by Sarah Noffke
“It looks like a solid wooden door, actually,” John said, confusion in his voice.
“It does?” Liv asked. “So you aren’t seeing a mirrored surface?”
John shook his head. “No. Just a regular door. What does it do?”
“When you step through, it puts you into a dreamlike state, and you see one of your worst fears,” Liv explained. “It’s supposed to release something from Councilors and Warriors so that we are freer or more honest or something when we’re in the Chamber of the Tree.”
“But that isn’t a problem for the Mortal Seven,” Clark said from behind them.
Liv and John swung around to face the neatly dressed magician, who was holding the Forgotten Archives. He held up the book.
“I’ve been studying this extensively, and the Mortal Seven were brought into the House because magicians were thought to be corrupted by magic. We needed the objectivity of mortals to reign over magical law. That’s why they control that element. And my research has indicated that out of each of the Mortal Seven families, the one picked for the council is chosen by the chimera. They were spelled to find the ones who were morally astute and trustworthy.”
Liv smiled proudly at John. “That’s Mr. Carraway, all right.”
He blushed. “I wouldn’t say that. Maybe I’m just ignorant or boring and don’t know any better.”
Liv laughed at his typical attempt to dismiss his awesomeness. “Just accept that you’re the best, John.”
“Or maybe the only option. I don’t have any living relatives that I am aware of,” he explained. “Something has always happened to my family members, taking them before their time.”
That had always sounded strange to Liv, but now it reeked of conspiracies related to the House.
“So the Mortal Seven don’t need to pass through the Door of Reflection to enter the Chamber of the Tree?” Liv asked Clark.
He shook his head. “I don’t think so, but I’m uncertain what lies in the chamber. It seems that the House is different for the Mortal Seven than for us.”
A chill ran down Liv’s back. She was intrigued and nervous to see how John’s presence would change the world she had known.
Chapter Seven
The Door of Reflection swallowed Liv the way it always did, taking over her senses. Her current reality disappeared as a new vision played before her eyes. For a moment, she thought that she’d skipped the whole passing through the Door of Reflection business and had simply stepped into the Chamber of the Tree. But John was sitting at the bench, although she knew he was entering after her. Beside him were blurry faces, along with the other Councilors she knew.
Liv took her spot next to Stefan, not looking at him although she could feel his penetrating gaze on her. Haro began to address the Warriors, giving his attention to Maria Rosario first. His words passed over Liv, their meaning not even registering, like scrambled words over an intercom.
“We can’t give up,” Stefan urged, speaking from the corner of his mouth.
“We already have,” Liv replied at once, keeping her chin high and eyes on the council.
“No, you did,” he argued.
“It’s over.”
“But we never even had a chance.”
“The law is the law,” she stated, not recognizing her tone. Liv didn’t sound like herself. When had something being law mattered to her?
She suddenly felt corrupted, like she wasn’t herself anymore. She’d given up. She’d caved to the laws. Liv had become everything she’d fought against.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped completely through the Door of Reflection into the real Chamber of the Tree.
The room appeared exactly like in her vision, except that John and the faceless Mortal Seven weren’t sitting at the bench with the council. Liv pretended to be unflustered as she took her spot between Stefan and Spencer Sinclair. Standing next to the figure she was sure she’d killed in the swamp was actually much less strange than being beside Stefan. The version of Spencer she’d killed had been an illusion, but the one in the chamber? Well, she didn’t know yet. And Stefan, like in the dream from the Door of Reflection, was looking at her directly, his stare seeming to burn her insides.
Clark stepped through the Door of Reflection next and hurried to his spot on the bench, an eager expression on his face. He carried the Forgotten Archives.
“So, I hear you’ve made progress,” Stefan said in a whisper.
Liv straightened, this experience mirroring the one she’d had moments prior. “Progress? No, I haven’t had a chance.”
From the corner of her vision, she saw him squint. “But the council said a Mortal Seven had been found.”
“Oh, him,” Liv said with relief. She thought he was referring to her diving into the laws on relationships and Royals. “Yes, I guess I did.”
“You guess?” Stefan said with a laugh as the council muttered among themselves, discussing something animatedly. “Out of a few billion people, you found one of seven who will help to restore balance to the House.”
“Well, he was literally living in the same building as me, and was also my boss,” Liv admitted. “So it wasn’t really that hard.”
“Yes, strange coincidence,” Stefan mused.
“Not really. Just another Plato conspiracy.”
“How do I get a magical lynx to watch out for me?” Stefan asked.
“Your parents make a deal and die,” Liv replied morbidly.
He nodded like this made perfect sense. “I’ll remember that for when I have my own children.”
Liv’s stomach flip-flopped. Did he really have to make that comment? Usually, she would have laughed, making a joke about how he’d spawn little demon children he wouldn’t even need to worry about. That was before, though. Things were different now. They were hard.
Everyone’s attention flew to John when he stepped through the door into the chamber. He paused, looking back over his shoulder.
Whispers filled the room.
“Mr. Carraway, I take it?” Haro asked, his tone welcoming. “You’re in the right place.”
John glanced at the council before looking directly at Liv. She offered him an encouraging smile. He didn’t return it, but instead, turned back for the door, like he was second-guessing this whole thing.
“Mr. Carraway, are you all right?” Hester DeVries asked.
“This is the right place, in case you think you’re lost,” Bianca stated, not sounding as sensitive as the others, but rather bored.
“Oh, I know that,” John stated. “I was just wondering if my dog would be joining me.”
“Dog?” Kayla asked, repugnance in her voice. “We don’t allow animals in the Chamber of the Tree.”
Liv grinned slightly, catching the sly expression in Clark’s eyes. He hadn’t told the council yet. They had left it to him to study the Forgotten Archives since research was his specialty, and the volume was vast, complicated, and detailed.
“Well, I don’t go anywhere without Pickles,” John stated forcefully. It was a surprise to hear him take that tone with anyone.
“Pickles?” Bianca said smugly. “I really must object. I mean, firstly, we don’t even know for certain that this mortal is one of the Seven. All we have is Ms. Beaufont’s word on the matter—”
“Which should be enough,” Raina argued. “She stated with one-hundred-percent confidence that she knew this man to be one of the Mortal Seven.”
“Secondly,” Bianca said hotly, obviously perturbed at being interrupted. “Now we have random mortals running around the House with their pets. This is really a disgrace. There must be boundaries.”
“Actually, I think part of the proof is in the fact that John Carraway is standing before us,” Haro reasoned. “Otherwise he wouldn’t have been allowed entry into the House.”
“Although that’s true,” Lorenzo began, a challenging quality to his voice, “we have also been able to confirm that he has the family blood of the Carloway, which later mor
phed into the name ‘Carraway.’ That should be enough to grant him access to the House.”
“And again, how we are to determine who the actual Mortal Seven are?” Bianca asked. “How do we know that Ms. Beaufont hasn’t simply picked this man because he is connected to her? You are her employer at that laundromat where she works, correct?”
John chuckled like this was funny. “Electronics repair shop, actually. The laundromat is on the same block, though, if you’re looking for it.”
“I have never been on the hunt for such a thing,” Bianca stated.
“I think,” Clark said carefully, “it is time that I reveal what we’ve learned about determining the Mortal Seven. The council has been buried in elf negotiations, and so has left that aspect of the Forgotten Archives to me.”
Bianca sighed. “Honestly, no one has had any interest in it but you, Mr. Beaufont. Some of us have real matters to attend to.”
“I am interested,” Hester argued.
“I am as well,” Raina added.
Haro cleared his throat. “It is true that the elf negotiations have consumed our attention. We’ve had many changes to the House, and I think all of our attention has been divided. I’d very much like to hear what you’ve discovered, Councilor Beaufont.”
Clark smiled with giddy delight as he cracked open the Forgotten Archives. “Well, you see, I discovered that each Mortal Seven was guarded by—”
Gasps fell from almost everyone’s mouth, interrupting Clark, as Pickles in chimera form stepped into the Chamber of the Tree.
Jude and Diabolos both stepped out of the shadows, their eyes intent upon the majestic creature.
John grinned, petting the lion’s head when it ambled up next to him. “There you are, buddy. I was wondering about you. Now sit, Pickles.”
Chapter Eight
Hester and Raina bounded out of their seats, their eyes wide and mouths open.
“This is Pickles?” Bianca asked, sounding unsure whether she should be impressed or repulsed.
“I don’t understand,” Haro began, his head tilted to the side like he was computing a math problem. “You, Mr. Carraway, own a chimera?” He directed his attention to Liv. “Is that how you found him?”
Before Liv could reply, the part of the tree connected to the surname Carraway glowed brightly. A branch grew out of it, unfurling like a blossom on a spring morning. The name “John” illuminated above the branch, intensifying more than all the rest before dimming. Together, all the branches of the tree with the names of the Councilors and Warriors swayed slightly as if caught in a breeze. Everyone stared in awe, watching the display with quiet interest.
“Yes. As I was saying,” Clark said in a clear, loud voice, bringing everyone’s attention back to him. “I discovered that the Mortal Seven were each gifted with a chimera by the founders as a symbol of goodwill. These chimeras were to guard the Mortal Seven, but also, when they passed, they were to select the next member to replace them.”
“So they are eternal beings,” Haro mused.
Clark nodded. “Yes, and they are experts at determining the right person from each family to represent the Mortal Seven.”
“So, unlike the Magician Seven, who are appointed, these are magically chosen,” Raina said, intrigue in her tone.
“How do we know the chimeras are suitable for such tasks?” Bianca asked.
Liv rolled her eyes. “They are immortal beings who were created by the founders for exactly that purpose.”
The Warriors around her nodded in agreement. Well, everyone but Spencer. He didn’t appear to be completely present, simply staring off as if bored by the events.
“And your employer had a chimera following him around, is that right?” Bianca asked. “I guess finding this Mortal Seven wasn’t so difficult after all.”
“The chimeras are actually disguised,” Clark explained.
“Disguised?” Kayla asked, leaning forward. “As what?”
“As pets,” Clark answered simply. “Pickles, for instance, was a Jack Russell terrier before Liv released him into chimera form. Now he can pop back and forth.”
“Released him?” Kayla’s expression had grown suddenly alert. “How did you do that?”
Liv narrowed her eyes at the magician she didn’t trust. “I was gifted with the ability by an expert on chimeras.”
“And that gift?” The intrigue on Kayla’s face didn’t sit right with Liv. A cautionary glance at Clark told her that he suddenly had the same concern.
“It was a spell. I can’t replicate it or give it to you or anyone else,” Liv explained.
That didn’t satisfy Kayla’s curiosity. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by Lorenzo.
“So you, Ms. Beaufont, plan to use this technique to find the other representatives? Is that right?”
“I’m going to try,” Liv said carefully, her gaze sliding back to Kayla.
“This is just fascinating,” Hester stated delightedly. She scooted down the bench. “I think we ought to make room for Councilor Carraway and his chimera.”
“I don’t think there’s enough room,” Bianca complained.
“Oh, don’t be silly.” Raina picked up her tablet and shuffled down the long bench.
“But the chimera is huge,” Lorenzo stated, grimacing at the creature.
On cue, Pickles shrunk into terrier form and followed John as he made his way up the stairs to the bench.
Lorenzo, Kayla, and Bianca didn’t budge as he tried to find a spot. Haro and Raina stood. Hester patted a space between her and Raina, offering him a welcoming spot. “Come join us, Councilor Carraway.”
“And since no one has said it,” Raina said, “welcome to the House. We are excited for you to join us.”
The three on the far end didn’t appear at all excited as John took a seat and Pickles jumped into his lap, panting softly.
Clark was still browsing through the Forgotten Archives when Kayla snapped at him. “I want to know more about these chimeras. You say they protect the Mortal Seven?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Clark said, his gaze connecting with Liv’s momentarily.
“So if he was attacked, the dog would protect him?” Kayla asked.
“In theory,” Clark stated.
“Although it wouldn’t have to be a dog,” Haro mused. “You said ‘pet,’ isn’t that right?”
Clark sighed. “I guess it wouldn’t. In John’s case, it was.”
“This is my case,” Liv cut in. “I assure you that I’m capable of finding the Mortal Seven, and don’t need to take any more of the council’s time and attention with the matter.”
“It is the council’s responsibility to monitor your activity, which pertains to what you do, how you do it, and when,” Kayla argued.
“Three times. A protein bar, a sandwich, and nachos. At roughly nine this morning, noon, and six o’clock,” Liv stated.
“What are you talking about?” Kayla nearly yelled, her black hair falling in her face.
“That’s how many times I ate today, what I ate, and when,” Liv answered. “I’ll tell you about my sleep schedule next. That’s a little more complicated, as I sleep about as often as Bianca smiles.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Bianca cut in.
“Rarely,” Liv stated, batting her eyes at the other woman and smiling sweetly.
“Really, Ms. Beaufont is making a mockery of this Council again,” Bianca complained.
“Although, I agree that Warrior Beaufont is not acting entirely mature,” Haro began, “she has made her point. The council does monitor the Warrior’s behavior, but we aren’t in the position to micromanage. I believe Warrior Beaufont has more than proven she doesn’t need us overseeing her missions. And I daresay, our time could be spent in better places.”
“The elf negotiations, for one,” Raina said, directing her gaze at her brother Stefan. “You’ve made progress?”
He nodded. “I have erased all threats to the elves, earning
their loyalty. However, for some reason, they still seem unwilling to ally with us.”
“That’s because they are a bunch of Neanderthals who can’t be reasoned with,” Lorenzo stated. “We are most assuredly better off without them.”
“I have to disagree,” Hester rebutted. “If we are to fix the House and what it does for the magical community, we will need all major races on board.”
“Which means mortals as well,” John stated.
Everyone paused, regarding him like they expected him to keep talking.
He stiffened, holding Pickles closer. “One of the House’s original purposes was to protect the mortal world, right?”
Hester nodded. “That’s correct. But currently, the elves don’t want to adhere to the House’s rules, which makes us partially ineffective. And we fear that if they break away, other races will as well.”
“And then the House will be useless,” John gathered.
She nodded.
“But if Councilor…” John paused, looking straight at Lorenzo.
“Rosario,” he supplied.
“If Councilor Rosario sees elves as unimportant, they must sense this on some level,” John stated.
“That’s ridiculous,” he spat.
“Actually,” Stefan cut in, “during my conversations with the elves, they mentioned not being respected by the Royals.”
“I wouldn’t want to form an alliance with people who didn’t respect me either,” John stated.
“I agree,” Raina affirmed. “Which means that maybe the negotiations fall on the council now. Stefan has done what he can to earn their goodwill. What we need is to prove that every one of us respects them and wants their allegiance.”
“This is a waste of time,” Lorenzo said, his face growing red. “We’ve spent enough time trying to convince the elves. Let them split from us. We’ll form stronger alliances with others.”
“I don’t disagree, but let’s put it to a vote,” Haro suggested.
When everyone agreed, the council voted whether to spend their time earning the elves’ favor. As usual, Hester, Raina, and Clark voted to continue to build bridges with the elves. Bianca, Kayla, Lorenzo, and a seemingly torn Haro voted against it.
