The Uncanny Raven Winston

by Tammie Painter

  "Open wide," Alastair whispered. This isn’t a command I take readily, so I just stared at him. He held the treat out and placed it in my palm. "Eat it."

  "I just had dinner." I think I did. What time was it?

  "You didn’t have this."

  I have to say it smelled wonderful, not too sweet, but still rich with vanilla and maybe a hint of citrus. I ate the cupcake, and I don’t know who had made that little treasure, but it tasted like an entire cake shop’s worth of goodness had been crammed into it. I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate all my senses into my taste buds.

  When I opened my eyes, Alastair had stepped closer. This time, I was the one who backed away. Alastair glanced to his toes in embarrassment. I cursed Tobey for getting into my head.

  "I’ve been told I can’t be around you until after the test," I said to his confused expression.

  "Right," he said disappointedly.

  "Is there reason why?"

  "Because I’m the one giving you your test." I didn’t see why this should be an issue. Possibly sensing my disregard for Olivia’s rule, Alastair darted his gaze up and down the hall, then whispered, "Quick, let me in before someone catches us."

  I gestured him in and, as the door eased its way shut, turned on the lights. The curtains were still open and the night view over the river caught my eye before I asked, "Giving the test? As in, you’re one of the people overseeing it?"

  "No, I’m sparring against you. Which is why I came. I want to know how your training went today. You have to pass this thing."

  "And if I fail?" I asked.

  Alastair’s jaw tensed and his shoulders gave the smallest flinch. He played it off with a forced smile that I think was meant to be encouraging.

  "I really can’t say, but I don’t think it’s simply a placement test. There’s something more behind it. But," he said, changing to a brighter tone, "you’ll be glad to know I’m getting closer to finding out some concrete information. Information I think we can act on within a few days, so let’s make sure you get through this with flying colors. Are you up for a little work?"

  I wasn’t, but the cupcake had given me a boost and, what can I say, when my mind stopped spewing out doubts and conspiracies, I liked being around Alastair.

  I agreed to a brief bit of work. Alastair explained how to put a Silencing Spell on the room, telling me it would last until the next time the door was opened. It proved to be a fairly easy spell that required nothing more than spreading out the air molecules surrounding the room and thereby making them poor sound conductors. From the closet nook, the nook I was certain contained only my bags, Alastair pulled out two sparring vests.

  "Where did—?" I asked. "Never mind. I know. Magic."

  We donned our vests and I started out by showing him the fighting moves Busby, Olivia, and Rafi had gone over with me. Alastair approved of what I’d learned and of the easy way I moved through the spells. He also got a good laugh when I told him about head butting Rafi.

  Then it was time to go up against each other. We ran through the moves in the prescribed forms, but Alastair also threw some unexpected spells my way. And I have to admit to a bit of pride when I managed a few improvisational shots of my own. I parried three attacks — a series of Punching Hexes — but got too cocky, and his next strike, a Stunning Spell, hit me with full force.

  I stumbled backwards. The vest absorbed the blow, but my head still swam and my ribs under where the spell had landed ached from the hits I’d taken earlier in the day.

  Alastair rushed over to me, concern darkening his face. He reached out, sweeping his arm around my waist to steady me. Even through the vest, I sensed his fingers on me as well as the electric charge I felt whenever he touched me. My first thought was that I was absorbing from him, that the tingle was me sucking power from him. I angled my head to see if he was showing any weakness.

  "Are you okay?" we asked each other at the same time. And at the same time, we both laughed. We were so close, I could make out silver flecks in his dark blue eyes. Any closer and we’d be—

  Oh god, were we about to kiss? We were about to kiss! Time for Cassie to go all awkward.

  "Thank Merlin for this," I said, thumping the vest where his spell had landed. The motion of my arm put me out of Alastair’s embrace. We both reached up and rubbed the backs of our necks as if massaging away the tension filling the room.

  Yet again, I struggled against a dual tug within me. Part of me wanted to see if that kiss might not be the perfect way to end the day, while another part told me to keep my distance.

  "You should have caught that one, the Stunning Spell," Alastair said. "Are you tired?"

  "No, let’s just try one of the other spells," I said, irritated with myself. Now that his arm wasn’t around me, Team Heart was left standing confused by the sidelines. Which meant Team Brain took over and questioned why Alastair was really here. What might he have taken from that kiss?

  And what was with that hit? It had thrown me off more than it should have. I didn’t expect to block every attack, but Tobey’s comments about Alastair barged into my head, adding to Team Brain’s sniping voice insisting that Alastair’s spell shouldn’t have hurt so much.

  Alastair and I sparred for another few rounds. I was thrown off by the hit. I was thrown off by the almost kiss. I was annoyed over my persistent doubts. All this meant I couldn’t focus and ended up taking more blows than I blocked.

  "I think that’s enough," Alastair said, even though he didn’t look a bit tired. We removed our vests, and after he placed them back in the closet, he waited by the room’s door.

  "What happens if I fail this test?" I asked, approaching him as he reached for the door knob.

  "You won’t fail."

  "You can’t guarantee that. You have no idea how good I am at failing."

  "You have to pass. No, you will pass." Alastair looked up from his hand that hadn’t yet turned the knob. "Trust me," he added, the words full of meaning.

  Something jumped in my gut. Was that what this had been about? Rafi said Magics can learn other Magics’ fighting moves. Had Alastair come here to see what spells I was best at so he could turn the test to my advantage?

  Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t want to fail, it was actually starting to sound pretty ominous if I failed, but I also didn’t want to pass just because someone had made it easy for me.

  "Is that why you came here?" I asked sharply. Before he could answer, I said, "Don’t do anything to help me tomorrow. I’m not a charity case."

  "Cassie," he said, dropping his hand from the knob, "that’s not what I was implying. You’re—"

  I leaned forward. Reaching past him, his breath whispered across my ear as I turned the knob and jerked the door open. I hated myself for accusing him. I wanted answers about my parents. I wanted not to worry about the Mauvais or this stupid test. I wanted to rescue Pablo from a life as a feline fashionista. I wanted to be alone, but I also wanted Alastair to stay so I could tell him everything. My mind was an absolute mess of wants.

  Right at that moment, though, temptation had me desiring nothing more but to turn my head. With Alastair still so close in the narrow entryway to my room, only the slightest movement would have had my lips on his. But he was easing past me and stepping into the hallway before that movement could begin. He watched me for a moment and I hated that I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes.

  I moved toward him into the threshold. Surprise flashed across Alastair’s face and melted his chilly stare. He eased forward like someone cautiously approaching a stray cat. Closer now, his chocolatey scent drifted over me. Team Heart definitely had Team Brain bound and gagged somewhere as we inched nearer.

  A door slammed at the end of the hallway and we both leapt back. Of course, his leap only hopped him back about a foot, but my move knocked me into the door, jamming the handle into my left butt cheek.

  "I better go,"
he whispered, darting a glance either way down the hall. "The guard will be back any minute." I grunted my agreement and watched him hurry away in the opposite direction of the damn, kiss-interrupting noise. I shut the door, jumped in the shower to run cold water over my throbbing butt, then settled in for the long night ahead of me.

  28 - THE TEST

  THE NEXT MORNING I was up early. After all, what’s the point of staying in bed if your nerves are nipping at you so doggedly that you can’t sleep? I had just gotten dressed when a light knocking sounded at my door. My empty belly lurched. I wasn’t ready for this. I was most definitely not ready for this.

  With my hand on the door knob, I glanced over my shoulder. The room wasn’t all that high up. I could probably jump. Then I thought of Mr. Wood’s cast-bound leg. Magical Medi Unit experience or not, the very idea of having to move into Morelli’s apartment and being under his care was enough to make me abandon my escape plans. I opened the door. I managed a weak smile when I saw who it was and even came close to warmly greeting the person with him.

  "Are you ready for this?" asked Mr. Tenpenny. My gaze flicked back to Tobey who sported a sneer on his face. I didn't understand him at all. One minute he acted like he wanted to be my co-conspirator, the next he was going around looking like he wanted to throw me off the top of the ramparts. Lacking the mental space for sorting out Tobey Tenpenny, I ignored him.

  "Oh sure," I said, allowing the door to close behind me as I stepped out to join Busby. Side by side, we headed down the hallway with Tobey skulking along behind us. "I've had a whole day of defensive training. How could I not be ready?"

  "You’ve had more than that before you came here. Just remember, you're going up against someone who doesn't want to hurt you." Tobey made a scoffing noise, then pretended to cough when I shot him a warning look over my shoulder. "But he will be testing you. If you think it's difficult, just remember how hard it might be if it were the Mauvais or some other enemy you were facing."

  I always enjoy words of encouragement that start out reassuring then turn sinister.

  "Good speech, Mr. T." My voice echoed up the spiral staircase. "Where are they conducting this little show, anyway?"

  I expected the test to be given in one of the larger rooms of the White Tower or out on Tower Green, but Mr. Tenpenny merely replied, "You’ll see."

  Oh goodie, because I had just been thinking I needed more suspense and tension to start my day.

  We passed by Olivia’s office, then trudged down a set of stairs, and came to a door that, if I hadn’t been drowning in nerves, would have made me cry out for joy. An elevator! It dinged, the doors slid open, we stepped in, and my leg muscles celebrated the effortless transition between levels.

  When the elevator reached its destination, I expected to see the same stone walls as the rest of the White Tower, but what we stepped into was a narrow hall with recessed lighting and whose walls were painted a drab shade of grey. I followed Busby down the zig-zagging corridor. After a couple jogs I could see a darkened room at the end of the hallway.

  Banna was waiting at the entryway. She held a clipboard and was checking something off with a purple pen. Swathed in her layers of gauzy fabric and donning her dark lenses, she looked like a very tiny version of the Invisible Man. Olivia, emerging from the dark room, joined us soon after we reached Banna.

  "There you are," Olivia said, her voice tinged with annoyance that brought out her Scottish brogue.

  "We got a later start than I intended," explained Mr. Tenpenny.

  "Are you nervous?" Banna asked me kindly. She probably had super senses that picked up the sound of my knees knocking together as my legs trembled like blocks in an about-to-tumble Jenga tower.

  "A little."

  "You'll do great. I know you will." Then, under her breath she added, "As long as your opponent plays fair."

  "Banna, hush," Olivia hissed. Sheesh. Who let a cockroach loose in her panties this morning? "I’m sure you’ll do your best. That’s all we expect."

  Did you hear that? That was both of their words triggering my what-the-hell-is-really-going-on alarm.

  I muttered a thanks. It was all I could do since I felt too freaked out to speak. Why would Alastair not play fair? Why wouldn’t I be able to do my best? Olivia and Banna then turned and headed into the darkened space. Mr. Tenpenny gave me a gentle nudge, signaling me to follow.

  I trailed after them. And promptly stopped in my tracks when I crossed the threshold.

  Tobey crashed into me, but I ignored his muffled curses. I was in an arena. A real arena. But not an arena as in some modern monstrosity sponsored by an insurance company who could be charging lower rates rather than laying out money on sporting venues. This was a true Roman arena with a stone walkway leading from the hallway up to the circular arena floor, and stone seats situated in tiers. Seats that, in the glow of dozens of tiny fairy lights, I could see were nearly full with onlookers. And not a single one of those onlookers was wearing a toga. I wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or grateful.

  After getting over the initial shock, it dawned on me that we were still in a room. There were no windows. Just high ceilings and dark walls. The corridor had had no windows either and I wondered if we were in a basement.

  "Where are we?" I asked Mr. Tenpenny.

  "Guildhall. It’s in the City, not far from the Tower. The elevator is a portal."

  "But it's a Roman arena."

  "Yes, but only a small one."

  "In London?"

  "The Romans did settle here for a time."

  "Okay, yes I know that, but an arena? This thing is in better shape than the Coliseum in Rome. Why isn’t it on any postcards?"

  "Because to Norm eyes this is just a jumble of ruins in a building few tourists ever visit," Olivia said tersely, as if I should be well-versed in magical architecture from Roman Britain. "We keep it that way to avoid attention."

  "It's time." Mr. T gave my hand a quick squeeze, then gestured me forward. The seats weren't packed to capacity, but there was enough of the London community in attendance to make me feel queasy. Although I stole a few glances of this unexpected marvel of architecture, the introvert in me kept my chin tucked down as if this might shield me from the audience’s stares while I crossed the length of the walkway and stepped into the center of the arena floor.

  Where Alastair was waiting.

  Shifting on his feet, he looked almost as nervous as I felt. I greeted him, expecting to see the usual delight in his eyes. I needed something normal, something reassuring before this started. But he didn't smile. Not even a grin.

  My queasiness turned to outright nausea.

  Banna announced the rules of the test, but my blood was hammering too hard through my ears for me to catch any of it. I didn’t dwell on this, though. During one of the cake breaks with Busby yesterday, we’d gone over sparring protocols. I didn’t think they’d have changed much in the hours since.

  In too little time, Olivia told me to formally greet my opponent. Alastair and I both bent at the waist to bow to one another. Our eyes locked. His revealed nothing but determination. My stomach twisted and an acid taste filled my mouth.

  I swallowed back the bile. I thought of the balance. I thought of the membrane around me allowing only enough magic in and out. Olivia called for the test to begin. I lifted from my bow.

  Before I could prepare for it, before I could even take my fighting stance, my whole body felt like it had been forced into in the world's tightest pair of bike shorts. I could move my fingers but not my arms. My legs were free, but some unseen rope was pulling me toward Alastair. My feet tripped over themselves as I struggled, fighting against the bonds. I tried to resist, I tried to push my arms out as if I could burst the restraints like the Incredible Hulk, but it was near impossible.

  I panicked. I was out of control. I could feel magic pouring from me. It reminded me of my draining at Runa’s,
but that had been a gentle tug, not this ripping, tearing sensation. I clenched my hands and pinched my eyes shut, straining with the effort to hold in as much as possible, but it was like using a tissue to dab at a gaping arterial wound.

  I opened my eyes, staring with rage at Alastair. The temptation to rip my power back from him was stronger than the need to pee after drinking half a pot of coffee.

  I wanted my magic back with a greedy ferocity. I was certain I could take it back, but the non-sensical rules of the test stated I couldn't use any of my ability to absorb to combat my opponent. Besides the fact that I already had enough magic in me to kill a herd of unicorns, with my lack of magical control, if I absorbed I could mistakenly pull in magic from the audience — any of whom could have been tainted with the Mauvaisian computer virus Mr. T had mentioned.