Free Rite of Passage by Kevin V. Symmons Page A

down the vacant hallway and casting a cautious glance as she stepped inside. Courtney needed the telephone. Badly. Picking up the receiver, she heard the operator’s voice crackling through the line. Just as she was about to speak, the door opened. Jonathan stood facing her.
    “What do you want?” he asked with a frown. “Anything wrong?”
    She smiled and shook her head.
    “Calling Simon,” she mouthed.
    He nodded, returning her smile. “Good.” He crossed the space and sat down in one of the chairs facing the desk. “Mind?” he asked.
    “I’m sorry, Uncle Jon,” she said. “I need to talk to him alone. In private. If you’d be so kind.”
    Jonathan frowned. “Is there a problem? I see you tucked your friend in after saving him from the police.”
    She stared at him as she played with her hair.
    He stared for a moment, then stood, his round face showing irritation. Jon was used to getting his way. There was a bit of the spoiled child in him.
    “Yes, things are going all right,” she said, not quite sure she felt that confident. “I need to talk to Simon in private,” she repeated in a whisper, giving him an engaging smile. “Please?”
    He nodded. She knew he was cross. “You and Simon are running this show, Courtney. But keep us in the loop. A play is only as good as the supporting cast.”
    Courtney tapped the phone and spoke into the handset. After a long delay, she asked for the overseas operator and when the woman came on the line gave the woman Simon’s number.
    “Hello. Courtney?” he answered on the first ring. His rich baritone always inspired confidence in Courtney. But something was different. An edge to his voice. Something guarded.
    “Hello, Simon. Sorry to call at this hour.” She checked her watch. It was almost three in the morning in the small Welsh hamlet Simon ruled over.
    “How are things progressing?” he asked.
    “According to plan.” She stopped and inhaled deeply. “But…it’s proving more difficult than I thought,” she confessed. “Something’s happened. Something I had no way of anticipating.”
    “Really?” He paused. She heard the sound of muffled voices on Simon’s end. “Something too difficult for you?”
    She sighed, her eyes gazing at the austere portraits surrounding her.
    “Are you all right?” he re-phrased his question.
    “I will be. After Friday evening.”
    “What’s troubling you, my dear?” he asked.
    She was certain he already knew. Courtney brought her eyes back to the desk, playing with her hair as she studied the blotter. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
    “ Courtney? ” He spoke in a strained whisper. “We can have no secrets from one another.”
    “I’ve grown very fond of him.” She stopped, adding, “More so than I anticipated.”
    “I see. But of course you’ll not let that affect our plans.”
    “Of course not. I undertand,” she assured her mentor. “But it means taking him away from everything in his life. All he holds dear. I have no idea what that may do to him or how he’ll feel about me when it’s over.” She sighed. “But I’ll do what I have to. You know that.”
    He was silent. “I know you will. We knew sacrifices would be involved. You can still use a spell on him. He’ll never remember what happened.”
    “ No! ” she insisted. “No spells.” She stopped, knowing Simon understood. Courtney wanted Robert to be her partner without spells and magic. Wanted him to be with her , not under some bloody spell.
    He was silent for a moment, then continued, “Now, I’ll be there on Sunday. Courtney, there can be no slipups. You do know that.” He let it go.
    Courtney needed no reminder of how important this was. She thought of mankind’s strife and cruelty in the twentieth century. Without the ritual, the prophecy foretold the evil would continue and grow worse.
    But Courtney was worried. She knew her mentor. Too well. Had never failed to read his moods, with or without her powers. And now, she sensed