Magi Legend

by Andrew Dobell

  Lucian looked at Shaun, whose mouth hung agape as he looked down at Ben’s body where it had crumpled to the floor.

  For a moment, the room stood silent, the blast from the gun ringing in everyone’s ears.

  No longer able to contain his rage, Lucian roared and slammed his fists into the top of the oak table, splitting it.

  “I want this fucking group of Arcadians out of my city right now!”

  “Sir, I might have an idea,” said one of the bikers.

  Lucian looked up at the young man who’d stepped forward. “What is it, Jason?”

  ***

  Lucian stepped up to the wooden side door of the Church of the Divine Mother, just a block away from The Pit Club. Producing a key from his coat pocket, he unlocked the door and stepped inside, followed closely by Joaquin.

  He shut the door behind him and locked it, before navigating through the small rooms and narrow corridors at the back of the church.

  “Are you going to let me in on this plan of yours, then, Lucian?” Joaquin asked.

  “Of course,” Lucian answered. “You’re the second part. You and Noah. After Jason does his bit, you’re gonna be in charge of logistics, while Noah… Noah will be indulging in his own personal tastes.”

  “Oh, God,” muttered Joaquin, knowing what that meant.

  Lucian eventually found his way to a plain wooden door and used another key to let them through, locking it behind them. The room looked like it had once been a storage room, but a huge hole had been carved out of the floor and the back wall that plunged into the ground beneath the church at a steep, but walkable angle.

  They paused for a moment, looking down into the dark passageway.

  “He’s down there?” asked Joaquin.

  “That’s where he said to come,” Lucian answered, referring to his earlier Magical link with Noah, asking to see him.

  As they gazed down the tunnel, they could see things, like insects, but much, much bigger skittering over the walls.

  “I can’t wait,” Joaquin said, sarcastically.

  Lucian stepped forward, carefully making his way down the roughly carved tunnel into the depths beneath the church. They passed huge deformed cockroaches and other bugs that stayed well out of their way, seemingly sensing they were allowed inside, or maybe they sensed the power of two Magi they didn’t want to anger.

  Soon enough, Lucian reached level ground and could make out the sounds of someone in pain. It sounded childlike, but the voice was muffled as if gagged.

  Continuing on, they passed side-corridors lined with cell doors and heard more moans and pleas for help coming from them. Again, they sounded like children.

  Eventually, they passed from the corridor into a room dug into the rock. Parts of it were roughly hewn, others intricately carved with writhing bodies of demons and their victims in the throes of torture and rape.

  Tables scattered about the space were filled with books and candles, or were splattered with dry blood and held implements designed to inflict pain.

  In the centre of the room, on an altar, a boy no more than six or seven, lay strapped to the stone edifice. He was gagged and covered in cuts, bruises, and bite marks. He weakly fought against his attacker but to no avail. He looked at Lucian and Joaquin as they entered in the hope of release, his eyes were filled with pain as they pleaded for help.

  The man who stood beside the altar had his back to them and was bent low over the boy’s legs. Sensing a change in the room, he jerked his head up, tensed for a moment, before relaxing and turning to face Lucian. The man wore a robe that covered his back and upper arms, but fell open down his front, revealing his nakedness beneath.

  The man had slicked-back dark hair and hungrily licked his lips. Most of his face and front glistened in fresh blood, smeared by his own hand.

  “Lucian, such a pleasure. You caught me in the middle of my breakfast.”

  “Apologies, Noah, but this is urgent. I have a job for you.”

  “Business or pleasure?” Noah asked.

  “A bit of both. You are to take a trip with Joaquin here. Can you be ready to leave in a few hours?”

  “For you, Lucian, anything. May I finish my meal?”

  “We’ll wait outside,” said Lucian, glancing at the Vampire’s victim, who looked on in dwindling hope. He looked away and led Joaquin out of the tunnels.

  “I don’t like working with that paedophile vampire. I find him to be… disagreeable,” admitted Joaquin, once he was out of earshot of the Scion.

  “Really, mon? And yet your business and his tastes align rather well.”

  “Maybe,” Joaquin admitted. “So, are you going to elaborate on your plan?”

  “Once Noah joins us. I can’t wait to see the look on Amanda’s face when she finds out.”

  - Near Amarillo, Texas

  “Who’s that?” asked Reagan from where she sat on Waylon’s lap in her short shorts and crop top.

  “That,” answered Saxon, pointing to the image of the red-haired girl on the screen, “is a Young Magi named Amanda. Y'all may remember, I told you about her when she moved to New York the other week.”

  “Whaaat?” Reagan exclaimed, but stopped short when Waylon backhanded her arm with a gentle slap.

  “Quiet,” he said.

  Reagan noticed that Forest had been giving her the dead eye from across the room. So she shut her mouth and listened. She knew when she’d stepped out of place.

  Forest turned back to Saxon. “And why are we talking about her again?”

  “Just got word from Victoria, Amanda,” he pointed at the image, “is paying her a visit. You asked to be notified of such an occurrence, so what would you like me to say to Miss Victoria?”

  Reagan watched Forest looking around the room at the other members of the coven, the Magi Legion, who were attending this general meeting. This was the final item on the agenda and she was bored. She just wanted to get back to the gun range and show Waylon who was boss.

  “Tell Victoria we’ll be there—me, you, and Stella.”

  Reagan breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment there, she thought he’d meant all of them would be going. He could keep stuffy Saxon and Mama Ward, all she wanted was her hunk of a man, Waylon. She turned to him and ran her fingers through his handsome mullet.

  “I loves you, babe,” he said, his gold teeth glinting as he spoke. He pulled her in and pawed at her breasts with his left hand while kissing her. “Now, let’s get back to that there range. I’m a-gonna whip your cute little behind.”

  “You can try, sweet thang, but if I win, we do what I wanna do tonight,” she said.

  “But if I win…”

  “I ain’t doin’ another threesome, Waylon.”

  “Rules is rules, though, sweet cheeks. I do for you as you do for me.”

  Reagan scowled. She didn’t know how he’d tricked her into doing it again. He was so smart, that’s why she loved him so. For them thar brains.

  Bureaucracy

  Washington DC, USA.

  Amanda appeared in the same Porting room that she’d used when she had arrived here twelve days ago with Liz and Gentle Water. Amanda had called the number she’d been given and requested a visit to the Washington Coven House. She’d been given a five-minute window to Port in, after which, she’d been greeted by Miss Evans again. Nothing had changed in the calm, wood-panelled edifice that stood testament to the might of this Arcadian Magi House. But this time, she didn’t feel as impressed. This time, she felt angry that this powerful organisation wasn’t doing more to help against the likes of Lucian.

  The Arcadians were meant to be at war with the Nomads. They were meant to fight them and drive them back. And yet, here they were, watching from the side-lines and letting Lucian run his little empire however he saw fit, killing any Arcadian who dared step foot in Manhattan with impunity.

  Coming to see Victoria and asking for help felt like the obvious first step. Victoria seemed nice, friendly, and sympathetic to what Amanda was tryi
ng to do. Amanda hoped she could persuade her to lend a hand somehow.

  “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Miss Page,” Miss Evans said.

  Amanda smiled, but it never touched her eyes. She wasn’t feeling particularly happy right now.

  “And you,” Amanda answered.

  “I believe Victoria is nearly ready for you,” she said leading Amanda down the same corridor as last time.

  Amanda looked about her as she walked. The building seemed to be just as busy as last time, looking every part like a government office, with everyone walking around in their pressed suits.

  Amanda wore a knee-length black skirt and dark top, black tights, and tall-heeled boots. She wore a light jacket over the top with her scarlet hair tied back in a ponytail. Despite her frustration with this coven, she’d thought it best to at least try to make a good impression.

  Reaching Victoria’s office, she sat in one of the chairs outside while Miss Evans made herself busy behind her desk. There were no Hollywood stars here this time.

  After a few moments, Miss Evans reacted to something on her desk, and she stood up to face Amanda.

  “You may go in now, they’re ready for you.”

  Amanda frowned. They? Who were they, she wondered? Standing, she straightened her spine, smoothed her clothes, and tried hard to push any apprehension she felt about walking into the unknown out of her mind.

  Miss Evans opened the door, and Amanda walked into Victoria’s office to find her suspicions confirmed. Apart from Victoria, there were four other people all sat before the large oak desk in the centre of the room, three of them to her left, and one woman to her right. Victoria stood up from behind her desk as Amanda entered.

  “Amanda, please, come in and join us,” she said gesturing to the empty chair.

  Amanda stepped toward the chair, but the woman to her right who stood apart from the rest smiled and offered Amanda her hand. “I’m Kelly, Victoria’s chief secretary,” she said. She looked to be in her late twenties with dark hair tied back in a bun and a tailored dress jacket worn over a crisp white shirt and matching grey skirt.

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Amanda said, taking the proffered hand and giving the woman a tight smile. Taking her seat, she looked over at the other three people she didn’t know.

  “This is Forest Ward,” said Victoria, indicating the stocky man closest to Amanda who wore jeans, a red checkered shirt, a jacket, and a cowboy hat. He had a bushy blond beard and looked at her with steely blue eyes. He nodded once to acknowledge her but didn’t offer his hand.

  “…Saxon Rey…” Victoria continued, indicating the next man along, who wore a suit and couldn’t have looked more different than Forest with his neat hair and perfect teeth. Amanda got the vibe of a slick car salesman from him.

  He smiled at her. “A pleasure, ma’am,” he said in a thick Texan accent.

  “…and Stella Ward.” Victoria finished. The woman didn’t even look at Amanda, but she guessed from her surname and the ring on her finger that she would likely be Forest’s wife. She wore similar jeans and boots with a check shirt and fur-lined jacket.

  Victoria sat down behind her desk, and Amanda got the impression that she seemed a little more harassed than the last time she’d been here.

  “They represent the Magi Legion Coven,” Victoria continued, “and as a part of the American Council, have an interest in what you’re doing in New York and why you’re here.”

  “Okay, grand,” Amanda answered.

  “As I understand it,” Victoria continued, “you’ve had some trouble with Lucian since arriving in New York.”

  “That’s right, he…” Amanda trailed off, the thought of having to explain everything to these people felt like a huge and maybe fruitless task. Now that she sat here, she felt like a whining school girl complaining about someone pushing her in the playground. “Look, it’s getting beyond a joke. He nearly killed Yoh yesterday after setting a very skilled assassin on us.”

  “And you’d like us to do what?” Saxon asked.

  “Help, of course!” Amanda said incredulously.

  “So, he’s not actually killed any of you?” Saxon asked.

  “Well, kind of.” Amanda didn’t know what to say. Having these other Magi here from another coven had completely thrown her off, and after only a few seconds, they were already making light of her situation.

  “Kind of?” Is Yoh dead or not?”

  Amanda looked over at Saxon and saw all three pairs of eyes on her. Saxon’s expression was open and questioning, framed on either side by two very sceptical faces that didn’t seem very friendly. “He’s a Scion now. It was the only way we could save him.”

  “Excellent, so he’s alive and the attacker is…”

  “Dead. She’s dead,” Amanda answered.

  “What’s the problem, then?” he asked.

  “The problem is that I’m trying to make a life in New York. I’m trying to make a difference, and I need your help. I want to fight back against Lucian, and I can’t do that alone.”

  “And yet you knew you were moving into a very dangerous city with an active Nomad coven who would likely try to kill you. And when he does, you come crying to us for help?”

  “I am asking for help, yes.”

  “Well, I’m sure Victoria will be happy to raise the issue at the AMC meeting next month,” said Saxon, referencing the American Magi Council, “but until then, we can’t really do much. And I wouldn’t hold out much hope, Miss Page. The Legacy is out of its jurisdiction, and as proud Americans, we will deal with Lucian when we feel the time is right. It’s a very delicate situation, and if we just ride on in there without planning ahead, things could get out of hand.”

  Amanda looked back at Victoria, who seemed frustrated by the whole situation but had not yet said anything.

  “Victoria?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry, Amanda,” Victoria answered. “There’s little I can do. My hands are tied. We have a system in place and it must be followed.”

  “This is ridiculous.”

  “May I ask, Miss Page, has Lucian attempted to kill you yet?” Saxon asked.

  “Not as such. He’s threatened me a couple of times,” she admitted.

  “Really?” Saxon said rhetorically.

  “Why ain’t he killed you yet, darlin’?” Forest asked, leaning in, his thick Texan drawl colouring his words. Amanda leant back a touch, away from the smell of chewing tobacco that accompanied his question.

  “I don’t… Well, I guess he tried.”

  “Tried? Look, everyone else who’s been to that there city in recent years has been hunted down and killed within days of arriving and yet here you are, alive and well after twelve days. Are you sure he wants you dead?” Forest asked.

  “What are you implying?” asked Amanda, her tone guarded, sensing a trap.

  “We’re not implying anything,” said Saxon, breaking in before Forest could say anything else. “We’re just trying to find the truth.”

  “Of course,” said Amanda before she turned and addressed Victoria again. “I think we're done here.”

  “So soon?” Forest asked. “I thought you wanted our help?”

  “I do. But you seem scared of one little Nomad,” Amanda goaded.

  “I ain’t scared of no bitch-ass Nomad, little lady. He’ll get what’s coming to him, you mark my words. Besides, you’re the one that came in here whining about him.”

  “Then help me. Fight with me,” she pleaded.

  “I’ll fight when I’m good and ready. You wanted to live there, so you deal with him.”

  Amanda stood up, furious at the pig-headedness of this wannabe cowboy, her legs pushing her chair back as she stood.

  “I will. And when I’ve finished with him, New York is mine.”

  Forest sat back and looked up at Amanda, a smile passing over his face.

  “Sure, whatever you say, little lady.”

  Amanda took a breath and looked over at Victoria. “Good to see yo
u again,” she said and turned to the door. As she walked away, Victoria spoke to Kelly, asking her to walk Amanda out.

  Kelly caught up with Amanda by the office door and walked through with her. Amanda, frustrated and angry, didn’t wait, she just walked away as Kelly shut the door behind her.

  “Hold up, Miss Page,” Kelly called out.

  Amanda stopped and looked back over shoulder at Kelly, waiting for her to catch up.

  “Come with me,” Kelly said quietly and walked off down the corridor.

  Shortly before the Porting room, Kelly opened a door and stepped through. Amanda reached the door and saw another office, slightly smaller than Victoria’s, but just as nice.

  “Come in,” she urged and gestured for Amanda to close the door behind her. “Sorry for that farce in there. Victoria and our coven in general, are always under pressure from the other American covens over one thing or another. The Legion is perhaps the group who opposes us the most and causes the most trouble. They were not happy about you moving to New York and insisted on meeting you the next time you came here. They almost certainly have informants in these offices and they have at least a couple of Initiated openly working here full-time whose job it is to report back. So when you asked to visit, we had to invite them along.”

  “Who are they, then? Just another coven?”

  “Correct. Ourselves and the Magi Legion are the two largest covens in the U.S., and between us, we have the most seats on the American Magi Council.”

  “And they don’t like me very much.”

  “No. You’re a foreigner, and you’re intruding on their territory, they’re not big fans of that.”

  “Their territory?”

  “Well, by that I mean America, but you get the idea.”

  “Look, I just want some help to get rid of Lucian. I think it can be done.”

  “Careful, Amanda. Many have tried. While Lucian may not be the most powerful Magi in the country, his master is another matter entirely.”

  “Nymira,” Amanda said.