Chapter 24
I drove into the city to the Langhorne Security office. I could have tried to use magic to jump there, but appearing out of thin air in front of people didn’t seem like a good idea, that and I really wasn’t sure I could do it again if I wanted to. I was actually thankful for the alone time the drive provided. It gave me time to think.
I hadn’t meant to be so brusque with Gwen. My emotions took over when I thought about my sister, but even so it was like a black cloud had enveloped me. For the past year I’d carefully wrapped myself in a cocoon of work, with a steady diet of repetition, which had taken my mind off of all my personal demons. Being idle too long was a sure way to let the vivid memories preoccupy thoughts, taking away any semblance of steering the direction of life. Now that comfortable world was unraveling. Not that many people would have called my world comfortable by any stretch.
The parking lot next to the office was unusually full so I parked a block away. Walking with my head down I was vaguely aware of other pedestrians bustling by, but was mostly lost in thought. The sun was no longer out, the fine mist that filled the air added to my feeling of trepidation as the cool moisture worked on slowly saturating my clothes… perfect.
I walked past the deli next door to the office and saw one of the counter girls looking my way. She was a cute girl who always insisted on giving me a free cookie. I gave a polite nod, trying to smile out of habit. She didn’t return my smile, staring at me briefly before turning her attention back to the man at the counter. He wore a cheap suit that was about a size too big. When he noticed her looking, he turned and eyed me steadily as I walked past.
Langhorne Securities was in a turn of the century building, and not the most recent one. I pulled the heavy out door but it didn’t budge. I had been so preoccupied with my thoughts I hadn’t noticed the line of black SUV’s parked at the curb. Looking around I saw a man holding a newspaper, looking over the top of it, not really reading, a jogger nearby was kneeling over tying his shoe and taking an especially long time at it. Before I finished surveying the street, the door swung open.
Jim Langhorne didn’t say anything for a few beats, his lips were pursed like he was straining with exertion.
“Gordon,” he moved his eyes over his shoulder without turning his head. The lobby light had been turned off, the blinds drawn putting the office in gloom. I couldn’t see anything in the office but I could sense by his demeanor something was wrong. At the same time I took a step back, Jim was pulled off his feet roughly, flung like a rag doll over the secretary desk ten feet behind him.
On reflex I started toward Jim before stopping myself. The hesitation was enough for agents to lunge out and grab hold of me, pulling me through the doorway. I struggled trying to pull away, the hands that gripped me were like a steel vise, I couldn’t move an inch in their grasp.
A part of my mind wondered if I jumped into the multiverse would it take those holding on with me? I wasn’t sure. Thinking of the safe house, I concentrated on jumping there. I pictured the kitchen where James, Rutger and I had eaten lunch a short time ago. It was then that I felt the buzzing of magic build up like static electricity before being discharged, then… nothing. The feeling of magic that had been in the air was gone. Scrubbed away without ever being used. In hindsight I was glad jumping hadn’t worked. If I took the agents with me, it would have put Gwen, Maeve and Eros in danger.
A man stepped out of the shadows. His long beard brushed his hand as he flicked it out. He gave me a smile that chilled me to the core at the same time as I felt my magic draining out of me again.
“Put the shackles on him, peons. Then take him away,” he said.
Heavy cuffs were snapped on my wrists, I felt my magic being… dampened. The feeling inside me that I had become accustom to without knowing it was dwindling.
Unlike before when he had drained my magic all at once the shackles felt like there was a slow leak draining it. But they were also keeping me from recharging, which was akin to taking a breath and not getting any oxygen. Every time I tried to reach for magic, I felt a stifling resistance keeping me from drawing it in. I shuddered each time it happened, unable to control my magic from trying to recharge over and over.
Soon my magic reservoirs would be completely empty. Then there was a sharp pain in my neck, then everything went dark.