A Devils Tale:
Descent
The Erotic Edition
STEVEN C. WILKERSON
Copyright Steven C. Wilkerson 2011
Published at Smashwords
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Table of Contents
Chapter 17: The Unyielding Warrior
How cliché for my story begins for it was just an ordinary afternoon, I had woken up early expecting a package. I worked nights at a Delights cleaning service, how silly it now seems that my life was ever that drab. The package was for Douglas both my best friend and roommate but he preferred to be called D because he hated Doug, he thought it was too drab for him. It was a Tuesday and his birthday was in four days on Saturday. The package contained his gift, now if I remember right it was a set of books from his favorite author.
I stumbled out of bed still half asleep and went to the door to check, still in my sleepwear. I opened the door and there it was, a larger than expected plain white box. Without even looking I quickly took it in and set it on the table.
I immediately went to taking care of my morning needs and then had my customary breakfast, whatever cereal was on sale. After I finished my cereal I turned my attention to the package. I opened the box and found it the thing that would change my life but at that moment I was infuriated for they sent me the wrong book. The package did not contain the set of books I had bought for D but only a single book. It was massive well over a foot tall, just under a foot wide and even worse it was 5 to 6 inches thick. The cover was thick black leather with a violet hue and a series of symbols were written upon it. At first I thought it must be a movie prop but it must’ve been an expensive one for it appeared to be old, very old.
I slammed the book down on the table and searched the box for the invoice but of course I couldn’t find it. So whipped out my phone and found the companies number and immediately called them to lodge a complaint in my loudest voice. As I waited on hold, listening to the bad music, I stewed after waiting on hold for what seemed like an eternity I exploded on the nice woman who answered.
“I can’t believe you guys could be this, this incompetent,” I screamed at her. “It’s not like you even got close to it, no you sent me some old book and what am I supposed to do, I only have four days and how am I supposed to return this and get what I ordered, what I paid for.”
The customer service woman responded nicely, “We are sorry if something is wrong if. Can i get your name and I will see what can be done to rectify this problem.”
I barked back at her, “Owen Davidson.”
The woman typed on her keyboard for a moment before telling me that the package was mis-sorted by the shipping company and it would arrive within the next day or two. Immediately I grabbed the box and looked for the companies’ label. It had my name and my address but no return information.
I hung up the phone abruptly and turned my attention to the book. I opened the ancient cover and to my surprise it was in English. My first thoughts seem to be correct, that this must be some sort of prop book made to look old.
Before I could investigate any further Kat open the door, D’s longtime girlfriend. Katharine I still remember the first time I saw her me and D where out at a club and there she was dancing with a couple of her girlfriends. She was wearing an extremely revealing outfit and if it had emotions it probably felt pride being worn by her. After staring at her for a couple moments I knew I probably had no chance but of course D, never was one lacking in confidence, stepped up. Every day since then I have them kicking myself for not being willing to take the chance. To make matters worse a year ago she moved in but at least if anyone had to take her it was D.
Knowing that D was probably right behind her I grabbed the book, tossed it back into the package and then run it into my room to hide it, even though it was the wrong book I couldn’t let him even start to guess what I got him.
After getting a little more presentable I met up with the two of them. Of course when I came out they were making out. After a couple moments I choose to interrupt.
“So D how was work today,” I asked in a very disinterested voice.
D responded slightly annoyed, “The network crashed and of course they blamed me even though I have been telling them they needed to upgrade the software. I still can’t believe how incompetent the Maecen is at coding and why we have to keep hiring them to make our software.”
Kat still with her arms around him startup about her day, “I actually had a pretty good day, Larson came in and I think he must have a new mistress because he bought a five thousand dollar gold and diamond necklace and of course in the process chatted me up. I do prefer when he’s fighting with the wife because that’s a really good day.”
“How can these men afford dropping more money on a single gift for a woman that he will probably only be with for a few months,” I asked her.
“These men work hard and often have a respectable family but they want more,” Kat clinically responds. “They want more from work, from family and they want more from their relationships.”
D Responds smoothly as he stares into her hazel eyes, “They’re just missing that one thing in their lives, the perfect woman.”
I plopped myself down in front of the TV as they prepared dinner. They were great roommates because they always left me something to eat for before I went to work.
After a couple of reruns it was time to get ready for the one thing that I hated most, work. Working as a; janitor, maid, trash collector, scum scraper, and if that was not the worst of it for I have been on the night crew since I started working there three years ago. Delights cleaning service, if there was a worse place to work they truly deserve all the pity that the world has.
After arriving promptly at ten o’clock I meet up with Dave and Calvin my two work buds as we check the duty assignments and finding out once more they have been changed by our most wondrous manager Mr. Smith. He is a real piece of work for no one really knows how he made manager but under his guidance we get an unstable work environment and many female workers of questionable immigration status. Worst of all he always seems to change our work schedules so that he can be alone with them.
Today I’m working at APVK office building which makes me happy. But of course tomorrow I will be working the gym but at least it will be with Calvin.
As we stood there chatting Jeanette the bitch interrupted us, “What are you guys standing around for. Are you planning your next threesome.”
Jeanette was a beautiful woman on the outside and the hideous monster on the inside. When I had first started working there she had already been working there seven years. I think I did something to offend her on the first day we met and ever since then we have been arch enemies. I knew that she loved to party and working nights just meant on her weekends she could spend all night at the club’s.
“I know you’ve had your share of them, so what are you looking for a foursome,” I snapped back. “I’m sorry you probably couldn’t handle one of us.”
The truth of the matter was any one of us would have loved to take her home and enjoyed some S&M with her as the S even though she was a couple years older. After a few minutes of increasing hostility Mr. Smith finally arrived once again being dropped off by his girlfriend. He gave us one of his infamous speeches slash threats and after that we went to our separate assignments.
Me and the four other who were assigned the office arrived at about eleven and started the tedious process of going cubicle by cubicle and office by office of taking out the trash. We had to wipe off the desk and scraping gum off them and the chairs. I was stuck on vacuuming detail, it was not the most difficult job but it meant I was unable to talk with any of the others making it very boring.
It was early in the morning as I was vacuuming the executive offices as I started to daydream about what it was like working in a place like this, not as a peasant but as the King. From what I understood at the time the sole owner of this company was a crotchety, angry old man. The irony of it was I worked indirectly for him. He owned delights cleaning service and most of the companies that we cleaned. The man was loaded and could do practically anything he wanted. I could not imagine having a private plane or even a driver.
Soon five o’clock came and the rush to finish. We had to be out by five thirty or else we would get yelled at and threatened to be fired. On our way back to our home office I got involved with the work gossip. At least for us there were two types of gossip one about our fellow workers and the other about the people’s lives we cleanup, for this was the latter.
“I think that Jean is cheating on his wife with Bethany, I found some interesting things in the trash,” nosy Denise stated.
Michael chimes in, “I wonder if that explains the condom I found in the bathroom?”
We arrived back at base and of course Mr. Smith’s girlfriend was waiting to pick him up. Still to this day I do not understand how women can fall for individuals like Mr. Smith especially women such as her. There was no reason for her to have to drop him off and then pick him up. Of course he always made her wait which just infuriated me.
I clocked out and caught the first bus home for still my 1987 Buick GNX was nonfunctioning currently, in all honesty it was a broken down piece of shit. Instead of it taking me ten minutes to get home it takes almost an hour which means all I had time for was my bathroom rituals and then I crashed.
It wasn’t until my next afternoon when I remembered the book, that mysterious book. I grabbed the book and set down at the kitchen table eating breakfast and began to look through it. Even though the book appeared to be ancient the text was modern and easy to understand. The first page talked about the many forces that bind the universe together. As I continued reading it mentioned that the soul could control these forces. I quickly realized that this was sort of spell book, which of course made me laugh.
I continued reading until I came to the first magic spell. It was simple for all I needed was a symbol drawn with any old thing and the right words and since the book provided both I decided to try it. I wiped off my spoon and placed it on the symbol in the book and read out loud,
“Force the pulls,
Force that binds,
Be one with my will,
Act not upon my desires and let it be free.”
Then the most surprising thing happened, the spoon left the page and started to slowly drift upwards. I sat there for what seemed like minutes completely shocked before I was able to muster the courage to check for wires. I ran my hands all around the spoon before I came to the conclusion I must have gone crazy. I pushed it so that it was no longer above the book and yet it’s still remain aloft. After playing around with the spoon for the next ten or fifteen minutes I finally returned to the book and ended the spell,
“My will is done,
Your work is done.”
I quickly turned the page and began reading more. It was several pages later when I came across the next spell I would use. This one said it would transform the appearance to that of one that the caster desires to another. Of course I had to try it out so I grabbed Kat’s celebrity magazine and transformed myself into Devin Peterson the current Hollywood heartthrob. I ran into the bathroom and when I looked into the mirror I did not know what I hoped to see but I saw Devin staring back at me. Even my voice had changed. I quickly change back in fear that someone would notice but thoughts entered my head on how I could have fun with this.
Hands of the mind was the next one I tried. This one was a little more complicated than it took several tries before I got it right. I started lifting objects up and moving them around just by focusing on them. It was not long until I used it on the remote and turned on the TV and started changing the channels. It was great I could use it not just to move objects but manipulate them. After many experiments I began to get tired and all of a sudden the magic dissipated.
I went back to reading to learn more, for the excitement of what was happening invigorating me. I went back to the beginning and read over the basics again. I learned that there were two primary classifications of magic, spells and rituals. Spells were simple and often only required a chant. The symbol was used only to help make sure the energy moved properly. Once someone mastered the spell it often became second nature and could cast it with a mere thought or even an instinct.
Rituals on the other hand were much more complex. They often created permanent changes and/or affects. The symbol was much more important in controlling the flow of energy. Because of the great amount of power often involved the symbol had to be crafted out of special ingredients. Often oil was the base and other ingredients were added making it much more like a paste. Other components of the ritual often included candles and even potions or elixirs.
Magic was divided up into different classifications or schools. Conjuring, evocation, transmutation, transformation, force, planar, divination, barrier, allusion, enchantment and life were the primary schools. Many spells and rituals can cross two or more and often did.
After studying until almost five I found a divination ritual that I must try at work. I quickly gathered the ingredients which were surprisingly common things like; salt, lime, baking soda, oil and several herbs. I packed away the small quantities I would need and finished just in time for my roommates to return.
I was so excited about what just happened that I was bouncing off the walls. I chatted with D and Kat about their day trying to calm down.
For D actually had some news about his work, “My boss is having health problems and will be taking a few months off to deal with them so it looks like I will be temporarily replacing him. Even though it is temporary and should give me the experience and allow me to possibly get a better job.”
“If everything doesn’t go well for him does that mean you will be the new manager,” I asked.
Kat immediately interrupts. “Do not think such things. We’ve not want anything bad to happen,” She said quite sarcastically.
“I would think so if I did a good job but I personally would not mind being able to move to another company,” D said in response.
After we concluded the conversation the two of them went about their evening ritual of cooking together and being all lovey-dovey. I went into my room to study the ritual. The next few hours passed quickly and then it was time to go to work.
At work I was so excited about what I was going to do that Calvin asked if I had met someone. I quickly played it down but he was suspicious of my behavior. Something else soon caught our attention for Mr. Smith was already in the office with the head manager Mr. Jensen, apparently the youngest son of the owner. This was something that was unusual and usually meant something bad was about to go down. Jeanette was standing next to the cheap offices wall trying to listen in.
As we prepared our supplies to leave and Mr. Smith gave us another one of his motivational speeches but something was different he seemed distracted and everyone noticed. On the way to the gym Calvin and I started to speculate. “I wonder what it was about,” he asks before continuing, “I wonder if it is about all of the women that he has exploited?”
I thought for a moment before answering, “It could also be about the missing supplies.”
Calvin was surprised, “What missing supplies? It’s not like we have anything worth stealing. Toilet paper, you think this is about toilet paper.”
“You’re right this can’t be about something that insignificant but still if there’s enough going missing it adds up quickly,” I added.
Jeanette who ended up replacing Mary literally at the last moment finally spoke up, “I don’t think it’s about missing toilet paper and I cannot sit here while you to idiots go back and forth like this.”
I quickly snapped back, “If you know so much then please enlighten us or shut up.”
Jeanette started laughing as she answered, “Apparently someone has been stealing stuff out of people’s desks and other places. They think it is one of us. It has to do with it some ink cartridges that ended up going on a walk about.”
“Why would anybody want ink,” Calvin asked.
I knew the answer, “The cartridges many of the printers and copiers that they use can cost a hundred dollars or more.” More importantly is what I didn’t tell them, I knew it took them. For I knew it was the same person that had mistakenly stole a printer that they thought was to be thrown out over a year earlier. Kim got blamed and fired and the only reason they were not charged filed was because Mr. Smith convinced them it would not be worth the time and effort to precede with the prosecution.
Now if that does not sound like Mr. Smith you would be correct and the only reason he would go to bat for anyone would be if he was in danger. He had also bragged to me that he just finished his great American novel and soon he would have a publisher and everything would be great.
We arrived and immediately set to work. Calvin and I started wiping down all of the equipment intentionally leaving the free weights for Jeanette. We of course justify our actions because she worked out so much it would be easy for her. Hours passed and we finished the easy tasks and the fight about the bathrooms began.
After only a few minutes of bickering I reluctantly ended the conversation by volunteering to do the women’s, “I’ve had too good of a day to spend any more time arguing with you Jeanette.”
Jeanette quickly moved on to the aerobics room and Calvin to the men’s changing room and I then entered the women’s. The major problem with the women’s changing room is not necessarily the icky stuff but more of the caked on products. Do not get me wrong I have found my share of women’s hygiene products floating in toilets, more than I care to count. But the hard work of scraping off makeup and gel all covered in a coat of hair spray takes a little more effort than I like to use. Tonight is going to be different, not the work involved but there just might be a secret reward.
I went about surveying the room and decided the showers would be the best. I took my time as I cleaned and tried to figure out what would give me the best view. Soon it came to my decision, the perfect spot on the wall. I pulled out the baggy and mixed the ingredients together and added the oil. I carefully drew out the symbol with my finger, it was almost like an eye with waves emanating out of it. As I finished it I spoke a simple chant,
“The world is one,
The eyes are the worlds
May my sight be hear.”
With the last word spoken the symbol flashed in a puff of smoke that was gone. I didn’t know it had worked but I sure as hell was going to find out. I shortly went back to work with more enthusiasm. I finished my work and went to help Calvin out. I was in such a good mood I even offered to help Jeanette.
I was quiet on the way home, so Jeanette and Calvin laid into each other. After I clocked out I walked past Mr. Smith’s girlfriend sitting in the car waiting for him. I could not help but think how horrible of a person he is and wonder if she really knew who he was. I stood at the bus stop staring back at the car, she had to know how horrible he was, right. She looked sad as she waited. I knew Mr. Smith had a car and there was no reason for her to do this. I could not imagine this was her idea. Once again I whispered to myself, “Only if I had the power it could stop things like this, like him.” That was the moment I realized I just might have the power.
The long bus ride home made me sleepy and anyways who is going to be at the gym at seven in the morning. I laid down to try and get some sleep. Soon found myself dreaming most wondrous dreams. With my newfound power I made all my dreams come true. I had money, not just a little bit but true wealth. Power was at my fingertips and most importantly I had not just someone special to share it with but many to share with.
I woke up early in the afternoon but my dreams had left me excited in more than one way. Like every morning I had my breakfast. As I ate there was a knock at the door, something rare happened to me for I was actually awake when delivery man came. I took the box into my room and shoved it into my closet at the same time I retrieved the book. I returned to my breakfast and read over the second half of the ritual.
I made sure I knew everything before I tried. I decided it would be best to do it someplace private and there is the one place with a lock and you not have to worry about someone walking in on you. I set up in the bathroom and started the process. First of all I needed a flat reflective surface, the mirror was perfect. Then I scribed the second symbol the one that would make sure I could see them and they could not see me. It was similar to the first except for the waves instead of flowing out of the eye they flowed into it. I took a deep breath and for a moment I thought I was crazy and that this was all a delusion but I started anyways,
“My sight through the world,
The world reaches so bring forth my eye.”
Just as it did before the symbols disappeared in a flash of smoke but this time they left behind a hole which was filled by the women’s changing room. I immediately noticed that the room was not empty because a busty redhead was cleaning herself and I do love my redheads. She was quite a bit older than I but exercise does do a body good. I just thought of it as seventies porn.
As you can probably guess my pants did not stay up for very long. I used Kat's body lotion to facilitate my desires. With my cock in hand I started slowly just to get it hard as I stared at the woman as she washed her body. She kept re-washing her large breasts and her hairy cunt which just made me even more excited.
After a couple moments I noticed movement off to the side and instinctually moved my head to try and get a better look. It was then when I realized that this was not a camera more like a window for I could see the young lien brunette who seemed to be in a hurry, for she was vigorously washing her body. I do know how old she was but she had to be out of high school at least I told myself as I stared at her young body.
With her incredibly perky breasts bouncing around ever so slightly as she washed I found myself dramatically increasing my speed. I just couldn't help but imagine the two of them enjoying each other's company and taking care of me at the same time. After my epic dry spell this was like heaven. As the two of them finished I found myself also finished up.
I began to clean up as a group of young women entered the site of my window which just made me stand up once more. I decided to take another go as I stared at this new image in front of me. They must've been very close friends for they helped each other out often which ended up helping me out. This time it took a fume more shows to get my release. Between shows I pondered if this was right but I wasn’t hurting anybody I concluded.
The time passed too quickly and my roommates returned. My heart rate jumped as I panicked and raced to remove all of the evidence. I quickly reread the ritual because I did not want to permanently end it all I wanted to do was close it for the time being. After closing it I flushed the toilet and wiped the sweat off my face and got all cleaned up.
I emerged from the bathroom and of course D had a sly comment, “What you do in there, for it sounded like a group of rodeo bulls took up dance?”
Kat playfully swatted at D before adding her own comment, “You have to ask for we both know what he was up to.”
“Laugh all you want but I do not wake up feeling the best this afternoon,” I told them for I didn't want to deal with them harassing me.
D’s expression shifted to a little concern, “You going to be good for Saturday? I would hate to leave you here as we celebrated.”
“I think I have gotten through the worst of it. So don’t think you have an excuse to ditch me,” I replied.
The rest of the evening was normal but I decided to take the book with me to work. I continued my study’s on the bus. As I read I realized that this book might attract attention but surprisingly no one seemed to take notice.
Once again Mr. Smith has rearranged the schedule and this time it seems he wants to spend a lot of time alone with Mary. This time I ended up working with Jeanette again at the gym. On the way there I tried my best to keep my mouth shut but of course she pushes my buttons.
I guess she couldn’t help herself and began insulting me, “Do you know why you are alone? Let me tell you, you work this lousy job, you didn’t go to school, and your looks are mediocre at best. You are a fucking coward and no wonder why you don’t have any confidence, you are pathetic!”
At that moment I wanted to slugger but of course I knew I couldn’t for she was the one driving. But I had to return the insult, “You have been working this job longer than I, and I at least took a few classes. Your tits and ass are actually pretty nice so you have no problem attracting a man but your personality is hideous and that is why you are also alone. Confidence you have that in great abundance for you are conceited and self-absorbed. I would call you a bitch but I had a dog she was a bitch and I would not want to associate her in any way with you.”
Jeanette slams on the break thrusting me forward and the only thing that kept slamming into the dashboard was my seatbelt. She immediately hit the gas throwing me back nearly snapping my neck. Maybe I over exaggerate the last bit.
As we set to work we just glared at each other. I knew I had to do something to get back at her. I couldn’t hurt her but I knew I could do something and she would never know it was me. I waited for the right moment and cast the spell for hands of the mind which I had been practicing. I used it to pop the top three buttons off her work shirt. I figured this would be a great way to get revenge and a little show. I wanted more so I broke the clasp on the front of her bra to make it even better.
She was so focused on her work that it took her a few minutes to realize what happened. In all that time I got more than a couple good looks at her actually quite amazing breasts. I did learn that she had a nice Dragon tattoo reaching from one breast to the other. She flipped out and screamed at me, “I’m going back!”
It was hard for me to keep a straight face, “There are only two of us and there’s no way I’m letting you saddle me with this entire place to do. So get a bobby pin or something out of your purse and deal with it.”
Jeanette red with embarrassment and anger she barks back, “You know when I allowed to bring our purses here!”
She headed off to the restroom and returns a few moments later with a towel wrapped around her chest and without a word went back to work. I should have probably left the prank their but I couldn’t. Every time she stood up I of course facilitated the dropping of the towel.
Two thirty hit and it was time for our lunch break. We both pulled out our crummy sack lunches and carefully ate in the break room fully knowing that we would have to clean up the mess shortly.
“Jeanette why do you hate me,” I asked her.
She looked at me and with a crooked smile answered my question, “Let me think, from the first day I met you I knew you were just a boy pretending to be a man. See a real man does not ask for respect or in your case grovel. He takes it, he demands respect from those around him.” I tried to interrupt but she continued on, “No woman wants a man that is just polite and meek. The first time we met you tried hitting on me. Now that was an insult, and every day since then you remind me of that insult.”
Finally after she finished I was able to get a word in, “I have a crazy idea, let’s end this now. We don’t have to be friends but least we can stop putting all this effort into this craziness.”
Jeanette cracked up laughing like I had never seen her before. After a few moments she was able to give a straight answer, “Hell no, you think we are at war. How silly are you? As long as you work here I own you and I will make your life hell.”
She stood up and stomp away. As she walked away I once again used the magic but this time I was not as nice and took hold of her feet and watch her fall to the ground. There must’ve been a smirk on my face for I decided that if she thought she owned me she would have to face my new found skills and I wouldn’t hold back.
The rest of the night went by in silence but still at every chance I got I made sure she had to deal with that stupid towel that she was using to try and cover up. The trip back to the office was filled with a lot of yelling and bickering.
As soon as we pulled in and started unloading something caught my eye. Mary even though she had only worked there a few months I had gotten to know her a little bit but as soon as she arrived back she clocked out and left. This left a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach as I watched Mr. Smith cleanup in too good of a mood.
I was exhausted so I ended up sleeping in till almost six thirty. I begrudgingly left comfort of my bed to feed my stomach. D and Kat were making dinner and talking about the next day’s activities. It was blatant they loved each other and because of this they have started certain traditions. For on each other’s birthdays they always spend the day celebrating together making sure that they are memorable.
For my part we were all planning a get together with all our friends and heading out to club Synergy, D’s favorite hangout the tomorrow night. The one thing that I do hate about my weekends is that I have to stay awake all night alone but at least this weekend I have something to do, because of this I really had no social life. We spend most of the evening giving D a hard time about being an old man of 29.
Shortly after the clock strike midnight Kat moves in close to D and informs him that his first birthday present is in their room. The two of them disappear for the night and I turn on the TV to try and drown out the noise.
I continued practiced the spells that I had already begun to master and then continued my studies. Ghost walk was an interesting one that I had to try out. I was actually able to leave my body and roam around without anyone being able to see me. I could go through walls and even floors without any effort. Even better than that I could float in midair like which made me feel like I was flying. I could only travel a couple hundred feet from my body before I hit what felt like a wall. I of course use this to do some spying on my neighbor's. Surprisingly they're not up to much in the middle of the night.
It was about two thirty when I had to relieve myself. As I was washing my hands a strange feeling came over me and I decided to reopen the window. The moment it opened I saw something that made my blood boil. Mary had her hands against the wall right where the window was. She was completely naked and Mr. Smith was behind her taking full advantage of her position. With every stroke Mary's breasts flopped around and it seemed like another tear formed streamed down her face and Mr. Smith just kept on fucking her and having the best time. She was a young hard-working girl and this piece of sleaze was taking advantage of her.
It was not like we didn’t suspect he was doing these things but actually seeing it changed everything. I knew that Mary couldn’t come forward and that there was no way I could expose him for this but I made a promise to myself that I would stop him. Immediately after I made that oath I slammed the window shut and returned to my studies looking for something I could do.
First spell I found was a truth spell but I decided that would be too difficult to explain away and people might think he was joking. Then I thought I could catch him in the act but then there might be questions about where I got the footage. About five o’clock in the morning I came across the spell necrosis and decided that would be a fitting punishment. It would also stop him from being able to engage in such behavior ever again.
As I read the spell I realized that I would need ingredients that were not in the kitchen. I had to do a little early morning research to figure out where I could get things like saltpeter, sulfur and linseed oil. So I shortly discovered I’d be off to the hardware store. As the sun started to rise it was time for me to sleep.
I was up easily by four o’clock and as I walked toward my door I remembered the box in the closet. I finally opened it and much to my relief the books were there. I went on the hunt for some wrapping paper. After a good twenty-five minutes I found some that was left over from last Christmas I decided it would have to do. I quickly wrapped the box set of books and then scribbled a quick note knowing they should be back any moment.
The party was slated to begin at six but many of the guests arrived early which was fine by me because they were bringing the food. We ate, sang, drank and finished off with a strawberry and chocolate cake bought from the store. Eight o’clock hit in the party was put on pause as everyone went to prepare for the club.
I spent the next hour trading off the bathroom and preparing to look my best in hopes I would not be returning home alone tonight. I debated if I should shave and make sure I had smooth skin or have a nice rugged look, I decided on smooth skin for I did not want anything to come between me and any possibilities. I put on my butt pants and threw on the silky smooth black shirt with a hint of red. Kat help me with my hair and we were off.
It took five cars to ferry everyone and we all entered as one right behind D and Kat. We hung out as a group till at least eleven thirty before we started breaking up into smaller groups. I did something out of character, for some reason I had more confidence than normal. It usually took me time to build up the courage to ask a girl to dance but that night I had an abundance of courage.
After leaving the safety of the group I asked one girl after another and then mysteriously I stopped asking and started demanding. Nothing mean or aggressive but just assertive and it seemed to work. I moved from one girl to the next just having fun trying for nothing more.
D and Kat spent the entire night in each other’s arms and I’m pretty sure there was some questionable behavior on the dance floor. Some of the others we were with commented on my behavior. For some of them had known me for years and this was the first time I was on the hunt, that night I was reborn.
By two o’clock all of my friends had left, thankfully D left me his car so I could continue my transformation. The club started winding down as the minutes passed. Something surprising happened as more than one girl gave me their number for I began to understand.
All of a sudden as I was searching for my next prey I noticed someone familiar, Jeanette. I wanted to make her pay. No that was not it at all, for I wanted her to see the man I am. Then I thought entered my mind, she would never even let me talk to her but she doesn’t have to know it is me. I walked into the bathroom and waited for it to be clear before I acted.
If I looked so plain then I would just have it change my look. My eyes needed both to be darker and have little sparkle. A stronger jaw line and perfect movie star lips. A more distinguished nose and a reinforced hairline finished the disguise. I was no longer Owen I was Max. A simple straightforward name so I would have no trouble remembering. My voice became deeper and smoother mimicking the great jazz singers.
I walked out on the bathroom like the King I had become. As I approached Jeanette she glanced at me and quickly turned back toward her girlfriends before stealing another glance. I stood above her and asked, no demanded she took notice. “I’m Max let us finish this night right on the dance floor.”
She put her hand out softly as she answered, “I’m Jeanette, and it would be my pleasure.”
Even though my dancing skills are limited by used the two things I knew to wow her. First thing keeps motions small and smooth and secondly do not try and upstage your partner for no one should be looking at you.
We chatted as best we could over the music and of course I used my knowledge of her to my advantage. As three o’clock approached the club started closing down and I said my sweet goodbye to her before leaving the club. As I set down in D’s car I hoped that I left her spinning. I glanced around and started laughing and with a deep breath I returned myself to normal.
I returned home and immediately crash. My dreams were filled with many pleasant diversions. I woke up stiff for my body was not used to such vigorous exercise and close contact with the ladies but my spirits were higher than they’ve probably been in years. I took the three numbers out of my wallet and best of all the numbers looked real and one even let me a little lipstick encouragement. The excitement of the previous night energized me for I couldn’t wait until the next time I could go out.
I grabbed the magic book and started searching through it trying to find something new but the page with the necrosis spell reminding me that I had something to do. I asked D through his locked bedroom door to borrow his car and without hesitation he agreed. Probably only to get rid of me so that they don’t have to worry about being too loud and so they can use some of the many toys in Kat’s collects.
I hit up the closest hardware store and grabbed what must’ve been one of the strangest combination of ingredients; I had stump dissolver, the linseed oil, a small bag of charcoal and many other assorted items. Next I had to hit up a grocery store to pick up a few more ingredients that could easily be found in the pharmaceutical aisle. I did not just get what I needed for this one spell but many ingredients common to all the different ones I wanted to try.
I returned home and started prepared preparing the spell necrosis but I guess I had a crisis of conscience. I started questioning it was right to do for if I do this it cannot be undone and I will have harmed another human being. After a moment the image of Mary being raped by Mr. Smith overcame me reinforcing my resolve.
Dave picked me up since my car was still waiting on the radiator and the buses did not run Sunday evening. As we drove into work he informed me of what was happening at work. Apparently Mr. Smith had been acting erratically the last couple days.
This was Jeanette’s other day off so I couldn’t check and see how I did. Mr. Smith was of course hiding in his office on the phone as I checked my assignment. I was off to a locally owned theater to do the heavy cleaning. Of course I also checked on Mary and once again she was working with Mr. Smith. I decided that I would not let it happen again.
After preparing the supplies Mr. Smith came out and gave a very confusing speech which I still do not understand to this day. As he spoke I targeted him with my prepared necrosis spell which made the conversation even more interesting as he nearly fell to the ground. I was pretty sure he was not to be able to do anything to her or anyone other woman ever again. I saw something different happened as I cast the spell than what I had seen before. I could see the energy or maybe a more accurate description would be felt the energy almost like a new sense was being developed.
Me and Dave set off for our assignment with the other two assigned to it. After spending most of the time mopping up spilled soda and vacuuming carpet we ended up finishing early. Of course that did not mean we had to head back. Dave and I of course took our time taking out the trash.
As we compacted the bags filled with mostly empty cups. The sticky soda squeezed out and float out of the machine toward the storm drain. It was nice and cool for the summer was coming to an end. We spent probably thirty minutes discussing the movie posters we saw our way out. We complained why there was nothing original coming out. It was at that time that I realized my life was becoming a movie and so far a pretty good comedy.
The four of us screwed around and tell five thirty and headed back. As we put away our supplies I noticed something. Something that shouldn’t be happening for someone was breaking the rules. We were not supposed to have personal bags with us but Mr. Smith did. As I thought back I realized he must’ve been taking it for who knows how long and probably no one said anything because he was the boss. I watched him closely as he shoved it into his locker when he noticed Mr. Jensen was there. I couldn’t believe it; no I could for he was a thief.
As I rode the bus home I realized this was the way it could get him. I read through my book but it was not difficult to figure out how to catch them. There was a security camera at the main entrance and he would have to pass by it. At would be easy to tear open that bag and let it spill out on the ground. There was no risk to me for all anyone would’ve thought of was the bag split open.
I slept soundly knowing I was going to put an end to Mr. Smith’s reign of terror. That afternoon I did something I almost never do, I made waffles but instead of using my hands I did it with magic just for the practice. It was a lot of extra work but I was becoming more proficient at shaping my mind hands into different utensils. I even use them to cut up my waffle but I was not confident enough so I used a real fork to eat it.
As I continued my study I found the most useful spell dancing things, it was one that animates objects primarily used to put things in their place. As I started the preparations I could not help but think of those old kids cartoons in which magic goes awry but I had to try anyways. First I went into my room to put things in their place. As I finished the chant the all of my cloths and collected memorabilia started to move on their own as I looked at each item immediately returned to where it was supposed to go and my bed ended up with the sharpest corners like a maid had turned it down. Even my dirty clothes left the room heading down the hallway and into the laundry room.
Next I hit the living room and kitchen. The dishes washed themselves and the blankets that were strewn about ended up nice and folded. As I looked at the entertainment Center it came alive and started organizing itself. Movies came first followed by video games all done in alphabetical order. The broom and dust pan took care of the floor and the vacuum came alive but for some reason it was not very efficient.
I returned to the book trying to figure out why. After a half-hour I was able to figure out that anything that is complicated or more precisely electrical in nature seems to have problems with magic so I would have to learn to compensate for that.
I was still engulfed in reading when D and Kat got home. They were surprised at how clean everything was.
“Do we need to search your room for pods,” Kat asked seriously.
D looked around and even under the couch wondering if this was real, “I’ve known you nearly twenty years and yet this is the first time I’ve ever seen you clean anything like this. You didn’t just washed the dishes but you also put them away.” As he continues his search through the cabinets he gets even more puzzled, “You organized all of the dishes.”
I closed the book and turned toward them before answering, “This last week something has clicked in me and I think I am ready to start living.”
We continued this really interesting conversation until D noticed the book. “What are you doing reading old comic strips,” he asked me.
I looked down at the book and realized that you wonder no one thought twice about it. It seemed to disguise itself to others.
“Why not, it’s funny to see what people thought was funny way back then and every now and then there is actually a good one,” I responded trying to make a joke of it.
As I retreated to my room I shouted back at them, “Make sure you clean up your mess.”
As I laid down on my bed I continued my studies. After a few pages of reading I knew I wasn't quite ready for the planes also it was quite technical. Eventually I came across something that might be an answer to one of my current problems. Fading time is a ritual that erases the effect of time. As I was reading through it I realized I could use it in hopes to restore my car to its former glory or at least so that it runs. After reading the very long-winded warning about using it on any living thing I prepared very complicated symbol I look for something less important to test it on.
I decided on using it on one of my favorite toys as a kid a ten inch Thargath the avenger action figure which was my favorite show in grade school. I played with it so much that I had worn away most of the paint and the hinges were so loose it might as well been a rag doll.
I placed Thargath on top of the symbols and began the chant,
“Time that is,
Time that fades,
Turn away so that my desire is done.”
As I chanted I saw little change but still there was change so I repeated the chant and there was a little more so I continued with it until Thargath was restored. I must’ve repeated it twenty times but there on top of my carefully crafted symbol was the toy I remember as a child. It was in pristine shape for it looked like it was just out of the box.
I tried to stand up but I was exhausted. The spell had taken too much out of me. I crawled toward my bed and with the last of my energy I pulled myself on it. I slept only for a couple hours before Kat woke me up. I had to race to reach the bus on time. I was in such a hurry that I forgot the book.
I arrived at work and of course I had to check the schedule I was once again at the office building. Mary’s name was crossed out and Mr. Smith was in his office with the Mr. Jensen having a heated discussion. I turned my attention toward remembering a spell I had learned to increase one owns senses. After casting it I was able to use my new keen hearing to make out most of what they were talking about.
Mr. Jensen was furious about Mary, “I can’t believe that you would allow something like this to happen!”
For a moment I was excited thinking maybe Mr. Smith was caught and he would get what he deserved but then he responded, “I was the one who discovered that she was stealing.”
Mr. Jensen once again berated Mr. Smith, “Peter it’s not like this job is that difficult. We have all these policies in place so that thing like this cannot happen. I am going to have to reevaluate if you are the right person to take care of this.”
Mr. Smith quickly and efficiently responds, “I’ve already tried to get hold of her today but apparently something had happened. The most I was able to cobble together is that her family had a run-in with immigration. We probably will not be able to even talk to her.”
Mr. Jensen breathes a sigh of relief, “So we do not have to worry about prosecuting and more importantly it becoming an issue with my father.”
As I listen to them talk my heart raced and it took all of my willpower not to just barge in there and tell them what I knew. If I accused Mr. Smith without any evidence it could easily lead to my dismissal so I had to continue with my plan. I really did not care about this job but I would not let him win.
As I cleaned up the cubicles and took out the trash I just constantly mutter to myself about Mr. Smith. I love how he forced us to call him by a formal name and hopefully if I was able to pull this off he would hopefully lose everything. I worked hard and as fast as I could so I could be there before he could have a chance to get away with this spoils.
We were the first ones back so we slow walk putting the extra supplies away. It was not too long before Mr. Smith returned moving quickly, probably to try and get his bag out before too many people returned. His girlfriend was already waiting but I had other plans.
As he moved toward his locker I intercepted him and asked about Mary, “Is there something wrong with her.”
Mr. Smith trying to end the conversation, “There’s been an incident and I will tell everyone about it when the time is right.”
Of course I did not let it end there, “Mary mentioned something that I think I should bring to your attention.” Mr. Smith just tries to brush me off but I continued, “She mentioned she was having a problem with someone working here. The best I could conclude was that it had to do with sexual-harassment.”
That immediately got his attention for he started fishing for information, “Did she mention any names or give you any details?”
I had exactly where I wanted him, “She seemed apprehensive about it. I think she was afraid. I told her in America we do not allow for such things to go unpunished.”