by E A Foley
A large amount of power was released significantly closer to Iris. It almost pulled her mind away from where she was studying Rowen’s light source. A second ball of light appeared in the air. It expanded into a line that rotated and grew with each passing moment before solidifying into a doorway that Rozlynd stepped out of.
“I thought you promised Iris you wouldn’t do magic,” Rowen said. His voice was a whisper compared to what she thought it should be.
“You’re one to talk.”
“I never promised. Besides, she said it was Pacific specific because she’s trying to see if there’s another magic user.”
“I don’t think that’s why. I think she felt something at prom and is afraid we’ll freak out about it, so she’s keeping it to herself. She was like this for a few days after Disneyland too.” Rozlynd paused for a minute and thought about her own words. “There was another magic user in the park that day as well. I totally forgot about that. We split up a few times and when she came back, she was pale and quiet. I bet something happened then too.”
“Sounds like she’s trying to protect everyone from something.”
“From what? Life?” Rozlynd laughed. “I’m not stupid enough to think there won’t be consequences, are you?”
“Naw. With great power . . .” Rowen didn’t finish the phrase. “But it does explain a lot. You think we should talk to her about it?”
“No. Either she’ll get over it or she won’t. It’s up to her.” Rozlynd moved to join Rowen on the bed.
Iris opened her eyes. They twinged and her cheeks were warm. She felt more than a little guilty for spying on her friends, but grateful to them at the same time. She decided this particular trick was one she’d have to work on a bit more. And one she wasn’t ready to share with anyone quite yet. She was exhausted. Though she’d only used a trickle of power the entire time, the concentration required was impressive.
Even so, she forced her mind to think. Roz’s words resonated with her. Her friends knew what they were getting themselves into—in a way. No specifics, of course, but they knew there could be consequences in becoming magic users just as there were consequences in life. Just because you were a safe driver didn’t mean you’d never be in an accident.
“You can’t control everything in life,” Iris told herself. “All you can do is your best and make sure your actions are in line with your morals.”
Iris sighed. Her head throbbed. She’d have to leave more thoughts on the matter for the next morning. For the first time in over a week, Iris used her powers to turn the light switch in her room to the off position. It felt right. As she curled up under the covers, she thought about how much she was going to tell her friends.
When she woke Sunday morning, Iris felt better than she had all week. She knew she’d have to apologize and talk to her friends soon, but she wasn’t sure she’d be up to it the following day. There was only one week of school left, followed by a week of finals-slash-graduation-prep, so she wasn’t sure adding to stress levels was the best idea. Perhaps she’d wait until after graduation.
Instead of dreading the next phase in her life like she had the past week, Iris was optimistic that everything was going to work out somehow. She even started embracing the idea of being a true leader rather than the teacher and dictator she’d really been thus far.
In between completing the homework assignments she’d been unable to focus on earlier in the week, Iris researched what it meant to be a leader. What their good qualities and traits were. She started a list that soon morphed into a spreadsheet with websites, titles, notes, examples, and more. If she was going to accept her role among her friends and they were all going to continue with using magic, she’d have to get her act together and become a leader, not simply have the title. She couldn’t implode again. That would only create panic or dishearten everyone from believing they could be successful in the face of adversity.
Her eyes were a new shade when she looked in the mirror the following morning. An odd blue-grey stared back at her. Iris contemplated her mood. She was happy with her decision to talk to her friends about her concerns and explain her actions. She was even happier that she already knew a few of her friends agreed with her, but she was sad at the same time. Her childhood was coming to an end. While she didn’t want to be paranoid about the potential of crossing paths with a magic user who used magic for nefarious reasons, she knew this was a new part of her reality and she mourned the loss of her own innocence and naivety.
“Have a good weekend?” Violet asked when she joined the group at morning break on Monday.
“Yeah, actually, I did.”
“Any developments thus far in Pacific?” Rozlynd asked.
“Nothing so far. Still, I say let’s give it until graduation. It’ll allow us more time for our final high school assignments and assure us peace of mind. Sound fair?”
“Does that mean we can’t have visitors or take trips?” Zarina asked cryptically.
“No,” Iris waved her hand once in front of her face. “That’s fine. Try to keep the daily use to a minimum, though. We can resume practice sessions this summer. Honestly, I kind of like having the break right now; even if it is only a brief return to normalcy.”
Nodding heads and murmurs of assent surrounded her. Conversation switched to mundane things, like topics for final reports. It brought a true smile to Iris’s lips and a brief burning sensation in her eyes. She knew if she looked in a mirror, they’d be blue again. It further solidified her good mood and reassured her she’d made the right decision.
Throughout the following week, Iris felt her friends use magic here and there, but nothing for extended periods of time. She didn’t feel any unknown magic users and even had the opportunity to analyze how Jaden’s power felt when he used a doorway to visit Zarina the following weekend. Every time one of her friends used magic, Iris closed her eyes and tried to lock onto them the way she had with Rowen.
No matter who she tried it with, she couldn’t recreate the ability to see what her friends were seeing. The best she managed was determining who was using magic, what they were doing, and their precise location. Even that skill wasn’t one hundred percent every time. She was successful in determining what Aerianna, Roz, Cirrus, Jaden, and Rowen were doing on a least one occasion, but was unable to acquire the same information from Zarina, Violet, or Morrigan.
Iris’s only guess about what might be affecting her ability to determine what magic her friends were performing was their strength; especially since she’d proved distance was something she could overcome. Iris found herself thinking up lesson plans on how Zarina, Vi, and Morrigan could strengthen their abilities and even had to stop herself on more than one occasion from writing down specific notes. It made her own request to limit magic use and not have any lessons until after graduation that much more difficult. Finals and graduation prep helped keep her mind off magic.
Chapter 29
Graduation day finally arrived. With it came the same pins-and-needles sensation at the nape of her neck from prom night. It put Iris on edge, but she was better at hiding her nerves this time. She’d accepted that there’d be other magic users throughout her life and all she could do was stay true to her beliefs and trust in her friends. Having an outdoor ceremony and being able to wear sunglasses made her mood easier to conceal.
As the band began playing Pomp and Circumstance—something Iris was ecstatic she’d never have to play again—she drew in the smallest amount of power, closed her eyes, and tried to pin down where the magic user was. She’d managed to narrow down the sensation to the guest-side bleacher toward the north end of the field when Aerianna prodded her in the back. Iris opened her eyes and realized there was now a large gap in the line of graduates in front of her. It was a good thing they weren’t on the ramp into the football field yet, so she was able to catch up quickly.
Not wanting to trip or fall on her face due to having her focus split as she entered the stadium, Iris released all traces of ma
gic. She kept her mind and body ready to access the flows surrounding her in an instant if needed. It felt as though they were hovering an inch behind her. Waiting for her to summon them.
She took her seat between Violet and Aerianna, stared straight ahead, and completely checked out from the ceremony. Her concentration was back on the magic user. Even though she wasn’t holding any magic in her being, she could feel the person almost as well as when she had been holding magic a few minutes earlier.
Iris scanned the bleachers.
“Looking for your family?” Aerianna asked with a grin.
“Yeah,” Iris lied.
“Isn’t that them over there?” Violet pointed to the northern half of the guest-side bleachers.
Iris followed Violet’s finger about halfway up the bleachers. There they were. Her parents, sister, and grandparents, all sitting in front of a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark-chocolate brown hair, a close-cropped beard that emphasized his strong jawline, and dark sunglasses—the magic user she’d been looking for. It appeared he knew a lot more about her than she him.
His face turned towards hers. If Iris didn’t know any better, she’d say he knew she’d been looking for him. A grin that held no warmth spread across his visage. Iris swallowed and turned to face the stage once more. A prickling sensation joined the pins and needles at the back of her neck. There was another magic user waiting to receive a diploma today. Taking a deep breath, Iris split her mind and sent her Little Self to the Gallery of Doors. She knocked on all of her friends’ doors. One by one, they opened and entered the Gallery. Several seemed confused.
“Sorry, guys, but this is really important,” Iris began before the questions could start.
Iris inhaled until her diaphragm could hold no more air, took in two more quick puffs and expelled it. She was ready to tell them everything.
“So, I know I told you all to stop using magic and that you guys weren’t really satisfied with the reasons behind the request, so here’s the true reason. On prom night someone, possibly one of the chaperones, was able to use magic. I wasn’t able to pin down who it was, but there was nothing positive about the person’s aura. I’m pretty sure if any of us had used magic once we entered the building, we would have been exposed and maybe even attacked. At least, that’s the impression I got from him that night.”
“Wait, him? I thought you said you didn’t know who it was,” Rozlynd noted Iris’s slip.
“You’re right. I didn’t know who it was, but I do now. He’s sitting right behind my parents in the bleachers on the northern end of the visitor stands. Don’t go and look! For one, I’m not done and two, I don’t want him to know we can communicate this way. No one is allowed to look. Is that clear?” Iris demanded.
She waited until everyone consented before continuing. “Good. So at some point on prom night, he slipped a piece of paper into my clutch that said he knows who I am, what I am capable of, and that if I knew what was good for me and my friends, we would all agree to join him to reach our full potential. If we refuse, we’ll face the consequences of a life we are too naive to comprehend. It wasn’t a direct threat, but combined with the negative vibes I got from him then—and I’m getting from him now—I’d say it is a true threat. One that I’m pretty sure he plans to make good on today.
“I have no clue if he knows about all of you, but he definitely knows that some of you are magic users as well. On top of that, I can feel another magic user on the field with us. Turns out we weren’t the only magic users at Pacific this year. I wonder if the two are related to each other. Anyway, be on your guard and stay together. It’ll be our best chance at not causing a scene today and keeping our abilities to ourselves. Any questions or concerns?”
“Besides those two, are there any other magic users around?” Cirrus asked.
“Not that I can tell, but at this point, I’d say it’s safer to assume yes rather than no.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got your back,” Aerianna grinned at Iris.
“It’s not only my back we have to worry about. It’s all our backs. Be on the lookout and be prepared, okay?” Everyone moved toward their door and Iris called after them. “And for Christ’s sake, please don’t be rash and fill yourselves with power now. It’ll only give you all away, got it?”
Her friends agreed with nods or quick statements of understanding. They were more somber than they’d been when they arrived for graduation, but they were prepared. Knowing was better than not knowing, and being prepared could make all the difference in the world today. College was something she planned on finishing with all of her friends, not some of them.
Iris waited until everyone else exited the Gallery of Doors before joining the two halves of her mind. It appeared the speeches were over. Students lined up by row to the left and right of the stage, waiting to be called to receive their “diplomas.” They were all empty folders. Diplomas wouldn’t be handed out until all grades were in and students survived Grad Nite appropriately. Iris took the time to look back to the stands. This time she made a point to wave and smile at her family even though her eyes were locked on the man behind them. She wasn’t sure now whether she was the prey or he was.
The row in front of her stood, turned to the right and lined up. A few moments later, everyone in her row did the same. A joy Iris didn’t think she could experience welled in her chest. She felt light and happy. The smile splitting her cheeks was a genuine one. She even removed her sunglasses so her eyes would be visible in the picture being taken. They sparkled further when she realized Mr. H. was the one handing her the fake diploma.
In less than ten minutes, the weight of keeping the secret about the asshole magic user from her friends was lifted. She was instead filled with a joy only friendship and happiness could provide. The six people standing around her and the two in the stands were more than her friends, they were her family. A family that would fight like hell to protect one another. Iris didn’t need to be sacred or full of anxiety when she had such amazing friends to put her trust and safety in.
“Congratulations, Iris!”
“Thank you so much, Mr. H!” Iris exclaimed as she shook his hand. Then she hugged him. “You’re the best!” She added in his ear.
“I appreciate that more than you could ever know,” he smiled back at her.
Iris left the stage, followed the line of graduates, and took her seat. There were only a dozen more rows of students before the ceremony was over. They were all about to embark on the next step in life: college.
Fifteen minutes later, it was over. Someone introduced them as Pacific’s graduating class and they all transferred their tassels to the other side of their caps before a huge cheer rose up from the field and stands alike. High school was over! That was what Iris dwelled on. It was better than dwelling on the fact that her naive childhood and teenage years had ended, along with any remaining simplicities in life.
“Get in here, Iris!” Violet called.
Iris looked up to see her friends gathered together for a hug. With a grin, Iris joined in. They split into pairs and went to find their families before gathering back on the field for several group pictures. After a while, their families left for home and it was down to the nine of them. They happily chatted on the field and made dinner plans before Grad Nite. Iris turned away to head toward her car. Pain flared at the nape of her neck. Someone placed an arm around her shoulder and started walking with her.
“You’re mine Iris Faye,” a male voice whispered in her ear.
Chapter 30
Iris looked up and found Brett Moreno’s eyes boring into hers.
“Now son, don’t be so overdramatic,” the magic user from the bleachers said. With father and son next to each other, the family resemblance was astounding. They had the similar skin, hair, and eye tones only separated by the speckled grey in Mr. Moreno’s hair and close-cropped beard. Both had an easy confidence about them. And an attractiveness that could quicken any girls’ heart with their closeness and fr
iendly smiles.
Iris ducked and tried to get out from under Brett’s arm. He held tight to her shoulder. Continued steering her away from the field and all of her friends. Iris’s heart raced. Not from attraction but from fear. She didn’t know what to do. Couldn’t think.
“I did give her an option, you know. I couldn’t believe it when Brett told me there were other individuals who could access the flows of Gaia. In fact, I didn’t believe him. He’s never been able to suss out another’s abilities before. Claimed you broke his desk in math class. I told him he’d imagined it was you. But then prom came and I discovered he was right. I assume you found and read my note?”
Iris found herself nodding in response.
“Good. So, Iris, what will it be? Will you join us and see what it’s like to hold true power, or will you refuse and be obliterated?”
She opened herself to pull power into her being but stopped. A shiver ran up her spine and settled at the nape of her neck, but it wasn’t from Mr. Moreno. It was from Brett. He was the other magic user. The one who’d been waiting to graduate. She hadn’t realized it until she readied to draw in flows. He pulled magic into his being faster than she imagined possible and was poised to release an attack. He’d be able to unleash it before she could draw in more than a trickle of power. Her blood froze.
Brett grinned at her. Lifted her sunglasses to peer into her eyes. Chuckled at the amber shades of fear she knew they betrayed.
“Finally realized you’re cornered, huh? Good. The second you pull power into yourself, I’ll unleash hell. I’ve had quite a lot of practice, I assure you.” He sniggered.
“I’d rather avoid a fight, but if it is required for you to see my side of things, I’ll gladly comply,” Mr. Moreno told Iris.
Iris tried to pull away again. They were nearing the edge of the football field. If she could get back to her friends, she—they—might all stand a chance. She tried to focus her mind. Determine how strong Brett and his dad were. It wasn’t working. Either she couldn’t get her brain to function or he was doing something to keep her from analyzing his abilities. Neither were pleasant thoughts. Iris started to panic. Her feet found the spongy texture of the track.
