Maria was right behind the three Master Magi and jumped in for a hug and kiss with Amanda. Curious at how this would pan out, she separated from Maria to watch the confrontation.
“I was bringing her before the Council, it was scheduled in,” Forrest protested.
“We know,” Trevelyan answered, deadpan.
“You can’t just waltz in here and set her free.”
“Watch us,” Trevelyan replied.
“But, she’s a traitor, she… I have proof, she…”
“She’s a young girl, barely in her twenties, who was taken advantage of by an ancient Arch-Master Magus. She made a mistake, something we all do from time to time. But a traitor? Hardly.”
“But… But look…” he said, struggling with his inside pocket trying to get the photos out. He produced the printed sheet of paper and held it aloft, only for it to burst into flames in his hand. He yelped and dropped it.
“The last one. Thank you,” said the white-haired woman to the Magi Legion leader.
“Thank you, Alice,” Trevelyan said.
“La… Last one?” Forrest blustered.
“The others, the digital files and prints you had, they’re gone,” Alice explained.
“You can’t do that. They’re important, they’re key eviden…” he trailed off, realising what was happening.
“The penny drops,” Stephen commented.
“I will see you all hang for this,” Forrest rumbled.
“No, you won’t. In fact, you won’t relate the events of today to anyone, ever. You’re meddling in affairs way beyond your understanding, and if you do speak of it to anyone, I promise you, it will be the last thing you ever say.”
“You’re threatening me?” Forrest asked, shocked.
Suddenly, a powerful Time Magic effect flared up and then disappeared as quickly as it had appeared—there one second and gone the next—and Forrest went from standing his ground to cowering against the back wall, as if a whole section of time had been chopped away and had gone missing.
“I… I understand. I won’t say a word, ever, on my honour as a Magus.”
“This never happened,” Trevelyan warned him.
Forrest nodded numbly.
“What the hell?” Amanda muttered to herself. Something had happened there that she had missed entirely. Some sort of powerful Time Magic had been at work that she had been locked out of.
Trevelyan and the others turned away from Forrest and started to make their way out of the cell, leaving a traumatised Forrest alone with his thoughts.
“Come,” Trevelyan said and led Amanda out of the cell, through the destroyed wall where she found and hugged Gentle Water and Liz, both of whom were a little worse for wear.
“Where’s Howie?” Amanda asked.
“He’s safe, you’ll see him soon,” Trevelyan said.
“Good, thank you. I have to ask, though, what the hell happened in there?”
Trevelyan smiled. “Ask me again some other time,” he said. “Now, let’s get out of here, shall we?”
Within moments, Master Trevelyan had Ported the entire group back across America to appear on the rooftop terrace of Amanda’s brownstone, the familiar and very welcome view of New York’s skyline surrounding them.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Amanda went to the living room where she found Trevelyan, Israel, Stephen, and the Count in conversation. Alice White stood nearby, looking out the window.
Smiling and feeling somewhat self-conscious, she hesitated at the threshold, before entering the room. “Come, come, sit with us, Amanda. How are you feeling? Everything okay, now?”
“I’m grand, thank you. Fully healed now.”
“That’s good, I’m glad to hear it. I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” he said.
“It was my choice. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought he wanted to bring me before the Council to plead his case, so I did. Instead, I think he wanted to get some personal revenge against me, somehow.”
“The Council knew he was bringing someone in. He’d been a little unclear as to when that would be exactly. He’d just said he’d found a Nomad sympathiser, but never mentioned a name,” Trevelyan explained.
“So, you didn’t know it was me?” Amanda asked.
“We did not, no, that came as something of a surprise.”
“I bet. So, how did you find out?”
“Maya contacted us, she told us of what had happened and asked us for help,” Trevelyan said.
“Maya? I must thank her,” she said. She hadn’t expected that at all. She’d thought it would be Maria or Shaun somehow, but not Maya. She was in the house somewhere. She’d find her soon enough and thank her properly.
“So, you thought you needed to be taken in for a trial by the Council?” Stephen Bathory asked.
“I’ve… done some questionable things. Things I’m not proud of at all, to be sure.”
“Haven’t we all?” Trevelyan said.
“You don’t know what it is I’ve done,” Amanda said.
“Fraternising with the enemy? We have an idea of what’s happened based on what Shaun told us,” Trevelyan explained.
Amanda nodded, feeling herself flush. “That’s right. I think Yasmin has been manipulating me from the start, getting close to me, helping me, protecting me, making me feel indebted to her. Sleeping with me was the icing on the cake, so it was. She did that on purpose, I’m sure of it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she tipped off the Legion as well.”
“She set you up, took advantage, put you in a compromising position, and made sure someone who doesn’t like you was in a position to document it. Such evidence wouldn’t hurt Yasmin, of course, but it could cause you a lot of trouble. But, why? Why did she do all of that?” Trevelyan asked.
“I think I know,” Amanda answered. “She knew I’d been the last person to have possession of the Lazarus Scroll. It was the last question she asked me before she disappeared.”
“She really did play the long game with you, then,” Stephen said.
“Looks that way. She brought me on-side in the hope I’d be useful one day, and when that day came, she cashed in those favours,” Amanda said.
“Cunning,” Stephan commented.
“I had no idea she was so manipulative. She really had me fooled, so she did,” Amanda admitted.
“But not anymore?” Stephan asked.
“To be sure, I’ll be on my guard from here on out,” she agreed.
“Well, we’re just glad we could help. Everyone deserves a second chance,” Trevelyan said. “Be sure to thank Maya, won’t you?”
“I will, and thank you,” she smiled back and wished them well as they all left the building.
With the Council members gone, Amanda walked through the house hunting for Maya. She found it surprising that she’d been the one to contact the Council. She had no idea that Maya had contacts in such high places, and although they had worked together and were friendly, it surprised her that Maya had been the one to organise the rescue attempt. After a bit of a trek through the house, she eventually found Maya in the library, leafing through a book.
“Maya, here you are,” Amanda said.
Maya put the book down and rose from the seat to greet her. “Here I am. How are you? Fully recovered, I trust?”
“Thanks to you, yes.”
“You would have done the same,” Maya said.
“That’s not the point. You saved us. I had no idea you knew the Council.”
“I have a few friends in the right places. I was able to call in a favour so…”
“Well, I really can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what I would have done without you, honestly. If there’s anything I can do for you, anything, just name it.”
“Nothing right now, but one day, maybe. All I ask is that you remember my name and use it wisely.”
Amanda frowned slightly. “Really, that’s all? Remember your name? I don’t understand.”
“One
day, you will. I promise you,” she said, smiling.
“Okay, sure. I can do that,” she said and hugged Maya to thank her again.
Amanda left Maya to her book and soon found Gentle Water and Liz in their kitchen, having something to eat. Amanda suddenly felt intensely hungry and pulled a half-eaten baked vanilla cheesecake from the fridge.
She placed it on the counter, grabbed a fork, and carved a piece off.
She savoured the taste, before opening her eyes again and catching sight of Liz giving her side-eye.
“What?” Amanda asked.
“You and those cheesecakes.” Liz rolled her eyes.
“I know, right? They’re amazing. You want some?”
“Errr…”
Amanda grabbed a knife and a plate and served up a slice to her apprentice. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Liz laughed and accepted the dessert.
“I don’t deserve friends like you,” Amanda said to them after a few more mouthfuls. “You stood by me after the way I treated you. I will never forget that.”
“Amanda, I not going to sugar coat my words,” Liz began. “You were a dick this last week or so, and I was finding you difficult to be around, but I always knew we’d get the old Amanda back one day. I could see the way the Prophecy and the rumours were affecting you. I could see the change in you. It wouldn’t have been much longer before we had to sit you down and hammer things out.”
“Thank you. These past few days have been crazy. I just can’t believe that Yasmin had me so convinced she was an innocent victim. She really did a number on me.”
“So, she save your life to get hint where Scroll might be?” Gentle Water asked in his soft Chinese accent.
“Seems that way, yeah. I think so.”
“Are you sure, it seems like flimsy reason to me. It not as if you know exactly where Scroll was, you only know where you last saw it. Even if she found it, I think there more to her thinking than just that,” Gentle Water said.
“You think there’s another reason for her saving my life?” Amanda asked.
“I do,” he answered.
“Yeah, I think I agree,” Liz said.
“Oh.” Amanda didn’t quite know what to think. Certainly, there was more going on with Yasmin, that was for sure. But she felt at a loss as to what it might be. She clearly wanted to know the location of the Lazarus Scroll, and although she didn’t know where it was exactly, she did know that she’d last had it in her possession on the island. Yasmin had purposefully asked her where it was when her guard was down. It was clearly a calculated move. She also felt certain that Yasmin had made sure that the Legion knew where they were going to be to get those shots of them together. Why Yasmin did that was a little less clear. Maybe it had to do with the Prophecy? Maybe it was to sew some doubt in the minds of the other Magi, to make them think less of her? Whatever the reason, it hadn’t worked, the plan had failed and only a few of the Legion—a coven that already came across as a little radical to many —knew of her liaison with Yasmin.
Whatever Yasmin’s reasons had been, Amanda knew she couldn’t trust her as much as she thought she could. She wouldn’t try to meet her again or any of that nonsense, she had learnt her lesson as far as that was concerned. She sat back in her chair and sipped her drink as she thought, only to be interrupted by her phone vibrating in her pocket.
She reached into her jeans and pulled it out and looked at the screen. “Unknown Number,” she said aloud, reading the caller ID.
She rarely got calls, which could mean only one thing. She hit accept and put the phone to her ear.
“It’s Angel,” said the voice on the other end.
- The Arkady, Aetheric Craft, in Geosynchronous Medium Earth Orbit.
The woman walked around the main deck. Sipping her drink, she looked over the faces of everyone gathered. It had been a difficult few years with all the deception and hiding, but that was all about to come to an end, and she had these people to thank for it.
Trevelyan, Count Saint-Germain, and Stephen Bathory of the Council with Israel Roth of the Legacy Coven were all here. She could also see her dear Maya with Gentle Water, Raven, Royston, and her beloved Maria. They all chatted amongst themselves, smiling and enjoying the hospitality.
“Are you okay?” Maya asked, walking up with Raven and Gentle Water by her side.
“I’m fine, it’s just the start of a new chapter, and I have all of you to thank for it. It’s been a long road, and yet, it seems like only yesterday that I was standing on that rooftop watching Horlack’s attack in New York. You know, I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Maya said.
“We’ve had some close calls,” Raven said.
She thought back to her spontaneous night of passion with Raven in the New York brownstone when Amanda came to the door, and smiled. “We certainly have, and I’m sorry to have asked you to be so deceptive.”
“We all understood the stakes and what was at risk,” Gentle Water said.
“So, if you’re all here, where is…”
“Amanda? She’s going to find Matt, surely you remember?” Maya said.
“Aaah, yes, I do.”
“So, when is the final stage put into play?” Raven asked.
“Trevelyan will get the news to her tomorrow,” she said
“So ‘Alice’, I kind of like the white hair on you,” Maria said, joining them with Royston by her side.
She put her hand up into her bright white hair and wrinkled her nose. “Really? It’s just a means to an end.”
“I know, but as much as I like it, I still think your original colour suits you better,” Maria said.
She concentrated and with a quick rush of Magical energy, her hair returned to its distinctive natural shade. Her friends gave a little cheer and raised their glasses to the future.
The Cost of Freedom
London
Amanda stood looking upon the terrace house that belonged to the man she knew only as Edge. Last time, she’d been summoned by Edge himself, this time she had been invited here by Angel. Amanda wasn’t going to walk into a trap again, though, and insisted on a few stipulations that Angel seemed happy with. Namely, that only Angel come to the meeting and that everyone got to leave the meeting alive and unharmed.
She wondered if Angel had agreed to those terms a little too easily, but she had no way of knowing until she attended the meeting and found out. As she knew all too well, there was always an element of risk when it came to meeting with Nomads.
But she wanted to help Edge and there didn’t seem to be any other option, for the time being. So, she’d taken it, if only to get it over and done with.
Looking at the house with her Magical sight, she noted that the remains of the Aegis that had been here before had faded entirely. She could sense the life forces of two people within the house, one of them clearly a Magus, going by the concentration of Essentia there. That would probably be Angel.
Amanda had her own defences in place, ready for any trouble that might arise, and with a sigh, walked into the house through the newly-fixed front door.
The residence hadn’t changed since she’d been here last, including the small bloodstain on the carpet from where Amanda had Magically body slammed one of Angel’s coven mates into the floor. She could sense the Magic and the life forms on the floor below and made her way along the corridor and down the stairs before emerging into the basement. Sitting on a single chair in the middle of the room, Edge looked up at Amanda and smiled.
“Sophia,” he said.
Angel looked down at him with raised eyebrows. “It’s Amanda, idiot.”
“He may call me Sophia if he wishes,” Amanda said.
“Whatever. Did you bring it?” Angel asked, dismissing her comment.
“It’s close to hand,” she said, referring to the Magical device that Amanda had previously taken from this very basement.
“Then, let’s not mess about.” Ang
el indicated she should come forward.
“I’ll just retrieve it,” Amanda informed them, and with a minor working of Magic, Ported the device into her hand. Angel looked to be on guard for a moment as Amanda worked her Magic, but relaxed as it faded.
Amanda walked up to Edge and handed him the strange device. “Here you go, Edge, you do what you need to do, and then we’re getting out of here.”
“Matt, call me Matt.”
“Of course,” Amanda replied softly.
“Oh, do get on with it and spare me the shit,” Angel spat.
Amanda rose up to her full height again and let Matt work on the device. “Don’t be even more of a bitch than you already are.”
Angel cocked her head slightly to one side. “Cute,” she muttered.
“If you could give me some space, please?” Matt asked as he placed the device on his head. Amanda backed off, while Angel did the same and they both watched him close his eyes as the lights on the device started to glow and flicker.
It lasted for just a few seconds, and although outwardly there was no great show of pyrotechnics, with her Aetheric Sight, she could see the powerful Magical forces at work as the device did its thing.
Matt took a few breaths and slowly lifted the headset off of his head, resting it in his lap.
“So, who is it?” Angel asked.
“Give him a moment,” Amanda cut in. “Let him sort his head out.”
“Jeez, I’m dealing with amateurs.” Angel crossed her arms.
Amanda stepped forward, shadowed by Angel.
“Are you okay?” Amanda asked as she looked at him with her sight. She could see his mental processes going crazy around his brain, but after a few moments, they started to settle down.
“I’m fine; it’s just a little disorientating. I’ll be alright,” Matt informed them.
He took a few moments more to gather his thoughts as Angel tapped her foot impatiently on the floor. “Come on, get a grip, I haven’t got all day.”
“Will you just…”
“Amanda. It’s fine, honestly, leave it. Angel, I told you there’s a traitor in your coven.”
“Yes, yes. I know that part.”
Magi Legend Page 91