The Lost Mage (42 page)

Darakin sighed. “Lightning. That’s the only thing that will kill the krekdapop. But the real thing. Apparently, this boxed lightning isn’t good enough.”

“Well, duh, what part of
stun
gun did you miss?” they mocked.

“The krekdapop has a particular sensitivity to lightning. I was hoping that even a small dose would be enough.”

Nora, who had had enough of the obnoxious youths, spoke up. “If you morons hadn’t summoned the demon here in the first place, we wouldn’t be in this position, so shut your yaps.”

The two boys looked away, chastened. Howard continued to look at his scratches.

“Am I really gonna be okay, Kwok?” Howard’s voice shook as he asked.

“Yes, unless you die of an infection from the wounds. You should probably go get that cleaned up.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it. C’mon guys, let’s go.” Howard limped off with the help of his two friends.

Darakin turned to Nora. “Let’s get out of here before she comes looking for us.”

Chapter Thirty-One

By the time they got home, it was well after midnight. Mrowley greeted them just inside the door.

Dude! I’m starving. I haven’t eaten in weeks. If you were going to be away for weeks, you could’ve left me some food.

“You ate this morning and we weren’t gone for weeks – just the better part of one day.”

If you say so,
the cat said, doubt evident in his voice.

“I do. But don’t worry, I’ll feed you now.” Darakin went to the kitchen, managing to keep his balance despite the cat winding through his legs as he walked. “Why must you do that?” he asked the cat.

What?

“Try to trip me. It won’t get you fed any faster. In fact, it would delay the feeding substantially while I tended to my wounds.”

Huh?
the hungry cat asked.

The mage sighed, frustrated at himself for beginning the conversation. “If I fall and I’m injured, I may not be able to get your food. What do you say to that?”

Simple: don’t fall.

“I … oh, never mind.” Darakin opened the cat food and dished it out for Mrowley.

From the door to the bathroom, Nora called out, “I’m taking a shower. I can’t get into my nice, clean bed with the small of that demon cave in my nose.”

Darakin went to sit on the couch. He had never felt so inept in his whole life. He had no way of defeating the demon, yet he couldn’t leave it to the authorities here. They had no idea that demons even existed.

Mrowley, having finished his dinner, came in and sat next to Darakin on the couch.

What’s wrong?

“What makes you think something is wrong?”

You’re drooping.

“I’m drooping?”

Yeah, when humans are upset, they droop. You know, their shoulders, their mouths, everything just droops.

Darakin marveled at how observant the cat could be. “I can’t defeat the krekdapop.”

Why not?

“The boxed lightning device didn’t work. Now the demon’s really angry.”

Well, what would you do if you were home?

“Well, I’m no combat mage, but since there’s only the one demon, I think I’d be able to call upon the enslaved elements and summon lightning to kill it.”

And you can’t do that here, right?

“No, as you pointed out, the elements haven’t been enslaved.”

So, before this whole element thing, was there lightning where you come from?

“Of course.”

Well, who made it lightning then?

“Nobody, it just did – you know, the way it does here. That or the shamans would call for a storm.”

Can’t you be a shaman?

“A shaman? No, I mean, well, I learned about their rituals but I was just a boy. It takes meditation and worship and I’d never be able to … or could I? Dragon’s mercy, cat, you’re brilliant!”

Mrowley cat-blushed.
I am?

“Yes, you are.” Darakin picked the cat up and gave him a big hug.

Nora had just opened the bathroom door. “What are you so happy about?”

“Nora, Mrowley just solved my problem!”

“Really? The cat?”

“Yes. He told me to be a shaman.”

“Instead of a mage?”

“Yes! Don’t you see? The elementals haven’t been enslaved, so I can’t use my mage abilities, but before we became mages, we were shamans. I learned about it in school. I just have to change my attitude from one of master to that of supplicant. The shamans used to worship them and had rituals and dances to bring forth the elements when they were needed.”

“Do you know these dances?”

“Well, I learned them when I was a boy at Mage School.”

“Mm hmm. How much of them do you remember?”

“Um … well, maybe I just need some time to try and remember it all.”

“We don’t have time, Darakin. That horny demon is still out there and she’s pissed. We need to do something soon.”

“She doesn’t have horns, Nora,” Darakin responded in confusion.

“No,” Nora sighed, “horny means she wants to … mate.”

“Oh. Yes, well in that case, she is horny.”

I’m horny, too.

“What? You can’t …”

I assure you I can. Do you have any idea how many kittens I have out there?

“No.”

Well, me neither, but that’s not the point.

“What’s his problem now?” Nora asked.

“He says he’s horny, too.”

“Well, that may be, but he’s not going outside. Don’t you know that’s the time a cat’s most likely to get in a fight? I’ll not have him getting hurt.”

“You’ve grown quite attached to him, haven’t you?”

“I have. Anyway, back to your shaman memory problems. I can’t believe I’m even going to suggest this, but perhaps we should go back to see Ravenwynd again. She must know someone who does hypnosis.”

“You want to get hypnotized?” Darakin asked with a puzzled look.

“Not me, silly, you. Perhaps under hypnosis, you could remember all those rituals and dances you were taught.”

“Really? You would go back there?”

“Why are you so hesitant? I though you liked that shop.”

“I do, it’s just that we fight every time we go there.”

She laughed. “I do get a little bitchy and jealous when we go there, don’t I?”

Don’t answer that. It’s a trap.

Darakin was filled with terror. The cat was right. If he agreed, surely she’d be mad at being called bitchy but he couldn’t very well disagree, because she was very jealous of Ravenwynd.

“You look as though you’ve seen a ghost. You don’t need to answer, silly man. It was a rhetorical question.”

Darakin let out a heavy sigh of relief.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll call and ask if she knows anyone. Now, I’m beat. It’s off to bed with me.” Nora disappeared into the bedroom.

“Me too. It’s been a long day.”

Mrowley pranced into the bedroom behind Darakin and the three of them were soon sound asleep.

The next morning, Nora rolled over and wrapped her arms around Darakin and woke him up with a kiss.

“Mm, morning.” He smiled at her. “You’re up early.”

“To quote the great Mrowley, I’m horny.” She began nuzzling his neck.

“I still don’t get that expression but far be it for me to disappoint a lady.” He returned her kiss and rolled over on top of her.

There you go again. You’re still in the wrong position.

“Out!” Darakin tossed a throw pillow in Mrowley’s direction and the cat jumped off the bed and sauntered into the living room.

The next morning, Nora emerged from the bedroom and pulled out the packaging from Darakin’s scrying supplies to look for Ravenwynd’s phone number. Darakin came into the living room, pulling on his shirt as he walked.

Nora picked up the cordless phone and brought it to Darakin. “Time for you to learn how to use the phone.”

He stared at the device in her hand. “Can’t you do it?” he asked, ashamed of the fear he heard in his voice.

“No. There’s nothing to be afraid of. If you’re going to live here, you’ll need to learn how use one of these. We’re kind of dependent on them here. Now, press the ‘phone’ button.”

“Aren’t they all phone buttons?”

“No, well, actually I guess they are, but I’m talking about the one that says ‘phone’ on it.”