Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 03:19:05 +0000
From: Draiodoir Draiodoir <darkdraiodoir666@hotmail.com>
Subject: Gay Male- Sci Fi/ The Gatekeeper: Stigmatized/Chapter 4

	All rights reserved. This story is property of Fritz Ilagan. No one
must copy, reprint or repost this story without any consent to the author,
whole or in part, except for permitted by this site or the laws. All
characters and situations in this story is completely fictional except for
those with historical and social tendencies (you'll see in chapter 13).

	This story involves gay love but it might take awhile before you
figure it's there. I didn't intend this to be a "jack off" story so no sex
scene would be found in any part of this series. For comments, drop me a
note in darkdraiodoir666@hotmail.com. I try my best to answer all emails.

	Guys, here's another chapter of my story The Gatekeeper:
Stigmatized. Hope you like it!

Chapter Four: The Mordigan Witches

	It was hard. Osiris couldn't think straight; too many things
happened in the past few hours that even his brain was forgetting to work
properly: his head was thinking ten things at once. But even against the
tempest of thoughts in his head and his constant rational convincing of
himself, he no longer could think of anything that can disprove Caleb's
explanations and his experiences.

	"Okay," Osiris finally said, "Given a minute that I believe
you. I'm a warlock. I have magical powers. So what?"

	"So what?" repeated Caleb confused.

	"Yes! So what?" said Os, "Am I the only person in the world that
has these powers? What makes me so special that those thugs tried to kill
me? And who the hell are they anyway?"

	"You're not the only one that has these powers Os. I think they
wanted to take away your powers, as you said; Lilith tried to get your
heart. And, I think, you got a value for the Hand because of your
interesting family line. As you probably don't know, long magical ancestry
means the family magic is passed from generation to generation, adding up
more and more. The Hand might be thinking around these reasons but we can
only speculate."

	"We?" prompted Osiris. "You and whom?"

	"I'm sorry I failed to tell you earlier. I'm Caleb Brine, a Herald
of the Mordigan Witches, which is my coven."

	"Mordigan Witches... sounds familiar," muttered Os, thinking
hard. Then it hit him. "Of course, Djinn, one of the men that attacked the
school, he mentioned you. He sounded afraid of the Mordigans."

	"Well, they're afraid of us, we're afraid of them," said
Caleb. "Djinn, Lilith, Akvan, Oni, Iblis and Seth are the Six Sergeants of
the Hand of Atonement, a coven whose aim is to oppose the Mordigan
Witches. Their coven, which is shortly known as the Hand, is involved in
magic that no respectable witch or warlock should practice. Dark magic.

	"They kidnap many people: some ordinary, some magical. Witches are
taken probably because of their powers yet sometimes the Hand wants to
recruit members. Ordinary people are taken because they have specific
characteristics. Virginity, youngest in the family of thirteen, superbly
high intellect, things that makes an individual unusual or coveted that can
appear useful in magical rituals. The Hand also appears to accept payment
from people who want to curse their enemies.

	"We, the Mordigan Witches, are the ones that prevent these things
from happening. We try to stop the Hand's operations and try to track down
their members. Our coven is the only one that is strong enough to stop the
Hand as they are spread throughout many countries and even gets protection
from illegal syndicates and they also have connections in governments."

	"So, the Mordigans are good while the Hand is bad. I can't believe
I'm believing this... that witches and magic actually exist," said Osiris
yawning. He glanced at the VCR; it showed 5:10 am. Caleb looked at it too.

	"You can't believe something if you hadn't actually seen it or
experienced it, this is how the mysteries of the world are explained but
perhaps we can continue this talk after we get a few hours sleep," said
Caleb, who also appeared to be tired.  Osiris was still reluctant but
considered that if Mr. Brine hadn't tried to kill him until now, he decided
he can trust the man. However Os got another concern.

	"Caleb, if the Hand found me at school, what's stopping them from
tracking me in here?" asked Os, who instinctively look through the
windows. The blinds weren't drawn down and Os watched the shadows that the
neighboring homes created as the street lamps and moon light hit them.

	"Oh they probably know that you're already here," said Caleb making
Osiris's eyes pop, but he calmly added, "Don't worry about them attacking
us. The house has deflecting and shielding spells around it. Also, no one
can enter it without being invited by anyone within the house because of
the Vampire Enchantment. And there are at least forty Mordigan Heralds
watching and guarding us outside. Don't worry; the Hand is not that stupid
to attack when the Mordigans are prepared."

	"Vampire Enchantment?" asked Osiris. Who suggests these names?

	Caleb smiled. "The Vampire Enchantment is an ancient protection
spell. You know, vampires can't enter a private dwelling without being
freely welcomed by anyone within the domicile. The enchantment works the
same way but it's not limited to vampires. Don't worry, you're safe here."

	Caleb stood up and invited the teenager to go with him to the spare
room.

	"I thought you said you're afraid of them," said Osiris. "Now
you're telling me not to worry."

	"Because it's my job to worry Os, not yours," said Caleb as they
arrived in a fairly large bedroom. "Here we are. This room is yours. Do
whatever you want with it. We're the only ones inside the house but please
don't try to go out without telling me first, if you don't want to get
zapped."

	Caleb was about to close the door when he added, "And your right. I
did say we're afraid of them. Why else would we put forty Heralds outside?"

					* * *

	A bright amount of sunlight greeted Os when he woke up the next
day. The wall clock in front of his bed told him it was half pass
twelve. Probably due to exhaustion, he didn't have any dreams that he could
remember.

	Sitting up, Osiris thought about his conversation with
Mr. Brine. He tried to find other explanations... more rational
explanations why all those things happened to him... but Mr. Caleb Brine's
justifications, however bizarre it sounded, were the only reasons that put
everything in place; the weird things that he did, his escape and the
reason of the attack at school, it all fitted Caleb's story. But it was so
absurd and unbelievable and he was still having a hard time
accepting... Osiris Rites have powers beyond human comprehension and now he
was protected by a fraternity of witches and warlocks?

	He looked around the room trying to stop his mind from replaying
all the horrible events of yesterday. The room was so clean, obviously not
often used, comfortable and cool due to air-conditioning. Os moved his
bangs off his eyes to see the room much better and noticed he was still
wearing Caleb's shirt; the long sleeves completely covered his hands.  It
was too large for his skinny frame and that was when he noticed neatly
folded clothes by the end of his bed.

	The house was silent and rather big for a bachelor like Mr. Brine
and quite neat, thought Osiris. He looked around, now wearing a well fitted
white shirt and faded jeans. Seeing photos of vacation trips, trophies and
a framed copy of the New Valley Chronicle, the label beneath the frame told
him that it was the first school paper that Caleb helped create as an
adviser. Osiris explored more, entering all the rooms in the house except
for one that he assumed was Caleb's room. It was locked. It was ordinary in
every aspect, not like what Osiris envisioned of a witch's house. He smiled
to himself as he first thought of discovering a cabinet of preserved human
parts and a sacrificial altar which he thankfully didn't find.

	After half an hour, Os got certain that Caleb was not home so he
went to the kitchen when he felt a little hungry. There, he saw a square
piece of paper, a note from Caleb.

	Os,
	I just needed to check something about adding more security. I'll
be back later in the afternoon.
	Don't worry, your safe inside the house, Heralds are still standing
guard outside and I told Luna
	to watch over you. Help yourself with anything that you want in the
fridge.

	Caleb

	Osiris wondered who Luna was, while he prepared himself a sandwich
for lunch. It was creepy, the feeling that someone or something invisible
watching him as he hadn't seen any Luna around the house. But Os dismissed
the thought. Yet after lunch, he felt bored so he slouched to the couch and
tried channel surfing, anything to stop him from reliving the memories of
yesterday. Once he was convince that nothing worth watching was on the
idiot box, Osiris turned it off and looked around to think of any other
things he can do to preoccupy his mind.

	Bookshelves stood around the house, even the kitchen had a shelf
full of cookbooks, making Os think that it was so out of character for
Caleb wasn't seemed the type to be a bookworm, even though he was an
English teacher. Picking a brown leather-bound tome, Osiris tried to
engross himself to the novel but it was impossible... it was too boring to
read. He paced around the living room, looking desperate. Seeing a shady
tree-covered park just out front, Os decided that maybe he can do with some
fresh air. He put a hand to the door knob and tried to turn but it was
locked.

	Frowning, Os tried turning it again but it won't budge. He blinked
for a moment. Hadn't he been in this situation before? And if he was really
a warlock then he can do magic, right? Magic himself out of the house
maybe?

	Osiris closed his eyes, concentrating to unlock the door but before
he can verbalize his intent, a voice behind him made him halt.

	"What do you think you're doing?" the voice said sounding gently
feminine. Os looked around, alarmed, yet no one was there... nothing was
there.

	"Who are you?" asked Osiris, sounding obviously scared as he looked
around the empty room. "Where are you?"

	No one answered him and Os thought that it's rather weird for Caleb
to teach his couch how to talk as he could have sworn the voice came from
that direction. After a moment, dismissing the voice as a result of his
imagination, Osiris turned back to face the door and resumed his
concentration upon opening the door.

	"You ought not to get out of the house, you know. It's for your own
protection."

	This time Os rounded fast, staring intensely around the room. He
definitely heard that!

	"Who are you!?" he snarled to the voice.

	"You don't have to shout," said the voice then to Osiris's
surprise, a rather large cat-like animal sauntered around from behind the
couch. It was beautiful with black spots, rings and stripes around its
body.

	"What the--a cat?" Os muttered to himself, backing to the
door. "A talking cat!? I'm going insane."

	"Excuse me," it said rather incredulously as it walked to the
center of the living room and sat proudly on the carpet. "I am not just a
cat. I'm Luna, Caleb's ocelot and familiar. And you're not insane... yet."

	It took at least five minutes for Osiris to get off the initial
shock of having a conversation with a cat. After a while though, Os asked
now sounding unconvinced, "Luna? Are you the one who's suppose to watch
over me?" He guessed if he can survived psycho witches he can handle
talking cats. His life was getting weirder by the minute. "And you're
familiar to what?" he added rather confused.

	The ocelot, Luna, yawned uninterestedly. "You neophytes always bore
me. I'm a familiar, guide and guardian spirit of a witch, Caleb."

	"Oh, okay," said Osiris then turning his back to the cat. "But I
can definite take care of myself if all Caleb can get to baby-sit for me is
a talking cat." He carried on to opening the door by his mind and after
another minute and a suddenly click from the knob, Os smiled proudly to
himself as the door swung open. Os grinned and gave Luna a cheery wave as
he started to march towards the door.

	"I'm going for a walk."

	"I wouldn't do that if I were you," warned Luna serenely, but Os
didn't heed her call and when his left foot stepped out of the door, a
bluish flash of light swirled around him then hurled him back to the room
where he landed face down to the carpet with a dull thud. The door shut
itself again.

	Luna walked towards him, yellow eyes twinkling. "Told you so."

	Osiris glowered to the cat. "So what I'm on house arrest?" He
straightened himself again. Luna started licking her paw.

	"If you didn't want protection, why did you ask for Caleb's help in
the first place?" said she simply. "I suggest you should appreciate my
master's efforts on keeping you alive."

	Biting his lip, Os bowed his head. The cat was right. "I'm sorry. I
was just... I wasn't used to being... confined." He sat to the couch and
stared to Luna, curiously. "Uh...I'm Os by the way." Then he extended a
hand to Luna intending to have a shake.

	"I'm not going to lick that if that's what you want me to do," said
Luna scornfully to Os' proffered hand. "And I already know who you are. I
know everything that Caleb knows... it's one of the powers a familiar
have."

	Osiris drew his hand back, scowling to the cat. "I offered to shake
hands--paws. It's what people do when they see each other for the first
time."

	Luna just stared to him. "You humans are a weird type. Why do you
shake hands anyway?"

	"I don't really know." Os went back to the couch, examining Luna
carefully. "So you have powers?" he asked. "What exactly is a familiar
anyway?"

	"Familiars are spirit-guardians for witches. Some look like animals
but others can take other forms. We possess powers that can aid our charge
and do tasks for them," explained Luna, propping herself to a leather
armchair.

	"So every witch has a familiar?" Os inquired, wondering what kind
of animal his familiar will be.

	Luna circle on the chair then lied down when she found a
comfortable spot before answering. "Well, it depends on the
circumstances. A familiar only reveals itself in times of greatest
need. Oh, here comes Caleb." Luna raised her head to the middle of the
room.

	Mists started gather there, then turned to a spinning mast of blue
fog. Osiris watch in awed fright as the fog took form and Caleb solidified
in the middle of the room.

	"Whoa! How did you do that?" asked Os, mouth hanging open in
amazement.

	"Practice," said Caleb smiling. "I see you met my lovely cat,
Luna."

	"I am not just a cat! I'm an ocelot," said Luna indignantly. "I
can't take this anymore. You humans should know the difference--"

	"Yeah, yeah," said Caleb as he picked up Luna on the armchair then
put her to his lap, where she purred while he tickled her neck to shut her
up. "I see the clothes fit you nicely."

	"Yeah, they're okay. Thanks," Os answered. "So, where have you
been?"

	Caleb continued to tickle Luna on her chin. "I just arranged more
security procedures, you know. We can't be lax in security if we're talking
about the Hand."

	Osiris blushed a bit and hoped that Luna wouldn't tell her master
what he did. But the thought barely got off from his mind when Luna said
suddenly, "He... prrr... tried to get out of the house... prrr... willed
the door to unlock... prrr... but the differential permeability
spell... prrr... stopped him... prrr..." Os glared at her.

	"Oh, must have hurt huh?" Caleb grinned. Osiris scowled.

	"What's the different permission spell?"

	"Differential permeability spell. It's just another form of
protection I cast before sleeping. It insures that only Mordigans can enter
or exit the house so when you tried to get out, it didn't permit you. It's
just insurance if ever the Vampire Enchantment fails."
	Caleb put down Luna on the floor then asked, "Who wants snacks?"

	Snacks were two boxes of pizza delivered to the house after thirty
minutes. Caleb opened the boxes then put them on the kitchen counter where
he let Luna have a sniff. Os was about to shoo the cat when she suddenly
said, "It's okay. No poison in this pizza."

	Caleb prepared a pitcher of lemonade then he, Osiris and Luna
started eating. After a moment Caleb turned to Os then asked, "How are you
holding up?"

	Osiris gave his pizza a bite then chewed thoughtfully. "Okay, I
guess. I'm not as freaked out as before. I even practice some kind of magic
when I unlocked the door and to tell the truth... I like it. It was fun."

	"I'm glad. So how did you exactly opened the door? A spell?"

	"Well, I just thought very hard. I did it once, when I escaped the
hospital. I told the lock to open and it... opened," Os said
shrugging. Caleb looked thoughtful but didn't say anything. Osiris really
had tons of questions to ask but didn't know where to start.

	"Just ask me anything you want," said Caleb so suddenly, startling
Osiris.

	"How did you know what I'm thinking?" Os asked rather warily.

	Caleb smiled and said sounding amused, "You're a telepath Os and
you still can't control your power. You're transferring thoughts to others
without you realizing it."

	"Oh. How does that work again?"

	"You were thinking about asking me questions. You unconsciously
transfer your thoughts to me so I get a sudden thought of asking me
questions which would be very odd for me, so the only assessment that I can
form was that it was your thoughts that I perceived."

	Osiris made a funny lost expression with his face that resembled a
confused puppy. He just pretended he understood Caleb then said,
"Okay... well, I was just wondering... if you knew my Aunt Celina, did you
also know my parents?"

	Caleb gave Os a strange look. "Well, no. Your Aunt Celina was the
only one who wasn't really hiding her magic back then. Your parents... I
never knew them, never even knew that they were witches until I met
Celina. Met her when I was twenty-one. She tried to join the Mordigans
then."

	Os was surprised at this. "Really? Did she got in?"

	"Yes but she changed her mind. It was when your parents died," said
Caleb looking sympathetic. "She chose raising you than joining us."

	"But if she didn't hide her magic, why didn't she told me we're
witches and why did she bound my powers?"

	"I didn't know Os but I think it was to protect you from the
truth. The truth can hurt sometimes. She lay lowed and just until yesterday
I haven't heard from her in the past."

	"Where do you think she is now? Do you think she died on the fire?"

	"We are not certain," Caleb answered cautiously. "The body that had
been found on your aunt's house this morning was burned beyond
recognition. But in my opinion, it was Celina."

	"How can you say?" asked Os.

	"Because Celina's a pyrokinetic. I don't think she would get killed
by her own element. But don't worry, the some of the Mordigan Trackers are
trying to find her righ now as we speak."

	This statement took the heaviness off of Osiris's chest. At least,
the prospect of one day seeing Aunt Celina again gave him relief. Caleb
gave him few more seconds then said, "Os, we can't protect you here for too
long. Sooner or later, the Hand will think of a way to defeat this house's
defenses."

	Osiris looked at him but remained silent. He doesn't have anywhere
else to go and apparently, Caleb picked up his thought because he said,
"You don't have to worry. I arranged it to the High-priestess, that's why I
went out this morning. She invited you to stay to the Mordigan Mansion."

	Blinking rapidly, Os asked, "Mordigan Mansion? What's that?"

	"It's the home of all Mordigan Witches Os. It's the safest place on
earth. We can protect you better there and it's more comfortable compare in
here."

	"Where is it?" asked Os.

	Caleb smiled. "Well, if I tell you I would have to kill you."
Osiris gulped nervously and Caleb realized his joke wasn't funny so he
added, "Sorry Os, I was only kidding. To tell you the truth, I can't really
tell you where it is because even I don't know its exact location. We use a
special room that only Mordigan Witches can enter to get there and it
automatically connects to the Mansion."

	He felt that to go with Caleb to an unknown place would mean Os
takes his safety out of his hands and transferring it to Caleb. But
somehow, Osiris knew that he could trust his teacher.

	"When are we going? The special room, is it far?"

	"Don't worry about it. We don't have to travel outside but it is
necessary to get to this place because the Mansion is hidden, even to the
Mordigans for extra protection. I believe it moves."

	"Moves?" Os said, confused. "Your Mansion has wheels or something?"

	Caleb had to laugh. "No. It is hidden by a veil of spells and
enchantments so that people other than Mordigans, cannot find it. I think
it's in the astral plane. The special room that shall connect us to the
Mansion is a Position of Power. It's also called a Territory by some
because you can do anything inside it."

	"How does it work?"

	"Well, I need to do a spell first to transport us there. All
Territories created by Mordigan Witches shall have a door that connects to
the Mansion, so unless a Mordigan Witch invites someone to his Territory
then no one can enter it."

	"Are Mordigans the only ones that have these Territories?"

	"No. Any witch powerful enough can have his own but only Mordigans
has the special door. So you agree to go then." Osiris nodded and Caleb
smiled. "Then we're going first thing tomorrow morning."

					* * *

	Caleb, Luna and Osiris stood together by the living room. After a
quick breakfast, Caleb explained to Os that in conjuring a Position of
Power, he would need to cast a spell. Os was rather excited for this to see
a proper spell being cast before.

	Caleb walked forward, hands raised then a powerful spray of water
came out of his palms. He directed the stream against the armchairs, couch
and coffee table, forcing the furniture back towards the walls, making a
large wet space in the middle of the room. Os was about to point this out
when Caleb stopped spraying the room and clicked his fingers. The furniture
and the floor instantly dried.

	"Wow," said Osiris in awed. "How did you dry them so fast?" Os felt
like a little boy with all his questions but his inquisitive nature just
can't help it.

	Caleb walked towards a cupboard as he said, "I turned the water
into air. I'm a Hydromerist, I can control water."

	"If you can only control water then how did you turn it to air?"

	"Well, I can control some parts of air... water vapor, the gaseous
form of water." Os smiled. He didn't know that magical principles can be
explained by the laws of physics.

	Caleb was now taking candles and clear crystals out of the
cabinet. Then he moved to the middle of the room and started placing
crystals on the floor, twelve in all, forming a circle. He then placed four
candles to the directions of north, south, east and west.

	"Yellow for Air, the Watchtower of the East," said Caleb,
explaining to Osiris why he placed specific colors to a specific
direction. "Red for Fire, the Watchtower of the South. Blue for Water, the
Watchtower of the West and Green for North, the Watchtower of the Earth. We
invoke them to lend us their power and they also act as Guardians,
protecting our circle from negativity and such." He then invited him to the
middle of the circle.

	After Osiris and Luna entered, Caleb pronounced, "Ignite!"

	All the candles lighted. Os smiled. 'Cool!'

	"You ready?" asked Caleb. "Okay, I'm going to call upon the
Watchtowers. You just stay calm."

	Os nodded and didn't want to show that he was nervous. It was his
first spell after all. Caleb faced the yellow candle then recited the
incantation. "Hail Oh Mighty One, I invoke thee! Come, Watchtower of the
East. I now call the Ruler of the Whirlwinds."

	A powerful gust of wind appeared before the yellow candle but
remarkably, its flame didn't extinguish. Then Osiris saw a man materialized
when the wind dissipated, wearing yellow toga that was swaying with the
wind around him and so long that it covered the floor he's standing on. The
man had blonde hair, with shining blue eyes and a very fair almost silver
skin. He smiled to Caleb and Os. Caleb bowed then moved to face south while
Os couldn't stop staring at the Watchtower who he could had sworn winked at
him.

	"Hail Oh Mighty One, I invoke thee! Come, Watchtower of the
South. I now call the Ruler of the Solar Orb."

	Long tongues of flame burst before them and Osiris nearly
shouted. A man stood in the middle of the pyre, his auburn hair
magnificently fiery, and his eyes black as coal. The sight was so
threatening Os thought the Watchtower looked angry but when Caleb bowed,
the burning man gave a smile. He was in a blood red toga that reveals his
masculine torso.

	Caleb called the other two Watchtowers, naming the West as the
Ruler of the Mysterious Depths while the North was called Ruler of the
Forests and Fields. The Watchtower of the West was in blue toga that flowed
so easily it looked as though made of water. The Watchtower of the North
was dressed in green toga as stiff as vines but complimented the
figure. But unlike the first two, West and North appeared as women of
unworldly beauty.

	Caleb spoke clearly and with persuasion. "Lend us your strength,
Mighty Watchtowers, so I can create my Position of Power."

	The four Watchtowers gave Caleb a bow then turned themselves into
orbs of their own elements as big as basketballs. Caleb closed his eyes,
extended his hands, palms up, reciting, "My Position of Power I call to
rise. Illuminate upon our eyes."

	Osiris's mouth dropped open. The four balls of air, fire, water and
earth began to move circling around them. Faster and faster until they
became blurs of light. Next, the living room walls dissolved and got
replaced by crystalline walls of purple and blue. The square shape of the
living room vanished as tall columns of marble appeared to have grown from
the floor making a dome-like structure. They were no longer in Caleb's
house. The room was so splendid it emits its own delicate glow.  There was
a blinding flash of white light. The elements vanished and Os stared
around, jaw hanging.

	"You liked it?" Caleb smiled at Osiris.

	"This place is so beautiful," said Os revolving on his spot. "Where
are we?"

	"This is my place, my Territory. A place I created between the
worlds. I'm the only one that can enter it and anyone I invited in, of
course. Time doesn't exist here, so as long as I stay in this place, I
don't age. This is where I can perform powerful spells because ordinary
laws doesn't govern this place but I can only stay for small periods as it
becomes draining to raise and maintain."

	"You mean you created this place? You can actually do that?"

	"It's like a little world of your own. You can conjure it anywhere,
anytime. No one can find us. We literally vanished from the face of the
earth."

	Impressed by the things a witch can do, Osiris inspected the room
more and more. Even though it appeared to be under furnished, he deduced
that if Caleb can create his own world, he could have conjured sofas if he
wanted. There was no door and Os looked confused to Caleb. The older guy
smiled at him and pointed to the wall in front, as though answering the
silent question. A large silver-framed mirror stood there, reflecting the
magnificent room. Osiris stared at his reflection.

	"You just need to pass through it," said Caleb. "Don't be scared
and don't stop or it'll get sticky."

	"Sticky?" Os frowned and then stared back to the mirror anxiously.

	Caleb noticed and said, "Are you ready?"

	Without taking his eyes from it, Os answered, "Yes."

	"Don't worry. You'll love it."

	Smiling, Caleb led the way and walked against the mirror. The
mirror appeared to have turned to molten silver and let Caleb's body pass
through. After him, Luna trotted through it. Gulping nervously, Os walked
towards it. It felt like going through a wall of gelatin. It felt cold and
stopped Osiris from breathing as it pressed against his face. He forced
himself more to it and felt like getting out of a swimming pool as his face
and then his body went through. He opened his eyes and his mouth hanged
open.

	"Welcome to the Mordigan Mansion Osiris, the safest place on
earth," Caleb smiled.

To be continued....