The Unveiling - Modern Magic: Book 1

Chapter 1

Ok, this probably won't mean much to any of my current readers, but this is singularly the fastest I've been able to get through the first chapter of a story idea!  So, yay me... and by connection - yay you!  Because you're not cursed with my previous rate of chapter posting.

I've already started on Chapter 2, so even though I don't think I'll be able to keep up with the 1 chapter per day schedule, I will definitely be rolling through this story as we go.

That said, I hope you enjoy Chapter 1!  I'd love comments, votes, shares, etc.  Thanks!

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Chapter 1 – April 8, 2019

April in Massachusetts can be either awesomely beautiful or awesomely depressing. This is mostly dependent upon the strength of the lingering grip of winter, and if any "interesting" storm systems have decided that the greater Boston area has a meteorological target painted on it. This year, the world decided to give us a break.

April has been wonderful so far. The only rains have been the slow drizzle that makes you run a little faster and laugh when you're indoors, rather than making you sprint, slip, fall into a puddle, and curse everything you can think of. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything... This beautiful April is the end of my last semester at Harvard. My grades are more than good enough to put me on track for wherever I want to take my future, and I have a gorgeous girlfriend. Ok, not "gorgeous" by societal standards, but my opinion is all that matters – so stuff it, society!

Anyway, early April is great for Harvard students. The semester is winding to a close, and the hardcore exam preparation hasn't come in full swing yet. The effect the timing of the great weather had a visible effect on my fellow students. I think there were more fliers for parties up today than through the last four months combined. Some guy from MIT even hacked our emails and sent a message about a live music concert for local bands. The clever little hacker knew enough about the local underground subculture to leave a key word. This trick told anyone "in the know" how to decode the fake cell number to learn what number to text a request for the real address of the party. I'm sure he's going to love when the police storm an abandoned oyster warehouse after following the bogus address in the email.

I was chuckling to myself after finding the location of the false address on my phone when I walked into my last class for the day. Democratization was an interesting class and very timely given the current world culture, but more than that, it was an easy course for my last semester. Having a dozen or more first-hand experiences with the change in governmental structure of regions makes the intricacies of this course pretty easy to grasp.

Oops, yeah I may have fooled you for a bit there. But don't worry, I was just trying to show you that I'm just like any other guy. No power-hungry megalomaniacs here. I know, I was trying to be more than a little pandering. I chose to go into so many mundane details first to hammer this concept home, but I'm really not an evil mastermind trying to take over the world – I promise! Now, I'm not saying all Magi are the perfect citizens, filled with gum drops and ice cream. We're just like humans. Some of us are more morally sound than others. The downside is those who have – let's call it "questionable moral centers" – also still have access to drastically destructive power. Thankfully the backlash for any major public incident would vastly outweigh any tiny accomplishment they could make through those choices.

My professor drew my attention back to class as he began discussing the effect of social media on the Revolution in Egypt in 2011. It is pleasantly surprising to see the degree that humanity was willing to come together to right an injustice – just as soon as the majority of the privileged world actually learned about its existence. Sorry... one of the downsides to having several dozen lifetimes worth of memories is a feeling of jadedness as you realize how often people repeat the same stupid mistakes. Sometimes, that repetition is on a grander scale than others.

The class ended during a deep discussion into the polar effect of social media on the political process of many countries, our own included. I packed my tablet into my backpack and slung the bag over one shoulder. Taking one look at a follow-up email from the MIT hacker, I sent a location request to the decoded cell number. One of the local bands playing at the concert was a favorite of Diana's, and I thought a semi-illegal concert sounded like a great date night. At the time, I didn't have a single clue how that one decision would have such a drastic effect on our relationship.

Apparently, thinking of an angel has the same effect as speaking of the devil. Because there she was, waiting outside my building when I exited, talking to her friend, Amy. Diana is a year younger than me, both chronologically and academically. I think she's around 5 foot 6; we've never really discussed the specific number. All I know for certain is I don't have to bend halfway over and she doesn't need to jump when we want to kiss. Needless to say, I don't spend a lot of time focused on her height. Not when there were so many other great things to focus on.

As I approached, Amy must have spotted me out of the corner of her eye because she turned to face me. I'm not the best at reading lips, but I had a good guess that she said something about "bright eyes" just before Diana turned as well. This gave me the sight I could never tire of no matter how long I live: her smile and her eyes. I guess there's nothing too impressive about her smile, but in my mind I always connect it to the cutest giggle ever heard by humankind. No description could ever do it justice, but making that sound emit into the world around us is a service to all humanity. To that end, I quirked up a single eyebrow and let a small cocky smile play on my lip as I questioned, "Bright eyes? I didn't know we were already picking pet-names, Honey-bunny." Diana giggled, her light gray eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun. Mission accomplished.

Amy forced an over-dramatic eye roll, "Super hearing or lip reading? Is there anything you can't do?" She was smiling and joking, so I responded by leaning close and stage whispering loud enough for people to hear 20 feet away.

"I don't know if you've heard, but I'm kind of amazing!" I smiled and winked at Diana. That kind of line really only works when the people you're talking to know that you're not really that egotistical. Diana smiled and shook her head before wrapping her arms around my neck and brushing a single kiss against my lips. Neither of us have been comfortable with excessive PDA, so we ignored Amy's gagging sound. Or we would have except this specific instance suddenly shifted into a cough, and Amy's voice floated out, bright and flirty.

"Hi Tim! Um... how was class?" My friend was walking from the nearby building as Diana and I turned.  My arm rested lightly across her shoulders, hers behind my back. Tim walked with the casual pace of someone with no immediate plans. He had a decent build, fit, but not overly muscular. His hair was black and buzzed short, but what I'm sure first caught Amy's interest were his eyes. Brilliant emerald green, they were a color anyone would be envious of, and you guessed it... He's a Magi too. This was a fact only known to him and myself. I don't know how many times I worried or pondered whether or not to tell Diana about who, or more specifically "what", I really was. Several of my ancestors encountered similar challenges during their lives, and nearly all of the hastily executed explanations ended badly. This lead me to always hold back. I had no idea right then that my decision was going to be made for me in just a few days.

Tim reached our group, notebook in hand and a pair of pens sticking out of a jeans pocket – he was always old fashioned like that. Amy's attention had shifted entirely to Tim as he gave a wave and a soft smile. "Hi guys. Class was class." He shrugged, nonchalant. "What's goin' on?"

Amy took the opportunity to try and draw his attention by answering for all of us. "Oh, not much. You know, normal Monday stuff." The rest of the conversation consisted of upcoming exams, the level of stress those bring, and what parties would be best to hit this week for a preemptive strike against that stress. And of course, copious attempts by Amy to show her interest in Tim. I actually have no idea whether Tim's apparent obliviousness to her interest was real or feigned. I was never the type to butt in on others' personal lives. Diana and I made some tentative plans to see them at one of the parties on Friday, then we all went our separate ways to finish the evening.