by Casey Herzog
I felt like my father should’ve prepared me better for this eventuality. I didn’t need the constant headache of the demand of the students looking for me to step into the role of a leader. I could barely take care of myself, and I was still grieving the loss of my father. It was a pain I’d never felt before, like a bad dream I couldn’t wake up from. There were moments I would find myself accepting he was gone, but then it would hit me like a ton of bricks when I least expected it. I needed time to heal, but I didn’t know if I had that time.
Chapter Eight
I made my way back up the stairs very slowly, giving myself time to think about what my father had kept from me all of these years. I knew he did it to protect me, but that didn’t make me feel any better about the situation. I was being harassed to be something I wasn’t sure I could be. My father had been the strength in the Lockhart family, and now I was being asked to handle myself in the same way he would.
It took me about 10 minutes to make it all the way back up to where I had last seen Damien wielding his magic with the expertise of a child about to have a tantrum. The kind of power he possessed needed limitations. He needed somebody to give him a purpose other than to wage war for the sake of unleashing his anger. He had father figures, but maybe what he was missing most of all was a mother figure.
I still had a lot to do concerning my father’s estate. I didn’t know if my father had a last will and testament. I’m sure that if anybody would know it would probably be Mr. Coleman. I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk to him since it was obvious we were working against each other.
I had to remember that with this gift came a grave responsibility to the Lockhart family name. It was heaped onto my shoulders, and I had to be careful not to reveal the secrets imparted to me. They had proposed I teach the younger generation. The dark arts were addictive like someone’s personal drug that they couldn’t shake. Each time magic was used, it would become increasingly difficult to pull back from becoming something fearsome.
Professor Bethesda was waiting for me when I emerged from an entrance that hadn’t been there before William had drawn me into the dark caverns of what made this world what it was. He didn’t look very happy and had a stern expression on his face that made me feel like I was being called to the principal’s for something that I had done.
“I know I don’t have to say this, Gillian but this is a legacy that cannot be taken lightly. As you can see, I have my hands full and I can use all the help I can get. I’m not suggesting you give up your own studies, but I think you can make room to give these kids what they need. Damien is a rare case, and your father took personal responsibility for him. His tutelage is now in your hands. I didn’t want to tell you this before, but when you leave here, you will be taking him with you.” This was the last thing that I needed. It would be kind of interesting to have a little brother, but he had already shown his distaste for everything I stood for.
“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but this is a lot more to deal with than I was ready for. You can’t expect me to know the words that are going to sway a little boy’s heart. He hates me, and given a chance, I’m sure he would rather see me die at his own hands. It could be just a knee jerk reaction to having me invade his personal space, and I don’t blame him for wanting revenge, but coming after me is misplaced. I can see that my pleas are falling on deaf ears. It shouldn’t surprise me that my father would give me a task that is like pushing a boulder up a hill.” I had a headache and the presence of magic eyes was there touching me every so often just to let me know it was real.
Coming up the stairs, I felt different, and then sparks began to sizzle on my fingertips. It was just a reminder, and a painful one, that my father was not here to guide me with his helping hand. I didn’t tell the professor any of this.
“The one thing you have to know about Damien is that he’s misunderstood. He’s young and impressionable and thinks he knows all the answers. He will be a great sorcerer and his future is in your hands.
“I know that what your father is asking of you seems like too much, but you have to remind yourself that he wouldn’t give you anything you couldn’t handle. If you feel overwhelmed, then all you need is to remember is his teachings and everything will become clear. It might sound trite and condescending, but you do have it in you to give Damien a way to live a differently. Here he’s in check, but his biggest test will be keeping his secret from the Elders. You have to know how important it is to keep the Elders from getting their clutches into the both of you. He has great potential that hasn’t been tapped. What you have seen already is only the tip of the iceberg.”
I wasn’t even sure Professor Bethesda should be here after the downward spiral in his life. He had gotten into black magic, and it had taken some time in the asylum to bring him back. His family left after he got too close to ending it all. He finally had his life back, and he was starting a new chapter. Beginning again wasn’t easy for him, but his family was slowly coming around. It was a slow process, and there was still a lot for him to do. My father spoke often about him, but I never knew he was given this chance to make amends.
I didn’t know how the Elders could enforce the law, but they had done better than expected over the years. My father didn’t know me. He never wanted to sit down as a real family. I know that what he did here was important, but I was his daughter. He should never have taken me for granted and it’s a good thing that I turned out as well as I have. I’m not saying I didn’t make my fair share of mistakes. The accident came to mind.
I remembered the accident, but it was mostly fragments of a fire out of control. My hands were severely burned, and I was healed over many days of continuous therapy.
My father told me it wasn’t my fault; all kids go through this when they encounter magic for the first time. I believed him at the time, but there were some inconsistencies about his story. I talked at length with my group of new friends, and they never had anything like that happen to them. I had to wonder why my father was lying. I was beginning to understand it was his way of protecting me against myself. I had always been gifted, but he was afraid to open my eyes to it.
“Take your time, and we’ll be there when you are prepared to leave. I would seriously encourage you take a look around at what your father built from the ground up. Everybody here owes him a debt of gratitude we can never repay. I was given a new lease on life when I was at my lowest point. My family has even started to talk to me again.”
“Your father reminded me of who I really am. Everybody has a dark side, and it’s up to each one of us to determine our fate. Damien is a diamond in the rough. He will be a great leader, but only if he can get that chip off his shoulder. Nobody has been able to reach him, but I think you might be the answer to our prayers.”
I felt this itch inside, like something was trying to get out. I didn’t want this magic. It was very intense, and what I had experienced in school was nothing compared to this. I was only dabbling, and finding acceptance. This was taking what I learned, and making it look like Sunday school. It was hard to control, and seemed to have a mind of its own.
“The only thing I can think about is the damage Damien could do in the real world. I’m going to do something that’s not popular, and my father might want him to stand with me, but I can’t do it without knowing he can be trusted. The only way I can make that judgment is to get to know him here. I promise I’m not running away from my problems, but to free him amongst the Elders will only be asking for his incarceration.” I could almost feel he was what the hunter was going to want to sink his teeth into. The hunter would get one taste, and it wouldn’t be enough. There would be nothing that would stand in his way.
“I can’t force you to do something against your will. I do believe Damien needs someone like you to help him realize that magic is a gift not to be squandered on petty differences and vengeance in the heart. I learned that lesson the hard way. Your father was the one who pulled me back from the abyss before it was too late, an
d I really don’t want to think about where I would be without him.”
The professor was giving me a lot to think about.
“You do what you think is right, but your father has always had your best interest at heart. He talked about you often and had his students on the edge of their seats with your exploits. They were quite surprised your father would allow you to run wild with no restrictions.”
Things might have turned out differently had he been around to make sure I didn’t get into any trouble.
“I always thought he just didn’t care about me enough to make the effort. From everything I have learned about him upon his passing, I have to say my perception of the man was confused. I had no idea what his true purpose was, and I didn’t know what to feel about this place. I knew he considered his study sacred, but I had no idea it was going to unearth a new world,” I said
As I walked with him, we stopped every so often in front of classrooms, which had become a teaching tool. In one room, man with a multicolored goatee was making water and fire appear in his hands and we overheard the end of his class.
“You have seen for yourself that the elements of nature are all around you. I’ve given you what you need to come back to me in the morning with a fair demonstration of your power. Don’t be discouraged because it takes practice to learn the magic arts. If any of you need extra help, stay after, and I’ll be more than happy to put you on the right path. The “dark” arts have always been debated amongst those who practiced them, though things seem to change and stay the same at once.”
I had no idea who this man was, but he really did have his own style. The students were watching with intense interest.
“Professor Randal arrived here before I. When I get the chance, I take some time to sit in on his classes to find inspiration. Everyone knows your father mentored all of us, including those in a teaching position, and I want you to reconsider taking Damien with you. If it helps, we can temporarily limit his ability to amass the kind of power that will make him a force for good or evil. It would only be temporary, and he will have a few choice words about not being able to use magic.”
The one thing I didn’t need was a young child acting out, and the best thing for everybody would be for his magic to be turned off. I wasn’t sure that was the correct way of saying that, but it was the only thing that came to mind.
“That would make sense. I’ll bring him with me on the condition that he behaves himself. If for whatever reason he decides to act out, then I will be forced to bring him back. We must make that very clear to the young man.” I felt obligated, and my father obviously thought I had more to offer than just a kind face and soothing words of encouragement.
“I had a feeling you were going to say that, so I took the liberty of having Damien prepared for when you are ready to leave. I told you I could be very convincing. I will warn you, Damien will most likely be obstinate. He will make your life a living hell because his life has been more than difficult. You don’t have to take my word for it as you’ve already seen it first hand to judge for yourself. I do insist you both come back once a day to report your progress. We can’t allow him to stop magic cold turkey; the withdrawals would be too much to bear.”
Professor Bethesda had manipulated me; it was right out of the pages of my father’s playbook.
The hallways glimmered different colored lights streaming across the material; the skaters were heard and not seen. There was a lot about this place I wanted to get to know better, but Damien couldn’t be allowed to wallow in self-pity for any longer than necessary. Being told he needed a timeout was only going to encourage his wrath, and I had seen only a small glimpse of what he was capable of. By his own admission, he stated quite emphatically he was only testing me to see what kind of power I had. He would learn to adapt, and I was going to make him either a great ally or an enemy to be feared. It was going to take a strong mind to mold and show him there were other ways than letting his anger get the best of him.
“I’m going to be perfectly blunt and tell you I’m not looking forward to this. I’m not a mother and I wouldn’t even know how to take on that role. My mother was not around growing up so I have no reference to figure out what is going to work to keep Damien in line.” I had to be careful about what I said. The walls seemed to have ears.
Professor Bethesda began to move his hands back and forth in front of him, creating a ball of light. Damien stepped out, looking like he wanted to make somebody burst into flames. His time thinking about what he did had been ineffective. The anger he felt had only grown, and I could almost feel it seeping out of him in waves of hatred. He couldn’t quite stand to be around us any longer than necessary.
“Damien, I’m sure you overheard some of that. I’ve told you repeatedly that eavesdropping is not proper etiquette. We need to respect privacy, and that’s just one of the many lessons you’re going to have to come to terms with. You’re leaving here with Gillian and I want you to be on your best behavior. I know how difficult that might be, but it’s time to adjust your attitude. Here in this world, you are protected from discovery, but in the real world, it’s a different story. I’m sorry to have to do this, but I have no choice; you have only yourself to blame.” He produced a bracelet and placed it on Damien’s wrist before he even had a chance to realize what was happening.
“I don’t know what the meaning of this is, but you will take this off of me before I do something you’ll regret.” He was steadfast, and I almost believed he could break any kind of chain with his willful spirit. “I’m not kidding; you have gone too far this time. I have no limits and you need to learn that Damien is not someone who is going to stand for this.”
I hadn’t heard him talk about himself in the third person before, but it only showed what kind of ego he had.
“I’m going to ask you this one time, and then, I’m not going to ask again. It would be a good idea for you to remove this. You might not think I know what this is, but I can assure you that nothing goes unnoticed.” He was concentrating very hard, and his face had turned crimson with the effort.
“This is for your own good, Damien. Being willful is one thing, but violence is not something we can condone. You know about the hunter. If you were to go back to reality and wield magic, then he would come for you.
“I know what you’re going to say. You think that you can take care of yourself, but you’re still in the infancy of your power.” Professor Bethesda was laying down the law, but it didn’t look like Damien was going to be the kind of guest I would want in my home.
He tried to touch the bracelet using magic, and his whole body began to shake, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. It looked like he was having some sort of epileptic fit, and then he was thrashing on the floor with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was a good wake up call.
“You have made a powerful enemy here. I may be able to forgive in time, but I will never forget.” I tried to take his hand, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He put them in his pockets and followed behind me. He had no place left to go without magic as his crutch.
“I can only hope in time you will understand and come to realize this was best for everyone. Losing your parents left you with emotional scars that manifested into a rage. We suspect magic will come to you like a magnet, and I hope when that happens you finally come to some conclusions on your own. This world is not going to hand you anything. If you want something, then you will have to work hard for it. It’s only temporary, and there’s no telling how long it will last before you break free of its power. Don’t fight it because it’s only going to make everything feel a whole lot worse each and every time." He was stubborn and he tried magic again, only to have it backfire in a big way.
I was shocked the first time he thrashed on the floor, but this time I ignored his pleas for help. “I’ll do what I can for him, but I’m not going to promise anything. You already finished telling me he has promise, and his potential outweighs the possi
ble risk of being discovered. I will do what I can to keep him safe and to keep the Elders from sniffing around my doorstep. I don’t want anybody to know he’s with me. If for some reason, I have to reveal him then I will come up with a some plausible story.” I had learned a lot, but there was still so much more to learn about my father’s crusade.
“I don’t want anything to do with you. No girl is going to tell me what to do. If you think I’ve made these people suffer my wrath, then you haven’t seen anything yet. You can take away my magic, but that’s only going to last for so long.”
I didn’t like his tone; he needed to learn some manners.
Chapter Nine
I watched him stumble around trying to regain his composure. He was feeling the exact same thing I did when William took me to the dreamscape . The one thing I could hear while stepping back through the inky black stickiness, which felt like it was in my hair and clinging to my skin, was the sound of the skaters.
“I know how it feels, and you need to take a few deep breaths. Don’t force your body to accept what is happening. In some small way, I believe my father was with me today. He put all the building blocks into place; that world was made specifically for youthful indiscretions. It was made to be a sanctuary, and you have done nothing to show your gratitude.” I wasn’t about to intervene as he slammed into a bookcase and landed on his ass with his arms crossed.
“I don’t need you to tell me anything. Don’t even presume to know what I want. I’ve already told you once. Let me be very clear: I don’t trust you and I don’t care who your father was. That man was always getting into my business. I admit that my curiosity sometimes overshadowed my good judgment, and although I might be a kid, I feel like I could teach the adults a thing or two. You shouldn’t be taking a teaching role because we both know it’s not a role that suits you. I should be standing in front of them, but because of my age, I’m precluded from having that role. I understand, but I don’t have to like it. Don’t you think it’s time the Elder’s learn that magic is not going to stay in the shadows forever?”
