The Mage Tales Prequels, Books 0-II: (An Urban Fantasy Thriller Collection)

by Ilana Waters

  “Why?” I asked. “What did you expect?”

  “I don’t know. Just someone more . . .” His features scrunched together, then relaxed. “Anyway, we’re not the only ones who know your name now. MacLeod’s got you on his radar as well.”

  “He’s right,” Penelope said. “Oliver isn’t as bad as Victor, but you don’t want the prefects thinking you’re a troublemaker. They’ll stop at nothing to enforce the rules.” Her eyebrows knit together. “I think Oliver even said that at one point.”

  “Well, thank goodness he’s not pedantic or anything,” I sighed.

  “Forget about Oliver!” Another student came over, looking like he wanted to grab my hand and shake it. “Pretty brill magic. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. Bet Victor hadn’t either.”

  “That was fantastic, mate!” his friend agreed loudly. “The way you made him look like a mummy.”

  I smiled. “It was nothing. Must be something in my Yankee blood that can’t resist defying tyranny.” Probably not the best thing to say at a British school, given the country’s history with Americans, but I couldn’t resist.

  “This is going to be excellent.” The first boy punched the second lightly in the arm. “I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

  “Whoa, steady on there.” I held up my hand. “I don’t plan on getting into any more altercations. It’s one thing to stand up to tyranny. It’s another thing to go courting its rabid dog.”

  The second boy snorted. “I don’t think you’re going to have much of a choice in that, mate.” Miles, Penelope, and her friends exchanged looks, and Imogen bit her lip.

  “How so?” I asked.

  “Victor’s got it in for you now,” the first boy said. “You should see what happens to blokes who cross him. And Jasser and Krone.” I blinked in confusion. “That’s Dirk and Mason,” he explained.

  “Yeah, you’re going to be dead forty ways from Solstice by the time they’re through with you,” the second boy agreed. A huge smile lit his face. “This is going to be the most entertaining year ever.”

  My own smile quickly faded. “Glad to hear news of my imminent demise brings you joy.”

  “I don’t know if I’d take it that seriously,” Miles said. He tried to smile as well, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Victor’s a first-class wanker, but he hasn’t killed anybody.”

  “That we know of,” said Penelope soberly. “Yet.”

  Chapter 3

  The next day, it was all over school how I’d beat up Victor.

  As I made my way from my bedroom to House of Air’s common room, there were stares and whispers everywhere I went. People abruptly stopped talking when I entered a room, trying to hide their gaping. I caught snatches of words and phrases on the air: “Nearly killed Victor . . .” “vampire . . .” “father . . .” “bloody loon.” I almost collided with an underclassman, only to have him realize who I was at the last minute and leap back.

  Good. Let them keep their distance, then, in case I turn out to be a homicidal maniac. Safer that way for everyone.

  My mood wasn’t improved by the fact that we had to get up at the ungodly hour of five every morning. Teen witches and mages only need about six or so hours of sleep a night, so rising early made sense. It allowed more time during the day for both magical and mundane lessons. But I’d gotten used to a more mortal schedule, sleeping as late as I pleased. Looks like that’ll have to change as well. I could all but hear my father scoffing at me, saying I’d gone soft.

  I was also sharing a room with another person for the first time in my life. I remember sighing as I threw my messenger bag on one of the four-poster beds. And here I thought I wouldn’t have to sleep with other people till I was ready. I stared at the bed’s wooden canopy. Oh, well. Schooling was supposed to be all about new experiences, was it not? I was grateful there was only one other bed in the room—until I saw my bunk mate.

  “You have to share a room?” I asked Oliver MacLeod. He placed his suitcase on the other bed and began carefully unpacking his things. “I assumed prefects got their own rooms.”

  “I did.” One by one, carefully folded pajama sets and toiletry organizers flew out of the suitcase and into an oak dresser. Then, Oliver looked at me. “Until a new student enrolled at the last minute.”

  “Right.” I nodded. “Damn that evil bastard.”

  I was so exhausted from expending all that magic fighting Victor, I slept right through dinner. Things picked up a little at breakfast, which was in the main dining hall. It was cavernous, with banners in each house’s colors hanging on the walls and from the Gothic archways and vaulted ceilings. The largest banner, with Equinox’s crest, hung in the middle. The four housemasters surveyed the hall while they ate at the front, on a stage with a podium before it.

  How many kids are at this school, anyway? I wondered, gazing over the sea of excited, chattering students. It must be hundreds. Despite that, it wasn’t difficult for me to spot Victor seated at the far end of the room, glaring at me like he wanted to cast a killing spell. I returned the glare with a stony look of my own. Then, I saw Miles. He was waving enthusiastically from one of the long wooden benches and tables. He motioned for me to come over and sit with him, Penelope, and her friends.

  “You sure associating with me is a wise idea?” Carefully, I set down the tray of food I’d gathered from the breakfast buffet. I could already see the looks other students at the table were giving Miles and his group. “I won’t be held responsible if this turns all torches and pitchforks.”

  “Morning to you, too.” Pen cut a grilled tomato into slices. “And don’t worry about the gossip-natters. Talk’ll die down soon enough. It’s just that Victor’s never been trounced before, that’s all. It’s big news.”

  “I’ll say.” Miles dug into his sausages with gusto. “Besides, any enemy of Victor’s is a friend of mine.” His next words were garbled as he tried to form words with his mouth full. “I was hanging out with Pen all yesterday afternoon, and Victor didn’t bother us once. Then, he saw us sitting together at dinner, and he didn’t say a word.”

  “Just glared like he wanted to kill you both.” Imogen buttered her toast. Like he just did to me, I thought.

  “Which, granted, isn’t fantastic,” Pen agreed, eating a tomato slice off the end of her fork. “But he won’t dare touch us now. He’s too frightened of you, Joshua.”

  “Really?” I picked at my eggs. “He doesn’t act frightened.”

  “Trust me.” Miles kept shoveling breakfast meats into his mouth. “Victor not sorting out whomever he feels like is the very picture of frightened. You don’t know him like we do.”

  “That’s true.” Penelope nodded. “Say, Miles, isn’t there a new rule against taking too many breakfast sausages?”

  “What sausages?” Miles asked, swallowing the last of his. Penelope sighed.

  “Maybe the stereotype of hotheaded fire witches is true in Victor’s case.” I sprinkled some salt on the eggs and tried to eat them. “I’m surprised more people around here don’t try to pummel him into next Beltane.”

  “Yeah, Victor’s family has belonged to House of Fire for as long as anyone can remember,” Suyin said. “Though I think there are some water witches on his dad’s side. Anyway, all his older siblings went into fire as well. His father is head of some big investment firm, and his parents make huge donations to the school. Maybe that’s why Victor acts like he runs the place.” She moved one finger in a circle, making her spoon stir her baked beans.

  “Although I’m glad you saved Miles—” Imogen started.

  “Oy!” Miles looked up from his food.

  “—I’m not sure if pissing off Victor was the best move,” she finished.

  “Believe it or not, I didn’t enroll here to make an arch nemesis.” I sipped my tea, wishing it were coffee. “I was just trying to make it across the lawn.”

  “You’ll be lucky to make it through the first class w
ithout tripping over yourself.” Miles took a long drink of orange juice before pointing to me. “I’ve been meaning to ask, where did you get that outfit, mate?”

  Ah. I was wondering when people would start making comments. I’d been given a temporary uniform until one could be ordered for me, but nothing was immediately available in my size. The button-down shirt and slacks the housemaster procured were far too big, and rather wrinkled. But no matter. It wasn’t as if I were going to dress like this forever.

  I’d managed to keep my duster instead of the typical blazer, insisting it was the only thing that fit, which was true. The stupid tie was choking me, so I loosened it till it hung limply around my neck. I was in luck when it came to shoes: they couldn’t find any loafers in size 9, so I got to keep the black army boots. And I figured if the duster was closed enough, no one would be able to tell I ditched the waistcoat.

  “Well, we can’t all sport those navy blue blazers that are the ‘in’ thing this season,” I said with a wry smile. “How does Equinox manage to keep up with the latest fashions? Always so new and daring.”

  Miles rolled his eyes and went back to eating. “Whatever, mate.”

  “Having a uni a few sizes too big isn’t the worst thing in the world,” Pen said. “At least girls here can choose between skirts and slacks. But I still can’t believe they won’t let us have cell phones. I feel so naked.”

  “I wish,” Miles muttered. Imogen and Suyin giggled as Pen blushed and whacked Miles on the arm. “Say, there was another thing I wanted to ask you,” he said to me. “Did your dad—the vampire general—teach you that air trick you used on Victor?”

  The table got quiet as everyone waited for me to respond. Miles stopped eating, as if contemplating whether or not he’d gone too far.

  “Let’s just say my parents wouldn’t send me into the world unprepared,” I finally replied. Well, my mother didn’t really have a choice, being kidnapped and all. But what Victor said to me yesterday still rankled. Could she have abandoned me? Just gotten tired of raising a son and left? No. I wouldn’t believe it. Abigail and I had our differences, but we were more alike than not, and fairly close. We certainly got on much better than Titus and I.

  Then there was the other possibility. The one I couldn’t accept, but Titus could. That someone in the Wiccan world bore a grudge against Abigail, and decided to do away with her. That she really was gone forever. I didn’t know which was worse: thinking my mom left because she wanted to . . . or that she didn’t.

  “Right.” Miles nodded slowly and swallowed. The rest of the table seemed to relax. “Makes sense that they—”

  “Oy, quiet everyone!” an earth witch from another table called to us. Half the student body began whispering excitedly while the other half shushed them. “Headmaster Specs is coming in!”

  Sure enough, a tall, slim man was making his way to the front of the hall. Knives and forks clattered to their plates as every head turned in the same direction. At first, I thought it was just another professor; there was nothing about the man’s wardrobe marking him as headmaster. All the professors wore outfits similar to those of the students, with colored ties that corresponded to their element, and long, open black robes. The only thing different with this bloke was his tie, which was a dark, solid green. I leaned toward Miles.

  “Why isn’t his tie striped?” I whispered. “What’s his primary element?”

  Miles looked at me like I’d lost it. “Fae don’t have a primary element. Everyone knows that.”

  “He’s fae?”

  “Headmaster Specs is an elf.” Penelope put her head close to ours, and tried to keep her voice low. “They’re not as short as reported.”

  “That I do know,” I said. I saw Oliver across another table, giving us a dark look—for whispering, no doubt. I jutted my chin to him so that the others saw, then lowered the shield in my mind so they could hear my thoughts.

  He looks awfully young to be headmaster, I thought to them. The man on his way to the stage couldn’t have been more than thirty. With high, sharp cheekbones and a slightly pointed chin, everything about him was angular. He had green eyes, like me, but lighter and narrower.

  Some say he’s a thousand years old, or more, thought Pen.

  He is remarkably well preserved, I thought. Then again, I knew why, as all the others did. You see, fae can use the same glamour magic as witches and mages when it comes to aging. We could let ourselves grow older at the ordinary mortal rate, freezing our appearance in time as it suits us. But after that, we can’t make ourselves look younger physically, unless we use glamour. So Specs either never let himself age past thirty, or looked much older and projected the illusion of thirty.

  Yeah, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t need those glasses either, Imogen thought. We all nodded, knowing the fae generally don’t have problems with vision, the same way witches don’t.

  His name is Specs, and he doesn’t need glasses? I chuckled. Bit ironic, isn’t it? Why does he wear them, then?

  I think it’s the same reason he glamours his ears, Suyin said in her thoughts. Notice they’re not pointy. It’s all part of his conservative persona while he’s at the school.

  Mmm-hmmm, thought Miles. My dad saw him in his true form once. Said he looked really different. There was silence as Specs walked up to the podium and shuffled some papers on it. Had he been a witch, he might have used telekinesis to organize his notes, but most fae weren’t telekinetic. He cleared his throat and began to speak.

  “Good morning.” His deep voice resounded off the wood-paneled walls. It was somewhat droning, but not in a boring way. More like he was weary. He sounded much older than he looked. “I’d like to officially welcome you to Equinox Academy, and the start of another productive school year. I’m sure you’ll all do this institution proud, and uphold the fine and noble traditions for which it is renowned. I apologize for not being able to greet you at dinner last night, as is customary. I found it necessary to attend to some urgent business.” I could’ve sworn Specs looked straight at me for a fraction of a second.

  “And now, I’d like to go over some important rules.” There were several loud groans. Specs looked up sharply from the podium, and the groans immediately ceased. “Students are forbidden from the following restricted areas,” he started, “such as the basement, stockrooms, and garrets, without express and advance permission of staff. Similarly, no student is permitted in any area except their house without such permission after lights-out, which is ten thirty p.m. Students are also forbidden from going onto the moors or into the forests without permission . . .” I yawned, and we all tuned out as he continued the list of don’ts. It was a sizable list.

  How long has Specs been headmaster, anyway? I asked.

  Miles shrugged, and tried to eat his toast without making too much noise. Long as anyone can remember.

  But how did an elf get to be in charge of Equinox? Wouldn’t someone with witch blood be more suitable?

  This time, it was Pen who shrugged. Why shouldn’t he be headmaster? she thought. After all, faerie magic is the most powerful magic in the world.

  I hear he’s a close friend of Queen Titania herself. Imogen nodded.

  Crikey! thought Suyin.

  “You all know the housemasters from last year,” Specs continued, taking off his glasses and motioning behind him. “Professor Stone, House of Earth.” The professor stood up and nodded as the students clapped. “Professor Yen, House of Air. Professor Martinez, House of Fire. And Professor Burgess, House of Water.” With each introduction, the professor in question rose and was applauded. “To our new students, you’ll get to know your professors soon enough during classes, and several of you were already introduced at your houses. I am also happy to announce this year’s prefects. Will the prefects from each house please stand?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Oliver and two other students get up from their seats. The fourth student must have been out of view, behind me.

 
“Parveen Kumar, House of Earth,” boomed Specs. Cheers, whistles, and applause went up from the house’s students around her.

  “Oliver MacLeod, House of Air.” There was some clapping for him as well, and I reluctantly joined in. Oliver smiled and nodded his head at the crowd.

  “Daniel Cho, House of Water.” More cheers and whoops, with Miles joining in. Daniel gave a little bow. I tried to finish my eggs, but accidentally dropped my fork beneath the table. I bent down to retrieve it.

  “And finally,” Specs called, “from House of Fire, Colleen—” I had to cover my ears as even my own table erupted in delighted screams. Students from other houses were going wild, too. But by the time I looked back up, the figure was seated again, and I couldn’t tell who it had been. Oh well, I thought to myself. It really doesn’t matter to me, as long as it’s not Victor. Indeed, the unsmiling Victor had his arms folded tightly across his chest. I doubted he’d been clapping, even for his own house’s prefect.

  “Together,” Specs continued, “the four elemental houses symbolize the motto of Equinox: everything in balance.”

  “ ‘Everything in balance’?” I made a face. “Rather sounds like the logo for a New Age bookstore.”

  “As Specs said, it refers to the four elements.” Out of nowhere, Oliver appeared next to us with a disapproving expression. I sighed. I should’ve known it wasn’t safe to talk out loud yet. “Five,” he added, “if you count Akasha, the spirit world. And it’s not a joke, Alderman.” Miles, Pen, and the rest glanced at each other, while Oliver gave me a pointed look. “Keeping the elements in balance is essential, from the smallest spell to the largest magical working. It’s what witches have strived to do for thousands of years. It keeps the world spinning on its axis. Balance is everything.”

  ***

  Upon the completion of breakfast, we had our first class of the day. For me, that was potions, and I bristled to see Victor there as well. He’d taken a seat in the back, leaving me no choice but to sit up front. There was no way I was taking a chance by sitting near him. I didn’t trust him—or myself—not to finish what we started yesterday. I almost regretted scoring so highly on Equinox’s entrance exams. If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be in the advanced classes with students a year older than me. Students like Victor.