by Cari Thomas
‘Oh, he’s a son of old friends of mine. He’s been living with us in New York, did I not mention?’
‘That hardly explains why he is on my doorstep and why you didn’t tell me he was coming.’
‘Well, he’s moving back to London too and it’s impossible to pin down the plans of teenagers; he was going to go meet someone on the way but then they couldn’t make it … Oh, these things happen. Come on, Viv, play the gracious host.’ She rubbed Aunt’s stiff arm gently, smiling. ‘He can have my food. You know I only graze. You wouldn’t want to ruin the evening now, would you?’
Anna half expected Aunt to cancel the whole evening then and there. Of her many intolerances, there were two at the top of the list: surprises and men. Selene had managed to bring both to her doorstep.
Instead she released an irritable exhale and beckoned Selene impatiently down the corridor. ‘Just come through.’
Selene followed, winking at Anna. She knew how to get around Aunt more effectively than Anna had ever managed. Effie had disappeared. Anna spotted her through the doorway to the living room, peering with distaste at the embroideries covering the walls, moving to the pictures on the mantelpiece. Anna watched her with interest.
‘Am I allowed in or am I too much of an oaf?’ Attis appeared again, making Anna jump. He was balancing a bag on his finger. Anna reddened at the realization he’d heard Aunt’s words, even though she’d only said them quietly.
‘Er, come in. I’ll take these through.’ She fumbled with the bag, realizing that she was just getting more in his way. He watched her with amusement. ‘Effie’s in there.’ She pointed to the living room and carried on down the hallway to the relief of the kitchen. She was just as out of kilter as Aunt. She didn’t know what to make of either Effie or Attis, but knew with crushing certainty what they would make of her: strange, dull, forgettable.
Aunt was serving food into bowls and huffing over what she obviously considered a spoilt meal. ‘Anna, take this through and get everyone seated. You’ll have to add an extra place setting.’
Selene followed Anna into the dining room. The table had been laid to within an inch of its life: the plates were stacked, the silver shone brightly, candles stood to attention. Selene made fearful eyes at Anna as if the table were an instrument of torture with which they were about to become acquainted, making Anna laugh. She realized she hadn’t laughed in a long while. Selene trailed a finger up one of the candles and it sparked into life with a clear, bright flame. She touched each of the others in turn, uttering bibbity-bobbity-boo until they were all lit. Anna marvelled for just a moment but then she shook her head at Selene. Not now.
The door swung open. Aunt came in carrying a bowl of potatoes; Selene pulled an exaggerated alarmed face at Anna behind her back. Anna hid her smile as she helped set the food out, her heart swelling with feeling. At least Selene saw her as something more – someone worth seeing.
Once they were all settled around the table, Aunt served the food in tense silence. ‘There’s gravy there.’ She jabbed at the jug in such a threatening way that even Effie, who was still in a foul mood, picked it up immediately.
Anna studied her through a series of quick, sideways glances as she helped pass the food around. Effie was striking; not classically beautiful, but beautiful nonetheless, in a way that was hard to pin down. Perhaps it was exactly that – the wildness of her gamine features, the distracted hunt of her deep eyes beneath dark arched eyebrows, the mocking twist to her full lips. There was the hint of dimples on her cheeks, although as she hadn’t smiled Anna couldn’t be sure.
‘Anna, tell me about your life. Who are you dating? School starts in a couple of days. What are your plans this year? Anything exciting?’ Selene turned her twinkling cat-like eyes onto Anna; they were mostly blue but shot through with flecks of violet so that the overall effect was something purple and galactic.
‘Um,’ said Anna, uncomfortably aware of the sudden attention. What could she say? My plans are to survive another year in the hell that is otherwise known as school. Dating is entirely irrelevant. Then I’m due to become a Binder, my magic bound forever, to be followed by a life under Aunt’s control, on and on until I die alone, in a house full of embroideries. She forced a smile. ‘I’m more interested in what you’ve been doing. How was New York?’
‘Oh, New York was New York.’ Selene waved her hands. ‘This is such a treat. I don’t think we’ve had a home-cooked meal in about a year, have we? There’s just so much great food on your doorstep and so many people to see. Remember that Korean place?’ She turned to Effie and Attis, her questions to Anna forgotten. Relief flooded through her. ‘That pork belly dish with those little pickled greens, it was beyond melt in your mouth, it melted your entire being, I swear. What was the owner’s name again?’
‘Choi Minho,’ said Attis.
‘Oh yes, Minho. I wish I could have brought him to London so you could have tried it. I think he may have eloped with me if I’d tried.’
‘Where were you living?’ New York was on Anna’s list of places to travel if she ever managed to escape the life Aunt had planned for her.
‘We had an apartment in the East Village for a while, and then we moved into a house outside, on the coast. I met this wonderful gentleman who let us stay with him. He owns MacElson & Faber Holdings?’ she said, as if Anna might somehow know it. Anna gave her a blank look. ‘We bonded over our love of baroque art.’
‘A very sudden love of baroque art that coincided with finding out he lived in a massive fuck-off mansion,’ said Effie. Aunt choked on a carrot.
‘Effie, don’t swear during dinner, darling,’ said Selene.
‘We don’t allow swearing in this house full stop.’ Aunt’s voice had taken on a tone that could strip bark from a tree.
Effie just laughed, helping herself to more potatoes.
Selene intervened. ‘What have you two been up to this summer then?’
‘We’ve been busy,’ Aunt replied tersely. ‘We make the most of every day, don’t we, Anna?’
Anna nodded, acutely embarrassed by the dullness of their lives.
‘Lots of studying and Anna just finished sewing the most charming embroidery, didn’t you?’
Anna nodded again, feeling worse.
‘Gosh, that sounds fascinating,’ replied Effie, her dimples finally popping, punctuating her smile with deep-seated sarcasm. ‘Tell us more.’
Anna didn’t know how to respond, feeling as small and pathetic as it was possible to feel. Apparently no one else knew how to respond either, the table descending into awkward silence. Attis made a slight whistling sound. Anna shot the smallest of looks at him and saw that he appeared to be enjoying himself. It seemed he found her humiliation entertaining. She looked away but his face stayed in her mind, elusive as the candle smoke.
‘These potatoes are incredible. Tell me, what did you cook them in?’ he said, quite cheerfully.
‘Olive oil,’ Aunt replied sharply.
He leant back into the chair. ‘You see, people always say for good roast potatoes goose fat, but I think with a good quality olive oil you can get a better result. These are impeccable.’
Aunt smiled briefly in his direction, softening to his none-too-subtle flattery.
‘And what do you do, Vivienne?’ He turned all his attention to her, eyes dancing. They were grey and distant, like an autumn sky, retreating under a cloud of heavy brow.
‘I’m a nurse,’ she said, in the self-effacing way she always replied to that question. ‘Senior nursing officer at King’s College London.’
‘Wow. You must make a difference to so many lives.’ His reply was so obviously constructed to please that Anna found herself rolling her eyes. She happened to catch Effie’s and found she was doing the exact same thing.
‘You do what has to be done,’ she replied nobly. ‘It can be a thankless job.’
‘Well, if I ever have any medical needs, I know where to go. You know what they always say. Those who make
a mean roast potato save lives.’
Aunt looked at him quizzically; she didn’t do humour and she obviously didn’t know what to make of this boy. Neither did Anna.
Aunt’s eyes narrowed. ‘Are you back from New York for good?’
‘I go where she goes.’ He pointed at Effie, who wrinkled her nose at him, but showed the first hint of a genuine smile Anna had seen from her. They were a couple then. Of course they were a couple. Anna could imagine them now – young, wild and beautiful – New York falling at their feet.
‘Besides, it was best you left New York …’ Effie gave Attis a knowing look.
‘And why is that?’ asked Aunt, placing her knife and fork delicately together.
‘Oh, Attis put an iron hex on an ex of mine. He got mad.’
Aunt dropped the fork with a clatter.
We shall not cast unless it is our duty.
‘Effie,’ Selene chided.
‘What?’ Effie shrugged. ‘I didn’t do it.’
‘He deserved it,’ said Attis.
Any growing warmth Aunt had had towards him withered and turned to dust. She had been proven right. He was the immoral reprobate she’d suspected. Aunt seemed reassured by this, becoming dignified in her anger, back on steady ground. She turned on Attis. ‘Magic is a duty, not a toy to be played with.’
Anna shrank at her words – words she knew all too well – but Effie and Attis seemed only to find them amusing. Anna couldn’t imagine being them, living without fear, worlds of magic at their fingertips …
‘What hex?’ Anna said quietly. Aunt’s head snapped around to her instead. She knew she’d be in trouble for asking but her curiosity was too great.
Effie showed a hint of a smile at her disobedience. ‘Let’s put it this way: the guy suddenly had a penchant for taking his clothes off in public spaces.’ She laughed and Anna saw how it transformed her face, the black of her eyes illuminated suddenly like a storm. Attis chuckled silently into his plate. Anna found herself smiling with them but stopped abruptly when she saw Aunt’s face.
‘Anna, take the plates out,’ she snapped. ‘It’s time for dessert.’ Anna didn’t know it was possible to imbue the word dessert with such violence.
Anna followed Aunt out into the kitchen. They did not speak. Aunt pointed at the dessert plates. Anna took them and went back into the hallway. She almost dropped the plates on the floor – Effie was there, leaning casually against the wall, face to the light, her black hair part of the shadows. ‘We’re going out in a bit. To a club. A magical club. You coming?’
Anna struggled for words. Aunt was in the kitchen. Effie was ahead of her. She was trapped between them.
‘I can see you’re desperate to get out of this prison.’ Effie rolled her head towards her.
‘It’s not a prison.’
‘Fine, a prison with wall tapestries. Now come. It’ll really piss off your aunt.’
Anna hesitated. She couldn’t believe she’d hesitated. It wasn’t that she was going to go out with them, the idea of that was beyond comprehension. It was just that she’d never been asked to go out before, even if Effie seemed more focused on irritating her aunt than actually spending time with her. And then, where they were going … a magical club. Are there really such places? Surely Effie was only mocking her.
‘I can’t.’
‘Why not?’
‘I just can’t.’
Effie gave her a look that made her feel even smaller than she had all evening. ‘I would say suit yourself, but you obviously don’t.’ She laughed and turned back towards the dining room, just as Aunt bustled through from the kitchen carrying a lit birthday cake.
‘Anna, the plates! Go!’
Anna scurried into the dining room with Aunt following. Attis began belting out Happy Birthday at the top of his lungs. Selene joined in, clapping cheerfully, while Effie remained as silent as Aunt. Anna took her seat in front of the cake and at the end Attis cheered as if they’d been old friends for years. Anna had the strong feeling he was ridiculing her.
‘Cast a wish.’ Selene squeezed her hand.
Aunt narrowed her eyes as if the last thing Anna deserved was wishes, but Anna formed one in her head nonetheless, hoping the magic of the room might somehow seep into it. She wished only that she would be able to spend more time with Selene this year. She was sure she wouldn’t see Effie or Attis again, but Selene, if she would just come back – just one more visit. She doubted Aunt would allow it after this evening.
‘Mmm,’ said Selene as Aunt distributed the cake. ‘You know cake is my weakness, Viv.’
‘Where was my cake then, Mother dearest?’ Effie looked over at Selene, unimpressed. ‘If I recall for my birthday last month I was given a glass of champagne and a takeaway …’
‘Well, champagne is my other weakness.’ Selene laughed and turned to Aunt. ‘I forgot to thank you for putting me in touch with the headmaster.’
Aunt skewered a strawberry with her fork. ‘Did you manage to get Effie a place? I wasn’t sure it would be possible with term about to start but I know how persuasive you can be.’
‘Oh yes, she’s in.’
‘Me too,’ said Attis with gusto.
‘Him?’ cried Aunt.
‘I’m afraid so. Lock up your daughters.’ He winked at Aunt.
Anna was trying to understand why they were talking about terms and headmasters. ‘What school?’ she asked with a growing feeling of dread.
‘Yours,’ Effie answered with a satisfied bite of cake.
‘What?’ Anna turned to Aunt.
Aunt was still focused on Selene. ‘I wasn’t aware you were looking at two places.’
‘Well, Attis needs to go somewhere and that Headmaster informed me there was a spare place at the nearby Boys’ School. He was very obliging.’ Selene smiled. It was a smile that Anna doubted had ever been denied. It was the first time it had not made Anna happy. Her face felt hot; her stomach had fallen to her feet. She could hardly believe what was being said. Her school?
Anna had spent years hardening herself to the cruelties of St Olave’s, turning herself into a nobody. If they turned up, with their wild eyes and threat of magic, she felt as if it would rip open that pain all over again. She’d be reminded every day that she wasn’t just a nobody, but barely a witch. And Selene. Selene would find out just how tragic her life really was.
‘It’s an exceptional institution,’ Aunt continued. ‘I hardly think he will fit in.’
‘Why thank you.’ Attis put his hand on his heart.
‘Attis, you’re just not exceptional enough,’ Effie sniggered. ‘Whereas I’m going to study hard, make friends with all the teachers and sew an embroidery so perfect they will hang it upon the school walls forever.’ Her eyes flashed at Anna. Anna turned away, knowing this is how it would be: they’d be at her school and they would taunt her.
‘You see, Vivienne, you need me there to keep her under control,’ said Attis.
Aunt glared at Selene. Selene glared at Effie. Effie glared at them all. Anna pulled at her Knotted Cord. The cake lay half-eaten on plates; the candles down the centre flickered, as if in response to the invisible battle lines being drawn across the table.
‘Wine!’ Selene exclaimed. ‘I think it’s time we opened a bottle, don’t you?’ She disappeared through the door. Silence followed in her wake. Effie whispered something to Attis, who laughed.
Selene returned with a small, dark bottle, distracting Anna from her shock. ‘A dessert wine, from a little shop in New York, French owner. He makes it with grapes that aren’t grown any more. These ones are from 1345, from a small French village just outside Saumur. It’s divine.’
Her words didn’t make sense. How can the wine have come from grapes that no longer existed? Aunt looked disapprovingly at the bottle’s magical content.
‘Oh come on, Viv, I know dessert wine is your favourite,’ Selene coaxed.
Is it? To Anna’s surprise, Aunt conceded but shook her head at Anna.
‘Oh, Vivienne, don’t be such an old purse,’ said Selene. ‘It’s her sixteenth birthday – give the girl a drink. I recall you getting completely rat-arsed on your sixteenth birthday.’
‘One small glass,’ Aunt relented, blushing.
Attis poured Anna a large one.
‘To Anna!’ Selene cheered, raising hers.
Anna took a long gulp. She’d secretly tried a few sips of wine here and there before, left over in Aunt’s glass, and had found it tolerable, if not a little sour. This was something else. It was sweet and deep and luxurious. She could taste the grapes bursting in her mouth in piquant, fruity explosions. She took another sip and experienced a sudden awareness of sunshine, flower-strewn meadows, somewhere laughter and the buzz of honey bees. She had the distinct feeling of being in France, although she’d never been.
Aunt inspected her glass with beady eyes. Her face was flushed and the veins in her neck had gone slack. She took another suspicious sip and then looked at Anna disapprovingly as if she’d somehow orchestrated the whole thing.
As the wine flowed there was a change in the air. The light seemed softer, the room warmer; chocolates were passed around. Selene told them stories of New York and of her outlandish younger days in London – she was spot on at impressions. Anna even caught Aunt laughing once, albeit briefly, when Selene reminded her of the time her university supervisor had been found by security with his leg stuck in a fence after attempting to creep out of Selene’s room.
When the clock struck midnight, Aunt sat up with a start. ‘I didn’t realize the time.’
‘Shit. Got to go. Got a thing,’ said Effie, looking at her phone. Anna tensed, remembering Effie’s offer.
Aunt looked at Selene in horror and then back to Effie. ‘You are not going out at this hour!’
‘I wasn’t aware you were in charge of my schedule,’ said Effie, full lips curling with amusement and revealing vampiric incisors.
Aunt turned to Selene. ‘You can’t let her go now. It’s gone midnight – she could be out anywhere, up to anything.’