by T J Kelly
“What do you want?” Chas asked. “You haven’t bothered to talk to me in five years. I know this isn’t a casual visit. Just tell me or get the hell out of here.”
“Tut tut, Chas,” Adler said. “No need to be rude. Father wants to see you, and we’re here to fetch you.”
Chas recoiled, jerking me back a couple of steps. I think he had forgotten we were still holding hands. I stumbled, and the men laughed.
“Leave us alone,” I said furiously. It frustrated me that I couldn’t make it through one minute in the company of my rivals without looking like a fool. I was done with being underestimated. And I was prepared to make a stand.
“Little baby girl is mad!” Barrett said. “You should be gentle with her, brother, or else you’ll be sleeping in a cold bed tonight.”
A surge of acid flowed through my body. They were sick. I tried to pull away from Chas, ready to throw a fireball in his brother’s face, not caring in the least that it would gain the attention of the guards. The fact that they were stationed just around the corner was probably why Chas’s brothers approached us in the first place. I could work that to my advantage, too, if Chas quit knocking me off balance.
“He isn’t my father anymore, remember?” Chas said. “Unlike you, I don’t have to care what he wants. I’m not going, and you can’t make me.”
An ugly look appeared on all three of their faces. Not really all that different than the one Chas had when he was mad at me the other day. Except they didn’t have an ounce of goodness inside of them to offset the ugliness the way Chas did. I hated to admit it, even to myself, but their anger scared me.
“You better watch yourself, Chas. Don’t say anything you’ll regret later.” Keaton was glaring as if he wanted Chas to drop dead and a freezing cold breeze washed over us.
“How could I possibly regret anything I say to you? I’m sure you’ll get over it while you ignore me for another five years.” Chas tugged my hand, and we tried to brush past Barrett, who stood closest to the door of our suite. Walking that direction also kept Chas between his brothers and me.
I pictured a shield in my head and then extended it beyond myself to cover Chas. When Barrett tried to block us, he found himself rebounded and thrown to the floor. He jumped up to attack us, but Adler and Keaton grabbed his arms to hold him back.
“Learning new tricks, I see. You didn’t even have to sing a little ditty to keep the monsters at bay. Impressive. I’ll have to let father know.” Adler narrowed his eyes. “Your little stand doesn’t matter, Chas. This isn’t over. You know how Father is. Come and see him. Do it before the competition starts, or you’re going to regret it. You remember how he is when he doesn’t get his way. If you don’t come to him to save yourself from his anger, come to protect your little girlfriend. You know how much he likes taking things away from you.”
Chas’s fingers almost crushed mine as he hauled me towards our suite. He didn’t respond to Adler, but I could feel the shudder that had passed through his body when his brother threatened me.
His grip eased when we made it back to the suite. The others could feel the tension rolling off of us as we entered the room.
“What happened?” Peony asked.
“My brothers decided to say hello,” Chas responded. “It’s nothing. I just haven’t seen them in so long I forgot what a crappy family I had.”
Peter chuckled. “Too right, man. Forget about them. Come over here and take a look at the seats outside our suite. You’ll get a kick out of it.”
Chas walked over to Peter, ready and willing to be distracted. He laughed when he looked where Peter was pointing. Peter slapped him on the back in a brotherly fashion. Chas had a new place and a new family. Peter was reminding him of that.
I sat quietly, thinking about how much the Taines had scared me and wondering how I was going to face all eight of them simultaneously. Everything became real in a way it had never been during the months of prep work. I looked down at my hands. They didn’t show the tremors I felt inside. At least I was spared that humiliation.
“Hey,” Peter murmured in my ear. I looked up at him. My nerves settled. Something about Peter always made me feel better. That’s what made him such a great roomie when we were both stuck in the infirmary.
“Hi.” The word caught in my throat. Peter handed me a goblet filled with cold water, and I sipped it with relief.
“Chas said he needed to clear his head,” Peter explained when he saw me looking around. “He’ll be back in a little while.”
“His brothers are jerks.” I scowled down at my hands, but they remained steady.
“Yeah, they are. I knew some of them from school. Biggest bullies on campus. I can’t stand it when people throw their weight around.”
“Me either. I guess it’s a good thing I’m going out there to wipe the floor with them,” I said.
Peter laughed. He hunched down in the chair next to me and reached out. I slipped my hand into his, comforted by the warmth. “If anyone can, it’s you,” he said. “I’ve seen you take on a group of Irregulars and Armageddon’s household guards, remember? You kind of kick butt.”
I perked up. That was true. I managed to beat them, and they were better magicians than any of the competitors. Except maybe Oberon. And Chas told me the secret to getting my spells to work on him. So even though my rivals hated me and wanted me dead, I still had a chance.
“Thanks, Peter. You always make me feel better. You know that?”
“I’m just reminding you of a few facts. No big deal.” Peter stood and tugged on my hand. “Come on, let’s go hang out with the others. They’ll remind you how awesome you are, too.”
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and then let Peter pull me out of my chair.
I spent my last hour in the suite with my family and friends, talking and joking, making fun of the crowd, and ignoring the event that was about to take place.
◆◆◆
When it came time for me to check in, I asked Armageddon to go with me. We were allowed to have an escort. In fact, several teams brought their family, publicists, guards, and personal assistants along for the ride but I wasn’t about grand gestures and showing off an entourage.
Peony told me it would be okay if I limited who came with me. She said that the people who knew me or knew about me would expect something simple. That’s why they liked me. And it played into the story the media spun about me being David versus Goliath. I didn’t care about that, but Peony shrewdly used the story to our advantage. That was another reason I was ranked second. Taking my uncle with me also helped play out the lie I told Chas about asking him to compete with me.
I chuckled to myself when I signed in. All that preparation and hype, elegant surroundings and grandeur, yet I was still signing the register at a station made of two folding tables, manned by a couple of really bored looking interns. I guess it didn’t need to be fancy if there weren’t any cameras around to see.
Once I was done, Armageddon kissed my forehead and gave me a bear hug. “You can do this thing. I’ve never in my life met a person as capable as you. I know you haven’t had time to learn how to have faith in your abilities, but if you trust me, then please trust that I know what I’m talking about.”
I nodded against his chest. When I answered him, my voice was muffled because he held me so tightly against him. It was funny how easy it was to get used to all the hugs and affection I received from him and Peony. I wouldn’t trade our closeness for anything.
“I’ll try my best,” I promised. “I remember the strategies. Mort pounded them into my head. I’ll probably be dreaming about them when I’m eighty-two. I’m pretty freaked out right now, but I know I can do it. I don’t need faith in myself. I have faith in your training. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me, Uncle Ged. I wish we were closer when I was growing up. I would have been the coolest kid on the playground. But these last three months have given me a new family and I loved spending time with you and Au
nt Peony. I love all of you so much. I’m going to kick butt today, and it’s because of all your efforts that I made it.”
I wanted to keep things lighthearted, but I had said too much. Hidden inside of my words was a goodbye, and my uncle could hear it.
Armageddon continued to hold me tightly. I could hear his heart pounding, just like mine. He was tense as if he was wrestling with himself. He remained silent for a moment longer. Then he pulled away and looked down into my face, his hands cupping my cheeks.
“I love you, too, Lia. I want you to do your best and fight hard. But I also need you to understand one thing. It doesn’t matter what precautions the Council has taken or how many shields they’ve placed around the battlefield. I’m stronger than they are. If the worst happens, I’ll bring this building down on their heads to save you. There’s still a risk you might lose your business today. You know that. Fighting this battle on your own is your duty. But you won’t lose your life. That’s a promise, Niece. A promise I can keep. Just don’t tell anyone I said that.”
It was true, too. Armageddon had integrity, choosing to live by the Council’s rules in spite of the fact they couldn’t stand against him. His willingness to keep himself penned in was what kept the Irregulars safe. But nothing, absolutely nothing, could stop him from doing anything he really wanted.
My heart hurt, but only because his words filled it to bursting with hope.
“Okay,” I said. I took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. I tried to lighten the mood. “It’s a deal. You’ll be my guarantee that I’ll make it out alive and I’ll keep it a secret. Seems like I’m getting the better end of this agreement, though.”
Armageddon grinned. “True. I’ll tell you what, let’s sweeten the pot. If I have to save you, you’ll make me a year’s worth of crazy sandwiches for lunch. And you can’t steal my berries.”
Laughing, I hugged my uncle again. “You drive a hard bargain, Uncle Ged. Since you didn’t demand I give you all my shortbread, it’s a deal.”
I kissed his cheek and hurried off towards the locker rooms. The Council had turned them into a waiting area for the competitors. There was more security in there than anywhere else. So many guards lined the walls that I could barely walk. I finally managed to make my way over to the far corner so I could sit on the only empty bench. It would be my safe place until it was time to compete.
I narrowed my focus so that my thoughts were only about the first round, the tasks I had to do, and the shield I was going to weave into my skin. Things were going to get ugly and I wanted to be prepared.
The time had finally come for me to show them I was a powerful magician, not a joke. I was actually excited, so maybe I was also a little crazy. A sane person would be hyperventilating, not looking forward to it.
A murmur rose in the crowded room, and I looked up to see everyone facing the same direction. They were all staring at the countdown clock. It had finally run down. The competition was going to start in three... two...
One.
TWENTY-SIX
The Bell Tolls
I pushed my way out of the locker room and hurried to the bank of windows facing the arena. The private suite assigned for my use wasn’t at a perfect angle, but it was close enough. I could see everyone clearly from where I stood. Armageddon entered the suite as I watched, returning from escorting me downstairs. He walked over to where Peony sat and stood behind her chair.
My eyes skimmed the room, but I didn’t see Chas. He must have been in a corner or outside on the concourse. Or he could be watching from the private balcony, but I ran out of time before I could search him out.
“Competitors, report to your preparation areas. I repeat, competitors, report to your prep areas.”
I returned to the locker room. The teams were exiting through a door not too far from the bench I had been using. I pushed my way through the crowds to follow them and found myself in a massive tunnel made of cement. It had been designed to allow a semi-truck to drive through with room to spare. There was plenty of space for all the cameras and competitors and guards and coordinators, who kept motioning for us to move quickly.
We were hustled along until we reached a bank of doors. I entered the one with a large number two stenciled over it. The rooms were assigned by rank, and one of the interns who had manned the registration table earlier kept pointing to it like I wouldn’t have noticed the three-foot-tall number on my own.
The room was enormous. They were all probably the same size, prepared to accommodate much larger teams. I felt a little weird being the only one using it, but magicians were known for being ultra-touchy. The Council couldn’t give one of the competitors a tiny room without somebody getting all insulted by it. Not like I was that way, but the Council wouldn’t know that.
Upholstered chairs and sofas in four separate groups aligned with the different sections of the compass embroidered on the rug in the center of the room. A counter ran along the entire length of the wall to my left. Different kinds of drinks were stacked near the end by an ice maker, and trays of food had been set out for me to snack on if I felt peckish while I waited to enter the ring. Which was crazy. Who could possibly eat at a time like this?
A huge television screen was mounted to the wall above the counter and showed the inside of the arena. It seemed redundant to me since the wall facing the arena was made of glass just like the private suite. There was a sliding door in the center of the windows that I would use when the time came to enter the field.
I chose to sit in a chair as far away from the windows as I could. The television cameras couldn’t capture me back there. I wanted to relax and meditate, not worry about how I looked and what they were saying about me.
The schedule had indicated a period of ten minutes for prep time before the Taines entered the field. The rest of the teams would follow at regular intervals by rank. That meant I had at least twenty minutes to myself before I needed to walk out there.
I closed my eyes, settled myself deeper into the chair, and began my breathing routine. Thanks to my newly acquired skills, I quickly entered a meditative state. Then I connected with my magic, allowing it to wash through me.
Once I felt in tune, I spoke the ancient incantation I discovered as a part of my studies. The spell was simple but required a hefty surge of magic. When I was done, a shield formed around my entire body, tight against my skin, and I became impervious.
Darkness rose inside of me. I expected it, though. It was where my strongest power came from. I braced myself for the onslaught of emotions that came with it. This time, instead of feeling anger, it made me sad. I felt lost.
I missed my parents.
“Mother? Father? Are you there?” I hadn’t had much luck connecting with them. It hurt to hear nothing. To feel nothing when I called to them. I hadn’t really tried again.
This time was different. When I called out their names, my parents were there. Beside me, behind me, supporting me. I realized that although I hadn’t sensed them before, they had been with me the entire time. Waiting for me, watching me, protecting me.
“I love you,” I whispered. My eyes filled with happy tears. The connection to my parents brought hope and energy. They were taking care of me, still doing what they could to help.
It felt good. I was at peace with what I was about to do, finally using magic on behalf of my family. I could feel the connection spanning generations, feel my ancestors watching over me, encouraging me. I could finally, wholeheartedly, embrace my heritage.
My darkness wasn’t evil. It was just dark.
“I want to make you proud today,” I said. “And I want to make them regret laughing at me.” I felt a brush, a touch, a wind caress my cheek. Yes, they heard me.
I was ready.
The bells rang three times, short staccato sounds indicating the one-minute warning. Opening my eyes, I strode across the room to stand by the glass door. Mirrors lined the right-hand wall opposite the counter, and I checked to make sure my hair was st
ill secured tightly against my head in one of my favorite hairstyles. Three rows of braids draped along the sides, pulled back with the rest of my hair into a bun at the base of my neck. It wouldn’t loosen or get in my way while I worked magic, and it was appropriate for a business environment.
I ran my hands down the sides of my navy slacks, smoothing a wrinkle. I pulled off a piece of lint clinging to my white blouse. It was essential for me to look tidy. As if I were about to walk into a boardroom rather than the trials. Peony and I had planned my appearance carefully. We intended to give the world a glimpse of my professional side and demonstrate that I could run a business. My business.
The bells tolled once, long and deep. The Taines entered the ring to cheers and boos and screams from the audience. They had opted to dress for battle, choosing dark clothing and vests. The eight of them waved casually to the crowds as they climbed the stairs onto the field.
I only had ten minutes left before it was my turn to enter the ring. My heart sped up, but I maintained control of my breathing and began my warm-up stretches. Nobody wanted a leg cramp right in the middle of a spell.
The bells tolled twice, my assigned number. I slid the door aside and stepped out, the crowd cheering and clapping. The arena was loud, so much louder than I realized it would be standing on the other side of the glass. The Council must have included sound barrier spells along with the security.
I plastered a smile on my face and carefully climbed the stairs, determined not to trip and humiliate myself in front of the world. Not that I was super clumsy or anything, but if there were ever a time that I would fall on my face, with my luck, it would be while the entire planet was tuned in to see it happen.
One thing I couldn’t handle was giving my enemies the satisfaction of thinking I was scared. I kept my eyes on the stands and refused to look to my left where the Taines stood. Instead, I pretended nobody was there. It helped me remain calm, and as an added bonus, Oberon Taine would hate that I didn’t acknowledge him.
