Mana Pool Snippets - Keystone

Part 3

Katie’s hand and arm started shaking, either the strain worsened or sadness was taking over. The shield’s light started to flicker. “But… why?” She asked.

Beth pointed at Katie. “What you are doing right now; this magic stuff. We cannot have it in this house.”

As if it was a strict rule, Katie’s shield disappeared, as did her glowing tattoos. Scott and Andrea walked closer to her.

“What? You believed we could bring her back even though she can blow holes through the walls? Or have a talking porcupine in the house?” Morgan said.

“You have a porcupine totem?” Scott asked Andrea. The little girl nodded, then muttered to herself, to her totem.

“If we bring her back, we put ourselves at risk. The magic and her animal getting in the way. I’m making this final. There is no way we can’t have Andrea in her. Not no way, not no how.”

Katie shook her head. “B-But magic can do more than hurt people. It can be great help, like the house chores. Do decorative creations for parties. I once heard this terran in Colorado that he conjured a pair of wings and flew out of the forest after getting lost. I was studying how to enchant items like a coffee mug to keep coffee or tea hot by feeding mana into the glyphs. I’m serious, if you two think that magic is trouble, but I think it is a gift to learn something new. When Scott and me were in Big Bear and Area 51 we used it to fight for our lives. Yes, our magic hurt people, but they were mostly zombies and--”

“Stop right there,” Morgan interrupted. “You say that it’s necessary, that it might, and I will say ‘might,’ make our lives better, but you are wrong, whoever you call yourself.” Morgan approached her and Scott was about to get in between them, but Morgan did not make him. He was not afraid to protect her. Even though his magic was unavailable, he still practiced karate.

“This magic shit you preach,” Morgan started, not even caring about Andrea. “It’s unknowable. Me and Beth see magic as a weapon. An uncontrollable weapon in people’s hands who are not at all qualified to have in the first place. I don’t care about the good, it will make things worse, not until a real cure is found.”

Before Katie could interject anymore, Andrea pushed passed the couple. The sad look on her face could melt and convince any person to help her, regardless of the terran additions. Her small tail was lifeless, her elf ears drooped, and they made the terran couple’s ears to follow suit.

“Dad, Mom,” she said. “I want to come home. I’ll be good. I don’t have to use magic. I-I’ll keep my totem out of trouble and outside all the time, I swear. Just… just stop this.”

Morgan’s jaw hardened and Beth looked away. The cold feeling swept through the terrans like a wave of icebergs.

“Andrea,” he started. “Things change. You’re a big girl now. Take care of yourself, and get the fuck out.”

*****

Jaruka stayed on the planet long enough to know the American tolerance to different people; the brief history lesson of the country stands for itself. He could easily get killed by a human stupid to not know about the black band around Jaruka’s ankle, or the spires orbiting the planet, and listen to nothing but his ego.

At least the humans were smart enough to not cross him. The people inside the houses kept on watching him, unmoving, and suspicious.

“Bird, tell me that guy across the street has a gun,” Jaruka asked Arana, pointing at the house with the middle-aged man in the window.

“He does. It’s what’s called a two-barrel shotgun. He’s been hiding it behind him since we parked here.”

“Noted.”