by Sarah Noffke
The orange dragon wrapped his tail affectionately around his rider. “By that time, we’ll be too powerful to be stopped.”
Versalee looked out proudly at the ice and snow-covered mountains. “Even if the Dragon Elite could stop us, they can’t find us. We’re all over the planet, right under their noses, and they can’t see us.”
The evil laugh that unfurled from the demon dragonrider echoed over the expansive cold lands, creating avalanches in places and breaking glaciers into bits in the nearby oceans. Versalee cared very little. This planet was her empire to rule, not her place to protect.
Chapter Fifty-Four
“So let me get this straight,” Liv began, leaning on the glass counter across from Sophia inside the Fantastical Armory. “You and Kevin got captured by the gnomes, nearly killed, and still got the decree for the giants signed?”
Sophia nodded. “Yeah, but I can’t take the credit. It was because of Quiet that we were successful.”
“That’s how modesty works,” Subner muttered from his usual place beside the mostly unused cash register. “You should try it sometime, Liv. It wouldn’t kill you. Or it would. Let’s see…”
Liv turned a cutting gaze on the Protector of Weapons. “When you were a gnome, did you hate yourself more than you do now? The same amount? Or does it matter what form you take? Do you always have an exponential level of self-loathing?”
Sophia shook her head at the two, who hadn’t stopped bickering since she entered the shop. They were waiting for Papa Creola to finish the device for the final part of the Map to Power. Then they could activate it and be off to the warehouse where the map would lead, and all the tasks would take place. A lot rode on this, but Sophia was more convinced than ever that what they were doing was right and for a worthy cause.
“Do you know how Alicia is coming along with the devices?” Sophia asked her sister.
Unhurried, Liv pulled her angry gaze from Subner and looked at her. “I’m not sure. She did mention something about how she thought the device for you could have multiple uses.”
“Oh?” Sophia asked. “I wonder what?”
Liv shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it can toast bread as well as determine whether something is good or evil.”
“There’s no point in a device having both those functions,” Subner said in a condescending tone.
“You have no point,” Liv fired back. “Seriously, Sub, what do you do all day while I’m out there fixing the world? You’re in here giving Papa foot massages and kissing up to him. Why don’t you make yourself useful and get me a BLT sandwich? I want it with extra bacon, hold the mayo, extra crispy lettuce, and heirloom tomatoes.”
Subner narrowed his eyes at her as Papa Creola surfaced from his office. “I’m not getting you a sandwich.”
“It’s not for me,” Liv stated. “It’s for the baby. I have to meet with Papa and Soph about this important mission to make the world a better place. Meanwhile, you’re over there picking at your face and making a list of things you hate about me.”
“So?” he spat.
Papa walked over to where the sisters were gathered with a small silver box in his hand. He glanced back at Subner. “Go get the baby a sandwich.”
“Papa…” Subner complained.
“Do it,” Father Time ordered.
Obviously on the verge of throwing a fit, Subner slid off his stool and stomped for the door while shooting Liv a murderous glare.
“And a side of fries,” Liv added with a huge wink.
Subner slammed the door on the way out.
Papa Creola shook his head. “Liv, you know he’s jealous.”
“Yeah, and he’s a thousand-year-old baby who can suck it up and learn to be mature for once in his life,” she replied.
He nodded. “Yeah, I agree. Things will get…well, different when the baby gets here.”
“Why didn’t you say better?” Liv narrowed her eyes at her boss.
He ignored her and indicated the small, seemingly innocuous box. “Here’s the device that the Map to Power will lead the Councilors to, that they’ll mistake for total rule over all the magical creatures and mortals.”
“I’m not sure anyone would mistake that for anything to do with power,” Liv joked. “Maybe mistake it for a really bad Rubik’s cube.”
“Powerful things come in small packages.” He looked between the sisters.
“So once they get to this point,” Sophia began. “I mean, if they do, they pick this up. Then it will do what?”
“It will put them in the center of their very own trial, and the powers I rule by will reinforce the final verdict,” Papa Creola stated. “There will be no fighting it. If they’re judged to be guilty, their powers will be stripped of them.”
“Do you mean they won’t only be removed from their positions?” Sophia asked.
Papa Creola lowered his chin and gave her a serious look. “If they commit the crimes that lead them to this, having their magical powers removed will be a kind punishment.”
Sophia nodded, suddenly feeling heavy that she came up with such a scheme. She couldn’t believe they were so close to the last part of the process.
“The House of Fourteen has had problems for a long time,” Papa Creola stated matter-of-factly. “It’s gotten better, but this is the next step to make it right.” He gave Sophia a meaningful look. “Making things better in this world sometimes feels wrong, but only because punishing those who would do bad things is hard for those who have a conscience.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
“I can’t deny that what you’ve done is quite disturbing,” Hester DeVries said from her place on the bench of the Council for the House of Fourteen.
Sophia and Liv stood together in the middle of the Chamber of the Tree with their chins held high. They knew they’d face some concerns over their approach, but they weren’t backing down now. Especially not when Papa Creola and many others of higher power supported them. The Sinclairs had been sinister forces that nearly demolished the magical world and standing up to them took guts and courage. The Beaufonts were nothing if they weren’t bold, willing to go against the grain to make the world a better place. They were willing to do that which most wouldn’t—the hard work.
“I have to agree,” Haro Takahashi said gravely. “Do we all have to worry about our positions now? Can we simply be displaced from these places we hold?”
“Nothing is guaranteed,” Liv began. “I think we’d all be smart to remember that. Getting complacent in these roles we’re given to protect the world is an honor and a burden. Rider Beaufont and I simply believe that some have started…no, have for a long time used their positions for selfish gains.”
“But to try and remove them for simply being selfish?” Raina Ludwig shook her head.
Sophia stepped forward. “Lorenzo Rosario worked with Nevin Gooseman to try and ruin the Dragon Elite. Bianca Mantovani assisted the Sinclairs in many of their exploits. And Marty Martinez, well, that is yet to be determined. All we’ve done is given them a chance to prove that they’re on the side of good.”
“You’ve planted a trick,” Haro argued.
The other Warriors weren’t there for obvious reasons. If the ones from the Martinez, Mantovani, or Rosario families were there, it would be quite uncomfortable since if the three Councilors were found guilty, Papa Creola had decided the families would be removed from the House of Fourteen entirely and replaced. It was unorthodox, but the father of time latched onto the idea of the Map to Power and was eager for real change. He kept saying that it was overdue and necessary for the future. While they were at the Fantastical Armory, he kept muttering something about how the magical world's entire structure needed to be renovated but wouldn’t elaborate.
“That’s not correct,” Liv said vehemently. “Sophia simply stated that there was a method that one could use for the three to take complete power over the magical and mortal world. It was Bianca who took the map that slipped out of Sophia’s book. Honestl
y, she could have forgotten to return it. We’ll find out when the map is activated. I’m sure then she’ll remember that she slipped it into her copy of High Maintenance Magicians and will return it posthaste.”
“Really, Warrior Beaufont—” Haro began but was quickly cut off.
“It isn’t a trick,” Clark stated with confidence. “Weapons are left around all the time, but only killers pick them up and use them. Valuables are usually left unguarded, but only a thief will steal them. All we’re doing is seeing if those who serve with us should be allowed to because I think all four of us have had our doubts about those three. And they are currently and curiously missing.”
“That’s because I’ve activated the map.” Sophia held up her copy of the Map to Power, which gave her the ability to monitor things. “I’m not sure that they’re following the clues, but we’ll know very soon if they are.”
“I…I think this is a good idea,” Hester stated, her tone building with determination as she spoke. “If those three want to have power over the House of Fourteen, the Dragon Elite, all magical races, and mortals, well, they’ve shown their true colors. The world doesn’t function with only three people in charge. We need checks and balances. We need to all work for each other.”
Sophia nodded, agreeing adamantly. Right then, her copy of the map beeped. All eyes swiveled to her. She glanced at the map. At the front of the warehouse where the tasks had all been set up and were ready to go, there were three red dots. They were labeled: Mantovani, Rosario, and Martinez.
Sophia glanced up at the Council. “The trial begins now. Your three peers are about to enter the warehouse, hoping to vie for complete power.”
“Only what happens next will determine if they’ll do whatever it takes to get it.” Liv shook her head and released a heavy breath.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Bianca Mantovani had to watch for too long as the House of Fourteen botched up everything in the magical world. Adler Sinclair had some sense, knowing that mortals shouldn’t have power…they really should be slaves to magicians. However, Adler and Talon had gone about things the wrong way and in the end, failed horribly. Bianca had been patient though, knowing that a way would one day present itself…and here it had.
In her hands was the Map to Power, which had activated an hour prior. She’d then called the two other people she thought would lead well with her: Lorenzo Rosario and Marty Martinez. The others on the Council didn’t think objectively. They all thought that Liv Beaufont’s antics were entertaining or they constantly defended mortals.
Bianca was simply tired of it. For too long, magicians had served in the shadows, bowing to what the giants wanted, changing laws for the elves, making amends for the fae, or apologizing to the gnomes. It needed to stop. The mortals were the worst part of it. She couldn’t understand how a race of people with no magical powers got to rule over the entire world. Yes, they were more populous. Some said they owned the element of magic. However, the Map to Power changed all that.
The three who got the device found at the end would be instated with full authority over all races and ruling bodies. No longer would Bianca have to listen to the Dragon Elite state they ruled over everyone. Or be outvoted by Clark, Hester, Raina, and Haro, who all had questionable judgment. No, it was her time to rule. It had all come to her too because she was the right person for the job and she was about to prove it.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Liv and Sophia stepped through the portal to the upstairs of the warehouse Liv had found for the Map to Power events. Each room had been set up for the individual tasks. To Sophia, it felt a lot like the boss level of a video game with multiple rooms and challenges. There were no actual dangers for the three magicians who had entered the warehouse though. There might be perceived threats, but their only objective was to make it to the end—the fourth and final room. How they did that was up to them.
Sophia gave her sister a tense look as they stood by the windows, looking down on the first room next to the entrance. The one-way glass gave them a bird’s eye view of the entire events from room to room. The warehouse had also been wired with magitech speakers so that they didn’t miss a single whisper. It was important to both sisters that if even one of the magicians had doubts and voiced it, that they were aware of this for the final judgment. No one was taking this lightly—least of all Liv and Sophia.
There were also recording devices throughout the warehouse, broadcasting the events to the House of Fourteen, Chief Dag, Emperor Lars, Papa Creola, Hiker, and Mama Jamba at the Gullington. Liv and Sophia had decided to be on location since they needed to ready everything at each stage and intervene should something go wrong.
As the map had foretold, Bianca Mantovani, Lorenzo Rosario, and Marty Martinez entered the warehouse, looking around with skeptical eyes. Liv had gone all-out with design, making the first room, a huge space, look like old Egyptian ruins. It was nice and spooky, with sarcophagi stationed against various walls and large columns that hid where mummies were crouching, although they weren’t real. Cobwebs covered the hieroglyphics on the walls, and the spiders that created them were scurrying across the stone floors.
The stroms perched in the rafters. At Sophia’s command, they would swoop but as Bermuda had stated, were harmless. Sophia had tried to put herself in this position and asked herself what she’d do. The first instinct was to protect one’s head and face. However, once she determined that the birds weren’t attacking, Sophia believed that she’d simply skirt to the side and study the creatures, thinking maybe she was in their path rather than them being on the hunt for her.
The holographic birds wouldn’t hurt the magicians. What they would be was a nuisance to their ability to reach the other side of the huge room, and therein lay the challenge. Killing them would make their jobs easier, yes, but every day, Sophia had to choose between doing the job right or doing it easy. Liv had to make the same choice, as did most, Sophia thought. Even mortals.
Liv turned the dial on the speaker as the three magicians strode into the cavernous room.
“It’s creepy in here,” Bianca complained.
“It’s called being outside your comfort zone, princess,” Liv spat, knowing the Councilor couldn’t hear her.
“It’s a trick,” Lorenzo stated, narrowing his eyes at the scene around them.
“I don’t know.” Marty strode around a column and tried to open one of the sarcophagi, showing little respect for whatever lay within it…or maybe showing no fear, Sophia rationalized.
“The next door is there,” Bianca looked at the map, then at the far side of the room. “We’re supposed to cross straight through, not detour,” she snapped at Marty. “Did you hear that? No detouring.”
He glanced up from the mummy lying against another column, having toed the thing as if wondering if it might come to life when prodded. “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming.”
“Follow me,” Bianca commanded, her high heels probably not the best choice of footwear for this adventure since Liv had also included a few things besides spiders in the room, although they were all harmless.
A rat streaked under her feet, making her shriek and retreat behind Lorenzo. “Did you see that? What was that?”
He chuckled. “It was a rodent. Not a thing to overreact about. Especially for someone who wants to take the lead.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I found the Map to Power, didn’t I? If anyone should get the device first, it should be me.”
He returned her look of contempt with his own. “We shall see.”
The three continued with a little less speed than they started with. Beetles and spiders scuttled by them as if they were on the main highway on their way to work. None paid the three magicians any notice, but it was doing the job of building their tension. Even Marty, who had been rather flippant upon entering the room, now appeared more on guard.
“What are we supposed to do in here?” Lorenzo asked when they were almost to the halfway mark.
“
As with all the rooms, the Map to Power says, simply make it to the other side,” Bianca stated. “I don’t know. There doesn’t seem to be a puzzle here. We merely have to see if the door on the other side is locked or something. Then we’ll need a key.”
“Seems like you could have done a little more research,” Lorenzo criticized.
She rolled her eyes. “The map activated. I didn’t have a chance because what if it only stayed active for a little while? This was our opportunity to find the device’s location. Don’t you want this role?”
“Of course I do,” Lorenzo stated. “I deserve it. God knows that those other idiots on the Council need to be removed from power. Most of the Warriors wouldn’t be missed either. And when I do have the power—”
“We have the power,” Bianca corrected.
With an annoyed expression, Lorenzo nodded. “Yes,” he drew out the word. “When we have the power, the Dragon Elite is getting decommissioned as well as many other institutions.”
“Can we close down Roya Lane?” Marty asked. “I suspect that too much goes on there that causes us ruling problems.”
“Fine with me,” Bianca said smugly. “I wouldn’t even know what happens there since I don’t want scum on my shoes.”
“Or the dirt that you’d get from the streets there,” Lorenzo said with a haughty laugh, which Bianca echoed.
“Yeah, the patrons there are all scum.” Marty shook his head.
Sophia glanced at her sister, both of them refraining from making the mummies come to life and murder these three on the spot. Still, it was vindicating for them to hear this from the three magicians. Especially because they knew the Councilors at the House of Fourteen and Hiker were listening to all this too.
Sophia followed the instructions that Bermuda had given her as she lifted the small whistle to her mouth and blew. It didn’t make a noise that she or anyone else could hear. But the reaction by the strom was instantaneous.