Leo nods with a smile. “Sure did. This way, no one knows what rune I used. Do you have your dagger?” Victor nods and pulls the dagger from his back pocket. “Prick your thumb and press it against any of the wards on the side.”
Victor walks over to the mirror and pricks his thumb. He flinches a little as this is the first time he has had to draw blood. He presses his thumb against a ward and feels the blood smear.
“Now, say your given name,” Leo commands softly as he watches on.
“Victor Raymond Russo.” The protection wards begin to glow for a moment and then fade out.
Leo holds his thumb up and points it at Victor. “Now, prick my thumb.” Victor gives Leo a puzzled look. “I can’t do it because these are your protection wards. My blood has to be drawn by you with your dagger.”
Victor takes a deep breath and shrugs. “If you say so.” As he holds Leo’s hand, he starts to shake nervously.
“Don’t be nervous,” Leo tells Victor with an assuring tone. “I do this all the time.” Victor takes a deep breath and pricks Leo’s thumb. “See, that wasn’t so bad. Now, press my thumb on one of the wards, and then tell me to say my given name.”
Victor takes Leo’s thumb between his fingers. He notices how soft but firm Leo’s hand is. This is the first time Victor has held Leo’s hand in his own, but he didn’t expect the sensation he was having.
Victor presses Leo’s thumb onto one of the wards. “Say your given name.”
“Leopold João Oliveira IV.” The protection wards glow as before and then fade out.
Victor turns to Leo, asking, “The fourth?”
Leo shrugs. “You can ask my father when you meet him.”
“Wait, what?” Victor questions.
Leo presses his palm against the center of the mirror. The protection wards begin to glow a blueish-white hue. The mirror becomes hazy with purples and blues. Leo looks over at Victor and asks, “Ready?”
“Are we meeting Superior Charles or your father?” Victor ponders with confusion. Leo winks over his shoulder and then proceeds to walk through the mirror.
Victor lets out a disgruntled groan. “I don’t like it when you ignore my questions, Leo.”
Victor steps through the mirror and enters a large rustic cabin-style room. The room exudes a warm, rustic charm with weathered wooden floors and exposed ceiling beams. Natural light filters through simple linen curtains. A handmade wool rug and a rough-hewn wooden table add character without cluttering the open, minimalist space.
“Nice place,” he says to himself.
“I’m glad you like it.” Victor looks to his side and sees Superior Charles holding out a glass of bourbon. “Welcome to my home. I’d like to show you around, but we have business to attend to. Follow me.” Victor takes the bourbon from Superior Charles and follows him.
They walk down a hallway with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the lake. Halfway down the hallway, Superior Charles opens a set of double doors. As they walk in, the room smells of fresh cigars, bourbon, and whiskey.
The room is windowless and lit by a variety of floor and wall lamps. The decor evokes an old-fashioned smokers’ lounge. Victor walks further in and looks at a wall covered with various dark liquors. Next to the bottles is a temperature-controlled cabinet filled with boxes of cigars.
Superior Charles makes his way to the center of the room, where six smokers’ chairs sit in a circle.Each chair is identical, covered in dark brown leather, with tall backs and thick armrests. Dark brass studs accent the trimming, holding the leather in place. Superior Charles turns to Victor and gestures to an open chair. “Please, take a seat.”
The six smokers’ chairs have side tables next to each one. There are additional empty chairs and tables against the other walls, presumably for use when there are more attendees. Victor can tell this is where Superior Charles likes to hold his meetings. There is a young warlock walking around, refreshing drinks. As Victor makes his way to an open seat, he looks around the room and only sees one familiar face, Superior Jackie, and three other men in the other seats.
Superior Charles stands in front of his chair, introducing everyone to Victor. “Empath Victor Russo, you already know Superior Jackie. The other gentlemen are elders of my coven. To my right is Elder Jonathan Harps, to your left is Elder Franklin Torres, and to your right is Elder Leopold Oliveira III.”
Victor stands by his seat as though he is stricken with stage fright. “Pleasure to meet everyone.” He takes his seat between Elders Franklin and Leopold. Superior Charles sits directly across from Victor, with Superior Jackie at his side.
Elder Leopold leans over to Victor. “Hello, young empath. My son has spoken fondly of you.”
Victor tries not to smile too much. “Thank you, Sir. He’s been a great mentor.”
Superior Charles sits back and brings a cigar to his lips. The cigar lights up without the use of a lighter or match. Superior Charles takes a couple of puffs before he speaks. “So,” he starts before he exhales, “you’ve had an interesting turn of events a few days ago.”
“You can say that,” Victor responds.
“Do you remember everything that happened in Otsu?” Superior Charles inquires.
