Chapter 25 [McNichols Hall Room 217]
Even as the party crashers encircled them from the south and east, the group settled in for their final class of the day. The fifteen students in the class awaited their professor's guest lecturer with a mixture of emotion. They also wondered about the people occupying the back row.
Katrina sat beside Angie anxiously. She of course felt Serilda's presence in addition to that of her coven below. She dreaded another confrontation with Abraham and the other two horsemen knowing that blood could be spilled. She clearly picked up on Dave's vibrations at the desk. She looked to Ichabod and motioned toward the window.
Ichabod nodded sagely deducing her meaning without difficulty. He wished he had his musket and other weaponry on him. Certainly they'd not attack here! Then he recalled his former friend's rage and single minded purpose. Abraham would indeed if to humiliate me! He turned to Dave who focused to keep himself in check. "Perhaps we might get under way?"
"Good idea." Dave headed for the door and shut it firmly. His eyes swept the room for any possible sign of trouble. He found none inside but felt the tremors outside. He felt his alter ego's thirst for a fight building in his head. Still he kept himself composed. "Good evening, Folks. Hope your reading went well for tonight. Any questions before I make the introduction?"
The students in the audience looked at each other but remained mute. On nights like that one, they let him talk rather than engage him. While they couldn't pin it down, they knew there was something off about him.
Angie sighed and rolled her eyes. She hated when people feared her husband because of what he was. It's not his fault! She considered her options. She felt the energies building as well outside. She recalled the item of interest secreted in Nyoki's office two doors down the hall. I just hope I don't need it. If things get hot, we'll need all of the help we can get!
After letting the silence linger for a full minute, Dave cleared his throat. "Okay. Remember, Gang, you can always drop by for office hours or shoot me an email. All right?" He stepped out from behind the lectern and picked up a pile of packets sitting on the desk's right front corner. "Everybody, take one please and pass the rest along, can you? I appreciate it." He stepped back toward the front wall and looked out over the group. "As I mentioned last time, we have a guest speaker tonight. He has taught this subject material at various points with Merton College at Oxford University. He has researched this field to the point where some claim he's actually been through it. I want you all to give him your full attention. And now, here's Professor Ichabod Crane. Professor Crane, the podium's yours." He walked toward the back and joined Angie there.
"Thank you, Professor Dubois, for the introduction and opportunity to speak with this class. The eighteenth century was a time much different than this one in so many ways. I can imagine what a man of that era would think of our modern niceties such as electricity, computers, Internet or even Starbucks…" Ichabod started.
Abbie rolled her eyes. He'd have to bring that up. Crane, so help me!
Rather than wait for his partner's reaction, Ichabod pressed on. Despite his initial nerves, he felt in his element once more. He paced for a minute behind the desk sizing up the students and other audience members. Then he kept going, "The American Revolution represented a time of upheaval on both sides of the Pond, I fear. While the fighting occurred here, the British had other concerns in their empire. Remember it was a global empire not just one of thirteen colonies which they had here. A great deal of the issues had evolved over the century before that. The country remained split between Tories—those loyal to the Crown—and the Patriots—those wanting independence. The fighting was intense sometimes door to door. This area had its share of engagements. Professor Dubois' own ancestor dealt with his share of British and Hessian soldiers not far from here." Wish they could know it was David himself!
That remark made the students turn toward their teacher in surprise.
Dave simply nodded and motioned back toward Ichabod.
And with that, Ichabod grasped the podium's sides and found his groove…..
[Thirty minutes later]
After Ichabod hit on a few more carefully chosen insights from his outline, he wrapped up the lecture and handed the class back to his friend. Sharing a great deal of the so-called "hidden history" from his native era granted a degree of satisfaction. At least the knowledge won't be lost again. He'd noticed wisps of light in the darkness outside…never a good sign.
Dave felt uneasy as well. He kept his right hand pressed up against the patent desk's underside to obscure the glowing emerald scar. He burned from the vibrations moving ever so closer. "Thank you, Professor Crane. Normally I'd open up for questions. I think however we'll adjourn early. Professor Crane, I apologize but I think we'd best be sure to get you back to Wabash, right?"
Ichabod forced himself to remain composed. Normally he'd insist on the academic interchange with the students. However, given the date and the potential threat lurking outside, he relented to the circumstances. "If any of you has queries, Professor Dubois has my electronic mail address. I would be delighted to speak with you as you'd like. My thanks for listening. Good evening."
Suddenly the room turned icy cold. Everyone's breaths turned visible. The participants shivered incessantly.
Dave stood with great effort. By now the scar on his right hand cast a bright emerald hue over the entire room. The numbness swept its way across his scalp. His eyes glowed yellow. He spasmed in reaction to the dark energies in the hall outside. "I…know you're there! Show yourself!"
"Aye! Tis a wretched gatherin'!" Serilda flung the door open with a spell and almost strutted into the room. "Once 'gain, Dubois, we meet!"
"Funny. I don't remember you," Dave growled. "Nice trick with the door."
"Ah hast more!" Serilda chanted once more and pointed at him. She sent a dark energy blast though the air and knocked Dave through the window toward the grass below.
Abbie and Irving drew their guns and advanced carefully on Serilda.
"Watch her, Lieutenant," Irving directed. "Serilda of Abingdon, on behalf of the Eagle Plain Police Department, I am placing you under arrest for trespassing and assault with a deadly weapon. Keep your hands where we can see them!" He clicked the safety off on his pistol.
"Fools! Ah didna' come 'lone!" Serilda hissed. With a wave of her hands, she disarmed the two officers. "As if thy weapons could best me?"
Katrina glanced at the students huddled in the corner. If only they were gone, I could use my magic! Then she got an idea. She opened her mind to the mists and beyond them. ["Cybelle, can you hear me?"]
["I can, Sister. The matter will be attended to. Be mindful of what we discussed earlier. Give Angela a pretext for leaving,"] Cybelle insisted.
On cue, a patch of mist dropped over the huddled students spiriting them away from the scene.
With that Katrina stood and faced Serilda. "Begone, Serilda!" She fired her own spell at the other witch.
"Katrina! Tis thee AT LAST!" Serilda sniggered and returned fire initiating a dark spell war of sorts.
Meantime Angie fretted over her options. She felt the tension rising outside from both Dave and the advancing forces. The magical vibrations from the duel tore into her own psychic sensibilities. She felt concern and fear tearing her apart for their own respective agendas.
As much as she wanted to stay down, she needed to help out. For that, she needed the sword.
The bundle sitting on Katrina's desk pulled at her too…There was something about it. Something that she needed from it. What now? While she wanted to open it, she didn't have time at the moment. She grabbed it for herself. "Dave, forgive me." The oncologist yanked on Nyoki's sleeve. "Your office now."
"Hai," Nyoki tugged Angie from the room just avoiding a direct hit from the magical attacks in the room. She guided her friend down the ancient hall in an eastern direction.
A strong impact from outside shook the building to its very foundations.
The familiar Scream rang in their ears.
"The Child has met our adversaries. You know purpose," Nyoki bade while unlocking her office. "Draw it. We wait for her."
Angie gulped anxiously as she slowly made her way across the small office toward the sword leaning against the far wall. Even if it was only thirty feet or so across the expanse, she felt as if it were a hundred. She hefted it by the hilt.
As she did so, the bundle sent a shockwave of energy through her body and into the sword.
She ground her teeth to deal with what felt like a thousand bees stinging her. "AHHH!"
"Angie, HANG IN THERE! DO IT!" Nyoki urged frantically.
Angie put the bundle under her arm and pulled at the sword's sheath. Slowly she separated the weapon from its scabbard.
More impacts echoed from the grounds below.
As the metal blade came into view, it pulsated with a bright light…a light which covered the entire office in its luminosity and heat.
Angie screamed and then went silent. Her hands burned and pulsated from the objects. She felt pain and then was swept away…..
Hang in there! You can do this! Come out! We need you! Nyoki pressed in her thoughts as she covered her eyes from the glare. She sensed the changes going on in front of herself. She heard glass breaking and forced her eyes to stare into the glare.
The window glass spilled across the floor. The icy breeze from outside chilled her. The leather which had covered Katrina's bundles skittered across the floor. The sword and scabbard were gone.
Nyoki looked outside. To the right, she saw a shadowy feminine figure tensing on the overhang waiting for the right moment. "Angie?"
The shadow woman narrowed her eyes. "Angela's safe. Watch the others, Nyoki. I got this." Then she turned back toward the conflict brewing below.
Nyoki grabbed her kitana and rushed out of the room. She locked it behind herself and then headed for the classroom again.
The real battle though would be outside….And that would be telling….