Chapter 11

Leila Hagridar scrambled from the floor where she had been lying with passion untold. Her breath was almost still and her hair was disheveled unlike her.

Hearing the rude sounds of knocking on her main gate, she went against the judgment of her rectangular mirror and run to check who the Knocker may be. By the time she arrived at the gate, her wits could tell the gate had become suddenly weary under the aegis of the harsh knocks. She uncontrollably heaved a dull weak sigh. Now pulling the door open, it shrieked in a kind of mortal agony reminding Leila of an urgent replacement.

            Expectedly it wasn’t any hideous beast or monster Leila had early on anticipated. But rather, it was Kartemis, the father of the unborn child lying face down in Leila’s tender womb.

“Wow, what do you want? Get out!”                                                    

Leila commanded and cast the door shut. Spinning around Kartemis was right behind her.

“You know you can’t just keep me out,”

Kartemis said.                                                

“We broke up. Therefore, I choose to let in anyone I so wish; you not part of them dunderhead!”

“Hold on, this is the first time you come to my house through the gate. You have always come by magic; I mean appearing in the bedroom. What happened?”

She asked, sensing a rift in the lute. There was something Kartemis needed and that happened to be in the possession of Leila. To have access to it, he had to put up a plan to get Leila out of the house. Smartly, as he distracted Leila and drew her attention from what ever happened inside the house, He had another fellow critically searching for the item unbeknown to her. That implied the more time he and Leila spent quarrelling on the outside, the more time the other man gets to search for the wanted item.

“You said it yourself, we are no longer engaged so why should I come in the way I came when we were? Or are you seeing another man already?”

“Idiot, how dare you ask me that? It’s like you forgotten I’m pregnant with your son whom Drakeizar wants to kill,”

She said.

“It is you that doesn’t know some pregnant women still feel feel the urge for sex. They go round for men just for satisfaction. Or don’t tell me you don’t have the urge,”

“You are disgusting!”

“Did you say Drakeizar plans to kill my son; but why?”

“Your son, He isn’t your son anymore. I cheated on you before we broke up and this boy is the product of my infidelity. Got it?”

“I know that is a lie. Anytime you lie you look at your feet. You just did that.”

“Whatever,”

She snapped at him.

Kartemis moved around from time to time watching his wrist watch. Apparently timing for his escape with the item he was after. Up till now the man he had assigned to do the job hadn’t signaled any positively. Otherwise he would have felt it within, with the use of magic of course. Something must have happened upstairs at Leila’s bedroom for which reason the man was not being fruitful.

***

“You would have to leave the building, now!”

Delaney Hunows said to the man carrying out Kartemis’ assignment. He was on a wardrobe putting things out as if they belonged to him when Delaney appeared to fight on Leila’s behalf.

“Just who do you think you are to stop me from finding the goblet, sir?”

The man said and gave off a short laughter.

“You really want to know? I am Delaney Hunows, Leila’s friend. So you see; you’ve got time to leave the building.”

“You are actually protecting a damned fugitive who has a goblet owned by Paige Granger. You know her, don’t you?”

“I do, but Leila is my chap hence; not without going through me, you can’t just come in here to have what belongs to her. I know perfectly well that Leila would not steal from Paige which means she lied to you.”

Delaney said succinctly.

“If I had wanted you go through you, you would have been dead by now. Dude, get out of my way before you get hurt.”

The man threatened.

“Looks like someone has guts,”

Delaney said.

            As Delaney spoke, there was a rumbling before him where the man had been. A dense red vapor condensed into a medium sized, shadowy form vaguely woman-like in shape, but with scaly hide and long claws and teeth. It seemed determined to do great harm. Delaney got a bit lost in confusion but gracefully regained his thoughts right after. The creature stood blinking at the very spot where the man had been before deciding to transform into a beastly creature. Delaney cast a counter spell to outdo the beast.

“Avacorp- herlei…Shoma”

Delaney’s left eye turned white and from it emanated a white flame which formed a circle round the creature. The beast choicelessly began to lope across the circle, mawing mouth and claws dripping deep red flame against Delaney. Its strong power pushed Delaney backwards but providence was gracious, he managed not to stumble.

“Dorno Mo Gleiinii”

Delaney cast again. With the assistance of a decisive gesture he made at the creature, a strange hand appeared and stabbed its finger into the heart of the creature a few yards away from Delaney.

            Just at that moment, the sun burst out from behind the gladdened clouds and streamed straightforwardly through the darkly stained-glass window of Leila’s bedroom window, casting a very brilliant, multicolored pattern on the floor Delaney pointed. The ground inhaled it completely and just at that time, exploded supernaturally. The beast fell to the forsaken ground and started to writhe and exude red steamers of flames and dirty smoke. Delaney sighed and took a quick glance through the window.

            Kartemis and Leila were still talking while inwardly, Kartemis was feeling confused as to why his man had still not fetched the goblet. For only a second Delaney wondered why Kartemis would blindly give in to the fake promises Paige Granger might have made to him.

“Don’t you look at me that way, you are so horrible. You looked into my eyes that day and told me you cannot be with me any longer because you effing hate me. That’s what you said that night Kartemis, you hate me…”

Delaney heard Leila say to Kartemis.

“You remember when goddess Vol Hox first gave you the Spell book, I requested you to allow me a chance to study and practice a few spells but you bluntly refused me. Your husband by then; how can I possibly expect to trust you at all?”

Kartemis replied, figuring out a way to get the hell outta there without having Leila raise a single brow at his goddamned actions.

“Oh is that so? I explained to you severally that I had a few limitations to access the spell book at that point in time. Didn’t I? Tell me,”

“What limitations are those let me know, I might have forgotten?”

Kartemis uttered.

“Not another word from me, because it will be just pointless,”

She said and looked away.

            Delaney looked back at the creature on the ground. He stretched his right hand at it it gestured forward. The beast moved optionlessly to that direction and hit against the hard solid rock. It shrieked immortally in a great agony; but seemed incapacitated to step out of the apparent pain it endured. Delaney checked the window again and the two people still talked back at each other. The creature somehow managed to gain its feet. It spun a web and cast it at Delaney; unfortunately, he was not fast enough to escape its muscular grip. He now happened to be his prey.

            The beast realized the battle was its, therefore it decided to transform back into its initial form. By this time Delaney was quite weak in the thick web in which he was held bondage. The man proceeded to have the goblet but did not find it. He roared when he came to the realization that the goblet which he had seen in the wardrobe before Delaney’s interruption, was lost.

“I am smarter than you think I am.”

Delaney managed to murmur.

“You…”

The man whispered.

“Never mind,” Delaney said and waved a hand which he had struggled to free. The web lost its power over him and got extinguished immediately. He walked to the young man and touched his chest with a spell he silently cast. It was the spell created by a great wizard from the wizarding world of Jergeg. He was called The Hoch. That spell, if cast, obliterates one’s magical powers and leaves you with nothing at all; just that you would have to touch the chest of the wanted to make the spell take great effect. Delaney had been smart enough to execute the spell effectively, definitely leaving the young fool with no magic to live on.

“What did you do to me?”

He screamed. Kartemis felt the danger within but could not take a quick action since he had Delaney and Leila on some kind of Guard. The man fell to the floor.

“Now you do as I say otherwise I kill you just now.” Delaney instructed.

“That goblet is Paige’s. I won’t let you have it. No! Never…”

The man said.

“In fact, I will not kill you but I would rather use you to get Paige down. Should I reveal a little secret to you? Let me just tell you this for now, just so you know how stupid you are.”

Delaney said and feigned a smile.

“Paige is taking advantage of you to get revenge. I’m sure she made you promises of exposing you to higher levels of wizardry if you helped her attain her dream? Even Kartemis is being fooled by her. Trust me; you don’t want to do this. Whether she wins at the end or not, you would be dead.”

Delaney said and took out the goblet from his pocket.

“To get the goblet was the first thing I did when I got here.”

He said simply.

“I don’t believe you bitch, you only want to instigate Paige Granger against me.”

“And just what will I gain from wasting my time on you? I am telling you this not because I care about you but because I love my friends; Leila and Kartemis. About two weeks ago, Paige was in my house requesting me to help her destroy Kartemis and Leila. Here lies the case where Kartemis is busy putting out all his efforts in helping Paige destroy Leila’s life. What does that imply dude? Gullibility, sheer gullibility…”

Delaney explained. The man sat silent on the floor as if it were a place of comfort. He breathed hard and sighed, obviously in a dilemma as to which truth to believe. Delaney placed the goblet in the wardrobe where Leila had kept it and put things right with magic; since the man had scattered her things in a desperate search of the object.

“Hey man, how sure are you and why should I believe?”

The man demanded dolefully.

“You are such and dunderhead! You really think I’m begging you to believe me or what. It’s your choice to believe me right now. Paige cannot love anyone. The only person she truly cares about is her son, Caulin. Do you know him?”

Delaney asked.

“I have met him twice. The last time I met him, he told me something I found a bit confusing.”

“And what was that?”

“He said, his mom can sometimes be the way to hell.”

“That’s funny; anyway, it looks like he is right after all. You are on your way to hell as long as you work for Paige.”

“I believe you now man, I have no choice. So you will not kill me then?”

“I won’t as long as you remain in your place. You will start to work for me to save the life of Kartemis and Leila from Paige Granger. I am sure you know the story behind the disappearance of the Azkamort spell book; it was Paige that stole it from Leila and now it is the goblet she needs to access the spell book. So you see; Paige is a devil…a real devil.”

Delaney heaved.

“But when I spoke to Caulin day he seemed friendly and so welcoming. He is a type of boy that gets on well with anyone he happens to be in need of. He is obviously in contrast with his mom.”

Walain briefed.

“Oh that boy, he has not even the slightest I idea what his mom is made up of. You know one strange thing? Caulin is not originally a white. He is a black from white parents.”

“Why do you say that?”

“His skin color is light and bright but that is just a genetic occurrence. Caulin is black boy; anyway he is nice but gets mad when something gets on his nerves. Until he gets what he wants, you see him in a mood that speaks volumes.”

Delaney revealed.

“What does that mean? Could it be that his father is a black man?”

“You don’t get what I am saying do you? His mom and dad are whites but he is a black. I know you are new to Deruthe that should be why you find it difficult to fathom things of this world.”

“Well, thanks for saving my life. I owe you one.”

The man said and smiled.

Delaney thought for a while and figured out just how to get Kartemis out of the building.

“I need to get your boss, Kartemis, outta here. What is your name anyway?”

“Call me … Ehm, Vibe. You can also call me Walain of course, it’s also allowed.”

The man said and exposed his two front teeth.

“Ha-ha, funny; just tell me what you real name is. I can’t see why you had to hesitate in telling your name. Are hiding something?”

“No, far from that; I am Don Walain. Most people call me Vibe or Walain so you choose which of them you prefer.”

“Alright Walain, as I said I am Delaney Hunows. I specialize in combat skills and the making of potions. Chemistry is my thing; if you will work for me then you would have to be sound in my area of specialization so that we can row properly. Is that fine by you?”

“Aha, I need to master my potions and transformation skills. So I agree.”

“Yes, transformation skills are known as Transarts in our wizarding world. I guess you are from Jergeg?”

“No, Carthore. But now that you’ve taken my powers won’t I be useless?”

“I will take care of that. I will not restore exactly what I took from you but will give you a portion of mine such that you can never do anything of your own. You will unconsciously do as I say without giving it much thought. That will be for the best trust me.”

“How will that be Mr. Hunows?”

Walain asked.

“Kartemis will surely try to persuade you again when he finds out you are on my side and Leila’s. From today, any word you speak will be of me. Got it…”

Delaney squatted by Walain and landed a hand on his shoulder. By virtue of a spell they disappeared to his house leaving no traces of their presence in Leila’s bedroom. By this time Leila was fed up with the trash Kartemis fed her with, she asked him out and made to her bed room lastly expecting any possible invasion from Kartemis. He left thinking his mission was accomplished.

In Delaney’s house, Walain was exposed to a few secrets of the wizarding world he was now about to operate in and how to survive the wrath of Paige Granger since he had turned against her.

            Delaney accessed his chamber and came back with a goblet looking exactly like the real one the Azkamort spell book requires for perfect operation. Walain sighed wondering what the first assignment would be, if he had to fake his loyalty before Paige Granger.

“You are going to give this to Paige and Kartemis. I have made a few enquiries already and they will not try to use the goblet until tomorrow. That will give us time to prepare for the fight since they will try to find you and me, upon the realization that they’ve been duped.”

“Why is it necessary to go there in the first place, what do we gain?”

That was Walain.

“You are not just going there. You are going to find out from which source Paige gains her powers. If it’s Drakeizar, then we have a real big problem.”

“I will be risking my life Mr. Hunows, I can’t do that.”

Walain protested, his eyes growing wide wide fear.

Delaney looked away from Walain and poured himself some wine. Walain took advantage of that to breathe hard; he had been feeling nervous actually. For a while he recalled the oath he had taken with Paige for a lifetime loyalty. The penalty was death if any breach became evident. He was really scared now, especially with the task Delaney was assigning.

As Delaney turned his pale grey eyes directly onto Walain, Walain suddenly felt he was the subject of intense scrutiny – and more than just visual inspection. Honestly Walain nearly stopped breathing. He was just not sure he was the right person to lie before Paige Granger. The Paige he knew was wild and and paranoid such that she never takes the least suspicion for granted. He felt he would be caught so easily and that will place his dear life at risk for sure.

            Again he was not sure of what Delaney would gain from that compelling gaze he employed. But he felt no particular urge to ask him to stop looking at him the way he did. He was not so afraid, but he just couldn’t trust his instincts and pull on a little more confidence. Curiosity embraced the better of him, and when Delaney did not speak, he decided to be bolder.

“Are – you trying to read my mind or what? You are making me feel awkward.”

He whispered.

Delaney smiled and blinked twice, but did not break his steady gaze.

“No I’m not reading your mind, do you wish I do that?”

Walain managed to to ensure and audible swallow and tried fleetingly to look away, just whether to see he could, he found himself slightly shaking his head.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

Delaney asked softly.

“You are not afraid are you?”

She said.

“No, I’m not.”

Walain spoke.

“Good, very good because fear is the last thing we need right now. Should you allow your fear and insecurity to get in the way, death will not be an option for the two of us.”

With that, Delaney looked away; terminating the visual contact, and expectedly Walain could breathe again.

            Walain was not afraid though, he was only being respectful – as would have being any clever man whose life was in the hands of another man for one reason or the other. Walain least anticipated he would have anything to do with Delaney’s magic. Perhaps, Walain was naïve, but Delaney seemed to be a man of honor. Since the time he started to work for Paige and Kartemis it was Paige’s kind of magic he had been using before Delaney destroyed it completely. Now he was faced with the twin task of adjusting to a new wizarding world, and a new kind of magic with which to pull on a façade of loyalty before Paige Granger.

“Did you read my mind before?”

Walain found himself asking bashfully, recoiling a little as Delaney turned to look at him again.

“When was that?”

Delaney cocked his head in question.

“In Mrs. Leila’s bedroom,”

“Ah.”

Delaney smiled fleetingly.

“Not really, I just felt what you might have been feeling then. That’s why I did not kill you because all you were doing to help Kartemis was out of fear not out of your free will. I did not read your mind to know that. I only sensed it.”

“How did you do that?”

“Never mind, from this second you will live in this house with me. I will see you tonight and you shall have to send the goblet to Paige Granger for the drama to unfold.”

Delaney said and climbed up the stairs to his bed room.

“Oh, your bedroom is here.” Delaney said silently, casting a spell and having Walain appear in the room right next to his.

He sighed heavily, melting the tension that had accumulated over the last three hours.