The secretary greeted me before I knocked on the door to the office.
“Come in,” he shouted through the door. “Ah, Alice, please have a seat,” he added as soon as I walked in and shut the door behind me.
I sat in one of the black pleather seats in front of his desk, trying to ignore the crunch of the material under me. It seemed so loud in the quiet space.
“If this is about—” I began hurriedly.
Principal Eldris pushed a few folders to the side and clasped his hands in front of him. “Alice, what do you know about Magi?” His tone was like he’d merely asked me if I remembered to bring the egg salad to a family picnic.
It threw me for a loop, and my mind blanked. “…What?”
He kept his gaze steady on mine. “The website earlier, there must’ve been something to trigger such a search.”
I swallowed heavily, but still didn’t answer. Atohi had said many magic beings exist in the town. Could Principal Eldris be a Magus? Or a Fae?
“What do you know?” I asked slowly. I didn’t want to offer information he wasn’t already aware of.
“Alice, I want you to know you can trust me.” His eyes, sclera and iris, turned the color of liquid silver.
“You’re a Magus?” I asked, nearly breathless from shock.
“Fae, actually, but I’m looking for a certain Magus who’s been causing trouble. I was wondering if perhaps you’ve had interaction with it.” Principal Eldris leaned forward on the desk, and I felt so put on the spot. He couldn’t be looking for Atohi, right? He only messed with…
Maybe it was Johannes he was after.
“I’d appreciate your cooperation on this. Many people have been hurt. I’m looking for a Ghoul.” He slid a sheet of paper in my direction. It was one of the drawings I’d seen on a site.
I immediately began picking at the hem of my sweater. Think, Alice, think.
“So, you’ve seen it?” he pressed. “What’s its name? Its human name?”
I cut myself off from almost saying Johannes’s name. “Just the once, I’ve seen it.”
Even knowing what I knew about Johannes, I couldn’t betray his true identity—or Benjamin’s. I wasn’t willing to put either of them in danger unnecessarily. As much as Johannes had betrayed my trust, I wouldn’t betray his.
“If you see anything else, please let me know.” He sat back, posture stick-straight, seeming skeptical of my words.
I nodded and got up to leave, but stopped as soon as I touched the handle.
“Principal Eldris—”
“Please, just John,” he corrected.
“John,” I amended. “Do you know anything about Zella? She was a Paean Magi.” It was worth a shot to ask.
“I’ve heard tales of a Paean having been here years ago. Came in with… a Ghoul. And a Lycan.” His face lit up, and a smile slowly spread his lips.
No. No, no, no. I hadn’t meant to give him any information about Johannes’s true identity, but now I was worried I had given him just that.
I swallowed heavily. “I should get going.”
“You’ve been tremendous help. Thank you, Alice.”
I nearly ran out the doors, my heels clacking loudly against the cement of the walkway.
I blew hair out of my face as I rushed to get out of the school. I wanted to find Johannes and talk to him about what had happened. Afterward, I would need to go see Grandpa at the hospital before I returned to the inn. I was already exhausted thinking about all of it, and I’d barely accomplished anything yet today.
“Hey, Alice, what’s got you in a hurry?”
I turned my head to see who had called me, only to blanch as I realized it was Cole. I ceased my rushing. I had a thing or two to ask him. Johannes could wait an extra moment or two.
“Cole, I’ve been meaning to find you. What the hell was that the other day?”
“I just meant to grab a couple things; guess I fell asleep. Sorry about that.” He gave me the same goofy smile he always did. It only served to infuriate me
“Don’t bullshit me.”
When he didn’t say anything, only continuing to grin at me, I turned to leave. I didn’t have time to play this stupid game with him.
He caught up and grabbed my arm to get me to stop.
“Don't touch me.” The anger in my voice shocked even me.
“Don't be such a witch.”
“What did you just say to me?”
“A witch.” The smirk on his face was the last straw. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but in that moment I couldn't find it in me. In that moment, I just wanted to take out all of my frustration out on him. In that moment, I did.
The sound of my hand as it connected to his face was loud and sharp. For a brief second I felt bad because as my hand stung, I knew his face had to have felt worse. But that was a very brief second.
“Listen here,” I said. “Do not put your hands on me again, and if you ever, ever, call me a witch again, you won't like what happens.” In a flash of boldness, I winked.
He grabbed his cheek and stared at me in shock. I didn't give him a chance to reply as I sped off with a newfound adrenaline fueling me.
I pulled out my phone and sent Johannes a text to meet me as I made my way to the coffee shop.
Johannes: I’ll be there.
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in a corner booth at the coffee shop, nursing my steaming coffee. The jingle of the doorbell caught my attention. It seemed as if everything else froze in time as Johannes stepped inside and stopped, staring at me. I met the frosty blue of his eyes.
Johannes sat beside me in the booth instead of across from me, and I couldn’t say I was surprised.
He danced his fingers up my arm. “Are you ready to come back to me?” He rested his face in his other hand.
I sneered at him. “You wish. I just needed to talk to you.”
He barked out a single laugh, obviously enjoying this far too much, then pushed a single lock of my hair behind my ear. “Do you want to know why I want you? Whether I truly want you? Hm?”
The smile that twisted on his face was nothing short of cruel and predatory. He tutted at me.
“Would you like me to say that I want to steal your powers and use you to breed devastatingly powerful children? I bet they could sustain me for millennia.” His cruel face melted away as he laughed, it seemed… sad. “Is that what you want? Does it make it easier to view me as the villain in the story of your life?”
“Is that your idea of a joke? No wonder Zella didn’t want to stay with you,” I sneered.
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Just what has Atohi been telling you?”
“Enough to know it’s not really me you’re after.”
“Alice, how can you say that?” His eyes flashed red before he sat back to collect himself. The artisan light fixtures above us flickered. My heart was racing. This time it wasn't in fear. I felt empowered by finally being able to rattle his cage like he had done to me so many times before.
“Little Alice, you should trust in me. I can give you so much.”
“Then explain to me what the hell kind of web has been woven here.”
“Where would you like me to start? Hm?” His tongue darted out to wet his lips.
“The dinner together at my father’s.”
He shook his head, almost as if in disbelief. “I did know him before that night. I've known him since he was born. Would you like to know why I so desperately wanted to go with you to meet him?”
“Yes, I would love that.” I was exasperated, but I turned more fully toward him, utterly shocked he was giving me even just a taste of what I craved. I maintained my sour expression.
“Your necklace.”
I instinctively reached for it, only to remember I’d thrown it down on my father’s dinner table and left it there. “What about it?”
“It was carved with a rune meant to lock your powers inside. I knew I wouldn't be able to convince you to part from it. If an
yone could, it would be your father. He may have told you it was a gift from your grandmother to tug on your heartstrings, but I hardly think it’s true.”
With a shake of my head, I said, “I don't believe that. That would mean that my dad knew...”
I didn't even want to think about the implications, yet images of my mother in her hospital bed flashed in my mind. Every day I’d scale the side of the bed to sit with her, eager to share a piece of candy or a story… One day, the chain on my necklace broke, and my dad refused to let me see her while it was being fixed, but by then it was too late.
“This can't be such a surprise to you, Alice. Think about it. What was your father's reason for making you wear it?”
I shook my head. I didn’t like where this was going. Dad would never have let Mom die if something could’ve been done.
“You mentioned your mother the other day. Did you ever get to see her without the necklace?”
I shook my head. A heaving was settling in my chest and a fog in my mind. I couldn’t breathe, my vision blurring. Panic weighed heavily on me, pressing down on my chest. It wasn’t the fact that I was Magi, but the fact that my father had known. Johannes hadn’t lied about it.
“I need... I need to get out.” I moved to slide out of the booth, but Johannes stayed planted in my way. I put my hands on his chest, trying to shove him out.
He grabbed one of my hands and turned it palm-up, holding it beneath the edge of the table. “Alice, I need you to look at your palm. Focus right here.” He pressed a finger briefly to the center of my hand.
My hand tingled as he kept his hold; it felt almost as if heat was radiating into it.
“Just keep focusing,” Johannes pressed.
A small swirling ball of light formed. It was absolutely dazzling. He closed my hand, and the magic disappeared.
“What was that?”
“Your magic. Well, I boosted it. You're still much too weak to form something like that on your own. But I'll give you a gift.”
He pulled out a ruby-red ring, rectangular cut, and set in a golden band with an unusual design. He took my hand and slipped it onto my ring finger. “This will allow you to concentrate your magic.”
“For what purpose could you possibly want my magic stronger?” I flexed my fingers, still feeling the tingling of magic dancing in the tips.
“My reasons are my own until it's the right time to reveal them to you. But,” he sighed, “something strange is happening, and you need to learn how to take care of yourself.” He looked away, then muttered, sounding uncharacteristically distressed, “Before they get to you, too.”
“Wait, it’s not you?” I stared at him, wide-eyed. A tiny smidgen of guilt gnawed at me, but it reminded me of why I had called him here in the first place.
He blinked at me. “This whole time you’ve thought I was the one taking people?”
“Not the whole time! Just recently. And you don’t get to be offended, Johannes. You locked me in a room. You stood outside Atohi’s home being creepy as hell. You have him stashed away like some sort of broken doll you can’t quite bring yourself to toss.”
“I was trying to make sure you were somewhere safe! You disappeared with no trace. I could look for you faster as a Ghoul because I can travel through shadows.”
“And the little boy?” I pressed.
“I won’t talk about him here, Alice.” He steeled himself, clearly going to hold firm in his decision.
“Fine, but you should know… I’m not the only one in town who suspected—well, suspects, that you’re the one taking people.”
“What?” The harshness of his voice caused a couple other patrons to look at us briefly. “Who?”
“I didn’t tell him your name, but I asked him about Zella, so I’m worried he might figure it—”
“Is it that bastard Cole?”
I shook my head. “Promise me you won’t do anything?”
“How can I make that sort of promise when this person is after me?”
“It’s Principal Eldris, but I’m sure if we explain, it’ll be fine.” I hope. “He’s Fae.”
Johannes snorted. “If possible, I will handle things… nonviolently.”
“Thank you.” I sighed deeply and looked at my thin-banded wristwatch. I needed to see Grandpa before visiting hours closed for the day.
Johannes stole a swig of my drink as I looked around the cafe. “Dreadful.” He grimaced as he reached past me to grab a small handful of sugar packets.
“Oh, sure, help yourself,” I said dryly as he sweetened my drink. “I need to go see Grandpa anyway.”
He moved to let me out of the seat, but he grabbed my wrist before I could get too far away. “Alice, please don’t shut me out.”
I pulled away, ignoring the sting his words caused in my heart. “I’ll talk to you later.”
I hurried from the shop, trying to not be like Orpheus and make the mistake of looking back.
Chapter Eleven
As I sat in the park outside of the hospital, my thumb hovered over Dad in my phone contacts. It was possible this was all a misunderstanding, right? It had to be possible. Of course it was possible.
Taking a deep breath, I hit Call. As it rang and rang, I was afraid he wasn’t going to pick up. The confidence I had built up for the talk was quickly waning.
“Hello?” He sounded out of breath, like maybe he had run to catch the phone before my call made it to voicemail.
“Hey, Dad.” My voice was shaking, so I took a moment to steady myself. “There's something really important I need to talk to you about. Did you know about Grandma Maggie?”
“Alice, I don't know what you're talking about. Know about what?”
“Dad, please... Did you know?”
He was silent for a beat. “I was hoping you wouldn't find out. What did that filthy monster fill your head with? How did you even meet him?”
I guessed it was time to drop the proverbial bomb. “I've been living in Janafield since Grandpa was released from the hospital.”
There was a long silence. When my dad spoke again, he sounded appalled. “Alice, you can't be serious. You're moving back home. I'll pick you up.”
I ignored his threat. I was an adult; I didn’t have to be under his thumb, no matter how much I loved him. “Why didn't you ever say anything about it?”
“Do you think I just want to announce to the world that we're descended from freaks? It's not right, Alice. It's not right. I've had to deal with knowing about it since I was fifteen years old and saw that skeleton hovering outside just to gawk at my mother.”
“She was your family.”
“I've been going to a support group for families of those disgusting things. I just don’t think you’re understanding the gravity of this situation. They’ve ruined so many lives.”
My blood was near boiling as I thought of what must go on in those meetings. Likely nothing but the breeding of unnecessary fear and hate.
“I understand perfectly well. Just because the Magi exist doesn't mean they are bad people.”
“They are unnatural abominations, Alice. They’re descendant from monsters, monsters, and they’re monstrous themselves. They’ll kill you as soon as they’re given the chance.”
“Would... Will you think I’m a monster if I told you I am a Magi?”
“Don't say that. You don't know what you're saying.”
“Will you hate me if I am a Magi?”
“Alice...” He said it slowly, the undertone of anger making my chest tighten.
“Will you?” I pressed.
“Are you?” he snapped back.
“You must know the answer to that, Dad. You made me wear that stupid necklace. You… You let Mom die instead of letting me use my powers.”
Tears dripped freely down my cheeks. Was this truly how my father was? The ugliness he had shown when confronted with Johannes? I was losing my father, not physically, but in that I truly didn’t know him. Not like I’d thought I had.
“I loved her, Alice, and I know she’d rather have been dead then see her little girl turn into a monster.”
I hung up the phone and dropped it onto the bench next to me. My dad didn't try to call me back. The pain in my chest felt like it would never end, like my heart had been pulverized. My eyes stung, lip quivered. I stared at the sky, hoping I could be given a sign that everything would be all right, that what my father said about my mother wasn’t true. That at least she would’ve loved me despite being what Dad thought of as monstrous.
Something bumped into my leg, nearly making me jump out of my skin. A small orange tabby, one just like I had growing up, rubbed against me, arching its back. I wiped at my face with my sleeve before scratching under its chin.
A little girl, brunette with large brown eyes, ran up and squealed “Thomas” before grabbing up the cat and cradling him to her chest.
“Thank you for finding him. I’ve been looking all day.” She smiled at me, a wide toothy grin that revealed she was missing a few.
“You’re very welcome.” At least I could make someone happy, even if it was inadvertently.
She reached out and stroked my cheek. I was puzzled, but there was something in her eyes. Something that felt safe… familiar. She pulled back just as quickly and disappeared down the street.
I held my cheek for some time, staring in the direction she went. It was such a silly thought… but I couldn’t help but to think my mom had sent her to me.
~~~
I don't know how I managed to drag myself up to my grandfather's hospital room, but I knew it wouldn't have been good for me to remain outside.
“Hey, Grandpa.” I mustered up the best smile that I could.
He smiled warmly at me. “I was hoping you'd be back. Doctor said they can't believe how well I'm doing!”
“Grandpa… can I ask you something?” I looked away from him, focusing on the monitor that was attached.
“O’ course. What’s wrong, Ali-Gator? You look like you been crying.”
I wiped at my eyes again, my sleeve still slightly damp from before. “Was there anything strange about Grandma?”
Grandpa stared at me for a beat, swallowing heavily. “She had an infatuation with raising chickens. We had some that ran around the backyard for a while.”
Eyes Like Autumn (Seasons of the Magi Book 1) Page 13
