Exodus of Magic (The Mysterium Chronicles Book 1)

by Simone Pond

  “In trouble with the elders?” I asked.

  “My brother likes to take things into his own hands. Thinks we’re not doing anything to help ourselves. We remind him of the prophecy, but he’s impatient. Anyway, he’s usually not here. We don’t know where he goes after he upsets the balance.”

  I didn’t know what Daniel meant by upsetting the balance, but Matthias was absolutely correct about the water situation. I was about to tell Daniel about the florocid powder from the silver mines, but the back door slammed, and Matthias stormed into the living room.

  “So you’re supposed to be the Chosen One?” He practically laughed, and as insulted as I should’ve been, I had the same sentiment.

  “I guess so,” I said.

  Matthias headed for the fireplace and knelt down so he could poke at the logs, making the embers spark. “A right-bank Oligarch? It makes no sense.”

  “I was adopted,” I said.

  “Yeah, but you were raised among slavers—the Prime Master for Ancient’s sake. We’re supposed to believe you’re gonna help us? I’m not buyin’ it. Gotta be some kinda ruse.”

  Daniel got out of his chair and stormed over to Matthias and shoved him. I chuckled under my breath. Kindhearted, lanky Daniel standing up to his big-mouthed, brawny older brother. I expected Matthias to blow a gasket, but he just got up and brushed himself off.

  “You can’t stay here,” Matthias informed me.

  “Wasn’t planning on it.”

  “Do you have a plan? You can’t go back to the right bank. You checked the newsfeed lately? Your pretty face is plastered all over it.” Matthias started laughing and looked at his younger brother. “I’d say we got screwed out of a Chosen One, brother.”

  That time, Daniel wasn’t as reserved when he went after his brother. He lunged at Matthias and took him down, the wooden floor creaking as the two wrestled. Some punches got thrown and insults exchanged. I jumped out of my chair and went to pry them apart, but Haggai stepped into the living room and stomped his foot, hard. The entire house shook. On the stairs behind me, three young girls scurried back up to the second floor. Matthias released Daniel from his stranglehold. Daniel got in one last punch to Matthias’s arm.

  “If we can’t keep the peace within our own walls, how can we ever resolve anything outside of them?” Haggai’s voice thundered through the room.

  “Sorry, Father. He’s trying to make Jordan feel lousy,” Daniel said.

  “No matter, son, we don’t war against our own blood. It’s not the Ancient way,” Haggai said.

  The wise man’s words cut deep into my chest. Guilt. Shame. I’d been fighting against my own people since I arrived in Mysterium fifteen years earlier. I could understand why Matthias didn’t thoroughly trust me. Though I still thought he was an ass.

  The energy of the room began to settle, and I stood next to Haggai as I looked down at Matthias next to his brother on the floor.

  “I know this is crazy. Look, I’m probably the most freaked out. I’ve been vying to win the approval of the Prime Master since I was ten years old. I even became an operative. And now I’m being told I’m supposed to lead an uprising for the opposing team? I’m being pulled in two directions. But I’m not going to argue with prophecy, which means we’re stuck with me being the Chosen One. And since Magnus has already launched a media attack on me, I suggest we start discussing a strategy.”

  Reluctantly, Matthias pulled himself up and with hesitation, he reached out his hand. “Prophecy is prophecy.”

  I shook his hand, hoping this would be the restart button, but a loud banging on the front door ensued.

  Haggai’s eyes darted to Matthias. “Go, now. Take her with you!”

  Matthias grabbed my hand and pulled me from the living room toward the kitchen with Daniel following behind.

  In the kitchen, Matthias stood next to a tall cupboard and opened the cabinet doors. Daniel helped him remove a few of the shelves to reveal another panel that they took off.

  “Hurry, go!” Matthias said, pointing to a black hole where the panel was just seconds ago.

  I climbed into the cupboard and went feet-first into the hole, slipping into the darkness. I dropped about fifteen feet onto an old mattress and rolled off to the side. Someone tossed down a bag, and then Matthias dropped onto the mattress. The light from the hole above disappeared into blackness, then came the quick clatter of dishes and cabinet drawers slamming shut.

  “Come on!” Matthias pulled my hand and ran into the pitch-black tunnel.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Out of Mysterium,” Matthias said.

  My eyes started to adjust to the darkness. The tunnel looked to stretch for miles. I yanked my hand away and stopped running. Matthias slowed down, then stopped.

  “What are you doing, Temple? We gotta go.”

  “You need to tell me where we’re going first,” I demanded.

  After a long pause, he said, “The Madlands.”

  Though we were already inside a tight tunnel, it felt like the dirt walls and general mustiness of the air had closed in tighter, suffocating me. The Madlands? Was he absolutely out of his mind? The Madlands was the worst city in the Confederated Six, and the place you only threatened to send people under the most unfortunate circumstances. Only magical misfits and the criminally deranged resided in the Madlands. You went there only if you never wanted to be seen again.

  “Are you nuts? Or just trying to get rid of me?” I asked.

  “Do you have another city in mind? Cos I don’t. I have a safe place in the Madlands where I meet up with my people on a regular basis. You’re gonna just have to trust me on this.” Matthias lifted his chin, challenging me.

  The other surrounding cities weren’t much better options. Pyre, the closest, wasn’t safe, regardless of whatever deals the counselor had made with the bloodsuckers. Never trust vampires. There was a reason Mysterium had silver alloy walls all around the perimeter. I could possibly return to Alexandria—I still had ties there from my childhood—but so did my mother and the Prime Master. The healers and harlots would be far more loyal to the Bachar bloodline than an orphaned traitor. That left Endor with its witches and warlocks, and Lycaeon with its shapeshifters. Since Magnus was of warlock descent, Endor was out. I didn’t have any issues with shifters. For the most part, they kept to themselves.

  I jogged after Matthias, who had already started running ahead. “What about Lycaeon?”

  “Not gonna work,” he said.

  “Let me guess … you pissed off the Alpha?”

  He glanced over at me with a mischievous grin. “Nah. It was an encantado.”

  “A what?”

  “They’re water snakes that can shapeshift into human form at night.”

  “I don’t see why upsetting one water snake would mess up your relations with the whole city. The situation can’t be as bad as going to the Madlands,” I said.

  “Well … actually … it was an entire royal bloodline of encantados, and one of them was engaged to the Alpha of Lycaeon.”

  “Nice work,” I said.

  “I didn’t know. I’d never encountered that type of creature before. I was at a ball, listening to the four-string quartet—totally mesmerized. Apparently, the sneaky seductresses have some serious musical abilities. And they’re gorgeous … One of them got hold of my mind, reeled me in like a fish on a hook. She took me to her lair on their river island and fed on me for at least a week. One night while she was out, I tricked one of the other encantados into freeing me from my cocoon so we could, well … you know—”

  “Wait,” I interrupted, “was she in human form?”

  He stopped short and stared at me. “What do you think I am?”

  “I don’t know anything about you. Other than that you tried to attack me with two mages about an hour ago.”

  “Fair enough. Anyway, let’s just say I killed the creature, destroyed their lair, and got the hell out of Lycaeon. Pretty sure the Alpha has a bounty on my
head. He was madly in love with the serpent-wench. Emphasis on the madly.”

  Matthias reached into his bag and pulled out a silver knife tucked in a sheath and handed it to me. “Keep this with you at all times. I know you have your Chosen One magic, but you never know when a silver knife might come in handy.”

  Then he started up again, but no longer running. Just a quick-paced power walk through the darkness.

  “So the Madlands it is,” I concluded.

  CHAPTER 17

  The trek through the dark and musty tunnel lasted thirty minutes and led us to the River Elin. Matthias and I mixed in with the fishery workers as they hustled to open the warehouses and drag their heavy ice boxes to the front. The sun was starting to peep up in the east and the early-morning light stung my tired eyes. Another night with no sleep. The magic had been keeping me going, but now I was on empty. Each footstep dragged like a heavy bag of wet clothes. I stopped next to one of the ice boxes and rested a minute.

  “Keep up, Temple. Unless you want to get snagged by a Topaz,” Matthias said.

  “I’m fading,” I murmured.

  “Another half mile to go.”

  The thought of trudging another half inch was too much, so I stood still with my eyes closed and allowed the sun to warm my cheeks. I was legitimately drained of all energy. A hand rested on the crown of my head, startling my eyes open. Matthias stood before me, looking down with his gray eyes gleaming ever so slightly.

  “What are you—”

  “Shh,” he whispered, keeping his hand rested on my head.

  I focused on his gaze as a warm tingle began to trickle from the top of my head over my temples, down my neck and spine, and into my legs. He was using magic to restore and renew energy throughout my entire body, which now buzzed with vivacity. He had breathed life into my spirit. I felt lifted and wanted to hug him.

  He removed his hand and stepped away. “Can we go now?”

  My smile dipped and I nodded. He turned and began walking up the dirt path.

  “Can you give me some more details? I don’t like not knowing the plan,” I said.

  “We’re gonna hop a cargo boat,” he said.

  “Then what?”

  “Like I said, I’ve got some people in the Madlands. We have a safe place where we meet up. We’ll regroup, discuss your strategy on how you’re planning to lead the Ancients to freedom.” There was a condescending tone in his voice.

  “I’m not really sure how I’m supposed to pull that off at the moment. I just found out I’m the Chosen One. It’s a lot to take in, you know?”

  Matthias chuckled and glanced at me from the corners of his eyes. “Yeah, I bet. Especially since you’re in bed with the very people who put us into bondage.”

  I swallowed the fireball of rage rising up my throat. No need to get emotional now. Not when Matthias was the only way out of this predicament. I thought it best to change the subject.

  “So, are the Madlands really as awful as they say?” I asked.

  “All that and more. Someone of your stature probably won’t do well there.” He chuffed.

  “You’re just as bad,” I blurted, wishing I hadn’t let my damn emotions slip through the cracks. I didn’t want to waste energy engaging in any drama.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  I exhaled slowly. “You tend to be a bit pompous.” I’d lied about the amount part. He was a lot pompous.

  “What? You’re out of your mind, Temple. It’s impossible for the oppressed to be pretentious.” His pale cheeks grew red as he glared at me.

  “I didn’t say pretentious. I said pompous. There’s a difference.”

  His steps became more deliberate and heavier as he strode forward. I let him walk ahead. If he couldn’t see the truth about himself, what was the point in trying to force the issue? The man was a self-important, overbearing tyrant. Okay, maybe tyrant was a bit over-the-top. But he was definitely a proud man with a cinderblock on his shoulder.

  When we got to the cargo boat, I stood on the dock, not at all confident. I’d been expecting a large cargo or shipping boat like the ones that go to the right bank. This was a ramshackle tugboat that could maybe carry ten people, at best. I glanced over to the group of dirt-ridden, barefoot runaways gathered on the riverbank in their rags. I counted eight.

  “You’re kidding, right?” I said.

  “Sorry it’s not the Crown River Queen that you’re used to, my lady,” he said.

  “First of all, I don’t even know what that is. Second of all, I’m more concerned about survival, not convenience.”

  He looked at the boat, the runaways, then back to me. “Ten of us in the lower compartment. Two men on the upper deck. We’ll be fine.”

  His idea of fine and mine were vastly different.

  “That boat can’t hold all of us,” I argued.

  He just laughed. “Ye of little faith, Temple.”

  “Ye have little practicality, Matthias.”

  A slight grin spread on his lips when I said his name, but the second he realized it, he frowned and walked over to the two men in charge. I went over to the group of runaways.

  “Hi, I’m Jordan.”

  They huddled close together to stay warm. I couldn’t tell if they were from the left bank or somewhere else. Their tanned skin, cinnamon-colored eyes, and hair as black as onyx was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

  “Where are you from?” I asked.

  They remained quiet, perhaps out of fear of talking to a right banker.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you,” I said.

  “It’s best if we don’t share information,” said the eldest woman. She must’ve been the matriarch of the family.

  Matthias approached. “Time to get on board.”

  The ten of us crammed into the dank space below the deck, sitting on narrow wooden benches that faced each other. The small cargo boat chugged away from the bank and pushed into the river’s forceful currents. Matthias’s shoulder pressed up against mine, and if it weren’t for the cold chill coming off the River Elin, I would’ve been less welcoming of the physical contact. His body heat helped keep me warm.

  “Where are they from?” I whispered.

  “They’re some of the original Ancients from the city of Shteim'esrei. Their ancestors split off from ours. They became nomads and we became slaves of Mysterium.”

  I nodded.

  Matthias shook his head, slightly irritated. “Now they’re being hunted. This group was imprisoned in Pyre for a while, but they escaped and have been on the run.”

  I looked over at the matriarch of the family, feeling a deep sadness. “So they don’t have a home?”

  “None of the Ancients have a home anymore,” he said.

  “Mysterium is your home,” I said.

  “Yeah, that’s what you’ve been told. You don’t know the real story.”

  “Well, tell me,” I said.

  “Centuries ago, the Ancient One created Shteim'esrei. He gave his people special magic because he loved them dearly. But over time, a dark force entered the city and infiltrated the hearts of the people, tricking them into using their magic for selfish gain. The evil force grew more and more powerful. He turned many of the Ancients into various wicked creatures who in turn committed horrible acts against each other. They turned away from the Ancient One and bowed down to this new dark deity. You might know his name.”

  “Ashtar. His statues are all over the right bank. We were taught to revere him, though I never bought into it,” I said.

  “You knew in your heart it was wrong. Anyway, when people started turning away from the Ancient One, he warned them to stop, but they wouldn’t. The ones who listened left Shteim'esrei. Evil was taking over. Finally, the Ancient One sent a blast from the heavens and scattered these evil creatures across the land. Wars broke out, until finally Ashtar came up with a solution: divide the various factions into cities. Thus, the Confederated Six came into being.”

  Though it wa
s my first time hearing the actual story, it seemed familiar—as though I had known this truth my entire life. Still, I had many questions.

  “How does Mysterium fit into this?” I asked.

  “Mysterium is a special case. Originally, the city was protected from the other factions because it was mostly made up of pure-blood Ancients who had escaped before the great blast. They still had tremendous magical powers and worshiped only the Ancient One, and for that they were kept safe from the surrounding cities. Yet, over time Ashtar’s influence seeped in and some of the people moved across the river to the right bank. They called themselves the Oligarchs of Mysterium and built altars to worship Ashtar. The Ancient One warned them again, but they didn’t listen. So he removed their magic and sent a famine. They called on Ashtar, but he did nothing. In their desperation, they pleaded to the left-bank Ancients for help. So we helped. And for many decades, we had a respectful relationship …”

  Matthias leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Both of us knew how the story went from there. Once the Oligarchs had regained stability, they outlawed magic, poisoned the water, and forced the Ancients into slavery.

  “Well, at least you’re still able to worship your god.” I regretted every last one of those words the moment they escaped my mouth.

  He shook his messy brown hair, and uttered the only response I deserved. “Incredible.”

  I figured we’d been traveling for at least an hour. The pistons of the boat made a continuous chug-chug-chug sound that was at first obnoxious but soon my tired mind found soothing. My eyelids felt full of sand as I tried to fight off sleep. I was sure to give myself whiplash from the incessant head jerks.

  “Just go to sleep. We have a long way to go,” Matthias said.

  “Is it okay?”

  He leaned back, then lifted his arm up over my shoulder and pulled my head close so my cheek pressed against his muscular chest. I couldn’t hear the water lapping against the boat, or the footsteps overhead anymore. I could only hear his breathing and the subtle murmur of his heartbeat under his jacket. His warm breath heated the top of my head with each exhale. I tried to forget his vitriol and relax into the cushion of warmth, but my magic rustled around deep within my core. The energy sparked with jolts up and down my chest, making it impossible to rest. All I wanted was a few solid hours of deep sleep, but it wasn’t going to happen being this close to Matthias.