“Why ‘Jane’?”
“You know, Jane Doe? What every amnesiac is called,” she smirked.
Sebastian smiled kindly. She was putting up a brave front, under the circumstances. Maybe he could like this girl after all. She might be the typical entitled modern woman, but she had fortitude and backbone, two qualities he thought to be essential for a perfect female specimen.
“All right Jane, we can start with you getting to know me on the way to the hospital,” he said climbing into the back of the van and sitting on a bench opposite her.
Sebastian hated being the barer of incredible news, but an unknown mage showing up in his neighborhood shrouded in mystery was not good. He felt it best to open the floodgates and get to clean up sooner rather than drag things out.
“As I said, my name is Sebastian. I am a mage with the ISF, the Immortal Special Forces. We police all magical breeds and work alongside the human police and military,” he paused as the expression on Jane’s face turned incredulous.
“What the…WHAT?”
Sebastian gave her a small smile. “Perhaps we should call you ‘Alice,’ or ‘Dorothy.’”
Jane sat in stunned silence as Sebastian explained that the fairy tales and horror stories that humans grew up with were at least in part true. The whole world was secretly populated by beings with supernatural abilities and magical power. As a species, they called themselves Magiques, but they came in many different races; mage, witch, vampire, shifter, and more. Jane was pinching the flesh of her own arm leaving red marks that would likely bruise later. Sebastian frowned at seeing that.
“I understand this sounds incredible to you right now, but it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. You are not asleep, and I am not crazy. The doctors and nurses at the hospital will corroborate my story.”
The sun was just beginning to rise as the ambulance stopped in front of the emergency doors at New Castle hospital, the only hospital for 300 square miles that serviced all people, human or Magique. New Castle was the first of only 2 cities in the US that had been founded by both Magiques, and humans, 500 years ago, when people of all breeds came to settle in the new world. There had been more cooperation between the species back then, likely because the population numbers had been closer to even. As decades passed, the Magique population maintained their numbers while humans continued to breed indiscriminately. A century later Humans outnumbered Magiques 10 to 1, and Magiques mostly went underground. Today the city and county of New Castle remained a haven for supernaturals because of a few long lived human families that passed down their traditions to keep secrets and continued a friendship between the species. Nearly every city service had a magical branch, and could accommodate magical breeds secretly and seamlessly. For this reason, New Castle had a much larger population of Magique breeds living among the human majority.
And then there were the Specials. Specials were a recent addition to the magical world, having only popped up in the last five decades. A Special was made when a Human and a Magique made a child. Most often, the progeny was more Human than Magique, and lived as a human. Sometimes, however, they had more magical talent in them, the most prevalent being that they could sense a Magique’s race intuitively, something that all full blooded Magiques could do. Though Specials grew up in the human world, they eventually found their way into jobs in the Magique world among other trusted humans from the founding families.
The nurse on duty checked ‘Jane Doe’ into the hospital, took new vital readings, and a blood sample to determine whether she was in fact a human or a Magique. A doctor eventually showed up to physically examine Jane and declare that she had no visible injuries, and her amnesia was most likely a result of a traumatic event. She was given a new set of hospital scrubs and shown to a private room so that she could shower, her blood streaked clothes taken away for testing.
It was nearly noon when Sebastian left Jane to rest. She needed to process her new found knowledge, and he needed to inform his boss, Alexander, of Jane’s mage status. Sebastian didn’t need the blood test to confirm that Jane Doe was a mage, because he could sense her magic. If the blood covering her clothing was hers, she’d obviously healed by the time she’d been found. The real question was where had she come from? Mages were closely monitored by a ruling council in each territory. When one moved to a new territory, they had to register with the local council, the same way a human moving to a new state had to get a new driver’s license.
Mage, druid, sorcerer, magician. They had been called many things down through the ages. What they were was immortal and magical. Mages believed themselves to be the conciliators of nature because they pulled their power from the elements. Every mage could manipulate earth, air, fire, and water to some degree, but they were always strongest with one. They also thought themselves to be more gifted, smarter, and more entitled to magic, an attitude that rubbed many other Magique races the wrong way. A few centuries ago, mages decided that they were best equipped to rule the Magique world, and did so by whatever means they felt necessary. They waged war on other Magiques, killing them indiscriminately, forcing them into slavery, or just bullying them into submission. As a result, mages were the most common race found in the Magique world, and the most despised by others. Though the original instigators of violence against other races were executed long ago, the prejudice remained on both sides.
Mage magic was as old as the earth, and their traditions were carefully maintained by a ruling council of elders. A pure breed couple wanting a child actually had to petition the council for permission to procreate. Mage creation was controlled to ensure a strength of character and noble lineage of the bloodlines. It was a common practice to have mage children leave home at the age of ten years to live inside a monastery where they could be properly taught in the Mage Way, and tested for years before being released into the world.
If a record of Jane was not found, and she did not remember where she came from, she would have to become a ward of the mage council until she was deemed to be a safe and independent citizen. With this thought foremost in his mind, Sebastian knocked lightly on Jane’s open door as he entered it. She was seated cross legged on the bed, a tray of untouched food in front of her. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she’d been crying and there were dark circles beginning to form under them. Gazing at her distress, Sebastian momentarily felt his heart squeeze in his chest. The girl had no past or present, and her future was going to be difficult to endure, at least until her memory came back. He did not understand why, but he was compelled to offer her sanctuary.
Chapter 3
July
It was evening by the time Sebastian returned home with Jane, groceries, and a few articles of clothing for her. Jane said very little all afternoon, still in a state of mild shock. She followed Sebastian into his three story stone house barely registering her surroundings. Instead of trying to engage her in conversation or even a tour of the house, Sebastian thought it best to put her to bed in a guest room. She began crawling under the covers as soon as she saw the bed and Sebastian had to stop her to get the sneakers off her feet first. By the time he had pulled the sheet up to her chin Jane’s eyes were closed and her breathing slow and steady.
He studied her for a long moment. She was so beautiful it made his heart ache. It had been so long since he’d felt anything for any woman. He’d simply assumed that he would never again feel strongly for a woman. It had been nearly 100 years since he had caused the death of his wife. What spell had this lovely stranger cast his way, and where had she come from? Why had she crossed his path? Sebastian believed in karma, whether Jane Doe was his karmic salvation or retribution, he would just have to wait and see. He turned on the night light in the adjoining bathroom and closed the door behind himself, hoping that her exhaustion would allow her to sleep all night and face her new and old identities the following day.
The morning brought with it a flurry of messages pertaining to Jane Doe. Her hemoglobin test came back showing an el
evation in a certain enzyme that was present in a few magique breeds, mage being one of them. There was also a heretofore unidentified protein present, which had the doctors simultaneously excited and scratching their heads. She was definitely a Magique, and a mage, but was there something else blended in her? Was she a whole new breed in herself? Her details and description were uploaded to the national database to help identify her. The hospital tests had also shown that all the blood found on Jane and her clothing was hers alone.
Magiques healed fast, but the physical evidence seemed to point towards a deadly attack. Had someone been hunting Jane or had this been a random attack? There had also been no evidence at the crime scene that Jane had defended herself. There should have been burn marks or downed trees, but the woods had been unmolested. It was obvious to Sebastian that Jane was a young mage, but the first lesson every mage was taught when they came into their full power was a simple self defense electrical pulse that would at least have scorched the ground. Had Jane been taken by surprise and incapacitated? If that was the case, an attack from a Magique with deadly intent, would not have been survivable. If her attacker had been human, they might just have a sociopath roaming the suburbs of New Castle. Until her memory returned Jane Doe was going to remain a mystery.
Sebastian enjoyed a solitary life. It was unusual for him to have a stranger in his home, but the young woman and her predicament stirred something in him that he could not identify. Yes, he found her attractive, but it was more than that. Why was there no one looking for her? He was ashamed by his kind that she would be cast out, or abandoned by her family. He felt a responsibility to her and to his breed to care for her until she was claimed by someone, or she could be declared independent. In lieu of her amnesia, he found he wanted to shelter and guide this young one properly, as his family had done for him so long ago.
Jane interrupted these musings as she wandered into the kitchen. Sebastian was pouring a second cup of coffee for himself. Without asking he poured another cup and handed it to Jane. She looked forlorn in her wrinkled scrubs and sleep mussed hair.
“Thanks,” was all she said, accepting the cup of coffee. She found the cream and sugar on the farm style kitchen table and sat on the bench to drink.
After a couple of sips she looked around, taking in the quaint old fashioned kitchen of Sebastian’s 200 year old stone house. It looked like the only things that had been updated since the building had been built were the modern appliances. Everything else looked ancient.
“Are you interested in breakfast?” Sebastian asked, ”I’m making scrambled eggs.”
She looked up at him and smiled for the first time. Her smile transformed her face into an angel’s. Her eyes sparkled as she said, ”I’d love some “strangled” eggs!”
When he gave her a questioning look she giggled.
”I’ve always called them “strangled” eggs. My Mom told me that the first time I heard the words I miss heard “strangled” instead of “scrambled.” After she corrected me I decided I liked “strangled” better, and I’ve been strangling my eggs ever since.”
Sebastian smiled with her.
“You remembered something. Do you remember your name?”
She reflected for a moment gazing at nothing and then looked at him again in surprise. ”Lila! My name is Lila Bell. My Mom’s name is Lily Bell. She lives in Sarasota, Florida. I used to live with her but I just moved north for a new job with the college in Newcolm. Shit, what day is it? I need to call work!”
Sebastian put his hands up to delay her panic. “Lila, I am pleased to hear that things are coming back to you, but I would prefer it if you would not use vulgar language.”
Lila snorted at that. “Really? Disappearing from work my first week on the job doesn’t warrant a swear?”
“No. It is always unseemly for a young lady to swear. More to the point, though, you remembered your mother’s name. We will contact her immediately and she may be able to help you remember The Mage Way.”
Sebastian picked up his phone and typed a message to someone.
“The Mage Way?”
“Is it truly unfamiliar to you?” Sebastian asked, frustrated.
How could a child of a mage get a bump on the head and forget that she was a mage? It made no sense. Unless--there were rare cases of children who lost their parents and were mistaken for humans. If they were adopted into human society, they could live as humans for years before realizing that they were different.
“Regardless, you still must follow mage practice. It would be dangerous not to.”
“Dangerous how?”
“All mages have a certain level of power inside them. It is like a natural talent, some have more, some have less. The other side of mage power comes from skill, it is learned. A mage can borrow energy from any living thing, animal, vegetable, or mineral, for a short time to boost his power, but if he does not return a small amount of his own power to the thing, it will be drained and die. It takes some mages years to learn the proper technique of this power exchange so that they may use their abilities correctly, and safely. Eventually though, it happens with a thought.
“Right now, you have the ability to draw power from living things. This means that you also have the ability to kill with a touch. In your current state of amnesia, you don’t have the skill to control it.”
Lila’s expression slowly changed into one of horror. Hoping to derail a panic attack, Sebastian continued.
“Until further information about your family comes to us, you will live here and train under my tutelage.“
“But what about my stuff? My house, car, Mom, friends back home…” she trailed off.
“It’s all right Lila, we’ll take things one at a time. Do you remember your mother’s address or phone number? Or your address here in the New Castle area?”
Newcolm, and the college were only twenty miles away, the next town over. It wasn’t a stretch to think that Lila’s abode was right here in New Castle. Lila took on a look of concentration, obviously searching for a memory. Her eyebrows furrowed in dismay.
”I um, don’t remember the address, but I can see a two lane road, lots of trees, and a yellow house. I think my place is a small cottage behind the yellow house. There’s a long driveway down the right side of the house.”
“There is a yellow house on this road, between this house and the train station. We can take a drive after breakfast. What kind of car do you have?”
“A blue Toyota Centra,” she answered immediately without a thought.
“Good, more is coming back.” Sebastian smiled as he handed her a plate of eggs.
“Sebastian, what did you mean by ’the Mage way’?”
Sebastian chewed his eggs before answering, “Mage philosophy looks like a religion of sorts, an exaltation or meditation of the natural world and our spiritual connection to it. In actual mage practice, it is a power exchange between the mage and nature, each giving and receiving something from the other.”
“What’s so dangerous about that?”
“It is easy for the uneducated practitioner to take too much power from a source and permanently damage it.”
Lila pursed her lips and looked up at him from her plate with an expression Sebastian would soon come to know as her “Cut-to-the-chase” look. He sighed, realizing that he was doing her no favors by sugar coating any of this.
“New practitioners kill things until they learn the subtleties of controlled give and take.”
“And how long does it take to learn control?” Lila asked warily.
“It depends completely on the individual…I spent my first 7 months as a novice leaving a trail of dead grass wherever I went, and I had the advantage of two years of study before I fully came into my power.”
“How old were you?”
“Twelve years.”
Jane stared at him in stunned silence.
“Only Twelve? How powerful are you?”
“Mage power comes with puberty. Most of our young
are sent to the monastery before that to begin training, and remain there until their power is mastered.”
“Sounds like an old fashioned British boarding school.”
“Precisely.”
“Are your monks the only teachers of magic?”
“No, there are tutors who used to live with large families and teach all the children together.”
“Used to?”
“Mages don’t have as many children any more, and private tutoring is more expensive than the monastery.”
“I was homeschooled.”
Sebastian looked up from his empty plate.
“Anything else?” he inquired.
Lila thought for a minute.
“Halfway through highschool I rebelled and demanded to go to public school.”
Sebastian waited for more, but nothing else came. He sighed.
“If you have finished your eggs, you can do the dishes. How long do you need to be ready to go out? We have things to do.”
“I need a shower. Maybe 25 minutes?”
“Very well, meet me by the front door in 30, ready to leave.”
Lila rose to clear the dishes, a little shaky from Sebastian’s description of a mage upbringing. None of it was familiar. It was obvious to her that mages still operated a class system. What she had seen so far of his house, he was definitely in the upper class, quite the opposite of the trailer park Lila had lived in her whole childhood. He had not said anything about how poor mages learned to control their power. Maybe they got scholarships or something.
When the dishes were in the washer, she retraced her steps from earlier and found her bedroom on the third floor again. Compared to the other rooms she had poked her head into, it was surprisingly feminine. The walls were a pastel lavender color and the trim was a rich brown wood. A dark persian style carpet took up most of the floor. The bed had a brass head and footboard and had been very comfortable. The bedding was all white topped with a white down comforter that she hadn’t needed. The two windows overlooking a back lawn had white frilly curtains, and the big overstuffed armchair in the corner was upholstered in a floral print. The old and elegantly carved wardrobe, which now housed her meager clothing, also had a floral motif carved into it. The bathroom connected to the room was mid century modern, indicating that it had been updated in the last few decades.
Magic's Love Page 2