"Hey, Irene," Det. Kyle spoke behind an unsuspecting nurse, causing her to jump in surprise.
"Jeez! Jeremy, what are you doing in here? This place is restricted, nurses and staff only."
"I've got a badge that says otherwise. How's my favorite niece doing?"
"She's good, learning how to walk, but cut the bullshit, why are you here?"
"I'm wounded, can't I be just here to see my little sister?"
"When was the last time you came to see me, and it wasn't about work?"
"Fair enough. You were here the night I was working on the beach case?"
"Yeah sure, what's up, you catch the killer yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm however not here for that. There's this kid, tall, dark hair, blue eyes goes by Raymond Storm. I saw him being brought in and I don't have to be a doctor to know he was in a pretty bad shape..." Just as he was explaining, Detective Kyle couldn't help but notice the change in his sister's demeanor. She went from tired but relaxed to alert but stiff.
His people-reading skills kicked in almost immediately, "...you know you can tell me anything sis, I'd never rat you out?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm just being paranoid. I haven't come across a patient by that name."
"There's another?"
"I don't know, he fits your profile, but a lot is going on, and the rumors aren't good."
"Do you mind checking the patient for me then?"
"Okay, wait here and don't go around shaking trees. I work here."
Jeremy grinned, "I swear on our mother's grave."
Roughly ten minutes later, she came back, making sure they were still alone before she began talking, "Nada, your patient's a ghost."
"Interesting...what's with this other patient you mentioned?"
"Nothing, which is what spooks me. He was brought in the same night but disappeared the following day. The doctors aren't saying anything, and the nurses and staff are all treading on eggshells. Everything is hush-hush.
"I hear Dr. Spencer is telling the nurses it was all a setup, some kind of a drill to test our casualty readiness for some future VIPs, and the patient wasn't really injured. I know none of the nurses are buying it, but no one is going to stick out their neck for it."
"Did you at least get a name?"
"Yeah, Justin Walker."
Jeremy took out his notepad and scribbled down the name, "you say he also fits the profile? Was he alone, family, friends, guardian?"
"Just one, male, medium height, no name though."
"Okay thanks sis, I will stop by and check on her, promise."
"You better."
Jeremy spent the next twenty minutes driving back to the Station and went straight to his office. He pulled open his left drawer and fished out a dossier. After confirming the file, he grabbed it and left his office for upstairs.
He went straight to Dispatch, walked in to find just the guy he was looking for.
"How's everything up here Tim?"
"Peachy, do you need something?"
"Sure," he reached into his pocket and pulled out his notepad, "can you run for me this name?" He handed Tim the name.
They went through several people but none fit the description Irene gave him, and there weren't that many Justin Walkers to speak of.
"Is he someone you know?"
"I hoped so, never mind. There is something more important I need you to do for me." He dropped the file on Tim's desk, "he is one of the suspects we arrested in the drug bust."
"You want his location?"
"Yes, and his history for the past week. Something about him feels wrong, and I'm willing to bet I'll get plenty of answers soon enough."
"Anything else?"
"Yes, off-the-books," Jeremy gave him a lopsided grin. "Just in case there is blowback."
"Sure, can do, I'll get to it in a few."
"Keep me posted."
Det. Kyle walked back to his office and grabbed his keys. It was almost noon by the time he arrived at the University.
*****
"For most people, before they try their first spell, usually tend to learn about magic first. In your case, we'll have to do a quick introduction. There are three ways of using magic, the first is well known by pretty much everyone. Channeling. All magic sensitive beings can harness magic through their bodies and use it however they please. Though not all Supernatural can do this.
"The second method is through portions. Unlike channeling, portions can be used by anyone. Preparation, however, requires channeling magic. And lastly artifacts or enchantments, these are objects imbued with magic, and like portions, they too can be used by anyone.
"As your first magic lesson, you need to learn about one rule. For any successful spell to be cast, there are three things to consider. Source, command and intent." Adrastea droned on.
They were behind the mansion and on a large patch of grass, a few meters from a large pool. He was barefoot with his shirt half buttoned and sleeves rolled up as he stood akimbo.
"As you have noticed you're an example of a source. Think of magic as a sentient yet highly impressionable being. The Sleeping Spell you used earlier is your command; it tells your magic what to do. Your magic followed your command to the letter, the only problem is, you left out your intent.
"In this regard, magic behaves like a flame, if left alone it turns into a raging inferno. Attacking anything and anyone within its reach, provided you can fuel it.
"Some people have more fuel in their tanks than others. This gives them more raw power. But with intent, you can decide on how much, who or what you want your magic to affect and to what extent. Once a spell is done, even if you leave your connection open, your magic won't take any liberties."
Adrastea took a moment to concentrate on her raised hands and a purple orb—the size of a snow globe—materialized in between her open palms.
"Cool."
"What you're seeing is magic in its raw form. We call it arcane energy. It varies from one person to another depending on their arcane affinity. You can tell a Being's arcane affinity by the color of their raw magic.
"There's Purple, Blue, Green and White and each color category has its own shades. At the very bottom, there is dark purple, and it goes all the way to white.
"Magic in this form can act as both energy or concussive force. It can be shaped in any form limited only by your imagination."
Adrastea explained as the orb went from cloud-like form to a more pronounced solid form before flattening into a disc, it then took a bowl shape. "It's due to this property that also enables it to be used as a shield."
The bowl suddenly flattened again but expanded to cover her whole torso. The shield further extended until it reached her knees before it disappeared and a Adrastea emerged behind it. "It also takes a lot of energy and concentration to sustain it as it grows bigger and may present one's limit."
She reached behind her back and pulled out a small dagger before throwing it to Raymond. "Your turn."
"Can't you just teach me how to use my magic without me having to mutilate myself?"
"It seems to be working so far."
"Seriously?"
"Okay. We'll have to do a broad-spectrum of your abilities and find what gets triggered by what. What can you do so far?"
Ray raised his hands like Adrastea did but formed a ball of invisible air instead. The whooshing sound and fluffing of his half-buttoned shirt gave it away. It immediately disappeared only to be replaced by a tendril of bluish electricity that lashed from his right palm only to latch on his left palm like a whip.
Ray held it for only a few seconds before he disappeared. He reappeared seconds later with car keys in his hands.
"They're Charles'," he said after Adrastea gave him a disapproving look.
"Okay, anything else?"
"Yeah, but it's going to be hard to show this one."
"Show me what?"
"This," a disembodied voice replied, but unlike Charles, Adrastea didn't even flinch.
"Good, what did you experience when you used each one of your powers?"
"Well, air is the easiest, I could just wave my arm and send out a large gust or just a small breeze with little to no concentration. The electricity, though I need to concentrate if I don't want to release too much. Otherwise more of it exits my body especially when I touch the ground or handle metals.
"With the astral projection all I have to do is push my mind out of my body. My view changes from frontal to a three-sixty view unless I assume a humanoid shape, that way my vision is the same as when I'm in my body.
"Teleportation is all about picturing my destination and pulling it to me with my mind. The rest like strength and speed all come naturally."
"Now try cutting yourself."
Ray hesitated for a moment before doing as told. He immediately began focusing on healing his wound.
"Stop! I want you to focus on your magic rather than your wound." Adrastea spoke, "feel for it and then try to pool it together between your hands."
Ray dropped the dagger and spread his open palms slightly apart before trying to visualize a purple ball in his hand. The familiar tingling and sudden rush returned, but this time it was less potent. Opening his eyes, he, however, found a dark blue orb the size of a football.
"Hold on to it," Adrastea spoke as she moved closer to him. "Try and make it bigger."
Ray focused on the orb, this time with more ease and willed it to be bigger. It grew and grew until it was the size of his torso, his hands were now stretched out to his sides.
"Keep going."
Ray forced more power into the ball and soon it was touching his completely outstretched arms. Without thinking, he mentally pushed the ball forward. It moved out of his arms and stopped just ahead of him and grew some more.
By the time Raymond began losing his breath, his concentration had started to wane and he started having trouble focusing, it was the size of a giant beach ball. With a final grunt he forced his connection close and willed the ball to disappear. It didn't.
'Shit!'