She moved past the dark wood tables set to the side of the room and the books stacked on top of them. One fell from the top of the massive pile and opened. She slide her gaze to it and squinted. Something was weird about that book. It seemed to hold all the magick she was feeling, even though it wasn’t what she was here for.

She ignored it and moved to the far side of the room. She realized the room was paneled and made a face.

Why would you do that?

She rested her hand on the wall and closed her eyes. The sound of the magick fought with her senses. It had a cadence most people wouldn’t expect, almost like a heartbeat of its own.

With her own magick, she pushed at it until she heard a click on the other side. The wall split open and Cassie pushed her hand through. She grabbed the small metal pen. Her hand felt like it was on fire. She almost dropped it, but somehow held on even though her hand felt like she’d stuck it on a burner and thought, yeah, I’ll wait and see what this does.

She pulled her hand back through the wall and tossed the pen into her bag. Her gaze slid to the book that had garnered so much interest a few minutes prior. Cassie bit her lip. What harm would it do to take this one other thing as well?

She took a step and surveyed the book. It was sitting on its spine, open to a page she didn’t understand, but the power. That was what was amazing about it. There had to be something more to it.

She grabbed it and her breath stopped. It was full of so much magick. It was almost overwhelming. She almost didn’t notice the barrel of the shotgun on her back. Almost.

“Put it down,” a sophisticated man said from behind her. Even his voice sounded like it was rich.

She put the book on a nearby table and put her hands up. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting her magick survey the situation. He was in close proximity, with the gun cocked, but it was clear that he hadn’t fired one in a long time. At least, that was what she figured.

She let her blue eyes flutter open and spun on him. Before he could even think of pulling the trigger, she had the gun knocked out of his hands.

“Sorry about this,” she said as she raised her hand and a blue line encased him on the floor. It wrapped around him until it met and then rose, encasing him in a blue bubble of sorts.

“It won’t last too long,” Cassie turned and grabbed the book, even with protests from Mr sophisticated in the bubble.

“You don’t understand what that book is, do you?” He said, watching her.

She turned and took him in for the first time. He was older, probably in his fifties, with short graying hair. He was wearing a suit even at this time of night. She figured he hadn’t gone to bed yet.

“And you do?”

“I do. I’ve been studying magick for a long time.”

“Great, but it doesn’t look like you have any.” 

Cassie raised her hand, and fire sat in her palm. “I think I’ll be fine.”

“You have no idea.”

His words sent a shiver up her spine, but she ignored it. Cassie closed her hand, and the fire went out before she turned and walked through the door and out of the house.

Cassie slipped the book into the bag with the pen and slung it over her shoulder. The magick made her back tingle, but she had the goods. Now all she needed was a buyer.

Cassie smiled. She was aware of the pen. The person who requested it had been quite forthcoming about its purpose. Your future could be written by that damn thing. It couldn’t affect others, but it could give you anything you wanted and make every dream come true. That was a power Cassie did not know why anyone would want. Sure, it sounds fine, but all magick has a cost of some kind. The Order had taught her that.

She shook her head at the thought. Cassie had fought to get out of that mess. The thing that had destroyed her family, she didn’t want anything to do with it.

She was so far in thought; she didn’t feel the magick ripple around her until it was too late. Cassie was taking a hit and eating the concrete. She spun quickly and kicked at the person who had knocked her down.

They flew back and their dark hood fell onto their back. She met Cassie’s eyes and hissed at her. Cassie shook her head. Fucking Vampires.

“You realize I’m not in the Order anymore, right?” She pulled herself to her feet and raised her hands in frustration at the Vamp Woman.

“Once you’re in, you don’t leave. You’ll always be my enemy.” She glanced at the bag and then back to her. “Besides, you have something we want.”

We? She felt the change in the air before she saw him. He was old. Probably one of the older vampires she’s seen. Cassie shook her head. Why are they always vampires? Cassie had dealt with a lot of different types of demons, but these were the oldest ones. Some say beginning evil.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Cassie, but I will,” the man said as he got closer. She couldn’t see him clearly until he was almost in front of her. Then she saw him. His dark eyes locked on her and his old west style clothing made her knit her brow in confusion. Did he just like looking like he was from the old west?

“Look, I don’t want you to hurt me either, but you’re not getting that book.” She tightened her grip on the bag and slid it over her shoulder.

“You don’t know what it is, do you?” He said, cocking his head to one side.

“Don’t care, but if you want it, I want it more.” She reached inside of herself and pulled at the magick in her. She felt it twist around her until it rested in her palm. She smiled as she twitched her hand and fire formed between her and the Vampire.

Cassie knew she couldn’t take on two vampires on her own, much less one that was as old as this guy. She bolted down the road as fast as she could and turned the corner, but he was faster and blocked her way. She ran into him as he grabbed her wrist and threw her against the wall of an alley she’d gone down without thinking.

“Magick is fine if you know how to use it,” he said, getting closer to her.

“Who said I didn’t? Maybe I just don’t want to use it on you,” Cassie snapped.

“Then you’re stupid,” he said. “Give me the book. This is your last chance.”

Cassie pulled herself to her feet and ignored the nagging pain in her left leg. She couldn’t run now. “No.”

He shook his head. “What a waste.” He came at her, grabbing her arm and pulling the bag away from her. Once he had it in his hands, he gave her a hard shove back into the wall and pulled the bag open. His gaze went back to Cassie. “Where is it?”

“I put it in there, I swear,” she said before closing her eyes. She felt her heartbeat quicken and the magick rise inside her. She let it fill her until it was begging to escape, to find a way out. She opened her eyes and let it go. The charge in the air made her ears ring, but the power was intoxicating. The Vamp realized what was happening right before the magick tore through his skin. It pushed him to the ground as the ripple hit the woman Vamp with him. She disintegrated in front of Cassie’s eyes.

Cassie grabbed the bag and hobbled away as fast as she could around a corner before leaning on the wall and casting a glamor so no one could see her. She waited, holding her breath and trying to ignore the pain tearing through her.

The Vampire turned the corner and stopped. A smile crossed his lips. “Magick can’t hurt me. I know you’re still here.”

Cassie felt her breath catch as she tried to stay quiet. Then she felt something else and knew her little game was over.

***

She watched as this vampire with so much more power than she’d ever seen before looked her dead in the eye. A smile crept to his lips, and he brought his hand up to grab the bag over her shoulder.

She couldn’t back up, so she braced for this vampire to kill her, or worse. Instead, he froze and turned around slowly. She followed his gaze to someone she really didn’t want to see.

“That’s enough, Wes,” he said.

The Vampire turned and eyed the man standing behind him. He looked the same as he had the last time she’d seen him. Cody wore dark jeans and a dark blue long-sleeved shirt. His glasses sat on his nose and his dark hair was short, just the same as always. His light eyes fixed on Cassie before sliding to the Vampire.

“Cody, you just won’t give up, will you?” He stood in front of Cassie, blocking her against the wall. “This one is mine.”

“No, she’s not. She’s a part of the Order. You know that.”

“Do I?” He said with a smile.

“Do you really want a war with us?” Cody stepped forward, and a woman came into view behind him. Cassie groaned as she realized who it was.

Wes cocked his head and slid his gaze to the woman and back to Cody. “You’d do better to keep your people out of my side of town. You never know what will happen over here. It’s easy to get lost.” He smiled and then was gone before Cassie could blink.

Cody crossed his arms and took a step towards her. “What did he want?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.” Cassie pulled the bag closer to her. She didn’t know if he could see through her glamor, but she was going to keep this haul as close as possible.

“When did you get back?” the woman asked.

“Sorry, sis. I just didn’t want to make it a thing,” Cassie said, stepping out of her hiding place.

“A thing?” She shook her head. Her light brown hair shaking down her back.

“Look Lark, you were always the better sister. We both know that,” Cassie said.

She grabbed Cassie’s arm and stopped her from her getaway. “That’s not true.”

“Sure it is. Mom always said you had the magick and you could follow orders like you’re supposed to. I’m just not built like that.” Cassie pulled her arm away and turned, but Cody was standing in front of her.

Oh, come on!

“Come back to headquarters with us. Let me make sure you’re okay and then you can do whatever it is you want to.” His light eyes peeled her defenses away, and she nodded her head reluctantly.

She was shaken up. She’d never met a demon she couldn’t kill.

“Who the hell was that vampire?”

Cody flinched at the question, but keep walking.

“He was someone you don’t want to be caught in a dark alley with,” Lark answered for him. “If you’d stayed at the Order, you’d know all about him.”

She rolled her eyes, but kept walking. Her sister was always the one that knew everything. She was five years older and made sure everyone knew. When Cassie joined the order, she was only fifteen. Her sister and mom had already been protecting humanity for several years. Cassie trained for three years before she got to go on her first mission, but everything went wrong and they lost the one person they both had felt like they could trust.

Their mother.

Cassie quit the next day, but Lark seemed to think it was her new mission to protect anyone she could, no matter the cost.

They turned the corner and the Order’s headquarters came into view. It was a simple building in the middle of a dark and sometimes dangerous city. It always reminded Cassie of a church, but the symbols were nothing like that. No crosses or other Christen items. Our history was buried deep in Apache tradition. All our legends and protections came from there. The original elders didn’t see the race. They only saw potential.

The old brick was still looking worse for wear as each day progressed, but she still respected the work. It just wasn’t for her.

They walked into the building and everything expanded. The ceiling looked taller and the building suddenly had way more room.

“You gotta love Magick,” Cassie said as she took in the tall ceiling. The light leaked through, even though it was night. The walls were exposed brick, with bookshelves lining the far wall of the room. A young man with blond hair walked past and looked at Cassie. He looked almost confused that she was with Cody.

Cody ran the entire Order of Fate now, or The Order for short.. There were a lot of rumors as to what happened, but he never really spoke about it. Lark was second in command and I was certain she knew everything he was willing to tell, but wasn’t going to say anything to me.

“My office, please,” Cody said, waving us towards the old wood door. Lark stepped in first and Cassie followed. Cody closed the door behind them and they all sat at the desk.

“Now that we’re someplace where eyes and ears are not, I can talk to you.” He walked to the other side of the desk and watched Cassie. “What did you take?”

“Just a pen,” Cassie said. She wasn’t going to give up the book. It was something she wanted to figure out on her own.

He eyed her, and she didn’t break her stance. The last thing Cassie wanted was for Cody to know what she was doing. She figured changing the subject was a better idea.

“Who was that vampire? You didn’t answer me earlier,” Cassie asked.

Cody stopped and dropped his gaze to his desk. He took a long time to say anything. “He’s someone I knew a long time ago.”

“A long time ago?” Cassie asked.

“Yes. That’s the only reason he was any leeway at all.” Cody sat and shook his head. “The last thing you want is any problems with Wesley.”

“He’s different from other vampires,” she said.

“Yes, he is.” Cody met her gaze, and it made Cassie shiver. “Never forget that.”

“Cassie, you should probably stay here tonight. They might be looking for you,” Lark said. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“You do realize I’ve been taking care of myself on my own for two years.” Cassie glared at Lark.

“Not with a vampire. you can’t defend yourself against looking for you,” she snapped.

“Fine. I’ll stay till dawn, but then I’m out of here,” Cassie said, standing and looking at Cody. “Is my room still empty?”

“No, but mom’s room is,” Lark said. “You can stay there tonight.”

“Perfect,” Cassie sighed. That’s just where she wanted to stay, in the place of her dead mother’s room.

She opened the door and walked away.

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