Adam was standing beside me. His hair was combed back, and his brown eyes were grave. He frowned, though I could not help but to think he was handsome nonetheless. At last he looked at me, and I felt faint. It had been two years since I had last seen him, yet he looked like he had not aged at all. He looked exactly as he had the day he left me.
“When were you planning to tell me the truth, Celestria?” he said, with anger rising in his voice. I was taken aback, remembering the conversation as if it had been impressed into my skin.
No Adam, please don’t do this to me again, I replied, though no words escaped from my lips. Water filled my eyes as I realized I had returned to the night Adam left me.
“After all this time we’ve known each other, you never thought to tell me? I loved you, I offered you my heart, and never once you thought to mention this secret of yours. Speak, you wicked wench; explain yourself,” Adam ordered. The man I had fallen entirely in love with was throwing accusations at me. His face said it all: I had betrayed him in a way that was unforgivable.
I thought you knew! I thought you were one of us, but now I can see you hate me for who I am, I said, moving my hands frantically.
Adam’s frown remained on his face, and I wished desperately I could take back everything I had done… or had not done.
“I cannot stay in this town any longer. There is too much I am troubled by, and I think it might be best if I stay away from you while I try to clear my mind,” Adam said.
I tried to reason with him, but he said nothing more to me. Instead, he pulled the engagement ring off of my finger and did exactly as he had two years ago. He walked away and never once looked back, though I stood motionless and waited. I couldn’t decide what hurt more: Adam’s rejection or the fact that my parents betrothed me to a human.
***
The sun shone in my eyes as I awoke. I couldn’t face the denial the dream had reminded me of. In an attempt to clear my thoughts, I sat up and convinced myself that there was no time to think of Adam. In a few hours I would reach Iacobs dorff, and if Ruald was alive he might perhaps be the only hope left.
Chapter Four
Drawn to You
There should have been a grand city crowded with people and buildings. Merchants should have been selling goods, and there should have been children running through the streets playing games and laughing. The sign read “Welcome to Iacobs dorff,” but it was a poor welcoming for the nightmare the city had become; a nightmare no one could wake up from.
Smoke and ashes were scattered over the ground. What were once homes were now solely soot and sparks of flames. A small doll lay in the middle of the debris. Its dress was made of poorly sewed fabric, stitched together with needlework. No little girl would be returning for this doll. Everything was black; the city had been destroyed.
Farther ahead there was still no sight of any part of the city that had been spared. Clouds of smoke rose into the air, and a horrific scent followed. Even the trees were lifeless, some severally burnt. Life was a ghost hidden amongst the mounds of dirt, shattered pieces of glass, and crisp piles of wood.
Looking past the ashes, a figure was approaching. As it came closer, I realized it was a boy I had met before. I recognized his distinct blue eyes. I advanced toward him, but then I stopped and held back a whisper. Léal…
A shiver ran up my spine as a sudden nausea swept over me. There was a thought in the back of my mind that reasoned I should leave because whoever had caused destruction to the city could be lingering nearby.
For the first time all of Léal’s features were visible. His cloak was nowhere in sight. His short, wavy, black hair was combed back away from his face. On the sleeves of his white tunic were elegant designs, complementing his dark blue pants and black boots. Despite the disgusted feeling that rusted in the pit of my stomach, his eyes continued to draw my attention. He was mysterious and striking, but there was something about his arrival that felt dangerous.
“What are you doing here? What’s happened to Iacobs dorff?” I asked cautiously.
Léal walked forward until he was closer. He was silent for a moment as he glanced around at the disaster. The smile on his face quickly dissolved into a frown.
“I…I have no idea, but whoever did this should pay for the crime. Iacobs dorff was never like this…dear god!” He shuddered while speaking in his angelic voice.
“Yes, but why are you here?” I repeated. Agitation rose in my voice, though I hadn’t meant to lose my patience.
“We met in the street as I was on my way to Mervyn’s. When I talked to him he said someone accused him of being a Dark magician, thus I asked the girl’s name; he gave me yours. I knew a shortcut to get here in time. You are Celestria Hale, are you not?” Léal asked.
I stared at him for a considerably long time. Who was he, and why had he followed me? I sighed and tightened my grip on my staff.
“I don’t give my name freely to any man who asks. Who are you?” I demanded.
He chuckled under his breath while I wondered what interest he could possibly have in me.
“My name is Léal. I’m a Dark magician,” he said, and then he added something more, very calmly, “like you.”
Only a day ago I had idly wondered if he was a Dark magician, and now I stood corrected for ever thinking otherwise. I was horrified that what he said revealed he knew more about me than anyone else. No one besides Dyanna knew who I was; he certainly couldn’t have learned about me from her. Even so, if he was indeed a Dark magician, then he was the only ally I had to rely on. It should have been a relief to have someone I could confide in, but I was no more willing than him to say everything all at once.
“Léal…Yes, I remember hearing that name. I am the person you’ve come in search of, but I’m not sure I trust you,” I said with my hands crossed. My focus was on him, searching in his eyes for some truth. Dyanna had always reasoned a person’s eyes said everything about their soul. Searching deeper into his mystic, blue eyes, I did not find what I was looking for.
He’s handsome… I thought as I waited for his response. I cursed myself for the thought, despite its truth. The hairs on my arms shivered. If Léal noticed my discomfort, he did not take advantage of it.
Laughing, he said, “Let me show you.”
At first I raised my brow, confused and lost in thought. Then suddenly he moved his lips, and instantly pulled out an icicle from thin air. Advancing to stand directly in front of me, he held it against my throat, threatening to plunge inward. I yelped as he positioned himself closer. His breath shivered down my neck, though when I glanced up at him, I noticed his eyes were twitching.
“Get off of me!” I shouted while attempting a counter spell. The spell should have melted the icicle, but nothing happened. I panted, staring into his fearless face and hoping I wouldn’t die at his hands. He could kill me; magicians were able to kill each other just as any normal human could.
Slowly, he lowered his weapon. “You’re weak. There are only five of us now, and you’re relying solely on a counter spell? I won’t harm you, but believe me when I say you’ll need more than magic to stay alive.”
My attention focused on the icicle as it dissolved. Once it was gone, I turned away from him in an attempt to cover my blood red face. Thump, thump, thump. My heartbeat ticked like a clock that would break into pieces. Perhaps trust wasn’t the issue; it was the fact that he was a better magician than me. I wanted to admire him for his bravery in attacking me when he had no idea of how far my powers extended, but at the same time, I didn’t have enough experience with ice spells to determine if what he had done was a threat or simply to show off.
As if to mock me, he said, “Do you want to see the branding mark too?”
Attempting a fake laugh, I asked, “No, I’ve seen enough. Now tell me what else it is that I ‘need’?”
He stepped forward; I raised my hand to warn him. His eyes relaxed as he took another step, touching the front of my sandals with his boots. I tilted my
head at him, but he raised his hand to mine and held it there momentarily. Staggering back, I wished he hadn’t seen my reaction. His touch was soft and gentle, and when I stared at him again, I believed the first words he said.
“I won’t harm you,” he repeated. He lifted up the sleeve of his tunic, revealing a sharp dagger, and untied it from his arm. I watched as he dropped it to the ground, surrendering himself to my mercy.
“We need each other,” he said calmly.
I sighed.
“You’re the one who came after me, telling me that you’re a Dark magician as if that’s all that matters,” I said. In the back of my mind, though, all I could think about was the dagger he carried with him. If he was hiding it under his tunic, did that mean he had planned on surprising an enemy with it? I shook my head, reminding myself that there wasn’t time to question his every move.
“All that matters? You’re the first magician I have seen since the news of our kind’s extermination. By all means, go right along and enlighten me as to how that isn’t important,” he countered, sounding angry for the first time. He brushed back the hair from his face while retaining a stern look. He was right, though; with him being a Dark magician, I could not attempt to pretend his life held no importance.
“What do you want?”
“There’s a lot that I want,” Léal said. While he smirked, it seemed he knew that he was pushing my patience.
We were running short of daylight, and in a few hours it would be dark once more. However, my mouth continued to betray me as I searched for answers.
“Listen, I’m tired of these vague answers! Either you tell me, or I’m gone,” I shouted. I had it up to my last wit with him.
His eyes lowered to the ground, but an innocent face would not convince me to apologize. Léal was the one chance I had at the moment, and in order to believe in that chance, I needed answers.
“Do you think I chose this? I don’t like being here anymore than you do, but I’ll man up and admit that we need to protect each other from the shadows,” Léal replied.
Bitterness overwhelmed my thoughts. He was willing to reveal his fears, while I was fighting him to avoid facing my own.
“I don’t know you, I’ve lived seventeen years of my life without you, and I haven’t had any time to figure out what to do. Why do I need you? It sounds to me like you simply want protection and a partner, and neither would I wish to act as.”
Having only worked with one Dark magician, I could not bear the thought of someone replacing Dyanna’s role. Even though she was dead, no one could do what she had once done for me. We had always worked together and protected each other; it had made us powerful. If Léal desired for us to work together, I would have to deny his request. I wasn’t ready to commit myself to another person yet.
The longer I watched Léal, though, the more certain I was that he reminded me of Adam. While they looked nothing alike, it was almost as if a familiar, scentless aroma surrounded Léal. I feared having made that connection between the two. Léal and I could never be close; I couldn’t bear the heartbreak.
He tapped his foot, returning my attention to the conversation.
“Protection isn’t a guarantee. I’m talking about survival. Your family, friends, loved ones? They will turn against you; you cannot trust them. You lose nothing if I accompany you. All you have to fear now is losing your life,” he said.
“I’ve had enough. If you want to help, I’m searching for another Dark magician, Ruald Vinctor. Listen carefully, though, because I will not whimper when your so-called ‘shadows’ come after us.” I sighed and looked up at the sky. The day was growing late as I continued wasting precious time talking to Léal. My conscious reasoned with me that he was worth the wait, but all I really wanted was for him to give me a reason to set aside any mistrust.
Solemnly, Léal said, “No, you listen to me. My talk of shadows is no joke, mistress. There are dangerous parts of this world you have not seen before. I can only hope you’ll never be exposed to them.”
Behind the frown, I could see his pain. Perhaps he had traveled into the dangerous parts of the world one too many times, but even that explanation could not fully account for the pitiful look he held in his eyes. There was something missing, whether it was love, belongingness, or a peace of mind.
“If you’re traveling with me, we must leave now; most of the day has already passed,” I said as I started walking away. I did not bother to check if he was following. I sensed his presence behind me before I heard the movement of his boots.
“So what exactly do you plan to do when we find Ruald?” Léal said once he was walking beside me.
“If we find him, I’ll talk to him, and you will be on your way. If we don’t, then you’ll leave nonetheless,” I answered.
His head dropped, though I couldn’t understand why he wanted to stay with me.
“How convenient; you get rid of me either way,” he murmured.
“You don’t understand! I cannot bear the idea of someone following me around like a dog! My sister was the only one who worked with me. I work alone now,” I snapped. If he thought we could work together, then he would assume we could be partners. I needed time, and more importantly I needed to determine that he wasn’t going to blow up in my face when something went wrong.
“A dog, eh? Pardon me, Your Highness, I wasn’t aware that I was able to pick and choose my partner. Now isn’t the time to be your own hero,” Léal said.
There was silence as I realized he was right, and I had no desire to argue with him any further. We moved onward, and then moments later Léal’s elbow rubbed against mine. Glaring at him, I warned him not to try another one of his spells.
“Be careful with the boundaries you cross. A pretty lady like you can’t put up a fight against someone like me. I promise you, I will always win,” he said. Then he bent down to retrieve his dagger and returned it to its hiding place.
I grunted, accepting that he had the last word. His confidence was unbelievable, but fortunately he didn’t say anything more to me.
We walked through the ashes and stepped over burnt wood. Pieces of people’s lives were scattered everywhere. What purpose could anyone have to destroy an entire city? I heard the rumors everyday about magicians who terrorized the lives of innocent people, but I had never seen proof. That would be a reason for people to hate our kind, why everyone would hate me. If the crime had been committed by means of magic, there would be friction. Even if that was not true, I feared something more was approaching.
Chapter Five
Haunting Memory
Schamberg was the neighboring town of Iacobs dorff, and though it was nearby, the journey dragged on painfully. Léal persisted in asking questions, one followed by another, and he received no answers. He inquired about my family, my lifestyle amongst the locals, and my experience. All the while I remained silent, wondering when he would shut his trap. On the bright side, he spoke more calmly than before. At any other time perhaps I would have answered, but my main concern was finding Ruald.
Eventually at some point, though, he paused midway through a question. I sighed, feeling relieved, but he wasn’t finished.
Though I didn’t ask, he told me about himself without hesitation. He spoke about a Dark magician he had once worked with named Esmour. Though he did not specify the work he performed under Esmour, he mentioned “missions” and numerous magicians involved.
“I’m afraid I misunderstood. You worked for another magician?” I asked.
He nodded.
Frowning, I further interrogated him about it. “Magicians working under another aren’t common around this area. How exactly does that work?”
“Wish I could say, but Esmour died recently,” he responded.
He silenced himself, seemingly lost in thought as he stared up at the sky.
It was midday and the sun was beaming down on us. I was drenched in beads of sweat, and Léal had a similar appearance. Though I desired answers from Léal, I no
ted the scowl on his face and decided otherwise. His mouth opened just the faintest, and his eyebrows dissolved into his hairline. I quickened my pace; it was too late, for I couldn’t escape the question.
“Is your sister a Dark magician as well? You did not say—” he began.
I turned around and glared at him, and he immediately froze where he stood.
“She was the most dedicated person to magic I knew,” I said. My hands formed into fists, but I quickly hid them behind my back.
“I’m sorry to hear that. How did she die?” Léal asked as he kicked a rock beside his foot. I watched as it rolled in the dirt.
“Dyanna … She …” I choked on my words. I felt as if I would suffocate myself if I spoke another word. Never before had I spoken about the incident. To the locals, I always told them she had been attacked by an animal in the woods. The only explanation I ever made for myself was that she had been wounded during her battle, and that was why she returned to me that night. Sweat dripped down my cheek, but I was grateful it could conceal any tears that might fall.
“She left home to battle, and after that night she never returned. It’s hard to believe she’s…” The last word stuck in my throat. I shook my head, begging myself not to say it.
Léal waited patiently, staring at me with sympathy. No matter how empathetic he was, he did not know what the pain felt like.
“D-dead,” I stuttered as I finished.
“My God, who else was involved?” he asked, truly sounding concerned. My pale face reflected in his eyes, and I looked away without desiring any pity from him.
Shrugging, I said, “I don’t know the name of her murderer, but I assure you something will be done.”
I licked the cracks that had formed on my lips. Releasing a deep sigh, I wondered why it seemed so difficult to breathe.
“Say no more, Celestria. I can tell this is difficult for you,” Léal said and began walking ahead of me.
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