Alena glanced at her passenger. Nerves had replaced the fear Alena had sensed earlier. Eden gnawed on her full bottom lip while staring straight ahead. Her glossy black hair was braided neatly, and her dark eyes were deep and thoughtful. Alena pulled away from the curb and drove with no destination in mind. She kept her magic coiled tightly within her so as not to cause problems with the car. It wasn’t electronic, but it was still tech-made, and she had to be careful not to break it. She debated how much to tell Eden. Girls had shattered from the information; the older they were, the harder it was. Alena inhaled deeply, preparing herself. Zar and Bette’s warnings were fresh in her mind.
“There have been several recent hate crimes.”
“Hate crimes?” Eden asked. “Why do you think I would be the target of a hate crime?”
“The word that was written on your wall.” Alena shrugged.
Eden shook her head. “But I’m not a mage; I’ve been tested. Besides, wouldn’t you see it if I was?”
Alena shifted nervously. She wasn’t ready to answer that question, even if Eden was correct. Alena was excellent at identifying magic, but all she got from Eden was a muddy interference. The woman confused her senses, which didn't happen often. Her magic wasn’t disinterested like it usually was around techies or mundanes, but it couldn’t find the power it thought should be present.
“They have the wrong person,” Eden persisted, not waiting for an answer. “I’m a mundane, and I work in a factory assembling printers.” Eden snorted. “Last I checked, that wasn’t on the list of mage abilities.” The car continued down the tree-lined residential area close to downtown, and both women were quiet.
“Have you seen, heard, or felt anything different recently?” Alena asked hesitantly. Eden’s hand tightened on her seatbelt, her knuckles whitening. Alena sighed. There was never a right way to go about this. She loved saving young mages from a hard life but breaking the news never got easier.
“What kinds of things?”
Alena knew the girl was hiding something, but scaring her into a confession wouldn’t solve anything. She adjusted her line of questioning. “Have you encountered this man before?”
Several blocks passed in silence before Eden answered. She took a deep breath, audible even over the rumble of the engine. “In my dreams. I’ve seen him in my dreams.”
Sweat slicked Alena’s palms, and her grip tightened on the steering wheel. Old mage texts mentioned dreamwalkers. Alena had never met one - not even when she’d traveled to the Western Territory, where mage abilities ranged from telekinesis to teleportation and everything in between.
Eden spoke, misinterpreting Alena’s silence. “Maybe that’s just my mind playing tricks on me. Maybe it’s not the same person.”
Alena’s green eyes flashed. “Do you think that’s true?” She kept her voice soft and non-threatening. Sometimes the best method for revealing harsh truths was to lead a person to the answer themselves.
Eden shook her head. She continued to stare out the window, her death-grip on the seatbelt unrelenting. “No. I know it was him. I had a dream about him last night.”
Alena nodded. “How long have you been having dreams like that?”
“A long time. Well, usually they’re just about the accident,” Eden raised her stub in the air, a self-conscious expression on her face. The woman was beautiful and seemed capable despite missing an arm, but mundanes had low self-esteem. They were treated as second-rate citizens in both territories. A handicap would drop a mundane another rung on the social ladder, increasing the difficulty of their life. “I had a dream catcher, but it’s gone; whoever broke into my apartment stole it. I didn’t say anything because I know mundanes aren’t supposed to have mage implements.”
Alena’s brows lifted in surprise. “Dreamcatchers are expensive and very difficult to properly craft. How did you get one?”
“My mom,” Eden whispered. Alena leaned closer to hear. “It was one of the few things she left me. I never knew her; she died when I was really young.”
Realization struck Alena. Eden’s mother had been a mage, and she had left enchanted items for her daughter. One of those objects might shield her magic. She glanced at Eden, but she couldn’t tell if the woman was wearing an amulet or charm without crashing the car. It would have to be something the young woman rarely, or never, removed. She refocused on the conversation. “If someone who means you harm has your dream catcher, it could present a problem.” Alena had no experience with dreamwalkers, but any mage’s prized possessions could become powerful tools in the hands of an enemy.
“Can it be used against me? I don’t understand any of this.”
Alena battled the urge to reach out and comfort the other woman. She rarely got involved with or emotionally attached to the runaway mages they welcomed into the house. They would all leave eventually, and many were so broken they couldn’t maintain healthy relationships. The conversation she’d had with Alec surfaced in her mind. If there was an underground organization trying to cause a war between mages and techies, she couldn’t afford to be distracted by Eden’s beauty. She forced herself to broach the subject she had been skirting since she first saw the woman.
“I help operate a mage safe-house in the country that is under special protection. Even if you’re not a mage, it appears you’re being targeted as one.” Alena bit her tongue at the blatant lie. She knew Eden had magic; it was just a matter of breaking the shield. “Would you like to stay there for a while?”
Eden’s wide eyes studied her face, and Alena forced herself to pay attention to the road. The younger woman’s eyes were not mage-lit, but they still tempted Alena to search deeper. Her magic thought if she looked hard enough, she might find Eden’s power. Driving was not the best time to do so.
“That’s not necessary,” Eden protested. “I can stay at my friend’s house.”
“They probably know where your friend lives. If you stay there, you could put her and her family in danger.” It was a low blow that made Alena cringe, but it was also the truth. Eden needed the safety of the mage house, especially if she was a dreamwalker. Her magic couldn’t be unlocked unless she was ready, but being around other mages would help prepare her mind for the sudden influx of power and the new existence she would face.
Eden shook her head. Tendrils of silky black hair that had escaped the braid swished across her shoulders. “Izzy has kids. I can’t put them in danger. But I’m not a mage; I’m certain your kind doesn’t want me there…”
“Mages are not as mean or exclusive as you have probably been led to believe. We’ll help someone in need, regardless of magic ability.” That wasn’t always true, but they would help anyone who didn’t threaten their safety or secrecy. “You are welcome until we learn what's happening and if there's a real threat involved.”
“What about my life? My job?”
Eden’s fears weren’t unfounded. They were in the Eastern Territory, the half of the country occupied and ruled by techies. Non-registered mages were considered felons, and almost every mage at the house was unregistered. “The house’s existence is a secret, and no one will know you’re there. No one needs to know you’ve been associating with mages.” Bitterness leaked from her words, and Alena was helpless to hide it. Mages were treated horribly in the Eastern Territory, but she couldn’t act self-righteous. Techies received the same treatment in the West.
“Do I have any other choice?”
Alena couldn’t help herself anymore. She was a touchy person, and she was attracted to and concerned for this woman. She squeezed Eden’s hand. The younger woman’s skin was soft, and a tingle coursed up her arm. She couldn’t see Eden’s magic, but she could feel it react to her own power. The discovery surprised her into jerking back. If Eden thought it strange, she didn’t mention it.
“What about my stuff? I’m scheduled to work tomorrow night.”
“We can discuss that tomorrow,” Alena hedged. It wasn’t safe for Eden to go back to work, but she would wait
to tell her that. One thing at a time. “As for your stuff, I can drop by and get things, or you can have your friend drop by and pick stuff up for you if you’re more comfortable with that. We can say you’re in a safe-house. Nothing needs to be mentioned about magic or mages.”
“I could have Izzy drop off the bag I left at her house.”
“She can’t drop it at the house, but I can meet her at a secure location. It’s safer that no one knows where the house is unless they are living there.”
“Ok. So, is this standard procedure since you’re a police officer?”
Alena stifled a groan; the woman was intelligent. If Eden complained to Alena’s department manager, it could cause serious trouble in the ranks. Half of the department already believed she received special privileges as the Mage Consultant. Alena didn’t want anyone knowing about the mage house.
“If you don’t feel safe at the house, or you want to leave, just let me know.” Alena glanced at Eden without taking her eyes off the road for too long. It wasn’t a direct answer to her question, but it gave her a choice. People reacted irrationally when they thought they were prisoners. Eden continued to gnaw on her lip as they exited the city limits.
“We’re almost there,” Alena said as they turned onto a hidden gravel road littered with potholes. They both bounced in their seats, and the car rattled on its uncertain shocks. At the first glimpse of the house through the cypress trees, Eden gasped. Alena hid a smile. The house had that effect on anyone with magic in their blood. Eden shivered involuntarily as they passed through the powerful wards surrounding the acreage. The reaction was another sign she possessed magic; techies couldn’t feel the wards.
The house was a majestic Victorian, similar to others in the area. Slate-colored paint peeled in places, but the turreted windows and decorative molding around the eaves lent the place an air of history and magic. The building had survived the Civil War and dated back to a time when mages and techies shared the country. Mages had gravitated toward sprawling country estates, and the techies clustered into centralized villages.
During the Civil War and after, it had served as part of the underground network that smuggled mages out of the Eastern Territory. It still served a similar purpose, and its occupants refreshed the wards regularly, but the ancient magic didn’t need much help. It burrowed into the earth around the property, and its resident Brownie anchored the spells. Bette was more powerful than any other living creature, and Alena knew she was as ancient as the land under and around the house.
The grounds were covered with trees and overgrown bushes. The whole left side of the main building was hung with creeping ivy that had developed a symbiotic relationship with the house. A wrought iron fence over six feet high marked the perimeter. Alena sensed Eden’s fear a moment before she grabbed the seatbelt in a tight-knuckled grip again. Alena frowned and craned her neck to see what had put her on edge. She felt Zar before she saw him though. He trotted around the corner, as big as a small pony.
“Is that the dog that’s been following me around?” Eden asked breathlessly. Alena hadn’t been aware Zar had been so obvious. The entire situation must seem strange to her, less of a rescue and more of a conspiracy.
“Zar protects the occupants of the house,” Alena reassured her, not mentioning that he was also her familiar. She turned the car off and waited for Eden to gather her strength. Zar waited patiently on his haunches next to the car. His tongue lolled from his mouth, making him look more like a modern dog than a member of the ancient race of canine guardians he belonged to. Alena sensed his patience, his happiness, and his disappointment that Eden was scared of him. He rarely gave human opinions a second thought, reinforcing that Eden was unique.
“Please just stay for a couple days until we figure out who is stalking you,” Alena reminded Eden of the reason they were here.
Eden nodded to herself and fumbled to unlatch her seatbelt, slowly opening the door. Once out of the car, she stared at Zar with an air of expectation. He didn’t disappoint. He approached her slowly and sat, looking into her eyes. Alena watched his interesting and unusual behavior with curiosity.
The animal and the black-haired woman stared at each other, and then Zar did something dog-like, which was also out of character. He lay down on the ground and showed his belly to Eden, submitting. Alena asked her familiar what he was doing, and he let her know he wanted Eden to feel more comfortable. It seemed to work. She leaned over and rubbed his belly a couple times, and he jumped back to his feet. Eden’s fear had lessened with the simple interaction. Her dark eyes met Alena’s.
“OK, I’m ready.”
Chapter Five
Eden
Eden scarcely believed the turn her day had taken. The beautiful house sent strange shivers through her, and the animal that had been following her seemed to live here. He appeared friendly now that they’d come to an understanding. She wouldn’t fear him if he didn’t act like he might bite her.
Her life had changed immensely, and she suspected this strange new turn of events was only the beginning. Restless uneasiness hovered under her skin. Alena stood in a ray of sunshine, her red hair shining, and Eden again questioned the situation. This was a mage’s house. All her life, she had been taught she couldn’t trust mages. Despite Alena’s assurances, she didn’t belong here. Returning to her apartment and seeing that man again made her blood run cold with fear though. It wasn't an option.
The house seemed no different from the large, ancient homes in her neighborhood in town. Eden didn’t know why the sight of it made her skin tingle in strange ways. Her phantom arm felt more solid here, and she didn’t know if it was just the overproduction of adrenaline and nerves in her body or the magical protection Alena had mentioned. She didn't think mundanes sensed magic.
Alena wasn’t telling her the whole truth. Mages didn’t bring non-mages to a safe house in the middle of the country, even if they were in danger from someone who believed they might be a mage. The dog had been following her before she’d spied the man. There was something more to the situation than Alena was letting on.
Alena glanced at her, her expression wary, and Eden wondered if the mage could read her thoughts. For a moment, she considered running, but she wasn’t a runner. She didn’t run from the problems in her life. She put her head down and slogged through the difficulties, and she survived. Despite the worry that Alena was keeping things from her, she liked the woman. There was an inherent quality to her that Eden recognized in close, trustworthy friends. She believed the woman was watching out for her best interests. Eden sighed, wondering if those would be her famous last words of ignorance before the house’s residents attacked her with magic and sent her soul into the ether.
A firm bump against her hip jarred her from her thoughts. Zar stared at her with soft yellowish-green eyes. Strangely, his gaze reminded her of Alena’s, but the dog’s presence comforted her and lent her strength. She snorted soundlessly. Twenty minutes with a mage made her imagine dogs possessed feelings which could extend to her.
The front yard crowded with weeds. A broken fountain decorated one corner. It was apparent someone had made half-hearted attempts to landscape, but most of the plant life was wild. She wasn’t sure if the lack of attention was part of the safe-house's image or if the occupants were too busy to do yard work. The house was occupied, despite the abandoned lawn. Curtains fluttered in the windows, a welcome mat swept clean of debris decorated the small porch, and a set of wind chimes tinkled from the eaves. Though the house was aged, it didn’t seem in need of repair.
Eden followed Alena to the front door, and Zar padded alongside her. Eden guessed the policewoman lived there although Alena didn’t verify whether she did. The foyer was far grander than the outside. The hall was dimly lit, common when electricity sold at a premium, but the floor was sleekly polished wood, and a chandelier dripping with crystals hung high above them. A coat rack stood by the door. It overflowed with coats of all sizes and colors. Shoes covered the ground
in a disorganized pile. Except for a couple pairs of large men’s shoes, most of the footwear was small. Zar bumped past her and trotted down the hall. Alena didn’t give him a second glance.
“You’re home early.” A voice spoke from the dark stairwell, and Eden jumped. She hadn’t noticed the slim figure sitting in the shadows of the stairs. The voice belonged to a young man, older than Eden but smaller in stature. He was skinny and wore wire-rimmed glasses. Eden studied him as he studied her, scrunching his nose. “Oh, another one,” he noted sarcastically and turned his attention back to the book. Eden cocked her head to the read the title. It was something about quantum theory; a book she’d imagine a techie reading, not a mage.
“Elliott, this is Edania. Edania, Elliott.” Alena introduced them, even though the young man was ignoring them. He grunted from behind his book.
“Eden,” she corrected, the action so ingrained it was second nature. Her full name sounded pretentious and complicated; she rarely used it. Alena lifted a brow; an elegant gesture Eden could never copy. “I prefer Eden,” she repeated.
Alena nodded and removed her shoes. Eden followed her lead and slipped her canvas shoes onto the mound. The floors were unusually warm, almost like the house heated from the inside. She laughed internally at the fanciful thought. She’d always possessed a wild imagination, and it seemed the mage and stalker debacle was sending it into overdrive. The tingling sensation in her arm grew as she walked farther into the house; she rubbed her right bicep absently. She waited for direction, biting her lip nervously. Alena glanced down the hall before turning back to her.
“It’s almost lunchtime. The others will be in the back. Let’s go meet them.” Eden followed her, not knowing what else to do. She shot one more look at the young man on the steps, but he was thoroughly absorbed in his book. Eden wondered if it was an act or if he actually understood it; most non-techies couldn’t. Science for non-techies was like learning a foreign language, except it was one that could never be learned, no matter how much exposure the non-techie acquired.
Magic's Divide (Magitech Book 2) Page 5
