Prelude to Magic: The Prequel to Moonlight and Illusions Read Online Free PDF

snuffed out all of the candles and turned the wick on the
oil lamp down low, plunging the room into near total darkness.
Winding around mirrors, cabinets, cartons of props, and cages
filled with doves, Stephen made his way to the middle of the room
then stretched up and grasped the window cover lever. He had
arranged the construction of a special window, built into the
slanted roof of the workshop ostensibly to let in daylight, but
actually intended to let in magical moonlight as well.
    With a bit of effort, he released the mechanism
securing the panel of wood covering the window. The design should
keep his young son from opening the panel at an inopportune time.
Still holding the handle, Stephen slid the panel into its pocket
just like the doors they had in the house. Silvery moonlight poured
in through the glass panes, creating a bright square on the hard
wood floor.
    First, he planned a simple exercise for practice.
Stephen took out three brightly painted wooden balls from a wooden
box. After doing a little juggling with them just for fun, he went
to a table outside the square of light and placed the red, blue,
and yellow balls carefully on the table, making sure they didn’t
roll off.
    Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the center of
the moonlight, flipped open the top button of his shirt, and pulled
out the velvet pouch hanging from a leather thong around his
neck.
    “Time to come and play, little Companion Spirit ,” he murmured then plunged his fingers inside the
thick bag, wrapped them tightly around the square stone, and drew
it out. Bracing himself for the consequences, Stephen turned his
hand palm up and opened his fingers.
    The silvery beam of moonlight coalesced at the
stone. Almost immediately the Companion Spirit glowed. For a few seconds he just watched, amazed again at the
unexplainable reaction to the light. When the brilliance became too
intense, he had to avert his gaze. Warmth grew in the Mayan stone,
but he didn’t drop it. The stone never burned his skin, no matter
how hot it felt. As expected, the tingling sensation grew and
radiated up his arm.
    Turning his head, he raised his opposite hand and
pointed his finger at the red ball on the left side of the table. A
concentrated beam of yellow-green light shot from his fingertip and
struck the wooden ball with so much force the ball flew backwards
and hit the wall. Too strong.
    Perspiration broke out all over his body and
trickled down his back. The pain was starting. Hurry now. He
pointed at the blue ball. The light hit the ball and rolled the
sphere backwards.
    Concentrate. The ball stopped right on the
edge of the table.
    Lift. Trembling as he struggled to control
the power, Stephen gradually raised his arm. The ball wobbled as it
rose an inch, then two and three until it hovered six inches off
the table.
    Pain and heat spread down his torso to his legs. His
muscles quivered and he gasped for breath.
    “Enough!”
    Slamming his fingers over the ancient stone, Stephen
stumbled out of the moonlight, falling to his knees, panting for
air. He fumbled until he got the black velvet pouch opened and
dropped the Companion Spirit inside.
    Still gulping air with the now familiar exhaustion
dragging at his limbs, he crawled to the wooden bench by the stove
and pulled his body onto it. He had left a pillow there for just
this eventuality and lay down, stretching out as best he could to
recover a bit.
    I did it! I made the ball levitate!
    It had taken months of periodic trials to reach this
minor victory. He had to harness and tolerate the energy channeled
by the stone to present an act to an audience. How much longer he
would need to practice, he had no idea, but the trick would surpass
all others!
    “You promised me, Stephen Elliott!”
    “W-wha?” Wrenching his eyes open, he gazed blearily
into the angry face of his wife. Her hair hung loose around her
shoulders and her Irish temper was obviously riled as she shook him
by the shoulders.
    Grabbing his