The Mage Tales Prequels, Books 0-II: (An Urban Fantasy Thriller Collection)

by Ilana Waters

  “So, you hatched an appropriately harebrained scheme.” Colleen frowned.

  “Yes.” I paused. “Which worked. Haven’t we already established that?” I caught a glimpse of my neck in a large shard of broken mirror a few feet away. Scorch marks, left by Victor’s fingers. Suyin’s healing magic had dulled the pain of them, but they were still there, faintly. It looked like the black hand of death had grabbed me by the throat. I shivered. That was exactly what happened. And death had almost won.

  Colleen smacked me on the shoulder—hard. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me about all this? Do you know I nearly died again, watching you almost go up in flames like that?”

  “As much as I hate to say it, Ms. McKay,” Specs crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, “your involvement wasn’t essential to the plan. As such, it was safer if you didn’t know.”

  I nodded at Colleen. “Sorry, love. But it’s true.”

  She pursed her lips and looked away. “I still think I could’ve helped,” she grumbled.

  “I’m sure you’ll get another opportunity to rescue Mr. Alderman,” Specs said. “Knowing him the way we do.”

  “But what about that magic Victor was talking about?” Miles looked to Specs with eager eyes. “Do you really have a spell that can reach through time and space?”

  “Can we see it?” Rami asked impatiently.

  “Why couldn’t you use it to see who was behind all the criminal activity this year?” Liza asked.

  “Yeah, why didn’t you—” Jae started.

  Specs held up his hand. “One question at a time.” It was the sort of moment when Specs might adjust his glasses, or polish them. It was strange seeing him barefaced. “The magic was given to me for safekeeping. And it is as powerful as described—when wielded by the right person, under the right circumstances. Don’t you think if I were that person, I’d have cleared all this up months ago?”

  “Oh.” Jae sounded disappointed. “So you can’t even use the magic in that thing.” He raised his eyebrows at the battered metal box on the floor.

  “Oh, that?” Specs glanced at the box. “That’s not where I keep the magic. That box is for petty cash.” Cries of surprise went up around the room.

  “What?” Rami said.

  “It can’t be!” Liza said.

  “He must be joking.” Jae, in a whisper.

  “I’m afraid not.” Specs shook his head with an air of amused resignation. “There isn’t even that much in it. Only a few hundred quid.”

  “Then where’s the real magic?” Colleen demanded. My eyes wandered around the room. My nose caught the scent of roses outside.

  “It’s underneath the rosebush!” I shouted as I sat up straight in the chair, fingers gripping the arms. Specs looked at me sharply, and I knew I’d hit it.

  Oh, dear. I probably shouldn’t have said that out loud.

  Colleen’s eyebrows shot up. “Where?”

  “Why?” Jae scrunched up his face.

  “Yeah, what makes you think that, Josh?” Miles asked.

  “Ah, because of the roses.” I rubbed my throat. Shouting hurt. “Remember how you said that by the end of the year, Headmaster Specs’s rosebush would be nibbled down to nubs?” Specs looked back and forth from me to Miles, lips pursed. “Sorry,” I said to Specs. “Although in your defense, we have been driving you to distraction.”

  “Clearly,” he sighed.

  “Anyway, look at the rosebush outside.” I pointed. “Just look at it. Still in full bloom. Autumn, winter, spring, and now almost summer. It’s not nibbled down at all, and Specs has been gorging himself on roses all year.” Again, a dark look from Specs. “Sorry,” I repeated. “But why do you think that is?”

  “Because he keeps it that way with faerie magic,” Colleen said.

  “Yes. The same magic Victor needed to cover up his family’s scheme.” I paused, but no one said anything. “Think about it,” I urged. “Underneath the rosebush is the perfect place to hide a valuable spell. Cleverly, in plain sight, but where no one would think to look. And close enough to Specs—”

  Specs cleared his throat loudly.

  “Close enough to Headmaster Specs that he could keep an eye on it the majority of the time.”

  “Well.” Now, Specs was trying to keep a smile from hijacking his lips, and failing. “It seems I’ll have to find another hiding spot for my magic next year.” He looked at me. “I’m thinking not at Equinox.”

  My head bobbed up and down in a nod. “I agree that would be best.” Silence reigned for several long moments.

  “Well, we found the magic,” Liza finally said to me. “Or you did, Captain.”

  “The magic we weren’t supposed to find,” Rami said. “Too bad we couldn’t find the Chalice, which we were.”

  Specs took a section of silken faerie hair between his hands and stroked it. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”

  Jae’s brow furrowed in confusion. “But time ran out. Tournament’s over.”

  “I think,” Specs said, “given the circumstances, we might extend it by a few minutes.”

  “It wouldn’t make any difference, though.” Colleen rubbed one of my shoulders. “Fire and air searched everywhere, or very nearly.”

  “Yeah, I give up.” Grace gave a pencil holder on the floor a defeated nudge with her foot. “Thanks, Headmaster, but you hid it too well this year. I guess no one will ever know where it was.”

  A glint of something across the room caught my eye. It caught the last of the setting sun, almost winking at me. There, dangling on a shelf, was . . .

  “The teacup!” I blurted out. “It’s the teacup.”

  “What?” several of the others said at once. Specs closed his eyes in a satisfied smile.

  “The Chalice is Spec—the headmaster’s teacup.” My, I’m on a roll tonight.

  “Darling.” Colleen removed her hand from my shoulder. “Don’t be absurd. It’s too small.”

  I grimaced as I rose from the chair, still sore from the events of the evening. “Pen said the Chalice is often glamoured to look like something else.” I walked across the room and gently lifted the teacup by its handle. As soon as I set it down on my palm, it filled with tea. “Can’t you tell that teacup is brimming with magic? No pun intended.”

  “Yes,” Colleen answered, moving closer, “but that’s because . . .” She glanced at Specs. “Because it belongs to a faerie.”

  “Yeah,” Liza agreed. “Of course it would have magic on it. That’s what makes it fill and refill. See?” She took the cup from me and poured tea into the middle of the charred, broken desk. When she righted the cup again, we all saw that the tea inside was restored.

  “That’s what someone wants us to think.” I smiled at Specs. “That the cup was already magicked so we wouldn’t look too closely at it. We assumed the magic on it was to keep up a constant supply of tea. It never occurred to us there might be another layer of magic beneath it.”

  “The glamour!” cried Rami.

  “Exactly.” I folded my arms across my chest. Colleen, Miles, and my team gathered around Liza, staring at the teacup in awe.

  “Bloody hell,” whispered Jae.

  “That goes double for me,” breathed Grace.

  Now that we knew this was the genuine article, everyone could feel its magic power. It rose off the cup in soft, slow waves, as gentle and as deadly as a faerie’s kiss. Somehow, I had a feeling the Chalice wasn’t as worthless as Victor said. He’d already underestimated the fae once, and gotten soundly trounced by Specs for it.

  “Well,” Specs stood up, “are you all just going to stand there? Or is someone going to claim that thing for their house and win this year’s Tournament?” We glanced at one another.

  “Joshua, you should do the honors.” Liza placed the teacup in my hand.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Absolutely,” Rami piped up.

  I turned to Colleen. “You�
�re not upset that fire didn’t win?”

  “I’d say you earned it, darling.” Colleen grabbed my collar and planted a huge kiss on my cheek. “You were the one who figured out what Victor was up to, and how to stop him.”

  “Actually,” Miles scratched the back of his head, “I’m surprised you waited this long to get your hands on that thing.” He jutted his chin at the teacup. “You’ve been in this office so much this year, you could’ve grabbed it whenever you liked.” Everyone laughed, including Specs.

  I did it. I’d finally gotten something right. I’d thrown the balls exactly where I wanted them. Now, they were landing, one by one, into my open hands. I lifted the teacup above my head.

  “I claim this Chalice for House of Air!” I shouted. As I did, the teacup turned from porcelain to silver in my hand. It felt harder, colder. Heavier. When I looked up, my fingers were gripping a goblet: some of the finest metalwork I’d ever seen. Etched vines and leaves wound their way around its circumference, shimmering with magic.

  “Yes!” yelled Grace, with her own fist in the air.

  “All for Team Air!” screamed Rami, high-fiving Liza. Jae gave several loud whoops. The room dissolved into cries of victory. Even Miles jumped on a chair and started clapping. Colleen gave me another kiss—this one much longer.

  “It looks like I’ll be needing a new tea set,” Specs sighed.

  I wrapped both arms around Colleen, one hand still gripping the Chalice. As we stood in an embrace, I stole a glance out the window. The sun had well and truly set now. Specs’s broken lamp cast a soft glow over the room. Crickets were starting up their songs, and a warm wind blew in, ruffling the curtains.

  The whole world sighing in relief.

  Chapter 28

  “If it isn’t the venerated Chalice Master now!”

  I glanced over my shoulder to see Professor Yen walking toward me through a set of French doors. He put his hands on the terrace’s marble balustrade and leaned over, inhaling the garden’s scent as the party roared behind him. The auditorium was a ballroom once again. Its chairs had been pushed to the sides to accommodate the Tournament festivities: a celebration that went on until the wee hours of the morning. Of course, it was even more raucous now, what with a would-be murderer caught that very night.

  “So they tell me.” I nodded and smiled into the darkness. It was cooler here than inside, with the ballroom’s hundreds of dancing, feasting bodies. Music blared and light spilled from the doors onto the garden. But Professor Yen and I were so close to the trees and bushes that, if you listened carefully, you could just make out the crickets.

  “Glad to see you’re fighting fit after that fireball incident. Congratulations again, by the way.” He grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously. I hid my grimace with another smile. It had been hours since my near execution. After I’d gotten cleaned up, Nurse Garcia had done a very thorough examination at the infirmary. But all the healing magic in the world still needed time to work, so my body remained somewhat sore.

  “Still can’t believe it was Wright who did all that.” Yen shook his head. “No one could—especially not the other housemasters.”

  He means especially not Burgess. My insides did a little dance of victory. I would’ve killed to see his face when he learned his precious Victor was a criminal. Not that Burgess would ever apologize for the way he treated me all year. But just knowing his teacher’s pet had fallen from grace was enough.

  “The mind boggles, sir,” I replied.

  “Had a devil of a time getting the crowd calmed down, too,” he continued. “And I heard House of Air’s common room is in a bit of a state.”

  My eyes bulged. Bugger. The unauthorized party. I’d completely forgotten. Of course no one had the foresight to clean up. And as prefect, I was never supposed to have allowed it in the first place. “What? Oh, ah, yes. But that was just because . . . because . . .”

  “A little post-Tournament, pre-feast celebration?” A smirk played on Yen’s lips.

  “Post . . .? Yes!” I said. “Post-Tournament. Exactly. It may have gotten a bit out of hand, but can you really blame . . . I mean, after everything that happened, we were all so relieved . . .”

  “Hmmm.” Yen turned around toward the doors. “Well, I suppose minor transgressions can be overlooked once in a while. And it was an especially difficult year. But that’s the young for you.” He gestured to the revelry a few feet from us. “Energy to stay up all night and such. Enjoy it while you can. When you get to be my age, sleep creeps up on you a lot quicker. Especially last night, for some reason.” Professor Yen scratched the back of his head. “Slept like a baby, in fact.”

  “Ha-ha. Well, good on you, sir. Ah, have a lovely summer.”

  “You too, Mr. Alderman.” He nodded and went back inside.

  I exhaled loudly. “That’s a relief,” I said to myself.

  “Oh, there you are, love!” I heard another voice say. “What’s a relief?”

  “Rosemary!” I whirled around and beamed at her as she wrapped me in a hug. “It’s, ah, a relief to see you’re doing so well.” I stepped back and studied her. Rosemary moved with a little stiffness, but otherwise looked completely healed. I didn’t think I’d ever seen her outside her janitor’s uniform, unless you counted the time she was in the infirmary. Tonight, she wore a dress, her hair in tight curls. “But I thought you were still staying at your sister’s.”

  “What are you, daft?” she chuckled. “Wouldn’t miss this for the world, I wouldn’t. Especially this year. And I ’ad to thank you for catching that Wright boy for what ’e did to me—to everybody.” She shuddered. “Nearly killed you, too. Nasty little blighter, that one.”

  “No argument there.”

  “But what did I say, love, eh?” She nudged me with her elbow. “What did I say? I knew you ’ad it in you, that you was a good egg all along. Congratulations on winning Tournament. And Chalice Master, no less!”

  “That’s what I hear.” I smiled.

  Rosemary laughed. “Well, I better get back in there before all them professors and parents drink up the real punch. And you, too, Joshua. Don’t stay out ’ere by yourself all night.” She gave me a light slap on the shoulder and went inside.

  “And don’t you drink all the punch!” I called. But I could barely hear her laughter over the rest of the carousing. I really should go back inside. I’d only come out here because it was getting stuffy . . . and I’m not at my best in a crowd. But there were worse ways to end an evening than with a party. Tomorrow, there would be a ceremony for those graduating. Fortunately, Oliver would be included. Slowly, but surely, his magic had replenished. Coupled with the kind of dedication only Oliver was capable of, he’d earned enough credits to graduate on time.

  “Well, if it isn’t Chalice Master Alderman.”

  Speak of the devil. There was Oliver now.

  “If I hear that title one more time,” I sighed, “I’m having it emblazoned on my uniform.”

  “It can go right above your prefect badge.” Oliver stepped onto the terrace in a tuxedo, looking me up and down. I hadn’t anything suitable to wear, so I was back in my usual duster-cloaked ensemble. Oliver stood in front of me, a glass of punch in his hand. His expression wasn’t entirely pleased, but not entirely disagreeable, either. Wordlessly, he held my gaze and stuck out his hand. I paused, then shook it.

  “Congratulations,” he said. “Good show, putting that wanker Wright where he belonged and all.”

  “Well, I had help.”

  “Still.” Oliver nodded. “Props for not getting killed doing it, though you nearly did.” He sipped his punch. “I know we’ve had our differences in the past, Alderman. But in truth, I’m glad you led House of Air to victory. I wish it could’ve been me—should’ve been me. But at least it happened. And that bloody prick, Wright, will get his after what he did to me. To everyone.” His words echoed Rosemary’s.

  “Rejoicing at Victor’s downfall is a popula
r sentiment tonight,” I agreed. The corner of Oliver’s mouth lifted into a smile. “And props to you for graduating. Any idea what you’ll do after you leave?”

  Oliver shook his head. “Not sure. One thing’s for certain, though: wherever I go, I’ll be sure to—oy! Oy! Idlewild, leave some of those sausage hors d’oeuvres for the others. Oy!” Without looking behind him, Oliver placed his punch on the balustrade and stormed back inside.

  I stifled a laugh. Once a prefect, always a prefect.

  “What are you laughing at?” a coy voice asked. Slinking out of the doorway was Colleen. She moved toward me with the grace of a cat. Strands of honey topaz dripped from her neck and wrists. Flowers in yellow and white—House of Air’s colors—dotted her long, thick braid. They went perfectly with her sleek, white silk dress; like something Greta Garbo would’ve worn. I don’t know if Ms. Garbo would’ve been able to get away with the low-cut V on the front. But then again, Greta Garbo was no Colleen McKay.

  “What are you doing, hiding out here?” She kissed me. “The whole party back there’s practically for you.”

  “I’m trying to go in, but everyone keeps coming out here to see me.” I slid my arm around her waist.

  “Well, you are a babe magnet.” She kissed me again, waves of gardenia perfume melting into the air. She looked even heartier than when I’d seen her at the end of Tournament. I thought she must be almost completely healed from Victor’s malevolent attempts on her life. The pink, pearly glow had returned to her cheeks, and her lips were a tasty shade of red . . . though I supposed that could’ve been makeup.

  “By the by, are your dad and brother here?” I peered into what I could see of the crowd. “I’m rather curious to meet them.” Things are going so swimmingly tonight, I thought to myself. I may as well bite the bullet and get those introductions over as well.

  “Oh, they’re around somewhere. There!” She pointed into the sea of bodies. I saw two men—one older—both with reddish-brown hair and beards. The younger one had on a bow tie. “We’ll go see them in a bit. I know they wanted to thank you for apprehending Victor. After all, the boy did try to kill their only daughter and sister.”