Cloverfield Magic

Chapter 20 - Enemy

Rowen doesn't come to school again. This time, Issac knows why. When he asks his homeroom teacher if she's heard anything about when Rowen might come back, she tells him that Rowen's parents withdrew him from school for medical reasons and that he would be homeschooled from now.

"How's Rowen?" Issac asks Alice desperately when she returns to the Witches' Brew.

Alice grimaces and shakes her head. "He's being stupid. He won't let me heal him."

"I'm not the only one who thinks all of this is insane right?" Issac questions.

Alice nods in agreement. "That's why I've been saying we should just kidnap Rowen and kill his enemies! It's worked for me before!"

"I don't want to kill anyone, Alice!"

"I'm gone for a couple of weeks, and suddenly you brats are thinking about homicide?" a hoarse voice calls out from the top of the staircase.

"Circe!" Issac exclaims. "You're finally back!"

"Sorry blondie, I was busy -"

"Rowen's in trouble!"

Circe's lazy body language sharpens instantly. She takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly. "Explain."

Issac recounts everything that had happened over the past few days, and Circe's expression slowly darkens. During the entire interaction, Alice makes herself small off to the side, still uncertain of where she stands with the other woman. Suddenly, her nose catches a hint of a familiar scent. It couldn't be...

"Well, that sure sounds like quite the predicament," Hemlock commentates from the shadows. Everyone in the room turns to the man's sudden appearance in surprise.

Alice's eyes widen in horror as the familiar scent of poisoned blood fills her throat. She starts to feel her breath come out in short gasps as starts to choke.

"Maybe there is some way that I can be of assistance," the monster calling himself Hemlock offers the group. "Circe knows that I like to play both sides of the field. I decided to check up on my favorite little Coven when I heard from the Bureau that one of their specialists was called in for a missing spellcaster in Cloverfield."

"What are you thinking of doing, Hemlock?" Circe asks.

"Let's take a look at the cards we hold first. Between the four of us, we have Circe's dimension magic, my shadowwalking, and I believe you've mentioned Alice's shapeshifting."

"Did I?' Circe asks, slightly confused. She really doesn't recall discussing Alice with the other spellcaster.

"You did," Hemlock confirms assuredly. "The only missing piece is your gift, Issac. Have you made any progress yet?"

Ashamed, Issac shakes his head.

"Well, considering the circumstances, perhaps we should consider some more advanced methods to help Issac awaken his gift," Hemlock suggests.

Alice feels her heart race. This wasn't good. Hemlock must have been using the magic he coerced from her over the years to disguise himself, but he couldn't hide from her nose. For some reason, Circe and Issac couldn't see that the charming man before them was a conniving, silver tongued monster. If Hemlock knew what Issac was capable of... who knew what he would do.

Perceptive as always, Hemlock seems to sense Alice's panic and places a hand on her shoulder, thumb discreetly brushing over the pulse point on her neck. "What are you so worried about, Alice? Could it be that you're keeping secrets from the rest of us?"

Alice tries to remain calm, but her racing heart betrays her fear.

"Come on, little rabbit. Why don't you share with the class?" Hemlock pressures sweetly, thumb digging painfully into her neck.

"Time," Alice chokes out, and Hemlock releases his grip. Alice wonders if her neck will bruise or if the mark would be covered by her collar.

"What do you mean Alice?" Issac asks, concerned.

"I realized a little while ago... that when you pulled me through the hat, your own gift must have mixed in with Circe's botched spell. Not only did you pull me through space... you also pulled me through time. I was born as a lab rabbit in the now-demolished Starlight Cosmetics factory over fifty years ago." Alice knew she made a horrible mistake when she saw the face of the monster sitting across from her fill with joy.

"Time magic, never in my life have I ever heard of such a thing!" Hemlock celebrates with wide-eyed wonder.

"If you knew, then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Issac asks Alice. Looking at her friend, she could see a hint of betrayal on his face. With nothing to say in her defense, Alice just hangs her head in defeat. Circe is just as excited if not more excited than Hemlock.

"Issac, that's amazing!" Circe congratulates. "I had hoped that your gift would come with time and practice, but this changes things! If you consent, there are other methods we can try to get your gift sooner," Circe suggests eagerly. "Once you master your gift, Hemlock and I can help you reach back in time and fix everything."

For Rowen, Issac is willing to try just about anything. "Alright. Tell me what I need to do."

Eventually the group decides to conduct the awakening ritual at Hemlock's home in the Shattered Cliffs, but before they leave, Issac Persuades his parents to let him "sleepover" at a friend's for an indefinite amount of time. Hemlock uses a charm to transform into a giant wolf and carry the group through the shadows to his home. Alice had stubbornly refused Issac's hand when he offered to help her get on Hemlock and instead chose to run after the other three in her own canine form with the help of a touch of Lupa's magic.

"Are you related to the shadowwalkers?" Issac asks curiously, to which Hemlock laughs, "Why yes. Lupa is my daughter." Issac stops his line of questioning there. He didn't want to know.

When they emerged from the shadows, Issac felt the temperature plummet and he started shaking despite his thick winter coat. Hemlock's home was a similarly modest cottage in the shadow of a towering cliff's edge. Fresh snowfall covered every uncovered surface on the mountain, and icy water crashed against the rocks below. Issac breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped through the cottage door. A gentle fire warmed the air inside the hut, and it was no longer painful to breathe.

Hemlock pushes a section of the wall back, revealing an extensive tunnel system into the heart of the mountain. Thermal pipes carrying hot water throughout the mountain heat up the cold stone, and enchanted lanterns illuminated the countless staircases that circled the atrium, the central hall itself lit up by whisps of golden light floating in the air.

"I hope you don't think of me as excessive. I don't have the same gift as Circe to create space out of nothing, so I've had to expand my libraries and collections in a more physical way over the years," Hemlock comments embarrassedly. "At least now I never run out of spare rooms for guests."

A large polar bear lumbers towards the group, and Hemlock quickly rushes to introduce them. "This is Ursa, one of my familiars. She'll look after you during your stay here, so please don't go anywhere without her. My home can get quite deadly if you get lost. She can show you to the hot springs where you can cleanse your bodies before the ritual. We will commence the ritual tonight. I'll have one of my other familiars help prepare a light meal in the interim."

The hot springs chamber had an open layout, so the group agreed to take turns bathing. Alice and Circe would go first, and Issac would go second. After Issac dried himself and re-dressed in a clean robe from the guest rack, he rejoined the other two in their shared common room, cognizant of the awkward atmosphere when he entered. Unfortunately, it seems that whatever Alice and Circe had going on between them, it was still yet unresolved.