Chapter Twelve: Caleb's Visit
"What?" shouted Bree, startled while Lazarus hurriedly maneuvered the car to get out of the parking lot. Osiris felt like he was about to get sick and suddenly, he vomited to the car floor. Lazarus looked at him worriedly then muttered a hurried spell to make the vomit vanish.
"Thanks," said Osiris weakly, leaning back to his seat. He can't believe how frightened he was. Lazarus avoided traffic and in no time, they were on the dirt road on their way to the estate.
"I can't believe it," Lazarus said. "We're in the Hand of Atonement's headquarters without even knowing it! How was that possible?"
"I didn't feel that they were witches," said Bree still watching Osiris. "If Henri MacFacius was the Advocatus Diaboli, how come we hadn't felt his magic?"
Osiris explained to them that the whole executive floor was Henri's Territory... his Position of Power. The two Devas, in spite of themselves, looked impressed and horrified at the same time.
"That made sense; he must have cancelled everyone's powers, even our senses, so that we won't know. Anything that you want will happen in your Territory... he must have been extremely powerful to make it that huge," said Lazarus.
"Wait... Territory isn't that suppose to be the pocket realms you can make by using tremendous amount of energy?" asked Bree. "I thought they were extremely hard to create?"
"Well, yes but to Henri's state, he even extended his Territory to the whole floor," said Osiris, looking as though something from the bottom of his gut wanted to come out again. "He's really powerful."
They fell silent for the rest of the trip as the thought of their survival sink in. An hour passed and when they arrived on the house, Alicia came out to greet them with a welcoming smile. She immediately got the vibe that something went wrong.
"What's wrong? Who died?" joked Alicia but Lazarus gave her a look. She gasped and asked more gravely, "Who died?"
"No one died Al," said Bree as she, Lazarus and Osiris walked towards the house. Alicia hurried behind them.
"Um... Os someone's here to see you," she said cautiously. Osiris looked back to her.
"Who?"
"Anubis said it was okay... he's in the living room."
Osiris hurried inside, Lazarus and Bree at his heels. He smiled in relief as Caleb looked back to him, grinning. Luna was sitting looking warily to Anubis on an armchair.
"All right Os?" asked Caleb, standing up then approached Osiris and they gave each other a short hug.
"Caleb, why're you here?" Osiris sat on the couch then stood again as he forgot to initiate introductions. "Oh, guys, this is Caleb Brine. Caleb, these are the Devas: Lazarus, Brigit, Alicia and Carlo. And this is Anubis, my familiar," said Osiris patting the dog by the head. Everyone sat down. Caleb smiled to Osiris then answered his question.
"Well, I just dropped by to see how you were doing. Luna said you were okay but I wanted to be sure," he then changed his tone, "Did you know that there are at least fifty Heralds outside?"
This shocked Osiris rounding to Lazarus but the High-priest just shrugged and looked untroubled as he said, "Yeah but they hadn't done anything yet probably they're just doing some surveillance. I thought they would attack us when we got to the interview but..."
"Well, to tell you the truth," Caleb continued the reason of his visit. "I came because I felt a huge amount of power three days ago from here and I just want to check on to you. I thought at first it was Henri or Verdandi because they were the only people I thought have that kind of power but looking back "
"Henri?" asked Osiris, grabbing Caleb by the arm. "Are you talking about Henri MacFacius? You know him?"
Caleb gave him a surprised look. "Of course I know. He's the Advocatus Diaboli of the Hand of Atonement. I thought it was his power that I felt... thought he attacked here himself... Why are you looking like that?"
Everyone in the room got their mouths hanging. Alicia and Carlo stared back to Osiris, then to Bree then to Lazarus.
"Don't tell me you just got interviewed by the leader of the Hand, Os?" asked Alicia. Bree and Lazarus exchanged looks.
"Wait, what? Henri " started Caleb but Osiris crossed him.
"Why didn't you tell me this?"
"I just told you "
"Yes! Just! Just after I got my butt inside his office nearly wetting myself in fear when I found out," said Osiris angrily. "Why hadn't you told me that the CEO of MacFacius Pharmaceuticals was also the leader of the Hand?"
"I didn't thought he will use his company to get to you," Caleb explained. "Even when I was a Herald, we didn't think he'll stoop as low as use the corporation. The Mordigans didn't touch the company because he's using it for helping people. We only stop the Hand "
"But the Hand and the Pharmaceuticals are one. The Hand kills the criminals and the pharmacy uses the body parts to make their miracle medicines..." said Osiris then shivered slightly by the thought.
"Eugh!" Bree and Alicia gave a sound of disgust. Carlo and Lazarus looked sick.
"You mean to say, the medicine made by MacFacius have human parts in them?" Carlo asked, revolted.
Caleb put his face to his hands. "We didn't know that. We thought the Hand just use the bodies for their rituals... we had no idea they mix them in medicines."
"So that's why their medicines were so extraordinarily effective and cheap," said Lazarus. "They're manufactured by magic."
Osiris inhaled, then related to them everything that happened in the CEO's office. Everyone listened in absolute silence, even Randolph, who was being carried by Carlo, stayed quiet too.
"So what Henri wants to say is that he's like a modern day Robin Hood, only more aggressive and prepared to kill if necessary," said Bree, unconvinced after Osiris's retelling.
"Yeah, that's how he sounded, but if you really think of it, MacFacius Pharmaceuticals does do a lot of humanitarian projects and stuff," said Alicia. "And their medicines do save lives."
"I'm interested on how these medicines get pass inspections?" Os looked at Caleb.
"I told you, the Hand got some people even inside the government."
It was surreal. The Hand's reach was so vast that Osiris now understood why the Mordigans were having a hard time stopping the thirteen year old organization. It was like an invisible invasion... no one knows that all of them were already being controlled by a coven of witches.
"Who is Henri MacFacius? Why is he doing all of these?" Osiris asked, his stare unwavering to Caleb. He wanted to know why such a man exist... what brought him to his ideologies... how a man can get so cruel.
"Well, Henri MacFacius was like me," said Caleb quietly. "He's an ex-Herald... a Mordigan Witch in the past."
Stunned silence met what Caleb said. Osiris's heart skipped a beat as he digested this information.
"He was a powerful witch, no one excelled in any form of magic than him. Many thought he will be the youngest member of the Congress of Elders but... he changed." Caleb paused a little giving room for any questions but it was as though the room froze. He inhaled and continued.
"With supreme magic he got the respect of many Mordigans in his time, even the Elders give a heeding ear to his opinions. But one thing that Henri and the Elders didn't see eye to eye was the fact of using magic to intervene in human affairs. Henri thought that the coven must use their magic to influence things like wars and plagues to prevent the sufferings of people but the Elders knew that it was unthinkable and even disastrous to the Grand Design to tamper in normal affairs using magic. It would be like putting the world into their hands and relinquishing free will. Mordigan law states that supernatural forces can only intervene to supernatural situations.
"At that time, a war broke off nearly tearing two countries into pieces. Henri's father was a mortal unlike his mother who was also a Mordigan witch. His father, Mario MacFacius, was a soldier, and got sent as part of the Peace-Making Convoy to promote cease-fire between the battling parties. In fear of his father's life, Henri tried to persuade the Elders to intervene but they didn't hear him. His father died in the war and he renounced his position as a Mordigan Herald. Henri hated his mother for not urging the Elders, blaming her for her husband's death. So now he wants to kill her mother... whose name is Verdandi Britestone."
Osiris raised his eyebrows. "Henri's mother is Verdandi Britestone. How come? She looks much younger than him."
Caleb only smiled. "That's what happens when you have immense magic, even time gets useless for you. Verdandi tried to make Henri come back but when it appeared that he can't be persuaded she ordered Trackers to watch him; I was one of those sent. Henri went freelance, using his powers to directly help others. He healed the sick using spells and potions."
"He didn't get exposed?" Lazarus asked incredulously.
"He made his patients sign a contract stating that they should never speak to anyone about his powers," said Caleb. "We think that it had an enchantment that if they break it, his healing will reverse and they will die together with the person they told. It was rather strange... because when I quit, my powers weakened but Henri didn't... if it was possible, he even got stronger."
"Then what happen?" asked Osiris.
"He noticed that it was hard to heal people and give help to them because they appear to be never ending. So Henri formed his own coven to help him, finding witches that share his views. The Hand of Atonement was born and he simultaneously founded the MacFacius Pharmaceuticals Corporation," said Caleb staring to everyone.
"But what did he hope to achieve? I don't think he will stop by just founding a multi-billion dollar company to do his philanthropic work," said Bree disbelieving. "He's got something more planned for us."
"He said he'll get rid of the world's suffering... whatever that means... after I help him stop the Mordigan Witches," Osiris stated, then saw Lazarus give Bree a grim look.
"What I'm curious is how powerful he could be? How can he create a Territory that big?" asked Bree. Everyone looked at Caleb, who stood and started pacing around the room.
"Well, there are techniques to make your Position of Power last," he explained. "If what you say is accurate, I think Henri interwoven his Territory to reality unlike the Mordigans who creates theirs in the astral plane, which was more draining and involves more magic and much harder to penetrate. If your Territory has real portions, you can maintain it for little magic and it will last longer but it will also be bound to physical laws."
Caleb continued pacing even after explaining, but he looked more agitated making everyone in the room stare at him. There was something that really bothered him; he gave Osiris a glance then paced again.
"What is it Caleb? You're making us nervous!" Osiris said making the man stop walking around.
"It's just that... he said he wanted your heart for a potion "
"The Essence of "
"Innocence, yes... That's a very advance healing potion, even thought to be dark magic because it can cheat death.... I'm just thinking, why he needed something as powerful as that?"
"Maybe he's sick," Carlo suggested. Bree gave him a disdainful look.
"Of course he's sick," she snapped, "That's what healing potions are for. What we're wondering here is how did he become so sick that he needs the Essence, to think that he's a powerful witch and a company that makes medicines."
"A curse maybe?" Alicia suggested, putting her hand to Carlo's shoulder when he was about to retaliate. "Or a magical experiment gone wrong?"
"Whatever it is I think it's the reason of this aggressiveness," Caleb said rather gravely. "That's why he's no longer worried of exposure... he's dying."
Osiris didn't comprehend immediately why Caleb's looking so worried. He noticed then that Lazarus's eyes grew as the Devas High-priest figured out what the ex-Herald meant. Still confused, Osiris asked, "So? I think that's going to be good news for the Mordigans."
Lazarus shook his head. "Os, don't you see it? Henri has a deadline. He'll do everything he can to get to you before his time is up."
Dinner that night was rather grim as everyone still worries about what Henri MacFacius and the rest of his coven might do to force Osiris to help. It was obvious that Osiris wasn't convinced into aiding the Hand and he doesn't have any more plans to go back to MacFacius Pharmaceuticals.
He couldn't imagine what pushed Henri MacFacius, how a good man, a man once full of faith to mankind become so antagonistic, cruel and ruthless even capable of stooping as low as the evils he wants to undo. Mind wandering, Osiris sat on the table together with the Devas and Caleb but unaware of their conversations as he felt as though the world was on his shoulders.
He felt an unexpressed anger and disappointment to the Mordigans, who assumed he was a threat to them just because Henri assumed he had the power to get into the Mansion. Unconsciously shaking his head, Osiris felt hate as he realized his life got out of his hands... they all thought he was the realization of a four hundred year old curse... stigmatized without doing anything and just because a few people assumed....
The dawn had always given hope to Osiris when he was still at his Aunt Celina's home that he even tries to wake up early just to watch it but the inability to discipline his body to wake often made him fail so he only gets to see it if he tries not to sleep at all. He stood by the veranda which overlooked the country side and Osiris witnessed the sun slowly ascend from the horizon but it didn't give him hope anymore.
Combinations of orange, red and yellow with speckles of pink painted in the canvass of bluish-black sky, with a dash of twinkling stars fading gradually... it was spectacular indeed, an art that only nature can give. Caleb walked from the dining room and stood beside Osiris, wordlessly handing him a cup of coffee as both men shared the scene though the older secretly gave the younger a worried glance every now and then. But the majestic sunrise lasted only for a few minutes and now Osiris was greeted by another day of uncertainty. He sipped the warm black liquid while Caleb stared at him fully.
"What do you plan now?" asked the older guy. Osiris just shook his head.
"I don't know. Do you know any way at all to stop Henri? I don't want to be a part of this mess," Osiris said gravely. "They just dragged me in it, dammit! I feel so scared all the time! Everyday looking by my shoulder, fearing that maybe this will be the day that they will finish me off... feeling guilty that I drag so many people in my mess... a burden that I didn't choose!"
Caleb opened his mouth but he was lost for words for he doesn't have an inkling what the young man in front of him was going through. Caleb didn't know what else to do, so he just watched Osiris stare blankly to the horizon. After a while, the younger man blinked and shook his head then turned to go back to his bedroom when he stopped abruptly as he spotted the DVD Henri MacFacius gave him.
A rapid rush of rage fell through him Osiris waved his hand and the case flew out to the veranda and using his psychokinesis, blasted the DVD into a hundred pieces, raining plastic to the lawn below. Caleb looked at the sparkling confetti of silver plastic then turned to congratulate Osiris for mastering his powers but found that he now stood alone; he stared to the empty dining room never feeling more powerless than ever.
"So Os still not awake?" Bree asked as she and Lazarus prepared lunch while Caleb and Carlo set the table. Alicia was entertaining Randolph with a nursery rhyme that made Anubis groan as Alicia was no nightingale.
"He didn't sleep last night," explained Caleb. "He was just standing at the veranda, looking at the sunrise this morning when I woke up."
"He kinds of does that a lot lately," Alicia said. "I notice him every time I warm up Randolph's bottle... he just stares out there."
Bree looked at Lazarus and saw that the High-priest appeared rather worried as he was stirring the mushroom soup so much that it threatened to solidify. Bree smiled inwardly.
"Go wake him," she told Lazarus, taking the ladle to save the appetizer. "Tell him your idea. Talk to him."
Lazarus knocked to Osiris's room then entered intending to wake him up after confirming the sounds of snores.
Approaching cautiously, Lazarus stood for a minute beside Osiris's bed staring to his sleeping face. The High-priest got reminded by how Osiris looked the first time Lazarus found him on the field a few weeks ago. His features hadn't changed much but Lazarus knew that the youth in front of him was not the same as the one he saved a month ago.
The High-priest bended and shook Osiris's shoulder to wake him up.
"Os? Os... wake up, it's lunch time," said Lazarus softly. Osiris stirred then suddenly jolted in surprise for seeing someone bowed over him.
"AARGH!" shouted Osiris not recognizing Lazarus.
The High-priest suddenly felt himself got pushed away by an undetectable force, then slammed to the wall beside the door with a bang. Realizing what he had done, Osiris rushed to Lazarus's side as the High-priest moaned a little as he slides to the floor, obviously in pain.
"God, I'm sorry Lazarus," Osiris apologized, checking Lazarus's body for anything broken, pressing his hand to the guy's back. Bree, Alicia, Carlo and Caleb hurriedly opened the door, staring at the two guys on the floor; Osiris glanced up looking guilty while Lazarus grimaced then said rather unconvincingly, "I'm okay...I'm...okay."
After a while Osiris helped Lazarus to his feet asking whether he broke any part of the older guy's body.
"I'm self-healing Os," reassured Lazarus then glanced back to the wall he hit. "You broke the wall though."
Sure enough, there was a sizable crack where Lazarus hit the wall. Everyone laughed after seeing this.
"I got surprised," said Osiris. "I was having a dream well a nightmare and I got startled... sorry."
Rubbing his back, Lazarus gave Osiris a smile. "It's okay. I'm sorry I startled you."
"Lunch is ready everyone," called Bree still chuckling. All of them walked to the table and went to their seats. Dishes were passed around and the atmosphere was rather pleasant as they enjoyed food prepared by Bree and Lazarus, who (according to Carlo) only cooks once in a blue moon.
Osiris was silent during the meal unlike everyone else who were conversing enthusiastically. Carlo was asking Caleb about the Mordigan qualifications and privileges for becoming a member, while Alicia and Bree discussed quietly new ideas of another shampoo line they want to make for the organic shop.
Seeing that they were the only quiet people on the table, Lazarus said, "I've been thinking Os and I believe I have a suggestion on how to make Henri stop coming after you." He said this very quietly, intending to let only Osiris hear but after speaking, it was obvious that Lazarus caught everyone's attention, as they stopped their conversations almost immediately.
Osiris stared at him breathlessly. "Really? How?"
"Well," Lazarus wiped his mouth. "There are certain ways to inhibit one's powers. Relinquishment, binding and stripping are some of the obvious ways... one though is by coven law. Covens can instate a rule, a guideline of how a member can use his powers. A penalty can be given if the member breaks a rule."
"How will this help me?" Osiris asked rather puzzled but Carlo and Alicia were smiling. It was Bree who explained.
"Lazarus always complicates things. What he's trying to say is that, you can join Devas so that we can protect you by coven law."
"We can write a rule that states that you cannot use your power for the sake of the Hand," said Lazarus frowning to Bree.
"With a penalty that your power will temporarily binds itself if you try to do so. Coven law is universal, self-implementing and shall prevail as long as you're a member of that coven. So even if Henri captures you, he can't force you to use your power to help him."
It was like the roof opened up, illuminating the dining room as Osiris's face broke to a genuine smile, one of his truest ever since he start living in the Easter estate. As though he just received a miracle, Osiris reached to Lazarus and embraced him tightly, making the High-priest jolt in surprise, looking a little bit embarrassed. Carlo, Alicia and Bree smiled.
"Thank you so much," Osiris sobbed to Lazarus's neck. Not knowing what to do, Lazarus gave him a few awkward pats on the back. When Osiris broke the hug, everyone saw his face was wet in tears. He hastily wiped his cheeks with his hands.
"Sorry... it's just..."
"No, it's alright. We understand," Bree said, her voice shaking slightly too. Every resumed eating with renewed enthusiasm as they listened to Lazarus explained to Osiris how the ritual worked.
"We can do it the day after tomorrow, this coming full moon," suggested Lazarus who was still little red. Osiris can't stop beaming at him.
"Cool! So before we plan the ritual let's cool off some steam," said Carlo genially. "I found this DVD by the stock beneath the TV this morning when I was trying to find the remote. I haven't watched it before but it might be cool." He showed everyone a silver cased disc. Osiris grabbed it looking befuddled. It was the DVD Henri gave him, the same one he just exploded this morning.
Every stared at him surprised with his reaction then Bree and Lazarus recognized it too.
"Wait, isn't that the DVD from Henri?" Bree asked carefully as she saw Osiris's grip tighten at it.
"Yeah and I blasted it by psychokinesis this morning," he mumbled then looked at Carlo. "Where did you found this?"
"At the cabinet beneath the TV where we keep movies," said Carlo.
"You didn't repair it?" Osiris demanded hotly.
"Why would I do that?" defended Carlo.
Caleb tried to calm Osiris down. "It might be enchanted Os. Henri might have made sure that it won't be destroyed until it's watched... so even if we teleport it to Timbuktu it will return here until we see what's in it."
"But there might be a hypnotic spell or something on it," Alicia expressed warningly.
After a few moments, Osiris got back his self-control and thought for a second. Giving everyone a valiant look, he said, surprising everyone, "I don't think so. Henri said it might just help me decide. He said it's one of the reasons that opened his eyes." Debating to himself, Os decided, "Let's watch it."
So everybody helped clear out the table and then went to the living room below. Carlo turned on the TV and DVD player, put the disc in and said, "Here we go," as he pushed the PLAY button. The screen flickered to life and everyone sat on the couch and armchairs dreading what they would see it in.
To be continued...
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Thank you to everyone who emailed me! Sorry if it's kind of late... I procrastinated a bit. I hope you are enjoying the story. Please send your comments, criticisms and flirtations to: darkdraiodoir666@hotmail.com
Until next time,
Fritz D. Ilagan