Page 84 of The Fate of Black Hearts

“You think it’s me?” Brik’s eyelid opened. Hewatched out of the corner of his eyes.

“I think you should let me be sure it’s not you.”

He held his arms wide. “Test me.”

From his pocket, Dom removed a detect charm that could show him both demon possession and spells. “Signa mihi diaboli revela.”Reveal unto me the signs of the devil.He repeated it twice more. The charm didn’t light up as it would if this mage were infected, nor did Brik show any indication of the pain he should’ve felt if he was possessed.

“I assume I passed.” The mage’s weary gaze found his. “I’ve known for a while something was off. For them to do what was done to you, and keep doing it, made no sense.”

He kept his hands ready should Brik attack. “What do you think should have been done in the face of that prophecy?”

“Historically, with witch magic, be it a spell or curse or prophecy, we evaluate. We talk about it until we’re sick of it, but we comprehend all its implications. If it’s something we think may be a problem at some point, we record our evaluation. We watch. Our purpose is not to thwart the Fates or change destiny. Ours is to try to maintain the balance of nature. For me, I protect the trees and creatures of the rainforest. For you, you focus on protecting humans, sometimes nonhumans.” He reached out to take Dom’s hand. In silence, he studied the area where Dom had worn the obsidian ring. “How do you feel without it in place?”

“Less divided. Restored.” He flexed his left hand. “I didn’t realize it dampened me.”

His face gentled. “If you actually wanted to befree of your restriction, you would’ve found a way, but you believed yourself enough of a threat that you allowed it. You are far stronger than any of us realize. Far more disciplined. I also suspect you’ve learned much about yourself and your abilities during your isolation. Probably more than any of us will ever discover.”

“I need your help.”

He clapped his hands. “Finally. A mission. Is there a threat of death?”

“Yes.”

“Certainty of a good fight?”

“Probably.”

“Excellent. I’m bored of all this. Tell me what we’re doing.”

“We’re going to find out what is exerting influence over the Conclave and who’s affected.”

“Who are we visiting first?”

Dom smiled.

Brik and Dom appeared in the housing unit attached to the Conclave Temple. Opening the door to Marik’s dwelling with its sparse décor, they found him on his cell phone. The place was primarily an office with a futon for a bed. What a sad existence.

Marik deliberately didn’t pay attention to them from where he sat at the massive wooden desk.

Dom scribbled on the small pad of paper and held it up for Marik to see:You look like shit.

Marik snatched the pen from him and wrote back:You shouldn’t be here.He laughed softly, still engrossed in his conversation. “Who do you think released a hoard of goblins on you? How many? Hold on while I consult.” He pressed a button on the desktop phone. “Dom, how does one contain what seems like twenty goblins released onto a mage’s property?”

“Twenty is ridiculous. They’d be fighting each other. They only travel in groups of two or three. What level is this mage?”

“One.”

“He’s dead.”

Marik got back on the phone, “James, are you sure there are more than two or three?” He listened for a bit. “Are they threatening humans in the area?” He pushed the hold button.

“He swears there have to be at least six he can see out his front window and the same out his back. He thinks they’re bespelled by a witch he’s in a property dispute over. They might be a threat to some humans across the road.”

“Are you going to take a trip out there to save him?” Dom asked.

“I don’t have time. I don’t have anyone available. Will you do it?”

“What’s the address?”