39. Damian

Chapter thirty-nine

Damian

" H ow safe is it to ask questions across the veil?" I asked the parchment.

"I'm sure it's just you and me. The parchment is ancient, but it's imbedded with my blood, my DNA, and those who have preceded me. It should be very safe."

"The Re'em unicorn has returned," I said and was suddenly very happy Orville could no longer come up to the attic.

Elias, via the parchment, didn't respond for several long moments. Finally, he said, "The arrival of the Re'em brings about two things. First, historically, it represents purity and can cleanse even the most impure. Second, the Re'em is vulnerable, at least in its formative years. Once it's fully powerful, of course, nothing can harm it. But it is intensely vulnerable at the beginning of its life.

"The Re'em itself is a correction. When the balance on Earth tips too far to the dark, the unicorn is released to bring balance back. If those who wish to tip the scales irrevocably can get ahold of the unicorn before it has developed its powers and strength, they can throw the universe into darkness that may take centuries to overcome."

"Can you explain?" I asked, and Elias paused before clarifying.

"Yes, we've experienced such anomalies in history. Europe's Middle Ages were the last. It took a very long time for us to crawl out of those years, and we almost failed. Think of the plagues that swept across the earth.

The destruction in the last few centuries is still related to the problems of the previous two millennia. The Re'em's blood was spilled, and darkness swept in behind it.

If a unicorn has returned, you must do everything in your power to protect it. Give it time and space to mature so it can heal the earth. As the Legacy Wizard, it would be your job and responsibility. Nothing would be more important.

I didn't dare tell him I saw Owen in those images. That he was possibly the Re'em unicorn. I hadn't accepted that at first, not until I'd begun talking to Elias.

Now, it was clear and I couldn't help but tremble at the thought that the vipers had somehow figured out who or what he was. I needed to find him fast. I smiled as my thoughts drifted to an idea."

"Elias, I may need your help. Can you help me create a golem?"

"Golems aren't of the light, wizard. "

"They aren't of the darkness either, if my instincts are correct. I need it to protect the Re'em."

"I can help, but you must put spells on the golem to ensure it doesn't harm the innocent. Yet, if this is what you need to protect the Re'em, you should do it."

I followed Elias's directions on which substances I needed for the golem. I needed to create it using the light. Not only because of the oath I intrinsically made as a Legacy Wizard, but if the vipers knew or even suspected what Owen was, the golem must not give off any dark. Something I should've noticed about Owen was that he was pure light. Jeez, I let so much get past me. Being a new wizard wasn't a good enough excuse.

When I went downstairs to find something with Owen's DNA, I ran into four very concerned-looking ghosts. "Is Owen okay?" Lucious asked.

I stared at them and had to force down my anger. "Do any of you care? When I asked for help earlier…"

Orville interrupted me. "When you asked earlier, I was upset because several of our occupants had just left. I acted inappropriately. You have our help, we will do anything to protect Owen."

I ignored them while searching for what I needed, and when I found a strand of hair, I headed back upstairs. "If you really want to help, you'll find out where Molly and any of her friends are. I'm going to try to protect Owen, but I need to save them too. "

I was about to go back upstairs but stopped and turned around on the first step. "I know my predecessor opened his house to you before I came here. I've also honored his wishes. Owen and I screwed up by not understanding your relationship with the witches and inviting one in, but you've seriously damaged my trust." I paused and then sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I would never do anything to sever our relationship, but relationships are two-way streets. It can't just be me and Owen allowing you to stay here, then you get mad and turn your backs on us."

All four ghosts nodded, and I looked at Orville as he made eye contact. "I'm sorry, Damian," he said.

"We all are," Lucious added.

"Okay, I'm going to be busy for the next day or so. If you can find out where the vipers, a gang on the east side of town, are hiding Molly and anyone else they've captured, and how many they've captured, that would help more than anything else."

All four nodded, and I turned, smiling. I did understand why they had gotten angry. I'm sure I would've too, but it felt good that they had our backs, especially when Owen was so vulnerable. If we were lucky, I could use the golem to get Molly and the others back.

Then, I'd do what I could to protect him. However, my golem would need to survive at least a week if my plan to save and protect Owen worked. Gods help us all if it didn't.