“You’re probably right,” Victor responds, looking down at his suit. “I almost forgot that I was still wearing my suit. You weren’t kidding about how comfortable it is.”
As Victor disappears into the bedroom, Leo takes a seat on the couch and turns on the TV. “Anything you like to watch?”
“No,” Victor responds from the bedroom. “Do they have any streaming services?”
“Did you really ask that question?” Leo responds, selecting the menu for every streaming service available.
Victor walks back into the living room as he pulls his shirt down. He’s ready to relax, wearing a T-shirt and cotton shorts. Victor takes a seat, and Leo hands him a glass. They clink their glasses together. A delicate crystal chime rings around them. Victor snuggles into the couch to relax. Leo puts his free arm across the back of the sofa behind Victor and kicks his feet onto the coffee table.
Leo points at the TV. “The Warlock, season two is available.”
Victor giggles as he raises his glass to his lips. “I’ll have to watch season one again and start commenting on how inaccurate their magic is.”
Leo smiles as he looks at Victor. “Someone seems to be in a better mood.” Victor shrugs his shoulders. “Would you like to debrief about dinner?” he asks Victor.
Victor decides to knock back his drink, then nods. “Do you know who she was?”
“Her name is Magenta,” Leo responds in his glass, gulping down his brandy. “Her coven is always up to no good. Since the last time I fought her, she’s been able to increase her Fire Magic.”
“You two fought before?” Victor asks.
“About ten years ago. She lost, of course, but I never would have killed her. It’s not who I am,” Leo states while looking at the television.
“You looked like you were about to earlier,” Victor comments without looking at Leo.
Leo side-eye glances at Victor before he answers. “I almost did. But then you stopped me.”
“About that . . .” Victor sets his empty glass on the coffee table and then turns to give his attention to Leo, “. . . what happened back there?”
“What part?” Leo asks as he watches TV.
“The part when this flash of light came out of me.” Victor keeps his attention on Leo, ignoring the scene playing on the screen.
Leo sucks in his lips and then puckers them, making a kissing noise as he ponders his answer. “That was your empathic energy being set free. That’s the best way I can describe it to you without going into confusing details.”
Victor sits back, calculating Leo’s response. “So, in other words, I can extend my empathic abilities onto others?”
“In a sense,” Leo replies, nodding. “But it’s more along the lines of being able to shut down the emotions of others, which is what you did to me. I couldn’t hear anything or anyone around me because of the rage ringing in my ears. I couldn’t hear Magenta gasping for air as I took it from her. I didn’t hear anything until you yelled stop.”
“So . . . it’s like a failsafe switch?” Victor questions.
Leo scrunches at the stubble on his cheek and nods. “I suppose so. I never really thought about it like that.”
“She called me a Melee Warlock,” Victor remarks. “That sounds like something out of D&D. D&D, right? I never played, so I’m spit balling here.”
Leo smiles with pride, “Who do you think created the game? A bunch of warlocks.”
“So, why was she after me?” Victor asks as he leans back against the armrest.
Leo looks at Victor and says, “Because you’re special. You have something more rare than other people of magic. I don’t think you understand the full potential you have within you.”
Leo adjusts his body to look at Victor better. “Akisha told me she visited you yesterday. She mentioned that you told her she was nervous. But what she didn’t tell you was that you were absolutely correct. You have untapped magic that can be a blessing or a disaster. I’m here to make sure that it’s a blessing. Magenta wants it to be a disaster.”
“How did they find out I was alive?” Victor inquires. “From what you mentioned back in São Paulo, I was off everyone’s radar. I just started walking into this, and now it feels like I’m already being fought over.”
Leo looks away as he responds, “I don’t know. But we’ll find out soon.”
Victor slumps his shoulders. He looks up at Leo for reassurance. “Should I be worried?”
