by K. A. Poe
I rose from the futon and slapped my aunt hard across the face; she seemed completely unaffected. My hand throbbed and I stepped away, stumbling over the crooked coffee table. I forced myself away from my aunt and the satisfied look on her face, then stormed out into the bitter cold. As I slammed the door behind me, I could have sworn I heard her girlish laughter yet again.
The snow was falling harder now as I made my way back to Haven. Shivering and crossing my arms over my chest, I returned to my constant glancing around in every direction to ensure I was alone. My thoughts immediately went to Mathias once I calmed myself from the visit with my aunt; she had been less than helpful. Was he asleep now, or was he staying with Artemis? Maybe my Clan leader felt that Mathias wouldn’t want me to hear the truth and that’s why he refused to elaborate on what he knew. My thoughts went down a darker path when I remembered that Artemis mentioned knowing of only two living Shimmerers. Who was the other one, and why hadn’t I ever seen them at Haven? There was the possibility that whomever they were no longer lived there; it was common for witches to move on after they grew accustom to their gifts and comfortable enough in the real world to adapt to normal lifestyles. Then there was the possibility that they were on the other team — a Nefastus witch – or maybe even an Exile.
A strong, cold breeze tried to pull my hood away, but I tugged it back, covering my forehead, then hunkered down and continued walking.
A few minutes passed and a sound caught my attention.
I glanced around searching high and low for sight of another person or even an animal. Nothing stood out. I shrugged and resumed my pace; it was only the wind and snow.
“Maaadison.”
I had no doubts that this time I heard something, and not just anything, but my name.
“M-Mathias? Is that you?” I said through chattering teeth, my breath coming out in a puff of white mist. I knew without a doubt that it had been a male’s voice, but beyond that, it was impossible to tell with the sudden gusts of wind all around. “Ezra?” I turned around to see where the voice had come from.
Leaning against the wall was a boy with pale blonde hair that seemed to glow beneath the flickering streetlight above; it wasn’t Mathias, nor was it any other witch that I recognized. He was dressed unusually for being out in the snow — similarly to how Hannah had been inappropriately dressed for such weather — but nothing about him said vampire to me. Lacking a coat, gloves, and earmuffs, he looked prepared for a summer day in his shorts and T-shirt.
“Did you … did you say something?” I asked, standing my ground and observing my surroundings. There was an alleyway up ahead and to the right that I could run down if I had to.
“You’re Madison, right?” he said, ignoring my question.
I wasn’t sure how to answer him. If he was my enemy, I shouldn’t confirm my identity to him. “Who wants to know?”
He smirked and stepped closer, out of the shadows and into the dim light. “Well, that answers my question, doesn’t it? I suppose I should give you my name, seeing as I know yours.” Another step. “I’m Terry.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I know a lot more than just your name,” he answered. “I know that you’re a member of the Castus Clan. That you possess not one, but two gifts. I know that you are very desirable to Constantine.”
“You’re one of them, then? A Nefastus?”
There were only five or so feet dividing us now. “One of the many, yes. Coming out here all alone at such an hour was a dumb move on your part. Either you really are powerful or you’re really stupid.”
“I’m not alone,” I said, although my voice shook.
“Oh? Is that so? I don’t see anyone else with you.”
“Th-they’ll find me soon enough. They’re close by.”
Terry scoffed. “Your friends are all asleep in whatever hole Artemis has them in, I’m sure.”
His eyes flashed an icy blue and he held out his palm. Something slithered out from under his skin and I held my hand over my mouth in shock. “Lucky for you that Constantine wants you brought in alive,” he said and wielded the slick sliver of ice in his fist — the cold didn’t affect him, nor did the sharp edges.
“What are you?” I said in awe, trying my hardest to keep him distracted.
Another smirk spread across his lips. “Never met an ice-wielder, huh?”
The icicle came soaring in my direction, and I put my hand up instinctively in front of me. I waited for the spear of ice to slam into me or pierce flesh, but it never did.
“My, my,” he mused and the flicker of blue returned in his eyes. “Was Constantine correct in telling me you were a Summoner and a Clairvoyant?”
Three sharp-edged icicles were flung toward me. My hands went up again, only this time I saw it — two of the icicles stopped in midair, then clattered to the ground. The third kept going however and pierced through my shoulder. Gasping in pain, I faltered and struggled to think of something to summon to aid myself with.
“It would seem,” he began and stepped closer, “that you are a Telekinetic, no?”
I looked up at him in shock, my eyes darting away from the moist, warm blood that was seeping into my shirt. “No. I’m not,” I said through clenched teeth. My palm sliced open when I tried to pull at the shard that punctured my shoulder.
“Only a Telekinetic would be able to do what you’re doing,” he said and picked up one of the discarded icicles.
He ascended on me, pushing me down against the snow-covered sidewalk and pressed the tip of the sharpened ice to my throat. With one swift motion, he tugged the other icicle from my shoulder and clamped his hand down over my mouth before I had a chance to scream. I whimpered against the force of his hand and pictured a butcher knife in my head.
“Oh, don’t be stupid,” he mused as my hand rose to stab him. Ice formed instantly over the blade and the sudden shock of cold against my skin caused me to drop it. “If it wasn’t for Constantine’s wishes, I’d leave your body here to rot. But, that’s how it goes, isn’t it? At least I will get rewarded for this, though.”
My body was weakening from overuse of my powers, even though I had been certain I’d only used them once to summon that knife. Dizziness washed over me and I struggled to push him away. I was about to give up, then lifted my shaking hands and tried to shove him. To my surprise he flew back, his weapon falling free of his grip.
Before I knew it he was standing back over me. “Yep. A Telekinetic for sure.” He formed a circle with his hands and again his eyes shone brightly. A blue ring of air formed, then began to solidify into a small hoop.
Before I was able to see exactly what he was creating, strong, warm arms enveloped me and I turned in surprise.
“Ma—Mathias?”
Mathias nodded then looked up at the ice-wielding Nefastus.
“No. No, no, no!” Terry yelled, dropped the chains he had been creating, then summoned what looked to be a sword of ice.
I clenched my eyes shut, helplessly waiting for the blade to cut Mathias or me. A sickness hit my gut, and I suddenly felt as though I was being stretched and pulled in all directions. My insides felt as if they had been turned to snow, my skin prickled and numbed, and blackness took me then.
Chapter Sixteen
I opened my eyes and was startled to see that we were in my room at Haven, but it seemed impossible. I was sure I had been stabbed by the magical blade. Had Mathias somehow teleported us away? Mathias told me before that he could only shimmer short distances at a time, yet where I had been attacked was at least a half hour away. He dropped me on my bed and I felt a pang of dizziness. With my head in my hands, I started to scold him for coming after me, then looked up when I heard a loud thud.
Mathias’s body was sprawled across my bedroom floor, a pained expression passing over his sickly pale face. He convulsed as his body was fading in and out, as if looking at a holographic picture from the wrong angle — you could see part of it clearly, but not the rest. I fel
l onto my knees beside him and pressed my hand to his throat, checking for a pulse. It was slow but still present.
“Please, please, Mathias ...” I cried and looked around the room in panic. I didn’t know what to do or if anything I did do would even help him. “I-I’ll be right back. Oh, God, please be okay. Please.”
I burst through my bedroom door and ran as fast as I could to Artemis’s room. I banged my fist against the wood, not caring this time who I woke. The door opened on the first try. My Clan leader looked distraught.
“Castus Young,” he said in a firm yet tired voice, “I have already told you once before that I have had enough. I am doing what I can, and I will investigate the issue until I have a concise answer. Until then —”
“Mathias! He’s dying!” I shrieked, interrupting him.
Artemis’s expression turned from anger to worry instantly. “Where? Where is he?!”
“My room,” I answered.
He nearly knocked me out of the way as he jumped through the door and raced down the hall, leaving his room wide open. I followed behind him, gasping for air when I finally reached the door that would lead us to Mathias. I was afraid to turn around the corner and step over the threshold, where I feared I’d find him lifeless on my floor.
Sitting on my bed, with his head down and his fists clenched at his sides, was Mathias. I fought with myself over whether or not to run over and hug him.
Artemis rushed toward the bed and stood beside him, placing an unsteady hand on his shoulder. “Are you all right?”
Mathias nodded.
“What happened?”
No explanation was given. Artemis turned to me, then back to Mathias. His voice was angry now, not worried. “You used your power, didn’t you? Even after I told you not to!”
“If he hadn’t ... I would probably be dead,” I said, hoping that would make a difference.
“You,” he said, shooting his angered eyes toward me. “What were you doing that he needed to save you from? What were you doing out on your own at this hour? At any hour!”
“I was looking for some answers!”
Artemis sighed irritably. “I told you already that I would handle it. You could have gotten yourself killed. Evidently, you almost did! And now ... now Mathias ...”
I looked at Mathias, who still had his head down, and gulped. “Now … now what? You think he ... you think he’s going to d —”
“No!” Artemis shouted, silencing me. “But he could have.”
My mom arrived fifteen minutes later, alarmed to find Mathias sitting in my bed looking ill. Artemis was pacing around my room muttering things under his breath. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Mathias. He had risked his life for me, and I was grateful for it ... yet at the same time I was astonished that he, or anyone, would do that for me. Mom stepped aside with Artemis and he filled her in on what was going on. Every now and then she would look in my direction, her face clearly showing that she was also disappointed I had been so reckless.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” I said as I sat down next to Mathias.
He inhaled a shaky breath and I wondered if it was from nerves or the aftermath of whatever was affecting him. “I made a promise, Madison. A promise to protect you and watch over you. I am not one to take promises lightly.”
“You could have gotten yourself killed! I’m not worth that kind of sacrifice!”
His silver eyes shot up to mine and there was a fierceness to them that unsettled me. “You are to the Clan. You are to me.”
Stunned into silence, I averted my eyes and swallowed hard. His hand reached over and grasped tightly onto mine.
“I didn’t mean for this ... I didn’t know that using my gift would have this kind of an effect on me.”
“Artemis warned you not to use it,” I reminded him, still thinking of what he’d said only seconds ago.
“And had you not gone out into the night looking for answers, I wouldn’t have needed to use it ... but don’t blame yourself. It was my decision to use it.”
“Speaking of decisions,” Artemis said and I noticed he was hovering over us, his face grave once more. My hand slipped out of Mathias’s when I saw that my mom was looking at us, too. “I feel that it is wisest if you are confined to your room with constant observation to ensure that you do not have the opportunity to use your powers. It is dire that you do not use them, and I do not speak lightly of this. You could very well die. Until I understand the entirety of this situation, you will be left under Castus Whitlock’s care.”
“Tobias?” Mathias asked, alarmed, seemingly unaffected by the rest of the announcement. “He hasn’t been here in ... eight years or more.”
“I will be sending for him. I do not have any doubt that he will be willing to watch over you until I find some answers.”
“Couldn’t you pick someone … anyone … else?”
“Any troubles you had with Castus Whitlock are long since forgotten on his behalf. I assure you.”
“Who is Tobias ...?” I asked, looking questioningly at Mathias.
“Tobias Whitlock was Mathias’s closest friend until there came to be a misunderstanding between the two. The older of the two boys, Tobias, came to believe that Mathias was cheating during physical training. Due to his rare gift, he does possess uncanny speed even when not teleporting and Tobias was a sore loser. The two were paired together to fight in a friendly tournament in which various other witches were involved, the winner was to be rewarded. When there were only two opponents left, Mathias and Tobias, the older boy claimed that Mathias won unfairly and used his gift to his advantage. Not long after that ... their friendship ended.”
“I didn’t cheat,” Mathias said and sighed. “The rules stated that we couldn’t use our gifts, and I didn’t.”
“And I believed you,” Artemis said. “Regardless, Castus Whitlock will be the ideal choice, and even you cannot deny that.”
“What makes him so special?” I asked.
“Tobias can create impenetrable force fields,” Artemis explained with a proud grin. “Not even a Shimmerer can get through them. It’s a shame that he left us, considering he has such a useful gift, but I won’t force anyone to stay.”
Mathias stood up, wavering slightly. “Aside from me apparently. “
“Calm down, Castus Forsythe. It is for your own good.”
Mathias stormed out of the room without another word. I wanted to say something, but felt it wasn’t my place. Mom came over to me and enveloped me in her arms.
“When Artemis said you’d been attacked —” She paused and gasped loudly. “Madison, you’re bleeding.”
Having forgotten my injury in the urgency to help Mathias, I now looked down and saw that crimson had seeped all of the way through to my coat, and passed on to my mom’s blouse. Mom helped me take off my layers, exposing the fresh wound to her and Artemis.
“How did this happen? Exactly. I want every detail,” Artemis said.
I relayed the attack to both of them — how I’d been on my way back to Haven from Hannah’s when someone said my name. How the Nefastus witch seemed to know where I would be, even though there wasn’t a Scrying Glass embedded in my skin this time. My Clan leader looked uneasy, and Mom looked terrified and worried. When I told them how I’d deflected the attacks, Artemis put a hand up to stop me.
“Please, repeat that,” he insisted, lowering his hand.
“Like I said, I kind of ... instinctively put out my hand and the icicles flew away, as if I was directing them. Only, I wasn’t doing a good job of it.”
He looked thoughtful. “This sounds like Telekinesis to me.”
“That’s what the Nefastus said.”
Artemis was pacing again and it was beginning to bother me. He shook his head and paused in his step. “This simply isn’t possible. You are a Summoner and a Clairvoyant, which is abnormal enough as it is. How could you possibly have been using Telekinetic magic against him? Three powers is unheard of. No. It is impossible.”
“I am as clueless as you are.”
“Demonstrate for me,” he said and pointed at Chipper, who was still sitting on Mom’s nightstand. “Have that stuffed penguin float over to you.”
My mom had her eyes on me, her brow creased with worry. “First,” she began, addressing Artemis, “something needs to be done about that stab wound.”
Artemis looked up and toward her as though he wasn’t sure he understood what she was referring to. Then realization came over him. “My apologies. Of course, of course,” he said and stepped over to me. His hand hovered over my shoulder and I could feel a nearly instant relief from his healing. “I was so caught up with everything else ... I didn’t mean —”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Really. Let’s get this over with.”
I focused my mind completely on the penguin with the yellow stain on its belly. Picturing it floating toward me, I held out my hand and tried to will the stuffed animal to rise off of the nightstand. Nothing happened. Letting out a groan of frustration, I shut my eyes and pictured the penguin and nothing but it. I forced out all thoughts of Mathias, all the wondering of what Serena was doing and if she was okay and happy at the motel, of my mom going out with Jason — all of it was pushed aside and all I saw was the stuffed animal.
In the darkness of my mind, I saw it hovering, but when I opened my eyes, it was still in its place.
“You are sure that what you said happened truly did happen?” Artemis asked with disbelief. “It was still dark out. You were probably confused —”
“Yes! I’m sure! I-I don’t know why, but this isn’t working!”
