Magaestra: Tested: An urban fantasy series

by Katherine Kim

  Faith grimaced. "Sorry."

  "Nah." Ken waved her off. "Not your fault. Car accidents are unpredictable, kind of by definition. Don't apologize that your teachers couldn't finish your lessons when you were a kid."

  Faith couldn't help but feel a dull ache of grief at his comment. He meant it kindly but losing both her parents when she was so young still hurt, even though Aunt Lucy had worked hard to make sure that she and Crissy were happy and loved.

  "Anyhow. Joining magic is where two mages focus their powers to cast a bigger spell than either would be able to do alone. It's usually tricky to do unless the mages in question are very close. You and Crissy could probably do it easily enough. Kaylee had no trouble throwing her energy to you in that fight at the lodge."

  "But what about Jake?" Faith remembered the sensation of two very bright sparks of power in her mind, helping to fuel her shields during the surprise attack that had cost them Crissy and the life of one of the Enforcers. "I'm not related to him, and back then I'd only known him a few days."

  Ken nodded. "True, but kids are easier a bit. Probably because they need to be guided so much by their parents and teachers. Although, I had never heard of a mage joining up with a werewolf before. I'm honestly surprised by it."

  "Aldric once told me that vampires and shifters can't cast magic spells because they are magic. Their life force is woven too closely with it to use outside their own body."

  Ken nodded. "That makes sense, in a way. I suppose that since he hadn't shifted yet, his magic was more available. I wonder if he could do it now? Not that I would suggest testing the theory, I mean he's a kid, but it's something to think about."

  Faith nodded, thinking. "Maybe Tamika or someone would be willing to try? They're adults and more than able to give consent."

  Ken shrugged. "Maybe. Not something I'm worried about, since hopefully once we get your sister back you'll be heading home, safe and sound."

  Faith was pretty sure that she, at least, was home now. She had already called to discuss subletting her apartment to a friend of hers due to the situation with Crissy and her landlord had been very understanding. He even said he'd send someone to go clean out her fridge, which was something she hadn't even thought of. Faith mentally cringed at the thought and hoped that whoever ended up with that job was paid well.

  "So. I figured we could try a few things today so you know how to do it on purpose. We'll practice with little things, like your feather flight exercise, just so you can get a feel for it," Ken reached for another sandwich. "These are so good. A good roast beef sandwich is a thing of glory."

  Faith grinned. "Roast venison, but I agree. They're tasty."

  "Venison?" Ken sounded surprised.

  Faith nodded. "Yep. Aldric goes hunting once a week or so and brings back the deer. Otherwise, he feeds on bagged blood." She knew she was poking the bear a little, but didn't care. Ken didn't like the Frostwalker clan for reasons that made sense in a way. Mages had been hunted nearly to extinction by vampires, and to a much lesser extent, by werewolves. Faith hadn't known about the paranormal roots of World War Two until Aldric had told her about them.

  Ken had lost most of his family, not that he had been around to know it. Still. The wariness was one of the few lessons her parents had drilled into them, as well, though they hadn't mentioned other paranormals. Just that nobody could know that they had magic.

  So, when Ken found out that she was a mage, and she was living with the Frostwalker Clan, Ken had almost had a stroke. He still wasn't very comfortable around the others, but he had at least stopped trying to talk her into moving away from the Clan House. Good thing, too, because she really didn't want to fight with her new friend.

  "Least he's not feeding off of you," Ken grumbled. He finished his sandwich and washed it down with more coffee then stood. "Come on, let's get some practice in."

  Faith nodded and grabbed a water bottle. This was going to be exhausting, she could tell.

  "Oh, sweet, sweet sofa. I'm going to live here, now." Faith tipped over and flopped onto the cushion of the couch in the den. It was not the one that the kids used for couch forts, since the cushions were overstuffed and yet perfectly smooshy, therefore not structurally sound enough for fortifications. They were, however exactly what Faith wanted after the grueling practice Ken had marched her through. She took a small amount of satisfaction in seeing that he looked a bit tired himself.

  "It's hard work, magic. Takes practice, like any other exercise," he said, gesturing with the water bottle he held.

  "You're the meanest personal trainer ever," Faith grumbled into the pillow.

  "Your magic muscles are--"

  "Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt, but I saw Faith flop over as I headed to the kitchen and wanted to know what's wrong."

  Ken stiffened and narrowed his eyes at Lucy, standing in the door. Faith didn’t move except to flick her fingers vaguely in Ken’s direction.

  "Ken's been helping me learn more about my magic. And he's a cruel taskmaster," Faith felt no need to play nice here. That last hour was brutal, focusing on both keeping her connection to Ken's magic open while at the same time moving that damned feather in very specific patterns. "He is trying to kill me."

  Lucy frowned. "I thought your mother taught you your magic?"

  Ken scowled as well, but Faith could tell it was his confused-and-didn't-like-it scowl, not his angry scowl.

  "Ken, this is my aunt Lucy. She raised us, and apparently, knew that we could do magic the whole time." Faith waved her hand toward her aunt and then let it drop back onto the couch.

  "Sit up, Faith. There's no call for poor manners no matter how tired and lazy you're feeling." Lucy nudged Faith's knee, then when Faith had levered herself upright again, plopped down to sit next to her. Faith settled for leaning on her aunt's shoulder.

  "It's nice to meet you, Ken. You're the detective who is looking into Crissy's disappearance?"

  Ken nodded, his scowl had softened slightly at the introduction. "I am, though since she was taken by non-humans, there is only so much I can do, professionally speaking," His scowl deepened again. "I hate to say that these people are better equipped to raid another paranormal's hideout, but I can't take a human SWAT team in to fight a nest of vampires."

  Lucy pursed her lips and nodded. "Agreed. We don't want a massacre."

  "It galls me to say that," Ken growled. "I hate relying on these... people for lack of a better word. Creatures is closer, but insulting to normal animals everywhere."

  Faith glanced at her aunt who had raised an eyebrow.

  "You don't like the Frostwalkers?” Lucy asked.

  "Detective Lincoln has a relatively understandable reluctance to trust vampires," a new voice said. "I believe werewolves have been put into the same category out of an abundance of caution." Uncle Eldridge stepped into the room and dipped his head in greeting.

  "Caution my ass," Ken sputtered and surged to his feet. "You people hunted us for food! Entire families, including the children, were eaten by you power-hungry leeches! It's a damn miracle that there are any of us left!"

  Eldridge simply stood there, a mild expression on his face, and let Ken snarl at him.

  "Young man, sit down," Lucy's voice cracked through the air and Faith almost cringed. She knew that tone and half expected that she'd end the conversation grounded for a week, even though it hadn’t been directed at her. "Do you even hear yourself, Detective?"

  Oh, dear. Aunt Lucy used his title. It was probably a good thing that she didn’t know Ken’s middle name, too.

  "I know exactly what I'm saying, and you should be listening. Help me get Faith and Kaylee away from these people and somewhere safe!" Ken turned imploring eyes on Lucy. "They're as good as prisoners here, just as much as they'd be with the other group. They're in danger, too!"

  "They are locked in a room? Fed stale sandwiches? They have their movements constrained?" Lucy raised her brow again. "I would say that they have rather more freedom here
than they probably ought to, all things considered. There are, indeed, people hunting them. I'd keep them in heavily guarded rooms well inside the house until Crissy is found and these people are dealt with, but instead, the Frostwalkers are working very hard to keep my girls safe while letting them live as normal a life as possible. Kaylee plays outside and I understand she and Jake are going swimming this afternoon. I also understand that Aldric has arranged for twice as many bodyguards as normal to accompany them, to the pool, as well as Marc himself going along. that's not how anyone treats a prisoner."

  "Then let them go stay somewhere else if these Frostwalkers are so selfless!" Ken growled at Eldridge., then swung back around to Lucy "They won't allow that, will they? Their precious paranormal priorities won't let them leave Faith and Kaylee alone! Then you mark my words, those vamps will be using Faith like a damn energy drink!"

  "Oh don't be an ass," Lucy said. "I heard enough of that sort bigoted horseshit when my brother David started dating Jennifer, except then it was about Asians. You don't have any right to judge anyone, Detective. Stop living in the past and look at the allies you have in the present."

  Eldridge cleared his throat. "To be entirely fair to the detective, most of the humans who fought in that war have passed away. Many of the werewolves and vampires who fought back then are still alive and well." He paused. "Myself and Aldric included."

  "You two fought in World War Two?" Both of Lucy's brows rose now, and Faith watched, amused, as her aunt stared at Eldridge. Her eyes widened slightly and a small blush rose in the cheek Faith could see.

  Not that Faith could blame Lucy. Where Aldric had dark brown hair and broad shoulders, Eldridge was fair and slim like a swimmer, but they both had the same mossy green eyes, and both could easily find space in the glossy pages of fashion magazines.

  "We did," Eldridge nodded while Ken sputtered and fumed quietly. "Our family has always lived and worked alongside the Magaestra, and to see them hunted and used like that was not something we could stand back and ignore. Aldric and I were among the first to sign up to fight with the other paranormals trying to contain the situation. Then later when the humans became embroiled in the war as well, Aldric and I joined the American army while Aldric's father continued working for the paranormal forces. My children both worked as medics, and our wives both helped organize extraction and concealment for any of the human mages we could find."

  "That's amazing. I don't believe I've met the rest of your family," Lucy said. Faith tried not to laugh.

  "I can't listen to this," Ken stood up and stormed toward the hallway.

  "Detective," Lucy called. "I do hope that you will think, once you've calmed down. Use that mind of yours to consider your reactions. Are the Frostwalkers really as bad as you say, or are you judging them on the actions of some villains from long ago?"

  Ken snarled and stomped out the door. Eldridge tipped his head, listening, until he shrugged, ruefully. "He has left the Clan House. I'm sorry for interrupting and possibly making the situation worse."

  "Not at all," Lucy waved his arguments away. Now, you are Aldric's uncle, I think I've heard? Do I get to meet your wife and children, as well?"

  6

  Aldric glanced over at Faith and spent a few minutes watching the rise and fall of her chest. She had come in some hour and a half earlier grumbling about Detective Lincoln's biases and something about-- Aldric was sure he heard wrong-- her aunt Lucy and his uncle Eldridge flirting in the den. She then plopped down on the sofa and pulled the blanket over herself and said she was going to take a damn nap and nobody could stop her. That she sought him out just so he could stand guard over her while she slept... I will not fail her again he promised himself.

  A beep from his computer brought his attention back to his desk, and he clicked the accept call button quickly, hoping the noise didn't wake Faith.

  "Woah, hey cuz. That goofy smile thing you've got going on is a good look for you. I take it Faith's around?" Leo's voice held laughter and his eyes sparkled.

  "Keep your voice down," Aldric shushed his cousin. "Faith is napping on the sofa and I do not wish to wake her."

  Leo's expression softened, and he spoke more softly when he answered. "Sorry, Aldric."

  "Thank you, Now, what have you learned that you are calling me for?"

  Leo grinned again. "Well, it's not much, really, but it's a lead. Addison-- you remember Addison? She came back to town when she heard about the whole mess, and says that if she needs to take a family emergency leave from the university next semester she will. Anyway, Addison dug up this old mine map from the county archives."

  Aldric blinked. "A mine map? This is progress?"

  “I’d guess it's connected to that cave we landed in last week." Faith's voice was still thick with sleep, but she was sitting up on the sofa, stretching.

  "Oh! I'm sorry I woke you up, Faith. Good morning!" Leo spoke a bit louder again.

  She smiled and shook herself for a moment before answering. "Hardly morning at four-thirty P.M., but thanks." Faith walked over and leaned on Aldric's shoulder to peer at the screen, and he soaked up the warmth where she touched him. Vampires weren't cold to the touch like so many novels would claim. They were not undead, or cursed, or anything like that. They were simply a different, near-human species that happened to be at least in part animated by magic and required liquid blood as a part of their diet.

  He still wanted to wrap Faith's warmth around himself like a blanket. He settled for reaching his hand up to cover hers where it rested on his shoulder.

  "So what about this mine map is so interesting?" she asked

  "Well, we found where it used to come out in that little camp that we raided. That cave used to be a mine entrance using a natural opening in the ground that was expanded and shored up, it looks like. The building over it was originally used to keep the rain out to prevent flooding of the equipment. If there'd been any light down there I'd guess you would have seen rainwater channels in the cave proper, too." Leo clicked on something and glanced at a different screen. "We've only digitized part of it so far. These tunnels are a freaking maze, with levels and twisty parts that overlap on each other... It's a bit of a mess. Addison is scanning as fast as she can and then trying to clean up the images, but it's slow going. These maps are almost as old as you are, Aldric, and not very carefully done."

  "So what are you thinking?" Aldric asked. "What has you so excited to find these maps?"

  Faith laced her fingers through Aldric's and he had to force his attention back to his cousin.

  "Well, I think that door you saw leads somewhere. And considering that those lunatics had the place rigged to blow, I'd guess it's somewhere they didn't want anyone knowing about." Leo raised an eyebrow at his camera.

  "You think they were using it as, what? An escape tunnel?" Faith asked.

  "I think they were using it to move people and supplies unseen," Leo said. "We've all been looking for places where there's been an uptick in activity, but if it gets spread out over several state park entrances then it would less likely for us to notice it. The fact that this place was so close to the Frostwalker Clan House and all our people..."

  They sat with that thought for a moment before Faith spoke up. "That is some super-secret spy crap, right there."

  Leo snorted and Aldric smiled.

  "But the good news is that once we sort out these maps, we can trace the possible paths in and out, and maybe come up with an idea of where the rest of these jerks are based," Leo said. "And once we know that, hopefully, we'll know where to look for Crissy. Addison is almost done scanning all the bits in, and once we've got them cleaned up we’ll send them to you, too. More eyes means more chances of catching something. I just wanted to make sure you know this was coming your way. Give us, like, twelve hours or so to get it all cleaned up."

  "Thanks, Leo," Faith said.

  "I will expect to hear from you soon, Leo. I am eager to locate Crissy and end this," Aldric agreed.

&nbs
p; "I'm just glad we finally found something. It was no wonder I missed it: it was all physical maps in boxes in a dusty backroom," Leo grinned. "I knew she was good with computers, but I had no idea Addison's American history minor was going to come in so damn handy! Catch you guys later!"

  There was a click, then the image of Leo disappeared, and they were left staring at the scheduling spreadsheet Aldric had been working on for the Enforcer patrols. Faith pointed out an error in one of the columns but didn't move, so Aldric pushed away from the desk and tugged her down into his lap.

  "We will find her. We haven't stopped looking." He wrapped his arms loosely around her waist as she laid her head down on his shoulder and just sort of slumped into his arms.

  "I know," she said. "I know that. I'm just... It's been weeks, Aldric. I'm scared and so damn tired."

  He nodded and lowered his head to kiss her hair, then rested his cheek against the same place. "Then rest. Let us take the burden for you a while."

  "I feel a bit selfish letting you do that. But at the same time..." She sniffled. "Thank you, Aldric. I don't think I could have gotten this far without you. Assuming we even survived that first attack, which I doubt we would have, I'd probably have sent Kaylee off to Aunt Lucy in L.A. and then gotten myself kidnapped, too, and then..."

  Aldric stroked up her spine, trying to take the sad, resigned tone out of her voice.

  "But you didn't. You not only survived that initial attempt, but you gathered allies. You have gained resources and training. I know that you are working with Tamika on self-defense and with Detective Lincoln to improve your magical skills. You bake cookies and cupcakes with the children to keep their spirits up, and I believe you and Greg were discussing how to set up a small private school of some sort for the children, so they will not fall behind should they be unable to return to classes in the fall."