Eden
“Is Mac ok?” Alena asked.
Eden had been as still as a statue since she woke shortly after Alena stormed from her room. Alec helped her to the living room, and she managed to squeeze Alena’s hand, reassuring herself that her friend was uninjured, but her body still resisted movement. Her dream had left her with such a deep sense of fear that she continued to study every face repeatedly, convincing herself they were all alive and here. Finally, her body deflated as she breathed a huge sigh of relief. They were all safe. Mac’s head was sore, but there were no wounds so it was unsure what happened.
“Mac will recover perfectly,” Bette replied. “Sit,” she ordered Jenira and Davin. They obeyed, sinking onto one of the loveseats. Elliott slumped into an armchair, his emotions surprisingly placid. Bette crouched over Zar. The beast let her push against his ribs until she nodded in satisfaction. Then, she moved to Davin. He sat unmoving while the Brownie pressed a hand to his forehead. The warriors’ emotions were a mix of fear, shock, and satisfaction. The last came from Jenira; Eden noted she didn’t have any injuries.
“Humph,” Bette said. “You don’t need me.”
Davin was a healer. His golden magic glowed, and Eden watched a cut fade from his cheek, revealing tanned, healthy skin. Exhaustion mingled with relief and confusion. Bette retook her seat next to Mac and, without a word, drew the young woman against her side. Mac didn’t protest the contact and leaned against the Brownie. Her energy started to heal, her magic growing and rebuilding from Bette’s nearness.
“Now.” Bette's voice was brusque and businesslike. “We have things to discuss.” She waved a hand, and a barrier encased the room. It was similar to the one around the sitting room and Alec’s office, preventing anyone from eavesdropping. Eden and Bette shared an amused glance as they sensed Charity’s frustration. She had been waiting in the hall. When the barrier rose, she stomped her foot and stormed upstairs.
Davin cleared his throat, already appearing stronger and more energetic. Food and water materialized on the table in the center of the surrounding ring of furniture. Many reached for water, but no one seemed hungry. Eden agreed. Her stomach was still churning.
“We were attacked by Magitech beings. One of them seemed intelligent. They possessed magic, but their attacks were strange. Their magic resembles balls of energy.” Davin glanced at Mac and away again. The young woman was awake and listening, but her mind was occupied. Something fundamental captured her attention, and it wasn’t the recent attack. “The creatures were strong and difficult to kill. Jenira sliced their wires, which seemed to stop them. My attacks affected hardware, but it was a slow process, and I couldn’t sense their abilities or movements with my short term precog abilities.” Eden thought she knew what that meant. Davin could see into the future, but only seconds ahead. In a battle, it would give him the ultimate advantage, but not against creatures who didn’t think with human intentions. He continued, “Alena stopped the remaining robots with water.”
“Elliott helped,” Alena added. Elliott’s face was thoughtful, his nervousness gone. Eden shivered. He was excited.
The boy should leave before you reveal what you are going to say, Gideon spoke. Eden’s eyes questioned the owl. He had appeared shortly after her dream and had remained a silent but steady presence the entire duration of the stressful wait for the others to return. She had wanted to go help and Alec had vibrated with tension, but Bette had prevented them going outside. In hindsight, the housekeeper’s decree made sense. She and Alec would have only presented a distraction.
Really? Elliott?
I don’t trust him yet. He doesn’t know where his loyalties lie.
Eden bit her lip. While she agreed with Gideon, she didn’t know how to suggest he leave, especially not after he’d helped in the battle. She beseeched Bette with her eyes, trying to relay Gideon’s message. If Bette didn’t understand, she would assume Eden was sending her strange looks.
Bette smiled. “Thank you, Elliott, for all your help. I’m sure you’re tired. You can go sleep now.”
Elliott sat up straighter, preparing to argue. “But…” His protest was interrupted by a loud yawn, and his eyes drooped suddenly. “Yes, maybe that’s a good idea. I am exhausted.” He stumbled from the room.
“Sorry about that,” Bette apologized with a shrug after he’d reached the top of the stairs. She didn’t explain further, and no one questioned her. Eden felt guilty, but her instincts knew Gideon’s concerns were well-founded.
“I don’t know how anyone has acquired such advanced tech,” Davin continued, almost to himself. “Small automatons are being built, but they are full tech and not nearly as high functioning as these robots. I believe the leader was capable of rational thought or immediately operated by a human, and I’m certain it was communicating with its creator.”
Eden pulled at her braid nervously. Her small sigh captured the eyes of everyone in the room. “Would you like to tell us about your dream?” Bette asked quietly.
“It was just a dream,” Eden began nervously, but she was stalling. She shivered with the remembrance of the man in her dream and the information she had learned. The others waited patiently for her to continue, and Alec nudged her shoulder with his in a comforting gesture that offered strength, too.
“There was a man. I couldn’t see his face, but his voice was definitely male,” she scrunched her nose. “He was making those things,” she shuddered, “those things that you just fought. They were robots with red, glowing eyes, and bodies like real people. In my dream, he was bragging to someone else about his invention. I couldn’t see who or how many he was talking to.”
“Dreamwalker,” Jenira breathed quietly. Eden might not have heard it, but Bette sent a quelling look the warrior’s way and motioned for Eden to continue. She inhaled deeply, drawing strength from the air and the people around her.
“I know how he did it. He was Magitech. Magitech creations work if the Magitech places their individual power into it. It has to be the creator’s magic because it’s different than typical mage magic. Magitech is magic already accustomed to cooperating with tech.” Eden paused, the last words more difficult to say. She understood their implications. “He’s not trying to kill me. He’s trying to recruit me.”
Davin rose to his feet, spewing a string of curses that burnt Eden’s ears. “Of course,” he growled. “Magitech works if it is built entirely by a Magitech. For him to imbue so many creatures with magic, though, his magic must be endless.”
“I’m not sure all of them had magic,” Alena said, her spine straightening. “At first, I thought they did, but only two actually attacked us with magic. I might have been sensing the magic which enabled them to move and fight. They might not have had enough active power to attack.”
Davin nodded. “That makes sense. Latent magic is easier to maintain than attack magic.” He looked at Eden. “You received the impression that he wanted to recruit you?”
“I think so. The figure didn’t say that directly, but I could sense his frustration that he didn’t have enough Magitechs. He wants to make more automatons – that was his word for them. It stands to reason that he is seeking and recruiting Magitechs to make more, especially if it’s connected to the mage killings and politics.”
“What’s his end goal, though?” Jenira asked. “Those creatures were nothing like the mage I encountered in Brenville. He was just a mage, a man from my past, and his only intention was killing my sister and me.” Her emotions were haunted, although none of that filtered into her voice. Her ability to control her reactions amazed Eden.
“The mage you killed, Marcus, might have been a test of that necklace. One of his goals was to infiltrate my office. The leader could have suspected I employed Magitechs and deployed his killers after the most likely candidates. When they were found to be just mages, they were killed. At some point, Marcus might have rebelled, or the leader cut him free to do the one thing he really wanted to do – go after you,” Davin
suggested
“But why kill the regular ones?” Jenira persisted.
“I think that’s the point,” Eden murmured. “They’re regular, simply normal mages. This man wants to build an army of Magitechs and automatons. Mages and techies who don’t follow him are disposable.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Alena argued. “There are so few Magitechs; he couldn’t hope to build and power an army.”
Eden frowned. “I think there are more Magitechs than we know.” She shuddered again as her dream image haunted her. “This Magitech, the creator, believes there are enough to power an army. He could be crazy or he could know more than we do. There may be a reason behind his thinking.”
Jenira abruptly sprang from the couch to pace, and Davin claimed the spot she had vacated. Eden almost laughed aloud at the unconscious switch.
“What if he’s collecting a group he cultivated many years ago?” Her blue eyes flashed to Eden. Bile rose in her throat as she considered Jenira’s words.
“What? You think he tried to breed Magitechs?” Eden lurched upright; the idea horrified her. Alena glared at Jenira, righteously angry on Eden’s behalf.
“Maybe not,” Jenira replied, but the idea had already wedged into Eden’s subconscious. Had someone, perhaps that man, made her on purpose and trap her power? But for what reason? Why leave her alone in the world? Why not keep her close to him? She couldn’t reconcile the smiling, fatherly face in her memories with the sinister presence she’d felt in her dream.
“Well, I know my father,” Davin said, oblivious to Eden’s fiercely churning thoughts. “He was a techie and mom was a mage, but they were both honest, noble people.”
Bette nodded. “Some Magitechs are bound to be born accidentally, but Jenira’s theory cannot be discounted entirely. No matter how they were created, though, you have to assume there are more Magitechs than we know about.”
Mac’s emotions abruptly spun, and Eden studied her, pushing Jenira’s vile thoughts away. The knowledge floated into her mind the same way all understanding had occurred to her since her magic had awakened. She hummed in realization but didn’t reveal Mac’s secret. It wasn’t hers to share.
Mac humphed, frowning in Eden’s direction. The others noted the interaction. Mac sat, no longer leaning on Bette, and folded her arms sullenly across her chest. “Yes, I’m a Magitech too.”
“I know, dear,” Bette chuckled and patted the younger woman’s knee.
Davin stared blankly at his niece, his emotions volatile and confused. Eden saw it now. Mac’s tech ability was tiny, just a small gray spot in her otherwise bright silver magic.
“My tech is virtually nonexistent, though,” she argued, confirming Eden’s analysis. Mac met her uncle’s eyes. “I only have one tech ability - numbers and coding – that’s it. It’s been easy to hide.”
“And your brother?” Davin questioned.
“His magic is like my tech, tiny. You know he has an amazing ability to read a person; that’s his magic.” Mac shrugged. “I believe us being twins contributed to the development of the other nature within our own. I wonder if it would work the same way – if he could build something and I could imbue it with magic.”
Davin glanced at Jenira, and the mage woman shrugged. “It’s possible. I never sensed any magic on Andrew, but I’m not the best sensor. The twin theory is definitely interesting, though. I’m certainly not a Magitech; I’m a complete dunce in every single technical subject.”
Alec chuckled. “I don’t have a scrap of magic, and computers run away in fear when Alena approaches.” Alena elbowed him in the ribs but smiled.
“This is true.”
“Well, now that’s solved,” Bette said brusquely, “we have to decide what to do.”
“What to do?” Alena blinked. Eden hid a yawn but knew she couldn’t go to sleep yet, not from the look on Bette’s face.
“The enemy knows where you are, where we are. That enemy can cross wards that were built centuries ago with potent magic. The kids aren’t safe here, and neither are any of you. You’ll all have to go.”
“Go?” Alena squeaked. “But this is my home.”
“You can come back after you get rid of the robots,” Bette spoke like it was as easy as taking out the garbage. “For now, you need to protect the younger ones and all the others you’ve promised to care for. That means not staying here.” Bette’s voice, as always, brooked no argument.
“What about you?” Alec asked.
Bette shrugged. “I can’t leave this place, but I will be safe. No one can harm me in this house.”
Jenira nodded. “It’s true. Once we leave, the house will appear empty or abandoned. Bette will be safe.”
“Tomorrow. You’ll all go to Davin’s place, the house he was planning on taking Eden to. I’ll send a message and have another of my kind meet you.”
“I have staff,” Davin grunted, slightly insulted.
“Do you trust every single one of them with your life? With your family’s life? Your niece and nephew might only have a little bit of tech or magic, but it can still be used against them.” Bette stared at Davin until he nodded and looked away. “It’s settled,” Bette announced. “Now, try to get some sleep. I’ll keep watch for the rest of the night, but be ready to leave by mid-morning. Once there is a house mage in place at Davin’s estate, I will arrange the movement of your stuff.” She patted Mac’s knee again and bustled out of the room, uncaring that everyone stared after her in exhausted shock.
Davin shook his head. “That woman is a force of nature.”
Eden couldn’t help but agree. Alec shared a look with Alena and shrugged. “I guess we should do what she says.” He sounded almost cheerful about it, and Eden wondered why.
“I’ve been following her instructions since I entered this house, and she hasn’t led me wrong yet,” Alena agreed. They each rose, squeezing Eden on the shoulder lightly and saying their final goodnights. Eden stood, intending on following her, but Mac’s hesitant voice stopped her.
“Eden.” Mac licked her lips nervously. Eden waited, aware that Davin and Jenira watched them both curiously. “Are you really a dreamwalker?”
Eden glanced around the room, her eyes pausing on Gideon. She hadn’t expected the question from the usually silent and sullen woman. Something had changed in her tonight, though; her magic wasn’t as damaged as it had been just that morning. Something sparked around her that smelled like hope. Eden shrugged. “I don’t even know what a dreamwalker is, Mac. I have no idea.”
Jenira retook her seat next to Davin, resting against him. Their magic entwined, each one soothing the other; it was beautiful. “Dreamwalkers can travel in their dreams. They can watch things in real time, or they can watch events from the past – I imagine that was the case with your dream earlier tonight. You watched the creation of the creatures that attacked us. It is unknown why or how visions arrive to dreamwalkers in the form of dreams. It’s different than the gift of foresight, which only sees the future.”
Mac tugged at the tiny metal ring in her eyebrow, her stormy eyes uncertain. “I’ve also heard that dreamwalkers can look into the past to find a memory.”
“Mackenzie,” Davin began, his shoulders slumping. “You don’t have to…”
Mac beseeched him, her eyes blazing. “I do have to, Davin. I have to. Didn’t you see? Those creatures have the same magic I do. I might not have…” Her breath was shaky and her eyes so haunted, Eden’s heart skipped a beat in empathy. She sank down onto the couch next to Mac.
“I don’t know if I can, Mac. I’ve only just recently…” Eden stopped, Mac’s pleading expression too strong to deny. She wasn’t particularly beautiful; her pointy chin and small nose lent her an elfin air. She had gorgeous eyes, though. Thick, dark lashes any woman would envy surrounded almond-shaped eyes that were silvery-blue with a dark ring of gray around them.
“What do you think?” Eden asked the owl. Gideon stared at her, his yellow eyes unblinking.
It will
not hurt you or her to try. I don’t know if you’ll be able to call on a vision with one so recently visited upon you, but the young girl is clearly in need. Eden couldn’t help but smile at Gideon’s use of the young girl appellation. Mac was the same age as her, or close to it.
“What do I do?” she asked, still focused on Gideon.
You have to be touching her. She’ll tell you which memory she wants to retrieve, and she shouldn’t say anything that might influence your interpretation of the memory. She needs to place it at the forefront of her mind, and it will appear in your mind as a vision. You should be able to evaluate the past happening objectively and view it as an observer. In this sense, you may see something she would have missed from her viewpoint.
Eden nodded. The process seemed relatively straightforward. Will it hurt? She asked silently, voicing her only other concern.
It shouldn’t. Dreams don’t hurt, Gideon replied. Eden suppressed a shiver. Dreams sometimes hurt on a different plane than the physical; she imagined memories were the same. She turned back to Mac.
“Hmmm, I believe Gideon might be a spirit guide and not a familiar,” Jenira mused, her voice thoughtful. Eden looked at the owl. He swiveled his head nearly all the way around to pin Jenira with a stare. Cocking his head, he chirped.
Perceptive woman.
What’s a spirit guide? Eden asked Gideon.
Not now, he admonished, his gaze returning to her.
“Right,” Eden replied and faced Mac again. “I’ll have to touch you, maybe hold your hand?” She imagined someone might hold both hands, but she couldn’t do that. “Then, I want you to focus on the memory but don’t say anything. I’ll see if anything happens.”
Mac nodded and took a deep breath. Eden grasped the hand she held out, and their arms rested on their knees. Eden inhaled several times, deep, measured breaths which slowly slid her awareness of the room from her consciousness. She pushed aside Davin’s concern and Jenira’s frank curiosity. Pushing aside Mac’s fear was more difficult, and she had to force herself not to focus on Mac’s trembling hands. Mac closed her eyes and Eden followed the motion. The house was eerily silent. A sudden breeze hitting the window panes was the only sound; it echoed through the room.
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