IOTA
If it weren't for the hole in my blouse, clear and visible, I might have been tempted to believe that I had finally become insane. And I had to admit, a grown woman having not one but three imaginary friends that were manifestations of her psyche was already pushing it. But it was there, the hole in the one hundred percent cotton shirt I was wearing that day. I kept it in my Chest of Shame at the foot of the bed. I checked it daily, several times actually, just making sure there was a tangible proof and I was not hallucinating the whole thing.
I tried to do some research about magic but all I could find a string of charlatans stealing naive people's money and time. I did found a scary amount of info about witch-hunts. But the descriptions were so gruesome and appalling. I couldn't imagine how to ask about that part without offending them so I let it go and hoped they will tell me when they were ready.
Besides, there were other things, too. My pygmy lotus surviving was another proof. I stared at it constantly now too, every time I went home and it was still beautiful, healthy and growing although his size didn't changed I could see it had a better color, his leaves stronger and its smell filling my house with peace. Inside the Florence Flask looked like an ironic statement.
"Science and magic together as one."
I also had witnessed many magical acts by William and Maggie.
"Aside from the floating and the appearing out of nowhere."
They had done a great job cleaning up the mess left by the fight. They closed the hole in the wall, repaired the test tubes, and made sure any witnesses had a chunk of their memories extracted and a bit of a headache. They told me it was not brain damage; instead, it was more like the effect of having a big hangover. They wouldn't harm any human. It was forbidden.
That was part of the reason I was more confident about accepting our deal. We would find out the origin of my immunity to magic. In return he would give me all the data needed, along with full credit to prove the existence of magic in the world. He wasn't interested in the glory. He just wanted to save theirs and our world.
My theory and plan for fame had nothing on this discovery. Affecting the physical world with the powers of the mind with the aid of herbs and other objects. I was going to become the most celebrated scientist of the twenty-first century.
"Or every century..."
Of course I was also happy to help to protect our world. I wish I had my priorities more in line of a modern heroine. But the Nobel is such a big prize… it was the first benefit I could think about at all times.
They weren't concerned about Sekeem finding me at the moment. He had killed many humans before, and he wouldn't suspect that I was alive. He probably wouldn't even recognize me if he saw me again. According to William he was a patient man, like most long lived ones, a few of his days could mean decades in our world. We had some time left.
I decided to pull a break for a few weeks from Glenda and Tess, telling them that I was up to the neck with homework and if I didn't wanted to fail I had to study all my free time. It was not the first time I had gotten paranoid with my grades.
"I promise I will make up to you, maybe after I'm done with this we can go on a trip or something." I sent them a text message and Glenda sent me a smiley face while Tess sent me an answer:
I pick the place!
I wasn't sure how long we were going to work to be honest, but it was a good way to keep them away for the moment. I'm sure they will understand when the