The afternoon sun is warm for a fall day. Most everyone on campus is in shorts and t-shirts soaking up what will probably be the last good day before the cold northern winds blow the rest of the leaves from the trees. Their color has turned earthy browns, and most litter the lawn. Only the few pines are still green, yet they look dry and tired having already pulled their life's blood closer to their core knowing it's time for a winter sleep.
Pulling in a deep breath, you relish the sweet tang in your lungs. Your tanned and toned legs skip down the path as a child-like feeling pumps through you with every heart beat. As your ponytail swings in synch with your hips, a natural smile on your lips broadens to each person that goes by sharing a little bit of this happiness.
Life has been good the past couple years. You've found a new internal confidence that has let you relax and be comfortable. Your days at Westside are stored in the back of your memory where they rarely surface. No more looking over your shoulder or second guessing every encounter. After watching your old classmates graduate and most leave town for other colleges, jobs or stints in the military, there was little to concern you, but you still leave the Libra and its spells locked away, rarely even acknowledging they exist. You are now thoroughly immersed in graduating college this year from Keyserling as if this was meant to be your life's path.
That Westside graduation was your biggest test, but you passed so easily. Sitting nervously with your inherited family, you don't even remember what Principal Sagansky or Valedictorian Kim Walsh said. You were waiting the alphabetical parade to mentally check off each of the players.
The early names like Gordon Black and Chelsea Cooper had you snicker to yourself. According to the program, they had both received athletic scholarships and were headed to State. The first golems to attend, you're sure. They were quickly followed by the Durass brothers. Frank, very stoic; but Joe, sporting a rooster crown above his mortarboard. They were going to a camp out west to become counselors.
In the middle was Caleb Johansson scheduled for Tech and an engineering degree. William Prescott had received a special grant to study at an institute in Los Angeles. That seemed very odd especially since he was leaving immediately just like the Durass', but you were glad for him and that they would be gone. As he went for his diploma, he looked your way, his eyes boring directly at you for a couple seconds, and something ticked inside you until he disappeared back into the crowd.
The program said cheerleaders Gloria Rea and Kendra Saunders would be attending community college while deciding on careers. You had wondered if they even had futures unless they joined a gang or Roller Derby.
The biggest shock to you was Maria Vasquez who was accepted at Johns Hopkins University as a pre-med major. Fortunately, your shock that dim-witted Maria could even understand medical terms let alone be accepted there was short lived as your sister's name came next.
She had been accepted at "Manny U.," Manchester University, several states over. She only applied there as no one else from Westside had, confiding to you that she wanted to get as far away from other Westside classmates, especially the cheerleaders, as possible. You couldn't blame her after the way she had been used. This conflicted with your old feelings, but as a good sister now, you locked those away and supported her. You became so much closer over the summer before she left that guilt turned your perspective and your whole life for the better.
Today, you are headed by the sorority to grab some things, mainly the pile of dirty clothes in your room, then home for the long fall weekend. It was about the same time two years ago that you had disappeared and started your new life. You were just running and lost, and it was purely an accident, and very fortuitous, to have run into your current self while wandering and wondering where to hide. You remember it so clearly.
Feeling desperate, you decided to use the last blank mask on her to escape town. Of course, you would have to kill her and dump her body where it wouldn't be found. That terrified you especially since you aren't a killer and didn't want to be no matter how vindictive you had been, but you knew you couldn't go back, and there was no other way to hide the original. It was the fear of being caught that gave you the courage to carry out such an atrocious plan. So you graciously accepted her offer to stay with her. As you got in her car, your hand was already in your bag gripping the mask nestled beside the Libra. When she looked away to reach for the seatbelt, you struck, only to get a bigger scare and surprise.
The mask didn't sink in. It just hung on her face but left her frozen, not moving, not even breathing. You almost fled and still aren't sure why you did what you did. It's all foggy, but after a bewildering few moments, you removed the mask then grabbed her face and pulled while repeating the phrase for mask release. It came off leaving her just like Gordon - a stone statue of herself.
In a panic pushing the golem aside, you climbed over and drove off looking for a safe spot where no one might see. To escape the buildings and people, it ended up being out Farm Road. It was where the high school couples went who didn't have a room without parents around. That's probably why it was the first place that popped into your head. Skipping the usual spots, you turned down an overgrown lane marked "Private - No Trespassing" and off into a clearing with one large tree.
It didn't take long for the situation to sink in. Someone else had used the book before it got to Westside. Maybe used it on lots of people. Perhaps it was those Durass brothers. Maybe they were going to use it on you, or maybe whoever did this would now have to do it to you. The only way to know was inside the mask.
Several minutes in the shadows and many deep breaths later, your nerves were calm enough to look at the mask. The moonlight illuminated a crystal blue interior with her name floating just under the surface. Her image struggled behind it as if trying to escape. Since it wasn't gray, it wasn't a golemized mask. It would be safe, hopefully, and you could discover who had done this and why. That was your last thought as you pressed it on and passed out.
* * * *
"Hi, mom. I'm home."
"In the kitchen, Lucy."
"Aren't you always?" you joke as you drop off the bag of clothes by the washer.
"Yes, I am, especially when I know you'll be home."
"Oh, Mom. You don't have to always make that when I come home," you say seeing a pile of chopped vegetables.
"It's the only time I can force you father to eat any. You know his carnivore approach to food. So how were classes?"
"The usual: boring. Glad I can escape school for a few days."
"How's that archeology project coming with the Professor? I still find it hard to believe that you really enjoy that."
Ah, yes. The major you had picked. Who you were and who you are would never have picked that had the circumstances been any different; but once you had the mask on, your inherent ability to plot just came forth naturally.
* * * *
"Ah, Lucy, my favorite student. It's time that we change around again."
"I don't think so, Professor Blackwell." That stopped him in mid stride, his hand still reaching for your face. You stepped in as his bewilderment left him frozen. "It's time for a new change."
His bulky body was no match for your athleticism. Before he could even think, the blank mask was on his face, and he tumbled over sending an earthquake vibrating across the floor.
With all of Lucy's memories in the mask, it was easy to prepare for this encounter. He had used the mask while he did his black magic around his house, a great villa off Farm Road not far from where you had first put it on. So you easily pulled the memory of how he made and where he kept the ingredients and potions including a small tub of mask sealant that just needed some graveyard dirt – conveniently a mausoleum was on his property – and some of your real hair to turn it into a golemized sealant.
The big oaf never regained consciousness before the mask was sealed and he began doing what you, Lucy, originally wanted: give you passing grades. Fortunately, he was more of a pervert than a rapist and had just enjoyed wearing the mask and never took advantage of the girl. It was probably unfortunate for her that he was, thereby refusing her offer to pay and instead making her his permanent, completely obedient assistant. He had lost the book shortly after that but quite enjoyed his forays as her – until you put an end to them. Now he is your completely obedient assistant, although you left him intact and not a stone golem even though appropriate for what he had done to Lucy. Seeing the advantages of having control of your college mentor and sponsor but knowing better than flaunt it, you stayed any use by you or him of all magic to avoid drawing any attention. What's more is that you found this archeology field rather interesting and decided to make it your major especially since he would be doing most of the work. That doesn't mean you aren't learning and eventually can work on your own as a career, but even through next year as a graduate student, you are safe and secure.
You have the following choice: 1. Continue |
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