Darkness Sleeping

by Jen Pretty

  "Good. If you need any help, please feel free to come visit me."

  "Thanks," I said and left him sitting in his chair.

  When I stepped outside the sun was shining and glittering off the thin blanket of snow that covered the ground. I paused and relished the sight. This was my new home. A place I could learn magic and make friends. Finally.

  I walked down the path and turned towards the main school building, but paused when I heard voices coming from an open window.

  "Did you see her clothes?" It was Lauren's voice, but many girls giggled.

  "And what is with that tiger skin? So gross." A second girl said in a hushed voice. More giggles erupted and a word I knew uncurled in my mind like a flower opening in spring. It was a word from the book and I knew exactly what it did.

  My shoulders squared and my chin came up as I allowed the word the chance to roll across my tongue. It would be so easy.

  I could speak one word and be done with the shame this girl brought me. She was turning the rest of the girls against me. How could I bear her to continue? I belonged here. This was my birthright, not hers.

  The smell of smoke curled in my nose but at the last moment, as my mouth began to form the first sound of the word that would bring the building down on their heads, I bit down hard on my lip. They were just mean little girls, and I knew it was very wrong to say the word just because they hurt my feelings. They didn't even know I was there.

  I hurried on down the path towards the main building, its tall spire cutting into crystal clear sky. My muscles relaxed the further I got from the cottage with the girls and I vowed not to let their words control my actions. This was where I belonged, as a priestess of magic.

  Once again, the door to the main building was invisible as I approached. I paused only a moment before my hand lifted and I whispered a word I knew from the book. "Openian," I whispered.

  The word meant open.

  My hope that it would actually work was rewarded when the door appeared.

  I grinned, pulled it open and stepped into the large area inside, still struck by the difference between the outside and inside dimensions. I took a moment to look around and take in the space. The sun glittered through the coloured windows, leaving patterns on the stone floor.

  "Amazing, isn't it?" a feminine voice said. I glanced over my shoulder and an older woman walking with a cane stood near the wall.

  "Yes, ma'am. I've never seen anything like it."

  "Perhaps someday you will be a sorceress capable of great magic such as this, Morgana." The old woman stepped forward, her pale eyes fixed on mine.

  "How do you know my name?" I asked.

  "You are quite the gossip around Avalon today. All the children are talking about you. So is Alonzo." Her smile was kind and created creases beside her eyes that spoke of her many years.

  “I’ve only just come from his house,” I said.

  She smiled again. “Word travels faster than feet on Avalon.”

  "I hope they are saying kind things," I said, frowning.

  She watched me as if she could see right through to my thoughts before she spoke again. "What other people think of us is none of our business. That is a good thing to remember for the future."

  "Thank you," I replied, absorbing her words. She was right. What other people thought of me didn't matter. It wouldn't change who I was.

  She straightened her shoulders and raised a hand to me. "My name is Miss Landers. Come along, I believe the High Sorceress is waiting for us. I’m quite certain you will be staying with me, until you have a handle on your magic."

  A home. That is what Miss Landers was offering me.

  As we walked, I straightened my skirt and tiger skin, wanting to look my best for the High Sorceress, but also promising myself that I wouldn't change for anyone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The High Sorceress had a lot to say and most of it I forgot immediately. She handed me a piece of paper with notes on it in a fancy script I found difficult to read, but I thanked her and left. My duties would start the next day.

  The sun had warmed the island enough that the snow had melted from the path, but lingered in the shadows. My breath puffed out as I strode down the path following Miss Landers, the paper clutched firmly in my hand. I passed the cottage with my small room in it, and continued down to the rocky cliff that looked out over the lake surrounding Avalon.

  Miss Landers stopped at a small rustic cabin. There were no flower beds in front, but a large vegetable patch peeked out from beneath the snow beside the house.

  “Here you are,” The older woman said as she pushed open the door to a tiny bedroom. It was smaller than the one I had slept in the night before, but cozier. The walls were log, giving the room a comfortable warm appearance.

  “Thank you for taking me in,” I said, feeling embarrassed about the charity.

  “Don’t thank me, you will be doing me a favor by the time you have enough magic to help maintain the building. Until then, you will have to practice hard with the other children and help with chores.”

  “That’s fine. I am very good at cooking and cleaning,” I replied.

  She smiled kindly. “Good. For today, you can explore the island, but be sure to get a full night sleep”

  “Thank you,” I said, following her back down the hall to the front door. I said goodbye and went out to explore Avalon.

  The city was still full of people moving about. I saw people using magic in the street, something I had never seen before. Outside of Avalon, magic was kept in dark alleys and back rooms.

  I trailed through town, taking it all in and then wandered through an orchard and towards a sheer cliff that looked out over the lake surrounding Avalon. The fog still hung in the air, so I couldn’t see far, but it was still a beautiful sight.

  I scraped the damp snow off a boulder and sat down to take in the view.

  The waves crashed against the shore and the constant sound of the waterfall was a reminder of the power of nature. I gripped the paper with the instructions from the High Sorceress and I spent several minutes scanning it, picking out some words I recognized before I concentrated on the first line, deciphering the words individually until it made sense.

  The first point suggested I take some time each day for reading and writing. I had done no writing in my life. So, I hoped that Miss Landers would be able to teach me. I looked forward to learning the skills but magic was really what I wanted to learn.

  I glanced around to be sure I was alone, then took out the book of magic and began to read. I had a feeling that the magic most people used was not what I had been learning from this book, but I would need to have more of it memorized if I wanted to fit in here.

  Perched on that rock in the sun, I memorized several more pages before my stomach growled and I tucked it away to go in search of food.

  I promised myself I would memorize the rest of the book this week so I didn't have to keep carrying it with me. It was too risky. I could hide the book in my room. That would be safer, but I didn't want to part with it until I had all the information stored in my mind. At least the words.

  The delicious scent of food came wafting out of a cottage on the north side of the island. I opened the door and found a large room with tables and chairs, set up like a dining room. A long table sat at one side, with silver platters and dishes of piping hot food. Meats and vegetables, breads and fruits lined the table.

  There was even something that smelled so sweet and looked as fluffy as a cloud. A few girls closer to my age were standing in a line at one end, holding empty plates, so I took a plate from a low table by the door and joined them.

  They didn't notice me there, too involved in their discussion of magic.

  "The deep well on the east side of the island is the perfect place to practice that spell," a girl with straight black hair said as she loaded some meat onto her plate.

  The other girls nodded agreement.

  "It's settled then, we can meet ther
e at midnight," she said, then glanced past her friends and noticed me. "Oh, hello. You must be Morgana."

  I took half a step back, startled. "Um, yes."

  "It's good to meet you. My name is Macy."

  "Hi. It's nice to meet you, too." I replied.

  "This is Ann and Gillian." She said, indicating her two friends. They mumbled their hellos and didn't look unhappy to see me.

  Ann was a pretty girl with a very complicated hairstyle. Her clothes were also expensive looking and complimented her figure.

  Gillian had deep scarring on her cheek that trailed down to disappear under her collar. I tried not to stare at it, but the white jagged lines drew my eye. Gillian was small and fragile looking. She also had the expression of a mouse hiding in a corner from a cat, her eyes never meeting mine.

  "Nice to meet you, too." I said. "I couldn't help but hear you are doing a spell?"

  "Yes," Macy replied. "It's an illusion that will make it appear that it's raining. We are going to practice it tonight. Would you like to join us?"

  The air left my lungs. They wanted me to join them? All three looked like they were just waiting for my answer, not as if they had invited me out of obligation or something.

  "I would like that," I replied. "I'm not great with magic yet, though."

  "That's okay. You can just watch. We have been working on this spell for a while."

  "Thank you," I said, still in shock that they would include me.

  "Come sit with us," Ann said once we had filled our plates with food. I hadn't even paid attention to what I had put on my plate, but it all smelled delicious, and company while I ate would be nice. Maybe these girls would be my friends here in Avalon. The idea sent a shiver down my spine and brought forth the memories of Paxton laying on the dirt, bleeding out.

  This would be different. We were safe here in Avalon.

  I ate while the girls discussed various topics from their families to magic. It seemed so normal and surreal. When my plate was empty, I rose to take it to the kitchen, but Ann stopped me.

  "The cleaning staff will take care of your dishes, Morgana." She giggled, making my face turn red.

  "Ann, she just got here," Macy cut in. "She doesn't know how things work."

  Ann stopped laughing, but I was still embarrassed.

  "Thanks, I'll see you guys at midnight," I said before hurrying out of the cottage to return to my room. Thankfully, I managed to slip into my room and close the door without getting lost or bumping into anyone else. I needed some time to think about everything. This place was very different from any I had ever been and I needed to process it all.

  I collapsed on the bed and kicked off my boots. I held my hand up and stared at Copper's bracelet on my wrist, wishing he was here. The island was almost too small for a horse, but I missed his soft whiskers and low nickers. Navigating this new world without him was harder than I had imagined.

  I took out the book of magic and continued to read for a few hours. Scanning the pages over and over until I had the words memorized. I was nearing the end of the book when I looked up and realized the sun was low in the sky out my window. A fog lingered, making the sun look smoky.

  I had found a word that would make it rain, like Macy, Ann and Gillian had planned for that night. I memorized that one easily.

  "Tldregn," I whispered. I could remember that.

  Reading the words was getting easier every day. Some words still didn't make sense to me, but I could get the meaning behind them. The further I got through the book, the more dangerous the spells sounded. I vowed not to use several of the words that seemed like too much power for one person to have.

  I dared not even try to pronounce the words out loud; their threat bigger than anything I had read so far.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  I had dinner in the cottage late that night, long after everyone else had eaten and returned to their cottages. I avoided Lauren and her little pack of evil children, though I saw them standing huddled together and snickering as I walked through town.

  When the moon hung high in the sky, I wrapped my tiger skin around my shoulders and crept out of the cottage, following the path north to the place where Macy, Ann and Gillian had said they would practice their spell.

  The moon shone bright enough I didn't need a lamp to see, so I walked through the dark silence between rows of apple trees. I found a stone well on the side of a hill that tumbled down to the lake more slowly than the south side of the island with its cliffs and jagged rock outcroppings.

  The old well seemed solid, so I leaned against it and waited. It was several minutes before the sound of voices broke the silence.

  Three figures topped the hill, heading my way. I stood as they got closer. Gillian carried a torch, casting an eerie glow on the half of her face with the scars.

  "Morgana. I'm glad you could come. This should be fun." Macy said, as she moved in beside me. "Have you ever seen magic of this type before?"

  "No," I said honestly. I had never seen anyone make it rain, at least.

  "This will be a treat then," Ann said, setting the torch down.

  The girls wasted no time, gathering into a circle. I moved a little further away and stood off to the side to watch.

  A light wind gathered as the girls held hands and muttered under their breath. The sweet scent of lilies blew on the breeze and a moment later the first drop fell to the grass, glittering in the moonlight. Then it was as if the sky had opened, drops fell from the heavens all around us. I held out my hand, but nothing touched me. I glanced around and the torch continued to burn despite it appearing as though rain was pouring down.

  "What is this?" I asked. "I can't feel it."

  The girls had stopped mumbling the word “rain” and were staring up at the sky with grins on their faces.

  "It's illusion, Morgana. Don't you know anything about magic?" Ann chastised, and I immediately felt stupid.

  "Morgana, white magic doesn’t allow us to do something that would upset the natural balance," Macy said in a softer tone. “Nobody can actually make it rain.”

  I opened my mouth to disagree, but my throat wrenched as though someone snatched the words right out of me. This wasn't the same magic I had been learning. There was no illusion about the things I had done.

  "I have to go," I said, turning on my heel and hurrying back toward Miss Lander’s cottage. A few feet away, the rain illusion stopped. The girls didn't follow me, and I was thankful to get away from them. I couldn't tell them about my magic; I knew that now.

  I also knew for sure that I couldn't tell them, or anyone, about the book of magic.

  After looking around to confirm no one was near me, I stopped on the path and looked up at the sky. My lips and tongue formed the word that I knew would make it actually rain. I fought it for a moment, but then after making sure there was no one in the orchard with me, I let it out. I said the word to the heavens, loud enough that God and anyone else could hear me. I just needed to prove to myself that I could.

  “Tldregn.”

  The second my lips closed again, electricity flashed and clouds formed, darkening the sky. The moon hid its face, too.

  A crash of thunder broke the silence and rain fell from the sky. Real rain. Not an illusion, but full drops of water that wet my hair and clothes.

  I heard laughing behind me and realized Macy, Ann, and Gillian were racing down the path.

  "Morgana, get out of the rain," Macy called, running and laughing.

  I let them race past me and then continued on, walking in the rain.

  I felt betrayed by Avalon. As though they had promised me magic, but what they were offering was an imitation of magic. I would have to be careful not to use the magic I had been learning if I wanted to stay here and staying here was the best option. I could learn so much more than magic if I stayed in Avalon.

  I shuffled back to the cottage and into my room, stripping off my wet clothes and hanging them in front of the fire. Then I collapsed in bed, pulli
ng the blankets to my chin.

  Was the whole place an illusion? I wondered if even the buildings were illusions, just a cheap mind trick. What did it mean to upset the balance? Where was the line?

  Margarette had said this was where I needed to be. My birthright. How could that be if they didn't do real magic here?

  Maybe there was more to what the girls had done. Perhaps I would learn more eventually. I definitely wanted to learn to write, and this place seemed safe despite the dangers everywhere else. I decided to stay and learn what I could. It might not be real magic, but it was magic of a sort. It could be helpful in the future.

  Sleep finally stopped my thoughts of what the next day would bring.

  I woke early the next morning, before the sun had risen. I couldn't remember a time I had awoken so refreshed and well rested. Spending the previous day sitting around reading had been a much-needed treat, but today I was ready to get started.

  Despite my reservations about the limited magic they used, I was keen to learn. I got up and snooped around the cottage until I found a bathing room. There was a pump sitting above the large bathtub, but it took me several minutes to figure out how to turn it on. Finally, I yanked hard on the handle and water sprung out of a spout, splashing down into the tub. I expected it to be cold water, but, instead, it was lukewarm and got hotter as it ran until steam filled the room.

  I let it run until the water was deep and piping hot, then slid into the basin slowly, loving the feel of the hot water scorching my skin.

  My spine cracked as I lay back against the sloped side and sunk under the water. I opened my eyes once I was submerged and stared at the smooth pale blue ceiling of the room. My red hair floated around me, soft and waving like seaweed in the ocean.

  It was the same sight I used to see when my sisters and I bathed as children. We would all wade out into the ocean and dunk underneath, splashing and diving toward the sandy floor. The water was always cold there, except in the middle of summer, in the shallow pools that the sun heated. Some days we would stay in the water till dusk, when father would call us in.