Magestorm: The Awakening (20 page)

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Dhane
opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was Cassandra.  She smiled
but he couldn’t bring himself to return it.  He barely had any energy, and he wasn’t sure where he was.  She brought a glass of water to his lips and, through much effort, he drank some.

“What happened?” he asked once he had the strength.

“You helped save the spell book.  Sebastian was injured badly in the battle, which led to their retreat.  Our alliance with the remaining werewolves is paying great dividends.
”

“Did we lose anyone?”

He tried to sit up, but didn’t have the strength.  Cassandra put her hand on his chest to make sure he stayed still.  She took a drink of water herself before continuing.

“One of the werewolves, the one holding off the vampires, he was drained of too much blood too fast.  The healing spell couldn’t counter four of the bloodsuckers at once.
”

“What was his
name?”

“Jason Turner.  Why?”

“
He saved my life.  I just want to know, so I can remember him.  It’s the least I can do.”

She smiled and nodded.
  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.  The book
was safe at least.  As he went over things in his head, he remembered his to-do list.  Now was probably as good a time as any to tell Cassandra.

“I’ve done some things I shouldn’t have.  I need to tell you everything.”

“You’ll have your chance. 
Just rest for now.
  Once you’ve recovered, we’ll talk through all that’s happened.  Oh, someone else is here to see you.”

Amelia.

“I’m sorry I didn’t stay, sire.  Perhaps I could have helped
you.  I just felt it best to return home when I awoke, so as not to impose myself upon you.”

Dhane
wasn’t sure what to say.  He wanted to tell her she didn’t impose, that she could stay any time she wanted.  But he also remembered Heather.  Who knew what that crazy bitch might do next?  Now might be the time to push Amelia away
, for her own good
.

“It’s fine.  All things considered, it’s probably for the best that I’m alone.
”

She didn’t seem surprised at all by his comment.  Having always felt like a second class person in her own society, why would it be any different with an outsider?  He could sense how she felt, and it made him feel like shit.  Until he solved the Heather problem, it was for the best. 
For now.

“I just wanted to be sure you were okay.  Would you like me to leave now?
”

“Yeah, I should rest.  I’ll call you sometime.”

Amelia nodded and kissed
Dhane
on the forehead.  It burned, emotionally.  She departed and Cassandra seemed concerned, but she didn’t ask.

“Everyone is moved into the Grand except for
Nicole
.  She’s moved into the werewolf colony, with
Xander
.
  A top notch bank vault is being installed and the book will be secured
inside.
  They want you to spend another night here at the hospital.  Your new abode will be waiting for you when you get out.  Then you can explain what that was about.
”

He closed his eyes and breathed deep.  Not about to explain that to anyone at this point, anyway.
  Besides, once he spilled the beans about Heather and the pages, he presumed he would be kicked off the council, kicked out of the Grand before ever moving in, and this city would hold nothing else for him.

Maybe it was all for the best.  Maybe he wasn’t supposed to become the master mage.  Maybe the only way for the witch council to survive was without him. 
Maybe.

Epilogue

It
had been a
full week
since Heather last showed up.  Did that mean she was working with that group that tried to take the spell book? 
Hard to tell.
 
Dhane
didn’t much care at this point.  He didn’t intend on ever seeing her again.

He finished packing his suitcase and sat down on the bed.  The council was in session, and the vote was up on whether he would be expelled, permanently.  He had told Cassandra about the spell book pages, how he had gotten them, memorized and used them, and how they were stolen.

Heather was another subject he presented to her.  That was a difficult discussion.  Embarrassing was more the word for it. 
Especially the part about allowing her to feed off him.
  Then there was the animate spell and sex.

Worst part was, about an hour ago he had to recount the events for the most part before the entire council.
  Talk about feeling like you’re naked in front of a crowd.  He made it through and came to his room to pack.  Luckily he had felt better since he woke up.

A knock at the door signified that the meeting must be over.  It was time for him to learn his fate, officially.
  Lila was standing solemnly on the other side.

“It’s time.”

Dhane
followed silently down the stairs, and into a conference room which now housed the black table that blocked magic.
  Nobody gave any hint of what was to be.  He took his seat and waited for Cassandra to speak.

“Given all that’s happened over the past few weeks, and the fact that you have saved the spell book on two different occasions over that time period, and the rescue of multiple people spanning the witch and werewolf communities, the vote has gone in your favor.  It was
a vast majority
that you stay
on
as a member of this council.”

His mouth dropped
.  Glancing around the room, nobod
y avoided looking at him for once.  The perfect opportunity, with the perfect excuse to boot him, and they didn’t take it.

“However, there will be punishment involved.  First, you are suspended from any use of magic for the next two weeks.  That means you can’t even practice on your own.  Clear?”

He nodded.

“Second, you are on
probation for two months.  Any incidents, including breaking your two week
suspension
and you ma
y be expelled by me without
a vote.  Clear?

He nodded again.

“Finally,
you are required to recreate the lost spell pages, along with research on their full effects and where they come from.  Most of what Algernon created was based on something else.  It won’t be
easy ,
but it can be done, I’m sure.  Do you accept the punishment as I’ve stated it?”

“Yes ma’am.  May I also say thank you to the council members for allowing me to stay.”

“Very good.
  As part of your suspension, you are not allowed in council meetings, and during probation you will only be involved in an after-meeting with me to discuss what you are allowed to know.
  You may go.”

Dhane
nodded and returned to his room.  He looked at his suitcase laying on the bed and thought for a moment about what to do next.  A quick check of the fridge showed he was out of Pepsi.

Fuck it.

He grabbed the suitcase off the bed, locked the door and left.  With no idea where he was going, if or when he would be back,
Dhane
hit the road to find what his future held.

END