The Hidden Paths to Power (13 page)

I was nervous but used the techniques I was taught, to steady my mind, then passed my hand left to right above my head, while concentrating on my power. This signaled the room to extinguish the candles.

I said the two words, to make the symbols my feet were on light up then centered myself, and said the three keyword phrase that cast the spell.

At first, I didn’t think anything happened then felt my essence separate from my body.

I was taken somewhere and realized, I was being shown a vision, of the possible future, if I make the choice to reveal myself, without careful consideration.

I saw myself, standing next to Harold at a press conference, as I was being publically displayed as being alive and well. I was asked questions about where I had been and started having to mount lie after lie on top of each other.

I was approached by the producer of a late night talk show and convinced to go on camera, in front of the nation, and tell my story again, but I didn’t remember everything I said at the press conference exactly.

Some people, who were quick to pick up on the subtle differences, started to ask hard questions.

The vision moved forward ten years and I still looked the same. I had the presence of mind to add some crow’s feet but my vanity, after being a celebrity so long, didn’t let me adopt more drastic changes, and people started taking notice.

Women would approach me and at first, ask politely how I maintained my youth, but as I stammered out excuse after excuse, became bitter and demanding.

The vision took me forward one hundred years.

I looked twenty-two, with black hair, but someone was able to compare an image of me from today, to an image taken a hundred years from now and discovered, it was the same woman in both pictures. That caused me to become a hunted person, both by those who wanted to know how I did it, and religious extremists, who still carried the doctrine about magic being the work of the devil.

The vision moved forward fifty years and showed a world ravaged by war because magic had become known. Those with the jealous desire to possess such skills, fought with those who felt, all magic was evil, and should be stamped out.

All mystics were hunted but the dark users, were willing to use their skills to defend themselves. The guardians only did so reluctantly and, as more guardians lost their lives, there were fewer to contain the dark magic.

The balance began to tilt and I watched in horror, as the world became a dead thing, floating around the sun.

This was only one possible future but the most probable, if I wasn’t careful about every action I take, as a guardian. The simple act of revealing that I was alive and well, without a detailed and practiced explanation, could lead to the world dying.

That was a lot of pressure but I was grateful to Doriane, for forcing me to do this.

The visions came to an end and I tiredly got the candles lit again. She was right that I felt like falling on my bed and sleeping through the whole day tomorrow but I forced myself to do one thing first.

I dragged myself up the stairs, found a tearful Doriane sitting on the couch and slowly moved into her, buried my face in her chest and cried.

I tenderly kissed her lips then said, “Thank you. I know how to handle this better.”

“I had to endure the same thing, the first time Gerridon forced me to cast it. Once I was free of my village, I became a little reckless. I spent time in the taverns and going to parties thrown by the wealthy. It wasn’t as bad then as it is now, because becoming famous was harder but when women took on that kind of notice, they were remembered for it more often than men. Gerridon tracked me down and forced me to cast that spell. If I didn’t show more restraint, one of my careless decisions, could’ve tilted the balance too far within fifty years. Each of us must guard this knowledge with our lives and make the world of magic our first priority. I understand that it seems unfair because you aren’t allowed to know the consequences before you make your choice.”

“I understand and harbor no bitterness or ill will. For all the difficulties, I’m still happier being a guardian and being in your life. I love you and appreciate you more every time, I’m showed another glimpse into what this world means. I’m still going to help Harold but not in the way he might imagine. I’m not going to be a darling for the media.”

“Just don’t become infamous either. Find the right balance that says here I am, alive and well, but you won’t take it well if you’re being hounded with attention.”

I didn’t sleep through the entire next day but when I woke, it was too late, to put any plan into practical motion, so spent the day doing casual friendship things with my mentor. I did my laundry and other simple chores, and had a normal day with a friend.

Doriane’s confidence shone bright when she saw, I really didn’t harbor hard emotions over the vision.

The next day was Friday and I called Tina openly. The surprise and delight in her voice was heartwarming, “What are you up to this time?”

“I’m nearly ready to come out of hiding but I need your help, and Debra’s, if you can get away.”

“We both have today off from school and work. We’re just lounging around the apartment we share now.”

“I’m going to give you my address and need you two, to get here without telling anyone else yet. I need to set this up right.”

“Absolutely. We’ve been dying to see you again. One, three minute dose, is just not enough.”

I gave her the address then dialed Harold, “This is Lieutenant Cramer.”

“At least the population of words in your greeting has doubled. How are you doing right now with the room?”

“All nine girls have been identified, and now officers and counselors are traveling to the homes of the families, to inform them. It’s been a grim couple of days and I’m still filing the reports. We’ve also managed to identify ten of the fifteen children in the first room through DNA tests. Those families are also being notified. The tests on the other five are due in tomorrow, so I have more bad news to deliver to the community.

“Linda Tomlinson, of the Rocky Pines Homeowner’s Association, has been taking some heat but mostly, she’s been breathing down my neck, to find the Gilpatricks so she can start the lawsuits against them, for the unauthorized construction of the room below the house. I have the property deeds in front of me and found out, they aren’t going to help as much as we hoped.

“The name on the deeds is Steven Gilpatrick, Ryan’s father. He owned both houses to keep the names of those living in the more expensive house from being known. I have sketch artists working with the neighbors who lived closest to them. They told us, three people lived in that house for the last ten years or more. There’s an auburn-haired woman in her mid-twenties. There’s a man whose description is close enough, he could be a brother to Steven. The third is another man, with blonde hair, that could be an older cousin to Ryan. There’s no paper trail to where they moved to.

“The neighbors reported a foul odor that was a constant presence on the property and there was a lot of late night activity. I’m guessing that was when Ryan was moving around so he wouldn’t be spotted.”

“Hopefully what I’m about to tell you will help. I’m almost ready to come out of hiding but this has to be done my way. Can you take a break long enough to come to Kim’s house where I’m staying and hear me out?”

“I can do that. Just having the knowledge out there that you’re alive and well, will be a note of brightness, to add to all the dismal I have to report.”

I gave him the address then paced anxiously, waiting for them to get here.

Doriane made sure we swept the house and put anything that shouldn’t be seen below.

I was about to climb out of my own skin when the doorbell finally rang.

Tina and Debra both pounced on me now that they could claim more than a few minutes of my time.

After introducing them to Kimberly, we sat in the living room and just chatted, until Harold arrived. I took only a small amount of pity on Harold, being the only man in a room with four attractive women. I hoped, he’d find a special person soon. This case had taken so much of his time, his personal life got neglected. I’m trying to fill a small void there by being a niece to him.

Once everyone was seated with drinks I stood, took a deep breath then said, “I hope what I’m planning, will be the help you need Harold. I’m going to publically announce that I’m out of hiding but I also plan, to take whatever measures necessary, not to become a celebrity. When the press conference takes place, I may say a few things that’ll make the media a little uncomfortable. I needed Tina and Debra here because, I’m hoping they’ll let me bring them up as well. I’ll be as gentle as I can but I’ll not let the media paint a bull’s eye on my head or that of my friends and family. I realize, there’s only so much that can be done, but I’m planning to be hostile. I’ll go as far as necessary, to keep editors from being comfortable putting what I say in print, or producers putting what I say on air. I want to let people know I’m okay but not at the expense of antagonizing Ryan more. The more of my face he sees, the more obsessed he gets.”

Harold smiled, “I’ll enjoy the front row seats, of watching those vultures get a little hostility thrown at them. I’m not allowed to because I must remain politic.”

Debra asked, “What were you planning to say about me and Tina?”

“When I say, I don’t feel like having a target painted on me, I also want to mention, I’ll take it badly, if they paint one on you too. I can’t make this decision for you. If either or both, are willing to risk it, to gain a little notoriety as my friends, then go for it. I just won’t support it. For all that I’m willing to walk out in public again, Ryan still hasn’t been caught. I believe his family is going to do what they can to contain him, even as they shield him, since his actions have now brought notice to them.”

Tina responded, “I may play it up a little but respect what you’re saying. The protection on us expired yesterday, so we’ve been taking a few measures to guard each other. You know we’ve been in classes since the age of three on self-defense.”

“I know but Ryan’s skill is becoming legendary. He’s more vicious than either of you could dream of being. Unfortunately because we still haven’t caught him, Lisa and Erica still have to stay in witness protection. I suppose, when I come out, there’s a chance they may change their minds, now that they’re adults. I can’t count on that and will understand, if they wish to stay hidden. I have a letter ready to be mailed to my parents, to let them know, they can call me or visit me anytime they feel like it.”

I decided to do this in Aurora.

Harold drove me back to the station with Tina and Debra following.

I kept my hair hidden with my cap so I could control when I’m fully recognized. I was nervous but walked into the station and found many of the expressions comical, as some of the officers recognized me even with the hat.

After filing the paperwork that made the positive identification real, I was taken to visit Harold’s captain.

Captain Bert Cominski stared at me over his desk for a few minutes, with a less than pleased expression that I wasn’t willing to play the politics game.

He ordered Harold out and his door shut then said, “I’ll ask that you be held accountable for the expense of looking for you, if you don’t play the game the right way, Ms. Boller.”

“Charge me with the bill. I will dictate my life not you. I didn’t break any laws, as I was an adult when I went into hiding, and have the right to protect myself however I see fit. Do not forget that I grew up in a family of FBI agents. Not one thing I did was illegal. I will not let the media paint a bull’s eye on me or my friends. Ryan Gilpatrick is still loose. Though I feel strong enough to let the community know I’m safe, I’m going to do what I can not to antagonize Ryan’s obsession more than can be helped.”

“The media are already flocking in. We have them staged in the front of the building. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I stood, walked out of his office and made my way confidently to the steps outside the front doors.

I appreciated the effort by many of the officers I knew, to keep the reporters from crowding me. Many of them had been involved at one time or another since this began.

The officer who tackled me off my bike turned with a grin for a second before shielding me some more.

I came to a stop on the top step, took some comfort from Harold, Debra and Tina then stood still, until the reporters understood, they wouldn’t get anything from me, until they were quiet. The flood of questions started the moment I came out but until I had their undivided attention, I wouldn’t say anything.

I took off my hat and let my long mane of blonde hair free, “I am Deana Boller. The woman who has garnered the attention of a vicious criminal like Ryan Gilpatrick. His obsession with me, has led him to commit heinous acts, I firmly believe, he will pay for. I’m standing before you today, to inform you that I have not been missing, but in deliberate and self-imposed hiding, to keep my face out of the public eye. I did this because I never know when Ryan is watching me and it seems, every time my face is made public, his cruelty and sadistic behavior only grows worse.

“After the recent discovery in the Rocky Pines neighborhood, I felt the community deserved some good news. I will not share the details of where I have been hiding or what I have been doing. Though I’m out of hiding, every picture of me, is nothing more than volume dial for Ryan to continue to grow worse. I realize, all of you have jobs to do, but I ask that you care enough about the public safety that you not go out of your way to make a public spectacle of me. Do not give Ryan Gilpatrick anymore fuel to add to his obsession than can be helped.