Ch. 2 – The Awakening

Patch awoke and looked up. The sun was shining in his face. Yesterday, this room had seemed so uninviting and cruel. Now it seemed warm and cozy. He looked around to see his new room.

The first thing to catch his eye was the large window. It took up an entire wall. It had doors that led to a balcony, with large brass handles. He pushed them open, and walked onto the balcony. He looked around at his new home.

There were mountains everywhere. They seemed to hide the castle from view, but sunlight and clouds still seemed to come around the peaks of the mountains.

It was a wonderful sight. They were beautiful. The light gleamed off of them, and it hurt his eyes. Somehow he knew that he would climb one of them in his life, hopefully later in his life, but he didn't know why.

We walked back in his room. The wall to his left, with a door near one corner, had a large elegant fireplace, complete with a poker, brush, dustpan, and tongs. He went over to it, and suddenly wanted to light it. He knew there was a floo, an entrance to the chimney, which he had to open; otherwise the room would flood with smoke. He pulled the little door, and it opened. Then he realized he had no matches.

"Use your powers," said Dani.

"Well good morning to you, too," replied Patch.

He pointed at the logs in the fireplace. "Ignite," was all he said, and the entire fireplace came to life with a roar.

He stood and warmed himself. He walked over to the dark oak dresser. Inside were all his old clothes, but also other clothes, things he didn't recognize as his. He was sure they had something to do with being, what had Alex called it? A magic quartet? He made a mental note to find out later. He walked over to the closet and found the same thing. His clothes and things were there as well as a lot of things he didn't recognize.

Matching his dresser was a dark oak desk. On it were books he never would have dreamed of reading. Magic of the Ages; Curses; Hexes; Charms; and many other books.

"You'll need these later, Young Master," Dani said ominously.

"Thanks for the advice."

He looked at his bed. It was very old fashioned. A wrap around stair at the base. It had dark red, satin curtains. He sat down again. He looked around the room. He heard the fire crackle.

"Was it worth it?" he asked himself. "Was losing my family worth this?" he asked, and the tears started forming.

"Don't cry, Young One." Dani seemed louder, closer today. But he was right, Patch was crying.

"Enough of this," he thought, "I made a choice, so I need to stop looking back, and look forward."

He looked around. Where was the bathroom? Then he noticed another door. He walked over and opened it. Inside was the bathroom. There was a tub, shower, sink, and toilet. It was a nice bathroom, he later admitted. He got in the shower, the warm water waking him up.

He didn't see any towels when he got out.

"Wait a minute. I wonder…" He thought a second. "Dry," he said, and he was dry.

He walked out, and got dressed. After he was dressed, he noticed something outside. On the edge of the balcony was the largest, blackest, raven he had ever seen. He walked onto the balcony, and it approached him. On its leg was a note. He took it, and the bird flew away.

Patch,

You and your friends meet me in the foyer when you are ready. I hope to meet at eleven. It is 10 o' clock now. There is a clock in the nightstand drawer. Your powers will set it for you. Come dressed regularly. Your friends' rooms are next to yours, although I don't know what order.

Alex

P.S. These ravens are the messengers of Morgana. You can summon one by just picturing one. It should arrive soon. .

Patch stared at the note. He had completely forgotten about his friends. They were going through the same things as him.

Patch combed his hair, and left the room. It turned out he was at the end of the hall. Jordan's room was next to his, then Jamie's, then Amber's. There were also three empty rooms.

He got the others and they went to meet Alex. None of them talked much, but they all mentioned that the view had the same effect on them.

When they met Alex in the foyer, he seemed a lot more morbid then the day before.

"As you all know," he began," you all have a gift. You are linked through your friendship. Unlike you, other sorcerers such as me have one gift and only one. We can feel others' emotions, communicate with animals, or conjure the elements, and that's just mentioning a few. To this day, new powers are always being reported."

They all just took it in, but none of them still quite believed him.

"Have any of you noticed that I am less happy, or 'chipper' you might call it," and he paused as they nodded, "I'm an empath. It's a sorcerer or sorceress that can…"

He was cut off as Jamie interrupted him. "It's a sorcerer or sorceress that can read others emotions and use them for their powers. Hatred and anger for example.

They all stared at her. "I got bored yesterday, and read some of those books." She said sheepishly

"As I recommend you all do," Alex said. "That will be your first assignment, read as much of A Guide to Your Powers as you can tonight."

He snapped his fingers, and a book fell in front of all of them.

"Read this by the end of the week at the latest. We will continue you lessons tomorrow."

Patch headed for his room. It was only noon, and he was bored, so he figured he would start reading now, that is, until Dani cut in.

"This guide is useless. Go, follow my directions."

The Voice was suddenly full of excitement, yet Patch also felt a twinge of anger in it, too. It led him through the castle. Through living rooms, parlors, kitchens, and bathrooms he walked, following Dani's direction. It finally stopped talking when he reached a large set of dark, oak, double doors. At least twelve feet tall, highly polished, and very heavy, he pushed them open. It seemed strangely easy. It was the castle library.

Dani led him through the many isles and shelves. Some books looked brand new, while others looked as if the slightest touch would destroy them.

Dani guided him to the back of the library. A single book was on a pedestal.

"Incubuses and Succubuses? What on earth do I need this for?" Patch asked.

He heard Dani make a noise, something he hoped was a laugh, and then listened to him.

"Master, I have all the power you need. I can make you immortal. All I need to be completely awakened. I must be able to tap into your every emotion. If you do not believe me, then just read the book.

Patch opened the cover.

Dani, without Patch's knowledge, had changed the text. What Patch saw was:

"Every sorcerer has an incubus, and sorceress a succubus. These inner "helpers" have many abilities, but only when not told to others. To tell people of an idea brought about by an incubus or succubus could drastically lower the success of the idea…"

What the book really said was:

"Incubuses, or the female succubus, are demons in the form of a man or woman. Whether in the form of a human, an animal, or a voice, all are powerful, and ALL are evil as well. Their power resides in their ability to drain the soul of a strong force of good. To do this, they must reach their "dampened" state, also known as their "awakened" state. Never awaken an incubus or succubus.

"So I can't tell anyone about you?" asked Patch.

"Yes, Master." Dani was relieved that Patch had not read the true script.

"What do I do now?"

"Say the spell on the next page. Then destroy the book. That is all."

"Got something to destroy it with?"

A dagger, embedded with jewels and gold, appeared as he asked his question.

"Cool," was all he could say.

He turned the page. He read the spell a few times, looking to see if he needed to make any further adjustments. None were needed. Then he thought about it some more. It didn't seem…right. "Are you sure?" he asked Dani.

"Quite," was Dani's reply.

With that confirmation, Patch started chanting:

Spirit within, Deep below the skin.

From thy slumber, Awake from my cries.

I bring you power, Bring you life,

Seal the spell, With this knife.

He took the knife, wrapped both hands around it, raised it above his head, and then came straight down between the pages. Nothing happened right away, but then fire suddenly shot up out of the book. Slowly burning, Patch realized the ink was disappearing, and new words were forming.

"Your fate has been chosen.

Death shall come."

Whoa. Death?

"What does it mean 'death shall come'?"

Dani used his powers to finish a fake sentence.

"Keep reading…"

Not knowing the new words were fake, he kept reading:

"Death shall come to those who try to rid themselves of their incubus or succubus, due to the fact that they are part of the sorcerer's or sorceress's mind."

"Oh, I see" he said to himself. He was suddenly tired though it was only one in the afternoon."

"You should sleep young one."

"Good idea," was all he said, and he walked to his room, though the trip seemed shorter then the trip to the library.

Without knowing it, Patch had just sealed his friends' deaths by bringing to life the evilest incubus to live. The fire sealed the deal. There was nothing he could do. His friends were going to die, no matter what…