Strange Magic

Mission Alert

Jenna's Perspective:-

Two days after the her accidental fire incident, Jenna was assigned her first test by Old Nana. Her test was that she had to go to the East circle to deliver a package. She was handed a strange looking package. It was a red case in the shape of an electric guitar without the bar. It felt strangely light.

"This is a really important mission, Jenna. It has to reach the circle at all cost," Old Nana told her. "And under no circumstances should you open the case."

Old Nana assigned Adrian Zara to take the journey with Jenna. Jenna felt scared and excited at the prospect of leaving her circle and actually visiting another one. This is a chance to prove my worth. She was sent off unceremoniously with dozen eyes watching her leave without a word of goodbye or safe returns. She turned back to see Old Nana, Leah and a few others who stood there like statues, seeing her off. Adrian opened a portal and smiled down at her.

"Ladies first," he ushered.

Jenna, now certain that no one was gonna say anything, turned and was about to jump into the portal when Old Nana called her. She turned around again and looked at her expectantly.

"Don't mess this one up," she said.

Jenna sighed and jumped into the portal. What did she expect to hear anyway? When she came back after accomplishing her task, she knew she was gonna make sure she was given some respect and importance. She was no longer keen on being treated like a nuisance.

After the portal closed, the others left, leaving Old Nana and Leah standing alone.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing Nana?" Leah questioned. "You know she isn't fully equipped yet."

"She'll be okay," Nana said. "Adrian is with her. Besides, Trevor will be watching over her."

"Why couldn't you send me instead?" Leah asked, still staring straight ahead.

"I need you here," Nana said as she turned away. "It's only a matter of time till the shield breaks."

Leah stood there undecided. The last time she left for her test, things had spiraled out of control. She could almost feel the same thing happening.

"Be careful, Hunter."

It was night time in the real world where Jenna materialized. She was lying on her back on the ground. She saw Adrian being swept off gracefully by the portal. Unlike her, he was on his feet.

Still an amateur Jenna. Still got a lot to learn.

"Anytime you're done feeling the softness of the ground," Adrian teased.

Jenna felt herself blushing from embarrassment. Not even the first hour of her mission and she already made a fool of herself. She groaned and stood up, brushing the dust from her clothes.

"Where are we?" She asked. She looked around but the darkness didn't help her much. She just knew that she'd never been in this place before.

"St. Agnes," Adrian replied. "This is the farthest we could teleport. Let's get going."

Jenna followed Adrian like a lost dog. She held the case carefully wondering if there was anything breakable. If there was, she was 50% sure that it is already damaged from her fall.

Adrian led her to a sleek black Porsche and got in. Jenna followed suit. He maneuvered the car swiftly out of the area. Jenna stared around. The night was dead and lonely. Bright city lights everywhere but somehow, it felt quite inhabited and eerie.

"Are we there yet?" She asked. "Is this the east circle?"

Adrian laughed out loud. This made Jenna feel even smaller. She wished she kept quiet.

"Jenna Jenna Jenna," Adrian chanted, shaking his head. "You're like a lost puppy. So ignorant in a sweet way."

Jenna half laughed. She didn't know if that was a compliment or an insult.

"We're just outside our circle," Adrian continued. "We'll take days to reach there."

"Why couldn't we just teleport to the destination?"

"Surely you must be cleverer than that Jenna," Adrian sighed. "You wouldn't want an enemy to teleport right at your doorstep, would you? We're all endangered species, we need every kind of protection there is just to go on surviving. So you see, we cannot teleport to another circle anytime we want."

Jenna stopped talking. She felt tired from the prospect of their journey. It was going to be a long ride. Even though Adrian was driving at top speed, she could only see long dreary days fastened to the car seat. They passed the town and rows of trees lined side by side followed. Very much like the night Sunny Heights disappeared. The night she nearly got mauled. The night Leah saved her. Sabertooth.

"Hey Adrian,"

"Yeah?"

"Can vampires change their form?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"No."

"What do you mean?"

"There are only a few who can do that," he answered. "These few are a very different breed from the normal vampire family. They're the magical vampires. Stronger, faster, more savage and more heartless. They can sense things other vampires cannot."

You better shield your thoughts to Aurors. They can use your mind against yourself.

"And that is their most deadly weapon. They can pollute your mind with nightmares, leave you deranged and delusional. That is, if you allow them into your head."

Come back when you're better at keeping your mind shut.

"Are those vampires called Aurors?" Jenna asked impatiently.

"Ten points to Jenna Hunter for guessing right," Adrian smiled. "They are the Aurors aka the Nightmares."

Jenna smiled despite the information she received about the Aurors. She was happy at least that her questions were getting some answers. But one thing bothered her. She wondered why Adrian was painting such a dark picture about the Aurors because she was certain that both Trevor and Leah were Aurors and although they're both cold and stony, they can't be rated totally dangerous.

Oh well, another answer to look forward to.