Spellcaster series #1: The Neophyte

The Lucky Orphan

HEIDI

I was finally alone after a full week.

I awoke in the middle of the night, perturbed by the recurring nightmares. My head spun; a side effect of the painkiller. Or maybe the poison had secretly made its way to my brain. Nurse Hilda only checked up on me in the mornings, between nine and ten o'clock. Tristan, however, had been taking the time to give me 'surprise visits'.

There was a tinge of guilt in me that I had to deceive him.

I tossed aside the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed. The headache made my head heavy and my neck stiff. His voice still rang in my ear.

We can talk about your visions.

I pushed myself off the bed and the room tilted. I steadied myself onto the bedpost. I shut my eyes and breathed. No amount of healing spells could get rid of the migraine and dizziness.

I remembered my nightmare. It was the same thing—hung by the limbs with Vampires underneath me. But the last one was a little different. As I hung hopelessly, a man appeared. The Vampires were gone at this point, vanished somehow, and he spoke in that same voice from Nurse Hilda's office. He had bright-red hair, green eyes and very pale skin. He looked human—more human than human—and his voice thick with concern.

I could not speak. He moved closer and freed me. There was an aura of caution but wanting. A push and a pull.

"Follow me when you are ready. You know where to find me," he spoke before fading away. I woke up right after.

When the room stopped tilting, I garnered enough strength to grab my things and soon I was out the door. I borrowed Wynona's grey beanie and put on my lucky leather jacket. Lucky because it was my father's that my grandmother had kept all these years. I put on my combat boots, grabbed my wand and I was out the door.

I had not learned to summon a portal just yet so I needed to get to the one at the Gardens in front of the HQ. It would be tricky since it would be in plain sight so I planned to sneak in and out, making sure that I would be unseen. Easy-peasy, right?

I lowered the beanie and lifted the collar of my jacket. I lifted my boots as much as I could and landed on my heels. That way, it would make less noise. My heart raced as I made my way out of the HQ and towards the portal.

The stars above were gazing down. If anyone asked, I would tell them that I needed to feed my cat. If Tristan asked...

...well, I actually missed my cat.

Success, I thought, as I got close to the portal. Without looking back, I stepped into it and I was finally back in the Worldly Realm. A cold breeze rushed past me. The portal brought me to the park near my apartment where I had the encounter with the djinn that poisoned me. Immediately, I was on high alert.

I made my way out of the park and onto the streets. People walked about, families and friends making their way home from restaurants and movie theatres. I glanced at my watch; half past nine. I zipped up my jacket and kept my head down, in case Vicky sensed where I was.

Tucked away towards the outskirts of the town centre, I finally reached the old Lucky Orphans orphanage. I had to flag a cab to get there. When I stepped out of the vehicle, the familiar sight greeted me in its quietness and deserted state—the orphanage had relocated to the city but the building remained. It still looked the way it did when I lived there; a tacky-coloured cement-building with its name still displayed on a wooden signboard.

The door was unlocked. I entered the building, keeping my eyes peeled for any sign of anyone. Nothing. Maybe I was too early or maybe—

"I have not seen you in so long," a voice materialised from my left where the staircase was.