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Shadowdancer

By Dracon

[Notice: The characters and events within are inspired by the "Gargoyles" TV Series and as such credit goes to the creators of said series. If any characters appear in the story from said series, those characters belong to their creators.

Should anyone wish to use the characters or events within in their own works, permission is hereby granted to do so. I just ask that you let me know if you are going to do so and provide credit in your work.

Underage viewers should not read this series, and all readers do so at their own risk.]

"A Voice From The Other World..."

----Chapter VI----

Jamie lay on the futon, gasping for breath as she rode the intense high of her release. It felt as though her whole body had been on fire for a brief, yet infinite, moment. Her climax had felt immeasurably different than any she had felt as a man, so much more... fulfilling. She briefly wondered if male gargoyles had a similar intensity of feeling.

While the idea of simply lying there, luxuriating in the aftermath of that tremendous sensation, had a certain merit, she still had responsibilities to take care of.

With a sigh, she recalled that there was a bathroom just across the hall from her room, and figured she could make it there without encountering anyone else, giving her a chance to clean herself up.

After giving herself a quick scrub down, she looked in the bathroom's small closet to see if there were any air fresheners, figuring that she had probably released a great deal of pheromones while pleasuring herself, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to concentrate with all that hanging around. Besides, it could be a little embarrassing if anyone came to check on her!

After cleaning up and getting dressed again, she realized that she felt energized, her mind feeling clearer than it had since she had arrived in this strange new world. With a wry smile, she wondered if perhaps she had been in heat, and pondered if gargoyles were more like humans or animals in that respect.

She opened a window to help clear the air, and decided to take her reading elsewhere. There was a 'family room/lounge' listed on her map, but she decided to return to the roof's deck and enjoy the cool night breeze as she studied.

Deciding that she had gone as far as she could at this time with 'On Elseworld', she decided instead to take the Livre Blanc de Magie with her. She hoped to pick up some first-hand experience as soon as she could.

The roof was deserted when she arrived. She looked around for a moment and saw a stack of lawn chairs, those classically tacky fixtures of suburban life.

There was also a solid looking wooden chair, with massive legs to support it, that she assumed was hers. She hadn't yet figured out how much she weighed, but she had a feeling that those thin strips of vinyl might not hold up well to her weight.

She lifts up the chair, astonished that it actually took effort on her part, and sets it down by the edge of the deck, facing the Chicago skyline. To her surprise, even though only a small sliver of the Moon showed, she could still see well enough to read from the scattered light around her!

Much to her relief, the Livre had been typed and translated in much the same manner as 'On Elseworld', with an archival note listing it as dating to the mid 1700s. The title was actually Jessica's description, as the book was titleless, apparently the workbook of a French magician. She dubbed it the White Book of Magic because of the 'protective' nature of its contents.

Jamie noted that a metal plate had been inserted in the book's spine, and tapping the covers indicated that they also contained metal inserts. She realized that it was the same greenish silvery metal as on her initial outfit, which suggested to her that the metal was in some way magical, perhaps acting as a conductor/superconductor for magical energy.

The author of the book had apparently been employed as a field medic during the Seven Years War, and many of the spells listed in the contents were based around healing and invigoration. Additionally, several shielding spells were listed.

Thumbing through the abstracts, Jamie came to the realization that the classical 'mana shield' seems to be unobtainable in this world, and that individual shielding spells seem calibrated to different threats, and levels of threat.

The book's contents were listed in order of complexity, rather than by function, indicating that this magus had been still learning the trade himself. Jamie spotted a spell to generate a simple globe of glowing light near the beginning, and decided to try that, figuring it would be unlikely to hurt anything if it went wrong.

The actual process seemed simple enough. It involved clearing one's mind of distractions, envisioning the result, and speaking the command words as one held the book in one hand and traced symbols in the air with the other.

Jamie realized that the first step, clearing her mind, would not be as difficult to her as she suspected. It was, after all, exceedingly difficult to program with stray thoughts pestering you, and she had learned to close them out and focus entirely on the code, after a good deal of practice.

This wouldn't be so different, except that there would be no monitor to focus on.

Bringing to mind the concept of a ball of light that floated over her hand posed little difficulty, either. She envisioned it as a red-toned point that shed light in all directions, with a corona several inches across just for style.

Jamie found it slightly amusing that the command words were in Latin, partially because she had expected them to be translated along with the rest of the book, and partly because it was so clichéd.

Figuring that if she was going to do this, she might as well do it in style, she stood with her wings extended, grasped the spine of the book in her left hand, and proceeded to trace in the air with her right.

As she did this, she called out, "Addo lux lucis ut caligo locus!" Not being a student of Latin, she had to rely on the pronunciation guide added by Jessica and hope that it worked out okay.

Not surprisingly, nothing happened. At least, that's what Jamie thought until she felt the hairs on the back of her neck standing straight out. She wondered if perhaps the spell took time to charge, and she was feeling that process. But still, nothing happened, and the static she had felt faded.

Grimly, she tried the spell again. She tried to empty her mind of everything but the visualization of the spell and its command words, and she even felt the charge build up again.

Still nothing occurred, which left her quite disappointed.

A voice emanated from behind her back. ~You look like you are having some difficulty, mistress.~

Since she had thought she was alone on the deck, the strange voice made her jump, breaking her concentration like a glass vase.

She spun around, angry that someone would try to sneak up on her like that. But her annoyance changed to puzzlement when she realized that there was no one around!

She peered around, trying to find the source of the voice, and wondered if she had started hallucinating. She called out, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

The voice emerged again, sounding as though it were all around her now. ~Do you not recognize your devoted servant, mistress?~

Jamie realized that if she looked out of the corner of her eye, she could sense a slight haze around her body.

She spoke distinctly, refusing to show fear. "No, I do not. Reveal yourself to me or be gone!"

The haze shifted, color bleeding into it, as it moved in front of her. It started to grow and shaped itself into the form of a bear. The apparition stood upon its hind legs, wearing a buckskin jerkin and leggings, beaded fringe trailing along the edges. A large amulet hung around its neck, worked with turquoise and silver.

Despite having gained a good deal of apparent solidity, the being was still wreathed in a flowing, bluish haze. The bear regarded her with curiosity, puzzled as to her behavior.

The spectre spoke in a rumbling, resonant voice, much unlike the thin, faint tone it had used before. "I am but a spirit of the land, bound to your will, mistress. As you had not called on me for some time, I felt it best to approach you directly and inquire as to what services you required of me."

Jamie shook her head, having been through this routine enough times already. "I'm really not who you think I am. Trust me on this, okay?"

The spirit examined her, seeming to peer beyond her flesh. "Perhaps it has come to pass that you are not who you think you are, mistress."

Jamie shrugged, unable to argue. "So who do you think I am?"

The bear considered that for a moment. "I see before me the one who conjured me. Though, there is a certain difference in... I suppose you would call it your 'scent'. I had not perceived it at first."

Jamie nodded, knowingly. "I told you, didn't I?"

The bear shook its head. "That is not what I said. I trust your words, but my perceptions tell me that you are the Lady Jessica."

Jamie laughed at that. "So she called herself Lady, did she?"

The bear shook his head, solemnly. "No. I chose to call her that."

Jamie realized she didn't know anything about this being. "So, what should I call you? And, I know you said you were a spirit, 'bound to my will', but what does that mean, exactly?"

The bear drew a pattern of shimmering symbols in the air with his claw. "I am called Kee-lau-naw. That was the name that Jessica granted me, though she often called me Kee."

Kee held his great paw out toward Jamie, motioning for her to take it.

Jamie laid her hand upon bear's, and he began to gesture with his other hand. "The spirits of the land are all around you. These days, many of them have fallen silent, but they still exist. Yet the spirit of, for instance..."

He gestured towards a mighty oak tree in the Castle's gardens. "... Oak is not the same as I am. A magician who calls forth a spirit, in a manner of speaking, creates the spirit. He may wield the spell to call upon a spirit embodying certain properties, but the Spirit of the Land and the bound Spirit are two separate entities."

He looked into Jamie's eyes, his own radiating a calming presence. "You... Jessica, at least, called me into existence. Her perceptions formed me into this shape." At that, he fingered at the clothes he wore.

Jamie shook her head, confused. "So how are you bound, exactly? And I swear, I'm not who you think I am... shouldn't that break the binding?"

Kee smiled at her. "No, it would not, mistress, because no chains of magic bind me. Unlike many bound spirits, I serve Lady Jessica of my own free will... and that is far harder to break than any mere spell."

Jamie was stunned by this pronouncement. "What did she do to inspire such loyalty in you?"

The bear shrugged, said simply, "Most magicians either do not know of us, or treat us as property. Jessica..."

He smiled benevolently at her. "... did exactly what you do now: She treated me with respect, like an actual living being. That is why I am loyal to her, and why I remain loyal to you."

He pointed to the book she had been studying. "It startled me to see you fumbling with such an elementary spell. Have you never before used magic?"

Jamie sighed sadly, and began to tell her story once more, describing her world in particular.

The bear took this in, looking sorrowful. "It would be best if Jessica could teach you. My abilities are... for the most part... only a pale shadow of hers. Yours, I would presume."

He paused to think, tapped one palm lightly against his forehead while holding his chin in the other. "But perhaps I can help you unlock your hidden potential. I can show you the path, if you choose to walk it."

He looked into her eyes once more, a solemn expression on his face. "Magic is not for the weak-willed, nor will your path be an easy one. Do you wish to know the secrets I can illuminate for you?"

Jamie nodded and spoke with the same grave tone Kee used. "If you will teach me, I will do my best to learn."

Kee told her to hold the book as she had when he interrupted her, and withdrew a long flute from under his shirt. He told her to listen to the music, to focus on it, not the words of the spell.

He began to play, and an unearthly, yet haunting melody issued from the flute. Jamie finds herself enthralled by the song. To her surprise, she began to hear other instruments join into the melody, apparently out of thin air!

Kee winked at her, and she realized that the words of the spell would fit the melody perfectly. She waited for the proper moment, and then began the short chant when it just felt right.

She waited for where she felt the chorus should come in, and then spoke the Latin words three times, gesturing in time to the music.

She felt the hair on the back of her neck rise again, and this time, three small balls of red light shimmered into being above her open palm.

She gasped and laughed aloud, breaking herself out of the trance, which ended their existence abruptly. Nevertheless, they had existed! She could use magic!

She looked towards Kee, a smile on her face, but her face fell as she looked at him. He had faded, looked more ethereal, and when he lowered the flute, he mopped at his brow with one thick arm. "Congratulations, Jamie. Do you realize what you have done?"

Jamie nodded. "I made the magic work! But... what happened to you?"

He concentrated for a moment, and seemed to fade back into reality a little more. "I have not played so well, if I do say so myself, in many moons. It was an effort, but seeing how happy that spell made you, I believe it was worth it."

She looked at the spirit, noticed the faint tension lines along his brow, and asked, "Is there any way I can help you? You look exhausted."

Kee smiled at her. "That is another reason I chose to serve Lady Jessica freely. She was always so concerned about my well-being. Allow me to take your hand, and I will siphon off a portion of your mana in return for my service. That would be the best thing you could do to help me."

Without hesitating for an instant, Jamie grabbed both of his hands with her own and focused on her memory of his song. She felt a shiver run down her spine, but it was not unpleasant, just very odd.

When he released his grip on her hands, Jamie realized that she felt different somehow. Not exactly tired, just sort of weary.

He clasped her on the shoulder and smiled at her. "That was a very brave and kind thing you just did. I must return to the spirit world and recover for a time, but do not fear. I shall return, and if you hum the song I played you and think of me, I shall come as quickly as I can. Be well in my absence, Lady Jamie."

He closed his eyes, and seemed to dissolve into thin air, leaving Jamie alone on the terrace once more. Feeling somewhat weary as she did, she decided to rest for a few minutes before trying to find Trent.

It occurred to her that this lesson had taken quite some time, at least an hour, going by her internal clock. She went to set the book down, but realized something had changed!

Her bosom had shrunk, somehow, no longer quite the majestic peaks they once were, though a certain rational part of her mind informed her that, even reduced as they were, she really had no business doing things like 'walking' or 'breathing' with them on her chest.

She thought about this for a moment, and a flash of inspiration came to her. What if Einstein's theories applied not only to physical space, but astral space? E=mc2! Energy can't just precipitate out of a void (well, unless you believe in quantum mechanics), it has to come from or be stored somewhere.

Didn't Kee say he was taking a portion of her mana? A small amount of mass could be liberated into an astounding amount of energy... what if her body stored this magical energy within her fat cells... and, as buff as she was, the vast majority of them would be in her breasts!

Enervated though she was, she got up and did a victory dance at this object demonstration of magic and science combined. She realized that, perhaps, her earlier flippant comment to Branson might not be so wrong after all!

According to everything she'd seen so far, magic seemed to follow certain laws, and many of them seemed equivalent to the physical laws... Though she did have to wonder if the existence of an 'astral domain' would allow violation of conservation of energy...

She briefly wondered if this reduction was permanent, and if it was... how stacked must Jessica have been? Thinking back, though, she realizes that was unlikely. Elayne, for instance, referred to Jessica's breasts changing size, though she chalked it up to milk overproduction. With a sigh, Jamie figured she'd probably just have to ask Branson about it... or Kee.

With an impish grin, she picked up the book once more, and started playing back Kee's melody in her mind. She spoke the command words once more, forming the arcane symbols in the air again.

This time, she realized she could just make out a haze following her finger. As soon as she finished her chant, the light point shimmered into being once more, casting an eerie red light over the deck.

And this time, Jamie kept her concentration on it, preventing it from flickering out as it had the first time.

She started to mutter the words of the spell under her breath, as a sort of focus, and pulled the map out of her pocket, plotting a course to Branson's office. She decided not to talk about Kee until she could speak to the spirit again. As private as the spirit had seemed, she was unsure whether the others even knew of his existence.

But, she could still show Branson this light, anyway!

Jamie, back when she had been James, had always thought she had been good at focusing on a problem, which was a tremendous asset to her programming abilities.

But she realized now that she had never approached a problem this difficult before, being forced to maintain her focus on the spell while simultaneously navigating through an unfamiliar house.

She began to understand why the Eastern monks spent so much time and effort on the practice!

Still holding the light ball 'with' her right hand, she knocked on Branson's door and asked if she could come in.

She was pleased to hear his voice ring out steadily... knowing how depressed he had been, she had been afraid that he might not want to see her.

Throwing the door open, she bounded in, and laid her hand on the desk, the ball of light hovering between the two of them.

She saw that his eyes were still red-rimmed, and he had been looking rather wistful as she rushed in, but a light now shone in his eyes, and he grinned widely at her. "Jamie! That's great! I knew that you would figure it out."

She finally allowed the spell to fade, as Branson stood up and wrapped his arms around her. Jamie's smile faded as she realized what Branson must be thinking. "That's all I've figured out how to do, though. It's a bit of a stretch to go from a portable light source to mind swapping, Branson."

He nodded, still smiling. "But not as far as you think. You said yourself that you didn't believe in magic, the first night you were here. If you could overcome that, the rest is just technique, isn't it?"

Jamie sighed and hoped that Branson wasn't getting his hopes up for nothing. Still, he did have a point...