The Magician's Assistant

11

A young woman, maybe slightly younger than Rachael, stood by the doorway. She had a lamp in her hand that cut through the cabin's murky darkness, and a large, heavily damaged book pressed against her chest.

The woman was wearing old, faded black robes, and had long, messy black hair. She was thin, and relatively short.

It was obvious the woman was the same one who had spoken to Rachael earlier. She began to speak with an all too familiar voice.

"I swear if that thing is trying to get out again," she muttered.

She started to walk forward, then stopped in her tracks. It took her a few seconds to say anything.

"Who-"

Gramps cut the woman off.

"You're under arrest for unauthorized necromantic experiments. Surrender, or prepare to defend yourself,"

The woman was completely silent for a moment, before she began to stammer out a response.

"Who... I... How did you?"

"Well?"

The woman dropped her book and her lamp. She put her hands up in front of her as if to protect herself.

"Look, I really don't know much about magic. I'm just..."

Her voice trailed off again.

"So you surrender?"

"Sure, let's go with that,"

Gramps lowered his guard slightly.

"Stand aside for a moment,"

He moved forward and stopped at the doorway. He leaned forward and peaked his head through the opening, briefly turning his attention away from the woman.

Rachael watched the woman in Gramps' stead. She was sure she hadn't been noticed yet.

One of the woman's hands form into a fist, with her pointer finger aimed out into the darkness. A few seconds later, a faint purple glow appeared in front of it.

Rachael's eye's widened. A split second later, she lunged forward.

The woman turned her head to the sound of Rachael coming towards her. She let out a gasp, and shifted her aim towards Rachael.

Rachael grabbed the woman's wrist, and began to force it downwards. It was obvious that the woman was weaker than Rachael, but she still put up a fight.

The purple light grew brighter as the two woman struggled.

"Rachael!" Gramps shouted.

The woman's finger ended up just a few inches from Rachael's face. The purple glow was right between her eyes, nearly blinding her.

There was a popping sound, like a firecracker.

A few bright purple sparkles filled the air, then quickly faded away. Rachael was totally unharmed.

The woman stared at Rachael in silence, her face a mixture of shock and embarrassment. Rachael scowled back at her, then finally overpowered her.

Rachael restrained the woman and held her in place.

"Thank you, Rachael," Gramps said.

"Don't mention it," Rachael said.

"That was very dangerous. Please don't risk yourself for me like that again. Thank you again, though,"