THE HUNTER, THE HUNTED
A Cardcaptor Sakura Fanfic
Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess
With Assists from Rinnako-chan and Hawking
Paid for by contributions made to this station...And by Viewers like you.
Chapter Four - The Hunter Appears
"May I help you?"
"Hot tea, please. For everyone." A small pause. "Oh yes, and two pieces of your chocolate mousse pie if you would."
"Very good, sir."
Daphne smiled happily as the waiter walked away with their order. She had seen the pie in the window as they entered and just had to try it. Sakura had also expressed an interest in a piece. Although, neither one expected Eriol to pay. But he insisted. For it was his folly that had brought everyone together after all.
The silence in the room seemed tangible. Emphera, Daphne and Soleice sat across from Meilin, Li, Sakura and Tomoyo. Eriol settled himself calmly between Meilin and Soleice. Kero and Suppi were forced into hiding. They had been able to hide themselves before the two groups met. They were not happy to be back in Sakura's bag, but there was no point in showing themselves inside the restaurant. If at all.
As they all gathered at a large table in the back of the restaurant, Eriol began introductions.
"My name is Eriol," he began with a small bow. He held out a chair for each of the three strangers then took one for himself. Before sitting he motioned to the others. "These are my friends, Sakura, Tomoyo, Li and Meilin."
"Hello," Tomoyo greeted as she sat down. Her smile was pleasant as usual.
"Hi," Daphne answered automatically. The girl appeared to have quite a bit of energy. And her smile was just as pleasant as Tomoyo's. "I'm Daphne. And these are my cousins, Emphera and Soleice."
Sakura nodded and smiled. "How do you do?"
"We," Emphera said, looking exasperatedly at Daphne, "are the great-granddaughters of the wizard, Merlin."
"As in King Arthur and Merlin?" Meilin asked, surprised.
Tomoyo blinked. "I thought he was only a myth."
"A myth, yes," Eriol agreed. "But also a legend."
There was a moment of stunned silence, broken only as Li demanded:
"Do you know what's going on here?" He looked a mite uncomfortable under the weight of the glares of the three mysterious women. But he held his chin high and demanded an answer, if not with words. He could feel their magic, knew that it was probably more powerful than his own, and wondered just who they were and what they knew.
Emphera looked to Daphne, then at Soleice. She had been trying to determine the nature of the mortals before them, and their magic. How much SHOULD they tell them? Lying would be an insult, but telling the whole truth may put them in greater danger.
"Do you want to tell them or should I?" Soleice asked.
Taking a deep breath, Emphera answered, "I will, cousin." She leaned into the table, folding her hands on the tabletop. "We are searching for a book," she started.
Meilin raised an eyebrow. "A book?"
"That doesn't sound all that frightening," Li commented.
"Li-kun," Sakura warned under her breath. Her warning did not go unnoticed by Emphera.
"It is all right," she told the girl. "I would not expect anyone, except perhaps Eriol, to believe what I'm about to tell you." She paused. "The book we are looking for is no ordinary book. It contains the diary of one of Merlin's greatest students."
"But it also contains dark magic," Daphne added with a nod.
"Yes, that it does," Emphera said. "The book is called the Grimorum Arcamornem. I would not expect any of you to have heard of it before, but it is almost as dangerous as it is difficult to say its name."
"The book was sealed on Avalon nearly one hundred years ago," Eriol stated.
Sakura looked surprised. "How do you know that?"
He smiled sadly, staring at the table. "Because I'm one of the wizards that bound the book." He shook his head. "Or rather, Clow Reed was."
Everyone at the table stared at him in shock.
"Wait! YOU are Clow Reed?!" Emphera asked, wide-eyed.
'That explains how he knew my mother,' Soleice realized.
"You knew Merlin?" Sakura and Tomoyo asked in unison.
"Whoa." Meilin was stunned.
"Is the book really dangerous?" Li asked.
"You look so young," Daphne stated.
Eriol held up a hand to silence the group. Their comments and questions faded. Finally silence rained on them again. Heaving a sigh, Eriol continued.
"I am Clow Reed, in a manner of speaking." He looked at Emphera, Daphne and finally Soleice. "I have his memories, know his thoughts and feelings...."
"In other words, a reincarnation," Emphera stated, still shocked.
"No wonder you look so young," Daphne said with a small smile.
"Thank you," Eriol said with a nod. "As much as I would love to reminisce, I do believe we have a problem at hand." He paused. "To answer your question Li, yes the book is dangerous. The book was never meant to be opened by mortal hands."
"My brother, Mosely, stole the book from its resting-place in Avalon," Soleice said, averting her eyes to the table. "I am not proud of his achievement, for it means a great deal of trouble. For everyone."
"We believe he was bringing the book here, to the mortal world," Emphera said. "And after feeling his presence and seeing the display of magic, I would have to say that Mosely is here...."
"And the book is in the hands of a mortal," Daphne finished.
"What exactly does...the...book...do?" Meilin asked, tilting her head curiously.
Her voice trailed off as the waiter brought a steaming hot service of tea. He settled a piece of pie in front of Sakura and Daphne who both stared at it anxiously. Sakura carefully cut the pie with a fork while Daphne spooned her into her mouth as quickly as possible.
Eriol thanked the waiter and waited for him to be out of earshot. Then he nodded for either Soleice or Emphera to explain. Emphera took the initiative.
"The Grimorum is a thousand year old collection of writings by Master Mage Reese. It includes a number of spells he learned while under the tutelage of Merlin, plus several spells that he, himself, created.
"Reese was neither a dark wizard nor a light wizard. Meaning he was neither good nor evil. Most wizards are the same. But Reese had a falling out with his teacher, causing him to create a curse so great, it was buried in the book, never to be countered."
"Upon Reese's untimely death several hundred years ago, the curse was enacted," Soleice continued. She sighed heavily, leaning onto the table for support, crossing her arms on the tabletop. "Merlin called upon the greatest sorcerers in the world to help him seal the book. Many tried...and they all failed. Except for one. With Merlin's help, the book was sealed and placed into a catacomb where it should've remained. There was a lot of damage as a result of the book's...umm, tantrum."
"The Grimorum was eating magic." Eriol took over, reciting the facts from memory. "Reese decided that if he couldn't be the greatest wizard of all time, he'd make sure no one could."
"Question," Sakura said, partially raising her hand. She had a smudge of chocolate on her upper lip from her pie. "How does magic get eaten?"
"Very much like this," Daphne said, demonstrating with her final piece of pie, sticking it into her mouth. "Mmm, that was really delicious. We must get this recipe for Avalon." She sat back with a satisfied grin. "Anyway, that's pretty much it. A big, bad monster comes and gobbles it all up."
Li nodded gravely, looking sadly at Sakura. "That would explain why your cards disappeared."
"They must be responding to the magic unleased by the book," Meilin realized.
"Cards?" Soleice tilted her head curiously. "What kind of cards?"
"Clow Cards," Eriol answered, giving her a small smile. "I...err, Clow Reed, created the cards with his own magic. Each one represents something about this world, be it nature or time or something else."
"I collected all of them a few years back," Sakura added, frowning. "But several fo them disappeared this afternoon. And I'm afraid more of them will disappear soon."
"If they contain magic, then yes, they will," Emphera said, also frowning.
"What happens to them once they disappear?" Tomoyo asked.
"Their magic is absorbed into the Grimorum," Daphne stated, sipping her tea. "And the Grimorum uses that magic to do very bad things."
"That would explain the sudden changes in the weather," Li commented off-handedly with a curt nod. He looked very thoughtful compared to the worried look on Sakura's face right next to him.
"The Grimorum will not stop until every last ounce of magic is taken from this world," Emphera said, her voice almost desperate. "It must be stopped."
"And if it can't be stopped?" Li asked, his mind running over the impossible.
"Then the real world will start to disappear," Soleice stated. "Buildings, cars, people, even entire cities."
Meilin, Tomoyo and Sakura gasped. Li and Eriol remained stone-faced.
"It was stopped once before," Eriol said, his hands clenched into fists under the table. He tried to sound cheerful, but couldn't keep the dread from his voice. "It can be stopped again."
"It's gathering energy far too quickly," Emphera said, shaking her head. "Even if we can locate the book, we'll have to overpower it."
"And that's after taking it from its current master," Daphne stated.
"The problem is we don't know where the book is or who has it," Soleice said with a sigh. "We've searched part of the city already and found nothing."
"We can help then," Meilin said with a half smile. "We'll help you locate the book."
"I'm afraid we've involved you too much already," Emphera replied.
"But it's taking MY cards," Sakura said, her voice almost angry.
"Look, you want the book and we want the cards back," Li said evenly. "We can help each other out here."
"And you'll need my assistance in containing the book once again," Eriol spoke up, his nails still digging into the flesh of his palms.
Emphera looked at Soleice who stared back. "I don't suppose we can talk you out of it then?"
The group shook their heads. There would be no further discussion on the matter. At least not at the moment.
"Fine then," Soleice said, a small smile gracing her lips. She placed a delicate hand on Eriol's shoulder, startling him. "We would appreciate any help you can give us. But we must approach this situation both delicately and with caution."
Eriol sighed, his hands relaxing in his lap. The tension in his shoulders loosened and he could feel a brief touch of relief spreading through him. He thought for a moment that perhaps Soleice was using magic to calm him, then realized that her presence, her touch, was all that was needed. He offered her, and the others, a small smile of his own.
"Let's split into two groups," he suggested. "We'll cover more ground that way. Sakura, Tomoyo and myself will accompany Soleice while Emphera and Daphne will search with Li and Meilin." He raised a hand before Li could object. "It is better split this way. Sakura will be able to track the clow cards on our end, just as Li will track them on the other. Emphera and Daphne will be able to recognize the book, as well as myself and Soleice."
"I agree," Emphera said, nodding seriously. "We must start right away. The book has been opened, yes. But if someone READS from the book, more evil will befall this land."
Eriol raised a hand to get the attention of a waiter.
"Check please," Sakura and Meilin said in unison.
* * * * *C*A*R*D*C*A*P*T*O*R*S* * * * *
Doran Hawthorn paced the length of his dinning room like an animal. He continued to stare at the book as he moved, moving closer to it with each step. The magic it was emanating was fantastic, greater than anything he could've imagined. It filled him as he paced the room, allowed him to grow stronger in mind and spirit.
And magic.
Mosely still sat under the window where he had fallen. The magic from the book was still spilling into the room at an alarming rate, but much had been dispersed out into the real world, the mortal world. The book would not stop until the Earth was blanketed in its wickedness.
He watched the young mortal as he crept closer to the book. He had convinced him to put it back on the table, to let it work its magic, before trying to decipher its teachings. He had only done that out of fear of course, but he would never admit it.
Why, a child of Avalon, scared of a little magic?
But this was more than a little magic. Little by little, he began to understand why the book had been bound and placed into the heart of Avalon itself. Reese was never a malevolent wizard, but his argument with Merlin had left him very ill tempered indeed. And instead of taking it out on Avalon, he placed all of his anger into the book.
'There's no turning back now,' his mind told him. 'What is done, is done. You cannot change the past.'
'But I can still change the future,' Mosely replied with a hint of determination.
He looked over to Doran, who was now standing in front of the table, staring down at the book. Doran seemed unaffected by the book. Or was he under a spell himself? The boy reached for the book, but before Mosely could warn him to stay away it was too late.
A blue flash, almost like lightning, shot out from the book and hit Doran right between the eyes. The boy was stunned, believing he'd been shot. His body began to shake as if in panic while the blue light filled him, closing his conscious mind to the world and shoving his subconscious to the darkest recesses it could find.
Doran's blue eyes rolled to the back of his head. He should've fallen over, but remained standing. He stood like that for several minutes before his eyes returned to normal and his body stopped shaking. The blue light dissipated and the young man fell forward, clutching at the table's edge for support.
'Do not be fooled by the lure of the book's power,' another voice in Mosely's mind stated. It sounded strangely like Merlin. Then he realized it was something his great-grandfather had told him many years ago when he had first learned of the book's existence.
'The book holds many things. In it is the lure of power, the allure of grandeur, vanity and greed. But these are all illusions. For this reason, and this reason alone, the book simply cannot be controlled.'
Merlin was right. Mosely could feel the power drawing him in, felt it flowing through his veins. Was it calling to him, or trying to drain him of his own magic?
'Why should you care,' his mind asked. 'Isn't this what you wanted?'
//Power.//
Mosely responded to the voice in his head automatically. 'Yes.'
//Freedom.//
'Yes.'
//I offer you all that and more. Join me.//
'Yes.'
Mosely stood from the floor and walked slowly towards the table. A small voice in the back of his mind whispered for him to stop. But the other voice was much louder, drowning out any desperate cries of his subconscious mind.
"Have you decided to join us then, son of Vivienne, heir to the throne of Moldiva, grandson of Merlin?"
The wizard blinked, unsure of what to say. Unlike before, the voice he heard was real. But it was coming from Doran's body. Gone were the boy's blue eyes and blond hair. Gone were his young facial features and his small build. In his place stood a man that had not lived in centuries.
Master Mage Reese.
Also known as the Mage Hunter.
The titles bestowed upon him in greeting were words Mosely had not heard in a long time. He bowed in proper greeting to his elder.
"Ah, you recognize me then," Doran spoke, the voice still not his own. "That is good, son of Vivienne."
"It is an honor," Mosely said, still bowing. Each word was punctuated with an intake of breath. The wizard was clearly nervous, although trying to hide it.
"Come," he held out a hand to Mosely. "We must begin our work."
Mosely finally dared a glance upward. "Work?"
"Yes," Reese's spirit answered. "We must find all the magic in this world and destroy it. That is our purpose here."
Mosely stood, brushing off his pants and straightening his sweater. He inhaled deeply, he flow of power in the room beginning to slow. Was the book nearly at its end or was Reese's presence the answer?
Doran leaned forward, grabbing the Grimorum Arcamornum tightly with both hands. The greedy look he had worn before was there, but dulled, proving that Doran still existed somewhere inside his body.
But it was Reese who was in control.
"The book has already begun to work its magic," Mosely said. His confidence had returned, but his nerves were still on the wire. He cautiously joined Doran at the table.
Doran, or rather, Reese smiled. He opened the book, thumbing through the pages until he found one he liked. His smile grew and he looked over at Mosely. He motioned for the man to stand next him, lying the book back onto the table.
"Ah, but we have only just begun. The book is only a hound. We, dear
boy, are the hunters."
* * * * *C*A*R*D*C*A*P*T*O*R*S* * * * *
"Sakura, are you all right?!"
"I think so. I just felt...dizzy...there for a second."
The young girl needed help walking. She didn't trip and fall, as any onlooker may believe. In fact, she wasn't harmed at all physically. Instead, a spell from the book ripped right through her, or so Soleice believed. It had left her feeling tired and numb. Tomoyo and Soleice helped the girl walk through an alleyway as the group approached their destination.
BANG! BANG! CLANK! BOOM!
"What was that?!" Soleice called out, her hands covering her ears.
"Look out!" Eriol yelled.
Sakura, Tomoyo, Soleice and Eriol ran for cover as the northeast corner of a building exploded, the pieces falling towards them. Spinel Sun followed them closely, perching himself on Eriol's shoulder once it was safe. He sighed heavily, shaking his head.
"Well, at least we know where the cards are now," he commented.
Two more of Sakura's cards had disappeared. They had been searching for only half an hour until they made their presence known.
The Power Card was knocking down buildings, pulling out lampposts and overturning tables and benches. The Mist card was adding to the rain still pouring down outside, and creating a cover for its companion.
"Is this normal, for these cards I mean?" Soleice asked, stepping away from a dumpster as the last of the debris fell to the ground.
"I don't think so," Sakura said timidly, following suit. She clutched onto Tomoyo's arm as she moved. "They weren't anywhere near this...violent...when I was capturing them."
"But Power is very destructive," Eriol warned. "If someone is controlling her...."
Sakura wished Li was there, but she knew he was on the other side of the city looking for the book. They had split up over two hours ago. After scouring a part of the city Soleice and her cousins had already covered, she came upon a new lead. She thought she had sensed her brother. They were following the trail until she was hit with a spell and two more cards disappeared. Now, instead of chasing after Soleice's brother, they were chasing after the cards.
"Then someone must've read from the book," Soleice said. "It would allow them to control whatever it is the cards can do."
Sakura clasped the key around her neck. "Maybe if I sealed it again...."
"That's not a good idea," Eriol said seriously. "If you use your magic Sakura, the book will come after you next."
"But won't it do that anyway, after it's taken all the cards?" Tomoyo asked, concerned. She was clutching onto Sakura's arm as well.
"It will suck the magic from this world," Soleice said sadly. "And do whatever the holder of the book wishes it to do. Such is the curse Reese left in his wake."
"I'm not convinced that whoever is holding the book knows what he or she is doing," Spinel Sun commented. "These last events were too sporatic. Even the Clow Cards themselves don't work in such a manner."
"Spinel Sun is right," Eriol said. He stepped over the debris in their way, helping Soleice, Sakura and Tomoyo through the mess. "We still have time."
Sakura doubled over again, clutching her head with her hands. It took both Tomoyo and Soleice to hold her up so she wouldn't fall. The brunette knew immediately what was happening.
"It's another spell," she said, holding on tightly to Sakura.
There was a bright flash of light. It blinded them all for a few seconds. There was a loud whooshing sound and for a moment Sakura thought her purse had exploded. When she looked down she noted that four cards were flittering in the air. She reached out to grab them but they disappeared.
"Four more cards," Eriol muttered, realizing what had happened.
"I don't think we have as much time as we think," Tomoyo commented, looking worriedly at Sakura. The other girl was recovering slowly. She was weakening with each hit.
"Then we must stop him or her before he or she learns how to use the book," Soleice stated, determination showing in her eyes.
Everyone nodded, including Suppi.
"Right."
"Shaoran!" Meilin yelled, running after Li. He had just taken off running at an incredible pace. Something must've been wrong. He stopped as suddenly on a street corner. Meilin was relieved, at least for the moment. Through her gasps for air she asked, "Daijoubu desu ka?"
Li looked left, then right, up and down the street and still sensed nothing. For a moment he felt like he had been hit by something. His entire body still tingled from...well whatever it was. Instinctively he knew it had been magic, but he had never felt anything like it before.
Keroberos was clutching to Li's shoulder, praying that he wouldn't fall off. He had felt the magic too, although in a different way from Li. His tiny body vibrated in fear at the memory. If only for a split second, he could feel his body floating, weightless. It was like he was trying to leave himself, or rather his physical body, behind. And the pull had been strong. He shivered again, still holding tightly to Li's shirt.
When he found nothing, Li sighed. "I'm fine," he assured Meilin. "But something just happened." He shook his head. "I don't know what."
"It is the book," Emphera replied. She and Daphne had run after the two children. While Daphne had little problem in the sandals she was wearing, Emphera cursed at the heels she had been wearing. In an effort to keep up, she had taken them off. They were now sitting carelessly on the sidewalk about two blocks away.
Daphne, who rarely looked so solemn, asked, "Do you think someone's read from the book, cousin?"
"It is possible, although the text is written in Old English. They would need assistance," Emphera stated with a nod. "And Mosely is still at large." She looked at Li curiously. "What did you feel?"
"I'm not sure." Li frowned, averting his eyes to the sidewalk. "It was like someone had come up and punched me in the stomach, and the pain spread through my entire body." He looked at his hands, flexing his fingers to make sure the numbness was gone. Then he looked up at Emphera. "It was kind of...strange."
"Funny," Meilin said, curiously staring t her own hands. "I didn't feel anything."
Li gave her a serious look. "It was magic. I could just feel it."
Kero simply groaned, his small limp body draping over Li's shoulder.
Daphne frowned as well. It was a look that did not suit her. "You've been hit by the book. It knows you are a magic user and has marked you as a target." She leaned closer to Li's shoulder, patting Kero on the head. "I think your little friend was hit as well."
Meilin blinked. "Are you sure?" She didn't sound convinced. Of course, she had no magic powers to speak of, thus she didn't experience what Li had. It was a fact that had depressed her over the years. But judging by the look on Li's face, she should be grateful.
"It is in the air," Emphera replied, looking upward towards the still gray sky. Then she turned her eyes to Daphne. "Soon the book will mark us too."
"Then we need to hurry," Li stated frankly. "I thought I sensed a Clow Card earlier. More of Sakura's cards are disappearing as we speak."
Kero opened his mouth to speak, then shut it. He didn't feel he had the strength, so he only nodded his agreement.
Emphera and Daphne both closed their eyes in concentration. They both took a deep breath, exhaling in unison. In their minds, they were performing a tracking spell. Reaching out with their magic, they hoped to find some trace of the book's origin, but they had to search through a dense haze of power to find it. It was almost impossible to grasp.
So they settled for the first string they could find.
"There's a trail leading in...THAT direction," Emphera said, pointing to the south. "Let us follow it and see where it leads."
"I wonder if the others have found anything yet?" Daphne thought
aloud as they started heading south at the next street corner.
* * * * *C*A*R*D*C*A*P*T*O*R*S* * * * *
Keroberos paced the ceiling of Eriol's living room. He was feeling much better now that he had a full meal in his stomach. The magic was still trying to drain him, but after a serving of meatloaf and a piece of tiramisu, he could fight it. If only for a little while.
Spinel Sun also paced the ceiling, walking opposite Kero. He had been in the same shape as Keroberos when they returned to the mansion. He, too, felt better after eating, although he didn't quite as much as Kero. The tiny black creature preferred bed rest, returning to normal almost immediately after his nap.
Spinel Sun eyed Keroberos curiously. "What shall we do next?"
Kero sighed and shrugged, his tiny arms crossed over his body. "I'm not sure. This is an area totally out of my expertise."
Spinel Sun nodded. "I agree. I believe I will be of no help either."
"Are you certain that's the only way?" Eriol's voice carried to the ceiling.
Kero and Suppi stopped pacing and looked down at the gathering below them. Everyone was equally depressed. The three cousins, Merlin's great-granddaughters, sat mixed among the others. Sakura and Tomoyo sat next to each other along with Daphne on the couch. Li was seated on the floor in front of Sakura, carelessly rubbing one of his fingers along her ankle.
Eriol was seated on a love seat, perpendicular to the couch. Emphera sat next to him. Soleice was seated in a cushioned chair across from the couch, Meilin in the one beside her. They all wore long faces and puzzled expressions.
After hours of searching the city, they had found neither the book nor any sign of the Clow cards. Half of Sakura's deck was now missing, including the Fiery and Watery cards necessary for Kero to change forms.
The two fluttered downward. Spinel Sun landed just next Eriol on the coffee table. Kero settled himself on Li's head, facing the rest of the group. Amazingly the boy did not argue.
"I'm sure we could do it," Emphera answered Eriol's question. She looked to Daphne and Soleice for support.
Eriol shook his head. "It takes great magic to seal the book. The three of you may not have enough energy to perform the spell here."
"He has a point," Daphne spoke up.
Emphera sighed. Surely the three of them could perform the spell to seal the book. Combined their powers were still awesome. But, perhaps Eriol was right. She frowned. She knew what she had to do, but she was simply not accustomed to the practice.
Thankfully, Soleice beat her to it. The young woman leaned forward in her chair, her eyes intently focused on Eriol. "We will need your help."
Eriol raised an eyebrow in question. It certainly came as no surprise, but even still. "MY help?"
"Yes," Daphne replied with a nod. "Grandfather has lessened our powers. We are not at full strength here."
Eriol suddenly looked worried. He frowned, averting his eyes to the ground.
"Eriol?" Tomoyo asked tentatively. "What's the matter?"
"You're Clow Reed, right," Meilin stated with a shrug. "You could probably do the spell yourself."
Eriol looked worriedly at Spinel Sun. Even though his friends were trying to encourage him, his frown kept deepening. 'There would be little problem, if I knew that _I_ were at full strength,' he thought with a sigh. 'I haven't performed a true spell in years. Minna, I hope I can perform to your expectations.'
"Eriol?" Soleice questioned. She looked as worried as the others did. "Is there a problem?"
Eriol finally looked up, his frown twisting into a half smile. Every time he looked at Soleice, old memories -- fond memories -- began to reappear. She looked so much like her mother. Acted much like her as well. Oh, how he wanted to explore those memories once again, but his mind was focused on the mission at hand, as it should be.
There would be time for that later, he reminded himself.
"Everything's fine," he said, forcing himself to smile more. But the dread in his voice did not go unnoticed.
"There can be no doubts," Emphera said gently. She understood his hesitation. The spell they were about to perform had not been cast in centuries. And Eriol, although he contained the knowledge and memories of Clow Reed, was NOT Clow Reed. He was free to make his own decision.
Eriol nodded. "I understand what must be done. But I must warn you; this is a very powerful spell. The magic drained from each of us will be great. We will get one shot and one shot only."
The three cousins nodded. As if on cue, they stood from their respective seats. They waited for Eriol to join them.
"We are aware of the risk as well," Soleice said with a small smile.
"Is there ANYTHING we can do to help?" Li asked hopefully. He hated feeling useless in a situation, but he knew there was little he could do to assist them.
Sakura and Meilin looked at them hopefully as well. Sakura, naturally, wanted to be involved. Her cards were missing and she wanted to get them back. If the book learned to control them, then there would be nothing but chaos. So, she felt partly responsible for the problem and wanted to be part of the solution.
Meilin, like Li, just wanted to be of use. She hated being left out.
Tomoyo sat quietly next to Sakura, a reassuring hand on her friend's knee. She knew there was nothing she could do to help. She was not a magician like Sakura or Li. And she was not a fighter like Meilin. However, she would be there for them if they needed her. Dependability was her greatest talent.
To everyone's surprise, Soleice answered. "Actually you could all be of help."
Li and Meilin began to smile. Sakura looked more hopeful. Even Tomoyo was anxious to help.
Li climbed to his feet. "What can we do?"
"The two of you are magic users, yes?" Soleice asked.
Sakura nodded, joining Li.
"We will need protection ourselves," Emphera tried to explain. "The spell we are going to perform will leave us vulnerable to outside attacks. It will also be sensed by the book and will inform its new owner."
"You mean...?" Sakura began, unsure of how to phrase her question. She glanced awkwardly at the ground.
"We will be able to find the book," Eriol said in simpler terms. "But the book will also be able to find us."
"And it will come after us," Soleice added. She smiled sadly. "Another barrier will help us, if only for a little while."
Sakura looked up, again hopeful. A smile began to form on her lips. "I can use the cards to form a barrier around you."
"Actually it would be better to shield the whole house," Li said. "At least then we'll know when the book had spotted us."
Meilin began to pout again. "I thought you said we could all help."
Daphne nodded excitedly. "Yes, yes. A magical barrier needs to be reinforced with a physical presence. Even though two of you aren't magic users, your presence will still benefit us."
"What do we do?" Sakura asked.
"The four of us will stand like this," Eriol said, motioning with his hands. The three cousins followed his instructions, forming a rectangle in the center of the room. "The four of you will form a similar pattern around us." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Stand in between two people like Sakura is now. And take three giant steps outward. Li, I would prefer you step around to the other side of the couch and not on it."
Li looked rather embarrassed, knowing that Eriol was right. On instinct he would've simply walked over the back of the couch and jumped to the ground. He blushed slightly. Sakura placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before he moved away.
Meilin jumped up from her chair and stood between Eriol and Emphera. She made certain she was the correct distance, measuring herself against Li on her left, and Sakura on her right. Once in place, she was ready.
Tomoyo stood from the couch. Stepping past a still embarrassed Li Shaoran, the raven-haired girl took her place between Soleice and Daphne. She stood straight, her hands clasped in front of her, awaiting further instruction.
"All right," Eriol said, pleased with their progress. "I believe we are ready to begin."
Emphera, Soleice and Daphne nodded. As one, the four magicians raised their hands, joining them. Slowly they began to synchronize with each other, first their breathing, then their heartbeats. Once they were finally joined, Eriol began the chant. Several seconds later, the girls followed suit.
"Deus enchanta o mothic go parthonus."
Sakura watched with wide eyes. They had said the chant several times by now. A faint glow of yellow light appeared in the center of their rectangle. Slowly the light grew until it encompassed the four wizards. Soon, all of them, including Kero and Suppi, were glowing with a faint yellow light.
"Ebite nan mahave solstic ravena. Eto rubius sanctum ota Grimorum," Eriol said as the girls continued to chant their original phrase. He continued to chant this over the girls and the light grew brighter. The light formed into a pillar, shooting straight at the ceiling.
Kero and Suppi perched themselves on a windowsill, staring outside. The magic was beginning to stir. They could feel the push and tug of the book against the new spell trying to invade it. But the book was still stronger.
"Do you think this will work?" Spinel Sun asked.
Keroberos shook his head. "I don't know Suppi," he answered
honestly. "I don't know."
* * * * *C*A*R*D*C*A*P*T*O*R*S* * * * *
(Doran senses the new magic and seeks it out)
Gray gave way to black as the sun finally set over the horizon. The city of London was illuminated by its usual street lamps and shop signs. Many citizens were sitting comfortably at home, watching the tele with their families or preparing to sit down to dinner among other things.
Such was it at the Hawthorn residence. The kitchen staff was busily preparing the last of the meal, the smell permeating the hallways of the large, drafty home. Several maids hurried about, hoping to finish the last of their chores before the eight o'clock hour tolled on Big Ben.
Doran sat in the dinning room, dressed in finery unaccustomed to him. The young man was dressed in dark, dress slacks with a lighter colored button down shirt. He wore his best trouser socks and loafers for the occasion as well. His hair was neatly combed, parted just to the side. The servants eyed him wearily, wondering what had come over their young master.
"Wearing those clothes," one of the women had whispered in the kitchen. "You'd think the poor boy's hit his head or something."
"I didn't even think he owned such things," another woman commented. For they had never seen the young man dressed as such for a meal.
Doran smiled as the first parcel of the meal was brought in from the kitchen. While Reese was still in control of the mortal body, he could not sway the appetite this young man had for food. And why should he? It had been a long while since Reese had eaten anything himself.
What delicacies had the mortals dreamed up in the past several centuries, he wondered.
He whiffed the air greedily, wondering what it was that the staff had prepared for supper. He thought he smelled chicken, or was it fish? Or perhaps both, he thought happily.
Mosely sat at the opposite end of the table. He felt very out of place being in the same room as a Master Mage. He'd been uncomfortable ever since Reese had materialized in Doran. This was a side effect he was not aware of. He'd been pondering it for more than a few hours now. He'd also been trying to hide his uncertainty of Reese's plot. Was he truly that cowardly, or was he growing a conscious?
The wizard sat quietly, watching as the food was brought into the room. It smelled delicious. Of course, every meal he'd had in the mortal world had been delicious thus far. Not quite as tasty as the meals he'd had on Avalon, but it was close enough. He removed his napkin from the table -- as was proper Doran had instructed -- and placed it onto his lap as the last of the meal was set down. He looked at Doran, waiting for his okay to begin the meal.
They wasted no time eating. While Mosely was content with second helpings of the chicken and potatoes, Doran ate three helpings and was now on his fourth. Was it because of Reese, or was the young man simply hungry, Mosely wondered. He dabbed his napkin at the corner of his mouth when he was finished, watching as Doran continued to eat.
But the young man paused in mid bite, his fork hovering in the air.
"What trickery is this," he muttered curiously, finishing the food on the fork slowly, savoring the taste. But his interest was elsewhere; his eyes focused on a nearby window.
Mosely followed his gaze to the window. It had grown darker outside, the city covered in pitch black. But there was something unusual. Something that only a wizard or witch would've been able to see.
A pillar of light rose high into the sky, disappearing into the dark clouds overhead. The origin was somewhere on the opposite side of town. It wasn't a typical beam of light. This one was filled with magic.
Reaching out, Mosely could sense something familiar. He could feel his cousins and his sister, working their magic, trying to find him. For a moment he almost answered, but he forced himself to stop. That is what they wanted. To find him and the Grimorum.
'It's too late for me,' he thought, wishing his sister and his cousins could hear him. 'It's already too late.'
"Come Mosely," Doran said, speaking with Reese's voice. He stood from the table, dabbing his napkin at the corner of his mouth as he had seen Mosely do. Then he tossed the napkin onto his empty plate and stepped away from the table.
"What is it?" Mosely asked, also standing. "Where are we going?"
Doran walked over to a nearby table where the Grimorum Arcamornem lay in rest. The book still glowed with power, and was growing by the minute. The young man reached out for the book, grabbing it tightly in his hands as he lifted it.
"I sense the sorcery of Avalon," Doran replied, clutching the book to his chest.
"They are looking for the book," Mosely said.
"Then why don't we take it to them?"
With a devious smile, Doran turned and left the room. Mosely quickly followed, wondering what it was the Master Mage had planned.
"Is that wise," the wizard asked as they left the house. He jogged after Doran, or rather Reese, as the other man reached the sidewalk.
"Probably not," Doran said. "But there is only one way to ensure the book is not harmed." He tapped the cover, still clutching it to his chest. "And that is to keep it with me."
"But how will we find them?"
Doran stopped in mid stride. They had come to a nearby street corner, several blocks from the estate. He looked upward to the pillar of light still lifting into the air.
"They have already provided us with a clue."
Mosely looked up as well. "I still don't think it's wise, Master Mage," he said uncertainly. "My cousins are better than they appear, otherwise Merlin would not have....Master Mage?"
When Mosely looked again, Doran was gone.
~~TO BE CONTINUED~~