Wizards and Worms: Meeting A Wizard

Wizards and Worms

All characters are 18 or over.

Taylor’s heart pounded as she ran from the two girls chasing her. With Sophia not being with them, she was at least able her get a lead, however small. The indoor mall was unusually empty for this time of day. Leaning against the larger widow of a tricks and magic shop, Taylor took several deep breaths, and then spotted the red hair of Emma Barnes. Flipping around she opened the wooden door, that didn’t match the decor of the rest of the mall, and ducked inside, hoping that Emma and Madison didn’t see her enter.

Emma saw the curly black hair disappear behind the wooden door to the shop. “Madison she went inside.” Emma Barnes was a cruel sort of person, and gladly followed Taylor into the store, not reading the sign, but certain that Taylor didn’t have anywhere to escape now.

While Emma entered, Madison started upward as the signs of the store. The store she knew wasn’t there yesterday. She knew this mall like the back of her hand, and the place was in between two stores that already existed. A high-class clothing store, and she wished she could afford, and a toy store, that she hadn’t been into in years. There was simply no way this place should of been here. “Emma, I don’t think---” said Madison before realizing Emma was already inside.  With butterflies dancing in her stomach, Madison went through the threshold and entered the Spells R Us.

Emma started to stalk the isles, each filled with odd antiques and nicknacks. Some expected as trick decks of cards, others out of place like a lava-lamp shaped like a curvy woman, with a tag that said ‘Rub Me’ on it.

“Can I help you?” said an old man dressed in a bathroom that seemingly appeared right behind her. Emma didn’t hear any footsteps or the sounds of movement. The redhead girl took a step back, startled by the man’s presence.

“A tall girl with curly black hair stole the wallet out of my purse, I saw her go in her.” lied Emma without even a second to prepare. Honeyed words flowed through her mouths as easily as she breathed.

“Emma, it is not nice to lie, ya know.” said the old man dressed in a blue robe, decorated with stars and a pointed hat.

“How did you know my name.” said the redheaded girl, looking up and down at the old man. That he might be a stalker or worst a Thinker flashed through her mind. A cape that could read minds was a very dangerous person.

“I’m a wizard, but I guess the difference between reading your mind because of magic, and reading it because of superpowers is more a discussion in philosophy than practically.” said the old and white-haired man.

“Who are you and what do you want,” said Emma backing slowly away from the cape.

“Most just called me the Old Man, and well I run a shop. So naturally selling things is what I want. All sorts of trinkets and bobbles I’ve collected over the years. Can’t stay in business if I don’t make a profit.” The old man took several steps towards Emma, who was frozen in her tracks, then suddenly turned to the left, and pulled a wooden box from the shelf. He flipped it open and pulled out an amulet on a chain. “This I think it something perfect for you.” He dangled the amulet out on from. In silver was a snake wrapped around the heads of a bronze goat, a golden lion, and a burned metal dragon.

“So you are reading my mind, just to sell me things?” said Emma as she watched the amulet turn and circle in his hands. “If I buy it, can I go?”

“The only thing keeping you here is your own fear and weakness of being weak. Speed of a snake, the strength of a dragon, tenacity of a goat, and vitality of a lion. Just wear the amulet and say the magic words written on the box, and you can be as strong as you dreamed of.” The wizard placed the amulet back into the polished wooden box, that showed not the slighted signs of age.

“How much?” Emma didn’t believe the cape but keeping going along with his delusions was probably safe than trying to run away.

“How much do you have in your pocket?” said the Old Man.

In a few minutes, Emma was outside holding a bag with the wooden box, and a warning from the man claiming to be a wizard. “Don’t lose hold of your humanity, you already have so little left.”

Madison exited the building soon after holding her own bag. “Did you see Taylor?” asked Emma when she spotted her friend.

“No, just an old guy that talked me into buying something,” said Madison as she spotted the package that Emma was holding.

“She probably wasn’t even in there. That cape likely used a wig to lure us in so he could sell us junk.” With the trail on Taylor gone cold, the two left the mall.

Taylor waited several minutes in the store, waiting for the coast to clear before heading out. The few dollars and the pack of gum she had in her pocket gone, and now with a book that old man picked out. “T--nosis For Dummies” the man had his thumb on the cover of the book while he was talking to her, and cashing her out.