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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45ZvzXV44C
A text message came in on her phone, and she tapped the screen to read it, hoping it was from Phillip. It wasn’t.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCUB8R9rWL
“Here she is. Can I help you read the menu?” the waiter asked, his English heavily accented.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTDXYOY9ls
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtjo7CRC2a
“Can I get a drink for you?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJH5XzFh8Q
“Tea, please.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6aUOPY7gb
The waiter left, and Phillip extended a hand across the table, being careful not to knock anything over, “Angela? I hope?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9u3Pm8yda
Angela shook his hand, “Yes, it’s me.” He had a firm handshake, and his hand was cool.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1BeNE61a7
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXK4PldSXw
“That’s all right - it’s good to meet you.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkyD7cSvGW
“It’s good to meet you, too. Could you tell me - do they have lemon chicken on the menu, here?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFhvcjPqfu
“They do. It’s good, too.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbvV5Q7XEJ
“Wonderful - I’m looking forward to that.” He smiled broadly, “I’m so very pleased to meet you, Angela. How are you feeling?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS5fZdoUea
“Fine, just fine.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGpCLtzBHI
“And your leg?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmTDDw7nSb
“It’s healing. A little slower than I would like, but it’s healing.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BpGe9jqfD
“Glad to hear it.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAJFomZSx2
Angela looked up to see the waiter coming toward the table.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSISbC3beW
“Tea is here,” he said. He quickly set down two cups and saucers, then poured tea into both cups, “Careful - very hot.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajZa6pz2so
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqRQhLbjvh
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPjdncP318
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzo2iXQ7je
“And then I woke up with a gash,” he pulled up his left sleeve, revealing a 3 inch white scar.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn41QGnm2Wc
“How old were you? What did you do?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanB2i4QPWK
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSPIv7c8Ux
She studied him, “Why did you have a social worker?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRgPwfnH1i
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljOLpkTs1N
“Anyway, I was assigned a social worker for more regular check-ups.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrjzIpKuYR
Angela watched him intently, “I’m so sorry. That must have been awful for you.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvARKFQjww
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAuy9qGTtE
“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.?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAzoad9rNy
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzJPCc0lQE
“Tell me more about the Hunters.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkF24PHbue
Phillip sighed, “The crux of the matter is the Hunters.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8NlVHRv51
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ced2dNIgL
She took the book, “Thank you.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGZ3ZvNEYR
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQxeYUviqJ
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPbNZOhUY6
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ47CpxtkTz
“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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoeayOtNyH
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?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsCtMkkDDm
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRozL34QEO
“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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyg0vptEJk
“You said you were doubtful at first?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTiInQPSdy
“I didn’t want to believe. I mean, it’s not good news, right?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWJ1yq1b45
She shook her head, “No, it’s not. But it’s better than not knowing.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97AUrhutPu
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu2QUS1Nqd
“How long have you known Ray?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ210jIE1fa
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr3JzRv7Yh
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43T6gGUdgS
“I’m so sorry.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuETHLgWLZw
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFCKueH9IW
“Well, then, Ray and I are here for you. And Ray is close enough to help out more than I can.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0awsh20XIF
“Thank you.” Angela paused uncertainly, “You said there are things you wanted to talk about in person.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGvIGPWnTo
“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?"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLV6JhLpfw
She nodded, “He used it to protect the conversations he had with Paul.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ySjot4mbW
Phillip reached his hand across the table, holding it out expectantly, “Would you please?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNUeDEw1cb
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?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fEfqslUlu
He gave a small nod.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQXvoUsbJE
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIswWesc3s
“I’m trusting you, Angela, not to spread word of my practice. Like I said, we still have to worry about persecution.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqBgvIUcUj
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcrFvT7zNe
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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGRJZKNAoa
“You really are being Hunted, too?” Angela asked.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ70NrEdIr
“I am. I am as motivated as you to put an end to it.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoFLDNj9xU
“I’m frightened of what’s going to happen.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl7ZeBSHlC
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEijo3PdRU
“Have you found anything?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO8tdt4V8q
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJFFTpjWyk
“What did it help you remember?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj45xXs53F
“A small waterfall. It’s not much, but this is the first month. I’m hoping for more in the future.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjCOI3zffy
“More, like what?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U2ykK2ebv
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmTod0Zept
“Why you?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOLtEdhR00
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaBtpTI27x
“And your dad?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmn55xAvx7J
“He holds the same obligation. But, well, this type of magic isn’t his specialty.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J89iEw0Vv
“Explain, please.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUjTKSRMqY
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrRTcjcXMr
“What about your uncle?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq561TLbzF
“Uncle Roger is a spell-writer. Spell-writers are such a rarity - they have absolutely no ability to channel magic.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O8dTo8uxN
“How is that rare?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cyqaW53w6
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 40.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75UubsMo2E
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIdS7SjspK
“And you just happen to know one?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGoTjCuEhd
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0inYFzbkje
“We’re lucky to have a resource like that, then. And how many other wizards are willing to help us?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2RNV43mGf
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LF5m67Zg3
Angela sighed, “But there’s no sense asking for help if you have nothing to do. That’s why you were looking for me.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KSJO8MpnM
Phillip nodded, “Exactly.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsErw1qPtiv
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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarApMOaVqC
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?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqDoreOQMG
“Communications. I wanted to be a journalist, but now I’m leaning towards editor. You?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDijYxd5Os6
“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.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj8phTEdfv
“So what were you doing this last weekend, that you didn’t want to tell me about?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpty1YdPbwI
“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.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgUJ6mR1rG
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