"Oh, pooh. Spoilsport," she moved back a bit. "Obviously, she's Cross. I'm the nice, reasonable girl, and she's the one with the temper."

"Right," I lifted Chris back to the passenger seat. Woof, maybe she could stand to lose a bit of weight.

With Christine giving me directions and adding the occasional snide comment about the way I drove, it took less than five minutes to reach Kristen's place. The street was full of shops, and above them a number of stories that contained apartments.

I was driving slowly, and there wasn't anyone behind me to grow annoyed.

"That her?"

Three big guys were standing around a girl. All I could really see of her was brown hair. The body language was not promising.

"Yes," Chris sounded scared, "I think she's in trouble."

That much was quite obvious. "Can you use a gun?"

"A gun? No!" Chris recoiled.

"Then stay in the car."

There was just enough room, and I parked the Mercedes smoothly, left it running, and was out of the car in an instant.

"Come on, Kristen, where's your bag? We're late."

"Logan?" I heard her say, from behind the wall of flesh. Up close, they looked even bigger. High school seniors, probably.

"That's right, Chris is waiting, come on," I said, sounding impatient.

They turned to look at me. They didn't look ugly, they just felt ugly.

"Why don't you just split, runt," one of them said, the other two laughing in response, "we've got business with the chick."

Then they actually turned back to her, ignoring me.

Hmmm, options.

I could try talking, magic, pistol or just make them hurt. Martial arts or no, you don't really want to pick a fight with more than one guy at a time. Jackie Chan makes it look easy, but it isn't, even when the bozos don't know the first thing about fighting. The advantage superior numbers grant, the ability to employ multiple axes for assault, is usually decisive.

This wasn't usually, and the same could be said of surprise. In addition, I was angry, which also wasn't unusual.

You really don't want to use your fists if there's any way to avoid it, even after toughening them up for years. Open handed attacks, kicks, elbows and knees are better. Or you could carry a collapsible police riot baton.

The bit of metal telescoped into a smooth length, and I struck for the kidneys, neutralizing one of them instantly.

I moved while they were frozen, shattering an elbow and snapping off a kick at the knee joint, and another one bit the dust. The third had a white, shocked look to him, and managed to snap off, "Fucker!" and aim a fist my way.

I met it with the metal rod, the snap of small bones shattering audible. The must have hurt so badly, the scream stuck in his throat. I looked at Kristen, and raised an eyebrow in question.

Her eyes were bright and wide, her mouth open in a perfect O. Kristen, I managed to notice, was all brown. Brown hair, deep brown eyes, and a much lighter hue of brown skin. She stood perhaps a bit shorter than Chris, with an athletic build and bearing.

Kristen blinked, then took a step forward and kicked him in the crotch, using the momentum of her movement and lending her full weight to the kick. Soccer, I recalled, wincing internally.

I elbowed the head of the first guy I hit, and he fell down. Kristen was stepping on another set of genitals, and then moved towards me and kicked the last of them in the balls.

I restrained her from doing more, more afraid for her than for them. She went wild in my grip, and then relaxed as Christine ran in and hugged her.