by Sarah Noffke
“And I’m glad you still like your apartment,” John said. “If you want to do some renovations to the shop, I’m not going to decline. Business is great, and I don’t want to lose the momentum.”
Liv put her finger to her lips, thinking of how to use an expansion spell. She didn’t want to get this wrong, or she could blow a hole in the wall or make a whole shelf of appliances disappear.
The front door of the shop chimed as Clark entered. He was wearing his usual overly starched pinstripe suit and long dragonhide cape. Today he was sporting a cane with a silver lion’s head and wearing an irritated expression on his face.
“Hey, the old man down the block called and said he wants his cane back,” Liv joked.
He didn’t laugh. “You took Sophia out of the House!”
Liv reared back, not expecting this outburst. “I did, but only to go to Rory’s house.”
John, probably sensing that things were going to get heated, acted as if he were looking for something and it was undoubtedly in the back of the shop.
“That’s even worse,” Clark nearly yelled, getting control of his anger. “A giant’s house. That’s where you took our little sister. You realize that giants hate us?”
“Not Rory,” Liv argued. “Well, he hates us less than the other giants, anyway.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Clark said, his cheeks flushing red. “Sophia is young, but she has her magic. It’s not safe for her to be out of the House.”
“That’s no life for her to live,” Liv countered. “You know that Mom and Dad would have never approved of locking her up.”
Clark sighed. “Mom and Dad aren’t here. They’re dead, and we’re the ones who are supposed to be caring for Sophia now. Well, actually that was left on me because you abandoned us.”
Now it was all coming out. Liv stood, feeling the anger vibrate in her. “I didn’t abandon you. I left because I couldn’t stand to be in the House of Seven. Everywhere I looked it reminded me of them. And I argued that there was something not right about their deaths and no one would listen. I couldn’t take it anymore, so yes, I left, but I didn’t abandon my family. When you needed me, what did I do?”
Clark simmered for a moment, his eyes buzzing with stress. “You came back, but that doesn’t excuse that you left in the first place. And I’ve been given the role of caring for Sophia, and she’s not to leave the House again. I shouldn’t have even brought her here for the party.”
“Clark, she might be young, but she’s not incompetent—”
“I know that, Liv,” he cut her off. “That’s why she has to be protected. If anyone knew what she was capable of... Well, I don’t even want to think about it. They could try to take her from us.”
“I’d never allow that to happen,” Liv snapped. “There are only a few people I’d lay down my life for, but that little girl is at the very top of the list.”
Clark laughed dryly. “That list is long, actually. Who do you think you’re fooling? And that’s another excellent point. You’re a Warrior with a ton of enemies. Sophia isn’t safe leaving the House with you.”
“She’s much safer with me than with you. You wouldn’t even know how to fight a hungry cockroach,” Liv spat.
“I would too,” Clark fired.
“And she’s my sister too. She needs to see the world, not just read about it in books. Because she’s so powerful, it’s even more important that we train her and expose her to things.”
“Liv, I hear what you’re saying,” Clark said, seeming to settle down slightly. “Do you think I like keeping her locked up? I’m so busy with the council now that I can’t take her out. And before I was appointed, I was busy studying. I wished there was more time. That the world was a better place. That she could run and play outside like other children. But Sophia isn’t normal. She’s extraordinary, and that means she has to be protected.”
“I agree, and the best way to protect her is to teach her,” Liv stated.
“Liv…”
“Will you stop saying my name? You only ever say it when you’re mad at me, which is conditioning me to hate my name.”
Clark actually laughed at this. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry. It’s a habit.”
“Look, I appreciate that you want Sophia to be safe, and I know the responsibility fell on you because I was gone. But I’m back now, and you don’t have to raise her on your own. We don’t have to fully agree on everything, but please let me be a part of this. Don’t shut me out just because you don’t agree with my ideas.”
Clark thought about that for a moment. “I don’t want you taking her out of the House without me knowing.”
Liv nodded. “Fair enough. But I want her to leave the House sometimes.”
Clark let out a heavy breath. “Fine, but we have to discuss where she’s going. And she has to be supervised at all times. And she can’t do magic when she leaves. And I don’t want her out past dark.”
“Is ‘she is to have no fun’ on that list too?”
“Ha-ha,” Clark said, not amused.
They were quiet for a moment. Clark softened a bit, and Liv hoped he’d quit staring at her. Finally, he said, “I’ve missed you, Liv.”
She smiled. “Thanks. I’ve missed you, sort of.”
He laughed. “You’re the only one who really ever argued with me.”
“That’s because you’re always wrong,” Liv fired back at him.
“I’m not. But Ian never cared enough to argue with me, and Reese didn’t know better. And Mom and Dad, well, they…”
“Only ever loved you, showering you with praise you didn’t deserve.”
He shook his head at her. “That’s low, but you’re right. They were only ever supportive of us. I’m pretty certain if you said you wanted to run away with the circus, they would have encouraged the idea.”
“They would have dashed out and bought me a leotard,” Liv said. She pointed to the cane. “Seriously, what’s up with that, old man?”
He held up the cane, which was rich in detail. “It’s a weapon. I brought it along in case I needed it.”
“Needed it?” Liv asked.
Clark looked around with a paranoid expression on his face. “We’re getting closer to, well, whatever Ian and Reese wanted us to find out. And you know what happened to them. I’m worried—”
“That whoever murdered them and Mom and Dad will come after us?” Liv asked. “I can guarantee they will. But we’re being careful for now, so don’t worry.”
He nodded. “It’s just, this business with the mortal and magician war has me really stressed. I’ve been doing research nonstop since you told me that, and I can’t find anything to support it. How in the world could an entire war be erased from history?”
Liv shrugged. “I don’t know, but whoever is covering things up has gone to great lengths. Rudolf says he’s lost memories connected to the ring. The names of the Founders are hidden in the ancient chamber, the only place they reside. There is a lot we don’t know, and it’s been hidden very carefully.”
“Which is why we have to be more cautious than ever,” Clark stated. “This is big, and someone has gone to great lengths to keep it buried.”
“Don’t worry,” Liv replied. “We’ll be okay. But how does your cane work? Is there a sword hidden inside?”
Clark looked at it funny. “No, it’s just a magic cane with various powers. Mostly keeps me from getting my hands dirty.”
“Because obviously that would kill you,” Liv said with a laugh.
He joined in, not looking as tense as before. “Obviously.”
Liv’s eyes darted to the crammed shelves. “Hey, do you by chance know how to do expansion magic and other ones related to sprucing up spaces?”
He gawked at her. “What’s my name?”
“Dumbface?” she shot back.
He poked his tongue out at her. “And yes. Of course, I do. Every preschooler does.”
“Ha-ha,” Liv said. “I missed that day of school.” She
indicated the shelves. “Would you mind helping me with a project and teaching me at the same time? I want to make this place look better.”
“Are you asking for my help?” Clark asked in disbelief.
“Yes, but don’t tell anyone or I’ll die from mortification.”
He pointed the cane at the shelves with a smile. “Your secret is safe with me, Liv.”
Chapter Nine
Stefan ran the whetstone over the edge of the sword’s blade, producing a noise that made Liv flinch. That was probably for the best since it covered her initial reaction when she saw him in the dark alley waiting for her. He looked like absolute hell. His usually bright blue eyes were dull and more sunken than the last time she saw him, which now that she thought about, wasn’t that long ago. His face was hollow in places, and he’d definitely lost weight. Worse than all of that was the shifty expression in his eyes, like one would see on a homeless person who was dealing with a serious internal battle.
Liv didn’t expect a cheery greeting when she strode in Stefan’s direction, but she also hadn’t expected the growl that rolled out of his throat. She slid her hand to the hilt of her sword, ready to pull it if necessary.
Stefan’s eyes followed her movement. He shook his head as if trying to come back to himself. “I’m sorry, I…”
“Are you all right?” Liv asked.
He nodded and then corrected the movement, shaking his head. “No. I think you need to finish me off.”
Liv gulped, wishing he’d laugh and say that was a joke. She knew it wasn’t.
“You still have time,” Liv said. “And I found a lead.”
To her relief, his face brightened slightly. “Oh?”
“Yes. I might have found someone who knows where Sabatore could be,” she explained.
The hope in his eyes vanished. “I was hoping you’d found Sabatore.”
“Well, this could get us one step closer, and I promise to be fast. Do you want to go with me?” Liv asked.
Stefan returned to sharpening his sword. “No, I think I’m better off hunting demons. At least I can be of service—until I’m not.”
Liv’s eyes closed for a half-beat. This was harder than she expected. It wasn’t that she cared about Stefan Ludwig; she just didn’t want him to die. In the beginning, she hadn’t trusted him at all, thinking he was some egotistical Warrior who blindly did what the council ordered, but then she had gotten to know him, and he wasn’t anything like what she’d expected. He was egotistical at times, but he was also brave and self-sacrificing and talented in ways that constantly surprised her.
So maybe I do care about him, she thought to herself.
“Are you sure you want to keep hunting?” Liv asked, careful to keep her eyes off his hands, which were shaking as he ran the stone over the blade.
He nodded. “It actually helps. Reminds me that I’m still human, although it’s difficult sometimes to finish the job by killing them. But I think it’s good for me. Hopefully, the longer I keep hunting, the longer I postpone…well, you know.”
“But you said before that you felt more akin to the demons than magicians,” Liv dared to say. There was no point in skirting around the truth.
“Yeah, I know. But I’m only going to slow you down and cause unnecessary attention if I go with you,” Stefan stated. “I’ll just lay low, mostly. Try to kill a demon here and there when I have the energy.”
“Okay, well, like I said, I’ll be fast. Let’s plan to meet back up tomorrow morning first thing.”
He nodded, pointing to Bellator. “Tell me, why don’t you ever have to sharpen your sword? Is that one of the properties of it being giant-made?”
Liv eyed Bellator and nodded. “Yes, it never dulls or rusts. It’s also supposed to offer me special abilities in battle, but I don’t know what those are yet. Maybe I’m not bonded with it closely enough yet.”
Liv withdrew the sword and offered it to Stefan. “Do you want to take it, since you’re going after demons?”
He considered the offer but shook his head, his usually spikey hair falling down over one eye. “No, no one but you should swing your sword. But I appreciate the idea. And you’re never going to bond with the sword fully if you loan it out.”
“It just felt like the practical approach,” Liv reasoned, although she wasn’t entirely sure why she’d made the offer. Maybe it was out of pity.
“Your sword must be your constant companion,” Stefan said, regarding his own weapon, which was much larger than Bellator. “It’s an extension of you. Once you establish that, the benefits it offers will be obvious.”
“Akio said the same thing about it being an extension,” Liv supplied. “I get that now when I’m fighting with Bellator.”
Stefan stood suddenly, some of his old speed surfacing. He was close to Liv, his eyes burning. “An inexperienced Warrior believes they only need their sword when fighting. However, your sword should be so much more than a weapon. It should be your compass, your guide, a clue when you’re lost, and your strength when you’re weak. If you bond with that sword, you’ll find it to be most valuable to you when you’re not using it to fight.”
Liv nodded, taken aback by how different Stefan was at that moment. He might have been holding onto his humanity by only a thread, but he was more lucid than she’d seen him recently. It was like something had been stirred in him, bringing his great wisdom to the surface momentarily.
“Okay, we’ll meet here tomorrow,” Liv finally said, backing away.
“Yes, tomorrow,” he affirmed.
Liv opened a portal to Ashland, Oregon, realizing there wasn’t much time before sunset.
“And Liv?” Stefan said from behind her.
She turned, giving him a questioning look.
“If I’m not here tomorrow, come looking for me and do what has to be done.”
Liv gulped. Nodded. Averted her eyes from his as she stepped through the portal.
Chapter Ten
The smell of rain was fresh in the air when Liv stepped through the portal onto a charming street in downtown Ashland, Oregon. The city was nestled in a tight, tree-lined valley, the green mountains making her feel like she was snuggled in a cozy blanket. The frigid wind that hit her in the face immediately contradicted that.
Liv pulled her hood over her head as she looked around the street, which was filled with boutiques and cafes. There were bright colors everywhere, as if the paint store had had a sale on primary hues. She was about to duck into a coffee shop to ask about Renswick when she noticed a park on the other side of a small plaza. The lush grass and autumn leaves weren’t what attracted her attention, though. It was the various characters wearing dreadlocks and baggy pants, some of them holding instruments and others dancing around or braiding each other’s hair.
“Bingo,” Liv muttered to herself, making her way over to the hippies on the grass. Even though their ears were glamoured, Liv knew they were elves. She’d started to notice that elves moved with a unique grace. They also were long and lanky, and usually had angular features.
As she approached, one of the men held out his arms. He had a long beard filled with colorful beads. The facial hair made him look much older than he was by mortal standards.
“Free hug,” he offered Liv. “They cost us nothing and give us so much. Studies show that twenty seconds is the perfect amount of time to hug. That’s when the medical benefits kick in.”
“Ummm…no,” Liv said, shaking her head at him.
Undeterred, he kept his arms wide, like she might change her mind at any time and he’d be ready for the embrace.
“I’m actually looking for someone and thought you all might be able to help,” Liv continued, having to speak loud to be heard over the guitar music.
“We’re all looking for someone,” a woman said, pulling up one of her feet and resting it on the inside of her leg, hands meeting in prayer as she balanced on one foot.
“Yes, well, I’m looking for someone specific, and I heard you
all might be able to point me in the right direction,” Liv stated.
“It’s not often that we have a magician join us,” a man holding a guitar said, continuing to strum the strings. “Take a seat and let’s celebrate our uniqueness.”
“I’m actually on a tight schedule,” Liv stated.
The hippies gave each other a collective nod. “Magicians are always rushing and going. Never able to live in the moment. If you’re not careful, life will pass you by.”
Liv wanted to tell them that they could frolic and braid each other’s hair in the park because she and other magicians were out keeping the streets safe from demons and other monsters, but she knew better than to try to reason with a hippie. The hemp seed oil they used instead of soap obviously had killed most of their brain cells, making it impossible to have a logical conversation.
“I’m looking for Renswick Shoshawnawala. Can one of you point me in the right direction?”
The circle of elves fell suddenly silent.
The hippie who had offered her a hug dropped his arms, giving her a disappointed stare. “Renswick doesn’t like to have visitors. He doesn’t celebrate free love like we do. You’d be better off hanging out with us.”
“We’re about to put up a slackline and practice becoming one with the invisible force that connects us all,” the woman doing yoga said. “Why don’t you stick around for that?”
“Actually, I’ve been doing my own slacklining all day long,” Liv lied. “All tuckered out. What I really need is to speak with Renswick.” Liv pointed to the various large Victorian houses surrounding the park. “Does he live in one of these?” Mortimer had said that the house was impressive, and all of the ones here were bold and beautiful.
The guy with the guitar shook his head. “No, Renswick lives right there.” He pointed to an empty lot on a nearby hill covered in evergreens.
Liv blinked, thinking the fading sunlight was playing tricks on her. She was about to declare that she didn’t see anything when a house that more closely resembled a church materialized. It was a gothic Victorian, with many spires and unique attention to detail. Gargoyles perched on various places of the roof, which was covered with spikes. The house was painted in varying shades of grays and black. There was only one light on in the entire building—on the third floor at the top of the tallest tower.