Victor drove home in a state of panic. "Pull it together!" he urged himself and tried to think about the episode with Kristy rationally. But he couldn't. There was nothing rational about what happened. "My first make-out session," he wailed, turning the corner. "And I blew it."

The devastated look on the genie's face had stayed with him as he hastened across the wooden floor to the exit. Tammy had disappeared to the restroom, leaving Ally as the only witness to his disgraceful departure. The pretty brunette's lips, covered in her signature poppy red lipstick, had curved into a smile as he approached, but he'd shot past the front desk and out the door without a word.

Victor considered everything he'd learned from one semester of sex education, a class he'd found highly embarrassing. "Kissing feels good because you release, uh, oxytocin and dopamine, which cause affection and euphoria... and a feel-good chemical, serotonin. Don't forget the serotonin! The feel-good chemicals lower a bloke's cortisol levels, and Bob's your uncle. You're in trouble!"

He turned down a side street, and the house came into view. With its hipped roof and cedar shingles, the Queen Anne-style home appeared quite scenic in the waning afternoon light, the setting sun casting a colorful array on the clouds. The wide porch held a collection of swings, chairs, and lawn tools, giving the place a lived-in look.

"I can't believe I had my hands up her shirt. N-n-not so bad, I didn't touch her knocker." He grimaced. "No, knockers! Plural. I've never touched one, but I'm sure she has two of them!"

Victor turned into the driveway and slammed on the brakes. He hopped out of the car and shot across the lawn to the porch. He pushed open the heavy door using his keys, shutting it with a bang. The distressed teen leaned against it breathing hard.

A smiling Lovedae poked her head out of the living room archway. "Victor? Good, you're right on...." A look of concern crossed her face as she stared at her son. She stepped into the foyer, eying his disheveled appearance with alarm. "Your shirt's on backward. And where are your shoes?" When he didn't answer, Lovedae tried again. "Victor, what happened?"

The words came tumbling out. "My willy had a growth spurt!"

"Your... it, oh dear!" Her mouth gaped open like a landed fish. "I... uh..." Out of her depth, Lovedae froze before reaching for him.

But he brushed by her, bare feet pounding up the stairs. When Victor reached the professor's study, he yanked the door open, slamming it shut before dropping into the desk chair, defeated. He doubted Kristy would ever speak to him again after his performance.

Victor knew he'd ruined any chance he might have had with the genie. She'd come back, and after all they'd been through with the magi, the experiences made them closer. He'd begun to hope that Kristy liked him as more than a friend. He'd told himself slow and steady wins the race.

"And I disqualified myself," he muttered. "Bloody idiot!"

Victor didn't know how long he sat brooding at the window's scenic view before he heard footsteps in the hall. He didn't recognize the tread but remembered the 'session' his mother had arranged for him. The door opened, but before he could muster the energy to ask the person to leave, a man spoke in deep, soothing tones.

"Craig called me from this very study the night you arrived on his doorstep. And to think, here is where we finally meet. Extraordinary."

Victor whipped around in the chair. Dr. Lyle Mason, he presumed, stood in the open doorway. His dark salt and pepper hair, long and layered, nearly touched his collar. The tall, easy-on-the-eyes bespectacled man looked nothing like a college instructor. Had Victor met him on the street, he would have never assumed he taught in the academic world.

But the words from days gone by lured Victor in. "Mum said Papa called you that night. Why did you advise him to let me stay, sir? You knew nothing about me."

"Papa? It would have thrilled Craig to hear you call him as such." Dr. Mason strolled to the desk and perched himself on a corner. "Tell me, Victor, have you heard of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?"

"Yes, sir. He created the character Sherlock Holmes. Papa and I read all his works."

Dr. Mason smiled. "And what was the purpose of the character?"

Over the years, Victor and the professor had enjoyed various discussions about the famous investigator. "He was created to be the best detective in the world."

"Using what methods?"

Victor responded despite his current woes. "He used inductive reasoning, which starts with observations to create generalities and theories, unlike deductive reasoning, which starts with a hypothesis to reach a conclusion."

The man beamed with pleasure. "Excellent. Therefore, using inductive reasons, I knew you couldn't be associated with the fae as they don't give or do anything without expecting to receive something in return. And you couldn't possibly be one of the jinns. They view children as inept possessions until they become of age. And witches never go for the soft touch. They typically plan elaborate scenarios with posturing and speeches. None of the Disciplines fit you."

Victor gasped. "You know that much about the magi, sir?"

"Of course, dear boy. I've encountered the good, the neutral, and beings so evil it would make the magi seem tame in comparison." Dr. Mason slid his hands into his pockets and rolled back and forth on the balls of his feet. "For the last decade, I've traveled the world, to Africa and beyond, teaching and studying the mystical and paranormal." The eyes behind the wireframes held a faraway look. "So much of that world, hidden and in plain sight, intersects our own. I've been commissioned to teach several supernatural and folklore courses at the University. Is that a subject that interests you?"

His eyes were wary, but Victor nodded. "Yes, sir. Papa and I talked about unnatural occurrences and magic a lot."

"As did your father and I. Craig consulted with me about one ongoing situation or another. He spoke of you to the point I feel a certain camaraderie between us. Perhaps one day, at your leisure, we could engage in a mutually beneficial discussion on those topics."

Victor studied the man, wondering how much Dr. Mason said was true. At that moment, he realized just how much he missed having an older and wiser mentor. He'd been the 'man of the house' for the last three years, and the burdens of responsibility weighed heavily on his young shoulders. Lovedae loved him, but in retrospect, she hadn't dealt well with him possessing the magic or her own losses. 

"My first impression of you is a troubled young man." Dr. Mason's smile was gentle. "To honor my old friend and mentor, I'd like to give whatever assistance I can to his family."

Despite his wariness, Victor admitted there was something about Dr. Mason that he liked. A slow smile spread across his face as he held out a hand to the man. "I'd appreciate it, sir. Thank you."

The touch of their hands gave Victor the information he'd wanted but hadn't asked for. Magic revealed Dr. Mason was human, as he'd worried about the man being a magus in disguise. He felt a twinge of hope along with a trickle of guilt for the magic's unwarranted scanning. He quickly withdrew his hand and stared down at his toes.

I didn't ask for your help, he told the column of white magic that spun in his system. Buzz off.

The view of the coming dusk was breathtaking as the cloud cover retracted, but Victor did not see it. Extending a hand to Dr. Mason brought back memories of a pink-haired beauty who'd tripped over him once.

How things had changed.

"Would you like to talk about what upset you? Your mother said it seems to be of a delicate nature."

Victor shook his head. "Talking won't help. No matter how hard I try, everything keeps going wrong."

"Ah, that means there's hope. If you never make mistakes and you're never wrong, you could claim the title of infallibility, which would make you a liar or inhuman." Dr. Mason chuckled at Victor's look of outrage. "Being one of the magi doesn't mean you've turned in your humanity card, dear boy. You're living proof of the human ability for error. Humans, such as you and me, make mistakes."

The logic seemed sound and reminded Victor of the professor. The mannerism convinced him that the doctor had been a student of his father. His heart longed for guidance, so Victor took the plunge.

"Please sit, Dr. Mason."

He made sure his guest was comfortable before the floodgates opened. Victor spoke of breaking the barrier surrounding his emotions and healing the professor's tree. He mentioned episodes of balancing fickle magic and intense feelings or needing to bite his tongue to not lash out at the mischievous Duo. Victor finished up with the disastrous encounter with Kristy.

But he did not mention anything concerning the professor. The trust wasn't there.

"At first, I was feeling emotionally chuffed, but now—" Victor waved his hands in circles. "It's like I'm skewed. Maybe I do need that emotional block back to settle myself."

"Victor, if you had a puppy that kept urinating on the floor, what would you do?"

"Clean it up and train the mite, sir."

"Magic is the puppy. Training creates learned behaviors." The doctor smiled. "You don't need an emotional block. Embrace your humanity, son. You're a normal teenager now with a sex drive but a late bloomer in the physical arena, just like your parents. As a human, you have choices. You can indulge in self-control, adhere to your moral code, or wantonly act on your desires. What you did today was the first option. You did it in an unusual way but celebrate the fact you had the decency to stop. Spontaneous sex has more disadvantages than advantages—STDs, pregnancy, or the loss of friendships, to name a few."

Victor gulped. Kristy couldn't have expected that from him!

"Welcome to humankind with its emotional outburst and bouts with self-control. Welcome to doubts, fears, and second-guessing. Welcome to knowing that, besides having badly behaving magic, in every other way, you're no different from any other man—you are fallible. Like the rest of us, you'll learn to live with it."

"You're saying that I'm to face the world imperfectly? I don't think I was created for that." Victor studied the doctor. "That's a challenging task for a caretaker, sir. My family, they're my charges, my responsibility. I need to be the best I can for them."

"You have your wits and intellect. Let them guide you, not magic. Your family doesn't need a caretaker as much as they need a son and a brother with all his perfect imperfections. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are lessons learned."

Dr. Mason stood and patted him on the shoulder. "Think on my words, dear boy. We'll talk again tomorrow."

"Thank you, sir. You've given me food for thought."

"As your father did for me, Victor, many times. Goodnight, dear boy."

Victor listened to the man's retreating footsteps as he made his way downstairs. Dr. Mason was right. He had lots to think about.

In the darkened night, the shoeless teen headed to the clearing. The chilly weather of the fall evenings never seemed to bother Victor.

The tutelary deity who lived in the clearing sent a touch of acknowledgment when he arrived. He returned the greeting, then leaned against the professor's tree, talking aloud as he did when alone. Victor respected the deity, but conversation was not its forte. 

"The doctor is right. I value my humanity above magic, and I need to act like it." Victor placed his hands on the tree bark, enjoying the roughness under his fingertips. "That emotional barrier coming down makes me more human, not less. I'll work on control, but I can't let the magic run me." Pushing himself off the tree, he wandered around the moonless clearing listening to the sounds of the night, shuffling in the grass, small animals most likely, along with the chirping of crickets in their quest to warn off predators or attract mates.

Mates. The word reminded him of Kristy.

He stopped in the middle of the clearing and threw back his head, gazing at the cloud cover that blanketed the night sky. "I wish I could explain to her why I panicked—"

The white column of magic inside him, made of red, blue, and green, churned as it grew brighter. He frowned and wondered what had caused it to—

"Victor? What the heck? You're summoning me now... like I'm some kind of servant?"

He whipped around, baffled as his glowing green irises met the angry glare from a pair of extraordinary sapphire eyes.

Victor screamed.

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