The hotel Harper choose was one of those that specialized in extended stays. Despite feeling a bit uneasy about the cost, she went ahead and picked one of the largest suites. She did have faith that Alex would pay her back when the magic returned after all, and with all they had on their mind, Harper figured they were entitled to whatever minor comforts that were available to them.
Alex called home again that evening. She had the chance to speak both her parents and also her boyfriend Mason as well. He immediately offered to fly out to California to join them...but Jerry Russo had quickly made clear why that was impossible.
Mason was a werewolf. While he was a charming and polite a young man, that didn't change the fact that the beast within him operated on instinct and impulse. If he came anywhere near Molach, even if the evil entity was at it's absolute weakest, Mason's bestial side would be an irresistible target. While it would be incredibly hard for Molach to leave one human host for another, leaping into Mason would be almost effortless for him. Similarly, while it would take Molach time to corrupt and posses a normal human...a werewolf's soul could be overcome and consumed in mere minutes. Not only would this be the end of Mason, but it would place Molach in control of a savage, homicidal beast.
Still, thinking with his heart instead of his head (as he so often did) Mason was willing to take the risk.
"No!" Alex's answer was firm.
"But I can't stand the thought of you being there in danger while I stay here and do nothing to help," Mason replied
"You coming here and getting killed would be worse." Alex's tone softened. "Think about how that would make me feel." She swallowed hard. "I couldn't take that."
The young Englishman sighed. "You're right, of course."
Alex managed a small smile. "I thought we'd established that I'm always right."
Once the phone conversation had ended, Alex turned to Harper.
"Do you want to call Zeke?
Harper shook her head. "I will in a day or two, but I'm not going to tell him what's going on. He'd just worry, and I don't want to ruin his vacation."
"Oh, yeah," Alex said as she tried to recall just what kind of camp Harper's boyfriend was serving as a youth counselor at. "He might as well enjoy...clog dancing camp?"
"Performing arts camp," the redhead corrected. "Though I'm sure he's giving plenty of clogging lessons to the kids."
"No doubt," Alex replied before changing the subject. "You ready for our first lesson tomorrow?"
"I think so. I still remember some of what I learned in Judo class years ago...before someone used magic to instantly make me a brown belt without telling me."
"Hey, I thought I was helping at the time," Alex countered. "It's too bad that spell isn't still active though. It might have been helpful."
Maybe." Harper shrugged. "The important thing is to find Molach before he can do anything to whoever he's hiding in."
******'******
The next day, Alex and Harper began their task of observing and learning all they could about their new classmates and teacher.
It quickly became obvious that finding Molach wasn't going to happen overnight, for the more time they spent with 'The Wasabi Warriors', as the dojo's star students were called, the more they found the teens to be likable, fun...and decidedly non-evil.
Milton was the least formidable fighter of the group, but an absolute genius. Harper quickly bonded with her fellow redhead, for he enjoyed discussing robots and alien languages just as much as Zeke and Justin always had.
Alex, somewhat to her surprise, got along well with Jerry. He was the delinquent of the group...or at least as close to one as this group could have. Underneath it all, he was a good-hearted kid who was fiercely loyal to his friends...though that didn't stop him from pranking them whenever he had the chance. It wasn't too long before Alex found herself giving him prank pointers, and getting a few new ideas from him in return.
Kim was overjoyed at finally having other females in the dojo with her, so she was quite friendly to both the newcomers. Harper and Alex each found the younger girl delightful. Harper appreciated the blonde's enthusiasm for schoolwork and good citizenship, while Alex admired the girl's aggressive and feisty nature. A nature that, when it showed itself, was anything but subtle.
******'******
Harper and Alex were walking through the park with their new friends when they passed another group of teens.
"Yo Jerry," one of the other group called out. "You still think you got the moves."
"You know I do," Jerry answered as he stepped towards the other boy. The two began circling each other in a way that made Alex and Harper guess that the two teens were longtime rivals.
"Are they going to fight?" Harper asked in a concerned tone.
"Not exactly," Jack answered.
"That's DJ," Milton added. "He and his friends are nothing to worry about."
But while the rest of the Wasabi Warriors remained relaxed, Jerry continued circling DJ in a confrontational manner.
"You calling me out?" the dark-haired teen asked.
"Only if you're up to the challenge," DJ answered.
"Name the time and place."
"Tomorrow, four o'clock. Outside Circus Burger," came the reply.
"Alright then," Jerry said. "We' have ourselves a dance-battle!"
The worry that Harper had been feeling vanished with a surprised smile. "A dance-battle? Aw...Zeke would love this."
Alex started to comment, but her attention was drawn to Kim...who had stepped forward to offer some encouragement to Jerry.
Very loud encouragement.
"Yeah, you guys be there and be ready to watch DJ lose!" she exclaimed, eliciting a smile from Jerry. "And when I say lose, I mean LOSE! Beaten! Annihilated!"
DJ's group waled away but Kim continued calling after them...even as Jerry and her other friends began trying to quietly calm her down.
"You are going to get schooled!" she yelled. "BOOM goes the dynamite!"
"Kim," Jack said as he put a hand on her shoulder.
"I SAID BOOM!" she yelled once more before turning to face her boyfriend. Seeing the look on his, and her other friends' faces, her own expression became puzzled. "What?"
Jack, Jerry and Milton rolled their eyes, and then they and Kim acted as if nothing had happened.
For a moment, Harper and Alex wondered if the outburst was an indication that Molach was in Kim's body, but when they asked if this was unusual, Milton informed them that this was nothing new for Kim.
"You know," Alex whispered to Harper. "I think I just figured out why I like Kim so much."
"Because she's awesome?" Harper guessed.
"Besides that," the young wizard replied. "Think about it. She's all sweetness and light on the surface, but underneath she's a burning ball of rage." She paused and smiled. "She's a younger, blonder version of you."
Harper's eyes lit up. "She is!" Then her grin turned a little smug. "I told you she was awesome." Suddenly an idea struck her. "She doesn't quite have my fashion sense though. Maybe I should give her wardrobe a makeover."
Alex's first thought was to laugh, but then was struck with the frightening possibility that Kim might actually like the redhead's ideas on fashion. By herself, Harper in one of her outfits could be overwhelming. If she had a double, it might be more than the world could take.
"Let's just worry about finding Molach first," Alex suggested.
******'******
As for the final two possibilities for Molach's host, Harper and Alex saw no signs of evil either.
Indeed, if they had to pick one word to describe Jack...'heroic' would have been a fair choice. He was something of the leader among his friends. Certainly they all admired him. He was a good friend to Milton and Jerry, and he and Kim were clearly in love. An amazing martial artist, he nonetheless tried to defuse conflicts without violence whenever he could.
As to the group's sensei, Rudy, he was the one Harper and Alex were the most puzzled by at first. He was an incredible teacher, but also a hyperactive man-child. It startled the young women how he could offer sage wisdom one moment and turn into an immature goofball the next. Despite this, it was clear he'd do anything for his students, and that they'd do the same for him. Indeed, the Wasabi Warriors and their sensei seemed more like a family than martial arts school. The teens hung out at the dojo often outside of their lesson times, and Rudy often took them out for pizza or to the movies or otherwise socialized with them.
Alex and Harper were welcomed into the group so thoroughly that they were able join in to such activities. This gave them even more opportunities to look for signs of Molach.
Unfortunately as their first week in California ended, and then their second...there was still no sign of evil behavior to be seen.
******'******
"It's been three weeks, Dad," Alex spoke into the phone. "And magic is still on lockdown!"
"Honey, I know it's frustrating-"
"Frustrating?!" she exclaimed. "Dad, if the battle in the Wizard World is going so long, Justin could be in trouble!"
Jerry Russo sighed. He was just as worried about his eldest son as Alex was, but he wasn't going to show it. He was going to tell his daughter the same thing he'd told his wife. Yet even though he knew his words were the truth, he doubted that Alex would feel any more reassured than he was.
"The fact that the lockdown is still up is actually a good sign," he explained. "Yes, it means the battle is still going on...but it also means that the good guys are winning."
"How can you be sure?"
"The very best the evil wizards could be doing at this point is a stalemate. If they had the upper hand, they'd be able to lift the lockdown and start launching attacks on Earth and elsewhere...and believe me they would."
"But that doesn't mean that Justin and Juliet haven't been hurt...or..."
"They're fine!" He paused, regretting that he'd raised his voice. "We have to believe they're fine. The thing to do now is concentrate on Molach."
Knowing that was the only thing she could do, Alex tired to put her brother out of her mind.
"Are you sure Molach wasn't destroyed with the amulet?" she asked. "Because after all this time, Harper and I still haven't seen any signs of evil."
Her father pondered this. "We wouldn't be lucky enough for him to have been destroyed. But all the possible hosts are nice people...and they're all martial artists. Just how good are they? Their skill level."
"At martial arts?" Alex responded. "They range from very good to borderline unbelievable."
"Hmm...that might explain it. Martial arts requires mental discipline. So if these people are so good at it, and then genuinely nice people besides...they'd be much more resistant to Molach's influence."
"Does that mean they're safe from him?"
"I don't think so," the elder Russo reluctantly answered. "Even trapped inside a highly resistant host, Molach's power will increase over time. Eventually I'm afraid he could overcome any resistance."
******'******
There was nothing but dark and silence. This was the entirety of Molach's world. He screamed in unholy rage but no there was sound.
Trapped...trapped inside this insufferable human!
The spirit reached out, broadcasting dark feelings with as much force as he could. Anger. Rage. Fear. Greed.
The human host took no notice.
What kind of person is this!?
Molach tried again.
Hate...no reaction.
Lust...wait. Something?
ARRGH! Molach roared silently and thrashed in his spiritual prison. For a moment he'd actually felt a brief response, only to see it brushed aside with apparent ease by the host.
Still, that short lapse had proved the human wasn't infallible. This host may be unbearably virtuous, but could be worn down.
Molach gathered his strength and tried again.
To be continued...