Witches and Devils

The Boy

The bell rings for us to head to our final class of the evening, mine is one of my personal favorite, transfiguration. We are trying to turn green gems into a metal ball. We read from our books while Behold Chablis, our instructor, walks around us. "Remember gentlemen, and lady, a spell is much more than a series of arcane words. But it is the power you bring to those words that makes the magic." As we continue our chant William Banks, one of the other students, comes into the room and shoves his way into the circle between two other male students. "Mr. Banks. If you ever expect to rise beyond level one, you will arrive on time. If punctuality is too taxing for you, join the magic castle and do card tricks with Neil Patrick Harris."

"I'm sorry, sir." William hangs his head.

"And you forgot your book... again." Chablis walks around the circle of us, as we continue our chant, and with the wave of a finger, pulls a book off the shelf for William, throwing it to him once it is clear of the other books. William, to his credit, catches the book, "now let's see if you've been practicing your spells or just fiddling with your wand." I have to hold back a chuckle as the group continues with our chant, soon William joins us. "Good." Chablis continues walking around the group, "keep going. Your power is molecular. Woven into your DNA. See every atom. Rearrange them. Transform them." As we continue our chant the gems begin to rise, changing color as they begin to mash together in the middle of all of us. Soon the gems become a metal ball. "Yes!" Chablis exclaims, "that's what I'm talking about."

As we begin to feel a sense of pride in our work, we hear someone call out, "Mr. Chablis." When we look over we see another teacher of ours', Baldwin Pennypacker. "We've been summoned."

As the two instructors leave the room, I waste no time in sneaking out so I can follow. When I get to Mr. Chablis office, Chablis is standing in the middle of the office, giving all the sassy a gay, black man can give to another professor. "John Henry Moore. Something must be grotesquely important for you to be stinking up my office with that cancer stick. I thought you quit."

As I poke my head in, I see that John Henry is smoking and looks even more stressed out than usual, which is quite a lot. John Henry was the hardest of the council members to win over. I used everything in power to win him over and, luckily, I finally did. I'm not sure how, but ever since I did, he seems to have gained a soft spot for me. He takes a long drag off his cigarette, "I quit every week."

I step into Chablis' office, "this job or smoking."

"Smoking."

"Wha... what are you doing here?" Chablis turns to me, "when we say 'we have been summoned' we mean we the council, not whoever wants to join."

"But isn't she an extended part of the council?" Baldwin questions.

"Yes, she is." John Henry pats the arm rest next to him for me to sit. "And she's my favorite out of all of you."

"You're not setting the bar very high, Mr. Moore." I chuckle.

"Anyway," Chablis rolls his eyes, "why are you smoking in my office?"

"Oh, you might want one after you've seen what I've seen," John Henry shakes his head.

"I'll take one now, if you're offering," I smile down to John Henry.

"Of course, dear," John Henry takes out a cigarette and I press it to my lips as he lights it.

"You two look like damn witches when you smoke," Chablis cringes.

"Uh... one of us is, Cha." I chuckle.

"Hey, it is Mr. Chablis to you, young lady."

"Enough," Ariel, the school Chancellor, turns round in a chair, "enough with the squabbling."

"Ariel," Baldwin smile, "nobody told us you were coming. I'll make arrangements for a celebration tonight. The students can meet their Grand Chancellor."

"No," Ariel moves to stand. "There is something much more pressing." Ariel moves to the computer on Chablis' desk. Login in once he is there and pulling up a video file. "This was sent to me by a sympathetic member of the Los Angeles Police Department."

When Ariel brings up the video, it starts with what seems like the last thump of a detective hitting a young man's head against the interview table, "does that help with your memory?"

"I didn't do anything," the young man replies. From the sound of his voice you can tell he's been crying and is rather scared.

The investigator paces back and forth across the room, "except stab him with five knives. You were the only one there, you sick little fuck." The investigator finally walks around the desk, so he's in front of the young man.

"I didn't touch those knives. You won't find my fingerprints anywhere."

The officer picks the young man up and throws him down, kicking him again and again. The boy grunts with every kick the officer lands. "Oh..." I let out, rather sympathetically. After the investigator gets in a few good kicks he is thrown to the ceiling. "Oh..." I let out again, this one a bit more impressed with the boy's powers.

The investigator screams as his wrists, arms, ankles, and legs are bent and broken, curling toward his torso. Then he drops to the floor his joints and limbs seemingly fine, before he turns to the camera, "save me." Seconds after this his head explodes and his body falls to the floor. The boy curl up in the corner by the door and looks as if he is as traumatised by what happened, as Baldwin is. Baldwin has always had a rather soft side for everyone and everything, kind of the polar opposite of John Henry.

I take a long draw off my cigarette, "I'm glad I have this now."

John Henry looks over to Chablis, "need a smoke?"

"Holy shit," Baldwin gasps.

John Henry clicks his tongue, "it's a classic case of demonic possession."

I chuckle, "if a demon can do all of that, I say we find him and make him the next Supreme."

"Except that would bring us into a realm of chaos no one wants."

"You say chaos like it's a bad thing," I smirk over to him.

John Henry shakes his head and continues ignoring me, "Ariel, as much as you want him to be, the boy is not a warlock. He's not the provocateur. Look at him."

"I disagree," Ariel turns to John Henry. "I think it was a manifestation of wild energy."

"Uh... doesn't that translate to the same thing?"

"No, the boy doesn't know or understand his powers yet, so it was out of control. But full of potency and promise."

"Let's just say you're right," John Henry shrugs his shoulders. "And he was responsible. Then his magic is dark and volatile, and he should leave him the fuck alone."

"Protection of our kind has become a matter of life and death."

"Warlocks have always been second-class citizens," Chablis looks over to John Henry.

John Henry shakes his head, "that doesn't mean that we have to open our doors to just anyone, especially him."

Ariel sighs, "this school gave us direction. His power can be harnessed for good. He could be the one we've been waiting for. Remember the proficiency."

John Henry removes his cigarette from his lip, "you're talking about the alpha."

Ariel nods, "the warlock who becomes the alpha will have power beyond comprehension. His magic will exceed that of the witches."

Baldwin nods in agreement, "he could pass the test of the seven wonders."

"And supplant their supreme. The alpha will allow us to take our rightful place at the top of the hierarchy." I have to fight the urge to laugh, since they will only be at the top until a witch takes over as supreme again. As the men discuss this I walk up to the computer and look at the boy, placing my fingers on the monitor, where he sits. "What is it Rose?" Ariel calls out.

"There is something about him. I can't explain it." I shake my head, "I almost feel drawn to him."

Chablis chuckles, "sounds like you need to get a face-to-face with this boy." He looks over to Ariel.