“Right, to make anyone with malicious intent stay away. Break-ins and the like,” Anika says.
“My protection runes need regular charging and exchanging. Today, when checking them by the perimeter, I found them like so.”
We all look down again, and Auntie says, “What are we looking at? I’m not the best when it comes to protection witchcraft.”
“These protection runes are burnt out,” Shugo says with nervousness.
“So? Just charge ’em up. Case closed,” Kenta says.
“No. Look at the marking of the symbols.” He picks up the stone and shows us the dark lettering. Indeed, it looks a lot different than the day we placed them. “These were burnt out by dark magic.”
“Dark magic?” Anika murmurs, and a nervous lump grows in my throat.
Shugo puts the rock down and bites his thumb. After a long, tense moment, he says, “A magical being actively tried to get in.”
“What if it was Kai or Seb, and they left something at the house?” Taina asks.
“No. They’re welcome guests. Plus, according to you, they would never hurt us,” Shugo counters.
“That’s true. Protection runes don’t work on familiar beings without malicious intent,” Auntie says.
“What if they did try to hurt us?” Kenta asks.
“Seb and Kai wouldn’t do that,” Taina retorts.
“Plus, they’ve been here since before I placed these wards,” Shugo says. “And the way my wards are burnt…something really tried to intrude. Something mystical in nature.”
His somber words render us all silent for a long pause. A magical threat was right outside our door? Kai told me about monsters from a dark dimension, but the Union takes care of those. Maybe it was some other dark threat.
“What does this mean?” Taina asks. “What do we do?”
“We keep putting up more wards,” Lisbeth says.
“I’ll get right on it,” Shugo says, picking up the rocks.
“I can try to install cameras,” Anika says. With a shrug, she continues, “The mortals have plenty of ways to protect themselves. Why don’t we do that?”
“And I can inform Seb and Kai,” Taina adds. “If they’re after us…”
“They could be after any magical being,” Auntie says. She plays with her hair and adds, “I’ll inform the agents of SPELL, too.” Looking up at all of us, she gives us a serious look. “We should all check in on each other regularly. Let Shugo do his work and be alert at all times.”
The rest of the coven nods and walks away. Meanwhile, my anxiety ramps up. Is someone?or something?really coming after us at Boysen House? And how am I, a mediocre empath witch, going to help?
CHAPTER 18- GORDY
ENTERING THE HUBof the Union of Mages?with its huge, windowed, dome roof?might someday be a boring sight. But not today. I’m walking in, trailing behind Kai and Seb, and my eyes wander at all the wizards walking to their next worldwide destination. Despite being in my turtle form and wearing a trenchcoat, no one pays me any mind. Joining a worldwide, magical network means supernatural sights are commonplace, I suppose.
But why am I here? Kai and Seb were summoned, and they insisted I tag along. I’m not even an official member! They all know that I haven’t passed the competency exam yet. Despite this, Kai asked me to come, and I can’t say no to my family. Allegedly, I’m one of the Four Guardians of legend, so my presence is welcome, I guess.
After passing the lobby, we walk up the stairs and down a long hallway. We pass by several curtained rooms, and the mood is somber. That guy I met that first week, Luther, is waiting for us. When we meet him at another windowed room, he shakes our hands. Peering through the glass, I notice several beds.
Then it hits me?this is a hospital of sorts.
“I’m sorry to meet you for such a serious matter. You’re in close contact with Lisbeth and the rest of Boysen House, correct?” Luther asks.
“Yes, of course,” Kai says.
At his grave tone, the blood leaves my face. Is it Loxley? Did something happen to him? We were just playing video games remotely last night. This past week, we’ve hung out on occasion, and nothing was the matter. But now I’m here at a mystical hospital.
