by Amy B. Nixon
Because in this world, the supernatural world, heartbreak and embarrassment held little to no weight compared to real problems.
Hours later, Monika entered our room while I was reading about dark elves for Geira Brekke’s book club. She carried a backpack and half a dozen books in both hands.
“What’s all this?” I asked suspiciously while she took more books from the backpack, then threw everything on her bed. “Are we robbing the library or something?”
“Long story. Why are you here instead of practicing your evocation with Patricia Svensson? I went looking for you, but she told me you missed your scheduled exercise today.”
“That’s also a long story.”
Fortunately for me, despite making a face, she ended the subject there without pressing for an explanation. I gladly returned the favor.
***
On our way to the Council meeting, I tried to remember all turns, hallways and stairs we passed. The castle was humongous. Finally stopping at what seemed to be the ninth floor, I ran my hands through my hair in an attempt to make myself presentable.
We entered a spacious room, lit by candelabras and a fireplace.
The soft ambient light contrasted heavily with the blueish grey walls and the long, ebony black table positioned across us. Nine people were sitting behind it, lined in a perfect row. The one in the middle took a long, deep and wheezing breath when we entered. He had the older facial features and same shade of sandy blond hair as his younger counterpart, who was on his left – Dann Nordstrøm. I guessed that was his uncle, Hallvard.
“Good evening, Miss Larsen, Miss Dustrikke,” the man greeted us, but looked only at Monika.
Anxiety, worry and guilt completely overtook my system.
“Please don’t be angry with Monika! My family kept the existence of the supernatural world a secret from me, and I learned about it the same night I spoke the conjuration. Before the guards brought me here, my aunt hadn’t told me anything. Monika explained as much as she could, but she couldn’t cover everything over the course of a few days. The fault for the Draug incident, and the one when I murdered your guards, should fall fully on me. Monika couldn’t have known–”
The elderly woman sitting on Hallvard’s right lifted her hand, palm facing us, in an unambiguous gesture for me to shut up. If I had to guess her age, she was a centenarian.
“Miss Dustrikke,” she said quietly, “Monika has already faced the consequences of her actions.”
“What?!” I looked up at Monika, who was staring at her feet. “That’s crazy! You can’t punish her for my actions! I was the one who couldn’t take control of my magic! She didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Our decision on Miss Larsen is final.” Hallvard spoke this time. Now it looked like he was trying not to breathe, even though his face had taken a reddish hue. What was even stranger, was how he was talking to me without looking in my direction even once. “This meeting is for you, Miss Dustrikke.”
“I’ll take whatever punishment you’ve prepared for me, but please leave Monika out of it.”
“Our decision is final,” he repeated bluntly. “Based on the incidents and your behavior from Christof Brühl’s report, the Council has voted in favor of giving you an Eitrhals.”
Monika gasped loudly. Hallvard took something out of his coat and placed it on the table. It was a small, narrow box, resembling those luxurious pen boxes sold as gifts.
“What’s an Eitrhals?”
Instead of answering my question, he opened the box and took out a silver necklace with a small pendant, shimmering in similar silvery hues.
“You will wear it at all times and never take it off, including in your sleep.”
The literal translation my mind produced didn’t give me an answer either. Eitrhals – eitr essence and throat. Was it something to suppress magic? That’s what it had to be! After all, I made a monstrous undead creature, murdered guards, and didn’t show any Elemental progress with my asshole of a mentor. It was too obvious.
“And if I refuse to wear it?” I asked, crossing arms over my chest.
There was no way I’d put some magical sparkly shit on my neck to bind my magic just because these people said so.
“You will wear it,” Hallvard pressed, “wherever you go, and whatever you do.”
My eyes drifted to his Council members. Every single one of them, apart from his nephew, looked ancient. I only hoped they weren’t as conservative as this guy in the middle.
“Okay, listen, Brühl’s attitude might have worked if he was Hans Gruber, but no newbie necromancer would be able to work magical miracles under his methods! He doesn’t even speak, he barks! First you want to give me protection, then you punish me because I can’t control something I just discovered I have inside me. It’s not right. You can’t bind my magic or take it away, or whatever that fucking necklace does!”
“Outrageous act–”
“Language!”
“How dare you–”
The room exploded with turmoil. I realized way too late that I had dropped an F bomb. Before I could apologize, Hallvard spoke again, silencing the others. And he was still refusing to look at me!
“Christof Brühl is one of the most powerful Elemental practitioners on this island. You will continue your sessions with him, and you will wear the Eitrhals. The Council has agreed to it. We cannot endanger the lives of our residents any further by risking you summoning a demonic entity or transcending into a Livløs state.”
I clenched my teeth, preventing myself from uttering another swear word. The functions in his brain obviously had a faulty code. Otherwise how the hell would he think I’d want to summon a demonic entity? I didn’t even know demonic entities were real, let alone how summoning spells worked.
“The Eitrhals neither takes away your magic, nor binds it; it helps you control it,” some other man stated vaguely. “You must never take it off until you are ready to do so. Rest assured, we will know if you rebel against our decision. Miss Larsen, please take the Eitrhals and escort Miss Dustrikke out. This meeting is over.”
Monika obeyed silently. I did the same – as far as they knew.
Once we were back in our room, I double-checked the door was shut, then turned to her. “What happened in there? When did you see the Council without me? What did they do to you as punishment?”
She rolled her eyes with a sigh.
“They made me listen to my mother’s stupid plans for my future. It’s not like I haven’t heard the same plans before, and I’m not going to do her bidding anyway, so don’t worry about it.”
“Your mother?”
“Johanna Larsen. She’s the right hand of Hallvard Nordstrøm.”
“That woman was your mother? But she’s like…”
I trailed off, not wanting to insult Monika or her mother’s looks. Since necromancers lived much longer than humans, they probably still reproduced after hitting one-hundred-and-fifty.
“I’m so not wearing whatever that Eitrhals shit is! I’ll look up the best jewelry forger in Scandinavia and get a duplicate if I have to.”
But Monika wasn’t listening.
She was staring at the Eitrhals like it was one of those hypnotizing pendulums. I ran up to her, eyeing the necklace while she held it against the chandelier.
The chain was silvery and thin, like a spider’s cobweb. There was a small jewel hanging from it – hexagonal, oblong and sparkly, similar in color to the chain, but translucent. After a closer examination, it turned out the jewel wasn’t quite as transparent as I initially thought. Various shades of silver twisted and turned inside it, almost dancing, as they were chasing the chandelier lights’ refractions.
“I’ve only read about these, but never seen one in person,” Monika whispered. “It contains pure eitr, which strengthens all of its bearer’s spells, because it makes mustering your own core’s eitr into the spell more… controllable. You could say it acts like a conductor and a battery all in one. Many alchemists have tri
ed to replicate it into elixirs. So far, the best potions and amulets have acted only for a few hours. This thing here is the real deal.”
“Then why would the Council want me to wear it?”
“I can only think of two reasons. For starters, you can never become a Livløs with it.”
“And the second?”
“They said you’ll wear it until you’re ready. Maybe they meant until you properly develop your skills and learn how to control your magic?”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they give something so powerful to me? I don’t see them running around and sticking these things into every other necromancer’s hands.”
“You’re a Dustrikke.”
“Yeah, a magically challenged and mentally unstable Dustrikke.”
“No, smartass, I meant you’re a direct descendant of Linnea Dustrikke. There aren’t many Dustrikke family members left in this day and age, so it makes sense for them to want to protect you. Besides, you’re a Class Five sorceress.”
“I’m a what?”
“You’re a Class Five necromancer, otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to create a Draug. It’s the highest level of necromancy a caster can reach. Having such powers means you’re at a greater risk of losing control over your eitr and ending up as a Livløs, because you can shoot for more powerful spells and complex magic than most casters.”
“How can I be so powerful? I don’t even know what I’m doing.”
“I never said you’ve mastered your Class Five powers, just that you have the potential to reach them. Honestly, I’m a bit envious. It would take a miracle for me to come close to your abilities. Max is exceeding at everything, but even he can’t perform magic beyond a Class Four caster’s arsenal.”
And just like that, the weight of carrying my last name became heavier. I used to think getting over my stupid human drama was my biggest problem. Now it seemed superfluous and naïve. Clasping the Eitrhals on my neck, I hurried to the bathroom mirror.
The same green-eyed, black-haired girl was staring back at me. The same rebellious, childish and problematic girl. I had to grow up, and I had to do it fast.
“Monika?” I asked, staring at the necklace’s reflection. “What’s the deal with that Council? Why does Hallvard need them?”
Her groan traveled through the bathroom’s open door.
“It’s a really long story, and I’m too exhausted to stay awake. We’ll talk more tomorrow. Nighty-night.”
My stomach rumbled painfully. With one final look in the mirror, I spun on my heels and headed for the Dining Hall, determined to face my insecurities and start growing up right this instant.
***
The next day, I went to see the one who couldn’t say my name without barking it. For the first time in a while, I was positive I could actually prevent my overemotional outbursts.
Whether it was the idea that I was wearing an Eitrhals, or the practice of my Pilates breathing techniques, I succeeded in not letting Brühl get the best of me.
Only problem was, while I remained focused and calm, I didn’t produce any magic at all. He shouted a few times, mumbled things in German under his nose, and circled around the room like a wild animal locked inside a cage. At one point, he even threatened me with some tests.
“We will not work on another element before you master the air! How will you pass your tests with the other verdammte Kinder then, hmm?”
“What tests?”
“The Council will test your evocation and Elemental magic in January, the same way they test every young necromancer on the island at the beginning of each calendar year.”
“I won’t even be here in January. My aunt meant for me to stay on the island only for a month.” At least according to His Excellency’s words, because she hadn’t had the decency to tell me. “She said she’ll take care of some business before following me here, and then we’ll probably leave.”
“It doesn’t matter. Cleanse your mind and focus.”
“Why does the Council test the island’s residents? Why is there a Council, anyway? What do they do, apart from giving orders?”
“You will stop asking questions and abide by their rules. Now cleanse your mind!”
“My mind is clean.”
“Nonsense!”
But my mind really was clean and focused. Besides, I was wearing the Council’s magical artefact. And my emotions were in check. I wasn’t even irritated by Brühl.
In spite of it all, I still couldn’t take control over the air around us and make the book levitate. I couldn’t make it slide with a single inch, let alone keep it flying above the desk.
“Don’t you have any tips for me?” I asked after a while. “You know, like how do other Elementals do it when they’re starting out?”
“Every necromancer is different.”
I rolled my eyes and scoffed.
“Don’t scoff at me! What did I say? Cleanse your mind of emotions and focus on your subatomic level!”
“I’m doing it; I’m even focusing on the Eitrhals!”
“Nein!” He clasped his hands on the desk with a loud bang, which made me jump in the chair. So much for being calm and in control. “Not the Eitrhals! You! Focus on yourself! The Eitrhals won’t do anything before you tap into your core!”
“Well, maybe instead of blaming me, you should have said that from the beginning!” I snapped back. “I hadn’t even heard of Eitrhals necklaces before getting this one. Oh, by the way, the Council didn’t tell me how it works, so how was I supposed to guess it?”
“Read!” He outshouted my childish whining, then pointed to the door. “Gehst! Go!”
My jaw fell. “Are you kicking me out?”
“Go read, Dustrikke!”
“Are you serious? What am I supposed to read?”
“Everything!”
With that, he Apertured himself out of the room.
How could the Council appoint Brühl as my mentor? He was incapable of teaching me anything. He was incapable of speaking with a normal tone! How could anyone work with him?
Was Hallvard Nordstrøm out of his fucking mind? Maybe he was. Or maybe he just thought I was a disgrace to the Dustrikke name, and he couldn’t stand me, since he obviously couldn’t even look me in the eye.
Whatever my aunt was trying to protect me from, I hoped it was worth it. This place was batshit crazy.
I couldn’t go for a drive to clear my head because I was on a freaking island, and my car was back in California. I couldn’t even take a stroll in the courtyards because there was a storm outside, and I still couldn’t influence the weather with my Elemental magic.
I wanted to talk to Monika, ask her what it had been like for her when she had started learning how to control her powers.
Well, only a small part of me did. She was nice and didn’t treat me differently just because I was clueless or because I was a Dustrikke. Another part of me didn’t want to burden her with my troubles exactly for this reason. And the final part was too scared to open up to another person. Speaking about the stuff going through my head had resulted in alienating my friends in California.
My roommate was a no-show anyway, and I was glad she wasn’t anywhere to be seen at dinner. When I didn’t find her in our room later than evening, I tore a sheet of paper from the notebook she had lent me, placed it on my bed, sat next to it, and tried to focus on the air.
After playing Snake with the sheet of paper for half an hour, I finally gave up. I was going to leave the books on Elemental magic for the weekend. But for the rest of tonight, I decided to put effort into something more pleasant – my reading material for the Magiessence book club.
***
My determination to act like a grown-up fully disappeared on Friday when I skipped another appointed evocation exercise.
The following day, I climbed one of the many towers in the castle.
Kudos to my Pilates instructor for keeping me in shape for years, because climbing the spiraled staircase to
the top felt like an attempt to reach Mount Everest. I had no clue if it was so brutally challenging for others, but I barely made it up top without lung failure. Proceeding with shaky knees and trying to catch my breath, I entered an oval room, which left me more breathless than before.
Futons and ottoman seats, low sofas, armchairs and footstools were scattered in the perfectly oval room, surrounding four low, rectangular tables. Flowerpots with leafy flora added to the coziness, while sheer white floor-length curtains partially obstructed four humongous windows built into the oval walls. My gaze drifted to the ceiling. It spanned for at least five yards above my head. Wooden beams and girders supported it, and numerous clambering plants were winding around them, leisurely hanging from the dark browns.
If it hadn’t been for the half a dozen people around me, and Marcus Dahl, this tower would have offered the perfect relaxing getaway.
Monika wasn’t here, but I silently thanked her for telling me about these weekend exercises with the guard. When he instructed us to take seats, I saw Vee – the dark elf girl – who was the only one sitting away from the others.
“Come here, Dustrikke.” My eyes met the familiar face of that asshole who had called Vee a mutt on the training grounds. “Let the mutt stay in her corner.”
“Now, now, Mr. Aagard,” Marcus derailed my intention of giving him a piece of my mind, “you know how I feel about you using offensive terms for hybrids.”
Hybrid? Did she have… necromantic genes? It explained the mutt comment. After all, Monika had said the island provided shelter for many types of creatures, not just necromancers. Since Vee was attending a group practice on casting spells, she had to have witch DNA mixed with elven one.
Instead of joining the rest, I headed straight for Vee’s table. If the others wanted to show herd mentality by following Aagard’s bullying, I wasn’t going to go make friends with them. As I sat down, the girl withdrew to a futon on the other end of the table. The shadows she hid within cast blueish hints to her purple skin tone.
Assholes, I thought to myself, as I was once again awestruck by her unique beauty.