Page 30 of Sore Throat, Slight Fever

“It’s been frustrating,” admits Kane. She feels his wings flutter against her ear. “I wish the shadow would reveal itself, even just a little.”

“Why are we so worried about it again?”

Rory answers, calling down from his spot on the porch. “Because it’s clearly a magical creature. And the only thing keeping…ussafe, is that we are the only magical creatures in Willow Lake.”

“We’re keeping a low profile,” adds Kane, in as close to a whisper as a grackle can make.

“Oh, yes. Indeed,” she replies,sotto voce. Another sip from her glass leaves it empty, and she sits it on the step, stretching her legs out in front of her. “Are there any grimoires in the library? From the coven who lived here before? Maybe they would know about something that would live in this lake.”

Kane cocks his head to the side. “Thank you. That’s a good idea. Perhaps we could work together this afternoon? You could help me select some grimoires and I will find a book on mental shielding for you.”

She nods. “I’d like that.”

When the house created Calliope’s room, it seems to have taken anything witch-related and stuffed it onto her bookshelves. Rory has left to pick up his order from the Clayton Farm and she and Kane retreat to her room upstairs in search of a helpful text to solve their shadow-creature problem. They find a row of grimoires there, just underneath the haphazardly stacked cauldrons of various sizes and materials.

Kane flies into her room with a small hardcover book clutched in his feet and deposits it in her lap. Calliope fluffs up the pillows and settles in to begin her reading, as Kane takes over the side table next to the couch.

The Art of Psychoshielding: Practical methods for the construction and maintenance of mental wardsbyCassius Fiorintini is slim, and the introduction emphasizes that it is meant to be only a primer for those looking to engage with basic mental shielding. A list at the back provides additional resources for the experienced psychoshielder.

She begins to read, losing herself in Fiorentini’s words.

Excerpt from The Art of Psychoshielding: A practical primer for the construction and maintenance of mental wards by Cassius Fiorentini

[T]he mind is a wondrous thing, resilient and elastic, though so many assume otherwise. The art of psychoshielding is, in effect, quite obscure, though the basics of mental magic are nothing new. There is a long-standing tradition of psychical exchange among witch tribes of Europe and occasionally, a coven in the Americas will make use of such a technique. Vampires are a good example of psychical exchange as well, as they inherently possess the ability to incite the transfer of mental energy, though it is always a unidirectional exchange.

The most effective method for psychoshielding lies in forming an impenetrable thought-structure within one’s Mind’s Eye. Most people think of a library or a filing cabinet. Some find success with the image of a house or a long hallway with many rooms. Whatever the governing paradigm, the construction of thisthought-structure is imperative. One cannot shield something that doesn’t exist, naturally.

There are two speculative approaches when it comes to thought-structures. Some believe that they are inherent. That is to say, that we are born with our unique thought-structures, and we do not create them, but, instead, discover them. Others believe that thought-structures can be created and formed.

The latter is particularly interesting, as it leads to a reasonable assumption that the final form of a thought-structure can be affected by any number of factors, including (but not limited to) age, religion, culture, economic status, and education.

However, I would say that my own studies regarding the creation and nature of thought-structures would seem, at least in part, to support the former, though more research will need to be taken to come to a firm conclusion.

Regardless of which side of the theoretical argument one leans toward, the crux of the matter is that a reliable, well-developed thought-structure is imperative in making any sort of headway in the field and art of psychoshielding.

Further, an adept psychoshielder will find even greater success in subverting mental attack with more than fortitude. They must throw up diversions, though what form those diversions may take is highly unique to the individual and, indeed, the final form of the thought-structure.

For instance, a long hallway with many rooms may have locked doors. A book may be misshelved in the wrong section. Why, even a […].

17

The Forest

Calliope

It isn’t until Rory clears his throat that she realizes he’s returned. She glances up from her book, blinking against the shift in light. When she began reading, the room had been lit up with afternoon sun, but now the room is shrouded in the weak light of burgeoning dusk.

Rory stands in the doorway, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. “How’s it going?”

She shrugs, closing the book. “There’s a lot of talk of structures and diversion.” She shifts, patting the spot beside her.

Rory sits down, close enough that she can feel the coldness of his body, like she’s standing by an open window on a crisp autumn day.If only, she thinks, looking longingly at the window, through which theonly breeze she feels is hot, heavy, and entirely ineffective against the stifling summer weather.

Turning back to Rory, she opens the book and points to a particular passage. His fingers brush lightly against hers as he takes the book.

“‘Thought-structures must be entirely defined before they can be used to ward against attack,’” he reads out loud.

“So, the first thing I need to do is define my thoughts—mymindand the way it works—and form it into something tangible. Something I can see clearly in my Mind’s Eye.” She leans closer, pointing to a particular paragraph. “The problem is that I don’t know what that should be. Fiorentini suggests long hallways or libraries, but that doesn’t feel quite right for me.”

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