Page 5 of Out of Sight

The restaurant patrons turned to look, and Aurora stood on her father’s legs, clapped her hands on his cheeks, and said seriously, “No nap.”

Sabin grinned. “No nap. Now have another dino and some juice, and then we can go play with Ted.”

Ted finished her food and wiped the meatball residue from her face.

Nora said, “We will wait here if you want to wash up.”

Ted looked at her. “The moment I turn the corner to the restrooms, you will all forget I exist, and this effort disappears.” She dunked her napkin into her water glass and scrubbed until the fabric stopped turning red.

Nora blinked. “I hadn’t realized it was that fast.”

“Instant. At the office, I kept you guys reminded about me with emails that started at the beginning of the day and lasted until I left. Then I sent the emails again before I entered the building. That way you remembered me as long as the email was in your inbox.”

Avor frowned. “So you have found your way around it?”

“Only for work. I keep thinking that this kind of thing was supposed to drain me and kill me.”

“Shadow mages are famous for that sort of technique.”

“What technique?” She looked at the man who was also the largest dragon in the world at the moment.

“Draining magic out of others for their own use.”

Ted leaned back in her chair. “Well, fudgenuts.”

Avor blinked and then looked at the child and grinned. “Indeed. Once we analyze the signature on you, we may be able to find other victims.” His phone alerted, and he smiled. “She has representatives of three types of magic here. One of them should unravel this.”

“Good. I need at least two people with me at all times. Nonnegotiable. One moment with no one aware of me, and I have to explain why people forgot me. They will remember me if they see me, but the explaining will be difficult... and repetitive.”

Avor looked at her and finally seemed to see her fatigue. He said softly, “We won’t leave you alone.”

She exhaled slowly. “That used to be a threat from guys. Now I find it comforting. Knowing that I just have to run around a corner to get away has been helpful over the last few years.”

She smiled, and they finished eating, got everything tidy, and moved back to her office as a group. When the thumb drive was set on Nora’s desk, Ted exhaled. Another job finished.

Avor smiled. “They are waiting. Regis has a dessert tray ready. Are you ready?”

“Yup. Let’s see what the new magic can do.”

Nora gripped her arm, Sabin held Aurora, and Avor transported them all to the new palace.

Time to see what new magic was capable of.

Chapter Two

Ted looked at three women, and they looked back at her. They were in the back yard of the new palace, and the green space was dotted with the curious and interested. Most were dark elves.

Three women of differing sizes and ear shapes were standing in front of her, and they introduced themselves. “Hello, I am Win. Known as the blood witch.”

“I am Mik, known as the chaos mage.”

“I am Arwell, known as Arwell.” The woman grinned.

“I am Ted. It’s an initialism.”

Mik’s eyes widened, and she smiled. “Cool. If this works, can I know who you actually are?”

“If this works. Yes.”