Shades

They returned to the living room. Danny picked up his present again as Gustav sat down.

“Thanks,” Danny said.

“The lighter is special,” Gustav said softly. “Keep it always. Do not lose it.”

“I won’t. What else is in here?”

“You have eyes. Look.”

Next was a small, black leather-bound book. The pages were blank.

“What’s this?” Danny asked. “A diary or something?”

He could hear Ronnie and Jeremy. If they found out he had a journal. They’d call him a fag. He didn’t tell Gustav, didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

“Diary?” Gustav roared with laughter, slapping his knees. “What are you, a Sissy-boy? Nyet, is not diary. Is Book of Shadows. Your Book of Shadows. There you write your spells. Magic that is just yours and no one else’s. No one else will be able to read it. They cannot destroy it. Is indestructible. When you die…”

He trailed off suddenly.

“What?” Danny asked. “What about when I die? What happens then?”

“Nothing,” Gustav said. He smiled, but his tone had changed. He seemed sad. “You are young. Live long time, yes?”

“Yeah,” Danny paused, studying him carefully. “But you said something once before, about—”

“I am old man,” Gustav interrupted. “Crazy commie bastard. Your words, yes? But true. I am old and I ramble. Say many things. Now, look in box. There is one more present.”

The third item was a new pocket knife.

“It is untouched,” Gustav said. “Open it carefully.”

Danny inspected the blade. It looked sharp. He ran his finger along the edge and blood welled up.

“So…” He sucked his finger. “What next?”

Gustav didn’t respond at first. He stared at Danny intensely.

“Next? Next, we begin the real lessons, yes? But tomorrow. Is late, now, and I am tired. Go home, come back tomorrow, and we begin.”

“Thanks again for the presents, Gustav. They’re really cool.”

“You are welcome, Danny.”

It surprised him, hearing Gustav refer to him by name. Usually, the old man referred to him as “boy”. Danny felt a surge of warmth for his mentor. Over the last few weeks, he’d come to think of him as a friend. He’d spent more and more time with Gustav and less with Chuck, Matt, Ronnie and Jeremy. He suddenly felt guilty about that, and wondered what his friends were doing now.

789

Bedrik stepped out of the shower. Steam rose from his body and fogged the mirror. Candles burned on the sink, their soothing fragrance filling the bathroom. He closed his eyes and sighed. He was calm, relaxed. Ready to meditate. He planned on seeking out whoever had discovered his brother’s body. It had to be someone with abilities like his. Not Gustav. He’d taken great care to mask his true nature from the old magus. Obviously, the Russian wasn’t aware of Bedrik’s plan. If he was, he’d have made a move by now. He hadn’t and that was a relief. It meant that Bedrik didn’t have to worry about attracting the attention of the Kwan. But if it wasn’t Gustav who’d discovered Martin, then that meant there was a third magus in Brackard’s Point. Danny? Impossible. The boy had latent talent. Anyone could see that. But reading Crowley after school did not make one an adept. However, Danny knew Gustav, and he’d obviously lied about their relationship earlier. Bedrik was sure of it. Could the old man be tutoring the boy? Was Danny his apprentice?

Bedrik’s eyes suddenly snapped open. He was instantly alert.

Someone was outside.

Someone had penetrated the circle around his home—a barrier invisible to the human eye. There was no sound. No flashing lights or blaring alarm; nothing to alert the trespasser that their presence had been detected. But Bedrik knew. He felt it immediately.

Moving quickly to the bedroom, Bedrik took off his towel and put on black running shorts and a t-shirt. Then he slid on his running shoes. As he dressed, he listened for intruders, but the house was silent. Bedrik slipped out the back door and moved through the yard. He peeked around the side of the house.

Matt Adams was crouched over the open hood of Bedrik’s car. He recognized the boy right away. Matt was one of Danny’s friends. He hadn’t grown up here with Danny, the way Jeremy, Chuck, and Ronnie had—but he’d been friends with them since moving to Brackard’s Point.

He’d been meditating, seeking an answer to the question of Danny. Now, here was one of Danny’s friends. The synchronicity was not lost on him.

Bedrik’s smile was cold.

Matt glanced towards the house and then the street, making sure he wasn’t observed. Then he turned his attention back to the engine. His hands were grimy.

Bedrik silently crept up behind him.

“Can I help you, Matthew?”

Shrieking, Matt jumped, smashing his head on the underside of the hood. Bedrik grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him away from the car. Matt was big for an eleven-year-old boy, but no match for the older man. He tried to break Bedrik’s grip, but the teacher squeezed harder. Matt’s other hand held a pair of wire cutters.

“Let go of me. I didn’t do nothing!”