Spellcaster series #5: The Sage

Tale of Three Sisters

TRISTAN

Ada wriggled restlessly in my lap as I read the pages of the Book of Djinns. Manuk was something I had heard of as a young Sage but never learned more about. It was the only type of djinn that could attach itself to a human's aura.

The morning was quiet. Heidi left a note to visit Vicky in the Underworld. I freed Ada from my arms and she sat herself on the carpet in front of the television. My mother joined me on the sofa. I felt a set of questions coming.

"Tristan," she began, turning her torso to me, "next week is a special week."

I did not put down my book. "Indeed. Ada is turning four years old."

Satisfied, she leaned back. I lowered my book.

"Is that all?"

Her green eyes bore on me. "Not quite. But I suppose you are busy."

I waited. She seemed uncharacteristically nervous.

"I know about Heidi's execution."

I closed the book. "Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Wynona and Jessie gave up the fight somehow. They were hopeless and no one was on their side. Vicky refused to partake in anything related to the Worldly realm. Heidi had killed the matron of the orphanage with a conscious mind. There was no way out. So when Sam appeared as a witness for the execution, your father openly questioned his intentions. This upset the president and they arrested him."

"Father was arrested?" I asked, aghast.

My mother held in her tears. "For a night before I bailed him out. He was distraught that his son had disappeared and Heidi was dead. There was no one else fighting for her besides the two Sages."

I took her hand. "Did he do anything to threaten Sam after he was bailed out?"

"He never stopped. They threatened to evict us from our home and take away his right to cast spells."

"Father was a strong man, like Grandpa William. They would do anything to protect their family. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect the both of you."

Her lips parted and quivered slightly. Before I could assure her further, my cell phone rang. It was Heidi.

"Hello?"

"Meet me at the Lucky Orphans."

She hung up.

I turned to my mother who eyed me questioningly. I excused myself and got ready to meet with Heidi. Over the phone, her voice was low and grim. I put on my black coat and pocketed my wand before teleporting myself to the front door of the orphanage. Dr. Pierce opened it when I knocked.

"Sir Tristan?" His eyes were filled with surprise. "Good heavens, it has been a long time!"

I grinned and nodded. I patted his shoulder. "Good to see you too, old friend."

I entered the orphanage where Heidi stood with her arms folded, leaning on one leg. She flicked her hair away from her eyes, like she did whenever she was getting impatient. Something was wrong.

"Is everything all right?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

She nodded wordlessly to the drawing room where two young orphans were playing together—a baby and a child. The child looked awfully pale.

"That's Kiera. She is six months old," the Senator pointed to the baby, "and the older one is Anna who is eight. They're sisters whose mother suffered from postpartum depression after having Kiera."