this.”
“Perry may have actually helped to reverse the burnout before it completed,” Josephine said. She briefly explained what had transpired the previous night.
“Interesting.” Alice’s expression was skeptical. She turned and covered her mouth with her hands as an unexpected sneeze struck.
“Bless you,” Josephine said.
“Thanks.” Alice turned and sneezed again.
“I think it’s strange but if Perry’s plan works then it’s a great solution,” Helen said.
“I agree. It feels weird having my boyfriend sleeping in the backyard instead of with me,” Josephine said.
“Maybe you could join him,” Helen suggested.
Josephine grimaced at the idea. “I’ve never been fond of camping.”
“That’s true.”
“If Perry’s right and this prevents burnout then I’m going to suggest to Mark that he move in with me here and to have Perry create a power center inside my house,” Josephine said.
“You’ll lose your wards!” Alice exclaimed with horror.
“Their dark wards and I’d rather not have a curse. Hopefully, they’ll convert to light energy but I’ve been thinking about it all night and I’ve come to terms with it. I’m powerful and if worse comes to worse I can create my own wards from scratch like I did at my old condo,” Josephine said.
“Have you given any thought to whether you want to sell it or use it as a rental property?” Alice asked.
“I haven’t made up my mind about that.”
Alice regarded her with astonishment and indignation. “Let me get this straight. It takes one night for you to decide you’ll give up your wards here at the house but you’ve had months to think about what to do with your condo and you still haven’t made up your mind?”
“That about sums it up.” Josephine threw her a flippant smile then took another sip of her coffee.
“I completely agree with Josephine. I’m glad she’s finally decided to get rid of the curse here,” Helen said. “It’s always made me uncomfortable.”
“The curse has never bothered us or given us any problems,” Alice said. “It’s a blessing and we’re flushing it down the toilet.”
“Not necessarily,” Helen argued. “It might transform into a ward made of source energy.”
“That’s just what we need – ineffectual and weak shields,” Alice said. She turned and covered her mouth as another sneeze exploded from her.
“White energy is the most powerful magic in the universe,” Helen lectured her.
“Light energy can only be used by white magic practitioners and they always burn out in a year or two and return to mainstream magic. Once that happens, all of Mark’s enchantments he’s made will be useless to him including the new wards at this house if they convert to light energy.”
“That’s not true. The garden’s protection is always active. Maybe the house wards will be the same.”
“Those are too many maybes for me,” Alice argued then sneezed again. “Stupid allergies.”
Josephine watched her two friends bicker over the decision with amusement. She’d already made up her mind what she wanted to do and further discussion wouldn’t change that fact. Her cell phone rang and she frowned at it when she saw the caller was Ben Nutter, the chief of police.
“Hey, Ben. What’s going on?” Josephine said.
“We’ve got a situation. We’re on high alert. A threat has been made to the White House.”
“What threat? Was it the Valituras?”
“Yes, it was. They sent a couple of construo letalis curses to the white house to deliver an ultimatum to the president. All government officials are to sign over their legislative power to the Valituras or they will declare war on the U.S. and assassinate all members of the government. They gave a 24 hour deadline. They also said they have unleashed a devastating biological weapon on most major cities but would share the cure once their demands are met.”
Josephine chilled as terror gripped her. Everyone suspected the Valituras
“Perry may have actually helped to reverse the burnout before it completed,” Josephine said. She briefly explained what had transpired the previous night.
“Interesting.” Alice’s expression was skeptical. She turned and covered her mouth with her hands as an unexpected sneeze struck.
“Bless you,” Josephine said.
“Thanks.” Alice turned and sneezed again.
“I think it’s strange but if Perry’s plan works then it’s a great solution,” Helen said.
“I agree. It feels weird having my boyfriend sleeping in the backyard instead of with me,” Josephine said.
“Maybe you could join him,” Helen suggested.
Josephine grimaced at the idea. “I’ve never been fond of camping.”
“That’s true.”
“If Perry’s right and this prevents burnout then I’m going to suggest to Mark that he move in with me here and to have Perry create a power center inside my house,” Josephine said.
“You’ll lose your wards!” Alice exclaimed with horror.
“Their dark wards and I’d rather not have a curse. Hopefully, they’ll convert to light energy but I’ve been thinking about it all night and I’ve come to terms with it. I’m powerful and if worse comes to worse I can create my own wards from scratch like I did at my old condo,” Josephine said.
“Have you given any thought to whether you want to sell it or use it as a rental property?” Alice asked.
“I haven’t made up my mind about that.”
Alice regarded her with astonishment and indignation. “Let me get this straight. It takes one night for you to decide you’ll give up your wards here at the house but you’ve had months to think about what to do with your condo and you still haven’t made up your mind?”
“That about sums it up.” Josephine threw her a flippant smile then took another sip of her coffee.
“I completely agree with Josephine. I’m glad she’s finally decided to get rid of the curse here,” Helen said. “It’s always made me uncomfortable.”
“The curse has never bothered us or given us any problems,” Alice said. “It’s a blessing and we’re flushing it down the toilet.”
“Not necessarily,” Helen argued. “It might transform into a ward made of source energy.”
“That’s just what we need – ineffectual and weak shields,” Alice said. She turned and covered her mouth as another sneeze exploded from her.
“White energy is the most powerful magic in the universe,” Helen lectured her.
“Light energy can only be used by white magic practitioners and they always burn out in a year or two and return to mainstream magic. Once that happens, all of Mark’s enchantments he’s made will be useless to him including the new wards at this house if they convert to light energy.”
“That’s not true. The garden’s protection is always active. Maybe the house wards will be the same.”
“Those are too many maybes for me,” Alice argued then sneezed again. “Stupid allergies.”
Josephine watched her two friends bicker over the decision with amusement. She’d already made up her mind what she wanted to do and further discussion wouldn’t change that fact. Her cell phone rang and she frowned at it when she saw the caller was Ben Nutter, the chief of police.
“Hey, Ben. What’s going on?” Josephine said.
“We’ve got a situation. We’re on high alert. A threat has been made to the White House.”
“What threat? Was it the Valituras?”
“Yes, it was. They sent a couple of construo letalis curses to the white house to deliver an ultimatum to the president. All government officials are to sign over their legislative power to the Valituras or they will declare war on the U.S. and assassinate all members of the government. They gave a 24 hour deadline. They also said they have unleashed a devastating biological weapon on most major cities but would share the cure once their demands are met.”
Josephine chilled as terror gripped her. Everyone suspected the Valituras
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