by T J Kelly
I knocked my uncle off his feet. I felt terrible about that, but he kept going anyway and yelled at me. “Let him go, Lia, now!”
Armageddon wrapped his hands around my wrist and tugged. I slid away from David, losing my link, losing my ability to vanquish him.
I dropped the lump of lead, and the Light once more became Light, my will to fight leaving with the darkness. It also cleared my vision. I thought the smoke still obscured the glow from the magma in the clearing. I thought it was still hiding us.
Instead, it had been my own fury that was blinding me.
Then I noticed Peter was on the ground, lying face down. I was angry. I was hurt. I was betrayed.
But the clarity the Light forced on me made me realize that regardless, he was still my best friend. I was so dumb to let Peony’s letter infuriate me. I never even gave him the chance to explain. The Dark had ruled me, and I allowed it. I was so stupid. Nobody could pretend that well. Peter was my friend, a true one, and I was a fool to believe otherwise.
Since I was suddenly trying to move away from David instead of towards him, Armageddon let me go. I stumbled a few steps and knelt beside Peter. I strained until I saw a trace. My magic. In him, around him. Then a flash of insight. A chunk of lead in my hand. Opposite magic.
Peter always got Light back from me. A perpetual renewal. Always. Except that night. When I pushed back, I knocked my uncle down. But with Peter, it knocked him out. My darkness fled the Light, but instead of renewing him, it slammed into him. An attack on his magic.
An attack on his soul.
I never could tell how much Light was inside him, but I was sure my Dark didn’t belong. And in my quest to save Armageddon, I had almost lost Peter.
I sighed. The common sense that had disappeared when I read the letter from my aunt finally returned.
Peter was my best friend. Not just because he was doing his duty, but because he cared about me. As much as I cared about him. And I repaid his care and friendship by hurting him.
Darkness leaked back into me at that thought. I sank into myself, nearer my center, closer to the near-balance that was my natural state. All of that extra Light, given to Peter, the only way to help mitigate the damage I had caused. Without his Light, I was left with my almost perfect balance and cold, harsh reality.
When he woke up, I would apologize. And he would forgive me because that was just who he was. I didn’t deserve it, but I was glad he was there for me. And he deserved to be happy. I would help him however I could, too. I owed him everything, including my job. Because no Irregular would be allowed to remain on the team if they disobeyed a direct order from their boss. And Peter stopped me from vanquishing David against my uncle’s orders. I was in a lot of trouble, but he diverted the damage I was about to do.
Darkness continued to flow into me. It tasted like ashes and regret.
“Hey,” a voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned, and Seth was standing there beside me. “Come on, he‘ll be fine.”
It was still hard for me to let it go. Not with all that Dark swirling around, getting stronger. But circumstances changed again. Harris was using physical restraints to bind David’s unconscious body. Armageddon, standing firm as he transported evidence back to the castle for further investigation. And me, wondering how I could be so sure I was doing what was right when I couldn’t see past my darkness.
“I screwed up this assignment big time,” I blurted. I was embarrassed when my eyes filled with tears.
Seth reached down and slid his arms around me, avoiding my injuries as best he could. “Baby, you’re fine. You saved your uncle. He can deal with David how he wants, so no harm, no foul. Peony can heal him. Peter will wake up soon and be at full strength by morning light. You’re the only one who thinks you failed.”
I dropped my forehead onto Seth’s chest. He smelled good. I wondered for a moment if he could still smell my strawberry scented shampoo.
Recognizing how foolish I was acting, I grinned against his shirt. The darkness lifted a little, and I gazed up at him. “Thanks,” I said. It was hard to tell what the look in his eyes meant because they were so dark. But I stopped wondering when he lowered his face and kissed me.
I guess he wasn’t mad at me for my tantrum after all.
Good. I leaned in and kissed him back. It felt wonderful. Clean. And it wiped away the image of the truck driver hovering over me. I shoved that thought out of my mind forever. Seth filled the emptiness and erased my uncertainty. I deepened the kiss, tugging on his shirt since my side hurt too much to lift my arm around his neck. He pulled me closer, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot all the way down to my toes.
The sound of thunder rumbled directly above our heads. We jerked apart, startled, looking for the source.
“Excuse me, but can you explain exactly what you think you’re doing with my niece?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Imbalance
"I'd give anything to hear what he's saying to Seth," Harris said, a smug look on his face. He grinned as he handed me an open water bottle. I would need two hands to twist off the cap myself and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. I glanced around while I took a sip.
David and his henchmen were still unconscious. Harris and Seth moved them all together to the side of the clearing in front of the cave overhang. Drag marks led to each one, caused by the spell they used to move them. It was easier to leave their feet connected to Earth and use it to shift them than it was to carry them.
The surrounding area where Armageddon was held had already been wiped clean of magical evidence. My uncle had tossed the chair they had tied him to into the magma pit where it burned to a crisp. Then he took my new boyfriend out of sight behind a mound of volcanic glass for a chat.
“I’m sure whatever he says, it’ll be terrifying.” I thought about how much I had resented my uncle’s interference in my life and snorted. It didn’t matter anymore. I was just glad he was alive and mostly in one piece.
A bolt of lightning lit up the sky, the boom of thunder so loud we ducked. For one second, I had the urge to save Seth from my uncle. He could be a tad overzealous when protecting his family.
Warmth filled me at the thought of somebody caring about me that much, and the light part of me increased.
Deciding my boyfriend could take care of himself, I turned towards Peter. He was so silent and still that I was beginning to worry. I had finally figured out I overreacted. There was a lot I needed to make up for, and I was less certain he would forgive me the longer he was unconscious.
The truth was, Peter had proved countless times that he was truly my friend. He put my interests before his own, and I repaid him with an act of disloyalty. I wasn’t sure I could forgive myself. How could he?
Lowering myself to sit beside him was awkward and painful. Harris hovered over me for a moment, probably ready to catch me if I were to crash to the ground in a heap, then turned his back so he could handle sentry duty.
I touched Peter’s chest, feeling for a heartbeat. It was faint but even.
“Can you hear me?” I whispered into his ear. My eyes were glued to his face, but he didn’t respond.
I spread my fingers so my hand covered his heart. My aunt could heal his body, but I was afraid of what I might have done to the magic in his spirit. Reaching into the core of his being wasn’t exactly easy. But I was so used to receiving his Light, and vice versa, that it felt like I was coming home to a place of warmth and welcome instead of the usual struggle.
He had so much goodness inside him. The Dark that had poured out of me and into him lingered, but it was having a hard time finding refuge.
As always, I couldn’t read his balance. But even though his deepest levels were infused with light, he wasn’t all good. He probably wasn’t even eighty percent good because he was way too exciting. Still, there was something about his spirit that seemed to repel Dark. The real problem was how much I had depleted him and the unwelcome nature of the darkness that knocked him
out.
I used a thread of Light to explore the damage. I could sense what was mine by the trace, and sort of folded my magic around it. With a snap, I jerked the Dark out of him and back into me. My mood instantly changed. He was so pale. I hated myself even more.
My mother once told me that the Rectors might have a lot of darkness, but our hearts were all good. That was why she married my father. And that was why she had faith in me. Even though it would always be a struggle, she said she knew I would never turn evil. Considering what had happened on my first assignment, I wasn’t so sure.
An emptiness within Peter caught my attention. The Dark I attacked him with had left a hole behind.
I pulled magical strength from the cinder rocks that blanketed the floor of the enormous semi-cave around us and used it to bolster my power. Taking a deep breath, I held it and counted to three, then ripped out some of the Light that clung to my heart and hurtled it into Peter. I almost fainted, collapsing on him, but the other magic inside me cushioned the magical blow. I traced my Light as it diffused throughout his body, finding a new home there.
He woke.
“Lia?” Peter sounded confused. I guess I couldn’t blame him. It was probably pretty weird to wake up lying in the dirt with my face smashed into his chest. “Honey, are you okay?”
My tears soaked Peter’s shirt. The dried cinders crunched dully as he lifted his arms and hugged me to him. Thunder echoed in his chest as his heart sped up, no longer thready and weak. He touched my hair, resting a hand on my head, comforting me.
That was his first instinct. To protect and comfort. Even after everything I had said and done, he remained true to our friendship.
The Light I gave him, the Light I used to heal the damage I caused his spirit, flowed from him freely. Like always, he was filling the void inside me. Guilt also flooded me. I couldn’t bear it. The darkness rose up, clawing at my heart.
I was lost.
◆◆◆
“Good, because I’m starving,” I heard a voice say.
I opened my eyes. I knew exactly where I was - the infirmary at Castle Laurus. I spent a lot of time there when I was injured last spring before connected to my magic and ascended into my powers.
It was also where Peter and I had become best friends.
“Well, hello there sleepy head,” the voice said. I turned and saw that Seth was sitting on a chair beside my bed. I smiled at him even though it was a pathetic attempt. For a second, I couldn’t figure out why he wanted to be there. Then I remembered. We were dating.
“Hey,” I said. I shifted on my elbows, propping myself up, and besides a slight twinge, there was little evidence I had been in a battle of any kind. My aunt must have healed me in my sleep.
“Peony went to grab us a food tray. Silly her, she left me in charge while she was out.” Seth waggled his eyebrows at me like a cartoon villain and a giggle slipped out of my mouth. He grinned at my reaction and then leaned over to kiss me.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to wake up. The image of how the sky looked before I passed out over Peter’s body told me what type of lecture my uncle gave Seth, but since he was sitting beside me, obviously Armageddon had let him live.
Seth pulled away slowly and then smoothed my hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear. “How do you feel?”
“Like my knees are made of jelly. I’m glad I’m lying down or else that kiss would have knocked me over.”
Seth threw back his head and laughed. He seemed happier, less standoffish. I guess our exchange in the safe-house had changed things. “I love how honest you are,” he said. “And funny. Now tell me how your wrist and shoulder feel. Also, your ribs, since Peony said three of them were broken.”
“Wow, that jerk really messed me up. I hope David feels proud of himself for smacking around an opponent half his size,” I scoffed.
“Well, he lost, didn’t he?” Seth sneered. “So I guess he can’t be too proud. Here, do you want me to tuck a few more pillows behind you so you can sit?”
“Yeah, thanks. Where’s everyone else?” I didn’t want to sound ungrateful for the welcome. Kissing him was quickly becoming one of my new favorite things. But I wanted to lay eyes on Peter and make sure he was better.
“It’s teatime, so they’re off eating in the dining hall. Peony said you would wake soon and let me stay to greet you.”
“What about Tian and Reg?” I had been worried about them since we left the castle grounds.
“They went home before we got back. As soon as Peony stabilized Tian. They had no idea if anybody would - or could - attack a second time. They’re fine. We’ll probably see them pretty soon. Armageddon is calling in all the agents for reports.”
Made sense. And I was still housebound, so everyone would continue coming to us. “How long was I out?” I hated getting injured. Especially passing out. It was so disconcerting.
“Two days. A little longer, actually, since when we transferred you here it was still nighttime.”
“Wow.” I yawned as I ran my hands through my hair, hoping it wasn’t sticking out too badly.
“Yeah. You’re a real sleeping beauty. So tell me, Beauty, are you ready to get up?”
I nodded. He steadied me as I swung my knees to the side and sat on the edge of the bed. I had on one of the white cotton gowns Peony kept on hand for her patients, which were shapeless and embarrassing.
“Okay, let’s do this thing,” he said. Seth stood as firm as a rock while I climbed to my feet. I swayed as the blood rushed from my head, and I felt like I would faint again. But I got a grip on myself and regained my balance.
“Head rush,” I explained. “But I’m okay. A bit weak.”
“Good job, though. You want to sit on the chair?” Seth asked. I nodded my response, and he hovered as I shuffled over to where he had been sitting when I woke, collapsing with a sigh.
“I feel like I just got back from the moon and I’m trying to get used to gravity again.”
Seth stared at me for a second, then burst out laughing. “I bet.”
As I walked from the bed to the chair, Seth had found a way to touch my hip, my back, my shoulder, and my arm. He was touchy-feely, but I didn’t mind at all. I still felt like I was trying to make up for all the years I was separated from my parents, far away from family while I was working diligently in world-renowned boarding schools, searching for a way to connect to my magic. I may have received a stellar education, but magicians could be closed off. Even my parents.
Things were different now, and I couldn’t get enough contact with the people in my life. I guess I would receive a lot more casual - and not so casual - touches now that I had a boyfriend again. Which really wasn’t a bad thing.
A thought struck me, and I let out a soft sigh. How I got to the point where I didn’t think about Chas unless it was by accident, I had no idea. I had thought we would be together forever. I had even vowed to get him back.
Then he betrayed me. And the scary part was, I no longer felt bad about it. I still hated Clarissa. There was no growing past that. But I kind of stopped feeling anything for Chas. Except for maybe pity for having such a crap family and being such an idiot that he turned his back on the rest of us.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re awake,” Peony said. She walked into the infirmary pushing a tea cart loaded with goodies. She was always a welcome sight, but the pile of raspberries and sprigs of basil butting up against a block of cream cheese and croissants made my heart practically leap for joy.
So I liked the food at Castle Laurus. Sue me.
My aunt leaned over and hugged me. I wasn’t much taller than she was, so she didn’t really need to bend to embrace me while I sat.
“I’m glad I’m home,” I told her. “Missions are okay and all, but you guys are better.”
Peony straightened and eyed me closely. “Thank you, sweetheart. I love you, too. Go ahead and eat while I let Ged know you’re awake. You two have a lot to talk about.”
She bu
stled off, and I sighed again. That statement probably should have worried me, but I shrugged and piled cream cheese, raspberries, balsamic reduction, basil leaves, and thinly sliced red onion onto a croissant. I was starving and goodness knows how many berries would be left once my uncle arrived.
“Lia, you are the weirdest person I know,” Seth said. He was eyeing my sandwich, suspicion all over his face.
“Yeah, but that’s why you like me,” I quipped as I cut my heavenly teatime snack into pieces.
Seth snorted, but then winked at me. Then he groaned as he shifted his attention to the infirmary door. “Ged and I aren’t seeing eye to eye right now,” he said casually. I raised an eyebrow, but he shrugged. “I’m going to join the others so you two can talk.”
“All right,” I said. I took a sip of sweet iced tea. Heaven. “I’ll find you later.”
He gave me that quirky half-smile and my heart fluttered. His eyes, his eyes. They made me want to drop everything and spend all day kissing him.
“Baby, you need to stop looking at me like that or I’ll never make it out the door.” Seth strode back to where I sat. To my delight, he grabbed me by my shoulders and gave me a deep, long kiss. We broke apart and Seth briefly touched my cheek before darting off.
Although my uncle could walk silently, the sound of his footsteps echoed down the hall.
Seth may be worried, but Armageddon’s bluster didn’t scare me. The benefits of being the niece of the most powerful magician in the world knew no limit. The only thing I really had to worry about from my guardian was protecting my food. A giggle escaped my lips.
Then I popped another piece of croissant sandwich into my mouth.
◆◆◆
We ended up in my uncle’s study.
Armageddon had handed me a bundle of clothes and told me to meet him there, so I used the infirmary’s bathroom instead of going up to my bedroom. He seemed to be in a hurry, and now that I was conscious again, I wanted to talk, too.
