2Chapter: Magic's End
Adam Handover could never find a wand that worked with him correctly and he needed one more than most. Adam endeavored for tutelage from Count Osgood, but until now, he was not able to convince him he was worth the time to teach by letter alone. Finding a decent wand and using it to expel his powers would surely make Osgood beg him to be his student. No one knew focusing objects like Adam and with the years and variety of magical understanding Count Osgood had he could certainly cure his awkward malady. Therefore, he and his wife Winifred set out for Geneva by train.
Mrs. Handover could not stand traveling especially with her husband. He carried too many tomes and spell-books. Then there were the long chats about Magic Theory and The History of Magic. He could go on for hours nearly killing her from boredom. For a while now he had been speaking, but she only listened off and on. Winifred would rather be out riding some wild beast across the planes Lot or learning combat techniques from the soldiers of Columbine. Nevertheless, she wanted Adam to feel whole. Being there for him was the least she could do. When she thought his rant might be over, he tapped her leg.
"Look at that view!" Adam pointed at the Out Forest. "Isn't it beautiful? Y-you can actually see magic floating up in the air."
"Geneva is a good place for practicing magic." Winifred responded while peeking at the sight. "It's certainly is pretty."
"I don't know why I didn't come here before!"Adam pressed his hands against the cool window. "I feel like I am home."
Winifred blew out a breath then pulled a stack of playing cards from her messenger bag. "Want to play a game of Quip?"
Mr. Handover kindly declined and grabbed the book, "Motionless Living: Theory of Rock Breeding."
Winifred threw her head back, "Fine I'll play alone."
The train slowed down into a halt. The pair looked out the window to see where they had stopped. It was in the middle of nowhere. Adam popped his head out of the door. Many people seemed dismayed.
"I am going to find out what's going on." Adam slipped on his tweed jacket and gave his wife a small peck on the cheek.
"Hurry back." Winifred ordered crossly. "I don't want you out there. For all you know there might have been a train robbery."
Adam raised a finger and began to say something, but reminded himself that his wife hardly listened to him. He replied with a simple, "Yes ma'am." Then he scurried out the door.
People had filled the walkways gathering amongst themselves the idea of what might be going on. Most thought the train hit something or a part of the engine met its demise. Adam tried to tune them out. Bad news made his pressure build up and thoughts run wild. Once the negative visions began, he could hardly stay focused. Adam wiped the sweat from his forehead. He needed answers quickly before a full on fit started. One of the attendants stopped him before he reached the first class car.
"Can I help you sir?"
"I wanted to know why we've stopped out here." Adam adjusted his jacket.
"One of our men have gone to speak with the captain, if you return to your seat word'll get 'round to you." He assured.
"T-thank you, I appreciate that I do." Adam cursed his stutter; his head twitched twice before her returned to his room.
"Are you okay?" Winifred asked.
"They are trying to figure out what's happening." Adam sat down and scanned the view outside. The forest seemed unbothered. From what he could see out the window, a barricade blocked the tracks ahead. "There might have been an accident."
Winifred took a glance out the window then sat back down in disbelief. She gathered up her playing cards to shuffle.
"I can't wait to walk on land again."
"I know love. Thank you for going with me." Adam leaned over and kissed Winifred.
"I would do anything for you."
Two taps at the door tore them apart. Another passenger was yelling at an attendant. Adam slid open the door.
"Well if I can't get into Geneva then I want my money back!" The passenger yelled.
"We don't carry enough money on the train to give everyone a refund; you will just have to wait until we go back to Lot."
"That's a train ride and a boat's ride away!"
"Excuse me." Winifred interceded. "Could you tell us why we have turned back?"
"War." The attendant said. "We're lucky they are giving us a chance to get out. Who knows if we'll be so lucky passing back through Eden."
Winifred fell back against her seat.
"I want my money back now!" The passenger yelled. The attendant excused himself before closing their lodging's door.
Adam started fiddling with the window. The thing must roll down. Winifred smacked his hand down.
"Just what are you up to now?" Winifred tried to calm her nerves.
"Well I can't stay seated here. I think what I need is going to be in Geneva. We just can't give up like this."
Adam grabbed their two suitcases and tucked the important goods like a change of underwear and water can into his wife's messenger bag. He took his bag full of books and swung them over his shoulder. Winifred held her husband by the arm.
"Uh, what are you up to?" She gripped him tighter.
"Wasn't it you who wanted to get out the train?"Adam lifted his head so he could look down at his wife.
"Yes, but without out a map or food, going into the woods is insane." Winifred retorted.
"I don't know when I will ever get this chance again. I won't lose it." Adam took her bag too then rushed out the door.
"Adam!" Winifred rushed after him.
Passengers were out of their seats complaining and moving around. No one had his or her eye on the door. Winifred walked behind her husband and whispered, "This better go well."
"With you how can it not?" Adam pulled the lock and slid open the door.
The two jumped straight into a mud puddle. Winifred felt thankful for having worn pants and long sleeved clothes. Adam pulled his wife into a slow kiss.
"I love you." He said his eyes full of her.
"I know it but we better get going before we draw any attention." Winifred gave him a quick kiss back, and then pulled him towards the woods. "Remember this was your idea!"
"As long as you remember this is our adventure!" Adam's face beamed with joy.
In the hands of Samantha Abbot, magic could do very little. Any attempt to cast a spell would end in total embarrassment. Wands never worked for her and creating potions would produce nearly disastrous explosions. There was no case worse than taking a chance at the Graduation ceremony. This time she would have to pass from secondary school magic or risk the label of drop out. The night before the exam, Samantha studied hoping that this graduation would be the one to streamline her into running her family business. At some point, her head hit the table. Sleep took over and drool saturated the pages of her spell books.
Rosie Abbot banged on the door scaring her child to the floor.
"Nate's already gone to school. You're going to be late to your own graduation again!"
Samantha screamed and rushed to her dresser drawer. She put on an odd mismatched ensemble and tucked her school jacket underneath her arms. Samantha ran down her house's narrow stairs and out the door without a hello or good-bye to her parents.
The streets of Port Vienne bustled with half-woken citizens, all of them seemingly getting in Samantha's way. Her legs pressed on, past her physical ability to run well. A man rushed out of store beside her, knocking her to the ground. Samantha grabbed her bruised elbow and whined. A man in a long leather coat with knee high black boots came out and offered his hand. Samantha took it and got up on her feet as fast as she could.
"Fucking prick, I apologize on his behalf." He studied Samantha up and down. "The name is Tanner."
"I'm Sam." She shook his hand. "Thank you for the help."
"If you are ever looking for a good time," Tanner pointed back at the bar. "Come here and ask for me."
"Okay. Well I gotta run so." Sam rushed off towards her school. "Have a good one thanks again!"
Tanner stood there with a wide smile on his face and his hands planted on his waist. His first day in Port Vienne and he was already running into some beautiful women. Much to his displeasure Tanner needed to be working. He walked back into the bar. Men and women in various brown colored jackets waited for him at a long table in the back.
They quieted down their conversations as he joined them. One of them a woman covered in piercings banged on the table to gather complete silenced. Tanner gave her a firm handshake.
"So I heard the boss is sending you out to Broomhaus. Pearl what are you planning to do once you get there?" Tanner asked.
"Do you want to know what I am going to do?" Pearl looked around at her sneering understudies with amusement. She yanked her mug off the table and raised it. "I am going screw the first good looking warlock I see! Cheers!"
They all clasped their mugs then started to down their drinks. Tanner pulled Pearl aside where the men could hardly hear them.
"Are you ready, killing Eric isn't going to be easy?" Pearl narrowed her eyes, trying to sense any fear in Tanner.
"Eric doesn't need to die." Tanner released a long breath. He knew she would squeeze this in somehow. He was not expecting her to say it immediately.
"I am putting my neck and theirs on the line for this."
"I've known him since childhood. He takes what he needs and sticks to himself mostly. He's helped all of us do the same."
"You've only seen one side of him, I feel bad for you, but I am grasping at any chance to destroy him. You see, I fought with that bastard during the take over at Turtle Nest."
"I've never heard of it. I've never even seen it on a map."
"That was the point." Pearl lowered her head and patted his shoulder. "Don't fuck it up."
"I can't" Tanner smirked.
He looked back at the other members of the Violet Plague with calm. Tanner would raise this gang out of their infamous status to one of prestige and gratitude. An anti-government voice of the people. The pair returned to the table entered the conversation, but Tanner ruminated on the thought of making Violet Plague something more