Chapter 1

Tom Palance sat on the park bench trying to not feel sorry for his self. Christ they said that bad luck always traveled in threes but now he was starting to believe it. First he'd walked out on his wife, he loved her but he just couldn't take her anymore. Good god after nearly dying to have her say so? What the hell! To have her say that she didn't love him, in no way at all? That she didn't need him? Why not leave?

Thank god the kids were all grown, here she had told him that he was going to end up old and alone and here it looked like it was going to be her. Then while staying with his brother a few days, had dented the front hood of his sister in law's car, that he had been using (good thing his brother was a mechanic) to go back and forth to work. He had been trying to help outdoing dishes, cleaning. (he didn't like to be a burden) Hell he had even fixed his brother's lawn mower and cut his front yard.

Then a few days later, got scammed at work for $60 and the company (Kruger not actual name) had just terminated him. They didn't allow him to pay it back, he guessed they just wanted to get rid of him. Sighing he hung his head, he had never felt so alone in his life, his mother offered him a room at her place. His sister offered to help him get a vehicle, as did his brother. What the hell did god or the universe want of him?

So now that the bad 3's were over, he had to decide what to do. Alright Tom, he thought, time to get your ass up and get a move on. Standing he started walking out of the park about to walk out the gate he saw something shining in the grass. Huh, he thought, maybe this will start his good luck up again. Bending to pick it up, a frisbee whizzed where his head had been, shocked for a second Tom picked up what appeared to be a small gold horn. Huh, he thought, just what I need worthless jewelry, sighing he was about to throw it away when therein front of him was a hundred dollars! Crap! He thought just what I need.

Walking back to his little room in the hotel, he paid the hundred for another week.

Now I just need food, walking out again to see if his neighbors had any, he was shocked to find the woman in the room next door about to knock on his.

"Hello Anna, you need help?" he said looking hungrily at the food she was carrying.

"Yes, actually I do," she said to Tom, her sweet voice flowing over him, sending waves of pleasure that seemed to go straight to his soul, "I was making dinner for me and John and realized that I had way too much, John said that you were such a good friend that I should see if you wanted it. It would just go bad if I put it in the fridge."

Tom's mouth hung open, what the hell was going on? Again? Smiling to his self he thought, damn sure would be nice if I had a woman like you.

Turning to go Anna stopped turning back she looked at him sweetly, " by the way my twin sister is coming down next week, you think uh... , " she hesitated, "you could maybe show her around and show her the sights? I know you're still looking for work and after what your wife did to you, you're gun shy around women, but please?"

Sighing he shook his head, Damn it! he was always a sucker for a pretty face.

"I don't know," he started, "I'm not ready ... please Anna don't play match maker."

Looking at Tom with mock shock, she quickly got serious, "Tom it's been a month now, you have to get out meet new ladies, you're going to go nuts if you keep sitting here."

"I'm happy ok? I don't want another woman, I still love my wife even if she no longer wants, needs or loves me ok? I can't just... , " though a proud man he was not ashamed to cry in front of Anna sitting he tried to hold the tears back but it was too much. Hiding his face he sobbed into his hands, through the tears he told Anna, "please Anna I ... I ... just don't play match maker, ok?"

Anna backed away apologizing leaving the pot of food near him.

Drying his eyes he looked after Anna and hoped good things happened to her and her husband soon, they were good people and deserved it. An hour later John was shouting and screaming that he had hit the lottery, 10 million dollars? Damn! About that time Tom stopped short, the three or four times he had somewhat wished or desired it, it had happened.

It all seemed to start about the time he was leaving the park. Sitting back down he looked at his clothes saying, "I want new clothes now!" His clothes shimmered and were new that quickly. Hmmm he thought, I have to be specific in what ever I want.

Alright since I can do these things, maybe I can do more maybe? Thinking of his wife he was suddenly there. Nice! he thought, opening the front door he heard cursing.

About that time she walked out, "what are you doing here you useless ass, I thought I told you that unless you got a job not to come back here!" almost screaming she moved swiftly, she advanced on him. Putting his hands up she stopped like she hit a wall.

"What the hell is this you ass! I'm going to--,"

Finally unable to take her screaming he shouted, "shut the hell up!" Just as suddenly it was quiet, "I only wanted you to love me and need me but all you can do is scream."

His wife's mouth opened then shut, a look of terror in her eyes, "I do love you," she said a little strained, "please come home," the look of terror was less but it was still there. Grabbing her throat she looked almost as if she couldn't believe that the words had come from her mouth.

Looking at her hard he felt her fear, for a moment it made him feel powerful and finally in control but only for a moment. Though she hated everything about him (he could see it in her mind) he wasn't a vengeful person. Glancing back at her as he left he let his control of her slip then go.

"Don't worry, I won't be back, if I wanted to, you'd damn near be a slave, I am not like that. Good bye, ah! wait," his wife stopped short backing away in fear, "you won't remember any of this but you will think about what you did to me to drive me away. You'll think about why our children won't call or come by. Lastly you will spend the rest of your life trying to make it up to me."

With that he started to go she called out, "good riddance ass!"

Not quite turning back he responded, "Yes my sentiments exactly," with a small smile he walked out and disappeared. Back at the motel he decided it was time to leave this place.

Grabbing the few things that he wanted, he started thinking about where he wanted to go.

Till he got a better handle on this, he needed to practice or use them or whatever thef•©k he needed to do.

First he needed to eat, nothing fancy just food, real food. Seeing a vacant house in his mind he was there almost as fast, hmmmmmm getting a little faster he saw, after just a few times. In the house he proceeded to make everything that he wanted there just by pointing.

Nice! sitting he decided what he wanted to eat and it was there, ummm being served by naked women he reached out to touch them but they were like smoke. Damn it! I really need to get a handle on this! Well, at least the food was real.

Smacking his head he realized all he had to do was ask. Ok, ok, thinking he asked just what the heck is going on? A voice came into his head, <you are a possessor of magic in your body, it is usually in the blood, though the current level you possess is higher than I have ever seen> <Just who the f•©k are you?> Tom thought.

<You remember that little horn you picked up?> the voice asked calmly.

<Yes of course, not easy to forget almost getting hit in the head> Tom replied.

<That horn was a talisman or me, I am the spirit of the horn> the voice said almost happy sounding.

<This ought to make it easier for you> the voice said then poof a young woman appeared.

"There sir, this should help," laughing at the look on his face she waited for the next question.

"Ok, I have questions. First off what am I?" Tom asked

"Hmm well, let's see you're not a wizzard, though I feel the power you have and you might be one day. You're not a sage or seer you have much more power than that. I don't believe you're Magi I don't feel any deep religious beliefs. The same goes for a shaman or a witch, it appears that you are what I would call a white mage. The compassion you showed for you spouse in the face of her abusing you verbally spoke many, many volumes.

"A white mage? This is something out of a faerie tale, so I supposedly have powers?" Tom asked a little confused but grasping things faster and better than he thought he should.

"Yes and it would appear that you are very strong, if you weren't somewhat powerful then you wouldn't have been able to see or pick me up." she replied.

"So these powers? I can do what ever I want?" a nasty smile appeared on his face.

"If you have the power yes, but there are a few things that were outlawed, the raising of the dead for one, it violates nature and souls and can have very harsh repercussions on the one who does it" at this the spirit shook.

"Another thing is killing others, first it has to be justified not just because someone made you mad, there are worse things than dying. Really you should have another teach you, you'd learn faster." she said a tone of hope in her voice.

"I thought that's what you were for," sighing she thought great! another one.

"You can't bring attention to your self or the other magic users, they may not be too bright about us, but there are still a few out there, with weapons that can still kill us." Again she shook from the memories of the last time she had seen that.

"You also have to remember that there are a few out there, that want your power. These will stop at almost nothing to get it from you," a look of concern crossed her face, "You should learn to hide your power from all but those like you, believe me I haven't seen many as kind and compassionate as you." This last was spoken with a smile on her face.