by Casey Herzog
A man with black hair and tattoos of symbols on his face came through the door with the Guardians standing at attention; everyone knew he was in charge. Nobody spoke as he stood there and looked around like he was going to see something that they didn’t.
“I know he was here; there’s no point in telling me differently. I want to know where he is. I would suggest you answer my questions honestly. Don’t everybody talk at once.” The leader of the Guardians was a man named Mr. Black. He was tenacious like a dog after a bone. Once he got something in his head, then there was very little anybody could do to change his mind. It was not going to be easy to lie to his face.
“I’m in shock. I don’t know who you are looking for, but the Elders know I have only a few weeks to get my family affairs in order. You come barging in without even announcing your presence and you expect me to take it with a smile on my face? Your friends have turned this place upside down. You can take a second look, but it’s not going to do you any good.” I was trying to be the voice of reason, but Mr. Black was staring at me with an intense hatred.
“I know all about you, Gillian. We have a very powerful ally who informed us that you are harboring magic. He said that it was a little boy. I know all about Damien and I’ve been looking for him. He has somehow eluded capture, and that’s not an easy thing to do without some kind of help.” He had on a black cloak and fancy pair of goggles known to have some amazing technology to see through walls. I would have given anything to have a look at what was underneath the mechanics.
“You’ve been over this place and I think you would have said something had you found a little boy hiding out. Your Guardians have informed you there is no little boy hiding within the premises. I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m still grieving the loss of my father, a pillar of the community. I don’t need this kind of hassle. It’s bad enough I have to leave here and hand over the family homestead to the Elders.” I needed to sound convincing. It wasn’t easy with Mr. Black looking me in the eye the entire time.
“I understand you believe I’m overstepping my authority, but what you don’t realize, little girl, is that I have the full support of the Elders. If you’re not careful, I might decide to detain you for further questioning. Of course, I won’t do that without a good reason. I haven’t seen anything to indicate you are lying.” He stood there, glaring in my direction.
“This has been a trying time and I would appreciate some privacy. My father was my world. It all came tumbling down on the day of his demise. I’m sure you have lost somebody in the past. You know what kind of toll that takes on you.” Mr. Black was not easily convinced, but he had nothing to go on.
“Your father was a good man until he started to spout nonsense in his class. His rhetoric and views on magic have been widely publicized. He just never knew when to quit. I do hope the apple falls far from the tree because I would hate to think you have taken up where he left off. I will be watching. You’ll feel me on the back of your neck when the hairs stand on end. You’ll wonder why you feel like somebody has walked over your grave. There will be nothing you can hide from me.” He was full of himself, but he knew what kind of power he possessed within the community.
Those who had thought about magic were put on some kind of list with no paper trail. Mr. Black was good at memorizing those names and keeping them for further updates. He wasn’t shy about letting the community know of his suspicions.
“The flybys of several drones had become the bane of our existence. We were being policed by the Guardians, but who was policing the Guardians? It was hard to justify the action perpetrated on those who spoke out candidly. The rules were well known, and stated emphatically at daily gatherings. Hearing the Elders’ speak was like fingernails down a chalkboard.
“You can stand on my doorstep all night; I won’t care. The only thing you’ll be doing is wasting your time. I wonder how the Elders will feel when they learn you used their resources to keep an eye on a grieving young woman. It could be a subject of great debate amongst the underground. Not that I would know where to find such a thing, but it wouldn’t take much to ferret out those willing to listen. A cause is only big when the numbers are greater than the adversary.
“It doesn’t matter, you probably don’t even understand what I’m saying. You take action without thinking about the consequences. I don’t know what my father was into. I heard the rumors, but he never did bring his work home with him.” I walked towards the door, standing vigil and motioning for him to leave without fanfare.
William was standing close by, but he had decided to keep his mouth shut. Their main concern was the occupant of this house. He was sure that, given time, Mr. Black would find a reason to use misguided judgment not befitting of a man of his standing. It was said that those tattoos were a painful reminder of those he had faced. The tattoos signified a kill to be memorialized.
“You’re just like your father. You can take that any way you want, but it’s not a compliment. Be careful about opening up something you can’t close. You don’t want me coming back here again. This first time was to search for the child in question. I want you to be aware there are eyes everywhere. I don’t need to be here to watch you or your friend.
“Why is William here? He has never shown anything that resembled practicing magic. If I had proof of magic being performed, then this whole thing would have played out much differently.” He stood in front of me as an intimidation tactic. He had me trembling on the inside, but I was holding my tongue and hoping my resolve would stay strong until he vacated my home.
Abruptly, he made a face and went out the door with the Guardians following suit. Not one of them showed me any concern or respect. They were following orders like good soldiers should.
“I could see the merit of raising an army against the tyrannical ways of the Elders. It was a matter of picking and choosing sides. There was something in the air. I didn’t want to believe war was inevitable, but I feared the world I knew was a powder keg ready to explode.
“You’ve made your position quite clear, Mr. Black. You can go back to the puppeteers and tell them there are no little boys here. I would be very careful because sometimes the Elders can be quite unforgiving. They assigned you a task and you failed to produce what they sent you after. I don’t know about you, but if I were in your shoes, I would be scared out of my mind.” He stopped on the sidewalk and looked back with judgment and condemnation in his eyes.
I could see that he was about to say something, but I didn’t give him the chance. I slammed the door and breathed a sigh of relief I had been able to stand up to him. The Elders were a force onto themselves, but they had made it necessary to delegate certain responsibilities. The role was given to Mr. Black, although nobody really understood how he came into power. There was no consensus and the community had no say in his placement. We had always believed we were a democracy, but that all changed when magic was forbidden.
It was subtle at first, with the Elders’ taking a more active stance against the use of magic. The action taken by them was never one discussed in an open forum. They were given the power to make things better, but they only got worse.
The Elders’ power grew, and before anyone knew what was happening, the world we knew had changed. A society built on trust was turned into something ugly over time. Those practicing magic were punished according to the three chances.
There were some who believed the Elders’ bypassed some of the safe guards, and there was no way to know if the three stages of the law were being adhered to. We had a chance to voice our concerns at the very beginning of magic prohibition, but nobody took advantage of it other than Jasper.
Chapter Fourteen
Was William even breathing? I was hoping we could stand against them together, but he had shown his true colors. I had to scrutinize him carefully,, wondering if working with him was only going to cause more problems than it was worth. He was afraid of saying anything in fear of retaliation. I didn’t blame him because
I felt the same way. The only difference was, I didn’t allow it to hold me hostage.
“That was intense and you could feel it in the air. He was daring you to slip up and you held strong. I can only imagine what it felt like. I’ve never been able to stand up to him or the Guardians. You make one wrong move and you become a message to the others.”
We had all seen our fair share of how the Elders held their power in the palm of their fists. The one public figurehead was Elder Masters. The others kept cloistered, away from the prying eyes of others. Nobody was sure how many elders there were.
“I’m a little disappointed you caved so quickly. I thought you were better than that. It concerns me how you’re going to react when faced with a more serious dilemma. There are going to be casualties in this war and there’s no way around that. People will fall, friend and foe. We can’t delude ourselves into thinking the world we want doesn’t come with sacrifices.” I wanted William to understand I could take care of myself, but I also wanted him to be strong. It was a bit of a mixed message, but I was complicated in so many ways.
“I’m sorry you feel that way. It was never my intention to give you false hope. Mr. Black is not someone to be taken lightly, but he’s nothing compared to the hunter out there waiting to consume the magic. It’s lucky Mr. Black doesn’t have any magic. If he did, I’m sure he would have felt what was coming off of you in waves. It was not just hatred, Gillian, but a powerful need to use the magic eyes. I don’t know if I can make this any clearer. You need to be careful. The will to survive in you is stronger than you believe.”
I stood there wondering what he could mean by that. It seemed cryptic, but it was like he was trying to tell me something.
“I promise I will never lose control. I might falter and have trouble balancing each part of what makes me a whole, but I’ll always keep it together. Things have changed, and I can’t decide if it’s for the better.” I walked back to where Damien was last seen. I could feel the phantom of his presence. I sensed that he was still alive, but where he had gone was a mystery.
“I’ve been around long enough to see some amazing things. What happened to Damien is something I wouldn’t have believed unless I saw it for myself. We both witnessed something we can’t explain. Damien could’ve been the one who did that. It could be the hunter found him and took him right from underneath our nose. I hope he did this himself. It would mean he’s stronger and willing to use what he has for the greater good.”
William’s words had conviction, but I wasn’t sure that he was willing to back them up with actions. “I assure you he will find his way back to us when the time is right. Don’t ask me to explain; I wouldn’t even know where to begin. The students are not going to be easily placated. I heard rumblings from soft whispers in my head. They are ready to do something. I need more information, and the only way to get it is by going to where my father spent most of his time. I’m not talking about the obvious. There’s a reason why he went to the library.” I had mistakenly thought he was trying to distance himself from his own daughter.
“The library is fortified with too many security measures. You would have to be a damn fool to try to get in after curfew. The Guardians patrol the grounds, splitting their focus from the library to where the Elders are stationed. Nobody dares cross the perimeter of the asylum. They have given us every reason to believe what they have said about the place. I don’t know what is fact or fiction, but the prudent course of action is to take one step at a time.” It was a complicated time in history; one ripe with the possibility of death around every corner.
That was never more transparent than when the Elders made a spectacle of someone who practiced magic. It was still discussed amongst those who had witnessed it first hand. People were talking, but they were doing it under the cover of darkness. Something was building, and it was going to lead to necessitate violence.
“I have a way, but it’s not without its risks. My father hid something, and found it. I’m not talking about magic eyes, but a strange silver card that shows its markings when you turn it in the light in just the right way. I found it going through his many periodicals. I knew it was important, but I had no idea my father put it in my path for a reason. I have to believe in something bigger than myself.” I had to pick up where my father left off. I couldn’t do that without putting aside my irrational fear of being caught in the act.
“Your father has always been one step ahead. The Elders placed him within the library to control his actions because they didn’t want him to speak out for magic. He thought he was in what they considered purgatory. He was ostracized from his peers. It was punishment, but he made good use of his time. It was worthwhile to dig into those dusty books and find something to turn the tide in our favor. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to say what he found. He was quite secretive and was worried about who could be trusted. I thought he was paranoid, but it’s not paranoia when somebody really is out to get you. He was careful to a fault, but he must’ve done enough to cause them to act.”
William was making it sound like the Elders had a hand in what happened to my father.
“It’s all a matter of conjecture. We can make unsubstantiated accusations, or find something more tangible to get our hands on. I feel I have been given a purpose and I’m not going to let him down. Before this, I wasn’t capable of stirring the pot. I was content with the status quo. However, my father’s death touched something inside me.” I wanted to know what had happened to Damien. I had a feeling what I was seeking was closer than I knew.
I decided the best kind of defense was a good offense. I went into his study. There didn’t seem to be a method to his madness, but there had to be. Books were scattered with some of the pages turned. I’d found Mr. Coleman snooping around inside the study obviously looking for the magic eyes. I would give them up over my dead body.
William sat in one corner, mumbling underneath his breath, which I found cute. It meant he had flaws and was not perfect. I didn’t expect him to be. It was nice to know he could be rattled. Mr. Black had upset us both, and I was still shaking on the inside. I made a point to go over to him from time to time and place my hand reassuringly on his shoulder.
He would pat my hand and send this charge of the excitement running through my lower extremities. I couldn’t help my feelings for him. I had satisfied my curiosity by kissing him. I wanted more of that intimate connection, but I wasn’t going to do anything as foolish as sleeping with him. That would come only when the time was right. A ceremony had to take place to join our souls. It was a daunting proposition that had only been taken on by those of pure spirit.
I rooted through his private notations and found some of what he had said in the last couple of weeks that I thought was gibberish. There were series of numbers and most were duplicated with the number 55. There had to be more to it. The number 55 was important. It was hard not to see it, but maybe it was my perception of things through the use of magic eyes.
“This is ridiculous. If there is any rhyme or reason to anything you see here then I’m not seeing it. All of this seems random, like we are chasing our tails around in a circle. There must’ve been something to it for him to make bold claims. I’m sure he was looking for something, but I can’t find it in all of this. I need to get some rest; my eyes feel as heavy as lead. I don’t know how long you expect to stay here, but I do hope you’ll find some time to close your eyes. You won’t be good for anything if you’re not fully refreshed and ready for what they’re going to hand you.” I wanted to follow William and curl into his arms with his heartbeat lulling me into a false sense of security.
“I know it’s here somewhere and I’m just not seeing it. It’s probably staring me right in the face, laughing at me the entire time. I don’t like the feeling of being mocked. You go ahead and get some sleep; I appreciate all the help.” It wasn’t like he could go home after curfew. They would find him and he would be brought to the asylum. One day inside would be more than enough. Th
ose able to leave had come out affected in a deep and profound way.
“I would suggest using magic eyes, but I don’t think you should do that with the hunter out there. We may feel safe and secure behind these four walls, but there’s no telling how their personal bloodhound will react.” He walked away, and the view from behind was something I couldn’t take my eyes off of. His nicely proportioned half moons were a delight. I wanted to sink my teeth into them.
I was embarrassed, a slight blush along my cheeks indicating he had gotten underneath my skin. I took a deep breath and fanned away the excess heat in the room caused by both of us being in close proximity. The kiss had lingered on my lips, and I could still taste him like a powerful aphrodisiac encouraging me to run headlong into his arms.
My pulse was racing and my mind conjuring up naughty images. Fantasies were one thing, but making them into reality was something else entirely. Those caught having relations without going through the necessary channels of commitment were doomed to repeat the same mistakes of those that had come before them. It meant five days of torturous hell behind the asylum doors.
My head was spinning with explicit thoughts of William in various states of undress. I had to get my head out of the gutter.
Nothing was certain, and thinking of my father with his head in the books was the only thing I had to go on. He had always been of a studious nature, but that had become something of an obsession. I had to get in touch with what was left of him. The answer was in this mess. It was going to take somebody with his genes to unravel what had come under scrutiny.
I lay back amongst the books making snow angels and finding myself giddy from lack of sleep. I closed my eyes and the swirl of light found underneath my lids had me wondering what it was all about. The lights exploded and blinded me. I thought something jarring like that would make me rear back up into a seating position, but it didn’t.
