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After class, on his way home, Colin decided to give Bobby a call.  He dialed the number and the phone rang several times before it was answered, "Hello, Six-Killer residence."  The voice was a woman.

The thought of talking with Bobby makes Colin somewhat nervous and he scratches his head in a bit of embarassment.

"Uh... hello. Is Bobby home? I'm Colin Crow. I hope I'm not disturbing."

"He's in his workshop, probably didn't hear the phone ring.  Hang on."  Colin hears the phone get set down on a table or something, and a moment later there is a sound like a screen door opening and closing.

Another line clicks on, "Hey Colin, hang on a minute."  It's Bobby, "Jenn, can you hang that extension in the house up for me?"  Colin hears the woman say yes and after a brief pause he hears a line click off.  "So, what's up?"

"I can call another time if you're busy. It's just... I have a problem, and I was hoping you could give me your advice."

He pauses for a moment.

"Remember that spirit I set loose while you were here? Well... the witches that did that... they found me."

He stops again. It's never easy for him to think what they did to him, and it's even harder to talk about it.

"You sound a little shook up.  I did mention this was gonna be hard, didn't I?"

"Listen, knowledge is power.  Find out who they are, what they can do, and what they're willing to do.  Chances are, if it's a coven they share a pool of powers, but each of them is likely to have a trick or two the others don't.  Once you declare war, be prepared to fight it.  So if you confront them, and they know you're onto them, then be ready for the world to get turned upside down.  Best bet is to find a way to strip them of whatever power they have, but that requires knowledge."

"So, how are you and Blackbird getting along?"

"Yes it's just that... I didn't imagine it this way. She... pretended to be someone else, she lured me away from my friends and anybody else that could help me, and... she used me. I think she drugged me or something, so they could use me like an oracle, like a crystal ball, and then they left me there. I never thought it could be like this."


"Oh. Then I'm afraid I already screwed up. A friend of mine cast a spell to make us find them. And we did find one of them. I didn't want to start a war, I only wanted to talk, to ask her why, to tell her how she made me feel and why she should never do that again. It didn't work. She ran, leaving an illusion behind, and tried to frame us with the principal. And now she knows I know of her. But I am not prepared. Not in the least. How do I get that knowledge?"


"I'm not sure. I think we like each other, but it's gonna take some time before I can say I understand him. Other than that, he's always there when I need him most. He told me he has faith in me, and that I should do the same. I try, but I feel so stupid at times, when I can't figure out anything."

"Then prepare yourself, because it'll get worse the older you get, the more into the game you get drawn."


They have to get their stuff from somewhere, find it and see if you can find out the kind of stuff they bought, what books they have, tools, that sort of thing.  Also, keep in mind that if someone is gonna do something like that to you, they don't care how you felt.  You can't reason with crazy people, and most of who you'll end up dealing with are crazy."



"That might take time.  Remember, it's not always knowing what you want to do with your power but feeling what you want to do.  Your powers respond to your emotions, not your logic."

Colin grimaces. That is why he doesn't peak of his talents as powers they often feel more of a trap than a gift.

"How? How does one prepare himself to think the people he loves could be witches in disguise? To think that everyone is out to get him?"


He nods and takes mental note of that.


"Yeah, i know. But knowing that and being able to do that, are two different things. I'll try harder.

Is it all well there? Your family? Was that your wife before?"

"I see. Thank you." he sighs, a little relieved.


"Huh? Heavy stuff? Did you say your sister-in-law?"

"Oh, and try to remember that magic is in the blood, literally.  It might come in handy."


"Yeah, it's sort of complicated.  One more thing, in magic the phrase 'What goes around comes around' has a whole new meaning."

"In the blood, you say?" Colin's thought goes to the athame he kept and the blood still on it. "I'll keep that in mind."


Colin tries to think of it, but he can't sort it out.

"I'm not sure I get what you mean. Is this one of those things that'll become clear later?"

Blackbird, have you got anything you'd like me to tell him while I'm on the phone?

"In traditional magic, most of the powers come from something akin to the spirits.  Some magic is a delicate balance, so to prevent people from shaking the pillars of heaven too often there are rules that govern it.  If you use the wrong kind of magic for something, it can haunt you later.  One of the popular sayings is that anything you do will come back to you three-fold.  It's to keep people from doing bad stuff to other people, but there are ways around it sometimes.  Like Law the rules have loop holes and there are always people trying to exploit them.  You have a bunch of kids playing with something that the wisest men of antiquity have been burned by.  They're gonna screw something up, count on it.  Maybe this attack on you was the first mistake."

Blackbird, have you got anything you'd like me to tell him while I'm on the phone?

"Crow is his guide, and he tells him what he wishes.  From me you may say that he will need a dragon on his next quest."

"Oh. Yeah I think I did hear about it then. But when people screw up with magic, demons come to bring their souls screaming to hell, or demons come and wreak havoc on the city?

By the way, blackbird says hi and says you'll need a dragon on your next quest."

"Only if they make pacts with them.  No, it's sort of like 'be careful what you wish for.'  Like, say you use magic to gain wealth.  The next day your mom dies and you get a bunch of insurance money.  On the other hand, if you use magic to bring good fortune to a friend, maybe they win the lottery and buy a company, where you eventually end up working and then later running.  Make sense?"


"Hmmm.  I should have the stuff for a flame thrower in the shed.  Tell him thanks."

"Yup. I think I got it now."


Bobby says thanks.

"I could ask you what you need a flamethrower for, but I probably don't want to know, do I? Bobby, thank you again."

"Take care of yourself.  I have to go take care of a scorpion problem.  Talk at you later."  With that the line goes off.

Colin stares at the phone for a moment, worried.

"Blackbird, how do spirit dancers pray for their friends?"