April 9, 2004 – 07:00
"Did you hear about what happened in Johannesburg yesterday?" said Frank, taking a sip of coffee.
He sat in the living room with a newspaper in his hands. Coralis was getting ready to meet Sonylla before heading to the flyball field.
"No, what happened there?" said Coralis, coming out of their bedroom.
"A group of women believed to be witches have been burned down at the stake," said Frank, looking at her.
"I have a game next week in Johannesburg, I'll probably be hearing all about it, but I should warn the team. Does the article mention where exactly it happened and who were they? I mean, I should try to find out if they were dark witches or innocent humans."
"Can I talk you out of setting foot anywhere in South Africa?"
Coralis sat next to him, her back against the armrest, her left knee folded in front of her and her body facing him.
"I wish you could," said Coralis, her hands on herself. "They are killing witches here too, nowhere is safe at the moment. All I can do is blend in and ensure no one sees me. Like you said, hide in plain sight."
"You're going to train with Sonylla, right?"
"Yeah, we have a private practice at Panjik's before I go to my flyball practice."
"If I can't talk you out of going to Johannesburg next week, is there a way I can help you train to defend against fire? To ensure that none of these lunatics could burn you down, even if they try."
Coralis frowned.
"I never trained against fire, but I supposed I should. Sonylla is a fire mage. In theory, she should be able to heal me against fire by healing herself, but we haven't practiced that either and she's immune to fire."
"I understand that if people see you're not burning or are walking out of the fire without burnt flesh, it would probably expose you… but I won't lose you over this lunacy of a war that shouldn't even be happening. They aren't even killing those who should be killed. I know I can't help you train in combat, but humans kill witches with fire… so maybe I could help you train against that."
"I see your point. If a human tries to burn me… using Sonylla inner fire abilities to catch the fire is probably what would expose me, versus letting them think they are burning me while I crawl my way out. I mean… I should let them think that their fire is engulfing me, while I turn invisible and walk away… but it still involves building up a resistance against fire, or learning how to turn what's in the fume into something that protects my skin…"
"Would that be something I could help you with?"
Coralis looked at him.
"Possibly. Let me check something with Panjik," she said, pulling out her hologram.
Frank explained to Panjik what he had in mind about how he wanted to help protect Coralis.
"I hate that she keeps travelling to places that want to kill her and that even here, she's not entirely safe from lunatics. I understand that she's a hard one to kill, but from what I'm seeing, most of you guys aren't immune to fire, including Blue, and that's what humans use to kill your kind."
"That's a smart idea, although it would involve you eventually dousing her with flames if you want to do it personally. Sonylla and Blue Thunder can't throw fire at each other, and their training at the moment is more about learning to transfer energy to each other and defensive magic, considering any injury they do to each other is amplified. However, you're onto something that we've been neglecting in our training. Are you available to come with her to our practice?"
"I work tonight. I don't think I can find return flights that would allow me to attend your practice and then make it to work on time unless I can get to wherever you train in a reasonable driving time?"
"Flights? Blue, how long does it take you to fly to my house?"
"About an hour and a half, depending on the wind."
"Have you ever flown with her?" said Panjik, looking at Frank. "Because it would be the easiest and quickest way if you want to attend today's practice. I don't live anywhere near a human airport. If you haven't completed the mating bond, I wouldn't recommend using portals."
The couple looked at each other.
"Uh, no, I never took him with me… or any other human."
"Our friend Victoria told me once that they needed a special permit to fly with humans, but my sister flies often with Sebastian. We've been so focused on her blending in that we never discussed it."
"Blue Thunder plays flyball professionally, she doesn't need a special permit. Same for Sebastian. Even when she retires at the end of the season, she won't be required to get one."
"Me being a professional flyball player means that I can recklessly fly at high speed… and can safely do so, I guess. Eva flies often with me, and so does Veronica, but they aren't humans," said Coralis, turning her face to look at Frank. "I suppose it comes down to how comfortable you are with heights and if you want to come with me at our practice this morning. We can arrange for fire practice at a different time and place if you prefer."
"I'll go with you. Can't say I'm comfortable with heights in general, but I trust you and, well, I was fine at the stadium that night… and my feet weren't exactly on the ground. I know you'll be leaving for Angola tomorrow evening, so I don't know when the next time will be. Maybe I'm being paranoid and I know it'll take more than just a few hours of practice to make you fireproof… but yeah… I want to attend."
After disconnecting the call with Panjik, Coralis searched her stuff for her invisibility cloak.
"I'm willing to take you with me, but I will not extend my invisibility glamour to you. An invisibility cloak will make you look invisible, but it doesn't penetrate you per se, so you'll have to wear mine until we arrive there. Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle?"
"When it comes down to flying without being seen by anyone in the city, you're the expert, so anything you say, I'll listen to. Mark used to have a motorbike, rode a few times with him… is it similar?"
"From what I was told, yes. I never rode a motorcycle, but I was told that it's like being on a flying one," said Coralis as she handed him the cloak. "I'll take you to the secluded spot that I sometimes use with Samantha. I usually fly with Eva, but I don't take off from here when flying with her. If you aren't at ease with height, maybe take a shot of something before we leave."
Almost 20 minutes later, they stood behind a utility building that had a lot of overgrown vegetation growing along the back fence.
"You remember what I told you just before we left our apartment," said Coralis, looking at him.
He nodded.
While he put on the invisibility cloak she gave him, she took off her eyeglasses, put on her own cloak and turned a keychain into her flying stick. She positioned herself on it and turned her face to look at him. She knew where he stood. She nodded at him and felt him positioning himself behind her. She closed her eyes to activate her invisibility glamour and took off, slowly.
She felt Frank holding tight to her. She wanted to move at a slower speed until she knew he was comfortable, but she saw a lot of people entering the park and walking their way.