Wizards and Thieves - Chapter One
Chapter One: Is this a Dream?
“So, do you have plans for tonight?” Peter asked as they got into the elevator. “I’m sure that El can fit another in for dinner.”
“Nah, you go and spend time with your wife,” Neal said with a grin. “Now that the weekend has just freed up, I think I’ll take Mozzie up on his offer.”
“Uh oh,” Peter chuckled. “What’s Mozzie up to this time?”
“I don’t know, he’s been very secretive about it,” Neal said. He enjoyed the worried look on Peter’s face for a moment before he continued. “I think it has something to do with a game of some kind.”
“Just make sure that this game of yours is not illegal,” Peter said. He gave Neal a mock stern look before stepping out of the elevator.
Neal laughed. “Don't worry, I think it's just some sort of computer game.”
“Well, have fun with that," Peter said.
“Say hi to El for me,” Neal said. He waved as he split off from Peter and headed towards Mozzie’s latest place. Normally they would meet up at Neal’s place, but Mozzie had been very specific about the meeting place. Something about not being interrupted.
Neal whistled as he made his way up the stairs to Mozzie's new Friday.
Neal knocked on the door and then jerked as it felt like a bolt of electricity ran through him. He stumbled back from the door as he blacked out.
He groaned as he woke up, and put a hand on his head. "I know he was upset at me, but adding an electric current to the door was just too much."
"What?" he heard Mozzie's voice ask.
Neal opened his eyes and then blinked up at the drag clothing that Mozzie was wearing. He frowned at that and the fact that Mozzie was wearing wire rimmed glasses instead of his usual thick black frames. "What's going on, Mozzie?"
"Oh, good, you are awake," Mozzie said as he leaned over Neal. "We have to go, Niall. That blast could be felt for miles and it will lead the Lord's men right to our door."
"What are you talking about?" Neal asked. He groaned as he sat up, his head swimming. "Is that some kind of computer game?"
"This is not a game," Mozzie said. He huffed and grabbed a couple of bags. "If you are just going to mock me, then I'll leave you to it. But, I don’t think that he will be too happy to meet the chosen one."
"Chosen one?" Neal repeated. "What is that all about?"
Mozzie disappeared through a door without saying anything more and Neal stared after him. He had no clue what was going on and Mozzie wasn't being any help at all. He was going to be really annoyed if this were all some kind of a prank or if Mozzie had included him in one of those LARPing things without telling him about it.
As Neal looked around, he blinked when he realized that he wasn't even in Friday anymore. To think that Mozzie would even go as far as kidnap him? Man, his friend must have been more pissed off than Neal thought.
Someone pounded on the door, sounding like Peter whenever Neal had his door locked. Neal heaved himself to his feet and stumbled over to the door. "Listen, Moz, this isn't funny. I might just play along with you if you would just explain things to me, but I'm going to call Peter and get him to rescue me if you don't stop," Neal opened the door and blinked at the men who were decidedly not Mozzie, "this. Oh. What is going on here?"
"We registered a large magical flare coming from this location. That magical signature has been flagged as a potential threat," one of the men in armor said. "We have to ask you to come with us."
"Magical flare?" Neal repeated. He raised his eyebrow. "Listen, I have no idea what is going on here and the only reason I'm not attacking you is because I know that my friend Mozzie put you up to this. SO, if you would just explain what is going on, then I wouldn't have to call my friend in the FBI."
"You are to come with us," the man in the armor said. He motioned to his men behind them and they surged up on Neal. The next thing he knew, the men had grabbed both of his arms. Neal tried to protest, but they dragged him away.
He was shoved in the back of a horse drawn carriage of all things and driven away. He wondered just how large of a LARP this thing was, because he normally didn't think that they were able to do anything larger than a couple of blocks and this was a lot further than that. Neal tried to catch glimpses out of the window of the carriage, but the whole thing was done up in black fabric and there were men on either side of him.
They finally stopped and Neal was dragged out of the carriage. He cooperated until he caught sight of where they had taken him: to a large castle on top of a cliff. "What the hell?" he asked.
The men in armor brought Neal inside of the castle and up into this tower. They released Neal when the door was closed and Neal stumbled. He brushed his suit off as he took in the room. A man stood, staring out of the window with his back to Neal.
The man turned around and Neal blinked. "Peter, what is going on here? When did you get involved in Mozzie's game?"
"How dare you speak to our Lord so strangely?" one of the men demanded. He shoved at Neal. "My apologies, Lord Petros, we found this man at the source of that magical flare."
"It's all right," Peter said as he waved his hand. He gave Neal a piercing look, with no recognition in his eyes.
Neal stared at the man who had Peter's face. "What the hell?"
Chapter Two