Read Online Shades by Brian Keene, Geoff Cooper - Free Book Online

known. You learn something, you can’t unlearn it. Once you know, you always know. Is dark. Come outside.”
    Gustav got up and walked into the kitchen. Danny followed. They went out into the back yard, and Gustav pointed at the sky.
    “How many stars do you see?”
    “Hundreds.”
    “Yes, hundreds. Thousands, perhaps? And more too, but you cannot see them. They are endless. Limitless, yes? So is magic. You begin to see? Because magic is individual, is different for each person. There is no limit to how much you can learn. You study, you get knowledge. You pay price, you get more power. Magic is knowledge and power. Knowledge you learn. Power comes from somewhere else. You borrow it.”
    “Like a sacrifice?”
    “Da, sometimes. The elements. Or concentration. A debt in exchange for what you did. Perhaps part of your life or energy, or maybe your soul, yes? You pay enough, you can do anything. But sometimes magic wants more than you are willing to pay…”
    Despite the warm night breeze, Danny shivered.
    “You are cold?” Gustav asked. “Let’s go back inside.”
    They returned to the living room. Danny picked up his present again as Gustav sat down.
    “Thanks,” Danny said.
    “The lighter is special,” Gustav said softly. “Keep it always. Do not lose it.”
    “I won’t. What else is in here?”
    “You have eyes. Look.”
    Next was a small, black leather-bound book. The pages were blank.
    “What’s this?” Danny asked. “A diary or something?”
    He could hear Ronnie and Jeremy. If they found out he had a journal. They’d call him a fag. He didn’t tell Gustav, didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
    “Diary?” Gustav roared with laughter, slapping his knees. “What are you, a Sissy-boy? Nyet, is not diary. Is Book of Shadows. Your Book of Shadows. There you write your spells. Magic that is just yours and no one else’s. No one else will be able to read it. They cannot destroy it. Is indestructible. When you die…”
    He trailed off suddenly.
    “What?” Danny asked. “What about when I die? What happens then?”
    “Nothing,” Gustav said. He smiled, but his tone had changed. He seemed sad. “You are young. Live long time, yes?”
    “Yeah,” Danny paused, studying him carefully. “But you said something once before, about—”
    “I am old man,” Gustav interrupted. “Crazy commie bastard. Your words, yes? But true. I am old and I ramble. Say many things. Now, look in box. There is one more present.”
    The third item was a new pocket knife.
    “It is untouched,” Gustav said. “Open it carefully.”
    Danny inspected the blade. It looked sharp. He ran his finger along the edge and blood welled up.
    “So…” He sucked his finger. “What next?”
    Gustav didn’t respond at first. He stared at Danny intensely.
    “Next? Next, we begin the real lessons, yes? But tomorrow. Is late, now, and I am tired. Go home, come back tomorrow, and we begin.”
    “Thanks again for the presents, Gustav. They’re really cool.”
    “You are welcome, Danny.”
    It surprised him, hearing Gustav refer to him by name. Usually, the old man referred to him as “boy”. Danny felt a surge of warmth for his mentor. Over the last few weeks, he’d come to think of him as a friend. He’d spent more and more time with Gustav and less with Chuck, Matt, Ronnie and Jeremy. He suddenly felt guilty about that, and wondered what his friends were doing now.
     
    789
     
    Bedrik stepped out of the shower. Steam rose from his body and fogged the mirror. Candles burned on the sink, their soothing fragrance filling the bathroom. He closed his eyes and sighed. He was calm, relaxed. Ready to meditate. He planned on seeking out whoever had discovered his brother’s body. It had to be someone with abilities like his. Not Gustav. He’d taken great care to mask his true nature from the old magus. Obviously, the Russian wasn’t aware of Bedrik’s plan. If he was, he’d have made a move by now. He hadn’t and that was a