by J. M. Briggs
“I know, I’m just not sure I can break the spell,” Alex said. She lowered her eyes as shame bubbled up in her chest. “The hammer is powerful, but I’m not sure it’s enough.”
“You’ll get it,” Timothy said. Alex looked up in surprise as the Brownie bounced off the mantel, sailing through the air and landed on the coffee with a soft tap while Alex gaped at him. “I have no doubt that you will break the spell.”
“Thanks, Timothy, but what if I can’t. The others could be attacked and hurt. The Queen’s mage kill order is still in effect.”
“They are mages too, have faith in them.” He reached out and patted her hand with his tiny one. “You broke the spell on me and the others. You just need to find the right pathway and I know you’ll break this one too.”
“Maybe,” Alex said. She was glad to hear that the Brownie had faith in her, but she was uncertain herself. “That was different though.”
“Different yes,” Morgana agreed gently. “But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to work another way. This is a big thing we’re asking you to do, Alex, but you just gathered a huge amount of magic and used it to find the Iron Chain. For a first attempt, it was quite amazing.”
“Yes, were you able to see the Iron Chain?” Merlin asked.
“Yeah,” Alex said. “But I couldn’t reach it.”
“We’ll try later and Merlin and I will help, maybe that will make the difference,” Morgana said. “But you need rest. You’ve been on the go too long.” Morgana looked at Merlin and gave him a stern look. “No attempts until you’ve had at least eight hours of sleep.”
Alex didn’t argue as Merlin agreed to Morgana’s condition. She looked down at her hands, shifting her fingers together. For a moment she barely recognized them, they just seemed too small. Morgana stood up and touched her shoulder gently. Nodding, Alex forced a little smile and stood up.
“I know the way to the bedroom,” Alex told them both. “I’ll get some rest.”
“I’ll retrieve some of your things from your dorm room,” Morgana said gently. “As you left your luggage in Paris.”
“Ah yes,” Merlin rubbed his beard sheepishly. “Sorry didn’t think about that.”
“We did and decided it wasn’t worth the risk,” Alex assured him. “And thanks, Morgana, some fresh clothes would be nice.”
Heading down the hallway, Alex let her fingers run across the smooth wall. Merlin’s house wasn’t as grand as Morgana’s Victorian, but it had a cozy feel to it that soothed her a little. The guest bedroom was fairly dull with plain white walls, a full bed next to a nightstand and a small dresser. Simple, but comfortable. Alex sank down onto the forest green comforter and stretched out on the bed without bothering to remove her shoes or get beneath the blankets.
Her mind was racing and wouldn’t quiet. Alex tugged at a strand of her blonde hair absentmindedly and traced the faint patterns she could see on the ceiling paint. She briefly wondered if Merlin had used magic to do the job. Magic had been at low level before, but Alex had suspicions that at this point Merlin and Morgana could do a lot with just a little bit of power. Alex flexed her fingers again carefully as the built up magic in her chest fluttered. It was almost painful, like a pool of hot iron around her heart.
Sitting up, Alex opened her palm and pulled on the magic. Sparks appeared around her hand and after a moment turned into a stream of silver. Alex’s hand tingled as the magic escaped, looking for its purpose. Unsure of what else to do with it, Alex directed it over into the corner of the room. The stream of gray magic spun together into an orb that just floated in the air. Alex moaned gratefully as the pain in her chest eased at expelling the magic. Apparently there was such a thing as holding magic too long. She eyed the orb curiously and pulled out her phone to note the time. It would be interesting to see how long the magic would linger before dissipating.
Then Alex was distracted by her phone and a text message from Jenny. It was a photo of her and Lance on the Eiffel Tower together. She couldn’t help but smile at the happy expressions on their faces. There was a tiny jolt of jealousy, but it was about them seeing more of Paris than her. That was a relief at least. Alex closed the message after sending a quick reply and flicked past her various apps to her contact list. She debated calling Jenny or Nicki, but then spotted her Mom’s name on the list.
Alex hesitated for only a moment before making the call. She drummed her fingers against the bed as she waited for someone to answer. Nervousness was growing in her chest. What if something had happened while she was in Paris? What if the Sídhe had broken through the blood protection? A terrible sense of dread slid down her spine and settled in her gut.
“Hello, sweetie,” her mom’s voice said a moment later.
“Hi, Mom,” Alex greeted as lay back down on the bed. The worry vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Stretching out, she closed her eyes and tried to envision her mom’s face. “How are you?”
“We’re fine Alex,” her mom answered. “What about you? We haven’t heard from you all week.”
“Uh well, there was an artifact that we had to go and collect.”
“An artifact.” Her mom’s voice was a touch disbelieving and a bit amused. “Oh, the life you live, dear.” There was a moment of uncomfortable silence and Alex wasn’t sure what to say. “Did it go okay?” her mom asked.
“Yeah, we have it. Actually, you’ll appreciate what it is, Mom, Thor’s hammer.”
Her mom laughed, the sound sweet and soothing to Alex’s strained body and aching mind. She hummed happily and listened to her mom laugh for a few moments. There might have been a slight note of hysteria in the laughter, but she ignored that.
“Really?” Her mom sounded out of breath. “You aren’t toying with your mother are you?”
“I told you, I was Thor in another life,” Alex reminded her. She even smiled a little bit despite the uncomfortable subject. “But another life of mine found it and hid Mjǫllnir in Paris.”
“Sounds like there’s a story there.”
“I’ll tell you next time I’m home.”
“Sounds good, dear, we’ll talk over ice cream when you come home.” There was a long pause. “So what happened that you needed to call?”
Alex grimaced a little, apparently, she didn’t call often enough that he mom wouldn’t suspect something was wrong. “I tried to use the hammer to… break an enemy spell, but it didn’t work.”
“Are you okay? You aren’t hurt are you?”
“No, just tired and disappointed I guess,” Alex answered honestly. She looked over at the shining orb of magic. “We have to do this, but I’m worried it can’t be done.”
“I don’t know much about magic,” her mom said slowly. “And I want to better understand this life of yours, but I do know you, Alex. You can do it, just be patient. It may take a few tries, but in the meantime, you’re still protected by that blood spell right?”
“Yeah, we are,” Alex agreed. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course,” her mom paused before continuing, “And I meant what I said about understanding this. Your dad and I are thinking that we are overdue to properly meet Merlin and Morgana.” Alex felt a jolt of dread once again. Her parents meeting Merlin and Morgana didn’t sound like a good idea. The pair didn’t have the best history with her family is other lives. “Alex? Is that okay?”
“I suppose,” she agreed slowly. “Just… remember that they’re really old and tend to see the long game.”
“Well, that’s ominous.”
A laugh escaped Alex. “Yeah,” she said around another giggle. “I suppose so, but maybe it would be good for you guys to see more magic.” A yawn escaped her. “Sorry, anyway when were you thinking?”
“This summer,” her mom replied. “Once school is over. You’ve hinted that you’ll be staying there this summer.”
“It’s safest,” Alex said. “We’re talking about renting a house so we’re all in one place and off campus.”
Her mom made a soft th
oughtful sound that Alex couldn’t read. It sounded unhappy, but also understanding. Guilt washed over Alex. Her parents deserved a normal child that didn’t drag them into a magical war. Sometimes she could understand Merlin’s decision to take the young Arto away from his parents. Another yawn escaped her and her mom laughed.
“Get some sleep, sweetie. Sounds like you’ve got quite the project. Please just remember to put some of your energy into schoolwork when you finish breaking the spell. Spring break is almost over.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And you will get it. I know you will,” her mom added. “You’re the greatest sorceress I know.”
“It’s mage, Mom, and you’ve never seen my friends use magic.” Alex was smiling again.
“Then what’s a sorceress?”
“No idea where that came from. Never heard Merlin or Morgana say it though.”
“Fine mage then.” Her mom sighed dramatically. “You’ll get it, but in the meantime rest. Call if you need to and remember that we love you very much.”
“I love you too.”
There were tears gathering in her eyes as the need for sleep and the desire to keep listening to her mom’s voice warred. She rolled to the side and settled against the pillow even as she kept the phone to her ear. Her mom seemed to pick up on her hesitation because after a moment she started softly humming through the phone. It was a familiar soft and slow tune. A homesick tear slipped from Alex’s eye and rolled sideways down her cheek. She kept the phone against her ear listening to the soft humming until sleep finally won out.
32
Cauldron of Ice
Eleven hours of sleep had helped, but the sense of anticipation and nervousness hadn’t faded. The others were a plane back and Alex was mostly synched up to the schedule of Oregon once more. Stretching her arms, she looked out the window at the sun which was working its way to the midpoint of the sky. Nervous energy bubbled up in Alex and she looked towards the corner of the room where a small orb of magic was waiting. Through the night some of the energy had dissipated, but there was still far more than Alex had been expecting.
Kneeling down next to the orb, Alex slowly reached out and touched it. The whole orb was only about the size of a basketball and just hanging in the air. She could feel a thrum against her skin, similar to how she’d felt when she touched Mjǫllnir. Just the thought of the hammer made her heart jump and Alex was gripped with a sudden urge to rush out the living room and check on it. To make sure that it was safe. Shaking her head, Alex stood up and tried to ignore the impulse. It wasn’t really hers, at least that was what she told herself, but now there was an insistent little voice at the back of her head that wanted to see the hammer.
Alex opened the door and smiled as she found a grocery bag hanging on the doorknob. Inside was some shampoo and fresh clothes. Taking the hint, Alex went to the bathroom to clean up all the while ignoring the desire to check on the hammer. She could hear other people moving around through the wall and wondered if Morgana had stayed through her sleeping. It wouldn’t surprise her if the older mage had.
After getting dressed, Alex carefully combed out her hair the best she could with her fingers and pulled it back in a braid. Her reflection still looked tired and Alex couldn’t help but notice that her gray eyes seemed darker. She leaned closer to the mirror and frowned as she studied her own irises. The soft gray color she’d inherited from her dad’s side of the family seemed the same as always, but there were small flecks of dark gray that she hadn’t noticed before. It was like the color of her magic. Alex sighed and moved back from the mirror. She didn’t know if it was really new or something she’d only just really noticed.
Her reflection stared back at her blankly. Alex didn’t know what to think. There was a young woman with long wet blonde hair, an oval face with pale skin and gray eyes. Nothing about her showed any hints that she was special. It had been half a semester and she still hadn’t really processed being the Iron Soul. That was a hero’s job.
Alex closed her eyes and shuddered as different faces flashed across the back of her eyelids. Shaking her head, she opened her eyes and looked down into the sink. Her teeth were furry and she turned on the water to rinse out her mouth. A shiver rolled down her spine and Alex almost choked on the mouthful of water. Coughing, she leaned over the sink as another shiver hit her and a tug in her gut made her grimace.
The magic was flaring inside her gut and Alex could feel it creeping up into her chest. Taking a slow breath, Alex closed her eyes again and focused on the feeling. It was odd and she thought she heard something. Like a whisper, just at the edge of her hearing. She opened her eyes and stepped out of the bathroom, her bare feet padding along the floor. The noise from the kitchen was normal, but she could still hear something. Alex returned to the guest room to retrieve her shoes and pull on socks.
In her chest, her heart was beginning to beat a little faster and harder. A sense of urgency took hold, but to Alex’s surprise, there wasn’t any dread or worry connected with it. Magic flowed across her skin, just a soft brush. She couldn’t see it and glanced at the orb still hanging in the corner. Alex considered it for a moment before tentatively stepping towards it. Her fingers danced across the outer layer of energy and a jolt shot up her arm. It wasn’t solid, but there was something beneath her fingers. Bran or Aiden would probably know.
The magic didn’t need instruction, her will projected more clearly than Alex knew her own thoughts. In a blur of dark gray, the magic flowed into her hands and swirled into her chest. Alex gasped. It wasn’t truly painful but created a slight ache like she’d been exercising too long. There was a shimmer of gray across her skin that quickly faded, but Alex could still feel it there.
In a daze, she headed out of the guestroom towards the front of the house. Easing the front door open, Alex stepped outside into the fresh air. Merlin’s house was at the end the road of an area much more built up than Morgana’s neighborhood. Alex stepped off the porch and walked to the road. She could just catch a glimpse of the lake from here. The magic was pulling her again and Alex started moving before she even realized it. Behind her, the door of the porch opened and Morgana called after her. The first question was calm and curious, but when she didn’t respond Morgana’s voice became more frantic.
Picking up her speed, Alex let her feet fall into a steady jogging rhythm. Merlin’s driveway led out to the street and she kept running down the shoulder. Behind her, Alex thought she heard a car starting up. She didn’t slow down and the pull just kept tugging. There were a few cars out and Alex caught glimpses of the other houses along the road.
She embraced the rhythm of the jog, letting her muscles stretch and tighten. Alex couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone on morning runs. They’d just fallen to the wayside like a lot of other things. Nicki hadn’t discussed them doing soccer next year and fencing club had stopped being about fun. Breathing in slowly, Alex focused on the beat of her heart and her feet against the road. These weren’t her running clothes or shoes, but they still did the trick.
The sound of a car behind her was picking up and Alex chuckled. Merlin and Morgana were no doubt coming after her. Up ahead the road forked to the right and left with the lake straight in front of her. A small barrier along the road proved no obstacle and Alex jumped over it. Adrenaline and satisfaction rushed through her as her feet hit the ground. Morgana shouted something from the car. Part of her wanted to stop and reassure her, but the magical pull was becoming stronger. There was something in the air. She could almost taste it.
Beneath her feet, the small rocks shifted as Alex slowly worked her way down the shore. She shivered as a cool breeze carried a few droplets off the surface of Ravens Lake that landed on her bare arms. The pull of the magic suddenly eased and Alex gasped for air, her chest feeling tight as the magic expanded. It was fluttering and waiting for something. A soft hiss escaped Alex and she looked around uncertainly. Alex could barely hear Merlin and Morgana behind her on the shore over th
e hum in her head.
“Alex!” Morgana shouted. Alex glanced back to find Morgana all but sliding down the shoreline towards her. “What are you doing? What happened?”
“I-” Alex stopped, unsure how to explain it. “I felt… heard something.”
A splash in the water made them all turn and Alex heard Merlin gasp. The water rippled before them and Alex sucked in a sharp breath as she watched the small waves. It was so similar to Cyrridven and yet some instinct told her that it was not quite the same. She could remember the Old One with her bronze skin and dark hair turning on Chernobog and battling him to her death. Alex shivered at both the cold and the memory. That huge black form rising from the water and grabbing Cyrridven. She had fought back, but Cyrridven’s real focus had been on throwing Cathanáil to her. Guilt hit Alex once more. Their ally had died giving her the sword and she’d just handed it over to Arthur. She doubted that she’d ever forgive herself for that.