Divided by Magic

by Rebecca Danese

  "Curtis!" Ella’s shocked voice breaks my train of thought and I nearly drop the plate I’m holding. I didn’t hear her come in. I look at her and the surprise must show on my face. She laughs and puts her hand on my shoulder, which in turn sends a little buzz through me. "God, I’m sorry to have frightened you. You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

  "Er, n-no. Sorry. I was just… thinking," I say stupidly, trying to explain my expression.

  "Must have been deep thoughts —have you been washing the same plate for the last half hour? It’s nearly 1am!" she exclaims. I glance at the pile I’ve still left to wash and realise she’s right. I’ll be here all night if I carry on this way.

  She reaches up above the cooker and pulls out the kitchen first aid kit. Much to my dismay she pulls out a pair of bright yellow washing up gloves. The last place I’d think to look. She gives me a wink and puts on the gloves, nudging me out of the way of the sink with a gentle hip bump. This sends another course of energy through my body and I start to wonder if that’s Augur related too.

  "I’ll wash, you dry. Just don’t tell Gio I borrowed his gloves," she winks at me and I gratefully begin drying the dishes, thankful that my hands will finally get a rest.

  "I’m sure he won’t mind if you tell him," I say, trying to sound normal.

  "Ah, but they’re pretty secretive people, the Gregorios. Probably best not to let him realise that I know his hiding place or he’ll put them under lock and key. Literally." She smiles at me and I feel completely disarmed. She starts chatting excitedly about the concert that we’re both looking forward to so much and I let her talk, trying not to seem too preoccupied.

  "Hey, are you okay? You seem distracted," she suddenly says, and I realise that I’ve probably just been staring at her oddly for the past few minutes rather than properly engaging in conversation.

  "I’m just tired," I sigh convincingly, for lack of any better excuse.

  "Can you keep a secret, Curtis?" she looks at me earnestly and my heart practically leaps through my shirt. Is she suddenly going to tell me that she’s an Augur? Tell me how all her life she’s wanted to find someone she could trust and now she’s finally found me?

  "Er, of course," I say lamely.

  She seems to think for a moment. Then she says, "Okay, I think I can trust you. Come," and she removes the gloves and pulls me over to the huge walk-in fridge at the back of the kitchen. This wasn’t quite what I was expecting as the ideal location for her to confide her biggest secret, but just being close to her is enough of an excuse to go with her. She yanks the huge door open that probably weighs the same as the both of us and steps in. I assume she wants me to follow her so I do, but rather than burst into an explanation of how she’s hidden her powers from everyone around her she reaches for a small plastic container off the shelf and hands it to me.

  To my disdain at first, and then delight shortly afterwards, I realise that it’s the last two pieces of Federico’s famous tiramisu. It is one of the things that he never lets me eat at the restaurant, most likely because he doesn’t think my simpleton taste buds are good enough for it or something. I give her a huge grin and she ushers me out of the cold room quickly. Grabbing one of the plates that we’ve recently just washed and two forks, she carefully places the dessert on it and offers it up to me.

  "I know that Federico would never let you have any. Hell, he doesn’t let me have any, and he actually likes me," she says, not trying to hide the known fact that he can’t stand me. "Go on. Have the first bite."

  I take a fork and serve myself up a generous mouthful. It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten. The sponge melts in my mouth and the cream dissolves like butter. The combination of chocolate, cream and rum is perfect. I feel like I’ve been cheated for these past two months by not being allowed to have any. I’m not even particularly into food, but this is too good.

  Between the two of us we finish off those last two helpings pretty quickly and wash everything up to try and hide the evidence. I don’t want to think about what Federico will do tomorrow when he finds out. I hope that Ella won’t get in trouble, but then I realise that there’s no chance. She’s everyone’s golden girl, and for good reason too.

  With a new lease of energy thanks to the sugar and small alcohol content in the tiramisu we finish the rest of the work quickly and pack everything away.

  Ella dries the washing up gloves and puts them back in their hiding place. I turn off the sound system and the lights. We grab our coats from the cloakroom and she sets the alarm, ushering me out the back door so that she can lock up. The November air is like a slap in the face when I step out from the warm kitchen. The pavement sparkles with frost that has already set in and a biting wind travels down the alleyway. She shivers a little bit as she tucks the key in her bag and puts her gloves on. I resist the urge to put my arm around her as I think she’ll probably think it a bit too forward. Even if we did just share tiramisu.

  "Want me to walk you to the bus stop?" I ask, turning up my jacket collar. She nods as she knows I’ll be walking in that direction anyway and we make our way there moving quickly to fight off the cold.

  "Are you okay?" she asks me not for the first time.

  "Me? Yeah. I’m fine. You?" I stop walking and hold her arm for a second. It’s presumptuous, I guess, but I want to see her face when she answers. "You know you can tell me anything, Ella. I’ll always be there for you," I look into her eyes as I say it and she seems to be caught off guard for a moment, but quickly recovers.

  She replies with a nod and a shrug, "I’m excited about the concert tomorrow. And I’ve really enjoyed this past week working with you. More than before…" she lets that hang there for a minute and I’m not sure what to make of it.

  "But I was asking you if you were okay because normally I can’t hear myself think for you talking. Tonight you’ve been particularly quiet. Did I say something to upset you?" she presses me for an answer that isn’t going to brush her off. I laugh at the thought of her upsetting me and shake my head.

  "Far from it, Ella. Really. I’m excited about tomorrow too. I just have a lot on my mind, but nothing you need to worry about." The half-lie is easy when I think about all the things she really has to worry about. I’m the least of her troubles if all the Augur laws and regulations are about to come into effect. I realise she probably doesn’t need me complicating things.

  There are very few people out at this time of night, but still one or two stragglers. It doesn’t matter the time of day in London, you’ll never be alone. The odd car passes us, catching us briefly in its headlights as we walk down the high street.

  I offer to wait with her until she’s safely on a bus but she refuses. I know she can take care of herself, but I want just a few more minutes of her company if I can possibly get away with it. Her bus comes round the corner which spares me finding an excuse to stay with her any longer and she puts her hand out to call it. Before she boards she grabs my hand and squeezes it gently. The exhilaration runs through me again and I realise I could get used to this feeling.

  "Night, Curtis. See you tomorrow," she gives me a little wave as the doors close and the bus pulls away. I watch it until it goes out of sight and then turn to walk home, hands deep in my pockets and teeth chattering.

  My head is full of thoughts that fight for precedence. I had always planned to use the concert as an excuse for a date and try to win her over. I had known that if she had spent enough time with me she might just end up getting used to having me around. Like I could get her to date me by war of attrition. But now that I know what I do, I wonder if maybe she’s just incredibly lonely and needs someone to confide in.

  I’ve been so thoroughly friend-zoned by her for the past two months I never imagined I’d get to this point, but just as my chances are improving on the romantic front I have this extra complication to deal with.

  Then I feel selfish for thinking about her powers that way. I roll my eyes at myself as I walk down my garden path, unlock the door as q
uietly as I can with my key and close it silently behind me.

  The TV is droning in the front room even though it’s nearly 2am.

  I step through to see who could possibly be up at this time and see that Dad has fallen asleep in front of the telly in his pyjamas. A book rests across his oversized stomach and when I glance at the title I almost want to hit him with it. It says The Roman Empire: Cesar and the Augur who Betrayed Him by L. M. Sloane.

  I go to turn the television set off but notice that it’s quietly playing a 24-hour news channel. The show that seems to be playing now is where a group of journalists and ‘experts’ sit around on couches and discuss the latest headlines in ridiculous and excruciating detail.

  "Well, Bob, the Augur threat is very real," a bespectacled man is saying to the news host. "The fact is that many of them are hiding their identities and so we have no way of ensuring public safety if one of them gets out of hand."

  "Studies are showing an increase in Augur activity since the dawn of the digital era, so that would indicate that it is our own advancement in technology that’s causing the greater number of Augurs. Do you not think that forcing them to register is a violation of basic human rights?" the host questions.

  "Look at it this way, Bob. We’ve never proven that Augurs are part of the human race at all. They could be another species all together. It’s true, there are theories of human evolution that connect to Augurs but none of it has been properly documented and evidenced. The fact is that for the safety of everyone, Augurs included, we should really be testing them at the time of birth. That way there’s no question of registration and people can sleep safe in their beds at night knowing that any Augur threat would be eliminated before it could escalate."

  I feel the anger rising, but rather than kick the TV, which is what I feel like doing, I turn it off and leave my Dad snoring in the darkness of the living room.

  I don’t understand how people can be so stupid. I know I felt this way before I knew about Ella, but now that I do I want to tell them all where to shove their opinions. Augurs are just people. Plain and simple. Why can’t they see that?

  I try not to think about it as I brush my teeth and get ready for bed.

  I lie there for a while, staring at the ceiling, pushing the anger away with the thought of Ella squeezing my hand before she got on the bus. It makes my heart do a little flip flop. I realise that this past week has been more eventful than any of the others since working at the restaurant, in all kinds of ways. At least I can’t complain of being bored any more. Sleep eventually takes me, and I dream that I’m in the restaurant with Ella. The place is packed out with customers and she stands behind the bar, sparks flying from her hands sending full plates of food out to tables all at the same time. Everyone laughs and claps at the amazing service. Mr. Gregorio beams with pride and says to me, "Isn’t she lovely?" I nod but in response he says, "Too good for you!" and storms off. I’m startled to find that I’m not wearing my work clothes but a police outfit. At that moment the doors burst open and a swarm of policemen storm into the restaurant and arrest Ella for using her powers in public. The dream fades and I sleep restlessly.

  The following morning I wake up late. It’s not unusual for me to get up after Mum and Dad have left, but it’s nearly lunch time when I emerge from my room to forage the kitchen. Both of my parents are at work. Dad works in finance. Something to do with stocks or bonds or both. I don’t know what any of it means and I’ve never been interested in it, which is probably one of the many reasons why he thinks I’m a terrible son. It’s also probably one of the reasons he’s made me pay rent since my eighteenth birthday.

  Mum is a nurse at a care home. She gets weekends off but works long hours on weekdays and gets up at the crack of dawn. If she were here now I’d probably end up confiding in her, she’s the kind of person who is easy to talk to. But because of that I’m quite glad she’s not. After all, Ella’s secret isn’t mine to confide.

  I have five hours until I meet Ella. I’ve asked for her phone number loads of times using various excuses but she’s always found her own ways not to give it to me. I always thought she was trying to blow me off but now I realise that she probably couldn’t have a phone. Augurs have this weird thing about energy. Something about them being able to channel electricity or the fact that electricity is very close to the kind of thing that gives them powers. So, carrying around small amounts of radiation and electricity in their pockets would probably be fatal for someone. I remember hearing about a guy on the news a few years ago who had been forced to carry a mobile phone for work. He had accidentally set fire to his office because his hands kept bursting into flames when it rang and it burnt most of the building down. No one has bothered to make ‘Augur-friendly’ phones yet but even if they did I doubt they’d use them. Accidents like that one are what give Augurs a bad name.

  I make myself some coffee but to my distaste we’re out of milk, so I have it black. I find some bread in the freezer and settle for something simple. Dad has left a newspaper from yesterday on the kitchen table and I glance at it whilst I eat, almost reluctant to go past the first headline. I can’t help but read it though.

  THE MAGIC CIRCLE KILL INNOCENT FARMER

  Small Town Left in Shock After Augur Attack

  It is reported that one person has been killed and five more injured during an alleged Augur attack on the small town of Crimplewick. At 7:30pm last night explosions were heard coming from the outskirts of the town at the edge of Brimble Farm. Mr. Jonathan Brimble, owner and farmer, was said to have left his home to investigate the noise and was found mortally wounded some hours later by his wife, Mrs. Alison Brimble. Mr. Brimble, 45, died later from his injuries. He leaves two children and his grieving wife.

  Public are demanding answers from the authorities as to how they propose to tackle this blatant violation of the law. Sources say that the police are still investigating the scene to determine how many members of the Augur gang, The Magic Circle, were involved and what exactly occurred.

  In an exclusive interview with Civil Defence Minister, MP Carlton Munday, we gained exclusive comment that the government are ‘stepping up’ their work to prevent Augur-related crime, including the recent proposition to register all Augurs at birth and demand by law that any Augur living in the UK or Ireland register themselves on an immediate basis. Munday has been proposing the creation of a task force with the investigation of Augur related terrorism as its primary concern.

  "It is a fact that people do not feel safe with Augurs being allowed to run rampant in our country. I’m not saying that all Augurs are bad, I am a firm believer that they are people just like the rest of us and that we must not give the satisfaction to this small faction that they are affecting us. The British people are a strong people and we will do our utmost to keep everyone safe. I am in talks with the Prime Minister and the House of Lords to pass a law shortly that will change the way that we perceive Augurs that will give correct precedence to tragic incidents such as these."

  MP Carlton Munday, who’s responsibilities include the domestic police and matters of local safety, is due to meet with the Prime Minister within a matter of days. For all of the exclusive news, make sure you read our updates daily.

  I feel unsettled. I can’t tell from the article if this MP is on the side of the Augurs or not, but it sounds very much like the latter. I think about Ella being forced to register as an Augur. Would Mr. Gregorio even keep her at the restaurant if he knew? Would people look at her differently? I know I do, but not in the way that others will. I respect her more for being able to keep that secret for so long.

  One thing’s for sure, I’m out of my depth and I need answers. I shower but don’t bother to shave the tiniest bit of stubble I’ve managed to grow. I admire it for a minute in the mirror. It makes me look slightly older which is good for me as right now it all helps. I deliberate about what to wear for a moment but realise that I’m going to be crammed into a mosh pit with several thousand other p
eople, so jeans and a red t-shirt is the way that I go, with my more comfortable trainers. Despite her trepidation, I’ve managed to convince Ella to meet me for a bit before the concert, so in my head I can pretend it’s a date even if I’m the only one participating. Her spirits have definitely lifted since I asked her, so I know that she is looking forward to it. I’d always wondered why the hottest girl I knew was also the saddest person I knew. Underneath her chirpiness I had always felt that she wasn’t being herself. I would get glimpses of this bright, radiant person between bouts of silence and looking like she might burst into tears. Now it dawns on me that she has probably been worried half to death most of the time and spent a lot of her life looking over her shoulder.

  Augurs are ostracised, ignored, unemployed or at the very least suffer discrimination. People don’t understand them, and what they don't understand they either fear or attack. I realise that I probably need to learn a bit more about them to truly appreciate what she’s really going through, otherwise I might end up screwing things up, which for me is altogether too likely.

  I decide to walk to the corner shop to get some milk, really just wanting an excuse to arrange my thoughts and get out of the house. There’s not many places in London that a trip to the local shop isn’t more than a few minutes away. Near the end of my street is my local newsagent where I collect the milk and a packet of chocolate digestives, just because they’re on offer. As I thread my way through the aisle which has an odd combination of ant killer and pet supplies, my eye falls on a stack of newspapers that have been dumped by the till, evidently today’s news.