The Sanguine Door

by Genevieve Grey

  “So, what do you do for work?” He obviously wanted to make small talk. I couldn’t think of a convincing lie, so I continued to stare out the window. The desert outside was dry and bare. It was so different to the wet, lush lands of Dunlap. It was almost like all the Magic had been sucked from the place. No one could live out here.

  He continued despite me. “I sell antique magical goods.”

  “You mean curses?” No wonder he lived in Dunlap.

  “Gods no, the Magic is drained from the objects before they are sold at my shop. I’m actually on the hunt for a new object now.”

  Silence. I realised he was waiting for me to continue the conversation, “What object?”

  “An old coin from Galway. It supposedly gave the bearer good luck.”

  I scoffed, there was no luck in this world. The rest of the journey I sat in relative silence whilst Judas was happy to chatter with only minimal prompting required from my end. The mindless stories kept the worst of the panic at bay and I found myself almost enjoying them.

  The smell of the briny ocean blew through the bus before I could see it. I plastered my face to the window desperate for a peak at a place I had only read about. When it finally came into view; The deep blue water seemed to extend forever. Planes of sand stretched down the coast line as far as I could see.

  “First time seeing the ocean?”

  I nodded, unable to look away. The humidity was stifling and I was sweating through my shirt. I didn't mind the rapid change in temperature, it was better than the cold. The bus pulled up at the pristine station just outside town, the streets were bare and the only thing in the vicinity was the ocean. It was exhilarating.

  I strode from the bus, desperate to feel the sand under my bare feet. There had been so much uncertainly in the last few days, it had left me balancing on a knife edge. The vastness of the ocean made me feel insignificant, and I relished in the anonymity. When I reached the line where the grass and the sand met, I kicked off my boots. My hands sunk into the hot sand. I sat in the dying sun, and let it warm me. I felt lighter, some of the stress from the last few days washed away with the tide. Judas sat down next to me. He looked like a puppy basking in the sun.

  “Have you ever been swimming?”

  He was already undressing, “No. Are we allowed?”

  “You scared an Enforcer’s going to come get us?” He teased.

  The bus had pulled up far from the city centre and the handful of occupants had dispersed. I hadn’t seen where they had gone. I needed a way to distract myself from my Magic that didn’t involve getting wasted, maybe I could let it seep into the water. Before I could feel embarrassed, I pulled off my pants and ran into the water. The water tickled at my toes as I admired the setting sun. I waded deeper, the coolness took away the worst of the burning. My mind was blissfully clear for the first time all week. I would not give in to my Magic today. The thought was a small comfort.

  The waves were gentle as they lapped at my waist. My head bobbed under and I licked the salty water from my lips. Judas eventually joined me, his golden skin reflecting the last rays of the sun.

  “I didn’t know you were going to take off like that,” His eyes crinkled in genuine amusement.

  I admired him as he stood, eyes closed facing the horizon — a small smile across his face. The sun was glorious, he looked like he belonged there. How freeing it must be to have a place where you felt at home.

  After a time, we reluctantly left the water and moved back to shore. The sand stuck to my wet feet but I didn’t mind.

  “You’ve never been to Galway before?”

  “I’ve seen photos, it seems beautiful,” I had postcards. Jax had once told me he was from Galway, but had migrated to Ka when he was a child.

  “It’s different now.”

  “Why?”

  He gave me a tight grimace. We wandered from the beach and toward the city. The colourful aged timber buildings which had once lined the shore were no more. We hadn’t reached the checkpoint yet, but the buildings were all cold, silver monstrosities. It was a replica of Ka. The soul of the city had been sucked out. There was no buzz of people mulling around, the streets were empty. I struggled to compare the pictures from my memories to what was in front of me. Maybe the rebellion had found their sympathises here.

  The checkpoint came up quickly. Two Elect Rangers patrolled either side of the scanners. This would be the real test for my band, not some shoddy bus stop outside of Dunlap. Every Elect city had a similar checkpoint. You were required to sign in when you entered and sign out when you left. There were ways to get around the checkpoints, but your datband wouldn’t work unless you had been scanned into the database. If you were stupid enough to use it without signing in, you would quickly be surrounded and carted away.

  Judas waved his wrist over the scanner. He walked through the gate. On a screen above our heads flashed the words.

  Welcome Judas Kareni.

  Attempting to calm my breathing, I did the same. The scanner flashed green and relief crashed into me.

  Welcome Lilith Johnson.

  We weaved through the desolate city and finally arrived in the supposed centre. Everything looked new and unused, I had yet to see a single shifter. The streets were filled with Elect enforcers who were heavily armed and weaved slowly through the buildings. I pulled my hat low over my face. Perhaps it hadn’t been wise for me to come here, it was only a matter of time before I was discovered.

  “I thought this was a shifter city?” I whispered.

  He eyed me for a moment before taking my elbow and ushering me into an alley. I almost drew my knife but he held a finger to my lips.

  “You mustn’t ask questions here.”

  “What are you talking about? I just want to know where all the people are?”

  Judas shushed me frantically, his eyes scanning frantically, “Be careful who you ask questions too. If you speak out against the Elect, the punishment is death. There is no freedom to speak here like in Dunlap.”

  He eyed me as if I was crazy. Perhaps I had been too careless with my words. I gave a stiff nod. Before I could take more than a few steps, Judas retook my elbow. His grip was gentle and I had to stop myself from violently rejecting the contact. He led me quickly from me the city centre. The buildings became more broken down. There was a stark line between the Elect buildings and the original city. The roads had turned to dirt and the houses were no better than mud shacks. The people here were starving. I smoothed my face. This was where all the shifters had gone. They looked starved.

  “What happened?” My voice was careful.

  “This is where the shifters who objected to the Elect’s rule live. The Elect has been merciful.”

  This didn’t look like mercy.

  “Do you know where the old library is?”

  He looked at me, puzzled.

  “Why?”

  “I’ve read about it, I want to visit”

  “It’s through there.” He pointed past a ground of hungry looking people. “It’s the only original building still standing.”

  We weaved back through the poverty to the city centre. It was lavish in comparison. We reached the hotel Judas was staying at, it seemed like as good as place as any. I swiped my dat band at the entrance and paid for two nights accommodation. My room number flashed on the scanner.

  Judas insisted on walking me to my room. We stood awkwardly at the door for a moment. He seemed to want to tell me something.

  “You must not go to the old library.”

  My ears pricked in interest. I schooled my features into ones of nonchalance.

  “Why?”

  “Because, it’s dangerous.”

  Why would it be dangerous? I scanned the hall for any enforcers, none were in ear shot.

  “What do you know of the rebellion?” I kept my voice hushed. I tested my luck. It seemed too big a coincidence that he was telling me to avoid the place where they were meeting.

  “Nothing.” His words were
too quick. He was a bad liar.

  “I want to join.” The conviction in my voice was surprising. “They murdered my parents.” I let my voice break at the end, flash some vulnerability, let him think of me as weak.

  “There’s a meeting at the old library in three days. I can’t tell you any more.”

  I already knew that. I needed more.

  “What time?”

  “Is this why you’re in Galway?”

  “Yes, I was looking for you.” I desperately needed his trust. Stay hidden in plain sight.

  “The meeting is just after midnight.”

  We stood for a moment more before he strode silently toward the elevators. Had I made a mistake? This might have been the second stupid thing I had done in as many days.

  Chapter Five

  The hotel sat nestled against the sand. It was plainly furnished and the water wouldn’t run past lukewarm. No one had given me a second glance. Of course, to people who hadn't seen me in person, I looked nothing like the runaway Blood Mage with bright orange hair. My fine features were hidden under a barrage of brown curls. My distinctive rings had been destroyed. I looked like a foreigner, only because I was well-fed. The cool ocean breeze drifted gently across my face from the open window on the balcony. Kneeling, I scratched a rune into the wooden floor. the symbol for precognition was powerful, it was one I had only studied but never performed. Now that it was drawn, I hoped I had enough Magic to activate it.

  I tried to focus myself as I closed my palm around the blade, coaxing my Magic awake. Blood fell to the floor, soaking the rune. The raging fire burning inside me exploded into a noxious vapour. Gentle wasn’t my style. The words to activate the Magic tumbled from my lips, my voice taking on a strange timbre.

  Ostende mihi futura, praeterita mihi. Ostende mihi rerum volo video vidi.

  I wish to see anyone who would do me harm.

  Concentrating on that thought alone, I gritted my teeth and willed my power into the blood. Sweat beaded at the back of my neck as I forced my will. The rune shimmered but did not flare to life. I grunted in exhaustion as I pushed more Magic into the markings. The future didn’t like to reveal itself to anyone but the Gods. Finally I was rewarded. It came to life in a bright flash of light. I fell back. The room disappeared and my vision went black.

  Dark figures crept in the moonlight, covered by shadows. Their faces were obscured as they rushed through the unfamiliar streets. One after another flashed before me. All were blurry figures, some of them familiar. I spotted a few bounty hunters that I had considered friends. Had they betrayed me? The flashing images made me nauseated. I came back to myself, trembling with my cheek pressed against the wood. The only consolation was that I didn’t see Loral’s face among the group, or even Jax and Erin. I pushed myself back to my knees and blew out an unsteady breath. My head pounded with the beginnings of backlash.

  I utilised as much power as I dared to burn the remnants of the blood. At least no one would attack me tonight. From what I understood, the clearer the image, the closer it was to fruition. I was safe enough.

  I slipped soundlessly from my room. The cold night air felt nice on my raw skin. I wandered aimlessly through the streets, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.

  It's just a side effect of using so much Magic.

  It had made me twitchy. My control was hopeless, I suddenly missed my parents. They could have taught me so much. If I’d had their tutelage, I could have lived a normal life. They had done it, despite being cursed. They had been happy. I kept to the shadows. The streets emptied and I was left alone with my turbulent thoughts.

  The run-down exterior of the Barfly, with its wooden sign hanging crooked over the entrance, wouldn’t leave my mind. It had been a mistake to return there. I should have insisted Wesley pick another spot. I could almost feel the freezing fingers of the Ice Mage trail down my spine. His teeth had been cracked, and his eyes yellow as they drunk me in. His hot breath had sent goosebumps down my neck and I had instinctively known he was dangerous despite my age. He had taken the last of my innocence, but had paid for it in blood. I yanked myself back to the present. The emotions had been suppressed for so long that I had forgotten their potency. I shoved my trembling hands in my pockets. My skin felt unclean.

  Like an alarm system, my power began to race through my veins. I spun on my heel looking for the threat but the streets were empty. A skinny black cat with green intelligent eyes hunted me from behind a crate. My eyes closed and I wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans.

  Pfft, an evil Blood Mage scared by a cat. If Loral had seen me jump, he would have never let me live it down. I bent onto my knees and started to scratch behind his ears.

  “Hey little guy, what are you doing out?” I cooed. The adrenaline had settled once I realised the threat was only furry. The cat brushed up against me, purring loudly. “Who do you belong to?” I lifted the shiny black collar searching for a name.

  “Me.” A voice emerged from the shadows.

  I jumped up and crouched, hand on my knife. The Hunter emerged from the shadows. How long had he been following me? I had forgotten how astonishingly tall he was. Before I could turn and flee, his strong hands gripped my biceps. I heaved at the feel of his palms against my skin. In a panic, I wriggled uselessly against his grip forgetting all my training. There was nothing tactical or smart about my frantic escape attempts.

  “Don't move or you’ll feel the fiery wrath of the Elect.” His hands warmed in warning.

  My skin blistered at the contact and the pain brought me back to myself. I was not a helpless child anymore and he was not an Ice Mage. The sweet smell of his burnt vanilla power filled my lungs. I tilted my head and met his cold, stony eyes. “Do you rehearse that line in the mirror?”

  He chuckled, his lip quirking at the corner.

  “A Blood Mage is powerless without blood. Shall we see who’s a faster draw?” His hands burned hotter, scorching my skin. The pain made it hard to think.

  Concentrate!

  I blocked it from my mind. I could make another go at my knife and try and strike him before he burned me to a crisp. I couldn’t draw enough blood for a meaningful attack by biting my tongue, it was just as likely I would spiral out of control. I wouldn’t risk it yet.

  I didn’t like my chances. The Hunter was the youngest member on the Elect for a reason.

  “What do you want Hunter?” I spat.

  It was hard to imagine a situation where I ended up on top, especially with his iron grip circling my biceps ready to watch me burn. I could sense his Magic circling, just waiting for his command.

  “You need to come with me, Sorceress. The Elect will save you before you fall further into madness.”

  A bubble of laughter escaped from my lips. He wanted me to go willingly to the Elect. Did he think I was an idiot? I couldn't contain my giggles. He looked as if I had slapped him but his hands went cold. If I went with him now, I would spend the rest of my life in a cage, drugged and drained of power.

  “I would rather die than be imprisoned by you.”

  The giddiness quickly soured into raging anger. I had witnessed the Elect’s murderous wrath first hand. There was no mercy.

  A finger of his power licked beneath my ear and my eyes closed involuntarily. My own bitter Magic rose up to meet it. Instead of pushing the power back down, I coaxed it forward. The flood gate opened and warmth filled my body. The cat hissed at me. I felt my hair drift from my shoulders as power permeated my every atom.

  I pressed my chest to the Hunter and flashed open my blackened eyes. He took a sharp breath. I used his distraction to bring my knee up hard in between his legs and yanked myself from his grip.

  Run.

  I took off down the road. My feet pounding the pavement as I desperately tried to put distance between us. The Hunter recovered quickly from my low blow and I could already hear his footsteps catching behind me.

  Mid step, I yanked my blade from its hilt. I couldn’t spare t
he attention to watch. I gripped the blade and pulled it across my palm.

  I jammed my dagger back in its sheath and used the blood to ignite the shield rune beneath my collar bone. I concentrated on the rune and felt it click to life just before one of the Hunter’s fireballs came hurtling past me. The streets all looked the same as I weaved through the city aimlessly. The Hunter seemed like the type of man who would not want to share the glory. I didn’t think the Enforcer’s would come to assist him. I concentrated hard on pouring power into the spell. The blood flowed from the wound in my hand. I could feel my body weakening from the loss already. The leaking blood would give the Hunter a trail right to me. My shield stalled and another fireball singed the ends of my hair.

  Shit, shit.

  My shield spluttered once more before finally dying out.

  The further I ran, the more remote the area became. It was too late to turn back. There was nowhere else to run. I stopped dead in my tracks and whirled to face my enemy. An uneasy sense of deja vu settled over me. I half expected a cold brick wall to appear at my back. As soon as the Hunter was close, he slowed to a jog and my power flared in warning.

  His stupid sugary Magic was driving me to the edge. I had even less control than normal. Instead of risking my flimsy control, I activated the fire runes on the back of my hands. I flung a fireball in the Hunter’s direction. He returned fire. One after the other, we dodged and weaved the other’s attacks. Rage swelled inside of me, impossible to ignore.

  Kill him, burn him.

  The Elect must pay. They made you what you are.

  Dodge, roll, burn.

  He’s my enemy.

  Kill. Burn. Destroy. Give in…

  Suddenly I was standing over him. The Hunter was on his knees and I held his throat. My Magic drilled into him, power pouring in tendrils seeking only to kill. I could feel the satisfied smile on my face. It would be so easy to suck out his Magic and take his life. It had been too long since I had felt another’s life force dwindle under my will. His eyes met mine, unafraid. Only a crease in his brow indicated that he felt any pain.

  Unsatisfied, I poured more power into him. My only goal was to see his face twist in agony. A pained screamed finally escaped his lips and his hands flew up to grip his head. The sound of his agony filled me with a sick joy. The Hunter fell back onto the pavement.