Alana was on the phone with Jason on the Friday two weeks after their arrival, “I want you to come down and see this place. I still haven’t heard from you about whether you’re joining us and I could use your knowledge to help me buy a car.”

  “Why do you want my help? You can pull out your debit card and buy any car you want.”

  “I want a good one that’ll last. The money is for guardian business so I’m not availing myself of it too much.”

  “I can take the weekend off but I still don’t know. I don’t know if I can dedicate myself to it.”

  “I will understand but at least come help me with the car.”

  “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

  Jason came down for the weekend to help with the car but he declared that he wasn’t ready to commit to the fight. Alana and Heather both assured him this was fine as he showed a little guilt and they sandwiched him with a kiss on each side of his face. When he left, Alana was the owner of a very nice Mercedes.

  Monday came and Alana and Heather were sparring in the room they had set aside for this. They had to constantly remind themselves that the luxury they lived in was courtesy of what Alana was, not who.

  Heather said, “What are you going to do about the Senator? It isn’t like you can just simply eliminate her.”

  “I could get to her but I think I need a little more public exposure of magic without actually exposing myself. I know I’m supposed to keep this quiet but the forces that made the rules couldn’t know how difficult it is to get rid of evil in a monetary world. As long as Michelle Thompson is seen as an upstanding congresswoman then it’ll make my life too difficult to simply take her down. She needs to be embarrassed but in a way that would bring her to me.”

  “She’s a Senator from North Carolina. What can we do that would see her choose to descend from her lofty heights to come to you personally and not just find more agents to send?”

  “By hitting her in the one place she isn’t likely to want known even by those who work under her.”

  Alana looked up the Senator online and found out she was on the campaign trail as her seat was up for election. The guardian called an advertising company in North Carolina and paid to have one of their people come to her. She found out how she could pay for a campaign advertisement supporting the Senator then structured the ad to say something to the effect of, “The Senator was just magic in office.”

  This sounded like a positive ad so the company was more than happy to put it together but became confused when the campaign manager for Michelle Thompson called to block the ad saying it wasn’t endorsed by the Senator. This wouldn’t have stopped the ad as long as they openly mentioned that it wasn’t endorsed but the advertising company did business regularly with the Senator and weren’t going to burn bridges. They refunded Alana’s money but in less than a week it had its intended effect.

  Senator Michelle Thompson proved she had some strong connections as she was able to drive herself to Alana’s manor alone without a train of reporters and photographers attached to her. Alana opened her gate for the Senator then Mildred was opening the door to allow the auburn-haired, two-termed Senator who was hoping for a third to enter. Alana was waiting with Heather sitting off to the side in the recently decorated study. Alana stood for the Senator as she invited the other to a seat then sat with the desk between them.

  Michelle Thompson said, “I certainly appreciate your interest in backing me but I couldn’t allow that ad to run. I would gladly accept a donation or help you find an appropriate means to show your support Ms. Morgan.”

  Alana smiled beautifully as she responded, “That’s generous of you but I called you here specifically to talk about the reason you didn’t want anyone else but yourself here. You and I share a common interest and I was wondering how you found your teacher? Don’t bother denying it Senator. I can smell it on you.”

  Alana watched the Senator get a little troubled as she answered, “I think you can understand that it would cause me some embarrassment to be publically known to believe in something the churches have denounced for centuries.”

  Alana’s expression turned hard, “I wonder how your constituents and the churches would react if they knew you consorted with child murderers and those that would sell the world to evil.” The Senator’s hand came up with a spell on her lips but Alana continued, “I think you have gotten the idea of who I am Senator. Do you believe Quionnes has taught you well-enough to challenge me?”

  Michelle Thompson’s eyes blazed with hate, “You can’t do anything to me. I may have come alone but that doesn’t mean I was stupid enough to come without informing anyone.”

  “I think you’re going to do it to yourself because if you continue to hold the position you do beyond the next twenty-four hours then I will prove how wrong you are that I can’t do anything to you. I think you have an idea of how powerful I am. I will win Senator Thompson because I won’t accept anything else. Tortan with not be allowed to come through.”

  “Do you have any idea what Quionnes will do to me if I resign?”

  “If it’s anything like what she did to Agent Tom Severs then you deserve it.”

  The Senator started to cry as she responded, “I just wanted a little knowledge. Why must that be worth my life?”

  “Because you chose to look the other way when children were being tortured. You chose to get your knowledge from those who would sell the world to an evil god just for a little more power. This is the cost of it.” Alana allowed the Senator to leave with the memory of the conversation but not who she had it with. Then she watched the news.

  The Senator had gone back to Washington and started a major media blitz as she resigned from her office effective immediately sighting health issues. Alana could only drum up a little sympathy for the woman when she thought about what the former Senator would endure at Quionnes’ hands. She was more worried about being forced to watch it.

  Alana and Heather were relaxing in bed naked the day after the Senator resigned when her phone rang, “Hello.”

  “Alana; this is Agent Spiller. The former Senator is missing. She went to her house following the press conference and nobody has seen her since.”

  “She’s probably in the hands of those she worked for. They are not very forgiving of failure. This by no means says she was the only one who was controlled by these people but she is out of her position of influence.”

  “The fallout is beginning. Everybody who has had anything to do with her is scrambling to cover their ass just in case her resigning was more than health related. How did you get her to do it?”

  “By openly disclaiming that she was magic in office. It sounded perfectly fine to the advertising company but they were confused when she blocked the ad. It triggered her to pay me a visit in person. I let her talk herself into a pickle then gave her the only way out that might save her some face. I don’t imagine she is having much fun right now.”

  “It isn’t saving her any face as many underhanded dealings are coming to light. If you’re willing to accept some help in your direction I would say see what is happening with the Secretary of the Treasury. He and the former Senator seemed to enjoy many a lunch date and he is five years her junior. Not someone who would be politically expedient to be dating.”

  “Any recommendations about how to get him mobile without attached media?”

  “I imagine if he enjoys similar pastimes to Michelle Thompson he’ll do the work for you if you can inspire him to make the effort. I believe his home state is Texas. Maybe something down that way will provide motivation.”

  “How much of a problem will it cause if he finds it expedient to visit a private hospital himself?”

  “It might cause a few ripples but the man is not very popular with the money men so they might be happy to see him take himself out of the picture.”

  They hung up and Alana explained the conversation to Heather. The brunette said, “This just keeps getting huge.”

  “There had to be people in power to ensure Quionnes could take the children without much fuss.”

  That night the expected vision began. Alana just sighed and accepted that she would likely see something awful.

  Alana was back in the room where the sacrifice occurred but this time there was a single rack with a familiar face being pulled to her breaking point. There was no spell to protect her from the pain. Michelle Thompson was naked and stretched to the very brink her body could endure without death.

  Quionnes came into the scene, “My dear sweet Senator. What could possibly inspire you to leave your post without permission, hmmm?”

  “I don’t remember. I just know I had a conversation with someone who had the means to bring everything you’re doing to light if I didn’t leave immediately.”

  “The only person who could have done that is the guardian. Who is it?”

  Michelle whimpered as she said, “I don’t know. I don’t remember who I spoke with.”

  “That would be the guardian’s doing. That means it wouldn’t do me any good to read your entrails though I may just enjoy the snack anyway. Where did you travel?”

  “Texas but I don’t remember what part.”

  “This guardian is crafty. Whoever it is must not be showing much concern for you but given what you helped me do I can see why the guardian wouldn’t hold much sympathy. At least my two other stooges are still in place. I hope the director of the FBI doesn’t do anything stupid. It wouldn’t do for us to lose our influence in the United States completely. Now my dear, I leave you with a choice. We can let the rack finish the job or you can have the dagger. Which is it?”

  Alana watched the former Senator and wondered if it wouldn’t be more merciful to just kill these people herself. They wouldn’t endure the torture. Michelle whimpered and cried as she stayed silent. It wasn’t from bravery. She just couldn’t open her mouth to say the words. Quionnes said, “I will count to three then I will choose for you. One…two…”

  “The rack.”

  Quionnes nodded and the robed crank operator started to slowly wind the rack tighter. Michelle screamed through it all until finally her heart gave out mercifully before her body split in two. Alana was forced to watch Quionnes slice off a piece of entrail and eat it then turn to the robed man, “After you clean that up Kaztan make sure our other two pets in the United States are behaving. This guardian is really turning out to be a pest. We only have seven and a half more months until we can give the guardian something else to worry about besides us. How are you doing with locating the Morgans?”

  “They have disappeared. We have people looking for the paper trail but it has been buried good.”

  “Are you finding anything that could be useful?”

  “One of our agents may have found someone who was close to the family; some blonde girl who went to school with the daughter. They’re looking into it.”

  “Bring this girl to me. We will see what she knows.”

  Alana was practically screaming Samantha’s name as she woke up. Without taking the time to explain she was on her phone ordering her plane to be made ready and it had better be ready when she got there. A short time later they were driving onto the tarmac where the plane waited. She tossed the keys to the mechanic and swore she would make him a happy man if the car was taken care of. Then they were on their way to Denver. Alana called to have a car waiting when they landed. All these phone numbers Thurgood had made available were really coming in handy as a town car was waiting when they exited the plane. Alana gave the driver Samantha’s address and swore he would enjoy a healthy tip if he could get them there as fast as he could without drawing police attention.

  Alana felt the magic user moving toward her friend’s place and knew they were behind. She inspired the driver to go a little faster then called Agent Spiller; she had the private number as it was two in the morning.

  Alana said, “I have an urgent need for your help and I don’t have time to explain much. A friend of mine is about to fall victim to these people and I need to get there fast. I have the license plate number of the car I’m riding in. Can you use your connections to get us passed any police?”

  “I’ll do my best but it might take time to filter to the patrol guys.”

  “Just do the best you can.” Alana then told her driver to go faster.

  She felt that they might make it in time as long as they weren’t stopped. A police car came up behind them with lights flashing but a moment later the lights were off and the police car was backing away. The guardian prepared herself as best she could in the car.

  Alana felt the magic user coming up behind them as they were approaching Samantha’s house. Ordering the driver to stop Alana jumped out and used air to force the car carrying her enemy to stop. Three people got out of the magic user’s car and Heather stepped out with her. Their driver was ordered to move the car and he willingly drove a block over as he sensed the tension building though he had no idea why.

  Alana said, “I hope you have more to offer than Denius did. He didn’t last very long.”

  The brown-haired magic user replied, “Denius was a third year. I have been with Quionnes for six years.” Then he sent his power into the street causing ripples of earth to speed toward Alana. Heather jumped out of the way and Alana was forced to try a new spell. Jumping up, she cast it and found her body speeding forward toward her enemy. As she got there she stopped her momentum by launching a fist into the man’s right eye. This dropped him though it nearly sprained Alana’s wrist.

  The guardian had successfully separated the magic user from his fellows so Heather went into action. The brunette used a vision of Alana dead as her motivation and the two non-magic guys never had a chance. Her first punch went into the throat of the first one crushing his Adam’s apple causing him to squirm on the ground. The second came in with a left-right combo that got close but Heather accepted the pain from the fist to her shoulder as she kicked out into the second man’s knee. When he dropped down to one knee, her knee came up smashing into his nose shattering the bone.

  Alana got up close to the magic user with a fireball ready, “Where is Quionnes?”

  “Tortan will eat your soul.”

  This was the first time Alana realized these words were more than a common mantra. Something in the word’s triggered the disintegrate spell. Turning back she saw the two men Heather took down and while still holding her fireball she approached them. Neither was capable of talking so Alana opened a hole in the portion of the street that was damaged by the earlier spell and put both men in. Then she repaired what she could.

  Alana went up to the driver of her car and asked, “You still here Benjamin?”

  “I know good from bad ma’am. You good magic. They were evil. I could feel that from here.”

  “How would you like to move to Austin, Texas and take up a job with me? I could use a permanent driver who won’t run at the sight of me doing what I was made to do.”

  The dark black face split into a white grin and he said, “You offer me more money and a chance to help good people. I go where you want.”

  “Stay here as I have one more task to do.”

  Alana collected Heather then walked up to Samantha’s house. The guardian moved around to the window like she used to when she was younger and tapped on the glass. It took a moment but finally the face of Samantha Cole was smiling at her as she opened her window, “Where have you been?”

  “Off taking care of what I need to take care of. I don’t want you to panic but my enemies have become aware that you’re attached to me. You need to get away from this house; your parents too. I’m sorry about this. I tried to shield who I could but somehow they found out about you.”

  “There have been a few men and women coming around asking vague questions. I didn’t think I gave anything away but maybe I said something that led them to believe I knew more. We don’t have the money to just up and leave.”

  Alana pulled out an envelope she brought with her and handed it to her friend, “There’s twenty thousand dollars in there. Spend it wisely and get you and your family out of this house. Don’t talk to any more strangers about me please.”

  “I won’t and thank you. What brought you here tonight?”

  “Pest control.”

  Samantha’s eyes widened as she understood the reference, “They came after me.”

  “They were planning to take you to their main boss. Trust me when I say that you would rather I killed you first before you faced what she would do to you to find out what she wants to know. Find a way for you and your family to leave this house without leaving a trail to follow. I’m trying to get this done as fast as I can and not have it affect many lives but you’re known to them now.”

  “What am I going to tell Greg?”

  “I would prefer it if the two of you disappeared but if you can’t then you need to be creative. I can’t afford any more of these detours. I love you my friend and I will end this as fast as I can. I just can’t promise it’ll be soon.”

  “I love you guys too. I will do what I have to; to get out of the line of fire.”

  Alana and Heather walked back to their car and took a leisurely drive to the airport. After giving the driver the address in Austin, Alana and Heather went back. They stayed awake but rested in bed as soon as they got in the house. Mildred was less than pleased but she saw the condition they were in so kept her complaints to a minimum.

  Heather said, “That was horrible.”

  “It’s only going to get worse from here. We have to cut deep before we can cut out this cancer.”

  Alana’s phone rang, “What can I do for you Agent?”

  “I was just checking in. Did everything go okay?”

  “I protected my friend this time but I can’t keep letting them distract me. I don’t want to cause you anymore grief but I just learned that your main boss is involved. He’s one of those they have in place to monitor what happens in this country. If I gave you a few names, do you have a means to get their information protected without alerting your boss?”

 

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