Page 53 of Twisted Fates
I flipped over the one with the unicorn on the back first and then the other one. Of course, now I was convinced the man had planted them. They were both the same card—the Wheel of Fortune.
“Well, I’ll be,” he said, examining the cards. “You know, I…I haven’t had that deck in years. I gave the unicorn deck away in the late nineties. I have no idea how that got in there, but let’s look at the cards. Do you know what the Wheel of Fortune means?” he asked, and I shook my head. I didn’t want to tell him that until recently, I thought it was all a bunch of bull.
“Where one journey ends, another begins. See the snake? The viper is a dark entity, representing all that’s evil, but the wheel turns, good or bad. The unicorn on this card and Anubis on this one both represent the good. Bad or good, things will always change. I’m guessing your life is changing. Is it not?” he asked and I nodded, and before I could stop it a fat tear ran down my face.
“I… Yeah, even if I’m not ready for it.”
He patted my hand and collected the Wheel of Fortune from my tray. “You hold onto that card, the one with the unicorn. I loved that deck, and I’m guessing this is a message to find and replace those in my collection. For you, it is a great symbol. Who knows, that card could be a good omen.”
“Maybe,” I said as I tucked the card into my coat pocket. We spent most of the flight talking about my time back in Seattle and the law firm I’d worked at. I told him everything about myself without going into detail about my brief relationship being with a wizard and my job working for witches.
“Life is short, young man. You have to take advantage of love when it presents itself. Don’t be afraid to embrace it, even when it comes at you fast,” he said just as the plane began its descent into St. Louis.
I was surprised how fast the flight had gone. I was afraid the time would drag, considering I’d just left a life I’d been so happy with a few hours ago. The man wished me luck, and when he winked, a real light twinkled in his eye. I almost felt nervous that I had sat with another magical person the entire time, but I knew he wasn’t dangerous. Besides, he disappeared right after we landed, and I didn’t see him again.
I came out of security to the baggage claim to find a somewhat wilted older couple holding a sign with my name. “Hi, I’m Owen,” I said, and the couple smiled.
“We’ve been sent to pick you up. We’re parked outside. I felt bad about such an elderly couple picking me up, but ifthey were witches, I had to assume they could take care of themselves. Luckily, my bag rolled around, so I grabbed it and followed them to their car and back to the town I’d left just months before with the hope of a new and brighter future.
Oh well, at least I’d connected with new and fascinating people before my life fell apart. That’s something I’d remember for the rest of my life. Not that this life would give me much to look forward to.
Chapter thirty-nine
Damian
“How safe is itto ask questions across the veil?” I asked the parchment.
“I’m sure it’s just you and me. The parchment is ancient, but it’s imbedded with my blood, my DNA, and those who have preceded me. It should be very safe.”
“The Re’em unicorn has returned,” I said and was suddenly very happy Orville could no longer come up to the attic.
Elias, via the parchment, didn’t respond for several long moments. Finally, he said, “The arrival of the Re’em brings about two things. First, historically, it represents purity and can cleanse even the most impure. Second, the Re’em is vulnerable, at least in its formative years. Once it’s fully powerful, of course, nothing can harm it. But it is intensely vulnerable at the beginning of its life.
“The Re’em itself is a correction. When the balance on Earth tips too far to the dark, the unicorn is released to bring balance back. If those who wish to tip the scales irrevocably can getahold of the unicorn before it has developed its powers and strength, they can throw the universe into darkness that may take centuries to overcome.”
“Can you explain?” I asked, and Elias paused before clarifying.
“Yes, we’ve experienced such anomalies in history. Europe’s Middle Ages were the last. It took a very long time for us to crawl out of those years, and we almost failed. Think of the plagues that swept across the earth.
The destruction in the last few centuries is still related to the problems of the previous two millennia. The Re’em’s blood was spilled, and darkness swept in behind it.
If a unicorn has returned, you must do everything in your power to protect it. Give it time and space to mature so it can heal the earth. As the Legacy Wizard, it would be your job and responsibility. Nothing would be more important.
I didn’t dare tell him I saw Owen in those images. That he was possibly the Re’em unicorn. I hadn’t accepted that at first, not until I’d begun talking to Elias.
Now, it was clear and I couldn’t help but tremble at the thought that the vipers had somehow figured out who or what he was. I needed to find him fast. I smiled as my thoughts drifted to an idea.”
“Elias, I may need your help. Can you help me create a golem?”
“Golems aren’t of the light, wizard.”
“They aren’t of the darkness either, if my instincts are correct. I need it to protect the Re’em.”
“I can help, but you must put spells on the golem to ensure it doesn’t harm the innocent. Yet, if this is what you need to protect the Re’em, you should do it.”
I followed Elias’s directions on which substances I needed for the golem. I needed to create it using the light. Not only because of the oath I intrinsically made as a Legacy Wizard, but if the vipers knew or even suspected what Owen was, the golem must not give off any dark. Something I should’ve noticed about Owen was that he was pure light. Jeez, I let so much get past me. Being a new wizard wasn’t a good enough excuse.
When I went downstairs to find something with Owen’s DNA, I ran into four very concerned-looking ghosts. “Is Owen okay?” Lucious asked.
