by Alex C Vick
Art sighed.
"What is it?" I asked when he didn't speak.
"Sorry. I have trouble sleeping at the best of times, and I can't help thinking…"
"What?" I prompted.
"Your brother. Galen. He cares about you, doesn't he?"
"Yes," I said.
"And you care about him?"
"Yes. I do."
"Then shouldn't we tell him about all of this?" said Art. "Warn him what might happen?"
I don't know.
It was something I'd pushed to the back of my mind ever since I'd had the same thought. Galen was expecting me to reappear on Terra around midday tomorrow. If I didn't, he'd undoubtedly come looking for me and put himself and Claudia in danger. The Stasis Spell, the Detection Spell, and the Gallium Dagger… Galen would be unprepared for them.
But if I told him anything about the last three days, he'd be so mad. As long our plan succeeded, he need never know the risks I'd taken.
"Serena?" said Art, turning his head.
"He won't let me go with you to Midian. He'll say it's not my place to interfere."
Art's fingers brushed against mine. "He's entitled to his opinion."
I looked him in the eyes. "No, you don't understand. He'll stop me. And he's a very powerful magician."
"Sounds like he'd be a great ally," said Art, his tone irritatingly calm.
"I think you mean obstacle," I said.
Art huffed a quiet laugh.
"Seriously," I said.
"Look," said Art, "if you decide his choice will be the wrong one without even giving him the chance to make it, how is that fair? How is that different from the bonding ceremony?"
I opened my mouth to disagree, then closed it again when my brain caught up to what he'd said.
He's right.
"When did you get so wise?" I asked.
"I'm not. I just think you should give him the chance to help. Besides, what if…?"
"I know," I said.
What if we don't survive?
I had promised Galen I would return earlier if there was a problem..
"Wait," I said. "What about Peric? He'll think we deserted him."
"It won't be your fault," said Art.
"He and Savra won't know that." I sat up, wrapping my fingers around the grass. I couldn't bear the thought of letting them down. "Peric might die believing he was betrayed again. Your grandfather could tell him anything. Perhaps he already has."
My agitation increased. Why hadn't I thought of this before?
"If they found the other lumien in your apartment, Androva knows what they'll do. Peric's initials are on the bottles. And Marty… the procedure…"
"Serena, calm down." Art, kneeling opposite me, took my hands.
"We have to visit them first," I said. "Before we go to Midian."
"What? The Ricards?" Art's expression was incredulous. "We can't. It's too dangerous."
"I don't care. I want them to know we didn't abandon them."
"So do I, but…"
"You already told me you couldn't sleep. We might as well make use of the time," I said.
"I thought we'd be going to see your brother," said Art.
"Yes, we will. After Peric. We can tell Peric about Galen, then ask Galen and Claudia to look after Marty if anything happens to us." I stood up, pulling on his hands to get him to join me. "Like you said, it's the middle of the night. I'll open a portal to the clinic. No one would expect it. They think I'm a cotidian."
I waited for Art to respond. He put his hands in his pockets and looked down at the grass.
"Well?" I said. "What do you think?"
"I still think it's dangerous. Really dangerous. Peric will be suspicious. He'll take some convincing. And how do you expect to have a conversation without all the other patients waking up?"
Some of my enthusiasm diminished.
"And if we succeed but they use a Truth Spell on Peric later? They'd know everything. You'd be putting Galen at risk too. They'd be waiting for him."
I made a noise of frustration and kicked the grass.
"You don't agree?" said Art.
"I do. That's the problem. I'm an idiot, and I'm lucky you're here to talk sense into me."
"Hey," he said, raising his voice. "Don't say that. You're not an idiot."
"I'm reckless," I muttered.
"You're spontaneous," he said, smiling. "And I'm glad. Otherwise we would never have met."
"I'll never regret that part," I said with a small smile in return.
"Can't we leave Peric a letter?" said Art. "Something marked do not read until day 101? It's day 100 tomorrow."
"No," I said. "He'd still know the letter was there. He could be forced to tell. Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless he doesn't know it's there. What if the letter's covered with a Distraction Spell that will wear off in a day's time?"
"Is that possible?" said Art.
"Yes. Longer timelines are less precise, but within a day I can judge it pretty well."
We looked at each other. I couldn't stop my smile. "So… are we doing this?"
Art nodded. He took our original list out of his pocket and handed it to me along with the purple pen. "There's a couple of spare sheets."
"Your handwriting is neater than mine," I said.
"But I don't know what to write," he said.
I suggested the words, and Art copied them down, balancing the paper against my shoulder as he wrote. Keeping it brief, I asked Peric and Savra to trust that Galen and Claudia could give Marty a better life, and said that only the most serious of circumstances had prevented me from being there in person. I shied away from revealing the vicious circle of damage imposed by the poison and the dagger. It would hurt them unnecessarily to know what they'd lost.
Once the Distraction Spell was in place, we double-checked our next steps.
"I'll open the portal into the chamber below the clinic. It might take me a few tries to get the location exactly right, but no one will know as long as I keep the coordinates underground."
"Yes," said Art. "Then we'll climb the stairs. I'll have the letter, and you'll project your Invisibility Spell."
He looked down at his left hand which was apparently clutching thin air thanks to the Distraction Spell. "I feel like I'm playing pretend. I can sense the paper between my fingers but I can't see anything. "
"We'll be in and out of the ward in two minutes and straight back to the portal," I said. "Hopefully you can manage without a Portal Remedy until the return trip, but you'll have to do the Unlocking Spell on your own so I can keep us invisible."
It went like clockwork. The portal location was perfect on my third attempt. The clinic was dark and silent. Everyone seemed to be asleep. Art put the letter on Peric's bedside cabinet, and we returned to the door.
That was when things started to go wrong. He couldn't unlock it. The harder he tried, the more I was scared the glow of his magic would escape my Invisibility Spell. I looked behind us, but the corridor was still empty. My heart was hammering. Bracing myself, I switched my spell from Invisibility to Unlocking. Just a few seconds later the door opened, and I withdrew my magic, feeling weak with relief.
I had one foot through the doorway when an unseen hand pushed aside my hair and pressed something cold into the back of my neck.
"I'm sorry, Serena," said Petro.
Then everything went black.
24 The Whole Truth
Consciousness returned by degrees. I was sitting down. The chair was hard. It pressed against my spine like stone. My arms were pulled behind me and tied at the wrist. The bindings were icy cold. I couldn't move, not even to open my eyes.
"Sh-she isn't f-from Xytovia." Art's voice. It sounded like the words were being torn from his mouth.
"What do you mean? Where is she from if not Xytovia?" The second voice belonged to Gentus. It was conversational in tone, as if its owner had no more than a passing interest in Art's reply.
"Answer the question, Ammartus."
"Sh-she's from… from…" Art paused, breathing in and out. "She's from Androva. You're despicable."
"Androva? I don't know this place. Where is it?"
"Another d-dimension. Another world," said Art.
I managed to lift my eyelids for a few seconds. It took a great deal of effort, and they slid shut almost immediately.
At least we're not in the pit with the dagger.
My chair was in the corner of a large room with a high ceiling and decorated wall panels. The floor was made from diamond-shaped pieces of wood slotted together. In the centre stood a grand table surrounded by equally imposing high-backed chairs. They were empty. I guessed we were in the place where the Board of Mages held its meetings.
"And how does she travel between Androva and Xytovia?" said Gentus.
"Using more advanced magic than you'll ever understand," said Art.
Gentus chuckled. "I doubt that. Be more specific, please."
"She uses a portal. It's…. it's like a doorway made from magical energy."
"Ah," said Gentus. "And I presume it is created using the symbols we found in the tunnel?"
I forced my eyes open again, gritting my teeth. Why is it so difficult to move? This time I noticed a small chest, glowing with magical energy, in the centre of the table. Purple and gold curtains, richly decorated, covered the windows at the other end of the room. There was a gap on one side as if they'd been closed in a hurry. A stream of sunlight spilled through, highlighting a few particles of dust in the air.
Sunlight? What time is it?
"Yes, the symbols," said Art defiantly. "Haven't you translated them yet? Since you're so accomplished and everything."
There was a pause. I strained my ears. I couldn't hear anyone except Art and Gentus, but that didn't mean there weren't other magicians or wardens observing silently.
It had to be a Stasis Spell that was preventing me from moving. It was wearing off though. Not only had my eyes stayed open but as the seconds ticked by, I was able to turn my head far enough to locate Art and Gentus in the corner across from me.
Gentus was leaning over Art, whose arms were pulled back like mine. Their faces were in profile.
"Who else knows she is a magician?" asked Gentus.
"No one," said Art slowly. Then, faster, "Less witnesses for you to kill. Not that killing seems to bother you. Do you even know how many lives you've taken?"
"Try and keep your responses pertinent to the question," said Gentus calmly. "I know the Truth Spell encourages babbling, but your inner monologue is of no interest to me."
That explained the unevenness of Art's replies. He was fighting the spell. I was impressed, given that I'd been unable to resist it for even a second.
"And she has created no other magicians but you?" said Gentus.
"No," said Art. "Not since being on Xytovia. Prior to that I couldn't say."
Strength was returning to my arms and legs. I shifted cautiously in the chair, mentally running through a list of possible spells I could use to escape my bindings. I projected my force field, and suddenly my arms and hands exploded with pain. Ice-cold agony, burning me from the inside. I couldn't catch my breath, and I couldn't think. I bit my lip, unable to prevent a sob from escaping my mouth.
When I'd recovered enough to focus, Gentus was standing in front of me, an expression of avid curiosity on his face.
"That hurt, didn't it? Rather a lot, if your frightened face is anything to go by."
I stared back, not speaking, knowing my voice would betray me if I denied my fear. The pain had been indescribable. My arms were trembling with shock.
"Serena," said Art, raising his voice. "The chain around your wrists is lined with titanium. It prevents you from projecting your magic."
"Ammartus," said Gentus, "please remember this girl is your enemy."
"No, she isn't," said Art.
"Of course she is. Yours and mine. Xytovia hasn't faced such a threat since the war ended."
"Opportunity," said Art. "Not threat. You're so narrow-minded. I'm embarrassed to be a member of your family."
Gentus tutted as if Art were someone he felt sorry for. "How fortunate, then, that you'll cease to be a Bavois very soon. I will also feel relief when the association is terminated. And unlike you, I will be alive and able to celebrate."
Very soon? I have to stop him.
I tried to free myself by means of physical force, pulling my wrists apart and clenching my fingers. The chains sliced into my skin unexpectedly, like blades, and I flinched at the sudden sting. It was no use. I was unable to escape them.
Gentus raised an eyebrow before looking behind my chair. "Your magic might be A-grade, but your intelligence certainly is not. I expected better."
I stared him down. "If you have such a low opinion of me, why don't you set me free? Or are you scared to face me as an equal?"
His mouth fell open for a second, then snapped shut. "Don't be ridiculous."
The sting had subsided into a dull ache, and my hands were becoming strangely warm. I curled my fingers into my palms, finding that the skin was slippery.
I'm bleeding. That's not good.
I looked back at Gentus, ignoring my discomfort. I'd definitely got to him. "It's true," I said. "You need to restrict my ability in order to feel safe."
His lips thinned, but he made no response. He was the first to break eye contact, turning to go back to Art. I tried to give Art a reassuring smile. I didn't want him to know how scared I really was.
"I'm so sorry," he said.
"None of this is your fault," I said.
Gentus extended a thin glowing forefinger and placed it underneath Art's chin, lifting it with an abrupt motion and forcing Art to look at him.
"Magic is a privilege," said Gentus, his voice low. "It is not to be granted indiscriminately to those who are not worthy of it."
Art's eyes narrowed. "Define worthy."
"Look to the tenets. Look to your ancestry. Those cotidian fools were never destined to be magicians."
"They were," said Art. "They are. Had it not been for the war and the poison, they already would be."
"I see I'm not going to be able to talk sense into you. A demonstration, then," said Gentus. He pushed his finger harder into Art's skin.
"What are you trying to prove?" said Art. "You already said you're going to kill me. Just let Serena go. This has nothing to do with her."
"Patience, Ammartus. You'll soon see what I mean." His finger glowed brighter. "Describe how you feel about Serena, please."
Art tried to lean out of reach of the spell without success. He gave me a pleading look. "I… I… don't w-want…"
"Describe how you feel," repeated Gentus.
"I don't want to t-tell her like this… In front of you…" He screwed up his face. "I-I'm… I think… I could fall in love with her. I've never felt… It's exciting, and scary, and… and amazing."
"That will do," said Gentus, looking satisfied.
Art was red in the face, and his jaw was clenched tight as if to prevent any more words from escaping. For a few seconds I forgot the ache in my wrists.
That's how I feel. That's exactly how I feel.
"Art, it's OK," I said. "I mean, it's not OK because your grandfather is a despicable coward who just violated your privacy, but I feel the same. I do." I leaned forward as far as the chains would allow. "Don't let him—"
"Enough," said Gentus, his smirk sliding into a scowl. "It's about time someone taught you to respect your betters."
Is he waiting for me to say something?
"Oh," I said slowly. "You mean you? That's hilarious. And here I was thinking you didn't have a sense of humour."
Art was staring at me. A slow smile spread across his face. I smiled back. Gentus exhaled with irritation.
"Don't be naïve, Ammartus. Serena was not under a Truth Spell," he said. "It's highly unlikely s
he feels anything for you."
"Hey," I said, annoyed.
"I trust her," said Art.
"I thought as much," said Gentus. "You can thank your scorecard, specifically criteria four, five, six, and seven, for that error of judgment. An error you'd never have made if you were a bonded magician."
"It's not an error," said Art. His defiant tone was at odds with the fear in his eyes.
Gentus is making him doubt himself. And me.
"I will show you the importance of the tenets if it's the last thing I ever teach you." Gentus gave an unpleasant smile. "My apologies. It will, in fact, be the last thing."
Gentus walked back to me. I straightened my shoulders. The pain in my wrists was worsening. A steady drip-drip of blood was falling from my fingertips onto the wooden floor.
"You fooled me at first," he said. "I looked elsewhere when you were in plain sight all along. But your absence gave us time to decipher the clues.
"The Calculo Clock's most recent reading. The extra lumien in bottles belonging to the Ricards, who met you an hour before you arrived in Vayl, when those same bottles were empty. Traces of magic found in your room at the facility. In the end, it had to be you."
He tilted his head. "You were overconfident. And foolish. You returned to the clinic because of a worthless cotidian family who'll be dead before the end of the week."
I was so angry. I had to consciously draw back my magic to avoid it expanding as far as the chain binding my wrists.
"I include the boy in that statement," Gentus went on. "He knows too much about you both."
"What? You can't. Marty's only six years old," I said.
"Memory spells are not infallible. I have a world to protect."
"Protect from what?" I said furiously. "You're not protecting Xytovia. You're protecting yourself. And your status. People's lives don't belong to you. How dare you decide who gets to live and die?"
"It is the law," said Gentus. "I am acting within my rights."
"This is beyond the law. This is murder, plain and simple," I said. "You can't rationalise it. Hide behind the pact all you want, but your actions are indefensible."
"In your opinion," he said with a sneer.
"If the tenets are so important, you could allow those cotidians to be scored and matched," I said. I didn't agree with the bonding process, but it had a much lower fatality rate than the alternative. "Well?" I persisted.
