Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:07:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Brian Legend <princejosh333@aol.com>
Subject: Enchanted Life/Chapter 1/Exposed

       The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any
similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended
by the Author. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the permission of the
Author.
*****************************************************************************
       Enchanted Life
       **Chapter 1. Exposed

       Some people may believe being a sorcerer is about writing any type
of symbol, and combining it with random gestures while blurting out any
kind of enchantment.

       Those who believe that, are very wrong! Every sorcerer young and old
knows: if one symbol is missing a stray line or if one letter is not
pronounced correctly, your powers will back fire on you.

 Something that has never happens to me, because I have always taken extra
precaution while doing my sorcery. I learned quickly as I grew into my
powers: keeping a fresh mind on my work, writing down new material so that
it could soak in, and studying over the material three times or more, would
prevent any mistakes that came with handling these powers.

       Ever since my mom put the life of a sorceress behind her, I decided
to pick up where she left off.  I made it my obligation to become one of
the greatest sorcerers alive!

       I never understood why my mom would stop using her great abilities.
Why would anyone want to put away the grand beauty of power?

       Sorcery is not something that should be put away and never used. It
is something to use for your liking and to gain advantages over people. I
tend to use it to remove difficult obstacles from my path.

       This enchanted life is so important to me. It seems to be the only
real thing in this world. Believe it or not there are some stupid people
who walk around the earth who don't believe in this kind of power, and I
say they are all fools!

       My mom doesn't use her powers, but she can't help herself when it
comes to me. Lately I sensed she's been picking up on my intentions. The
thing about her, she can tell a good sorcerer from a bad one. I so happen
to fall in the category of a bad one.

       I have journals stashed all over my room, on different ways to use
my powers. Ways to hurt, ways to cause damage, ways to bring strife, ways
to become stronger, ways to gain advantages... I couldn't let my mom see
what I was studying. I knew she would disagree with my route of using
sorcery.  That's why she had to stay in the dark about what I was doing.

       My mom was a quiet, none violent person. She used her powers for the
right reasons, and when she found love she happily let her powers settle.
She never had a real reason to use her powers anymore after she found
love. Which I didn't understand either. How could love make you want to
give up your special abilities?

       My mom was the only good sorceress out of her side of the family.
Which was strange because, everyone else on her side of the family were
vindictive and known by others with powers, for being malicious. People
with other special abilities knew better than to mess with my mom's side of
the family. Although the power only manifested in the girls of the family.

       No men ever had the power at all... it came to me as a surprise to
learn that I was the first male to become a sorcerer.

       My dad had no powers. He was a nothing to me. In complete honesty, I
seriously disliked him.

       My mom thinks I don't know that dad is the real reason she stopped
using her powers. It wasn't because she found love and her powers settled.
That's what she wanted me to believe.

       It really my dad making her not use her powers. Forcing her to be
normal. I didn't know why he couldn't let her be happy and use her powers?
He is another reason I have to do my studying and training in secret.

       If my dad found out I was doing sorcery I don't know what he would
do. He knew of my powers but he didn't want me practicing or using them
EVER! Maybe if he would let me do as I please, I wouldn't be so cruel,
insensitive, and uncaring to others.

       But on second thought, I have always found it fun to cause
destruction and get away with it.

       I get tired of everyone trying to play heroes, or saying: "If I had
powers I would make the world a better place." I hate those lines. Those
days of people trying to be a hero are dead to me.

       Face it. As long as there are different personalities in this world,
people are going to clash.  Everybody should just shut up and adjust. Being
a hero isn't the answer to the problem. Whoever hasn't figured that out by
now needs to wake up.

       "Sweetie." My mom chirped, swinging my room door open wide. Her long
wavy black hair flowed down her white night gown.

       Her hazel eyes were standing out more than usual because of the
whiteness of her gown. "Your father wants to speak with you down stairs."
Shortly after, she closed my room door silently and walked away.

       I get my rare hazel eyes from her, although most people say my eyes
look more yellowish than hazel. Which tends to be a very mesmerizing trait
I was created with. Most of the strangers out at stores or restaurants
notice the glowing yellowish quality around my iris, first.

       Raising myself from my spreaded sheets. I was preparing to see what
my crazy dad wanted. I knew he would probably fuss at me for some off the
wall reason. But who cares?

       Before leaving my room I double checked behind myself to make sure
nothing odd was left hanging out. I looked over various of hiding places to
make sure the books and equipment I use to train, were out of sight.

       When I was sure nothing was lying around I went down the
stairs. Ready to see if my dad was about to fuss about me not cleaning
something or order me to get him something from the refrigerator.  It was a
number of possibilities he was calling on me for. All things he could do
his lazy self.

       I entered the living room seeing my dad sitting on the couch. He
wore an old stained t-shirt with a pair of boxers. He was watching
something on the news, slouching back in the chair.

       My inner instincts were giving me a feeling. A feeling that let me
know, `something wasn't right.'

       My dad switched his sight to me heavily squinting his eyes.

       What was this all about? What did I do now?

       "Son," he called out, lurching forward in his seat, glaring. "I'm
proud of you for bringing home good grades."

       I was about to say thank you but he cut me off holding up a
finger. "...staying out of trouble and not giving your mom and I a hard
time raising you." He was expressing everything as if he didn't want to
give me the little credit of having good grades. He seemed rather
disappointed about the whole thing.

       My mom walked into the living room standing close to dad as he
talked. She held a look of sorrow deep in her face. I felt like she didn't
like what was going on. But she didn't want to get involved.

       After hearing more sentences of my dad's dissatisfaction he switched
courses. "...be honest with me Julius." He watched me through the corner of
his eye as if waiting for me to lie about something.  "Have you been
feeling weird lately?"

       Where was this question coming from? Am I feeling okay? Was there
some virus going around?

       The only time someone thinks I'm not feeling well, is when I haven't
brushed my hair. my hair is very long and straight (another trait from my
mom) and when it gets a little nappy. People know I must not be feeling too
well. I normally spend at least thirty minutes every morning trying to
manage the silky affect my hair has. My hair was important to me.

       I brushed my hair today. So my dad's question doesn't add
up. Running a carful hand down my hair to ensure it was still tangle free.

       "I feel fine. I don't have any fever, from what-"

       "Don't play with me!" My dad yelled jumping off the couch pointing
his finger at my nose. Once again he was angry.

       My mom put her head down every so often she would pick it up and
listen to dad make an idiot out of me. She wanted to tell him to stop his
rant, but she seemed to afraid. She looked as if she wanted to help me but
she only stood there looking regretfully sorry. If only she would use her
powers one time.  Just one time to set dad in his place. He wouldn't be
blowing all his built up frustration on me.

       From the sounds of his fussing I could see he really didn't have a
reason to be mad.

       "Julius, Julius, Julius,..." he said pacing two steps around, never
disconnecting his danger filled glare. " there's some things that I have
told you about before. And it seems you don't listen to what I say. When I
say `don't' do something YOU DON'T DO IT!"

       I didn't know where he was going with this whole thing. " I don't
know what you are talking about?" I told him.

       "Oh so, now you don't know what I'm talking about, huh?" he asked
throwing his arms open in a mocking taunt. It was like he wanted to make me
feel stupid or something. "Oh so, now you are so innocent, and you have
never broken a rule or did anything evil." He spat continuously, never
getting to the root of his problem.

       "I don't know what I did?" I said almost at the edge of a yell. I
was getting tired of being pulled out of my room to do these small minded
talks with this simple man. He thought he knew me. He thought he had a
piece of me figured out...haha he was very wrong.

       "Save the whiney girl antics for someone else. Because playing dumb
and innocent is NOT going to get you anywhere with me. I'm too smart for
that!" he pointed at the side of his head with a finger. " ...and this
`thing' I'm talking about is something I warned you about before. It's
something I told you about over and over again. So it shouldn't be
something new...and it was such a simple, tiny, small, little rule to
follow and you broke it." My dad said his stern voice rolling out in
thunderous vibrations. He was still trying to make me feel like
nothing. Like I was too stupid to follow rules.

       My mouth dared not to open. My tongue stuck dryly to the side of my
cheek. Scared to speak a word that would further make me look
guilty. Lifting my shoulders in a shrug, I was still confused and I didn't
know if we were on the same page. "I...don't know..."

       Mom backing to the corner of the living room, repeating in short
sobs `no, please...no...please don't.' her hazel eyes were filled with
puddles of what looked like tears. Dad was ignoring her, and he was still
fussing at me. "...you must think I'm crazy? Or that I don't know who you
are, and how you think!" His veins appeared in his neck, as he filled the
room with a burst of flaming sounds. "I KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING!!"

       "What I've been doing?"

       "YES YOU! Don't play innocent because you aren't. you demon seed!"
mom was in the corner too scared to say anything about what was going on,
too teary eyed to stop this mad man's on going rage. If I was her, I would
have did something to stop this raving lunatic. There is no way a mother is
suppose to stand back, while her child is being accused, and fussed at, by
a dangerous hateful man.

       Dad kept yelling at me. He had no idea what dark thoughts were
crossing my mind. I was thinking of all the things I could do to him as a
sorcerer. He hasn't realized I have been holding back on him. He doesn't
see that I have given him mercy all of these years. I could kill him
horribly if I wanted to, I could shut him up anytime I wanted to... but he
wasn't seeing it that way. This man was taking my mercy for a
weakness. Which is a devastating mistake. From my knowledge, devastating
mistakes causes for devastating consequences. He would soon see that if he
didn't find a stopping point.

       I should be the one yelling, after all the things he's did to mom
and I. stripping our freedom, trying to make us not use our powers. The
consistent fussing day in and day out, making me work rigorously. I'm
seventeen years old. I'm almost an adult. And I normally don't take loud
talk from anybody. Especially this guy...

       "...Something is wrong with you! You have problems, BOY!" my dad
went on, he frustratedly pointing his finger down at my nose. My tolerance
had reached its breaking point. I had had enough of his yelling. I think
it's my turn to speak. I feel like I need to be heard. I know myself, and
if I don't hurry up and say something, I might `do' something.

       "Dad!" I screamed back trying to raise my voice over his. "Why are
you acting like this? You called me out of my room to fuss at me. And I
haven't did anything. You do this all the time and you have no good reason
for it. If you had a bad day at work I could under-"

       He blocked out my voice by raising his to a form of authority. "Oh,
here you go playing innocent.  Acting like you don't know what you did." He
interrupted. "You know exactly why I called you down here."

       I glanced at mom hoping she would step in but she only cried
harder. She seemed to become a shadow in the corner. I still didn't know
what I did? It's probably something he made up just to have a reason to
keep his rage going. I wanted to know what I was being blamed for? What did
I do this time?

       "Why did you call me here?" I questioned getting a tad irritated by
his need to pace back and forth angrily. He was taking the whole thing over
board. I'm sure whatever it is he is blaming me for isn't that bad.

       "Julius," he started taking a sigh of agitation. "I saw you
practicing that magic crap. I specifically set a rule letting you know that
was never to be used. I told you this years ago. It was one small, tiny,
simple rule that you were too dumb to follow. I told her," he stopped for a
quick second to point in the corner where mom was. "That crap isn't allowed
here...EVER!"

       This has to be a lie. How did he see me? I always stash my journals
out of sight. I hide all of my practice books, I always take extra
precautious steps to make sure I never leave anything hanging around my
room. I never practice with my powers until I'm alone. Whenever I do train
I make certain, that it can't be heard. That's why I don't get how he saw
me. Every day before I leave my room, I double check behind myself, to
confirm I didn't leave any evidence lying around.

       He had to be playing a mind game with me. He didn't have a reason
for fussing at me, he didn't have any evidence to pin against me. So he
decided to play this simple mind game on me to make me confess. This had to
be one of his tests because it's impossible that he saw me. He's just using
accusations to get me to squeal on myself and it won't work.

       "Dad I don't know what you are talking about." I lied pleading my
innocents. "I study when I go to my room. And occasionally I will watch TV,
or talk on my cell phone. That is it! Other than that, I do what any normal
teen would do in their room." If he didn't believe my story... oh well.

       He must be out of his mind if he thinks I will sit back and let him
rip away my abilities like he did mom. I'm too strong for that mess.

       "Ordinary? Are you serious?" my dad was gripping his head in deep
disbelief. "Ordinary is one word that should never come out of your lying
mouth." he started his rage rounding on me again. Trying to make me feel
worse. "You know what I saw you do? Do you really want to know?"

       A loud "What!" popped out of my mouth.

       "I'll tell you `what' I saw," his eyes showed lines of arteries
about to explode from the rush of blood in his head. "I watched you write
odd symbols on your room walls. I sat there and watched you mouth words
causing pictures to lift of the walls and float around you!"

       Mom quickly put her hand over her mouth. She seemed so hurt by what
I had been practicing.  Somehow she knew I was using bad sorcery
enchantments. The pictures floating, were a clear sign that I was using bad
sorcery. My dad was exposing me. I don't know how he knew what I was
practicing but some way he knew.

       My best bet is to play like I don't know what he is saying. Yeah,
that is my best option here! That way he will seem like a maniac. Because
how am I sure he actually saw me performing these enchantments? How am I
sure this isn't apart of his mind game? Who knows, he could be using the
things he saw mom do a long time ago and he's trying to pin those things on
me.

       "What? Making pictures float off the wall?" I tried to make
everything sound like he was losing his mind. "Writing symbols? All of
those things are beyond my ability and understanding." I stood my ground
defending my perception of the situation. He wasn't getting a confession
out of me. I don't care what he uses.

       "Do you think I'm someone you can lie to? Do I look stupid or dumb
to you?" he was madder than he was before he started this
argument. "Obviously making pictures move isn't beyond your ability!"

       "I'm not lying, Dad! Why aren't you listening to me! Even if I did
do these things, how did you happen to see me doing it?"

       Dad took an aggravating sigh, before growling, "I put cameras in
your room earlier this week."

       "You what!"

       "I was curious to see what you were doing with all your time, you
stayed locked in your room."  My dad flexed his jaw muscle. "It brought the
highest form of shame to me, to know my only son was practicing this crud!"

       My dad invaded my privacy! How could he do something like that? I
don't get what he wants from me? I don't get who he wants me to be. He
wants me to do good in school. Be good at home, do this, and don't do that.

       I have done everything he has asked of me. But I guess that wasn't
enough. I suppose I was being `too' good. So he wanted to install cameras
in my room to see why I was being so good. That is why I have always told
myself `being good gets you nowhere.' Someone is always looking for a
single flaw to make you the bad guy. So you might as well start off being
the bad guy. That way, they have nothing to look for.

       I wonder if I was a problem child to my parents, would they have
done the camera thing then?

       The truth was out now! Everything was on film. There was nothing to
hide anymore. Nothing mattered to me. He pulled his final string that held
the black monster inside me, back. After he invaded my privacy he thinks he
is going to take my powers from me. he must be crazy. This is personal!

       "So what, if you saw me! So what, if I am a sorcerer! Yeah I said
it! I don't care anymore. I don't see what's wrong with having this
ability. I love training myself gaining more power by the day. I wasn't
born with this gift for no reason and I refuse to let anyone stop me from
using it!" I was firing out at him.  I wasn't holding anything back.

       His face dropped and went cold at my back talk. He hadn't heard me
like this. It was what he deserved. He struck twelve of my nerves and this
is my deadly reaction. This was a sensitive topic for me, he has to
understand that.

       "Julius Rainy!" my dad screamed addressing me by my full name. "You
will NOT be a sorcerer!  No magic, no weirdness, no more crazy
stuff. Starting today you have no power!" all mom could do was gawk at what
dad was saying. "You will carry on your life like any other teen. I won't
allow you to be a worthless, irresponsible, freakish sorcerer."

       "forget it! I'm not letting go of my powers! You should get accustom
to having a son who is-"

       My dad Slapped me hard across the face. Without a thought. There was
a fierce red sting in my cheeks.

       My inner cruel emotions were antagonized by the pain. Just like
that, I lost the concept of being good, or at least pretending to be good.

       I gave dad a dreadful stare. A stare that laid hidden in me over the
course of the years I have known him. A stare of pain mixed with revenge.

       For the first time mom broke her silence. "No julius! Think about
what you are doing?" she pleaded from the corner. "No sweetie, please don't
do it!" she ran towards me sensing something off about me. as she came
running, dad looked at her oddly. He had no idea what she was trying to
do. He thought she had really lost her mind this time.

       Even though mom wanted to stop me, I couldn't let her. I had to
fight for what I believe in, I had to prove who I am to him, and I wasn't
going to let anything prevent that from happening. This has been long
overdue.

       Reaching beyond my mom's grasp. I quickly stuck my fingers out
pointing them at my dad.  "Enchantment, three!" as soon as I casted the
enchantment, my dad fell limply to the floor with a thud as if his body
became too heavy for him. No one could help him now. He will remain
temporarily paralyzed.

       Mom began to scream out in horror. She was screaming so loud I
almost shut her up myself. She couldn't take her eyes off dad's body.

       My dad had to be put in his place. If no one was going to teach him
then I would. He had to learn, not everyone is going to allow him to
strangle their dreams.

       "Honey, what have you done?" Mom cried, tears were soaking her
face. She had to learn to be stronger. It was only a temporary
enchantment. It will wear off soon enough. She's crying like he never put
her through suffering.

       I couldn't help but to smirk. I held that back for far too long. He
should be glad I took it lightly on him, I was really thinking about
casting a more deadly enchantment.

       Mom kneeled down beside dad's immobile body. She cradled his head in
her chest rocking back and forth holding him close.

       "Mom what are you doing? Don't show him any pity." I stiffly said
watching her kiss him and mumble sweet things to him under her tears. "I'm
teaching him a lesson. Whenever the enchantment wears off, he will fully
understand what kind of trouble he caused both of us."

       I thought those words would make her release him so he could
suffer. I was hoping she would see I was helping her too, when I casted
that enchantment.

       She kept crying, after what seem like an hour she looked up at me,
"He can't stay like this Julius.  I have to un-do this."

       "But mom isn't this what you wanted? The freedom to be you, to be
able to use your powers when you want to?" what was wrong with her? Was she
not seeing the clear picture? Dad will have to respect us, and give us our
space from now on. Isn't that how it should be? I don't get how you could
love someone who wanted to take parts of you away from yourself?

       "NO! This isn't how I wanted things. This isn't how things were
suppose to go." Mom sounded like she was mad at me more than she was at
dad. I thought she would understand my reaction. "When I release your dad
from this enchantment, He won't be too happy with you."

       "I don't care. If he isn't happy, I will just do it again, and again
and again!" I said showing no sign of mercy. I was blank to any emotions of
regret. "Until he learns he has no right to stop us from using sorcery."

       "He will only come after you harder." She tried to explain.

       "But mom-"

       "NO!" she didn't want to hear anymore of my reasons. She was through
with listening to my view on everything. "If I let that happen. There will
never be peace in this house. You and your dad will constantly be at war
with one another" how could she still be on his side? How could this be
happening?

       "Now that the truth has come out, your father will never rest
knowing you might be practicing sorcery. So the best thing for you to do
after I release him...is to...is to, leave."

       "What! Leave?" Where was I going to go? What was I going to do? Why
did I have to leave?

       This isn't right. Why couldn't dad leave?

       "It's the only way I can keep the two most important people in my
life from killing each other."

       "Where am I going to go, mom? I'm only seventeen. I haven't finished
school-"

       She shook her head stopping me from talking. "I knew something like
this would happen, but I didn't think it would happen so soon." She calmly
stated wiping the wetness from her eyes. "Before I release him, I want you
to be out of the house. There is no need to worry. I have saved up money
over these years, and paid for your enrollment at Celestial Academy."

       She was letting me know not all hope was lost for me. she knew I
loved to practice sorcery, and that's what I could do at Celestial
Academy. At the same time, she could remain happily attach to dad.  She had
figured this plan out a long time ago. She didn't want to lose either one
of us and this seemed like the only way for her to win.

       She explained to me: at Celestial Academy there would be dorms,
eateries, new chances to meet people just like me. The Academy already had
the requirements I would need to survive without having my parents
around. She told me, my name was already in their files, all I had to do
was show up at the school.

       The more she told me the better I felt. I could finally be myself,
and practice to get more power without hiding. Although I will be distanced
from my parents I still think it's the best move. What sadden me was I
couldn't lay in the same vicinity with my dad and be who I was born. At the
same token, I was ecstatic to hear I wouldn't be hindered anymore from
training.

       I should have punished dad sooner, if I would have known it would
have a grand result.

       I almost took two hours trying to prepare for my leave. While father
lay lifeless, and droopy on the couch where mom left him. If I was her I
would have left his body on the floor. He didn't deserve any type of
comfort.

       I was filling to the top with gratefulness as I packed my clothes. I
used my mom's suitcase to pack my major and minor belongings. I was trying
to keep a clear mind so I could grab everything. I was trying to be sure to
grab my journals, my writings, and my training books. I kept loading my
luggage up with things I thought I would miss. When I was finished, I had
an overstuffed backpack and suit case.

       My mom came by holding a little black square like bag. "I knew you
would probably forget something as simple as these things." She said with a
small smile, handing the black velvety bag to me.

       When I took it from her to check inside. I saw my tooth brush, hair
brush, and other hygienic products that didn't occur to me while I was busy
packing. "Thanks mom."

       Suddenly I noticed she had one arm behind her back. As if she was
hiding something else. "This use to be mine, and since I have no use for it
anymore. I thought I would hand it down to you." She pulled her arm out
from behind her, showing me a black coated thick book. "Put it to great
use. Some of the greatest enchantments I have ever known are written in
there. Some I never got to use." She smiled, sadly.
       As I looked at the outside black coating of the book in amusement, I
saw a brown question mark on the front cover. "Thanks so much mom!" I
rushed her with a hug. I didn't know what the question mark was suppose to
stand for but it wasn't my main focus.

       The book was thicker than any book I had seen in the school
library. I was willing to read every page if it meant I would achieve my
goal as the best sorcerer ever.

       My mom shed a few tears before saying her final good bye. I was
completely packed. I was going somewhere to become greater thanks to
her. She hugged me and kissed me on the forehead. "Be safe Julius, and
don't be too bad, of a bad guy." She chuckled lightly.

       "Yes ma'am" I was trying to squeeze my mom to let her know how much
I loved her. Everything was coming to me, small amounts at a time, but I
was feeling the hard pain of missing her. I knew it would probably be a
long while before I get to hug her like this again. I sniffed trying to
keep my emotions in check. The last face I should depart with is a sad one.

       My mom quickly got loose from me when she heard the sniff. It was
almost like she knew I was on the verge of crying, but she didn't want to
witness it.

       In a swift movement of her arm, she put two fingers up to her
face. She then, quickly slashed through the open air between us with her
fingers, and muttered something under her breath. She opened her hand up to
the ceiling and closed her eyes slowly, chanting something in perfect
rhythm.

       Suddenly a blue glowing light filtered through her hand. Growing
brighter in size. It looked like she was holding on to a blazing blue
star. She swung her hand at me so fast I didn't have time to see the
rest. I was just covered in the blue swirling stars of blinding light.

       Mom was transporting me and my luggage to Celestial Academy using an
enchantment.

       There was no turning back. I was gone; I was heading to a new
destination to become greater. A new life, with a new start, two things I
was ready to embrace.

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