Shades

“The mind is breakable,” Gustav continued. “Very fragile. You almost killed your mother tonight, but I think I fix the problems.”

“I just wanted…I wanted to make her better.”

“Magic is like gun. It is tool to use, but is more than that. This is why you go to school, yes? To help you understand better what you do, so you don’t hurt people. Magic is dangerous, because it can’t be taken away.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have a gun, and I can hide it from you. Take it away and lock it up. You have magic; I have to trust you to know how to use it wisely. Yes? And what you did here and at the liquor store—that is not wise.”

Danny flinched. “How did you know?”

“Is on the news. I take care of your mother. Then wait for you. I get bored and turn on the TV. Liquor store explodes and three people inside are found in the water half a mile away. None of them know how they get there. But I know. And so do you.”

“I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I just…”

Gustav put an arm around Danny’s shoulders and squeezed.

“So, now you know, yes? You don’t play with minds. You don’t play with people. Because sometimes you can’t fix what you’ve done.”

“But we can fix Mom, right?”

“Your mother sleeps now. She needs rest. Tomorrow, you call work for her and tell them she’s sick. Maybe after that, she’ll be better.”

“Maybe?” That single word had never seemed so dire.

“Da, maybe. We won’t know until she wakes up, but I think I do good work. I am a specialist. What I did to her will help.”

“What did you do to her?”

“That is not important. What you did to her, Danny, was not good. That is important part and you have learned a lesson from it. But she’ll be okay, I think.”

They sat without speaking for a while. The only sound was the television, where the local late-night programming had been pre-empted by coverage of the liquor store explosion. There was nothing left but the foundation.

“I can’t believe I did that.” Danny stared at the screen.

Gustav rose, crossed the living room, and turned the television off. Then he turned on the lamp and sat back down. “Magic requires control. You fell against a wall and wound up here, along with your bike, because you were lucky. You burned a building and no one died, because you were smart. You made them go away. But you could have killed them anyway. You got lucky twice. But maybe not next time. Remember that. Magic has teeth.”

“So, are you mad at me?”

Gustav shook his head. “Nyet. Not mad. Disappointed. You should have talked to me first.”

Disappointed instead of angry. That didn’t make Danny feel any better.

Gustav patted the couch cushion. “Is more comfortable than my bed at home. I will stay here tonight.”

“What? Why?”

“You made a mess today. Someone will notice.”

“You mean like the police?”

“No.” Gustav walked to the window and pulled back the curtain. “There is another like us in this town. Your teacher. Michael Bedrik.”

“Mr. Bedrik? He’s like us?”

Gustav nodded.

“How long have you known?”

“Since the day I met you. When we saw his brother’s body.”

“Is he good or bad?”

Gustav shrugged. “There is no good or bad. Magic is what it is, power and knowledge. Sometimes is used for good, sometimes is used for bad. This time, I think he is using it as bad. Very bad.”

“Why?”

“Because, I’ve heard the dead screaming. That is never a good thing. There are lights in the graveyard at night where no lights should be.”

“So what do we do? I can’t go to school if he’s there.”

“Yes,” Gustav insisted. “You go to school, is important that you do. We must appear normal. And you must talk to him if he speaks to you. You must make him think you are not afraid. How you say—keeping up appearances? He knows about me. He does not know about you.”

“Actually,” Danny whispered, “he might.”

“Actually? Speak clearly, boy. What has happened?”

“Damn it,” Danny said. “I should have known. I forgot to tell you.”

“What do you mean? You suspected this?”

“No.” Danny explained the conversation he’d had with Bedrik in the school library, how the teacher had been familiar with Crowley and had recommended other works. His expression darkened as he admitted to Gustav that Bedrik had asked about him as well, and his connection to Danny.

“He said something weird, too. That Gustav wasn’t your real name. I was gonna tell you, but when I got to your house, you gave me the presents and I forgot all about it. I’m really sorry.”

Gustav let the curtains fall back into place. “Is okay, Danny. You are young. You get presents, you get excited. Is natural, no? Besides, it wouldn’t have mattered. He knows my name and that gives him power. But he does not know everything.”

“Like what?”

Gustav’s voice was flat and emotionless. “He does not know what I am capable of. I am willing to make sacrifices.”

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