Armageddon's Ward

by T J Kelly

  “I can’t believe it!” I was crying and laughing at the same time. Peony leaned back and held her arm out to Peter, drawing him into a group hug.

  “Peter, I’m so proud of you. You figured it out.” Peony stepped back, the three of us breaking from our embrace.

  “I was only showing her what I did,” Peter said. “Lia’s the one who figured it out. She never even put the pencil on the paper like I suggested. She did it her way.”

  Peony herded us over to a small sitting area by the door. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, and I realized I was shaking.

  “Now, Lia, tell me all about what you did. I want to know every detail. We’ll go over it again when Ged gets back, but I can’t wait.”

  I took a steadying breath. “Peter was telling me what he does when he performs magic. I’ve never tried drawing or anything like that before, at least, not in relation to my magic. We figured we might as well give it a try. But after I envisioned the candle on fire, I opened my eyes and saw it was already lit. It took me a second to realize what I had done. Then I could suddenly feel it, all of it, my magic was there. It’s a part of me. I was about to say something to Peter, but then everything caught on fire.”

  My aunt laughed. “Oh, honey, I’m sure that was so exciting anyway! That’s how it works when you tap into your magic. You’re going to find that there’s so much power at your disposal that you’ll overdo it for a while. But don’t worry about it. We’ve got your back.”

  And Peter did have my back. He had put out the flames before they did any real damage. Another reason it was a good thing he was my best friend.

  I grinned so hard I thought my face would split. I was light-headed. I kept trying to wake up, but it wasn’t a dream. It was real. Finally, the whole rest of my life opened up before me. “I can’t believe it,” I blurted again. “I just can’t believe any of this. I can’t believe it’s finally happened!” My mind swirled around on a loop, and I couldn’t stop babbling.

  “And just in time, too,” Peony said. She couldn’t stop smiling, either. “We’ve completed all the training we could do without your magic. Now we can get to the fun stuff.”

  Peter laughed and winked at me. I grinned back. I was so full of light that I could barely stay in my chair even though my knees were still wobbly.

  Peony sighed. “It sounds like you triggered your magic when you pictured what you wanted. Lia, that’s the key. It may turn out that all you need to do is picture something, and it’ll happen.”

  I nodded, my mind finally calming enough to think. “Yes, I imagined it, and it was done. It was so easy, too.”

  “A little too easy, I think. It’s a good thing you always wear your necklace.”

  I reached my hand up and touched the little silver star I was wearing around my neck. “What do you mean?”

  “Your necklace contains a powerful spell that stifles magic. It won’t block it, but focusing magic while it’s around your neck is only possible with deliberation. Considering you can make magic happen just by thinking about it, the star necklace will probably save your life. Or the lives of those around you.”

  The seriousness of being a magician, the responsibility that came with it, settled onto my shoulders and the floating feeling stopped.

  “Do you think my magic is that dangerous?”

  “In a way, yes. Just think about how bad it could get if you cast a spell when you have a stray thought or daydream. Or a nightmare. As long as you wear that necklace, you’ll have to deliberately link your magic to your thoughts for anything to happen. You will be able to maintain control while you learn how to separate your magic from your normal thoughts.”

  I hadn’t spent any time thinking about what was going to happen once I finally had my magic, but Peony was right. Not that I could have predicted this. But if all I needed to do was imagine something to make it happen, I could get into a lot of trouble. Thankfully, I had the necklace to help me contain my power until I figured out what I was doing.

  “I hadn’t thought about that. Thank you, anonymous Rector Ancestor, for saving my butt before I realized I needed it.” It was an off-hand comment, but for the first time in my life, I could feel that what I had to say was heard by the person I addressed. That must be the connection to our ancestors everyone was always talking about.

  I wondered if that meant I would finally feel my mother and father’s presence when I talked to them. I cleared my throat and pushed that thought out of my head. There would be time enough to test my connection to the other side later. When I was alone.

  Just in case I cried or something.

  A tiny line appeared on Peony’s forehead between her eyebrows. I recognized that look from when she was thinking over a complicated problem. “You know,” she said slowly, as if she was working it out as she spoke. “Your trigger, how your magic seems to work, it isn’t really all that different than what Ged does. It’s interesting how your magic is inherited from your father, but the mechanism is from your mother’s family. As if it took the uniting of two particular families to make somebody as remarkable as you.”

  That also explained why it was so hard to figure out. Magic ran in families, but so did the mechanism. I couldn’t think of a time when the two were split between different family lines, and I had spent years researching. My parents, the experts and I were all focused on trying to make my trigger work the Rector way to match my Rector magic when the key lay with the Laurus side.

  My cheeks heated with embarrassment. I didn’t feel all that special, especially when the solution was so painfully obvious. “Thanks, Aunt. I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am for everything you and Uncle Ged have done for me.” I turned to Peter. “And you, too. I can’t believe that after all these years, I finally figured it out. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Tears filled my eyes. I struggled to hold them back. I was sick of crying, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment by being an idiot.

  “It was all you, Lia. I was just along for the ride.” Peter grinned. “Come on, enough of this. Let’s tell Mort. He’s been pulling for you just as much as the rest of us. He’s going to be so happy.”

  “Great idea,” Peony said. We all stood, and my aunt gave me another hug. “You go tell him, and I’ll see if Ged sent word about when he’ll be back. I’ll talk to Cook, too. I’m sure she can whip up something awesome for tonight’s dinner. We’ll celebrate. Then tomorrow we will start the real work. I’ll send a message to Chas as well. He isn’t doing anything so important that he can’t be here tonight, too.”

  My aunt continued to list off all of the actions she needed to take and the plans she needed to make as we walked downstairs. I grinned at Peter, not only happy to have my magic but also amused at how my aunt’s ideas distracted her. She was so deep in thought that I doubt she would notice if I took off. Not like I wanted to run away. In fact, for the first time in my life, I wanted to be exactly where I was, doing exactly what I was doing.

  I swear my feet barely touched the floor as we walked down the stairs.

  ◆◆◆

  I was alone when Chas finally arrived. Peony was busy in the kitchen with Cook, and Peter had wandered off with Mort, talking about my upcoming fighting lessons and how they would change because I could access my magic.

  Chas kissed me as soon as he stepped over the threshold, then lifted me up and spun me around several times. He buried his face against my neck as he set me down, his lips tickling my skin as he told how happy he was for me and how he always knew I could do it.

  “You must be walking on sunshine,” Chas said as he pulled back to look into my eyes. “I can’t sense any darkness inside of you at all. Maybe we should get Peony to do the Ascension Ceremony right now so you can take that with you.”

  I sighed, a bemused smile on my face. “Nice idea, Chas, but I think trying to freeze me in a state of overwhelming joy would turn me into a joy junkie. I don’t think I could get anything done if I felt like this all the
time.”

  Chas laughed. I thought it was sweet he wanted what was best for me. That he wanted to keep me from the darkness that hounded him. But he didn’t know how imperative it was that I ascended in near balance, bringing Light as well as Dark with me when I became a magician. Otherwise, I couldn’t do the work of my family.

  “Have you thought of a name for yourself yet?”

  I groaned. “Not really. I can’t stand the one my mother wanted me to choose. Besides, somebody else registered it a few years ago anyway. What do you think I should do?”

  “Come on, let’s have a seat and think it through. You need to come up with something fast.”

  Chas grabbed my hand and hustled me into the sitting room. We sat together on the love seat. I leaned my head up against his side as his arm wrapped around me.

  “It’s so unfair that I have to think of a name that I’ll have to use for the rest of my life. Do you know how crazy that is? So many people walk around with these ridiculous names because they were in a hurry or thought it was cool at the time.”

  “You mean like Armageddon?” Chas asked. We both laughed. My uncle’s name struck fear in the hearts of dark magicians all over the world, but honestly, his name was over the top.

  “Yeah, if I pick something ridiculous, I guess I could always encourage everyone to call me by a nickname, too. Man, this sucks. What should I do? Now I’m going to obsess over this right when I thought I could finally relax for the night.”

  Chas tightened his arm, pulling me even closer. “I’ll help you.”

  “Do you know what? I just realized. I have no idea what you or Peter called yourselves. Why is that? Did you guys come up with something ridiculous, too?”

  Chas shook his head. “Nah, we just go by our family names here at the castle. My magician name is Incursus.” Attack, Invasion. A strong name meant to show his foes he only had one thing on his mind, and they better run.

  “Not bad,” I said as I fiddled with the zipper on one of his vest pockets. “What’s Peter’s name?”

  “Oh, he’s a clever one. He named himself Armalucis.”

  I nodded. It meant Weapon of Light. “Nice. Well, I guess I know what other names are unavailable.”

  Chas laughed. “I felt so stupid when I was trying to think of my name. That’s probably the worst part of the ceremony, you know? Wondering if somebody’s going to start laughing when you announce it.”

  “Imagine what Colluvium’s mother felt like when he came up with his name.” Chas and I cracked up. Colluvium was an investigative reporter who had a strong talent for ferreting out people’s dirty little secrets. He chose a name to emphasize that he could dig up the dirt to expose the muck where they wallowed. Instead, most of us just snickered when we heard his name since Colluvium was slang for “pig swill.”

  A new magician couldn’t reveal their name to anyone before the ceremony, although many parents tried to help. That worked as long as the kid didn’t repeat it back once they made the decision. The name had to be vocalized for the first time during the Ascension Ceremony or the link between magician and name wouldn’t set, and another name had to be substituted.

  That meant there was no way to run a reality check before it was too late. A magical name lasted forever. Power resided in a magician’s name. If they played their cards right, the name became a spell. And spells like that were brutal.

  Armageddon’s name was also a powerful hex. We couldn’t use it as a spell, but he could. Most of his allies and friends called him Armageddon out of respect. As a sign that he had ascended to a higher level of magic. I wasn’t sure anyone even remembered his birth name anymore. On the other hand, his enemies only ever whispered his magical name in terror.

  My name needed to be as powerful. Too many people thought I was a joke. I needed as much dignity as possible.

  Chas fiddled with one of the three braids on the left side of my head. I finally settled on a style I liked the best, and apparently, he liked it, too. Obviously, his mind had drifted to other things.

  “Lia, I wanted to ask you something, and I don’t want you to get mad.”

  “Sounds serious. What’s up?” I tried to sound as if my stomach hadn’t just dropped to the floor. After our talk about how he ought to leave me for my own good, any discussion of a serious nature made me queasy.

  “You and Peter. You spent a lot of time together in the infirmary, and you still hang out all the time even though you’re both better. I want to know if I have anything to worry about.”

  I was taken aback. I thought I had made my feelings clear. “Nothing is going on,” I said earnestly. “We’re just friends. I swear.” I was new to relationships and boyfriends, but Peter and I weren’t like that. We were just friends. The kiss Peter gave me when we were celebrating was friendly, not passionate. In fact, I had actually forgotten about it once Peony had arrived to congratulate me. Something like that was normal when two people were so excited and happy. And it wasn’t as if we were making out or anything. It was just a kiss. A standard, friendly kiss. Nothing like what Chas and I had.

  “Are you sure he feels that way?” he asked. “Because he hugs you. A lot. Like, all the time.”

  “Well, I’m a very huggable person, aren’t I? Everyone hugs me. We’re just good friends. Peter understands that you and I are together. I admit that sometimes friends can get confused, but we talked about it, straight up, and it’s all good.”

  Chas looked serious. “I know that I should just let it be, but I can’t help it. Especially since Peter’s better for you than I am.”

  “He isn’t better for me because he doesn’t want me. And I don’t want him. Chas, what’s going on? You know how I feel about you.”

  “I don’t know. Everything is going to change now that you’re a magician. You might not be as vulnerable as before, but you still need the support of lots of people for the trials. I can’t imagine they would want somebody like me hanging around, damaging your reputation.”

  I was shocked. Some of my friends used to talk about how thrilling it was to have a jealous boyfriend, but this wasn’t any fun at all. Chas without confidence was somebody I didn’t recognize, and it made me uncomfortable.

  Leaning closer, I pressed myself against him. “The only thing that counts is how you and I feel. Nothing and nobody else matters.” I lifted my mouth to his and kissed him. He tried to hold himself back, but I wouldn’t let him. I ran my hand up his chest, then lightly skimmed his neck, pulling him towards me. I opened my mouth beneath his, begging him to deepen the kiss. He let out a little groan.

  We spent an enjoyable half an hour together before my aunt found us and dragged us off to celebrate.

  ◆◆◆

  Peony helped me alter the dress I was going to wear for my ascension. We were going to keep the ceremony small, only the castle residents would be in attendance. Unfortunately, my aunt insisted that keeping it quiet didn’t mean I was allowed to wear jeans and a hoodie as I initially planned. I already put in years of discomfort and pain into reaching ascension. Was it too much to ask that I didn’t have to be uncomfortable at the ceremony?

  According to my aunt, it was. Apparently, I was going to look back on it and be glad I was sewn into a fancy gown and strapped into four-inch heels.

  “Hold still for one more second... there. You’re good.” Peony was a wiz with household spells.

  “Aunt Peony, will you teach me your mending spells?” Many prominent magicians felt domestic spells were beneath them, preferring to leave those tasks to their servants. But the spell for mending a tear or hemming a dress was the same spell Peony used to heal my cuts and slashes and deep wounds while I was in the infirmary. Hemming both fabric and flesh had value, and I wasn’t going to ignore those spells out of a false sense of pride.

  “Sure thing, sweetheart. Ged will let up on your schedule by then. I’ll talk to him when he gets back from the City.”

  Armageddon had taken my registration paperwork to the Council. A clerk who
owed my uncle a favor was going to file it right away. No magician was required to ascend publicly, and we wanted to keep my success quiet for as long as possible to limit the response time for my rivals.

  “Aunt Peony, can I ask you a question? It’s about Chas.”

  “Sure honey. Here, let me help you slip out of the dress, and we’ll take a break. It’s almost tea time anyway.”

  I hopped down from the stool Peony had me standing on while she finished hemming my dress. The sage green fabric floated around me like it had a mind of its own, all filmy and soft. Peony said it brought out all the shades of brown and gold in my hazel eyes. Slipping off the dress, I tugged my hoodie over my camisole and leggings.

  Peony sent for tea. We wandered over to the window seat. The white curtains she loved so much were moving slowly in the breeze.

  “I already told you what an idiot Chas is being. How leaving me is supposedly in my best interest,” I said.

  “I seem to recall a rant or two on that subject.”

  “Well, he told me last night that he thought Peter would be better for me. He kept asking about how often Peter and I hang out and thinks Peter hugs me too much. Chas didn’t seem like himself at all.”

  Peony sighed. She remained silent for a long moment before answering. “I know that must have felt strange. Let me tell you a little about Chas, and then I think you’ll understand better.”

  I was all ears. Chas was fascinating, and I wanted to learn anything I could about him. Besides, I was still uncertain about his jealousy, and I didn’t like how it made me feel. If Peony knew something that could fix that, I wanted to know.

  The tea tray arrived, filled with a variety of half-sandwiches, salad, and fruit. I was thrilled to see a platter of deviled eggs and piled my plate high. I popped an egg into my mouth while Peony began to speak.