The Unveiling - Modern Magic: Book 1

Chapter 3

Note:  Not as much action in this chapter, sorry!  Also, I guess a little warning about a lot more info incoming - about magic and the Magi.  I hope this doesn't turn anyone away...

Please enjoy, and comment about how you like the story flow so far!

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Chapter 3 – April 11, 2019

It was late when we arrived at my apartment, probably after 1 AM. Diana remained silent as I led her to my door, opening it for her to step inside. I hadn't felt anything from our attacker, so I was able to relax, but only a little. I closed my door and turned to face Diana. Standing in the center of my studio apartment, Diana stared at me, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked deep into my blue eyes, her own looking like steel as anger, confusion, and hurt were all visible in her expression. "Talk." She didn't yell or scream or throw anything, but I still flinched. Her voice was filled with all the emotions I saw in her eyes, combined with accusation.

I gestured to the kitchen table, wanting not only to properly prepare her, but also to have a little more time to figure out what I should say. I pulled out a chair for her, but she walked by me, pulling a second chair and sitting with her legs and arms crossed. That same gaze locked on me again as I sat down across from her. I knew immediately that some lie or cover story was never going to work, and it would be a giant insult to her, so I told her the truth. The – Whole – truth.

I told her about magic, the Magi, our eyes, our history, the genetic link, and our genetic memory. Diana's expression shifted from incredulity, to doubt, to curiosity, to deep thought. It was one of the many things that attracted me to Diana: her intelligence. She was one of the most capable analytical thinkers I had ever met in my life, and she was easily in the top 25 from my genetic memory. Compared to her, I might as well wear a permanent dunce cap. My only advantage was that I knew more.

I waited, giving her all the time she needed to mentally comb through the perception-altering information I had thrown at her. "What happened in the alley?" I could tell she was still thinking, but she was trying to connect the theoretical information I had given her with what she experienced first-hand. I took a deep breath and ran through my memory of the events, trying to put them in a proper perspective.

"We were attacked... or probably more likely – I was attacked. But it wasn't that simple. There was something different about the Magi who attacked us. I told you how Magi can sense on another – the residual energies?" Diana nodded, kicking my respect for her mind another notch higher as she was able to keep up with all of this. "He felt... wrong. Different." I struggled to describe the feeling.

Diana frowned a little, showing an attempt to understand where I was going. "Different? Like he wasn't a Magi?"

I shook my head, still searching for a proper metaphor. "No... it's more like... Ok, when you get into your car and start it, there's a normal series of sounds, lights, and vibrations right? Now if you start the car and some of those sounds and vibrations are different, you know that something has changed or is wrong. The car still started, but something is off, even if you don't know what the problem is."

Diana nodded, grasping what I was trying to say. She still looked distracted by some thought, so I gave her a moment to think. Suddenly, she blurted out, "Why do you look like you just got back from the gym?" Her cheeks actually flushed a little as she asked the blunt question. It was my turn to give her a confused look. I looked down, seeing how my muscles looked more defined than normal beneath my white undershirt – I had given the silver buttoned-down to Diana after the concert.

"Oh... well, magic use is a lot like a workout. It puts strain on the whole body. Using more magic or for a longer period is like a longer workout. A more complex spell like Reality Warping is like trying to lift a heavier weight. Every Magi is different when it comes to the magical equivalent of strength and endurance, but physical capability affects both."

Diana was nodding along with my explanation, then confusion played across her face again, but she waited until I was finished. "Reality Warping? You can change reality? Like intentionally and specifically?" She leaned forward, intellectual curiosity practically glowing in her eyes. Even though Diana is a Bioengineering major, she has had a deep curiosity for Theoretical Physics for years. Crazy smart, right?

I smiled and gave a sideways half nod before explaining the complexities of Reality Manipulation. I went into its difficulty, strain on the Magi, and the exponential increase in power required as events became less likely to have happened, or the more time between the event and the present time. I finished by commenting on a chosen event, once melded with reality, would effectively overwrite the events between that moment and the present.

I could see the complexity of Diana's thoughts in her expression as she listened. "You did that. In the alley. That's why your wound disappeared and your shirt isn't even torn." She blinked and looked up at me, confused. "Why do I remember that? If those events never actually happened, then there should be nothing for me to remember."

I smiled and shook my head, amazed again by her ability to grasp deeper concepts so quickly. "No one knows for sure... and that's across several dozen generations of memories. The most popular theory is that human minds and memories are inviolable. It's often connected to why no Magi can control a person's mind or alter their conscious choices." My throat was feeling a bit dry from all the talking so I stood and walked over to the small kitchen area, pouring two glasses of water. "As to why minds are so impervious to magic – no one knows. Magi just take it as a universal law. But..." I handed one glass to Diana before sitting down again. "You've experienced the effects of Reality Warping before. Everyone has at some point. Déjà vu, seeing something in the corner of your eye, turning, and seeing nothing there, and a few other ways are all our minds' way of rectifying our memories with reality."

Diana continued to nod along, still following what she would have considered supernatural only a few hours before. I smiled a little and then frowned, realizing there was one thing that absolutely needed to be said tonight. I set my glass down on the table and then slid to my knees in front of her. I let every ounce of feeling show in my eyes as I stared deeply into hers. "I'm sorry. I lied to you. Through omission, redirection, avoidance, or deception – I lied. There was a half dozen good reasons, and a dozen stupid excuses why, but it all ends the same. I lied. You have every right to hate me, or distrust me, but please... don't ever be afraid of me. I will never choose to hurt you, and I will always fight to protect you."

I let her see all of my sincerity and the importance of my words as I continued. "This is probably one of the biggest secrets in history. The safety of everyone like me depends on keeping that secret." I searched her eyes, easily finding the seriousness in her gaze. "I will answer any questions you have, but it has to stay between us."

Diana's gray eyes stared into mine, and I saw she was giving this all the proper focus and gravity it deserved. "I can imagine. People are so afraid of everything now. I don't even want to know what they would do if they learned about powerful Reality Warpers running around."

A small, hopeful smile bloomed from me as I reached a hand out and took hers. "Sorry our great night got turned so sideways..."

Diana mirrored my little smile, but I wasn't gifted with the sound of her giggle. Instead, she stood and took my hand, tugging me upward too. She wrapped her arms around my neck, her head resting on my chest. "You'll just have to make it up to me."

I wrapped my arms around her, always loving how our bodies fit together without awkward adjustments. "I'll do it gladly." And I meant every word.

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