Angela sat at a booth at the back of the restaurant, reading the menu. Phillip should have been here by now. But he was a stranger in town, and probably didn’t know his way.620Please respect copyright.PENANApXOfYoTkMg
A text message came in on her phone, and she tapped the screen to read it, hoping it was from Phillip. It wasn’t.620Please respect copyright.PENANACH21SOZuxa
“Here she is. Can I help you read the menu?” the waiter asked, his English heavily accented.620Please respect copyright.PENANAGe9oFRtXht
She looked up to see a young man in dark glasses place a backpack on the seat and slide into the booth seating, “No, thank you.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAco4335sfzc
“Can I get a drink for you?”620Please respect copyright.PENANA0LskWg06BX
“Tea, please.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAvLJ7okwULR
The waiter left, and Phillip extended a hand across the table, being careful not to knock anything over, “Angela? I hope?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAaEhAWEQrwd
Angela shook his hand, “Yes, it’s me.” He had a firm handshake, and his hand was cool.620Please respect copyright.PENANADdVx6dKgtM
He collapsed his cane and tucked it into a pouch on the side of his backpack, “I’m sorry I’m late - the cab driver couldn’t find the address.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAX4n3HiK5Ep
“That’s all right - it’s good to meet you.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAUh1vVlJlfM
“It’s good to meet you, too. Could you tell me - do they have lemon chicken on the menu, here?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAbug5Pd7cS0
“They do. It’s good, too.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAL5H9sCrjqS
“Wonderful - I’m looking forward to that.” He smiled broadly, “I’m so very pleased to meet you, Angela. How are you feeling?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAsyLAeDOgdU
“Fine, just fine.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAMv9y91fDWF
“And your leg?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAciufrtsIVA
“It’s healing. A little slower than I would like, but it’s healing.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA9wpcwR17ae
“Glad to hear it.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA6ptmQwHKRw
Angela looked up to see the waiter coming toward the table.620Please respect copyright.PENANA3Q1cnYBWTS
“Tea is here,” he said. He quickly set down two cups and saucers, then poured tea into both cups, “Careful - very hot.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAzAfEwf9Ktr
After the waiter left, Phillip sipped his tea, “After I died, I was adopted. In the following years, I accumulated plenty of scrapes and scratches. But I was living in a new home, exploring a new world, and I had lost my vision.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAMFEnfKkvzt
Neither Ray nor Phillip had thought to tell her this. Angela glanced between his dark glasses and the cane that protruded from his backpack. She remembered him saying that he’d been kicked in the head several times.620Please respect copyright.PENANAikLjVDZJYi
She brought her attention back to what he was saying, “I was always bumping into things, and I helped in the garden - I thought I was getting all these little injuries from pulling weeds, and trimming rosebushes. I didn’t think anything of it.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAneWMBOUhEE
“And then I woke up with a gash,” he pulled up his left sleeve, revealing a 3 inch white scar.620Please respect copyright.PENANARzh6f3OdaG
“How old were you? What did you do?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAkdrH8BnAL1
“Almost 17.” He let his sleeve drop back into place, “My Dad - my new Dad - was already in my room - I’d been yelling in my sleep. It was apparent that I hadn’t done that to myself, so together we made up a story about my falling on the pruning shears in the garden shed, and went to the hospital. I missed school, I lied to my social worker, and I went home exhausted.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAXtPxpmePGv
She studied him, “Why did you have a social worker?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAOwQd2Q5lfw
He grinned, tracing with the side of his hand the scar across his right cheek that showed starkly, “After I was killed by my foster-father, and it was decided that I was the type of person who would put up with abuse. Which I had. Ironically, it was when I stopped putting up with being abused that things got really ugly.620Please respect copyright.PENANAyShOMy7BPg
“Anyway, I was assigned a social worker for more regular check-ups.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA4nPTHKLbnp
Angela watched him intently, “I’m so sorry. That must have been awful for you.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAHWzr9iRUiY
He shrugged, “It was a lifetime ago.” He chuckled, “Quite literally, in fact, a different lifetime. My new life is better. Except for the risk of dying in my sleep.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAOM0wV84Yaj
“And that’s not a little problem.” She frowned. “You said it was about three years ago that you figured out what was going on. Is that when you sent Ray to watch the E.R.?”620Please respect copyright.PENANALdxaEZSM2f
“Exactly,” his fingers traced the outside rim of the teacup, “That’s also when we started researching violent deaths on the night of the new moon. It took a lot of effort, but we did locate a few cases that seemed similar. We think it was started again at least 20 years ago now, maybe earlier.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAJZMNGSYzcz
“Tell me more about the Hunters.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAH42ubvrmEa
Phillip sighed, “The crux of the matter is the Hunters.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAV1YZfmAiG7
He reached over to unzip his backpack, “Before I forget, I brought this for you.” He held out a well-read book titled SAS Survival Handbook, “I recommend you read this, and take a self-defense class. The knowledge we have in life, we carry with us into our dreams.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAsLLCn4QZMy
She took the book, “Thank you.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAWbmGXdJNkf
He produced a small book-shaped package, wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. He handed it to her, “This is the original journal.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAcD5mWgpLWm
Angela untied the package and set the paper wrapping on the bench-seat beside her. The book’s plain leather binding had started to rot, and she lifted the cover off. The pages inside were yellowed onionskin.620Please respect copyright.PENANA3Dscibp7sY
She turned to several pages randomly - the writing was the same as the photographed pages she’d seen. She glanced up at him, noting again the dark glasses. That’s why it’s been transcribed. You can’t read it for yourself otherwise.620Please respect copyright.PENANAPOzdVZufdx
“You’re welcome to read as much as you like. But there’s a slip of paper denoting the beginning of the relevant passages,” Phillip remarked.620Please respect copyright.PENANAMiSB6RjPS1
Angela flipped forward and removed a neatly folded letter from between the pages, “Do you mind if I borrow this tonight, and bring it back tomorrow?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAspO9cjeRFU
“Keep it as long as you like. Give it back to Ray when you’re done - he’ll take good care of it until it can be returned to its library.”620Please respect copyright.PENANABSILB63uZB
“Thank you,” she carefully tucked the paper back into the journal, then re-wrapped it in its protective brown paper before tucking it into her purse.620Please respect copyright.PENANAgNOARbIi5r
“You said you were doubtful at first?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAT0xa4PauLz
“I didn’t want to believe. I mean, it’s not good news, right?”620Please respect copyright.PENANA9oNZDF0kLB
She shook her head, “No, it’s not. But it’s better than not knowing.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAT4GSHoJGig
The waiter came to take their orders, and Phillip told him that a third person would be joining them, but he would be late, and they would not wait for him.620Please respect copyright.PENANAWBMYU603kD
“How long have you known Ray?”620Please respect copyright.PENANA9uktgGRKAU
“After I was adopted, I went to a new school. He was on the welcoming committee, and we became friends pretty quick. What about you? You didn’t bring anyone with you to discuss this.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAf2iQT5eaDQ
“No. I didn’t. I don’t think anyone will believe me. My dad might have - I don’t know. It doesn’t matter - he had a fatal heart attack a few years ago.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA3nTjIexxpT
“I’m so sorry.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAyxgiihtVM1
“Yeah, me too. I have people in my life, my mom and my friends, who helped me after the accident. But no one who can help me with this.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA7HuMRhk5s3
“Well, then, Ray and I are here for you. And Ray is close enough to help out more than I can.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA1S3XHvlyBq
“Thank you.” Angela paused uncertainly, “You said there are things you wanted to talk about in person.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAMSOMdc2zvd
“In person,” he echoed. “I did say that, didn’t I? Some of those things, we ended up discussing on the phone. But not all of it. You remember Nathaniel mentioning Bogdanov’s Spell that Protects against Eavesdropping?"620Please respect copyright.PENANAVcnJigsspD
She nodded, “He used it to protect the conversations he had with Paul.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAhEnIYCEZvJ
Phillip reached his hand across the table, holding it out expectantly, “Would you please?”620Please respect copyright.PENANALSEw4EYiFp
She looked at his hand for a moment, uncertain. But this was exactly why she’d wanted to meet in a public place - to be sure that if something went weird, she would be safe. “Are you telling me that you can do that, too?”620Please respect copyright.PENANALlwtRP2j8O
He gave a small nod.620Please respect copyright.PENANAh6Ik5Kijmi
She took his hand, and felt a thrill of energy flow through her. It took some effort not to pull away, but after a moment, the feeling subsided, leaving her feeling as though her body had become almost weightless.620Please respect copyright.PENANA1W1ytsj226
“I’m trusting you, Angela, not to spread word of my practice. Like I said, we still have to worry about persecution.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAs66JCXpBdb
She watched his hand, then switched her focus to his face. He had to lean forward slightly to hold her hand, and the overhead light highlighted the stark scar that ran across his right cheek.620Please respect copyright.PENANALTBBKDa4A9
Before she could think of a response, he continued, “We have a lot of resources at our disposal. The man who adopted me is a wizard, and the man I call my uncle is a spell-writer. I, myself, am considered an novice wizard. But we have nothing to do yet. We need a way into the world that the Hunters have closed off to us. I’m hoping you and I can work together to find that.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA6FVD8VdvLU
“You really are being Hunted, too?” Angela asked.620Please respect copyright.PENANA1EcWzQywoe
“I am. I am as motivated as you to put an end to it.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAj6CHUYf1lS
“I’m frightened of what’s going to happen.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAMHSyMVR9mi
“I am, too. But like I said, I’m here for you. And if anything happens to me, my father will continue to try to find answers for you.”620Please respect copyright.PENANATi98kmPLEI
“Have you found anything?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAYHNIA28Poe
“I have a charm and a rune for you. The rune will help you remember who you are in your dreams. The charm is new - I just made my own last month. It helps you remember more of the dream when you wake up. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA5ix1EpmQwu
“What did it help you remember?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAaLnXifFTu0
“A small waterfall. It’s not much, but this is the first month. I’m hoping for more in the future.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAMv1eFzHIZ5
“More, like what?”620Please respect copyright.PENANA5eeHUsXzqV
“If I could learn my Hunter’s identity, I think my uncle could rewrite Rose’s Spell for Entering Dreams with information we could obtain. You and I aren’t the only ones with this problem. People are being killed, and I have to put a stop to it.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAdsZdUMbXJk
“Why you?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAH7KfYssQZn
“It doesn’t have to be me. But I’ve taken it on as my primary objective. And not just because I don’t want to be another victim of the Hunt. I have an obligation to help anyone I can - it’s part of being a wizard.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA6OwHDEwkrD
“And your dad?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAbDSZR39Yzr
“He holds the same obligation. But, well, this type of magic isn’t his specialty.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAxc4I3rXoh2
“Explain, please.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAdmBLOoVYk9
“Every wizard has a realm of influence, a type of power they can best channel. Mine is the earth - I’m good at things pertaining to plants and animals, and the ground itself. My dad, though - he’s an energy wizard. None of the realms are particularly inclined to help with dream magic, but my realm is much closer than anyone else’s.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAxTRMjvefcm
“What about your uncle?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAHsEwUqaNlH
“Uncle Roger is a spell-writer. Spell-writers are such a rarity - they have absolutely no ability to channel magic.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ28gNIuYE
“How is that rare?”620Please respect copyright.PENANACvVEb2czQJ
Phillip shrugged, “At this point in my training, my ability to channel magic is roughly 83. An average person - you and Ray, both, will probably rate between 30 and 40.620Please respect copyright.PENANAy2q8Wo3yKh
“Uncle Roger’s ability is zero. Absolutely zero. That enables them to experiment safely with all the parts of magic-work, on a theoretical level. Spell-writers are really rare - you find one for every thousand wizards.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAuvk9o9geMP
“And you just happen to know one?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAaPrybZLPBl
“He’s my dad’s best friend - they trained together since they were in high school. It took months for me to realize Uncle Roger had his own home - that’s how often he was around.”620Please respect copyright.PENANA94ItWiZ9Fy
“We’re lucky to have a resource like that, then. And how many other wizards are willing to help us?”620Please respect copyright.PENANA5oYOMJkIgZ
“Our Guild. That’s,” he hesitated, “we lost about half of our numbers a few years back, right before I realized what was going on with the Hunters. All the Guilds east of the Mississippi did. Anyway, our Guild is eight strong, including myself and my dad. But if we asked, we could get a lot more help than that.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAU9A8odgSrE
Angela sighed, “But there’s no sense asking for help if you have nothing to do. That’s why you were looking for me.”620Please respect copyright.PENANAkHjPATiinu
Phillip nodded, “Exactly.”620Please respect copyright.PENANArFt1kA4hnA
Angela noticed the waiter coming toward them with a tray, and released Phillip’s hand. A brief sense of disorientation passed over her, gone before the waiter set her plate in front of her.620Please respect copyright.PENANA6crunnrayv
After the waiter had gone, Phillip’s right hand found the chopsticks next to his plate, and he picked them up, “We’ll talk more later. For now, though, tell me about school. What are you studying?”620Please respect copyright.PENANA4B8UcktWta
“Communications. I wanted to be a journalist, but now I’m leaning towards editor. You?”620Please respect copyright.PENANASvTePm9ujH
“I wanna be a social worker. I want to help kids not be stuck, like I was, in a terrifying situation they feel they cannot escape from.”620Please respect copyright.PENANANdzo1wgr8p
“So what were you doing this last weekend, that you didn’t want to tell me about?”620Please respect copyright.PENANAQoWFLj1xiA
“You know how I said Nathaniel kept a journal of who he helped, and how? I got to make an entry in my own journal this weekend,” Phillip was smiling.620Please respect copyright.PENANA8FxWpzXsaj