A Touch Of Magic Vol 03

**AUTHOR'S NOTE**

Please read the previous parts of A Touch of Magic to understand what is going on in this book before proceeding.

Thank you all so much for waiting. I will admit that I got sidetracked with other stories these past few months, but I also wanted to make sure that I did Penelope justice with my story telling. She is a character near and dear to my heart and I wanted to keep what made Penelope who she is intact.

That said, this part of the story contains elements of the following: bullying, PTSD, dubious consent, group sex, and anal sex.

Enjoy the story! Big props to Todger65 for their editing assistance.

******

It had been two weeks since Penelope had busted David Anderson for taking control of his own mother, sister, and the dancers. News of his arrest and crimes were the talk of the town and even made national headlines. Numerous news reporters had been visiting the school to find out more about the deviant that David was with some degree of success.

"Yeah, he always kept to himself."

"Oh yeah, he was always very weird."

"The fact that he would do something like this is messed up, but not surprising."

"One time, I caught him looking up my skirt."

It was sensationalist journaling at its absolute finest and the public couldn't seem to get enough of it. Penelope made it so David's mother and sister, along with Harper, Brianna & Juliet, would tell authorities that David had forced them at gunpoint, but time would tell if the "discarded gun" excuse would hold up since no evidence of a gun could be located so far.

"During his second appearance in court yesterday, David stuck by his plea of guilty, telling the courts, quote, I am a monster who belongs in the furthest reaches of hell, end quote." The blonde reporter wearing a red blazer spoke into the microphone on TV.

"Jesus Christ. I know that Las Vegas is considered the City of Sin, but even this is something that wasn't on my bingo card when we moved here." Jason took a sip of his coffee as he watched the news.

Stephanie sat next to him at the as she ate a piece of toast. "Hey, it's livelier here than it ever was in Salt Lake. Plus, our nights out are a lot more entertaining than when we lived in Utah."

Just then, Penelope walked into the kitchen with her backpack. Today she opted for an open blue button up shirt with a white tank top and jeans. She grabbed a plate from the cabinet and helped herself to some eggs and toast. As Penelope sat down, she looked at the TV.

"David still telling everyone that's he's a sicko pervert?" Penelope asked.

Jason nodded his head. "Mmhmm, nothing new. Knowing how this story has been unfolding so far, that's probably for the best."

"I had David once in my biology class. He was a quiet kid, but you know what they always say about the quiet kids..." Penelope mused as she took a bite of toast.

Stephanie took issue with this statement. "You know, Nell, it wasn't that long ago that you were not too different from David."

"Mom, even then, I would never force my own family members and other students at my school to have sex with me. I have morals after all. David, from what I'm hearing, had no such thing. Big difference there." Penelope eyed her mom as she took slight offense to what Stephanie said.

"Hmm, you do have a point there." Stephanie nodded her head in agreement.

******

After breakfast, Penelope hopped into her Firebird and made her way to school. As her car sat idly at the stoplight, she decided to see if there were any new developments with his research.

"So Percival, did you find anything else out about what we found on the flash drive?"

In an instant, Percival materialized on the passenger seat next to her. He held a glass of whiskey in his right hand and took a sip from it.

"Well, as I mentioned before, that there gem you found belonged to the creator of the book. Records stated that, over millennia, the gems were all but destroyed. We, of course, know now that ain't the case."

"How about the remote? Any ideas where that came from or how the plans were made?" Penelope tapped the steering wheel as she waited for the light to turn green.

Percival rubbed his forehead with his hand. "Well, I know that whoever created the blueprints clearly had some knowledge about how the gem worked. Now as far as where the plans came from, I'm afraid I don't know much else."

"So there was nothing else on the thumb drive? No email or IP addresses?" Penelope's brow furrowed.

Percival cocked his head and looked at Penelope. "Beg ya pardon, but do what now?"

"You know... email addresses? It's how you send messages online? And IP addresses, that shows you were the message and other person using the computer is from?" Penelope hit the accelerator as the light turned green.

Percival chuckled. "I might be a magical being, but I don't know nothin' about how computers and the internet works."

"Okay... was there anything with numbers interspaced by periods in the files we moved over to the book? Can you find anything like that?" Penelope raised an eyebrow.

Percival smiled gently. "Lemme go check. If I find anything, I'll be sure to let you know any list in that there book."

"Good, and while I'm in school, see if you can't find any books in the library to see how computers and the internet work. If we're going to get to the bottom of this, we need as much knowledge as possible." Penelope said as her car pulled into the school parking lot.

"Say no more! I won't let you down." With that, Percival vanished from the passenger seat of the vehicle as Penelope parked her car outside of the school.

******

Throughout most of the school day, life was uneventful; Today was the first day that the three girls had returned to class, and they kept mostly to themselves. In fact, since Penelope had obtained the book, it was probably the quietest week of school she had experience thus far.

During her last period study hall class in the library, Penelope was sitting at her usual table, going over homework from her physics class when Percival materialized on the chair to her right with a big smile on his face.

Penelope looked up from her homework and whispered. "And what are you so happy about?"

"Not only do I understand computers and the internet now, but I might've figured out who sent those blueprints to our boy, David!" Percival leaned back in the chair and folded his arms.

Placing her homework inside the folder of her trapper keeper, Penelope retrieved the spell book from inside of her backpack and opened it in front of her. "Put everything you found out in here and let me look it over."

The words on the pages in the spell book shifted and morphed before Penelope's eyes, it was apparent to her that Percival did, indeed, now understand how the internet, email and IP addresses worked.

"As you can see here, it looks like our boy, David, got the blueprints from someone based out of Limassol, Cyprus. Upon further investigation, I was able to zero in on the individual who this IP address belongs to: one Constantino Toufexis." Percival said proudly.

He continued. "Turns out our friend here is somewhat of an engineer. Real genius type, I reckon, if his resume is to believed. Apparently, he used to work with the Cypriot Government before starting his own private company. Nowadays, instead of working on things like government infrastructure security, he's now working as a freelance IT consultant of sorts and makin' a pretty penny doin' so, I might add."

Penelope was at a loss for words. She wasn't expecting this much information from Percival and had clearly underestimated his abilities.

"You are amazing, Percival!" She smiled brightly as she whispered. Then she was struck with another realization and her smile almost immediately vanished.

"Wait, he's halfway around the world and we need to get information from him. I also highly doubt he'd give up anything to us online..." Her voice trailed off.

Percival, however, planned for this. "And I know just a way to do so. I think you're proficient enough with the book that it's time for you to learn one of the most advanced spells the book has to offer."

"And what might that be?" Penelope raised an eyebrow.

Percival smirked. "It's a spell that allows you to go anywhere instantly."

"Oh, so like... teleportation?" She pursed her lips.

"Well, that's not what the book calls it, but what the hell, let's just refer to it as teleportation. Although you might want to eat a big meal before doing this spell. It's going to wear you out after a couple of uses." Percival chuckled.

"That sounds... complicated." Penelope said apprehensively.

Percival nodded. "Oh, it most certainly is. In fact, when you first try it out, you might find yourself in the middle of the ocean or, if you're not careful, inside of a volcano. Plus, we don't know what Constantino is capable of."

Penelope's face darkened. "Oh, that's not good. Maybe I should think about it."

"Of course, Miss Forrester. Let me know what you decide, and we'll take it from there. Percival gently smiled.

As Percival vanished, Liam Peterson emerged from the bookcases, much like he did a couple weeks ago and wearing a Bass Pro Shop t-shirt. This time, however, it wasn't because he saw a chair magically moving.

"Hey, uh... Penelope?" Liam asked her.

Penelope had a deer-in-the-headlights look and responded nervously. "Oh hey, Liam, right? What's up?"

"Is it cool if I talk to you for a couple of minutes? I just have some questions that have been kind of... bothering me." Liam scratched his arm as he looked away from her.

"Uh... sure, have a seat." Penelope extended her hand to the empty chair to her right. Liam proceeded to sit down and folded his hands in front of him.

"Thanks. Hey, so I've got some questions about Brianna and, well, I kind of wanted to hear you out." He stated plainly.

A cold feeling shot through Penelope. She began to wonder if Briana had said something to Liam about what had happened between the two.

"Look." Penelope sighed. "I'm not sure what your girlfriend told you, but she's under this impression that I'm somehow trying to steal you from her."

"Actually, she's no longer my girlfriend. We broke it off last week. In fact, I broke up with her after the game because she wouldn't shut up about you. About how you were trying to supposedly trick me into having... erm... sex with you." Liam blushed slightly.

"Oh god, what all did she tell him?"

Penelope thought to herself as her breathing became tense.

"Anyways, that's not important. Brianna acted the same way with an old lab partner of mine and was just extremely possessive in general. So, after the game last week, I pulled her aside and told her it was over..."

He let out a deep sigh. "...but now I feel guilty."

Penelope shifted in her seat; She knew what Liam was about to say. "It happened right before she, Harper and Juliet were abducted at gun point, no?"

Liam nodded his head. "Yeah, I keep telling myself that had I not called it off with Brianna, she never would've been kidnapped. I know that you were a point of contention for her and her obsession with you turned me off from her, but I can't help but feel that maybe we could've worked through it."

As Liam dropped his head, Percival materialized behind him.

"The boy clearly is distraught by what happened. He blames himself for what happened to Brianna." Percival said as he folded his arms.

"No... Liam..." Penelope reached her small hand out to Liam's and placed it on top of his; A sense of sadness washing over her. "It's not your fault. You did what you had to do to get out of what sounded like a very toxic relationship, and no sane person is going to hold that against you. There's no way you would have known about what was going to happen afterwards."

Liam lifted his head and looked at Penelope. "I just... I just feel like I failed Brianna..."

Penelope clicked her tongue. "You didn't fail anyone, Liam. Beating yourself over what happened to Brianna isn't going to help. Look, life has dealt me one shitty hand after another. From childhood cancer to bullying, it's been one big gong show after another."

"Do I wish I never had Carcinoma? Yeah. Are there times where I ask myself if I'd be still living in Salt Lake City if I stood up to a girl that bullied me in middle school? Of course! However, what's done is done. You can't go back and have a do-over. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can move on." Penelope tried to convince Liam.

Liam looked at her in confusion. "Carcinoma?"

"Cancer in my pituitary gland; I was diagnosed when I was six years old because I wasn't properly developing like most kids in my grade. It's the reason why I look like a boy. I have to take a shit ton of medication for my immune system and hormones. Because I'm so underdeveloped, it's also how I earned the nickname "Mosquito Bite" with Brianna and her friends" Penelope explained matter-of-factly.

"Does she really think that about herself?

Liam thought to himself as he scanned Penelope. Her smaller breasts were contained in the white tank top underneath her open plaid shirt.

Liam let out a deep sigh. "Look, I'm sorry that they said all those things to you. If it makes you feel any better, I'm not friends with any of those girls and I never once made fun of you behind your back. You might find this hard to believe but I was teased relentlessly because I had to wear this elaborate headgear back in middle school when I wore braces. So, I get it."

Penelope felt her heart racing. Suddenly she was hit with a couple of brief flashbacks that lasted for all but 2 seconds but were extremely vivid.

She was lying on the ground crying her eyes out as Nadine, one of the girls from 6th grade and much bigger than Penelope, had just shoved her to the ground.

"What's the matter, Short Round? Gonna cry to your mommy?"

Penelope braced herself against the table and Liam took notice.

"Hey, are you okay?"

She shook her head. "I get... flashbacks occasionally. From when I was younger. I think what you just said kind of... ugh, can't believe I'm using this word... triggered those thoughts."

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" Liam held his hands up.

Penelope, again, shook her head. "Please, don't be. You had no way of knowing. Truth be told, it'll sometimes just happen randomly. Anyways, I understand and I'm sorry you had to deal with all that."

Liam waved his hand. "Don't be. I got my revenge on those kids who used to pick on me by absolutely destroying them in football."

Penelope giggled. "Well, I suppose that's one way to go about it."

"I guess, but you're okay now. Right?" He said with a look of concern.

She nodded her head. "Of course, therapy has helped me out tremendously over the years. It used to be a lot worse, believe me."

"Alright then. Anyways..." Liam stood up. "...thanks for the talk. I have to get ready for practice, so I'll make myself scarce. I'll try not to beat myself up over what happened."

"Of course, any time Liam." Penelope smiled back at him.

As he started to walk away, he turned around. "By the way, Penelope?"

"Hmm?" Penelope raised an eyebrow.

"For the record, I don't think you look like a boy, or any of those things that Brianna and her friends called you. I think you're... kind of cute." Liam smirked gently at her before he turned to walk away.

Penelope's face began red as she felt her heart racing. She smiled and whispered to herself "Oh my god, Liam Peterson just called me cute!"

As she said this, Percival manifested on the chair that had been occupied by Liam moments earlier, his arms folded in front of him and a big grin on his face.

"Miss Forrester, you're lookin' tickled pink, if I do say so myself!"

She let out a light giggle and whispered to him. "No one outside of my family has ever called me cute before. Oh my god, I can't believe that just happened and it was coming from Liam Peterson, of all people!"

"Ya may not see if, but you're a beautiful young woman. Any man who says otherwise is a damned fool." Percival leaned forward.

Penelope closed her textbook and placed it into her backpack, along with the spell book she had laid out. "Alright, I want to learn the spell."

"You sure about that? Ain't no telling what could be waiting for us if we decided to go after him." He looked at Penelope with concern.

However, she was steadfast. "I want to see this through and I'm willing to do whatever I can to make sure that another incident like David Anderson never occurs again."

"Well, alright then." Percival stood up. "Besides, it's been a long while since I last visited the Mediterranean. Be good to see how things have changed since I was last there."

"You've been there before? How long ago was that?" Penelope asked him as she stood up.

Percival put a finger on his chin as he looked up. "Hmmm... about 500 years, I reckon."

******

It was just past midnight when Penelope stood in her bedroom, dressed in a red T-shirt that hugged her form and a pair of jean shorts that came about halfway down her thighs. She had placed the spell book into a drawstring backpack, of which the cords were slung over her small shoulders.

"I am scared shitless; I'm not going to lie." Penelope said nervously as she took a series of deep breaths.

Percival, standing against the wall with his arms crossed, simply let out a chuckle. "Don't ya worry. If something goes wrong, I'll be sure to step in."

Penelope swallowed and lightly nodded her head. "I really hope so, because I'm terrified that I'm going to end up someplace dangerous."

"That ain't gonna happen, Nell. Remember, focus and visualize the place you need to go and then cast the spell. You've got this!" Percival encouraged her.

"Okay... I can do this." Penelope sighed as she closed her eyes. Breathing through her nose, she placed her hands in front of her.

She pictured the warm sandy beaches of Limassol in her head, the resorts that dotted the beach, the meaty smells of fresh gyros and the sweet aroma of lokmas; Two of her favorite Greek dishes.

The silence of the room was suddenly interrupted by a loud snap and a powerful gust of wind. Penelope felt the floor beneath her feet disappear from under her as she started falling. She opened her eyes, looked down and let out a loud scream.

Penelope had indeed teleported to her destination, however she hadn't ended up on the warm sandy beach, as intended. Instead, she found herself high in the sky; high enough where she could make out the distinct outline of some of the southern coast and the mountains to the north.

As she went plummeting to the ground, Penelope's body flipped and turned in the air as her arms and legs flailed helplessly. She tried in vain to get herself oriented but the blasts of wind that kept hitting her made it impossible to do so.

"I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"

Penelope thought to herself as the peninsula below her slowly became closer and more defined.

Suddenly, Penelope felt an invisible force slowly break her fall until she was floating in the air. As she oriented herself upright, she noticed there was an off color, translucent light surrounding her.

Her pulse was racing, and her breathing was labored. Penelope's entire body was shaking as she processed everything that had just transpired.

"What the fuck?! Holy shit, what the fuck?!" Penelope cried out in a shaky voice. Almost on cue, Percival materialized in front of her with a smile on his face.

He let out a whistle. "Not bad at all, Nell. For a first timer, you did a mighty fine job pulling off that spell if I do say so myself!"

"H-H-How could you say that? I'm miles above the ground and I almost fucking died!" Penelope said frantically.