Spirit Sorceress: Spirit Sorceress: Book 1 (6 page)

The cell was spotlessly clean.  That was about the best
recommendation I could make.  Three of the walls were cement, the bars and
cell door were about twice as thick as what a human jail cell would be.  I
imagined I didn’t have a chance at breaking it open.  There was a small
bed, a toilet behind a metal partition, and a sink.  That was it.

I sat on the bed and wondered if I’d made the right decision
in not running.  I was kind of glad my magic had been too hard for me to
control, it had meant I’d gotten what I wanted despite James’ control of me,
but I also knew I never wanted to feel that loss of control again.  It’d
felt like I’d been sucked up into a tornado and couldn’t tell up from
down.  I absolutely had to figure out the trick to using my magic in the
city. 

Plus, working on it would distract me from my worries.

In the forest, it was the peaceful and balanced spirit of
nature and life in the wild that had grounded me.  It didn’t take me long
to realize, that looking outward wasn’t the answer.  All that was out
there in the city was chaos.

That only left looking inward.  My own soul?  That
didn’t quite sound right.  My soul was fairly at peace with myself, but it
was one against hundreds of thousands in this city, if not millions once my
power grew great enough to encompass the whole of it. 

I thought it through slowly.  My power came from
within, the elemental spirit power was pulled from the plane of elemental
spirit, or as some called it, the spiritual plane, or where souls returned to
between lives.  It was pulled and channeled from that plane by my soul,
and the more I channeled, the greater the power, and the greater the reach of
that power.

Unlike other sorcerers, my gateway was my own soul, instead
of my soul reaching through another gateway, such as air for air.

It suddenly occurred to me, that my anchor to prevent other
souls from sweeping me into chaos could be the spiritual plane itself. 
What could be more centering than the entire elemental plane of spirit?

The question was, if I was right, was how the hell would I
anchor my mind through my soul and into the spiritual plane, while pulling
spiritual magic in the other direction?  I had the idea it would be like
pushing and pulling on an object at the same time, or trying to pat my head,
rub my belly, and hop on one foot at the same time.

Rather than try to do both right off, I thought I might as
well see if I’d truly figured it out first, and just try to connect to the
spiritual plane, have it anchor me.  I knew it was childish, and I needed
to get past it, but I really wished my mother was here to explain it all. 
Even just doing that… I’ve never done it before, and had no idea if it was even
possible.

Although, the idea of it kind of rung a chord deep inside
me.  I knew the eldest of us, the most powerful, were considered
omniscient in human tales and legends.  While that wasn’t true, no one
being could possibly know everything, it was true that the eldest of us could
find anything out from past, present, and even future that they wanted to know
through the Akashic records… which resided in the spiritual plane.

Perhaps anchoring in the spirit plane was the first step in
a long journey toward that goal.  Perhaps the reach of my power out here,
would be mirrored by the reach of my power inside the spiritual plane.  Or
maybe I was deluding myself by seeing what I wanted to see, there was only one
way to find out.

I sat in a meditation pose and closed my eyes.

“Miku?”

My eyes popped open and I looked over to the bars.  The
earth sorceress stood there, with a questioning look on her face.  I stood
up and moved closer.

I frowned, “How do you know my name?”

She sighed, “What happened, is your mother and father
alright?”

I shook my head, “Who are you?”

“Sorry, you wouldn’t remember me.  I haven’t seen you
since you were two, which was what?  Hundred and fourteen years ago? 
I’m Melody, I’ve known your mother since she relocated here from the East coast
a hundred and fifty years ago.”

I asked, “You were friends?”

Her eyes watered at my words, and I felt uncomfortable,
“Were?  I’m so sorry.  We were… allies.  You know how insular
your race can be, at least the good ones, but we were as close to friends as
she would allow.  I’m… sorry for your loss.”

I wasn’t sure what to say.

She asked, “How did it happen?”

I frowned, “My father… had an accident, my mother followed.”

She shook her head, “What do you mean, followed?”

“She followed her mate into death,” it hurt to say it, at
peace with her loss or not.

Her eyes narrowed, “She just left you?  I don’t believe
it.”

I snorted a little angry now, I hadn’t wanted to believe it
either, “I was there.”

Melody didn’t argue, but I could tell she wasn’t buying
it.  It was kind of annoying actually, only my respect for her age and
power stopped me from flipping her off.  Like I wouldn’t know?

She nodded, “I suppose there’s a whole story to how you got
here, and I can guess some of it.  Give Ceara a chance, she doesn’t suffer
fools or law breakers, but she isn’t heartless either.  You should try to
get some rest, I think she plans on seeing you last.”

“Why last?” I asked, curious despite myself.

She smiled, “To get as much information about you as she can
before you two speak.  I think you surprised the hell out of her with that
spirit lightning.  Not much surprises a two-thousand-year old vampire.”

I nodded, “I’ll get some sleep,” after I try to anchor to
the spirit world, but I didn’t say that last out loud.

Melody nodded, “I’ll see you again, I’m sure.”

Then the floor cracked and rumbled, and she slid right
through the cement foundation and into the earth below, and then she was simply
out of my range to detect.  I shivered at the thought, and went back to my
bunk and sat down.  I wasn’t sure what to make of that conversation, but
maybe it was a good thing, I could use allies, and perhaps a friend? 
Whatever that truly was.  I closed my eyes and focused inward to my own
soul.

I could visualize my soul, and saw the spirit magic flowing
from the center of it.  Just a small amount, enough for me to keep an eye
on the immediate area.  I had no idea what to do at this point.  I
tried willing myself into that flow to the other side.  That didn’t do
anything but make me feel foolish.  I also wondered that if I succeeded,
if I would simply be separating my soul from my mortal body and actually going
there.

Killing myself on accident would be stupid.

Well, how did I do it out here?  I didn’t send myself
out into the mortal world either, I sent my magic.  I increased the flow
slightly and created a thread of magic, just like I used to probe the air
shields on the younger vampires.  If only humans had similar shields, none
of this would be necessary.

I tried to thread that magic back through the flow of power
and into the elemental plane of spirit.  It was like trying to thread a
string into a firehose that was blasting out water.  That wasn’t going to
work.  Maybe, I needed a new channel altogether.

The spirit magic flowed from the center of my soul, so I
picked a different spot, and tried to use my soul as a gateway, just in the
other direction instead, and pushed the thread through.

I gasped, and unshed tears gathered in my eyes.  It was
almost indescribable, the peace that overwhelmed me as I spirit read the
elemental plane of spirit.  That wasn’t much of a description, but I
wasn’t sure what else to call it.  It was incredibly peaceful, calming,
and centering.  It felt so wonderful that I never wanted to lose the
feeling.

It was also extremely dangerous, for just that reason. 

I was tempted to end my own life, just so I could go
there.  When that thought crystallized in my mind, caution rose up as
well.  I wasn’t done with this life yet.  I took deep breaths, and
centered myself in my mind.  I was anchored, but I couldn’t even imagine
trying to explore that plane with my magic.  It would be too dangerous to
try, I was already at risk of losing myself to its allure, and I was barely
anchored to the edge of the plane.

I didn’t think I could resist its call if I ventured
further.

I held the connection while refocusing my mind outward into
the mortal realm, and pushed out my power slowly.  I paused several times,
but eventually I was connected to all those human souls out there, a half mile
out. 

It was hard to describe.

It was like sitting in the center of a large tornado, the
wind wouldn’t touch me in my place of peace, but I could see the chaos around
me.  I was encased in the peace of the elemental plane of spirit, and the
chaos of all the human’s souls couldn’t touch me there.  I could still
read them, see their lives, and if I focused on one specifically I could see
all their lifetimes.  Their hopes, dreams, fears, losses, but I was
insulated from it, I wasn’t drowning in it.

I felt balanced.  No longer tempted to end my life, or
caught up in the chaos.  I realized then, if I wasn’t reaching out with
all my power, I shouldn’t ground myself.  I either needed to do both, or neither. 
That way I wouldn’t be tempted to let go of my mortal life, or be drowned in
chaos.

I wasn’t any more powerful now, than when I was in the
forest.  But now I could access all that I had without fear.  I felt
someone approaching the cells and released it, both sides.  I kept just
enough magic going to keep track of people near me, and maintain a shield.

I opened my eyes and looked over as she approached.  I
recognized her as one of the three guards that were upstairs.  She was
around two hundred, but looked twenty-four.  She had shiny and straight
light blonde hair and an athletic body.  She wore a dark blue pencil
skirt, a red blouse, and a dark blue, almost black, light jacket.  She
also had a smile on her face that reached her eyes.

“Hi, I’m Lisa.  Are you hungry, or thirsty?” she
sounded really friendly.

I nodded.

“I could eat, and maybe some water?  I should be good
on blood for at least a couple of days, hopefully I’ll be out of here by then.”

It was hard to believe it’d only been one day since I woke
up a vampire, and had my first meal of blood.  I knew I was more like a
fifty-year-old vampire in power, but I wasn’t sure if that meant I’d feed like
one, which was every couple of weeks.  I was still new though, despite
that power, so it might be every three days for me… like a normal baby vampire.

Lisa nodded in agreement, “Tomorrow at the latest. 
I’ll be back soon.”

She flashed me another smile and walked to the next
cell.  Curious, I reached out with a thread and read her soul, not
memories, just… who she was.  She wasn’t just acting nice to get
information from me.  She was actually just a really nice person.  I
relaxed and waited for her to come back, I
was
kind of hungry.  I
hadn’t eaten since the eggs this morning.  After that, I seriously needed
some sleep.

I woke and stretched my body, and heard a light sound behind
me.  I turned my head and looked, it was Lisa.  She had an amazed and
curious look on her face as she stared at me.

I hopped down off the bed and embraced my shift to human
form.  It was different than wolves or other shifters for us.  The
major difference of course was taking our clothing with us, the only time I
shifted to a naked girl was my first time shifting.  The second difference
was that it’s a lot faster, only takes a second or two, and a flash of magical
energy accompanies the change.

Lisa asked curiously, “Why do you have five tails?”

I smiled, “I just do, I was born with three.  Look up
the Kitsune legends, that at least is one thing they get right, although I
couldn’t tell you why.”

She tilted her head, obviously confused, “Born with three?”
she questioned.

I nodded slowly, “I’m not human.  This is my second
form, and I didn’t achieve it for my first hundred years.  Seriously, you
can probably just google it.  Umm, did you come down here for something.”

She looked confused for a moment, and then her eyes widened
slightly, “Oh crap, Ceara is waiting for us.  You distracted me.”

I laughed, “Sorry.  But that bed sucks, the mattress is
a torture device that only looks comfortable.”

She made a hand signal toward a camera down the hallway, and
pulled my cell door open when it buzzed.  No keys, interesting.

She giggled, “That’s our evil plan.  Come on, I’ll walk
you up.  I’m kind of jealous, you look fantastic after that change. 
No bedhead.”

We walked down the hallway, through another heavy door that
was no doubt controlled from the security desk, and into the stairwell.

Lisa explained, “It’s quicker this way,” and she took off up
the stairs like a shot, I followed the best I could in her wake.  We came
out on the third floor and made our way to the same double doors.  It
looked like they were already fixed.

Lisa guided me inside and her smile dropped and she stood up
almost unperceptively straighter.  I got the idea she suppressed her
naturally bubbly personality in front of the boss, I supposed it made sense
since she was one of the inner guards.

“Ceara, I’ve brought Miku.”

Ceara replied, “Thank you Lisa, you can wait outside. 
Miku, come sit please.”

I was almost baffled, I was expecting formality, not…
whatever this was.  I walked in and saw her sitting on the couch again,
toward one end which sat caddy corner to another couch.  I wondered if
this was a test of some sort, there was also a couch across that large empty
floor.  I chose the middle ground, and sat on the caddy corner couch, not
next to her, but not so far away either.

Ceara waved, “Relax.  I find these things go better
without formality.”

I translated that in my head to, a relaxed person is easier
to read and extract information from, than a terrified one kneeling down in
front of her.  Still, I wasn’t going to argue.

Ceara continued, “I don’t think this will take long, I’ve
talked to the others and it seems you’ve had a rather bad time lately. 
That said, I’m not quite sure what to do with you.  As a vampire you fall
under our laws, as a sorceress you are your own agent.  So, let me ask
you.  If I gave you a choice, what would you want?”

This was far too reasonable.  I was probably being
paranoid but… I couldn’t read her at all, and honestly I was afraid to try.

“The forest holds no appeal to me any longer for various
reasons.  I think I’d like to stay in Seattle, as for beyond that, I
haven’t really given it much thought.  I don’t want to just go my own way,
and be alone, but it’s complicated.”

It was.  As a spirit sorceress I was supposed to live
on the edge of society.  Observe and only interfere to help a soul that
couldn’t find the way back, or unlock their memories.  I wasn’t supposed
to interfere with free will at all for mortals, except for self-defense, and if
they ceded that free will.

On the other hand, as a vampire I would be inextricably
linked to this coven and other vampires.  It would be very tempting in
that scenario to turn my back on the tenets, which I don’t want to do. 
For instance, if some monster attacked right now, I’d have to sit back and
watch, I wouldn’t be able to interfere at all, unless someone specifically
asked for my help.

How could I truly be a part of a group on those terms? 
I didn’t think I could get away with calling the coven a family, which was the
last exception, they couldn’t be, not really.

Ceara nodded, “Let’s get back to that, can you tell me what
happened that led you here from your point of view?”

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, and started from when
Terry called for help.  I finished my story when I threw the knife in
Vince’s eye.

Ceara shook her head, “Are you telling me, that you killed him
because he asked for help?”

I shook my head, “I killed him because he was a twisted and
evil bastard.  It was him demanding me for help that enabled me to act on
that.”

Ceara asked, “And that constituted help?”

I nodded sincerely, “He was stuck.  Sunk completely in
evil and cruelty and unable to die.  I freed his soul from that torment of
endless mortality, he’ll get another chance to get it right now.”

Ceara chuckled, “I’ll take your word for it.  So what
happened with the lightning?”

I sighed, “I was supposed to just hit you, that was the
compulsion.  But I’d never used my power in the city before, and touching
all those human souls was overwhelming and it all went wrong.  I suppose I
should tell you I overcame that deficiency last night.”

Ceara smiled, “Alright, why don’t we do this.  I’ll
offer you a place in the coven.  You can get settled, take some time to
think, and let me know where you want to contribute.  You can do anything
from filing paperwork on the third floor to mopping the cafeteria and cleaning
tables.  Work one of our clubs, or go get a degree in something to get any
job in our companies.  Or, if your so inclined I think your capable enough
to join the guards.

“If that doesn’t appeal to you, you’re free to go at any
time.”

I could probably do most of that, but I’d make a terrible
guard, unless the person I guarded kept asking me for help… and there is always
the danger that help might end in the wrong party dying.  The rest of it
sounded possible, and it was something to do.  It also meant I wouldn’t be
alone anymore.  I decided to be honest.

“Probably not a guard, but I think I’ll take you up on your
offer.  A couple of days to look around and decide?  I mean what job
I want.  I definitely want to stay if you’ll let me.”

Ceara nodded, “First things first,” she called in Lisa,
“Lisa, assign a condo to Miku here, and then take her shopping.  She needs
clothes that fit, and a real pair of sunglasses.”

Oh… thank Inari.  This was the easiest trial ever, and
I was getting a wardrobe out of it, and a place to stay.  Maybe things
were starting to look up.  It would be complicated as hell, but better
than being a slave to James, or in a jail cell.

Lisa took me straight downstairs to the security
station.  First they had me scan in my fingerprints, and took my picture
for facial recognition.  Then I was given condo eight zero three and we
headed up the stairs again.  Vampire speed was just so much faster than
the elevator, I was getting the idea the elevators weren’t used all that much. 
Maybe when having a human guest?

Was that even a thing?

“Lisa, what are the coven rules.”

Lisa chuckled, “There are only a handful.  Don’t kill
anyone in the coven.  Contribute to the coven, either by working for them
in some capacity, or if you want an outside job you can pay a flat fee for the
rent and food.  Lastly, do nothing that risks the secret.”

Huh, “That’s it?”

Lisa nodded, “That last one though, it covers a lot. 
Don’t do anything that reveals the supernatural, or puts us at risk.  So
don’t become a bank robber, or race cars on foot, or… you get the idea.”

I laughed, “Does that come up often, vampires racing against
cars?”

She shrugged, “Not exactly that.  But you get people
jogging a little too fast, or jumping a little too high.  Even assaulting
an annoying human that’s much bigger than you is a problem.  You can’t go
around beating up idiots if they bother you, especially if they’re large
athletic men.  That one does come up.”

I asked, “So what do you usually do?”

She grinned evilly, “I let them pick me up and take me
somewhere private, then I get a meal and make sure they forget all about me.”

I laughed as we stepped out on the eight floor, and walked
down to eight oh three.  There was a thumb pad there, so I pushed my thumb
on it, and the door clicked.  That was kind of handy, and secure, no key
to keep track of or lose.  I pushed it open and went inside.

The condo was fully furnished, to my right was a living room
with nice creamy white leather sofa and loveseat set, a glass coffee table, and
a big screen television on the wall.  I went straight instead, down the
hall, and wound up in a fairly large kitchen with a small table nook.  To
the right there was an open doorway to a dining room table with a small
chandelier over it.  I realized if I went in there, the living room would
be on the right.

I went down the back hallway instead, there were two
bedrooms, and a bath, as well as a hall closet.  Both bedrooms had the
basics in them, beds, dressers, walk in closets, and end tables.  The
master bedroom had a second bathroom, this one with only a shower, no tub.

Lisa asked, “What do you think?”

“It’s great, thanks.  More than great.  What’s
next?”

Lisa grinned, “Shopping!  Then a tour.”

“Tour?”

Lisa nodded, “I’ll introduce you to some allies of the coven,
you already met Melody.  Actually, there is only one more, a local witch,”
she made a face, “She’s an ally, but can be very touchy.  I’ll also show
you where we shouldn’t go, territory the local werewolves claim.”

“Do you not get along with them?”

Lisa shrugged, “It’s more we stay separate and leave each
other alone.  We’re natural enemies, but that’s mostly due to magical
instincts, and not for human reasons, so we work around it the best we can.”

“Alright, I’m ready for some clothes.”

Lisa grinned and I followed her back out…