The Spellbound State of the Universe

Chapter 4

Sheera and Madam Quillfern strolled through Washington Square Park on what was turning out to be a foggy night, with Luke and Arjun several paces behind. All of her questions were yet to be unanswered, as they'd immediately left the bar and piled into a taxi only to wind up here.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" said Sheera.

"Because I'm not sure you're ready for what comes next."

Sheera stopped mid-step. "If you don't explain what's happening, how am I supposed to be a part of it?"

Madam Quillfern gestured to a bench. "Let's have a seat over there."

Sheera reluctantly followed. "It's getting late," she noted, as her gaze caught sight of the dazzling full moon.

"You'll be home to your family soon," said Madam Quillfern. "And that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Sheera sat down and nodded. "What about them?"

"I've seen how you are with them, how close you've become after the hardships you've endured."

Sheera looked at her strangely. "How have you seen any of that?"

"Don't concern yourself with my methods. I can tell that you're close. But...in order to aid us in our fight against the Shadowers...you will have to leave your home. And...I'm not sure when you'll be able to come back." Madam Quillfern hesitated before going on. "There is also the small chance you might not even make it back, a risk that befalls us all."

A few hours ago Sheera had been folding laundry. "This is all so surreal." She studied the cityscape around her. "And where would I even be going?"

"To Paris."

For the slightest moment Sheera felt a tinge of excitement. Paris? The land of wonderful pastries she'd gazed at in all those books? The place with such a rich history of arts and culture? When the moment was over she reminded herself the world was facing imminent destruction. "And what would I tell my family?"

"This is the tricky thing," she responded. "No one who isn't a Shadower or a Kindred can truly understand the battle between good and evil. They'd either laugh it off or consider it the ravings of a lunatic."

"Then show them some spells!"

"They're also incapable of witnessing the spells in real time. To them it all seems to happen in the moments between space and time. The dark matter, some call it."

"So what do I tell my family? I'm just going to leave them? I'm just going to stop supporting them when they need me?"

"We can figure out what to tell them, but whatever we say it cannot be the truth of our mission."

Sheera stared at the pavement as she took it all in. "And when is all this supposed to happen?"

"Four days from now."

Sheera gasped. "Four days? That's impossible! I can't just get on plane in four days. I have to get things in order...and explain things to my family...and give two weeks notice to the donut shop!"

Madam Quillfern shook her head. "I'm afraid that won't be possible; not if we hope to train you and get ourselves ready to put an end to the Shadowers."

"Four days, huh." It was starting to sink in and it was sounding a little crazy. "What do I even know about magic?...I make donuts."

Madam Quillfern sighed. "You are completely free to decline our invitation, but if you don't wish to join us, we'll have to remove your memory of the last two hours." Luke and Arjun approached her now, like they were readying to strike with a spell at any moment.