Enchantress And The Guardian

Confrontation

Lochlan sat about pulling certain books from his library. When his arms were full, he walked over to the table that he had instructed Dev to wait at. Lochlan lowered the arm full of books to the table and stacked them in front of Dev. "These will help you to become more familiar with magic and where it all comes from," Lochlan patted the top of the stack and walked over to the opposite side of the table.

Dev took a seat and began with the first book. He pulled it from the pile and laid it down in front of him. The binding of the leather book cracked as he opened it. It must have been some time since anyone had read the book itself. Dev read the first passage of the book and looked up at Lochlan with a raised brow.

"This says that magic cannot be made but borrowed," Dev said. Lochlan nodded in answer and sat down in the opposite chair.

"That is correct. Magic, no matter what kind, comes from something. Whether it is one of nature's elements, a person, a place, or an event such as a full moon. Magic has to be essentially borrowed from those things and molded to fit whatever it is that witch or warlock is trying to accomplish," Lochlan explained.

"And that is what I am? A warlock?" Lochlan thought that Dev had at least learned the basics of magic but it was clear that he did not.

"Was any magic taught to you in India?" Lochlan asked out of curiosity.

"No. The WereTigers over there are afraid of magic. Due to their current enemies. My grandfather and mother said to keep that information to myself, at least for the time being," Dev answered.

"Then it is good that you came home when you did. Your powers will start growing even more the closer you get to your eighteenth birthday," Lochlan nodded for Dev to continue reading. Dev put his head down and began to read in earnest.

Dev would read and ask Lochlan questions when he came upon something that did not make sense. As Dev flipped through the second book, it contained more spells than the actual history of magic. "That is called a Grimoire. It is a book that contains the spells that one witch preforms," Lochlan pointed to the book in front of Dev.

"Do all witches cast the same spells?" Dev asked. He did not see that a book was necessary if they all knew the same spells.

"No. Each spell is crafted by the witch or warlock who is performing it. The witch then writes it down in order to use at a later time," Lochlan informed Dev.

"Whose Grimoire is this?" Dev asked.

"My mother's," Lochlan said quietly. Dev took his quietness as the answer to his next question. He stilled his tongue and did not ask if she did magic anymore, as it was clear she was no longer on this earth.

"I am sorry for your loss, Lord Blackwood," Dev finally said. Lochlan smiled faintly and nodded towards the book once more.

"My mother loved to pull her energy from nature, but she also liked to put her own magic back into the earth. She loved the forests of Scotland. If something ever happened to wipe out a patch of earth, she would be there the next day trying to help the nearby plants and surroundings grow," Lochlan said. His voice twinged with sadness but also pride. He loved his mother and was upset at the news of her passing. He had received it while in Britain, of course.

Lochlan shook his head. Now was not the time to go down that sad rabbit hole. He had a job to do and that was to prepare Dev for the future. Whatever he chose.

"The next book includes covens. At least the ones that were known at the time the book was writen. I am sure that more had sprouted since then," Lochlan pointed to the next book on the pile. Dev pulled the book down and sat it in front of him. He slowly read through the names of each coven. Although none of them sounded familiar. Something popped out to him as he scanned through the pages. The Weeping Nightshade Coven. Dev put a finger to the name and pointed it out to Lochlan.

"Does this one mean anything to you?" Dev asked Lochlan. Lochlan read the name and his brows drew together.

"Have you heard of that coven before?" Lochlan asked instead.

"I have not, but something is telling me that it plays a larger role in my future," Lohan was concerned again. That coven had a well known reputation for dealing in the dark arts. Lochlan hoped that Dev's feeling was wrong, but he also knew that magic had a way of protecting itself and the body it resided in.

Dev continued to read in silence as he pulled book after book from the pile. Some were thicker than others. Lochlan flipped through some of the books that Dev had already read through. As Lochlan was scanning through another book there was a quiet knock on the door.

Lochlan walked over and turned the door knob. He assumed that one of the maids was coming to bring their luncheon as some time had passed since breakfast. To his surprise, his daughter was bearing the luncheon try instead. Lochlan opened the door wider and allowed Quinn to walk through holding a silver tray.

"I ask to bring it before you reprimand the staff," Quinn said to her father quietly as she passed in front of him. Lochlan chuckled as he thought that was the exact train that his thoughts were headed before she said something.

"What have you learned so far?" Quinn asked Dev as she sat the tray down on the table he was studying at. Lochlan watched his student and his daughter for a moment without interfering. Lochlan noticed the way that Dev watched Quinn and the way that Quinn tried to keep her eyes on the books, but her own gaze traveled to Dev as well.

Lochlan cleared his throat and walked over to the two young adults. "Thank you for bringing in luncheon, Quinn. We have a few more books to get through before young Walker can head home. If you do not mind," Quinn nodded and said her farewells to her father and Dev. Lochlan watched Dev's eyes as they followed Quinn all the way out of the room. Dev looked over and noticed Lochlan's gaze on him.

Dev quickly looked down at the book once more and read the same passage over three times for giving up and sitting back in his chair. Lochlan's eyes still rested on him. Dev felt as if a hole was being burned into him.

Lochlan sighed and walked over to the table. He sat down in his chair once more and folded his hands in front of him before asking," Is there something that I need to know about your feelings towards my daughter?" Dev's eyes widened at the frankness of Lord Blackwood's question. Dev quickly recovered and shifted in his chair.

"Lord Blackwood, I am very grateful for you teaching me the ways of magic and getting me ready for when my full powers awaken," Dev began. Lochlan nodded as Dev spoke but did not interrupt. He wanted to make the young man squirm for a moment. "However, I cannot lie if I said that upon my return, I find myself having stronger feelings towards Quinn," there Dev had said it. He watched Lochlan to try and gauge his reaction. However, Lochlan's expression was completely blank. Dev wondered how he was able to accomplish that. Lochlan's silence began to play on Dev's nerves. "Stronger feelings like those of courtship and marriage," Dev tried to explain further.

"I ken what feelings you speak of," it was the first time that Dev had heard Lord Blackwood's strong Scottish accent break through his speech. It had Dev preparing for a lecture or possible to be tossed out on his ear.