Spellcaster series #4: The Virtuoso

Precaution

TRISTAN

There was a saying that my mother always mentioned when I was boy, "Better be safe than sorry." I never liked it because I thought there was such a thing as 'too safe'. But as I matured, I found myself adhering to that principle, especially as a Sage.

"Come in," I said when I heard a knock on my office door.

Johnny entered, sporting a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Unlike many of us, he always wore a pair of sneakers. He constantly showed respect to all the Sages even though he and I are the same age. I always perceived him as a frat boy; except that he was the kind that got along with everyone and anyone—even the outcasts. His sudden tight friendship with Heidi, I admit, at times made me watch him a little too closely.

"Sir," he handed me his file before sitting in the chair in front of my desk, "we've met with Mr Lee and we'll be heading over to his shop tonight."

"How is Heidi doing?" I asked, not looking up from the file.

Johnny was always uneasy around me when there was no one else around. Heidi once told me that my stoicism was often mistaken for pride and arrogance when she felt that I had none. Either way, I did not allow myself to comfort him.

"She's doing great so far," he replied and cleared his throat.

I skimmed through the report. "Does she know about our arrangement?"

"No, sir. Is she supposed to?"

I closed the file. "Not at all, Johnny. You're doing a good job."

"Sir?"

I looked up. His grey eyes bore on me and occasionally flickered to the window behind me. The man was bigger than me in stature but looked at me like I was going to send him into oblivion.

Johnny added, "With all due respect, sir, Heidi seems like a special case. I'm not sure why I have to report to you when no other Scout Guides have to."

I leaned back into my chair. "You're right, Johnny, Heidi is a special case."

I eyed him from head to toe. He squirmed in his seat and bit his lips. He dropped his gaze like he had more on his mind but held his tongue.

"You want to know why," I guessed. I confessed—there was pleasure in witnessing his anxiety.

A slight hesitation. His lips parted and closed as he checked himself. "No need, sir. I'll do as instructed."

"I can tell you, Johnny, but this must not leave this room."

He nodded and I began, leaning forward.

"Heidi is different from most Spellcasters. All three Sages have been keeping an eye on her very closely."

"Is she a threat, sir?" He asked, voice low and concerned.

I shook my head. "No, no. But she has shown potential strength in her spellcasting. That's why it only took her three months to become a Scout. She's also very experienced in combat fighting and other matters concerning the dark entities."

"I heard she was raised by Vampires, sir. Is that true?"

"One elite Vampire, to be specific; the right-hand woman of Lord Voltaire. She taught Heidi all she knows. Heidi can handle elite dark Vampires and high-rank djinns with both hands tied and still win. The Academy could use the talent she possesses."

Johnny sat in wordless awe while I explained.

"That is why," I continued, "I need you to privately report to me on anything. Heidi has a habit of keeping things to herself. It's simply a precaution; better safe than sorry. You may be dismissed now."

He nodded and headed straight out the door as I watched it close behind him. I leaned back and sighed. I shut my eyes.

~

Vicky locked the door of the meeting room and joined us at the table. She took a seat beside me as Wynona stood up. She laid a stack of printed photographs that were enlarged onto the center of the table.

"One of our Scouts shot these at the hospital near where he was stationed. He saw the suspect leave the building at approximately nine this morning in broad daylight," Wynona said.

I reached out for one of the photographs—a blurry image except for the focused subject; a man with a hat and a scarf tucked into a brown coat jacket. He wore a pair of black-rimmed spectacles, looking downwards. There were several shots of different angles and only one caught his side profile.

"Notice anything?" Wynona asked as the rest of us perused the photos.

"His ugly scarf?" Vicky snorted. Then she squinted. "He looks young."

"According to our Scout, he suspects that this man could be Dean Ryans."

I lifted my gaze onto Wynona. "Their profiles do match but I don't think it's detailed enough to be certain."

"Our source also says that he is attending Lady Bernadette's charity town auction tonight. I think it's best if we see this man for ourselves."

"I agree," Jessie chimed in, "we don't want to take any chances."

Vicky was still examining the photos when she spoke, "If this really is Dean Ryans or someone like him, he would have many dark Vampires and djinns shapeshifting into humans accompanying him as well."

"What do you suggest?" Jessie asked.

She put the photograph down and bore her red eyes onto him. "You'll need to blend in and dress differently than you usually do, according to the occasion. Lose the coats."

"She's right," Wynona agreed and slipped back into her chair. "My husband will be going to this auction and I'll be with him. You two will join us. Wear hats, if possible, to cover yourselves as much as you can."

"What time is the auction?" I asked, glancing at my watch.

"Eight-thirty at the baroness's villa," Wynona answered. "Vicky will wait for us in the nearby cafe if anything goes south. We'll need external back-up."

My cell phone rang. It was Johnny.

"So what will we do at the auction?" I asked, rejecting the call.

"Take note of the Vampires that attend," Vicky said.

Wynona added, "And as for the djinns in disguise, they don't blink much and some don't talk."

I nodded. Johnny called again.

"Excuse me." I moved away from the table and answered the call, "This better be an emergency, Johnny."

"Sir, it's Heidi."