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invisible force is keeping him from advancing.  It doesn’t feel like magic, but it is as strong as magic. 
     
    I take a step away from him and walk forward, testing to see if it will let me pass.  It does.  It also makes me feel as if a bucket of warm tar has been dumped over me.  Not in an ‘ouch, this really hurts’ kind of way.  More like a blanket meant to keep me warm, a welcoming that only the darkness can offer.  It makes me want to crawl out of my skin.
     
    Kallen tries to move forward again, but the invisible force continues to hold him.  He draws magic and pushes against the force again, only to find himself flat on his back on the floor when the magic swings back to him like a boomerang. 
     
    Frowning, I pull my own magic and send it forth.  I feel it hit the invisible wall and instead of demolishing it, it makes it glow.  There is a shimmering in the air like dust molecules are formed into a wall that’s only in front of Kallen.  The other freaky part is that it’s not the only thing to glow.  My magic seems to have awakened the dark magic section and the air is swirling around me, licking my skin like a dog wanting attention.  It’s as if I’m giving it new life by feeding it my magic.
     
    Kallen is back on his feet and I turn to him.  “What’s going on?”
     
    “It will not let me pass,” he says, stating the obvious.
     
    I give him a sour look.  “I know that.  Why won’t it let you pass?”
     
    He’s quiet for a moment and then understanding makes his eyes glow.  “I think it is reacting to the darkness of your aura.”
     
    It takes a moment for that to sink in because my mind is trying to push the information away.  “You mean it thinks I’m evil?”  I pull my magic back, not wanting to feed anything more than I already have.
     
    Kallen shrugs uncomfortably.  “I cannot find any other explanation.” 
     
    “It won’t let you pass because you don’t have any darkness on your soul?”
     
    He nods.  “That seems to be the case.”
     
    A surge of anger rises in me.  “Well isn’t that just great.  Mr. Perfect has a pure aura and I have a dirty one.  Looks like you get to go out and play while I try to find answers.”
     
    His own anger is trying to surface but he keeps his voice even.  “You know damn well that I would be helping if I could.”
     
    As quickly as it came, the anger seeps out of me.  I’m embarrassed and my cheeks flush.  I’m having trouble looking him in the eye.  “Sorry,” I mumble.  “I know you would.”  Looking around, I say, “It’s this place.  I think it’s affecting me.”
     
    “Of course it is,” the scribe says behind us and I practically jump out of my skin.
     
    “Where did you come from?” I ask.  There’s no way he caught up with us so easily.  Maybe he has a scooter or something stashed behind a row of books.
     
    “I came from the heavens and will soon return,” he says.  I look closely at him trying to determine if he is being intentionally evasive or if he is just crazy.  I can’t tell.  Continuing, he says, “Evil recognizes evil.”
     
    “Hey!” I say, seriously thinking about decking the ancient Fairy.  “I am not evil.”
     
    His vibrant green eyes look me up and down and then he says, “Then why have you crossed the line that only lets those who are one with the darkness pass?”
     
    Okay, that does seem like damning evidence.  But still, I’m not evil.  “I’m sure it lets some other people pass.”
     
    By the time he’s done shaking his head from side to side, I feel like I’ve aged twenty years.  “Only darkness.”
     
    Great.  Now he’s going to go spread the word that I’m evil.  I’m sure that will help with my popularity.  Unless I just kill him. 
     
    Whoa!  Whoa!   What am I thinking?  I’m going to kill a little old man for speaking the truth?  This place really is affecting me.  Especially since I just said all of that out loud.  The