The Triumphant Daughter

by Sarah Noffke

  “No, Warrior Beaufont, because this ends here,” Bermuda said. “I hold Turbinger. Without it, no one will know what you know.”

  “But I know!” Liv yelled. “I’m not going to forget, and I’m not giving up. Too many have been killed over this. My parents. My siblings. Your husband. Who knows who else?”

  A tragic expression overwhelmed Bermuda’s face. “I was once like you, wanting to change the world. It’s why I wrote Mysterious Creatures.” She laughed, but the sound held no joy. “I thought I could save the world, but this is much too big. You’re better off moving on. Resign from the House, and go off and live a wasteful magician’s life. I’d advise against breeding, but your type rarely listens to me on that one.”

  “I’m not stepping down from the House,” Liv stated adamantly. “It’s my birthright. The Beaufonts were one of the first families.”

  Bermuda sighed heavily. “And that pride will make you one of the last to survive. Whatever they are hiding isn’t worth losing everything over.”

  Liv stomped, then realized she was back to normal. Seawater splashed her face. “I’ve already lost everything!”

  Bermuda shook her head. “No. That’s the thing—there is always more to lose. I believe I was spared from being murdered because, unfortunately for the House of Seven and other magicians, they can’t deny that I hold certain knowledge that shouldn’t die out just yet. I’ve been asked to document it, as I did in Mysterious Creatures, but I know all too well that I would be signing my death warrant. I will not be writing another book, so hopefully, I’ll survive long enough to meet my grandkids one day. However, I’ve been secretly warned that digging in places where I don’t belong will result in more deaths.”

  Liv gasped, realizing she was referring to Rory. “So you gave up the search to protect him?”

  “And you will too,” Bermuda said, the water up to her calves now.

  Liv shook her head furiously. “I won’t give up. Have you told Rory this? Maybe he would help you. Maybe he doesn’t want you to give up for him.”

  “My son sees things better than most, but he wouldn’t understand. You wouldn’t understand the sacrifices that a mother makes to keep her child alive,” Bermuda said.

  Liv couldn’t argue with that, but she knew that she wanted her little sister to grow up in a world different from this one. She wanted equality for all. She wanted justice served in the House of Seven. She wanted Sophia Beaufont’s position as Warrior to mean something, and how could that happen if there was a truth buried so deep that no one knew exactly what they were fighting for anymore?

  “Olivia Beaufont, I can’t allow you to put my son in danger by dragging him into this.”

  “My name is Liv. And what if he wants to be involved in this?”

  A surge of water rushed past Bermuda’s knees. “If you’ve convinced him to join you, then he isn’t thinking straight. Both of you must abandon this.”

  “No!” Liv yelled, her voice echoing in the cave. “Don’t you see? If we give up after they’ve taken so much, then they’ve won. You’ve already lost your husband. I’ve lost my parents and sister and brother. We’re exactly in the position to find out the truth. Otherwise, they will all have died for nothing.”

  Bermuda’s great weight was swayed by the rushing tide that was pouring into the cave.

  Liv knew that the giant could turn around and swim back out of the cave, but that option was fading fast. They would soon be stuck, and they both knew it. This was the best possible situation in Liv’s opinion because, more than anything, she needed Bermuda Laurens on her side, even if she was almost forced to be there.

  Daring to put her back to the giant, Liv opened a portal. When it shone brightly, she turned back to Bermuda. “Come with me. Help us.”

  Rory’s mother considered this for a long moment, so long that the next wave nearly knocked Liv over. They had only seconds to get out of the cave before all options were gone.

  Liv didn’t turn back as she swam through the portal, landing in a heap on Rory’s lawn.

  He looked up with relief as she choked on the salt water she’d swallowed. However, his expression transformed into pure amazement when his mother fell through the portal, landing rather ungracefully next to them.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Since giants weren’t supposed to use portal magic, especially at Bermuda’s age, the giant fainted seconds after landing in Rory’s yard. Liv gave him a quick explanation, but she knew that he cared little why his mother was there and more about her well-being. Not wanting to be in the way, Liv left with a promise to check on them later. Rory didn’t seem to care when she returned. He doted on his mother, fanning her as she awoke in his lawn chair. If Liv hadn’t already been planning to get out of there, the ridiculously fierce scowl Bermuda offered her upon waking was a good motivator to hightail it out of there.

  “It just doesn’t make any sense,” Liv said, squinting at the electric can opener in front of her on the workbench.

  “Well, have you tried turning it off and back on?” Plato asked, sitting beside her.

  She rolled her eyes at him. “That’s how you fix a computer, and I’m not referring to the can opener.”

  “I’m not sure which part doesn’t make sense,” Plato said matter-of-factly. “People, no matter what race or species, will do anything to protect the ones they love. Bermuda felt intimidated.”

  “Yes, but what if whatever they are hiding puts everyone we love in more danger?”

  “Most people are pretty short-sighted,” Plato stated.

  “Did you hear what the giants said about the elves and Decar?” Liv asked, pushing the can opener aside. She had thought that fixing something would put her head straight, but it wasn’t working.

  Plato nodded. “Yes, that was disconcerting. Maybe Clark will know more about it.”

  Liv glanced up, appreciating the renovation that Clark had helped her implement in the shop. Well, he had done it all, but he had taught her how to do expansion magic in the process, which was nice. She was planning on practicing it on her apartment soon.

  The narrow shelves that used to be attached to the side of one wall were now an entry to a capacious storage area. The high shelves stretched down the shop for twenty feet, and they also rose to the ceiling. Thanks to a handy lift system, it was easy to retrieve things from up high.

  So far none of the customers had questioned the renovations because of the glamour Clark had applied to them. He’d also thrown a new coat of paint on the walls, magically speaking, and redone the flooring as well. The shop looked brand new, and the renovation had imbued John with an even happier demeanor.

  Liv heard him whistling in the back, and it made her smile. She knew he’d worried about her a lot more lately due to the magic, so anything she could do to make his life easier was good.

  Plato stretched, then stood up. “Well, I’d stay, but you’re about to get company. And I can’t stand this person.”

  Liv’s head jerked up. “Is it Adler? Decar? What would they be coming here for?”

  Plato shook his head. “No, those magicians are despicable, but this person is the absolute worst.”

  Liv’s brow furrowed. “Is it a demon?” she asked, her hand flying to Bellator, which was sitting out of view on a low shelf.

  “No, but he smells almost as bad,” Plato said, and disappeared as the door to the shop opened and Rudolf entered.

  Liv laughed, smelling the overwhelming cologne wafting off the fae.

  Rudolf laughed along with her like he hadn’t heard the joke but wanted to be involved.

  “What did you do to Plato to make him hate you so much?” Liv asked him as he sauntered forward, flipping the collar of his jacket up.

  Rudolf halted, sliding up sideways next to the table with a seductive look. “I explained to him why the lynx population is dying out.” He cupped his hand to his mouth and leaned forward, whispering, “You see, they are loners, which makes breeding an issue. And they are notoriou
sly bad at romance. I simply told him that if he’d put a bit more effort into his appearance and worked on his bedroom moves, then when the right lynx came around, he’d be ready to seal the deal. Wham! Bam! And then there would be a baby lynx.”

  Liv shook her head. “I’m shocked that offended him.”

  Rudolf agreed. “I know, right? You try to help someone! Oh, well, when the time comes, he’ll remember what I said about slow-dancing in the moonlight.”

  “I’m almost certain that he won’t,” Liv said dryly.

  Rudolf glanced at her sharply, like he was not sure he was seeing her correctly. “Did you do something different with your hair?”

  Liv tugged on one of the locks, eyeing it. “Nope.”

  “Is that a new black t-shirt?” he asked, confused. “It looks less threadbare than your other faded black t-shirts.”

  Liv glanced down and shrugged. “I pulled it off the floor this morning when I rolled out of bed.”

  Rudolf closed his eyes for a half-beat. “I fear that you’ll never breed either, my sweet Liv. You have no style, and you never brush your hair, and your makeup really doesn’t work for you.”

  “I’m not wearing any makeup.”

  Rudolf threw up his hands. “And now we’re uncovering even more problems. I beseech you to never leave your house without at least three layers of eyeshadow. You can’t expect a man to like you for your brains with a personality like yours.”

  Liv stuck her tongue out at him. “Oh, too bad. Well, it appears I’ll have to throw myself into my work. If only I had a job or two or three that demanded all of my time.”

  Rudolf pointed over his shoulder. “There’s a cocktail bar I just passed that’s hiring. The waitresses wear short little numbers and halter tops, but you might be able to get a job busing tables.”

  “Do tell me why you’re here before I throw you through the front window,” Liv said.

  “Sure thing—as soon as you tell me why you were using a disguising spell on your pretty face?” Rudolf asked.

  Surprised, Liv leaned forward. “How did you know?”

  Rudolf laughed, brushing his thumb over her chin like she had leftover crumbs there from her blueberry muffin. “You still have remnants of the old man you were impersonating on you.”

  Liv slapped his hand away. “You can see that?” She lifted the toaster next to her, peering into its reflective surface.

  “Yes, but most can’t see those things,” Rudolf said. “Fae have a way of seeing remnants of leftover magic, enabling us to detect past spells.”

  “Wow, that could come in handy,” Liv mused.

  “Oh, let me tell you about it,” Rudolf said. “The next time we’re out, I’ll point out all the magicians who have used male enhancement spells.”

  “Please don’t,” Liv said, shaking her head as she set the toaster down.

  “Of course,” Rudolf sang, drawing out the words, “Fae don’t use those spells since we are very well endowed, if you know what I mean.”

  Liv feigned confusion. “I don’t. Do you mean with large noses? Yours is awfully large.”

  Rudolf cupped his hand over his nose. “No, I meant—”

  “Why are you here, Big Nose?”

  Rudolf pulled his hands off his face and reached into his pocket. He pulled out Liv’s mother’s ring and set it on the worktable between them. “I found the memory connected to this.”

  The barstool nearly toppled over when Liv shot up. “Are you serious? What is it?”

  “Well, there were a few memories of me at dinner parties where I was wearing yellows and oranges, which totally aren’t my color,” Rudolf stated. “I think I was better without reliving those.”

  “Jerkface,” Liv growled menacingly.

  “Okay, fine,” Rudolf said. “Most of the memories I unearthed were inconsequential, but then something strange happened. Something I’m not sure how I forgot, or how anyone could.”

  “Please tell me,” Liv encouraged.

  He scratched his head. “Liv, this is weird. And I think what I learned is incomplete.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I get that you’re starved for attention, so you’re using this in an attempt to draw out this interaction, but get on with it.”

  He flashed her a brilliant smile. “If only that were true. But I get your point. You know how most mortals will dismiss magic if they see it directly?”

  Liv stood straighter. She remembered that John had stated that his ex-wife Chloe had been required to show him magic repeatedly for him to finally see it. This was common, and it was one reason that telling mortals about magic didn’t usually work. However, he thought it had worked because they were in love and uniquely bonded. Otherwise, most mortals witnessing magic repeatedly wouldn’t do the trick. They simply didn’t see it, for whatever reason.

  “Yeah, I know what you’re talking about,” Liv said, having seen this herself many times.

  Rudolf nodded, glad she was following. “Well, in these past memories, I learned something quite shocking. Mortals used to know about magic.”

  Liv tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

  “I saw dozens of parties and events; really, I spent way too much of my youth hanging out at lavish affairs. I’m not sure what I was thinking, except that I was obsessed with—”

  “Dorkface, get to the freaking point,” Liv said, cutting him off.

  He nodded. “Anyway, in all of these memories, magicians or fae or whatever magical creatures entertained the masses with spells. Mortals were there as a part of the festivities.”

  “And they saw the magic?” Liv asked. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m quite sure,” Rudolf replied.

  “How is this connected to the ring?” Liv asked.

  “That I’m not sure about,” Rudolf stated. “There was more, but that was pretty much the gist. Mortals used to know about magic. I kept your secret, so I didn’t ask around if this was news to anyone else, but I assume it would be. For all of my life, before holding your ring, I couldn’t remember mortals being at those parties or witnessing magic.”

  So there had once been a war between magicians and mortals, and now they knew that mortals knew about magic. But why had this war been erased from history? And why couldn’t mortals see magic anymore? What had happened? And more importantly, why?

  Liv let out a deep breath, aware that Rudolf was gazing at her with a wide smile. When she got tired of him giving her that dumbass grin, she snapped, “What?”

  “Well, it’s just that I’ve done what you asked. I found the memories connected to the ring.”

  Liv sighed. “And so now you want me to do something for you, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “You want me to retrieve something from the fountain in the House of Seven, correct?” she asked. That didn’t seem like such a big deal, although she’d experienced a really strange incident in that fountain as a child. The details were murky.

  Rudolf nodded.

  “What is it that I’m retrieving?”

  “I can’t tell you that,” he answered.

  Liv crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, no. This is a trick, like before when you took me into that gnome shop and got me in trouble with the Father of Time.”

  He shook his head. “No, it’s not a trick. It’s just that it’s not important for you to know what you’re retrieving, because there is only one thing down there, besides what guards it.”

  Liv tensed. “Something is guarding it?”

  “Naturally. All important things are heavily guarded.”

  Liv knew how agreements with the fae worked. Rudolf had fulfilled his end of the bargain, so she had to as well, or she’d owe him for ten years of servitude. She reasoned that it didn’t really matter what she was retrieving from the fountain. What Rudolf had learned was incredibly valuable. They were that much closer to uncovering the truth.

  She did have a couple of questions though, just to cover her bases. “You say this is important? Wi
ll anyone in the House of Seven miss it if I give it to you?”

  He shook his head. “No one will know it’s gone, but I’ve missed it for a very, very long time. What resides at the bottom of that fountain is the most important thing in this world to me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  This was an area of the library that neither Clark nor Liv had seen before. Chandeliers with a hundred candles each illuminated the bookshelves, which were only waist height. On top of them were small replicas of the different rooms in the House of Seven.

  “Why have we never seen this before?” Liv asked, running her finger over the spines of the books, amazed by how large this section was.

  “Have you ever looked for the history about the physical House of Seven?” Clark countered.

  “Well, I’ve been trying to find history on the Seven for a while,” Liv remarked.

  “Yes, but you’ve been looking for information on the families, which is very different from what you’re searching for right now.”

  Liv nodded, studying the model of the dining room. There were models for all the common rooms, but nothing about the Chamber of Tree or the entry or the Black Void. When Liv had thought about that strange and mysterious place between the residential wing and the Chamber of the Tree, the library had literally offered nothing. She’d pulled out books with blank pages. After the third time, she assumed that the library didn’t want to give her information on it, or it didn’t have any.

  The books that had words had provided some of the spells that created and maintained the House. It was incredible to think of the magic that had gone into creating the House, and also keeping it secret from the rest of the world. There were over three thousand wards on the House that kept it protected, although the specifics on those weren’t detailed. Liv reasoned that it was a security measure. Maybe that was why there had been nothing when she searched for the history of the founding families, only the wall with the ancient language.