Phantasia

“Can’t be publishing things like this while Godhand’s around,” said John, “Whether this is a demon or not doesn’t matter, Bishop Wotan’ll use the evidence for whatever ends he desires. In this case, well, you know what’ll happen…”

“Bastard’s gotta be brought down sooner or later,” said Theseus, who was once again by the window, taking little interest in the auragraphs.

Katrina gathered the pictures up in a brown envelope and handed it to her editor. Phoenie held it for a few moments, looking at it with sad eyes. “It’s such a shame. All the effort we go through to expose paranormal and occult happens, and there is nothing we can do when we finally gather some solid proof!”  Theseus stifled a guffaw, while Phoenie slumped back into her chair.

“Don’t worry, there’ll be a time,” said Andromeda, placing a hand on Phoenie shoulder.

“I hope so,” said Phoenie, “I’m worried though. Have you heard the rumours? The ones about Ms Celeste being a witch?” She looked at Phantasia with a sad frown, “The Inquisition will be investigating you for sure…”

“Phantasia can deal with the Inquisition,” said John from over the top of his computer, “Besides they’re only rumours, right Phantasia?”

Phantasia giggled, and then burst out laughing. Her friends were looking at her with curious eyes.

“They are rumours, right?” asked Joel.

“I mean, a psychic isn’t the same as a witch!” added Kaori.

“Oh, I’m not a witch,” said Phantasia, hands on hips and a grin spreading across her face, “I’m not really a psychic either!”

Even Theseus was befuddled by that statement. He looked like he was about to jump down from his perch, declare her a fraud, and use it as proof Phoenie was crazy. Phoenie herself, meanwhile, was shaking her head in disbelief. Phantasia was more than ready to deliver the revelatory blow.

“I’m a faerie!”

Theseus laughed so hard he fell over, while John had to hide his snorting behind his laptop. The others just stared in stunned silence. To prove her point, Phantasia walked through a table, and then somersaulted into a glide.

“See?” she said, giggling, before returning to the ground.

“A-a-a…” began Phoenie, her mouth flopping open and shut.

“A faerie?” whispered Kaori, “A real faerie?”

“Dude…” was all Joel could say.

John played with the hi-tech glasses he kept around. “Is she some kind of super-advanced hologramatic being?”

“Shit, some bastard’s spiked me real good,” said Theseus as he looked around in a frantic panic.

“Yeah, I’m a faerie,” said Phantasia again, relishing the reactions, “Bet you weren’t expecting that, were ya?”

“M-Ms Celeste, I’m-I’m… I don’t know what to say!” began Phoenie. She paused for a second, as if in thought, “What was I going to say?”

“You were off with the faeries again,” said Theseus, dusting off his jacket.

“We were talking about the front page story,” said a confused Andromeda, “Big exciting news about…”

“…about the new sports facilities we’re getting,” finished John.

Phoenie’s eyes lit up and she shook her head, as if discarding a lost memory. “Oh yes, of course, I was completely out of it there for a moment! Sorry, Team, very unprofessional of me.” She handed the envelope to Amanda, asking her to file them in the cabinet. The quiet girl had a look inside, then shuffled over to put them away.

Phantasia saw it all, though. She herself had been struck by a momentary sense of vertigo as the wave of magic spread across the room, but as a faerie, she had quickly brushed it off. It helped that it was a weak illusionary spell anyway – but it was magic, nether the less. Wind faerie magic, often used to keep humans unaware of mystical things.

Someone, somewhere, had just altered everyone’s memory.

~ Things are moving behind the scenes, by who’s responsible for what? ~
~ Next: Godhand makes its move! ~

Chapter 13
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