Chapter Ten: Possession
"Carlo, wait!"
Lazarus rushed up the stairs but Carlo ignored the High-priest's call. The younger warlock reached the second floor and hurried on. Carlo shut the door after entering his room but Lazarus lost his patience and flicked his hands: the wooden door exploded into a thousand pieces revealing the room within and Carlo looking shocked and furious.
"So now you want to kill me?" Carlo snarled. "We agreed that you can't use your active power against me until I have a power that I can use against you!"
Lazarus moved pass Carlo ignoring what the younger guy said and entered the room. He extended his right hand and pointed his palm to the wooden wreckage.
"Things destroyed by this hand, repair your self as I command," Lazarus pronounced.
The pieces of wood hovered one by one around the room then zoomed to the entrance and like a jigsaw puzzle reformed itself into a door good as new. Lazarus turned and looked directly to Carlo' eyes, which was glaring at him in return.
"What is it really that you want to tell me Carlo?" the High-priest asked.
"I said everything that I needed to say. I don't think it is a good idea to gamble our lives for the sake of that Osiris Rites," said Carlo roughly.
"Is that really your problem? You are afraid the Hand will attack and we might not be able to survive?" asked Lazarus, "We've done it before. We can defeat the Hand again."
Carlo scoffed. "The Hand's reason last time is totally different this time. They wanted to recruit us then but now they will try and get Osiris and I'm sure they won't stop until they get what they want, even if they need to kill all of us."
Lazarus gave Carlo a doubtful look. "You're afraid of the Hand? So I guess I overestimated you. In the past, you would have fought hard and died fighting—"
Insulted, Carlo spat, "Don't call me a coward! For all we know Osiris is not worth dying for!"
"And don't even begin to think that I will let anything bad happen to all of you!" Lazarus snapped back at Carlo. "You know very well I would rather slit my throat than to see any of you get hurt! But you're not afraid of the Hand. The one you truly afraid of is Os."
"I'm not afraid of him!" shouted Carlo practically showering spit everywhere. "He is nothing compared to me!"
"Of course he's not," Lazarus said mildly now. "I don't see him as better than you Carlo. You don't need to be threatened."
"I'm not threatened," said Carlo but his voice screamed denial. Lazarus walked towards the bed and sat, then patted the space beside him.
"Sit here Carlo," Lazarus said patiently.
The young warlock obeyed though reluctantly. It was now mid-afternoon and a warm breeze hummed quietly through the window. Lazarus looked out the clear sky before speaking.
"Carlo... you and Os are different. You are my brother not just because I treat you like a real blood relative but due to the fact that you are a Devas. I have spent at least half my life with all of you and no one in the world knows me better than you, Brigit and Alicia. That makes you special to me." Carlo sat quietly listening to every word his High-priest said though avoiding eye contact.
"And I know that you have accepted me, all of me. My strengths and weaknesses... so now I want you to accept what I'm about to tell you."
Lazarus inhaled slowly while Carlo turned his head and stared intently at the guy he hero worshipped ever since being rescued by Lazarus. And it was rather odd for him to see his High-priest, who was always centered and calm in the past to be nervous all of a sudden.
Lazarus looked seriously to Carlo then said, "Carlo, you know the secret right?" Carlo nodded slowly. "I want Osiris to be a part of that secret," Lazarus finished.
A silent minute passed then Carlo' eyes got round and his mouth formed a perfect O at his realization of what Lazarus meant.
"Oh," he said dumbly, "So... you mean... that's why..."
Lazarus silently nodded as he recognized the understanding in Carlo' eyes. Carlo hung his head low.
"I'm so sorry. I thought that... well, I thought you favored Os more, because he was more powerful than me... because he has two active powers while I have none."
"You know," said Lazarus putting his arm around Carlo' shoulders, "You will always be my brother Carlo and your powers will come in time. As for Os... even though I know it would be a long shot... I want him to be... a part of us."
The younger guy nodded empathically. Lazarus Easter was a wonderful person and Carlo knew that for all the help he got from the older guy. He became Carlo's rock, giving strength not just to him but to all the members of Devas every time they needed it. They were all indebted to him and even society's stigma couldn't cloud Lazarus's heart.
"I'm sorry Lazarus. I guess I was pretty immature huh?" Carlo asked, "And I guess... I should apologize to Os too?"
"You think?" asked Lazarus sarcastically, "Let's go down stairs because my pizza is getting cold."
After the misunderstandings about Roland's Revelation Letter, the Devas coven and Osiris were in harmony once more. It was rather a cheesy sight to see tough-guy Carlo giving a muttered apology to Os, who accepted it rather quickly just so he and Carlo could salvage their remaining pride as Lazarus, Alicia and Brigit chuckled in the back ground.
"I think you're letting this guy off the hook too easily Os," commented Bree, pointing her slice of pepperoni pizza to Carlo. "If someone called me `Lucifer,' I would have levitated his butt to Mt. Everest."
Everyone laughed, even Carlo, who defensively said, "I'm sorry. It just came out in the heat of the argument."
But Osiris's mind wasn't totally clear even though he and Carlo were back to being friends and Lazarus had become much friendlier to him. The letter still bothered him and the fact that Roland might be right about the reason why he was getting hunted really troubled him. Ultimately, Lazarus noticed Osiris's concerned look and said, "Don't worry Os. Every family has its up's and down's."
Bree snorted. "Lazarus, that's the understatement of the year! We need to figure out a way to stop the Hand and the Mordigans from hunting Os's gorgeous booty."
Os turned scarlet while Alicia, Carlo and Lazarus gave Bree a disgusted look.
"What?" she asked in faked innocence.
Yet Lazarus considered what Bree said. She was right. If indeed Os was the descendant that Gerald Rouman, meant to be used as an instrument of his revenge, the two powerful covens would not stop until they get Os; the Hand to use him and the Mordigan to stop him from getting used.
"What are our options?" Lazarus asked. Alicia looked as though she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Well... I have a suggestion," she muttered. Everyone looked at her expectantly.
"What is it?" Carlo asked mildly. Alicia inhaled then looked at Os.
"We can relinquish Os's powers," she finished.
"No," said Bree immediately, "We can't do that." She stared at Lazarus who appeared to be considering the idea.
"Lazarus, that simply is not an option, and even if it was it would be his choice!"
Carlo sighed then said, "It makes sense Bree. The Hand wants Os for his power to destroy the Mordigans... the Mordigans are threatened by that same power. If we take Os's magic, there will be no more reason for the Hand or the Mordigans to come after him."
Bree shook her head indignantly. "We can't do that. Osiris's powers are a part of him; if we take that away it's just like cutting off one of his legs. And we haven't seen this great power that they are so afraid of. How can we be sure that it even exists? What if Os isn't the descendant meant in the curse?"
"Bree, it's not the question of Os being able to destroy anything. What matters now is that they think Os has the power. Even if Os doesn't have it, they won't stop hunting him until they get him and make sure for themselves," said Carlo earnestly. "The stupid principle of `to see is to believe.'"
"And it can save his life," argued Alicia, "Isn't it more important to live as a mortal than die as a witch?"
"Say that again when you have an active power to give up. Osiris wouldn't have been given these powers if he wasn't destined to have them. And also, we can't be certain that the Hand and the Mordigans won't stop hunting him after his powers are relinquished," said Bree looking to Lazarus for support.
"I think it's not our decision to make," said Lazarus looking beside him, making Bree give him a glare. Os stared back to everyone for a moment.
"I think it's a good idea," he said while averting Bree's eyes. "Even if they catch me without my powers, what can they do to me then? I'll be of no use to them."
"Yes and they will kill you," said Bree grimly. "They will kill you and then discard you."
"We don't know that," said Alicia looking terrified now.
Bree rounded on her. "That's what the Hand do, Alicia. They kill people that are worthless to them. That's why the Mordigans try to stop them - because the Hand wants to cleanse the world of weakness and dependence." Then Bree turned to Os in earnest, "And the only way to survive is to fight them and you can't fight them, Os, without your powers."
Silence filled the living room as everyone took in what Bree just said. Os thought she had a point but so did Alicia. There were so many points that it seemed pointless to choose. He often wondered if free will really existed or was it just an illusion because for all he could see, a decision in this world still depended on the decisions of other people.
Os looked at Bree. He felt sick, as though something he ate didn't agree with what he was about to say, but he suppressed it.
"I need to take the chance Bree. I didn't choose being a witch. Unlike you I was dragged into this. I want to be free," Os said, then turned to Lazarus, "Tell me how can I relinquish my powers?"
Brigit turned away shaking her head.
The room was lit by at least five dozen candles and the circle of twelve purple amethyst crystals glimmered in the fire light. Five people stood within the circle, four were holding hands enclosing the fifth at the center.
"Are you sure about this Os?" asked Lazarus who was wearing a black shiny robe contrast to everyone's white. "After this, there will be no turning back. Your powers will be gone forever."
Os nodded. "I'm sure," he said giving Bree a smile.
It had been a challenge to persuade Brigit to agree to perform the ritual but she gave in when Os told her that it was his choice, as she herself had pointed out. Lazarus closed his eyes and everyone followed. Tightly holding Bree's and Carlo's hands, the High-priest invoked the Watchtowers.
"Elementals come to us. Heed the call of your daughters and sons. For power and guidance, we invoke thee. Lend us your magic, so mote it be."
Powerful winds blew around them but no candle flame died out. The air felt humid and thick as though it was about to rain within the very room. Lazarus continued the incantation with authority in every syllable he pronounced:
"Return the magic, return the power,
To the Goddess's highest tower.
Osiris no longer needs his gift,
We banish his magic away to drift.
In this night we set him free,
And give him life of liberty."
Alicia, Carlo and Bree started chanting too, their voices dancing in different tones. It was frightening and beautiful at the same time, as the variety of voices recited the spell over and over again. Osiris stood in the middle of Devas, the wind powerful around them. He could feel the magic... and it was slowly leaving his body. It felt as though a weight from his shoulders lifted, giving him a sense of comfort. But he also felt sorrow as though a life-long friend was about to leave.
Os opened his eyes and saw white orbs of light all around his body, covering him and giving him a radiance that he often associated only to angels. He watched the Devas chanting, eyes closed in concentration. The orbs slowly floated above his head, away from his body and he felt light as a feather. It was like nirvana and Os smiled as he looked up but after a moment, he knew something was wrong.
All of the sudden, the orbs revolved rapidly and gave off blinding light and fizzing sounds like electric voltage. Os howled in pain as the orbs descended back to his body so rapidly and disappeared into his skin. It felt like he was melting or like a hundred knives stabbing his body, as the power forced its way back to him.
Lazarus and the others stopped chanting abruptly and their eyes snapped open looking down at Os, horrified. Os' knees buckled, his head bowed in pain as he continued to scream in agony. His organs were burning, his blood was boiling. Blue-white flashes of electricity ran through his body, then blasted the walls of the room like lightning, burning the drapes on the windows and shattering the panes.
Lazarus released Bree's and Carlo's hands and tried to touch Osiris but he got stopped by an unseen force. His body became heavy, making him unable to move; Osiris's head snapped up to look at him. Lazarus saw Osiris's eyes turned to a black void of nothingness. The voice that came out of his mouth was nothing of his own; his face was livid, frightening... inhuman.
"How dare you try and relinquish my power! You filthy, mediocre witch!"
A bolt of lightning from Osiris's hands hit Lazarus squarely on the chest, lifting him up and crashing him into the opposite wall. Lazarus's body blasted through the wood and went flying into the library where he lay unconscious. Osiris continued to rain lightning everywhere blasting the walls and the ceiling. Bree raised her hands to use her power to stop a bolt of electricity from hitting Carlo but failed and it hit its mark. Carlo screamed in pain, then dropped unconscious after the power struck him.
Then Os gave a final howl and the whole room exploded as he expelled a thunderous wave of energy that shook the very foundation of the house. Bree and Alicia got buried as the roof caved in and the walls burst out. Osiris stood momentarily in the middle of the wreckage until he fell head-first to the floor, unconscious.
The dozen Heralds outside the Easter household were stunned by the explosion on the third floor of the dwelling. The force of the explosion was not the thing that shocked them but the magic behind it. It was incredibly powerful... and dark.
Ryu Hsu and Penelope Nite, who were in command of the group, stared as forks of lightning bolts shot out of the top of the house illuminating the dark evening sky.
"What do you think they're doing?" asked Penelope, unable to take her eyes of the scene. Wherever the power was coming from, it was much more powerful than all of the dozen Heralds combined.
Ryu had never felt so much power. "I don't know. Maybe a spell."
"By dark magic?"
"I don't know."
Ryu turned to the Herald behind him. "Michael, report this to the Mansion."
Michael gave a nod of affirmation and hurried off into the woods. After a moment, a flare of orange light flashed from where Michael had gone as he entered his Position of Power.
Penelope continued to watch as the room exploded for one last time, the ceiling appearing to cave in as the walls that supported it flew into the nearby field like a sheets of paper.
"Should we do something?" she asked her co-leader. Ryu shook his head.
"We can't get in the house and we are ordered only for surveillance. Let's wait for Michael's return." Herald Michael Hermes entered the Mordigan Mansion and he noticed immediately that there was something big happening as Oracles came hurrying in from every direction. He hurried to the River Corridor and went to the High-priestess's quarters.
"Enter," said Verdandi gently. Michael turned the knob and opened the door.
"Herald Michael Hermes has been asked to deliver a message from Herald Ryu Hsu to the High-priestess," he said in a stiff voice, but obviously nervous. It was a rare privilege to enter the High-priestess quarters.
"What is it?" Verdandi said urgently.
"Magic of dark nature is being performed in the Easter household. It has destroyed a room on the third floor of the dwelling ma'am due to lightning bolts."
Verdandi covered her mouth with her left hand. After a moment, she looked back to the Herald and said, "Go back Michael and tell Ryu to heighten security. I will dispatch more Heralds to that area immediately. Never let the Hand of Atonement lay a finger to that house."
Michael gave a bow and exited the room. Verdandi looked back to her black jet scrying stone and watched as the Easter household came into view. The door opened again and Elder Urd Bridge entered, looking rather worried.
"It is beginning," she said to the High-priestess who continued scrying. "Verdandi, do you really think we should act more aggressively?"
"We have already lost his trust. The failed effort to capture him a week ago nearly killed five of our Heralds. I don't know what he is capable of but we can't take any chances," said Verdandi, sounding more like she was talking to herself. "His magic might get to his head too, just like his ancestor. We can't take that chance. We must do what we can and stop him before he destroys us all."
"So what do you propose?" Verdandi took her eyes off the stone. "He can't join us. And I certainly don't want the Hand to use him. We must stop him and take him out if the possibility comes up."
Urd paced back and forth, restless. "We shouldn't have let him escape in the first place. We shouldn't have tried to incarcerate him."
"It was necessary Urd. Caleb told me Osiris was researching his history and if he found out who he really was, he might just have fulfilled Gerald's curse. We needed to stop him and Delphi's vision can't be taken lightly. Osiris' escape hadn't been anticipated; no one had been able to open that door Urd, except for Clotho. Osiris is the threat that Henri had been waiting for... the Roumanic Curse, true or not, the Advocatus will do everything he can to force his beliefs into reality..." Verdandi rumbled, her voice getting agitated more and more.
"How do you think he unlocked it? A spell?"
"I don't know and that makes him much more dangerous," Verdandi said sounding bothered.
A smile formed on the Advocatus' face as he felt the surge of power. The other Six Sergeants felt it too by the look on their faces. It was rather strange that a great amount of magic had reached them as the Hand's headquarters were protected by enchantments and also it was in the middle of Queue city, away from Osiris Rites. But they were certain that it did come from Osiris, the only witch destined for such magic.
The Hand's leader looked at Lilith. "It is time to begin our move. He's power is awakening at last."
"Yes sir," Lilith replied then stood and exited from the office.
Everything had been dropped; Osiris was the Hand's sole priority now. After the door swung closed, Seth got to his feet and approached the Advocatus' desk.
"Is he really essential for our success?" he asked. "A boy, sir? I don't really see what's so special about him."
The powerful warlock gave Seth a kindly look. "You felt his power didn't you? He is special. His blood is special.
And you know me Seth, I don't want to take chances, it's a trait I got from my mother. I just need the assurance that he won't be used by the other side against us. If we can't have him, no one will."
The Advocatus stood, turned and looked at the city skyline through the glass window of his office, his black robes bellowing behind him. It was a moonless night, the moon of silence and learning. New moon.
"Osiris is destined for this... in a few more days, the Mordigan Witches will fall," he said, his reflection showing a deadly grin.
Anubis's head snapped upward looking to the roof; he even felt the ground shook. Osiris ordered him to watch over Randolph after casting a protection and sound proofing spell on the baby's room, making sure that the baby wouldn't interrupt the spell. But Anubis's familiar instinct told him something was definitely wrong. After making sure that the baby was asleep, the familiar hurried out of the room and went up to the stairs leading to the third floor.
Half the roof was gone and the walls looked as though they got stripped off the house. Anubis approached Lazarus's body and sniffed his ear, checking for any response. The High-priest moaned in pain.
"Lazarus. Lazarus! Can you hear me?" Anubis called out. He felt Lazarus fight unconsciousness and the dog saw his eyes slowly open. He had a split lip, his shirt was in shreds and it looked as though his hair was singed.
"What happened?" groaned Lazarus as he slowly sat up. He saw the wall between the library and the ritual room was totally destroyed.
"You tell me," said Anubis. "It looks like you went through that wall...I mean, hole." The dog went to the rubble of the ruined ritual room and he saw Os whose clothes were burned into shreds too.
Lazarus gingerly got to his feet and called out, "Brigit! Alicia! Carlo!"
Muffled shouting came from the other side of the room and Lazarus flicked a hand at the debris of wood and stone.
The heap exploded and revealed Bree coughing slightly because of the dust.
"You okay?" asked Lazarus relief washing over him. Bree glared.
"Of course I'm not okay!" she snapped. "What the hell happened?"
"Let's talk later when we're sure that everyone's okay," said Lazarus patiently, his self-healing powers already taking care of him. "Now help me look for Alicia and Carlo."
With the help of Anubis' keen nose, they found Alicia who nearly got crushed by one of the walls that collapsed but she luckily got inside a large hardwood cabinet escaping death. Carlo was unconscious when they found him buried under a pile of wood but fortunately, he was still breathing.
After healing Alicia and Bree, Lazarus exhaled his healing essence, holding it in his closed palms then lowering it to Carlo's body. Immediately, the misty white energy was absorbed by Carlo and all his wounds and bruises healed. Waking up, the young warlock glanced around, looking rather shocked and confused. Lazarus then turned to Osiris, healed all his wounds but he didn't wake up.
All of them went down stairs; Alicia hurried to her bedroom to check on Randolph while Lazarus and Carlo carried Os to his room. It was half past one in the morning but no one felt tired. All of them gathered around Osiris, staring at his sleeping form.
"Why didn't he wake when you healed him?" asked Carlo who was leaning by the window. Alicia was beside him, carrying Randolph who was also sleeping.
"His energy was drained. I can heal wounds but I can't bring back his energy. It's his body's job to recharge," said Lazarus sitting beside the bed. Bree was standing near the door with Anubis, both looking like worried sentinels.
"This is how he looked when I found him in the fields," said Anubis. "He was drained of power then too."
"Why did he attack us?" asked Alicia looking to Osiris's face. "I thought he wanted to relinquish his powers."
"Os did but someone or something else didn't," Bree said quietly. Carlo looked at her.
"You mean something possessed Os?"
Lazarus nodded. "He wasn't himself. It was dark and powerful."
"Do you think..." Alicia mumbled, "do you think it was Gerald Rouman?"
"That's a possibility but it could've been anything."
Bree walked towards Lazarus and gave him a serious look. "Os is powerful and we can't relinquish his powers now or that thing that possessed him will kill us. What do you think we should do?"
Lazarus stared to Bree for a minute then turned to Osiris. "I think it's time to see how powerful Os really is."
It took forty-eight hours for Osiris to regain his strength. Sleeping recharged his body but it gave him a sickly feeling upon waking up after two days; his legs felt like gelatin and his stomach screamed to be filled with something. Os nearly choked to death twice, after shoveling food too fast in his mouth at breakfast and Bree used her telekinesis to push down the food to his esophagus. Also, everyone assured Os that it wasn't a big deal when he apologized for nearly killing them.
"What else could you have done? You were possessed so naturally you would try to kill the people around you. Everyone goes through these phases. Its part of growing up," Carlo joked.
"Yeah, adolescence and possession is pretty much the same thing," said Lazarus. Everybody laughed.
Os speared a sausage by his fork. "I guess relinquishing my powers is no longer an option. It was rather creepy though, as that voice helped me so many times before. It helped me get out of the Mordigan Mansion."
Bree looked compassionate. "Don't worry Os. We thought that if you can't get rid of it maybe you should learn how to use it instead. Maybe if you can control your power, you won't need that voice in your head anymore."
So after he got fully recovered Bree and Lazarus tried to help him with his powers. As he used it once when he stopped Lazarus from torturing a Herald, Os knew that telekinesis came naturally for him which annoyed Bree a little. It took her a long time to master her power but all Os needed was to tell the object to move. After just a whole day of practice, Os can move anything with his mind.
"Don't be too cocky," said Bree, ducking out of the way as a floating flower pot soared when Os lost control. He was practicing his powers in the store a week after the failed relinquishing ritual.
"You might not be able to move things all the time. Some spells and enchantments can prohibit and even repel some powers and creatures like phantoms are impervious to psychic abilities. And will you please not make the merchandise hover?" Bree said, irritated.
Bree was not in the mood for magical playtime. Business was kind of slow and it was boring inside the cluttered organic store. Plus the roaring traffic outside, that the sheet of glass hadn't really been able to silence, gave her a throbbing migraine and it was intensifying as she failed to find the bottle of aspirin.
"Where the hell are the aspirin!?" Bree shouted in frustration that scared the potential costumers who were just about to enter the store but decided not to upon hearing Bree's voice. Os gave her an annoyed look.
"You shouldn't shout when there are customers Bree," Os said like talking to a three year old. "We don't want to advertise that I'm keeping an unregistered female gorilla in the store."
Bree sent a tray of plastic pots flying towards Os making him duck down to take cover. Straightening up, Os noticed Alicia walking towards the shop, holding Randolph close to her chest but one look to her face told Os something got to her too.
"Hey Alicia," greeted Os after Alicia and Randolph came in. Her face was a mixture of anger and embarrassment that Bree didn't ignore.
"What's the matter?" the older Devas asked.
"Oh it's nothing," Alicia said. "I just had a run in with Natasha Louise and Erina Smith."
Osiris knew that there was something behind the names as Bree's frustrated expression due to the migraine became much contorted as anger got to her system.
"Those bitches! What did they say? I'm going to turn those two into toads one of these days!" said Bree. Alicia managed to make a little smile.
"Why? Who are they?" asked Osiris. Randolph started fussing so Alicia busied herself with feeding him. It was Bree who explained the story.
"Natasha and Erina were Alicia's classmates in high school," said Bree as she continued to rummage for the medicines. "When Alicia's pregnancy got obvious, those two heifers spread the rumor that Alicia was a..." Bree hesitated then glanced to Alicia who was turning her back to them. Her ears looked red.
"...that Alicia was a girl that had sex with guys for money," Bree whispered to Osiris, "which was never true. The school administration kicked her out of the school because of it."
Osiris felt his inside squirm in anger. "That's plain unfair!"
"Tell me about it. If Alicia and Lazarus hadn't stopped me, I would have skinned those girls alive and burned that school to the ground," said Bree through greeted teeth.
"Its okay guys," said Alicia as she turned and saw Bree and Osiris looking furious. "I can handle them and it's not really a waste to get out of that school, seeing what kind of people run it."
Osiris picked up the bottles that Bree had thrown to him. He felt angered... it was plain unjust; Alicia was a victim and without letting her explain her side the school administration kicked her out so that their school's reputation wouldn't look bad...
The loud thumping and banging of the cabinet doors put Osiris off of his reverie as he stared at Bree who apparently still hadn't had success in finding the missing cure. Alicia obviously got pass her insecurity and got totally amused of Bree's activities.
"You're a witch. Why not just cast a spell and take your migraine out of your head?" asked Os as Bree continued to look more disheveled.
"Because I'm not really good in spellweaving," Bree answered curtly. "It was more of Lazarus's area of expertise."
"So let me remove your headache," said Os, waving his hands like a conductor. Bree glared at him for a second then blinked. Alicia stared at Bree's head. Randolph made an amused cackle.
"Um... Bree... your head kind of flashed," said Alicia while her son clapped his hands.
"Hey," Bree said sounding surprised, "How did you do that? My headache's gone!"
"It is? But I hadn't done anything yet... well except for thinking of taking away your migraine, then you glowed," said Osiris, looking worried that he might done something wrong to Bree.
Bree scoffed, putting the drawers back in place. She practically turned the store upside down in search of the aspirin. "Don't tell me you have another power!" she said disdainfully.
"What are you talking about?" asked Os.
"I gave thought to why you're such an expert in telekinesis and I reckon it's just an extension of a major power that you have. I remember you telling me about your escape from the Mansion?" said Bree while writing some things in the accounting books. Os nodded.
"Well, if that door did need a password to open but by just thinking you made it unlock... I just read about it last night... I think you have a power called projection."
"Projection?" asked Os, his voice full of excitement. "How does it work?"
Alicia looked at Bree and Osiris too, looking curious. Bree rolled her eyes and tried to appear busy with the calculator but of course, her talkative trait won out.
"Well, it's like the God-complex except its real. You think of something and it happens."
"Wow! That is so cool. You mean, anything that I think of will happen?"
"Yah, yah, yah," said Bree looking annoyed, "Congratulations, oh mighty one!"
Os gave Bree a gentle nudge on the shoulder. "Is that the real green eyed monster or is there something really bothering you?"
Bree sighed sounding tired. "It's nothing. I'm just worried."
"About?"
"The future, my destiny and all that crap," said Bree forlorn. "I mean, I'm twenty-one and I just realized that I haven't even planned something for the rest of my life. I can't be in this store forever."
"Don't worry about it," said Os. "At least I'm not alone huh?"
"You're different. For all we know your destined to destroy the world or something," she sulked, as though jealous of Os' apocalyptic tendency.
"Was that's supposed to lift my morale?" asked Os giving Bree a what-the-heck look while Alicia giggled in the background.
"What I mean is that, at least you have a purpose while me... I'm just one of the eight billion specks in the world," said Bree smilingly but sounding totally depressed. Os put his arm around her, an act that he learned to do nowadays.
"I would gladly trade places with you if you want to be the one responsible for death and destruction," joked Os then seriously added, "Come on Bree. I know you don't believe you're insignificant. Just think of what you're good at and build your dreams around that. Remember that you're important to us... to me."
Bree looked at him for a minute, checking his seriousness. Os didn't look away from Bree. They just looked at each other, their eyes barely a foot apart.
"Thanks," said Bree, awkwardly taking Os arm off her shoulder so that she could restock the aloe shampoos, "You know Os, you have come a long way. It seems you changed, became more mature. You're not possessed again, are you?"
After his possession, Os really did transform. The fact that he nearly killed Alicia, Carlo, Brigit and Lazarus, but that they still didn't treat him differently and seemed to understand his situation, made Os realize that he had more potential than the Hand or the Mordigans gave him credit for. He didn't need to settle on the stigma they put on him.
Giving Bree a goofy grin, Os said, "What do you think? I guess everyone changes. I just learned to accept and I realize that I can turn my darkest fears into my greatest strengths. And I guess you should too."
"Okay, I'll remember that."
It was as though the two forgot that they were not alone in the room as Alicia chose that moment to clear her throat. Os looked at her, blushing a little but Alicia looked pointedly to the door as a young man in a black business suit entered the store.
The man appeared to be in his early twenties, fair complexion, rosy cheeks and boyish looking; the guy walked to the counter, smiling directly to Os. Os suddenly had a weird feeling and glancing to Bree, he confirmed what his instinct dictated: this guy was a witch.
"Are you Osiris Rites?" asked the guy rather cheerfully, exposing gleaming white teeth as he smiled at Os. Bree turned towards the counter's direction, while Os stared at the man's eyes, trying to hear the man's thoughts.
"Well, why sir? How can I help you?" Os said quite pleasantly. The guy appeared not to be dangerous but it was odd that he completely ignored Brigit and Alicia.
The guy reached in his breast pocket and pulled out a calling card. "Osiris Rites, my employer would like to talk to you about a job offer. Call this number or just go to our office, anytime."
Os frowned as he reached for the card. "Why would your company want me?"
"My employer just told me to give this to you. Said you might have an innate ability that fits a profile for a position that needs to be filled. Well, that's really all that I was sent for. Good day to you Mr. Rites."
He turned around then went out to the busy road. Os didn't stop looking through the glass watching the man amongst the masses but it was like he vanished among the crowd. Bree and Alicia rushed to the counter and together with Os, they looked down at the calling card.
"Henri MacFacius, CEO. MacFacius Pharmaceuticals," Os read then frowned to Bree. "Is this for real?"
Bree shrugged to him. "I'm not sure but he was—"
"A witch, yeah I felt it too," finished Os. "I think we better check with Lazarus." With no further ado, they all hurriedly closed the shop and got into the SUV and raced back to the Easter estate.
(to be continued...)
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Good day to you all! Here's another chapter of my story. Hope you enjoyed it!
Thanks alot to those that emailed me and wasn't turned off because the story wasn't too centered to homosexuality though I promise there would be a great bang in the coming chapters. Can you guess what would happen next? Who would love who? Can a dogs and cats be together? hehehe you'll have to read on to find out.
Send those comments to darkdraiodoir666@hotmail.com I respond...HONEST!
Hope you are all good guys! Until the next chapter...
Fritz D. Ilagan