The Hidden Paths to Power (3 page)

I responded, “I don’t really know anything about this. Up until recently, I was as most people; a nonbeliever who sometimes likes the look of the charms and the artwork involved in this subject. I came because of Ryan Gilpatrick.”

Those brown eyes widened severely with sudden recognition, “You’re Deana Boller. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you sooner. My name is Doriane Lavoie, and if Ryan Gilpatrick has found his way to the power, then I must help you.”

“That’s what he used when he killed Tom Walters. The police wouldn’t believe me but I know what I saw. I have no idea how he found his way to magic but believe me when I say, he’s a genius. If magic is real and he found a way to use it, he’s smart enough to learn the intricacies.”

“He had to have found a teacher because the power can’t be awakened without the help of another. Whoever he found must be the one helping him to stay hidden. I need you to follow my instructions exactly.”

We were interrupted, by one of the other customers, coming to the counter to make her purchases.

When the woman left and Doriane made sure her other customers were doing okay, she continued softly, “It wouldn’t be a good idea to get rid of the tracer yet. If he holds that much of an obsession with you, it might cause him to panic. When you leave here, try to act disappointed; like you didn’t find what you were looking for. I’m going to give you my home address. You’ll need to warn, whoever you think necessary, that you’re going to disappear. I know you’ll miss your family and friends but, if you want help, you must do it my way. I close the store at 8:00 then it takes me about fifteen minutes to get home. When you get to my house, prepare to do whatever it takes, to put an end to the threat Ryan poses. Don’t tell anyone what you’re doing. Tell them whatever you have to, to get them to let you go, but do not give them details. I’m not saying these things to make it harder but any details known by anyone else, will just put them in danger.”

“I’ll be there.” I got her address then put a slightly disgruntled look on my face as I left the store to get in my car.

Since I was close to Downtown Denver, I drove straight for my father’s office. I checked in with the security desk and they made sure my father was in the building before I went to visit him.

It hurt to see the look of fear on his face, when he looked in my direction these days. The brown eyes of Tim Boller, which he gifted to me, carried his thoughts that someday, he would have to visit my funeral. As much as it hurt to think about, I was fairly sure the death of everyone I love, would come before my own.

After greeting those in the office I was familiar with and seated by his desk, my father asked, “You don’t have anything new to report, do you?”

“As far as I know, Ryan hasn’t done anything but you and I know, he will eventually. I came to tell you something that’ll have mixed emotions attached to it. I’m going into hiding. I know, you don’t want me far from you, but I think it’s time I disappeared. If you can convince mom to do it, I’d like you to transfer to a new office in another state. I’m not asking you to run but it’d make me feel better, in case Ryan flips out, when he can’t find me.”

“Are you sure? It might be what we need to catch him. If he panics, he might make the mistake that’ll allow us to end this thing.”

“It also might put too many in danger. I couldn’t stand it, if one more person that I love, dies because of him. I’m informing you so you can tell everyone. I don’t want you, mom, Tina or Debra; or any of the people I care for; to be truly panicking but I need you to act as if you are. Pretend I just dropped off the edge of the Earth. As long as you’re in the FBI, I can find you again if an end to this does come.”

“I’ll make sure everyone has eyes on them. Ryan has shown, he can find what he needs to. His technical skill is unmatched by few others.”

“That’s why, I’m going to empty my bank account and live on cash. I’m going to do everything I can to fall off the grid. When you’re told that my abandoned car gets found, try not to panic for real. Just store my things until the day this whole business gets put to rest.”

“Don’t go anywhere yet. I’ll be right back.” My father walked around to a few of his friends in the office then they started circulating among all the agents.

Everyone in the office knew about my problem. They’d been offering their services as well when Detective Cramer asked for the help. That was always the most frustrating thing. Even with the resources of the FBI added to the case, Ryan stayed hidden. That more than anything told me the magic was real. It was the only way he could elude capture with the number of quality law enforcement personnel working on it. My father had commendations for his work and yet he couldn’t find him.

Fifteen minutes later, my father came back, “I gave my boss permission, to use his authority to get your account emptied and closed. The cash will be waiting for you when you go to the closest branch of our bank, which is only a few blocks from here. The second thing is this…,” he handed me a thick envelope filled with money, “…I asked for help and got several people to loan me the money. I can pay them back later. Survive this.”

“I plan to but I’m not as worried for me, as I am for everyone around me. If I thought it would help, I’d just give myself to him but I know it wouldn’t. I learned enough in my behavioral analysis classes to know, if I give into him for the sake of ending the violence, and not because I truly want to, it might make him worse. My hate for him would be too obvious. He wants me to come to him as a willing partner. That won’t ever happen.”

“It’s also never a good idea to give in to evil. Those of us, who fight for the good side, cannot give in just to protect others. Everyone in law enforcement knows this. Everything Ryan does is his responsibility, not yours. If we hold to the idea, it’s important everyone be free to make their own choices, you can’t give away your ability to make your own choices. You can’t let him dictate your life for you.”

“That’s why I’m doing this. I’ll keep my ear to the ground and, if my disappearing causes him to make a mistake that gets him caught, then hurray. If not, I just need to get away and hide, until you, Detective Cramer or someone else finds him. Goodbye, Dad. I love you, and tell mom I love her too, and I’m sorry, I didn’t give her a chance to say goodbye.”

I was pulled into a rib-crushing hug, “I love you and don’t worry about your mother. She’ll understand and we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled, to see if Ryan makes a mistake, as a result of you dropping out of sight. With luck, you won’t have to stay hidden for long.”

It was hard to leave but necessary. If I was to put an end to this, I needed everyone I cared about out of the line of fire. I just prayed Doriane had the ability to help with this.

I drove to the bank and fortunately, wasn’t asked any questions, after showing my ID and collecting my money. I had a good amount to start with and hoped, I’d find the means to get more, when and if I needed it.

I found the closest discount clothing store and bought a couple of cheap shirts, cheap pants, underwear and socks. They weren’t my usual taste but I wasn’t looking to stand out at my best.

I drove to a crowded parking lot several blocks from Doriane’s house.

It was a movie theatre and I had a few hours, so went to a movie. My mind was a million miles from caring about what I was seeing. I was just staying in public, to make it harder for Ryan to approach me. Going to the movie and shopping gave me a reason, for why I was going to the places I was, in case he was tracking my movements.

Sitting there with a crowd of movie goers, I processed what I was doing. It still seemed crazy but I’d seen the evidence with my own eyes.

The way Ryan appeared and disappeared, when he killed Tom, cannot be done with any known tech, outside the controlled environments of a magician’s stage or movie studio.

The energy from the wand had a foulness to it, I could feel, as it hit Tom’s chest. The medical examiner who did the autopsy said the edges of the wound had been burned it a way he’d never seen before. This simply led him to the conclusion, it was a result of the gadget used by Ryan.

That was the official version. Tom Walters had been murdered by Ryan Gilpatrick using an unknown modern weapon. I knew it was more than that.

When the movie was over, I left the theatre then slowly wandered in the direction of Doriane’s house. I made sure to stay where people could see me but was scared witless. Ryan was willing to approach me at the college when others were around. I just had to hope, he was busy with something else, and wasn’t paying close attention to me tonight.

In time, I would find out why, there were such long intervals between his appearances. When I did, it would make me sadder, angrier and drive my hate for him to new heights. It would also make it harder, to keep my guilt away, that the sweet boy, who presented me with a flower, when he asked me to a dance, would turn into such a monster, because I said no.

I was standing under a streetlight, with my purse and new clothes, across the street from the mystic’s house, when she arrived. As soon as I saw her get out of her car, I ran to her. She didn’t say anything until we were inside.

Doriane lived in a small, two story, gray and white house that looked like any belonging to a thirty year old single woman. There were a few pieces of art, and other decorations, that displayed her trade but otherwise, it could be anyone’s house.

As soon as her door was shut, she had me sit on her couch then went to get some tools.

Doriane came back with some clay, a couple sticks of incense; scents I’d never encountered; and a ceremonial dagger, with designs finely etched into the surface of the blade.

It made me nervous but I needed her help, so had to extend a little trust. The kindness in her eyes was enough to help ease my fear some.

I watched, as she pulled off a small piece of clay, then smoothed it flat on the coffee table and lit the incense, “I need you to trust me. You are in no danger here. I need one drop of your blood.”

With the dagger, she pricked my finger and put one drop on the flat clay then asked me to pull out one strand of hair and put it on the blood. Next came a bit of spit then she had me blow on it. I could see something happening, as she quickly rolled the clay, then shaped it into the likeness of a person.

Doriane chanted the words to a spell, as she was doing these things, and before my eyes, the little clay person came alive. It didn’t have any intelligence. It could only do what it was instructed to do.

Doriane instructed it to climb up to my shoulder. As I sat still, the mystic cast another spell, to transfer the locating spell from me to the clay doll. I didn’t understand the words she was using but it took about half an hour for her to finish.

The little clay doll climbed from my shoulder and walked toward the front door.

Doriane got up, opened the door for it and in a blink, it was running outside.

The raven-haired mystic, with the kind brown eyes said, as she sat with me again, “My little pet will make Ryan believe you’re anywhere but here. I instructed it to start heading west into the mountains. With any luck, it’ll be quite a while before he discovers he’s chasing phantoms. The doll won’t be seen by anyone. You need to stay in this house until you’re trained. Do not worry about your safety here. Ryan hasn’t had time, to learn the skill necessary, to break the spells around my house.”

“I have some money to help with my room and board if you need it.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll share all I have with you. I’d go after Ryan myself but you need to face him. Intentionally or not, you two are opposing forces in this world and must confront each other. I’m more interested in where he learned it. I must find out if a dark practitioner of the mystical arts has trained Ryan. As I told you earlier, the power can only be awakened by an experienced user. That’s what I need to do with you. I must awaken the power in you. Before I do, I need you to know a few things. The first is, you must make the choice of your own free will. The second is, once the power awakens, some changes will occur. I can’t tell you what they are until you’re active. The third thing is, you must keep this life secret. You saw my shop. It’s like anyone’s who sells trinkets to the uninitiated. The real power must be kept within the circle of those who use it. The world does better when magic is kept to a small population.”

“I came looking for you because I mean to fight him. Everything that can be done in the world of law enforcement is being done but I saw him, when he killed Tom Walters. The way he appeared out of nothing then disappeared again can’t be done with modern science, except in controlled environments to give the illusion of such. I felt the foulness in the energy he used to kill Tom. I’ve spent over six years having this hanging over my head. Ryan has killed people I love all because I wouldn’t go to the dance with him. I told him a few days before this started, I wouldn’t be there. I meant to follow my father and become an agent for the FBI. It’s a family tradition I meant to uphold. I took my studies seriously so I could do this. I had four friends I was happy with and wasn’t looking to expand that. I didn’t even let boys distract me because it meant that much to me. His obsession started when we were freshmen in high school. I stood up for him once, when I saw him being bullied, and since then, my world has turned into a nightmare. Ryan turned from a sweet tech genius into this evil person all because of his obsession for me.”

“I doubt he turned only on that. The seed was probably planted early. Did you learn anything about his life before he fixated on you?”