The Unveiling - Modern Magic: Book 1

Chapter 16

A/N:  Warning!  Large chapter incoming!  I realized there was some things I wanted to get into before the battle, and I didn't want to post two small chapters, so you get one giant-sized one!  I hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 16 - Unprecedented Encounter

On Saturday I had to admit that I was stressing myself out too much with my training. Similar to studying so hard before a test that you botch the exam you worked so hard for - I was feeling that lack of productivity with my practice. Right about when I was ready to just be overwhelmed with frustration and stress, James placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Don't push yourself so hard that you're useless tomorrow." I looked over at him and let out a deep sigh. He was right.

"Yeah... I guess I'll just rest for now." I still felt a bit frustrated over not pushing myself further, but James saw what part of my mind was seeing too. It was about lunch time anyway, so I was able to push through my stubbornness and sit down with James for some food.

The conversation was almost nonexistent during lunch. Sometimes that means the food is exceptional, but in this case I knew it had more to do with Sunday quickly approaching. I was focused on how I wanted to spend the next hours of the day if I wasn't going to practice or train any more. The question had a very easy answer: seeing Diana.

"I think I'm going to ask Diana to come over this evening. I want to spend some time with her before Sunday."

James paused mid bite of his sandwich. "Oh yeah, of course. Do... um, should I go out somewhere for a few hours?"

I laughed and shook my head. "No, we're not like that. You'll be fine if you just watch some movies or something on the couch. I'm pretty sure we'll mostly just be talking." James gave me a skeptical look, but nodded. "Trust me. I think we're both going to be way too distracted and worried to do anything else." James definitely understood that possibility.

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I had no need to convince Diana to come over. Something in the tone of her voice made me think she was waiting for that exact offer. As soon as she walked in the door, she grabbed me in a tight hug. "How are you holding up?" She asked, her voice full of worry, concern, and I think a little bit of an attempt to mask it with reassurance.

"I'm ok. It's been a crazy few days, but we knew that was going to be the case." I smiled as I held her in the hug. Eventually we both pulled away and her eyes looked into mine with worry. I took her hand and lead her to the small partitioned area that is my bedroom. James gave a little wave from the couch, watching an old superhero movie. Diana and I sat down on the bed and she turned to face me, pulling one leg cross-wise on the bed so she didn't have to twist her body.

"How do you think things are going?" Diana started with a fairly tame question, and part of me wondered if she wasn't really sure how to voice her concerns.

"As well as we could hope. I heard from Aki that everyone she could find will be meeting at her shop at 8:30 Sunday morning. We're going to go over a plan for the battle and set off from there."

Diana looked down for a moment, and I saw her fidgeting nervous with her hands, rubbing her thumb into her palm. "Do you think there will be enough people? I mean on your side?"

I placed a reassuring hand on her knee, gently brushing my thumb over her jeans. "I don't know. No one does. We just have to have everyone we can and hope for the best. We're pretty sure we have the element of surprise, and that will help even if we begin out-numbered."