Page 7 of Out of Sight

“So you know what this is?”

Mik nodded. “It is sort of like a magnet that runs under your skin and pulls your life force out and gives it to him. So we have to break the link and then get the magnet out. If it just fades, it is hiding inside you, like a parasite, so there is going to be a scar that you can have fixed later.”

“Okay. As long as people remember me, I will be good. I just want to leave a room and come back to see recognition. I want someone to remember my birthday.”

Win nodded. “This is going to work, but it’s going to hurt.”

She looked at Arwell as she moved behind her. “I am good with pain. Should I kneel or can you all reach me?”

Mik smiled. “We can manage.” She waved her hand, and a box was standing there.

Ted grinned.

The ladies got into position, discussed how they were going to do it, and then they just grabbed the mark.

Ted felt agonizing pain that surrounded her; it burned, it was acid in her skin, and the burn continued as she heard cursing from the women around her. It went on for over a minute, and then, suddenly, there was cool energy moving around her. They held on, and the cool surrounded her. The heat and draining were gone. She blinked and felt something else.

“Ladies, back off.” Ted’s tone was urgent as the energy inside her rose and then flared out in a blaze of silver and rainbow energy.

* * * *

Nora held onto Sabin as their friend was covered in bright power that spiralled upward in a column past the highest floor of the new palace. “Oh, wow.”

Sabin said, “Too bad Aurora is missing this.”

“She isn’t. Look at the window on the main floor.”

Nora looked at her daughter, next to Ira, with their hands pressed against the glass in wonder. Sabin looked and chuckled. “I hope she will remember this.”

“That Ted is made of silver and rainbow glitter? That is the kind of thing a little girl remembers. The only thing better would be if she were a pony.”

Sabin chuckled. “She might be able to. I am fairly sure she is one of the new mages.”

Avor rumbled, “Yah, think? So she was making you an estimate app? I saw it when I was looming over her desk.”

“Yes. She was. Labour, margins, the works.” Sabin grinned. “It is going to make our estimates so fast.”

Avor looked at the woman who was slowly easing up on the power expenditure. “Do you think she might want to make one for me?”

Sabin grinned. “She isn’t cheap, but after the specs go in, you end up with a comprehensive materials list. It links to suppliers for quotes.”

Nora watched Avor perk up. “Really?”

Sabin snorted. “Sure. If it involves organizing data, she’s your app developer. Reasonable prices, too.”

Avor looked at the woman who was staring at her glittering skin. Mik was talking to her, and Ted was nodding slowly. She started slumping, and Mik caught her.

Nora walked forward, and Regis was with her.

* * * *

Ted pressed a hand to her head. “Oh, that is a rush. I felt like a superheated cup of water in the microwave, and you just poked in the chopstick.”

Win smiled. “I understand and agree with that description. That was what it felt like.”

“I am sorry I glittered you.”

Win grinned. “I am sure it comes off.”