How to start a war: A beginners guide to impractical magic

The moon loomed in the starry night sky, basking Selena in its cold light. It glinted off her silvery-blond hair and blue eyes, which seemed lighter than her fair, pale skin. Her mouth curved in a harsh arch, the tips of two sharp teeth poking at the edges, scowling as she played with her black, tight sleeve. Dressed in all black, besides her, was a boy, his mop of curly brown hair sticking out under his black beanie, stark against his tan skin and deep charcoal eyes. He chewed on his lip, staring at Selena like he wished she would disappear, then sighed, giving up. 

“Dylan.” Selena glared. “Stop reaching for your pocket.” She swatted his hand away as he patted his side again. “Calling Jasper won’t help.”

“Look, we need all the help we can get. You don’t get to turn fourteen and do your challenge again if you fail, S.” Dylan retorted. “It’s bad enough Auntie Vamp gave you an impossible task. Stealing in broad daylight? You ain’t got a talisman. You’ll crisp.”

“Aunt Elena wants Edward Guittoine’s amulet stolen in front of everyone. Mages stopped making talismans, and she wants us to show them we’ll break their toys if they don’t make ours.” Selena’s eyes narrowed.

Dylan snorted. “I get it. You’re a vampire. He’s a mage. You have beef. Why’d you call in your favor? I can’t help you, even if I tried. He’ll turn me into a froggy.”

“You can steal his talisman without him knowing. You have the fake, right? Just replace it, and tomorrow, if Jaime’s alchemy talent works, it’ll blow up on him during his speech.” Selena rolled her crystal eyes. “Please, Dylan. I can’t do this alone.”

“Turn into a damn bat and fly up there.” Dylan scowled. “You can turn into an animal too, remember. Just a freaky hairy one.”

“He has wards against vamps, but he’ll never expect a werewolf. I’ll do whatever you need afterwards. I can’t fail my test.”

Dylan nodded once, his usual bright grin fading. “You don’t owe me a thing, Ice Queen.” His features started hardening, his teeth elongating, bright white and sharp, his hairline creeping until he had dark sideburns, his nose and eyes growing and his face becoming hard and predatory. “Can’t do full wolf. Ain’t a full moon.” He gasped out before his teeth fully set.

He growled, shaking his head to clear the fog of becoming less than human. His lengthened nails gripped the side of a tall, stone building, scrambling onto the first apartment ledge. He shot a scathing look below as bits of debris fell, and clung tighter to the cracks, glaring at the cameras until they fizzled out,

Dylan climbed, wincing as he hauled himself up onto the balcony of the top floor. He started shrinking, his back and neck straightening until he was humanoid again, then pulled metal bits out of the stretchy fabric of his pants. He fidgeted with them, cursing as one fell through the metal grates off the balcony, landing somewhere below. Finally the glass door unlocked, and he crept out of Selena’s sight, into a nicely furnished room. He felt the sting of fresh magic as he breathed, making a warding sign against the darkness of it, then crept further past lavish couches and chairs. Not exactly what he expected from the infamous mage. Above a lit red-bricked fireplace were medallions, trophies, and awards, along with pictures of an elderly man shaking hands with rich guys. The room was completely ordinary. A bit eccentric, because there were piles of teenage romance novels and sweets littering the carpeted floor. He had to think harder, but his head was blurry from changing partially to climb the building. Why hadn’t he taken the elevators like a normal person? Why was he doing this at all? One answer, the same one as always. Selena Cuitone. Was he in love? No. Was she like a sister to him? No, not that either. But she’d always been there. Snuck out to see him when they were kids, spoke through the gate, talked for hours on the phone until everything changed. They both turned ten; he couldn’t touch a device without it going up in flames, and she couldn’t see him in the day anymore. Plus, at night he couldn’t sneak out. He was afraid the claws and hate would cloud, and Selena would bite him. He couldn’t be a breed. Weak, condemned, the flaws of both kinds without the talents. So they hadn’t talked. Until a couple of days ago, when she’d begged for help, and he’d agreed to meet her. Stupid idea. He rifled through a few desks, trying to leave everything as it’d been before. Bingo. A book stuck out of the shelf at an odd angle, and when he pulled, the bookshelf swung inward into a drafty stone lair. A cauldron of stone on a stovetop. Weird. A metalworking table below a TV. The blend of modern tech and magicks was making Dylan dizzy. What if Edward never took off his amulet? The mages made their own; wouldn’t they keep it on them since they needed it to cast spells? Selena seemed convinced it would be there.

The metal-lined door swung shut behind him, and he spun around, his keen ears picking up on footsteps and an erratic heartbeat. He snatched three amulet-looking things off the desk, one the shade of his clothes, a red stone embedded in it, another gold with weird inscriptions around it, and the last silver with white lines of crystal spiraling around its circular shape. He pulled out the fake, contemplated drawing pictures of the other two to cover his tracks, and then just buried the fake between two piles of paper. Throwing the real amulets into his pants pocket, he grabbed the crank that stuck out of the far wall and yanked downwards, thrusting the door back open, his heart starting to pound as he wondered if someone had closed the door on him.

The room looked the same as it had been before, but a large TV was on, and a small brunette girl in pajamas was curled up in the corner of the couch, staring at him with wide blue eyes.

She scrambled to her feet, pointing the remote at him like it was a sword. “Who are you, and how the hell did you get in here?” she yelled.

“The lungs on you. Jeez.” Dylan smirked. It was a good facade, but inside he was panicking. Selena seemed to have forgotten that there was a fourteen-year-old girl living in Edward’s house. “I’m…” he spotted a Twilight in the corner, “Jacob Black.” He was pretty close after all.

“Shut up.” She ordered. “I’m calling the cops.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Dylan moved for the glass door to the balcony. “But no need to worry. I work for Edward Guittoine.”

“That is Eddie’s work name.” The girl narrowed her eyes, lowering the remote just a fraction.

“Yeah… Eddie…” Dylan went along with it. “He didn’t mention a girl living here.”

“I’m his adopted kid.” The girl glared. “And he brags about being a philanthropist to all his workers. You’re lying.”

“Um. He might’ve mentioned you once or twice. I don’t really listen when he talks.” Dylan shrugged.

“Why would he hire a teenager to work for him?” The girl smirked.

“Okay. You got me. I don’t work for your dad.” Dylan raised his hands slowly. “It’s me. Jacob. From math class. I wanted to invite you to prom.”

“I’m homeschooled.” The girl smiled even bigger. Seriously, why wasn’t she freaking out? He’d literally snuck into her house. “Look, I don’t want to call the cops. I don’t want to have to fill out papers or be interrogated. So take out whatever’s in your left pocket, and leave it. I won’t even mention you to Eddie.”

“Cute offer, but I can’t do that. Besides, what I took doesn’t belong to you.” Dylan retorted. “Nice to meet you, but I’m gonna go now, mini mage.” He scoffed. “Cops. Like they can do anything.”

“Mage? Are you drunk or something?” The girl instantly raised the remote again, like it was going to fend him off. “We aren’t in Twilight, Jacob.”

“Edward Guittione. Mage. Me: Werewolf. The girl waiting outside for me: Vampire. You: I don’t know, or care.” He replied. “Are you drunk?”

“O-okay. Maybe I will call the cops.” The girl looked so absolutely baffled that Dylan stopped for a second. Was it possible that a girl living in a mage’s house wasn’t supernatural? Hell no. She was probably acting.

“Look, whatever your name is. Playtime’s over.” Dylan ranted. “I don’t know if you’re really sheltered from your powers, or something, but it doesn’t matter. I have a job to finish, and someone to get back to, so I’m gone, kid.”

“Emma.” The girl narrowed her eyes. “My name’s Emma. And whatever you’re selling, I’m not buying it. You belong in the loony bin.”

“You don’t believe me? Alright.” Dylan shot back, starting to get angry with this girl, who seemed so perfectly ordinary it pissed him off. She had to be magic. Why else would “Eddie” keep her around? “I can be amusing. I’ll climb down the building, right now, if you need proof.”

“You’ll fall off and crack your neck.” Emma crossed her arms.

“Werewolves heal quick.” Dylan grinned. He winced as he focused, his spine curving and teeth slicing past his lips when he forgot to pull them back. Tasting blood, his vision turned white for a second before his usual night eyes kicked in and everything went a greenish sort of color. He glanced back towards Emma, who was staring at him, eyes wide open, and mouth practically at her chin.

“Bye,” Dylan yelled, smirking at how impressed she’d been.

He launched himself out the door and scurried down the wall. It was like she’d never seen a werewolf change before. Hilarious. He landed on his feet, snapping back into his regular form, shaking out all of his stretched limbs.

Selena looked him up and down slowly. “Enjoyed yourself?” She glared. “What took you so long? This was supposed to be a snatch and grab, not a ten-hour exploration.”

“Sorry. I got the Talismans. I didn’t know which one was which, so I grabbed all three.” He shoved the charms out of his pocket and into her open, ice-cold hand.

Selena actually didn’t have her usual scowl on. Dylan had no idea what to call the look on her face.

“So… We’re good?” Dylan asked. “Your evil auntie will pass you?”

“Mmhm.” Selena studied the Talismans closely. “I’m gonna go now.” She cracked her neck. “Better not change into a bat. Too many mages here. Plus, you took things Edward’s bound to notice are gone.”

“Yeah, sure,” Dylan replied, staring up at Edwards’ apartment. “Wait, Selena? There was a girl up there-” He turned around, just as a hot gust of wind hit him in the face. “God, I hate when vampires speed.” He broke into a coughing fit.

He wandered through the city, past flashing lights, bars with blasting music, and homeless guys shaking cups with coins in his face. He dropped a couple in, and an old man grabbed his hand. He jolted back. The man’s eyes were clouded, and he was obviously blind, with withered hands and blackened teeth. That wasn’t what had shocked him. The man had no pupils. His eyes were completely white.

“A terrible war is coming, boy. And I believe you have caused it. I see the truth. The banshees tell me of death and destruction, of a boy with your face.”

Dylan wrenched his hand away, shaken. What the hell? The man was blind! How could he possibly see his face?

“Believe me. Beware the girl. She only brings death.” The man rasped.

“Okay, sir.” Dylan nodded seriously. “I’ll take your… advice. Good luck with your little blue men and lucidity.”

“I’m not crazy!” The man screeched. “I’m a phantom. You must heed my warning.”

“Dude. Phantoms and banshees are long gone. Stop trying to mess with me, alright?” Dylan scoffed. “It’s not funny, and you shouldn’t be here. Supernaturals have to be registered, and you’re drawing attention, whatever you are. Get a job.”

“I’ve done all I can. I’ve warned you, werewolf. If you don’t prevent this, you and the entire world will regret it.”