Awakening

by Clyde Andrews

Table of Contents
Part 2 appears
in this issue.

conclusion

“It’s very simple. James has a good friend. I believe you’ve met him.” L.J.P. stepped slightly to the side to reveal Will. “You see this boy was concerned, and quite frankly I don’t blame him. The best-laid plans are often the easiest to foil. This fine young man came to me and told me about you and how you had invited James here unexpectedly. And knowing about you, my dear, and knowing about James — well, I think you can guess the rest,” L.J.P. smiled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Mrs. Walters was now suddenly bright red with anger. She glared intently at Will. “You are too late, white magician. And as for the brat boy cowering like a dog behind you, I will deal with him later.”

“I see that you have not even bothered to protect your house with a magic square. My, my, confident, weren’t we? Silly, silly mistakes, my dear. Typical of you dark magicians. All huff and puff but no nuts and bolts knowledge. I’ll just let myself in then, shall I?” L.J.P. barged past her. “Will, you stay out here. This could get rather ugly.”

Mrs. Walters was not an overly powerful witch; she relied mainly on her looks to achieve her goals. Which was probably why her coven had given her and her daughter the job of recruiting James: young men are so very easily convinced that beauty is everything. L.J.P. saw in the dining room that James was taking the bait. His teenage hormones were almost controlling him now.

“I see you have been busy, my dear,” L.J.P. said rubbing his chin in thought.

“I told you, you were too late, white magician. We have already succeeded in converting James,” Mrs. Walters said with her confidence returning. She turned to see her daughter’s progress. She smiled, her daughter was doing well: James was shirtless and locked in a passionate embrace.

James’s mind swam and he was now sweating like a race horse. His brain was forced into producing more and more hormones. It was almost too good to be true. He dismissed that little thought and concentrated on Mandy.

Mandy, however, had complete control over him now, her spell working perfectly.

L.J.P. sensed this. “Damn, why must magicians reach magolescence right on puberty? It just makes my job so much harder. Teenagers!” he sighed, “they’re all just bundles of raging hormones.”

“You see, white magician, you have failed,” crowed Mrs. Walters, “And I, along with our coven, will now have an advantage in this area. I would be rather concerned if I were you.” She smiled as she stepped up to L.J.P. with evil intent.

“Don’t think that this is over for one minute, witch! I am L.J.P., and I never give up,” He approached the magic circle drawn on the wooden floor around the dining room table. He instantly noticed that the witch had drawn a locking formula on it. “Mmm,” he said under his breath. This witch may be weak, but she was certainly not stupid.

“I have thought of everything. You have lost, admit it!”

“I admit nothing,” just then L.J.P. reached over and touched Mrs. Walters; who was following him a little too close for comfort. The talisman that hung from his neck projected a magical force field and flung the unprotected witch across the room in a spray of blue sparks. She landed awkwardly, the coffee table breaking her fall and being smashed to a pile of kindling wood in the process. She cursed under her breath.

“No need to swear, there are minors present,” L.J.P. smiled, standing defiantly.

“WHY YOU... AHH!” Mrs. Walters screamed. “This is not over!” She then ran to the kitchen. L.J.P. shrugged and proceeded to follow her. Wherever she wanted to be destroyed was her business. Who was he to argue with that?

* * *

James gently pushed Mandy to the table. She groaned in acceptance. It was now or never, James thought. But standing up suddenly cleared his mind. He remembered Mrs. Walters saying something about the dark side, whatever that meant. He then thought about Mandy again. He smiled, not able to believe his luck. What had he done to deserve this? It was just too good to be true. The returning thought ignited a spark in his mind: What was he doing? This was certainly too good to be true.

“Mandy,” James whispered

“What’s the matter, James?” she smiled up at him. “Don’t I please you?”

“Why are you suddenly so interested... in me?” He could now see everything again instead of just Mandy. He noticed that the dining room table was surrounded by a chalk drawn circle with mathematical formulae all along it. And he suddenly felt a chill. He was scared.

“Come on, James...” Mandy repeated. But this time, however, she sounded unsure, her voice seemed shaky.

“Of course I want you... But this just doesn’t seem... right.”

Mandy then began to fumble with his jeans button, attempting to undo it. Her hands shaking so much James could not help but notice.

“Mandy stop!” James insisted, holding her hands.

“James I have to... I... I... have no choice.”

“What? Mandy, listen. Stop, will you,” James said, now touching her gently on the chin, making her look at him directly. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, James... nothing,” but even she was obviously unconvinced, herself.

James frowned: “Mandy, are you all right?”

* * *

L.J.P. just chuckled, rubbing his goatee as he waited for Mrs. Walters to pick herself up from the kitchen floor. He had scribbled a formula or two onto the tiles, making the floor wet and super slippery by bursting a water pipe that ran underneath them. “I’m not such a good cook, dear lady, but I sure know how to control the plumbing.”

“I’ll show you some magic, old man,” she spat, her hair wet and plastered about her face. “How about some dessert. I have plenty.” With that she scribbled a formula onto the bench top with a stick of chalk she’d grabbed from the top drawer.

Within seconds everything on the bench — the ice-cream, the fruit, and all the crockery and cutlery — was hurled by a magical force at tremendous speed towards L.J.P. He only had a second to react, and unfortunately for him, the fruit bowl found its target on his cheek and tumbled him to the floor.

“How did you like that?” the witch screamed, cackling with laughter.

“Very tasty,” L.J.P. said, smarting from a fruit salad to the face. He staggered back to his feet as quickly as he could. “But, he said, wiping his face with his hand and licking a finger, I feel you are not quite the cook you claim to be. I think it needs a little je ne sais quoi, perhaps some sauce.”

L.J.P. scribbled frantically on a counter top. A cupboard flew open and the jars within spouted their contents, splattering Mrs. Walters with spices.

* * *

James did not say another word, he just waited patiently for Mandy to explain what was going on. He could see the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. This whole situation was certainly not natural.

“I have to, James, I have to seduce you... Otherwise, otherwise, my life will not be worth living.” As she said it she clung to him and began to sob. James could think of nothing else to do but pat her on the back gently.

“It’ll be all right,” he said helplessly, completely unsure of himself.

“No it won’t. My mother will have no choice but to punish me and maybe even kill you if I don’t succeed in seducing you to our side... She has a terrible temper, James.”

“Why?”

“We’re part of a coven. A coven that will not be kind when they find out we’ve failed to recruit you. Just have me, James, join us... I won’t stop you.”

“Are you serious? I have never heard of such a thing. How can you live like this? Why, why would anyone join such a group?” James said, not so worried now by what he was going to do, but far more concerned for Mandy.

“You don’t understand. They’re powerful,” Mandy said, beginning to cry again. They have ways to make sure we obey. Terrible ways.”

“I’ll protect you,” James said proudly.

“You’re only just discovering that you’re a magician. They have my mother and me in a terrible situation. And I don’t know how we’re going to get out of it.”

Just then they heard crashes from the kitchen.

“What was that?” James said, turning to see what all the commotion was about.

“My mother is showing a white magician her power. He came in while I was trying... You know. Anyway, whether he wins or loses the coven will be here later to finish it all off one way or another. The only way I can escape is for you to have me.”

“I won’t. There has to be a better way.”

“There isn’t. Please, James, please,” Mandy said, tears streaming down her face as she looked into his eyes once more.

“Help me, Mandy. Help me save you and your mother.”

“How?”

“By helping the white magician.”

* * *

Mandy suddenly understood what James wanted. Letting him go, she erased the formula on the floor and freed them from their magical jail. James put his shirt back on. He smiled at Mandy and took her gently by the hand.

“Are you ready?” he said.

She nodded at him, wiping her nose and smiling back. Together they went to the kitchen.

James immediately recognised the white magician. “Doctor! How did you find me here?”

“Hello there, Mr. Fletcher,” said L.J.P., who was brandishing a fry pan. Mrs. Walters had adorned oven mitts and was ready to catch any unfriendly fire from the white magician. “It was not hard to find you. Your friend Will was quite helpful in directing me. I just wanted to see how you were coping with magolescence. I see you’ve lost your ears. No wonder you couldn’t hear me when I came in.” L.J.P. was panting with exhaustion, but he was determined to finish off the witch once and for all.

“Have you done your job, Mandy?” Mrs. Walters snarled with a look in her eye that sent shivers down James’s back.

“No,” Mandy replied flatly but taking a step back from the kitchen doorway.

“What? How can you betray me like that? Are you a worthless cow? Don’t you understand the consequences?!

“I do, mother.”

“Then get back to work. James, delight in my daughter and become one of us — or face the consequences.”

James smiled. He felt so much better now that the Doctor was here. “She’s coming with me, Mrs. Walters. She doesn’t want to be a part of the coven any more. I think the way they’ve been treating you has a lot to do with it.”

“Why you ungrateful... Stay here with me!”

“I am not doing this any more, Mum. Please, just listen and come with us.”

L.J.P. smiled at James. He could see this boy would make a welcome and worthy member of the white side. “I think it’s time we left. James, Mandy, come with me. Mrs. Walters. I suggest you choose a side, and quickly. Your daughter has already made up her mind.”

He stopped scribbling on the fry pan, letting it fall to the floor with a loud clatter.

* * *

L.J.P. closed the front door and then turned to James. “Are you all right, dear chap?”

Will went straight to James and Mandy, obviously relieved they were all right. From what he could see through the window... well, he was sure glad things turned out as they had.

“Um, Yeah, sure, I think. A little shaky, but other than that I’m fine.” James smiled. “How are you, Mandy?”

“I’m... I’m worried about my Mum... Doctor, can’t you do anything for her?”

L.J.P. was about to answer when the door creaked open. Mrs. Walters was standing there, battered and exhausted. “Promise me this, white magician: promise me that you can protect us all from them.”

L.J.P. smiled, “With all four of us working together, I don’t see a problem with that.”

Mandy ran to her Mum and hugged her.

“Isn’t it great when a good meal just comes together so well?” L.J.P. chuckled.“Now just one more thing.” He produced a new piece of chalk from his jacket and began drawing a circle around the doorknob. On that circle he added algorithms and polynomial fractions.

“Wow, there’s actually a use for algebra and calculus. I will certainly have to pay more attention in Mr. Tan’s class now. I mean, I like maths, and now it looks like it’s just gotten even better,” James said as he studied L.J.P.’s work.

“Precisely, dear fellow. The coven has failed big time, hey. By the time they figure out how to get into the house we’ll be long gone, I can assure you.”

Mrs. Walters approached L.J.P., still holding onto her daughter. “Thank you, L.J.P., thank you.”

“Now, tomorrow I have much to show you all, that is except for you, Will. Unfortunately you are not a magician, although you have shown such promise with your actions that I have no doubt you’ll turn out to be a fantastic human being.”

“Thanks... I think,” Will laughed.

“So where was I? Oh, yes, you’ve had a very, very exciting day today, James. Ahh, there you go, you’ve changed again. looks like the fun never stops,” L.J.P. said as he noticed James’s ears return and all of his hair disappear, including his eyebrows.

“What?” James felt his head. “Oh, well. Easy come, easy go,” he sighed and smiled regretfully at Mandy.

L.J.P. laughed. “It’ll come back soon.”

“What a birthday you’ve had, James darling,” Mrs. Walters added, “one that I think you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

“I sure will.” James laughed with L.J.P. as the four of them climbed into the doctor’s car — a rusting, beaten-up old Toyota Corolla.

“Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., don’t forget,” L.J.P. said. “I will show you about the good side of magic. The side that does not use, abuse or punish its practitioners. Mrs. Walters and Mandy, I want you to come, too. But for now, let’s just go somewhere quiet and relax.” He tried to start the engine. After a couple of attempts it clanked, coughed and fired up.

“I’m looking forward to it, Doctor,” Mandy said, holding James’s hand.

“Just call me, L.J.P.”

“L.J.P.? What sort of a name is that?” James asked.

“I will explain it all tomorrow.”