She rose from the table. Jeanie and Nicole had turned pale, but no one made a sound.
"It was for your own good," Gram said.
"My good, or yours?" I spat back.
She shot a look at Jeanie, who looked stony-faced and then turned to me, furious. "If you don't sit down—"
The words died on her tongue, and her gaze drew to my hands. I didn't need to look to know that they crackled with unused magic. I'd never been this angry in my entire life, and I was dangerously close to losing control.
"Lexie, sit down," Marie whispered, scared.
Instead, I concentrated on a spot very far away, and let my magic pull me out of the room.
19
I landed on our beach, the sandy dunes feeling familiar under my feet. I released the pent-up energy across the ocean in a dizzying light show. And I waited.
Waited for Jeanie to come after me.
Waited for Gram's magic to drag me back to New Salem.
But nothing happened.
The sand glowed purple with my magic, and I struggled to take a deep breath. Gavon said that my magic only worked when I was calm, but the way my magic coursed through me, I felt the distinct need to hit something.
Hard.
With a roar, I released my magic over the ocean again. The purple ball zoomed across the water, cutting the waves in half until it exploded far out in the distance. Then I released seven more, relishing how it drained me of anger at the same time. When the last one exploded, I fell to my knees and panted for a moment.
"Well, that seems overdramatic." I wasn't even surprised to hear Gavon's voice behind me, or to have him stand next to me. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing."
"Something, obviously, because you just sent half of your magic flying over the Gulf of Mexico," Gavon said, watching me get up gingerly. "What happened at your grandmother's house?"
"Nothing."
"Doesn't appear to be nothing."
I sighed. "Apparently, there's something wrong with me. Because I'm the only one who didn't know about magic. For some reason, I'm not actually in the clan and my own grandmother thinks that I'm going to, I don't know…kill them all or something." I looked at the distance, where the remnants of my spell were wafting down into the sea. "Is it because I have Warrior magic?"
"That's a question only—"
"Oh my God!" I screamed, taking him by surprise. "I am so sick of no one telling me anything!"
"Alexis, calm down," Gavon said, holding his hands up. "I can't tell you because I don't know why your grandmother said what she said. I don't know why your aunt decided not to tell you about magic, but what I do know is that you need to calm down before you pass out."
"And now…and now she won't even let me in her stupid clan!" I huffed. "I thought you couldn't do that! I thought that you had to allow your blood relatives into your clan! That's what makes them different from guilds, right?"
Gavon stared at me for a moment, then shook his head. "There are a thousand different ways to draw up bylaws in clans, so it's possible there's a loophole, but—"
I let out a roar of frustration, and an attack spell came out with it. The feeling was delicious, and I wanted more. "I want to spar."
"That is a terrible idea."
I spun on my heel and released an attack spell toward him. He moved out of the way, furious.
"Alexis, I'm not sparring with you—"
"Fine!" I growled, throwing another one his way. "I'll just throw spells until I pass out."
"In—" He moved too fast for me. "—advisable."
Gavon took a step back, and my body began to tingle. Somehow, this was familiar, standing in front of someone, demanding that they quit talking and fight me. I released my mind and let the memory take hold. I stood on gravel in front of a burning house, staring at a man I'd never seen before. And I was waiting—waiting for someone to come.
My magic moved of its own accord, remembering how to work as if I'd used it in a former life. Power gathered in my hands as easily as anger burned in my chest. There was a powerful spell, something that throbbed with the beat of my heart.
A spell came toward me, but I deflected it with ease. Someone was screaming my name, but I was too far in my own—or my magic's—memory to remember.
Finally, I could hold onto the spell no longer, and let it loose.
The magic left my body and so did my strength. In slow motion, the spell slammed into Gavon, knocking him backward. My knees gave way beneath me, and I fell to the soft, cold sand. And the last thing I thought before the world faded to black was just how familiar this whole scene really was.
"He won't come, you know."
The ground gave under my feet as I adjusted my stance against the pebbles and coarse sand. But this, this was where we'd practiced for months. Even now, I could feel the power growing within my hands.
"Did you really believe this would end any other way?"
"I'm stronger than you think."
"Oh, I think you have power, but there's only so much that can be taught in a few months. And he's just so gentle and kind, I doubt you even know what it's like to be bruised by him."
"Yeah, well I know you're in for a world of hurt."
The magic left my body, colliding with his in a flash of purple and gray. I knew I needed to act quickly, so I released more and more, praying that I could keep enough in reserves until he came.
He had to come. He had to know.
Why hadn't he come yet?
My body hurt.
I opened my eyes to a dark room and then squeezed them back shut. My head throbbed and even the dim light in the room was painful. My hands closed around soft fur—
Furs?
My eyes opened wide and I sat up, immediately regretting my decision. My head swum and every inch of me screamed in achy pain. After a moment of heavy breathing, the throbbing subsided and I took stock of the room.
The small amount of light came from a fire burning in an ancient hearth. The floors were old and creaked when I slid off the bed, a four-poster. It was definitely fur that I felt under my fingertips, though I had no idea what kind of creature it had belonged to. The walls were adorned with oil paintings, and I inched closer, hoping to not make a sound on the squeaky floors. In one, a large dragon stood on the edge of a cliff, looming over a girl. Something bright and red glowed around her neck, and the dragon seemed not to be liking that very much.
I swallowed and took a step back, nearly tripping over my own shoes, which had been placed by my bed. My toes were starting to get cold—even with the blazing fire, it seemed this place wasn't heated very well. I slipped on my shoes and crept toward the door.
The hallway was similarly dark, although there were small candles lighting the way. I ran my hands along the wood-paneled walls and stopped at another painting, this one of a group of people wearing puritan outfits. But what struck me more was the magic flowing between the two groups.
I kept walking, finding a set of stairs at the end of the hall. The candles and the paintings continued down the staircase, but I stopped looking at them, more interested in finding someone who could tell me where I was. On the lower story, I saw more closed doors as upstairs, except for one at the end of the hall. Light spilled out from the open door, flickering as if lit by another fire.
Curiosity took hold and I stepped into the light. My jaw dropped.
It was a library. Rows of books lined the walls that seemed taller than I thought possible in such a small space.
"Oh, you're awake."
I snapped from my reverie. Gavon stood behind a table on the other side of the room, an open book before him, and spectacles on his nose. He wore a weird outfit—almost like he'd stepped out of a history book.
"How are you feeling?"
"About normal for a morning after sparring," I said, half-smiling and continuing to look around.
"Here," he said, flicking his wrist, and conjuring an old-looking goblet. With another flick, it gently ap
peared in my hands. "Healing potion. I just made a fresh batch this morning."
I took a tentative sip and nearly spat it out. It tasted worse than usual. "Ugh."
"You should drink that," Gavon insisted, closing the book and levitating it back to its rightful place. "You've had a rough night."
"So...what happened?" I asked. "The last thing I remember is...sparring?"
"It would appear you lost control and used too much magic," Gavon said simply. "So you collapsed."
"Wait, isn't that...can't I...die from that?" I asked, eyes wide.
"Yes, and that's what was so concerning," Gavon said. "Alexis, I know you were upset last night, but you have to keep your emotions in check. I don't even know how you were able to use so much magic, but…"
"It felt like a magical memory."
Something unreadable crossed his face. He wearily plucked his glasses off his face. "Alexis, I was very worried about you. I had no other choice but to bring you here. That's the second round of healing potion you've had."
"Why not ask my sister for help?"
"Well, for one, I don't think she's quite powerful enough for what you needed. Second, I believe they were still up in Boston. And third, your family isn't a big fan of mine." At my quizzical glance, he smiled and said, "A story, perhaps, for later."
"So where is here?"
He furrowed his brow and pinched the bridge between his nose. "My home."
I walked to the window, if it could be called that. It certainly wasn't letting in much light. "What time is it?"
"Ten o'clock in the morning," Gavon said, his voice oddly hesitant. "Unfortunately, it looks that way all the time."
"Dark?" I asked, peering out curiously. Below the window was a tiny village with old houses, and smoke twirling from little chimneys. "We're not in Florida anymore, are we?"
Gavon sighed.
"This is where John Chase banished the Separatists," I said quietly.
"Yes, it is."
"So you're a Separatist?" I asked, more curious than concerned.
"My ancestors were," Gavon said with a wry smile. "Remember, three hundred years have passed on this side as well."
"But you were banished? How...how did you get back?"
"When I was a much younger man, I was fascinated by the banishment spell. Understanding the mechanics of how it worked, how it was cast, and how it had stayed in place all these years, long after the group who'd cast it had died. So I spent a few years studying it, playing around with counter spells, until one day, I made a tear."
"A tear?" I asked. "Like, tearing a piece of paper?"
"More or less," Gavon said. "Since then, I've been able to pass freely between this world and yours."
I stared at him, mind numb from exhaustion and shock. Gavon was a descendent of James Riley's faction. That didn't make sense with the man I knew him to be. He was kind; he'd defended Nicole after I'd tried to tell him she had no magic.
"I promise you, I'm not interested in what Riley was," he said, as if reading my mind. "I doubt many here even remember why we were banished."
"So if you aren't interested in killing the nonmagicals…what have you been doing over there?"
"Learning everything I can about the past three hundred years," he said, a wistful look in his eyes. "So much has changed. Magic is almost pointless, now. Nonmagicals can fly, talk to each other instantly, drive cars. The internet was…" His eyes grew wide with excitement. "I had a lot to catch up on."
I brought the potion to my mouth, sipping it gingerly and hoping my mind would switch on so I could process all this new information.
Unfortunately, that wasn't in the cards, as Gavon joined me in the center of the room with a grim smile. "It's time we get you home, though. Finish that potion and we'll—"
"Master Gavon, I—"
I nearly jumped out of my skin. A boy about my age stood in the doorway. He wore a similar style of clothes to Gavon, but his dark hair was long and tied in a ribbon. There was also a growing scowl on his face, and I could feel his hatred from across the room.
"What is she doing here?"
"Lexie, this is my apprentice, James," Gavon said, giving a sharp look to the boy. "James, I will return within the hour. Please continue your lesson on Ingmar the Terrible."
"Apprentice?" I asked.
"Yes," Gavon said. "Over here, it's common practice for a Warrior to take on an apprentice to train."
"So, I'm kind of like your apprentice?" I asked cautiously.
"No, you are not!" James snarled.
"James," Gavon snapped. "Your lesson, please?"
He gave me one final glare before disappearing through the door.
"He's…well, he's a very powerful young man, but his temperament leaves something to be desired."
"So, does he live with you?" I asked. "Here?"
"He does," Gavon said, helping my off the chair. "Now, let's hurry home before your aunt starts to worry."
"Oh...well...let's not be too hasty," I muttered, remembering how much trouble I was going to be in when I got home.
But Gavon wasn't deterred as his magic gripped mine a little roughly. "Follow me and don't go anywhere other than where I take you." He'd barely finished his sentence and we left the warm library and had arrived at some frigid, dark cliff-side. The wind howled and cut right through me, as if trying to push me off the edge of the cliff.
"W-w-w-where are we?"
"The very end of our land," Gavon said, unfazed by the chill. "The place where I made the tear."
I wrapped my arms around me to keep warm. "Couldn't have picked a warmer place, could you?"
"Oh," Gavon said, looking back at me. "This is warm. For this area, anyway."
He waved his hand in front of the open air and stepped back. A crack of energy echoed across the land, followed by flashes of light. Before my eyes, the air ripped in half, and the crackling, moving tear appeared.
"After you," Gavon said, placing his hand on my shoulder.
"Is it safe?" I asked, looking at him dubiously.
"It's how you got here," Gavon said. "After…" He scanned the distance, and his hand tightened on my shoulder.
"Gavon?"
He forced a smile onto his face. "After you, dear."
With a deep breath, I took one giant step closer, and something hooked around my navel and tugged me forward. I landed with a thud on my butt, my hands buried in sand. But not the white, grainy sand of our sparring beach. This was harsher. Coarser.
Massachusetts sand.
Two feet landed beside me, and I glanced up at Gavon.
"Where are we now?"
"Close to your family's compound," Gavon said quietly. "Now, hurry back—"
"I'm not going back there!" I said, jumping to my feet. The healing potion hadn't completely replenished my energy, so I swooned a little.
Gavon held out a hand to steady me. "Alexis," he said. "You can't avoid punishment forever."
I looked up to the moon overhead and whined, "But they're going to kill me."
"They won't kill you," Gavon said. "You're a Warrior, aren't you?"
I nodded sadly.
"Warriors do what has to be done," he said. "We don't question. We don't whine. We just do."
I pursed my lips at him, hating him for using my magic against me. But before I could argue further, there was a tingling around my hands, that spread across my body. The magic was yellow, and it felt like—
"See you later," Gavon said as the world dissolved in front of me.
And faded into my living room in Florida and the white, angry face of my aunt.
20
"Where the hell have you been?" Jeanie bellowed.
I took a step backward then was frozen in place by yellow magic. Jeanie stood before me, screeching loudly and incoherently, but I couldn't even process what she was saying. Then, she was joined by Nicole, and I wasn't sure who to focus on.
"I couldn't find you." Jeanie's anger had taken on a note of fear. "I…L
exie, I was so scared."
"I'm sorry," I whispered, glad that she was worried about me and not angry that I'd spoken to her precious Gram so rudely.
She sank down onto the couch and buried her head in her hands. I waited for her to ask again, to press me where I'd been and why she hadn't been able to find me.
"And talking to Gram like that…I…Lexie… You can't do that!" Jeanie sighed. "I just don't know what's gotten into you. Ever since you've gotten magic—"
"Surprised you noticed," I said, unable to stop myself.
She gave me a sharp look. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Saying more would only dig the hole deeper, so I kept my mouth shut.
"Fine, Lexie, just…fine," Jeanie said, rubbing her face. "You're grounded for two weeks. I don't want to hear about you acting out again, all right?"
"Yes, ma'am," I said, knowing those were the only safe words right now.
"Go to your room," she said, sounding tired and old.
The magical bonds that held me upright disappeared, and I stumbled forward, wavering for a moment before high-tailing it up to my room. I quietly shut the door behind me and flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Gavon was a Separatist from that crazy secret world John Chase had created. New Salem, he'd called it. He was a descendent of the Separatists. And he'd figured out how to tear a hole into this world.
The rational part of me knew I should tell Jeanie about him, but…I wasn't sure what would happen then. I needed time to sort through all these new pieces before the adults took them away.
More than anything, there was a middling thought in the back of my mind, a truth that I wasn't quite ready to accept. Because if it weren't true, I might not be able to handle it.
Instead, I sat up right and held my hands out, expecting to see my old book on John Chase and the Separatists appear.
Nothing happened.
I took a deep breath. Perhaps I was simply too emotional. My pulse calm and my mind clear, I summoned my book to me.
Again, nothing happened.
I frowned, trying three times in succession.
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