by Fiona Starr
“I’m here with Bas and his family.” She turns and waves him over, but quickly faces me once more. “We need to talk.”
Roz’s arm is still around me and I can feel Marco and Angus by my side, shoring up any doubts I may have had about my worth “No, we don’t. You’ve told me everything I need to know.”
Kate opens her mouth as she narrows her eyes, ready to fire off her response, but just then, Sebastian arrives. He joins the circle and says hi to everyone, and then he turns and puts his arms around a younger girl with blonde hair cut in a short bob and tucked behind one ear.
“Everyone, this is my sister, Quinn. She’s a first year, but she spends most of her time in the library interning for Professor Gwinstock.”
My entire body freezes in place. Everyone around me, including my ready-for-battle sister fades away. They just disappear as my heart stops and my lungs seize, and my eyes lock open.
It’s her.
Quinn Allbright smiles and says hello to everyone in our growing circle. I watch as Roz and Winter and Georgia all smile and take her hand, gushing over her luck at scoring an internship in her first year. They don’t know. They can’t know, of course, but still… I feel like it’s too close. She’s too close. It feels like my world is about to crack open and all the things that need to stay hidden are going to spill out for everyone to see.
My breath catches. I feel like I am going to pass out, or worse, puke.
Angus’s arm is around my waist. “It’s all right. Breathe,” he whispers in my ear as he clutches me to his side. He doesn’t change the look on his face as he introduces himself to Quinn Allbright, saying hello and telling her my name is Joely, and I’m Kate’s sister.
She clutches my hand. “Joely! It’s really great to meet you! I’ve heard so much about you.”
Angus interrupts and asks Quinn if she has met Marco yet, and Marco jumps at the chance to ask her something about her classes. The conversation moves blessedly on without us, though my mind is stuck.
It’s her.
I study Quinn’s face as she makes small talk and laughs with my friends.
It’s her.
She’s me.
She’s the girl my father and Porter Allbright swapped as babies. She’s the child that should have been Joely. She’s the one my mother thought she was holding in her arms. Quinn Allbright is lovely and friendly, and she has no idea that she isn’t who she thinks she is.
How could I ruin all that she has?
She moves away with her brother and my sister and I can breathe again.
The front doors of the mansion swing open and chime of harp music fills the air. Van steps out onto the landing with a few of the other stewards and welcomes the crowd inside.
Angus holds me back as everyone heads up the stairs. He holds my face in his hands and gets in close. “Joely? Are you all right?” His voice sounds like it’s coming from the end of a long tunnel. I see him, and I can hear him, but I am like a kite in the wind and I am hanging on by a thread. “Joely?”
I blink and my eyes burn from being open for so long. I hold them closed and take a deep breath. “I’m okay. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“You did fine. Nobody noticed a thing,” he says.
“Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there.”
He winks at me and gives me a huge smile. “Well, then I guess that means you owe me one.”
I glance up the stairs at the entrance to the mansion.
“We don’t have to go in if you’re not up for it,” he says.
I take a deep breath and try to shake myself out of my shock. “No, it’s all right. It was bound to happen, I guess. I should count myself lucky that it happened here and not in the middle of class or something.”
“Earth to the lovebirds!” Roz appears at the top of the stairs. “Time waits for no mage.”
Angus laughs and takes my hand. “Shall we?”
I let him guide me up the stairs, pleased that both Kate and Quinn are gone. I’ll have to figure how I’m going to deal with both of them at some point. But now is not that time, and that’s just fine by me.
Inside the Society, we are led to the great hall, where all the large events are held. I remember the first time I entered this room and how enamored I was with all the rich history and glamorous decor. It was enchanting then and it’s beautiful as ever right now, set up like a cocktail party with champagne and finger sandwiches and trays of hors d’oeuvres being passed by an army of wait staff.
It’s all very charming and civilized, decked out for the holiday with evergreen sprays and holiday trees and glittery ribbons and bows. But no amount of fancy decorations could ever blind me to the evil that has taken place here since all the way back when this place was founded by Damon Underwood who used Reginald Whitmore Blakeborne as the face of the school, but created the Society, which was the real purpose. He needed this place to create his precious Vessel so he could find the wolves who killed his sons.
The Vessel that we destroyed was legendary. It was the key to acceptance in the Society. The mantra is the stuff of lore. The lottery is done in secret. The names appear by magic. The Vessel chose you, they said. If your name appeared on their lists, it meant you had the purest kind of magic—Ancient Magic—and were therefore inducted into the Society. Nobody ever said no to this invitation.
But it was all a ruse. The Vessel did indeed select those of the magical society who possessed Ancient Magic, but it wasn’t because we are special. It’s because only Ancient Magic can fuel the Vessel, which was actually a tracking device of some kind. It helped Underwood locate my men. Whenever they shifted into their wolf forms, the Vessel would sound the alarm and Underwood would go hunting.
We never learned how it worked exactly, and I guess it no longer matters because the Vessel is gone. But we learned that the Vessel was powered by the souls of mages. It fed on Ancient Magic and used that to do its bidding for that evil vampire.
How many lives were taken by him for his cause? In the time I’ve been here, I’ve seen two mages dead, and heard about at least a dozen others in recent years. Of course, nobody knows about that either. Any time a student goes missing, it’s written off as if they were troubled and ran away, or took their own life, or simply disappeared. For whatever reason, none of the families of the students who are lost have made much of a fuss. Did they just accept what they were told? Or did they have an inkling, but didn’t feel the risk was worth it? Was being part of the Society so important that they could overlook even that?
The thought gives me the chills. Not the good kind, either. How many people have died for Damon’s quest? Even one is too many, and there are far more than that. If nothing else comes out of what we did, at least the killings will stop.
Chapter Eight
JOELY
Angus and I join our friends in the Great Hall. An air of excitement permeates the gathering and it's clear from the murmurs and whispers that no one knows what's going on. Roz slides up next to me and loops her arm through mine pulling me away from Angus. He doesn't let me go far; he holds my hand and forces Roz to stay close.
“So what was that all about?” Roz says.
I don't look at her, I can’t. I don’t want to lie to my friend. “What do you mean? What was what about?”
She shoves her hand onto her hip. “Really? You’re going to pretend that you didn't have a complete freak out when Little Allbright showed up?”
I don't know what to say. I shouldn’t be surprised that of all people, Roz is the one who noticed. She stares at me, and she looks like she's about to ask me again when Van appears at the top of the stairs and claps his hands. The music stops and all eyes turn toward the staircase.
Van’s all business. “If I could have your attention, please? There is an announcement for the members.”
He steps aside as a parade of alumni march across the landing and head down the stairs. They don't join the crowd in the Great Hall, instead they st
ay on the staircase, filing in, shoulder-to-shoulder, three or four people per stair. I don't know any of the alumni, though I recognize a few faces from the last Society party, I can’t place anyone with their family or remember any of their names. They are just a bunch of random faces, men and women dressed for the holidays, smiling down at the rest of us.
The people on the stairs separate into two columns, opening a space in the center of the staircase, making room for someone coming to the front. I watch in horror as Porter Allbright steps onto the bottom stair and smiles at the crowd. He spots me instantly, his gaze lingering on mine a second longer than I think is normal, and I wonder if he was upstairs scanning for me before he made his big entrance.
Allbright looks like any other dad here. He’s an average older gentleman with dark hair, graying at the temples. He’s got a bit of a paunch but a broad chest that makes him look strong instead of doughy. He smiles and seems genuine and warm. You’d never know that he was capable of attacking someone. You’d never know that a few weeks ago that man was unconscious in the snow after I crushed his skull with a rock.
On the other side of Angus, Quinn tugs on Sebastian's hand and the two of them smile. They're beaming with pride at their father. I wonder if they know what is going on, but then I decide I don't really care. It doesn't matter. They don’t matter. Or at least that’s what I try to tell myself.
They shouldn’t matter so much to me, but they do. I don’t know either of them very well, but I’ve spent time with Sebastian, and Quinn seems sweet. They don’t deserve to have their lives ruined by what their father did. What our fathers did.
Quinn glances over her shoulder at me and smiles. I know she's exactly my age. We were born on the exact same day, in the exact same maternity ward, our clueless mothers with no idea their babies were about to be stolen. Quinn seems so young and innocent compared to me. I feel like I've seen enough evil for several lifetimes.
As if sensing my tension, Angus starts squeezing my hand, looping his index finger through mine and running his hand along the length of mine, circling my wrist and then moving back down to my fingertips. It makes me smile. I loop my index finger around his and tug gently, the silent communication we’ve established that means I want him to stay with me. I love his little hand language he uses with me. It's especially comforting right now when I can't let even the slightest bit of my true feelings show.
Porter Allbright addresses the crowd. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice and over the holiday, too. I apologize for disrupting your time with your families, but I’m afraid I have some troubling news that cannot wait. My colleagues and I hope to reassure you with our plan of action. I, along with my fellow alumni…” He lifts his hands and indicates the gathering of people behind him on the stairs. “… have been working hard, burning the midnight oil, as they say, to ensure that we have an acceptable path forward.” He clasps his hands and lowers his voice as if he’s a surgeon about to deliver the news that the case is terminal. “The Vessel of Truth, the very beacon of the Society of Ancient Magic, the meter of the Ancient Magic we all share, is no more.”
His words hit the crowd like a blast from a fire hose. People actually step back as the news reaches them. Allbright waits a moment for his declaration to sink in for everyone before he continues.
“Where is Headmaster Underwood?” a student calls out from the other side of the room. His tone is angry, suspicious, and it gives others the courage to speak up as well.
“Yeah! And what happened to the Vessel?” another voice asks.
“Where is Master Damon?” the girl standing in front of Roz shouts.
Allbright raises his hands as if to placate and reassure everyone that he has everything under control. “Headmaster Underwood has asked that I step in and take on the work of continuing the society while he is indisposed.”
“But what exactly happened to the Vessel?” someone asks.
“Where is it?” another person says.
“What does this mean for the Society? How can we go on without the Vessel?”
Allbright is losing control of the crowd and he knows it. He takes a step back so he's one step higher and shouts a little bit louder. “Ladies and gentlemen, please, if you would just listen, everything will be explained.” He waits a beat before adding. “Before I begin, allow me to assure you that the Society of Ancient Magic will go on. This unfortunate event does not spell doom for our esteemed and beloved institution. Our traditions are older than anyone in this room, and they will live on.”
He turns and starts to get into a flow. It’s clear that he’s rehearsed this. “The Society of Ancient Magic is more than just a Vessel. We were founded with the fundamental belief that Ancient Magic is power that should be celebrated, encouraged, and empowered. The Society isn’t the Vessel. In fact, the power which was once contained within the Vessel still exists, it just needs a new place to call home. I called you here… We called you here to let you know that we had things under control, and that you can put your trust in us.”
I tug on Angus's arm and pull myself up to his ear. “I don’t like the sound of this.”
Angus keeps his eyes forward, focusing on Allbright. “Neither do I.”
The center pair of large glass doors on the side of the room opens and a crowd of people walk in from the balcony. They must have come around the back, and entered through the yard. Everyone turns to look at the new arrivals, some of whom are professors at the school.
Roz bumps me. “What the hell is going on?”
I shrug as Angus whispers, “That’s professor Gilvray with the red beard. The woman next to him is his aide. I recognize a few of the others, but the rest, I don't know.”
Professor Gilvray raises his hand as if to ask a question, but he manages to get everyone's attention. “Everyone, forgive the intrusion. We have been trying to enter through the front door, but we were blocked. It seems Mr. Allbright has decided that in the absence of our esteemed Headmaster, that he should be named the president of the Society and Headmaster of the University. This isn't how things are done. And I've come here on behalf of the faculty, some of whom are members of the Society and others who are simply concerned staff, parents, and alumni to voice our objections to this unorthodox grasp for power.”
I glance up at the top of the stairs at Van, who is watching the drama unfold like the rest of us. He's gripping the railing so tight that his knuckles have gone white.
Porter Allbright chuckles and looks around at the gathered crowd. “People, please. I dare say that the members of the Society of Ancient Magic hold sway here. Blakeborne University was founded on the principles of Excellence and while it has a noteworthy and honored history, the Society of Ancient Magic is the keystone of this institution. We are a select group of people bestowed with Ancient Magic, it only makes sense that control of this school, and our Society should fall to us.”
Gilvray’s eyebrows shoot up as if he can't believe what he's hearing. “It is true that the Vessel has been destroyed, but you seem to be overlooking the fact that unfortunately, it appears Daria North lost her life in the process.”
A surprised murmur moves through the crowd.
“We don’t know that her death has anything to do with the Vessel!” Porter Allbright shouts.
Gilvray throws his hands up. “This is exactly my point, Porter! I stood next to you the other night and saw the same things that you saw. None of us were here for the event itself, but it seems clear that whatever happened to Daria, it’s connected to whatever happened to the Vessel.”
“What is your point, Charles?”
“My point is that we need time. We should be investigating her death and the events that led to the destruction of the Vessel. We should employ trusted mages to reclaim the power that was once contained by the Vessel.”
Allbright smiles at that. “We have already taken steps to do that very thing.”
Gilvray sighs. “I feel it is time for this university to make some long-ove
rdue adjustments.” He turns to face the people. “What would happen if Blakeborne University had more than one Society? What if we allowed for mingling between the classes of magic and ended this age old and outdated caste system? Ancient Magic is no better than any other line of power, and yet somehow we hold the Ancient lines up on a pedestal.”
Some people in the crowd gasp as he says this. A woman near the staircase shouts, “Blasphemy!”
Porter Allbright raises his hands and everyone turns to him. “I had hoped to develop more time to explain things more fully to all of you, but Professor Gilvray refuses to give us that grace. So I will just tell you, that I, along with my esteemed colleagues, have already developed plans to create a new Vessel of Truth.”
Applause breaks out among the crowd, though Angus and Marco and I stare in stunned silence.
I can't believe what I'm hearing. This is like the stuff of nightmares. This is why people lose faith in those in power. Because they just want to keep on making the same mistakes over and over again. As long as they stay on top, it doesn’t matter what else happens.
Don't they understand what the Vessel was doing? Don't they understand that it wasn't real? Don't they care about what was really going on? We can’t let them bring back the Vessel in any form. My head is spinning. I can’t stay here. I’m going to be sick.
Professor Gilvray and Porter Allbright continue to shout over each other, one of them arguing for equalizing the balance of power, and the other fighting to re-establish the old ways.
“Why?” I hear the word echo through the room. Everyone turns to me, and I realize after a moment that it was my voice that said it.
“Joely,” Angus whispers as he squeezes my hand.
I glance up the staircase and try to find Van, but he's not there any longer.
Allbright smiles at me. “Miss Everstar, is it?” he asks as if he doesn’t know me, as if he doesn’t know he is my biological father, as if he isn’t the man who attacked me in the woods and tried to kill me. “Did you have something to say?”
