Free Magic Born by Caethes Faron Page B

determined expression.
    “Why are you here? What’s happened?” He eyed the medallion around my neck and then resumed eye contact.
    The abrupt change of tone put me off. “Someone tried to kill me, that’s what.”
    Casper uncrossed his arms and ankles, stepping forward with a sense of urgency. “A sorcerer?”
    “Something magical. I woke up to an orb floating in my bedroom. Pretty creepy. Alex seems to think that whoever killed my mother is coming after me now.”
    Casper nodded. “We better get out of here. I have somewhere safe I can take you. That talisman of yours is giving off enough power to potentially be tracked depending on who’s trying to kill you.” Casper strode back behind his desk and picked up the phone. “I’m going to be leaving ahead of schedule with two guests. I’m making my way to the roof now. Meet us there.” He hung up and didn’t miss a beat, striding to the door and motioning for us to follow. “I have a helicopter on the roof. It’ll take us to a safe location, one with protective enchantments.”
    I started to follow, but Alex caught my arm while keeping his eyes on Casper. “Wait, we don’t even know you.”
    Alex had a point, even though I felt as if I did know Casper from the years spent following his career and watching his promotional videos and interviews. Really though, all I knew was the public persona. That man, while he had always appeared authentic, could be a PR creation.
    Casper had already opened his office door, but stopped to look back at us. “No, you do not. However, it seems like the only thing you need to know is that I’m not trying to kill you.”
    The man made a good argument. I glanced at Alex to see if he accepted this and found him looking at me. I shrugged. “I don’t really see a better option.” Alex nodded, and we followed Casper out of his office.
    When we arrived on the roof, the helicopter blades were spinning to life, and we had to duck into the wind they produced. Casper led the way and ushered first me and then Alex into the cabin. The second the door latched behind us, the helicopter took flight. I don’t know what I had expected, perhaps the type of helicopter news stations used, but this one was clearly designed for the comfort of its wealthy owner. Cream-colored leather seats looked and felt every bit as luxurious as you’d expect for a multimillionaire, or was it billionaire? I didn’t quite know where Casper stood in the monetary hierarchy.
    “It shouldn’t take long to get to our destination. We can speak more freely there, where I’m assured there are no eavesdropping ears. In the meantime, enjoy the scenery.” Casper gestured to the large window on my right. Indeed, the landscape passing below us was breathtaking, but hardly a suitable distraction from the more exciting topics at hand, especially after my years spent in Montana. I’d had my fill of snow, trees, and mountains.
    “Why the helicopter? Why not just teleport us?” Alex’s question tore my attention from the window, and I looked over him to Casper. As cool as the helicopter was, teleporting sounded far more interesting.
    “The use of any magic opens us up to the possibility of being tracked. Having taken great pains to keep the place I’m taking you to secret, I won’t run the risk of being tracked by teleporting.”
    “You said you knew my mother.” Teleporting sounded interesting, but I wanted to know how Casper had known something I’d spent my life ignorant of.
    “Not now. Wait until we land. I promise you, I’ll tell you as much as you want to know once I know we’re safe.”
    We flew in silence for a few minutes more until I nodded off. Between all the short naps I’d gotten, I still hadn’t achieved a full eight hours of sleep. Last night I’d gone to bed, blissfully unaware of the full extent of the danger which threatened me. It seemed ludicrous that a full day hadn’t passed since then.

    * * *
    W hen I woke , Alex and Casper still