Shadowborn's Terror: Book IV of 'The Magician's Brother' Series

by HDA Roberts

  "You'll see," I said with a smile. She shook her head.

  "You know, I'd have expected police by now," I said.

  "They don't really respond to calls for help from this neighbourhood," she said sadly.

  "I am really starting to hate this town."

  "You and me both! I loved it before, you know? Before you came and messed it up with your ideas and your girl-feelings."

  "Well, if you ever feel like moving, Stonebridge is nice."

  "And what the hell would I do in Magician central? You know they actually enforce laws there? It's annoying."

  I chuckled, "Just a thought."

  We walked out into the night and I felt relief as we finally left that place behind. I took one more look with my Mage Sight to confirm that the building was empty of living things, and then I set to work. Gravitational Energy was not my thing, I had no aptitude for it, so this one was a strain, but it was also the cleanest way to do what needed to be done.

  I was crafting the spell for half an hour. Crystal was getting impatient by the time I finally cast it.

  The Earth shook and I felt nine tenths of my weight drop away for a long minute before there was a great, almost subsonic, 'whoomph' of energy, and the spell went into effect.

  It was actually quite simple, if fiddly, and a bit of a power hog. The spell was a circle enclosing the warehouse under which Michelangelo's was built. The idea was to redirect gravity, absorb it into the fabric of the circle, and when enough was gathered, release it into the building.

  In the two minutes the spell was charging, it reduced the gravity over three square miles to about a tenth, and absorbed all of that into an area approximately... one-hundredth of one percent of that.

  The spell discharged it all in a little under two seconds.

  The result was loud, and though I say so myself, impressive as hell. One second there was a warehouse on top of four sublevels. Then there was a massive, screeching clank, and approximately ten thousand gravities went to work. Suddenly there was just the one sub-level at the bottom of a pit, with everything compacted down to almost nothing. Heat wafted from the bottom of the hole, the pressure releasing it. I could smell molten metal and rock dust.

  I turned to see Crystal staring, her mouth wide open.

  "What?" I asked.

  "Remind me never to make you mad," she said, awe in her voice.

  "Still think I'm girly?" I asked.

  "Darling, you're still holding a cool box full of rescue fish," she said with a smile.

  Damn it...

  "What do you want to do about Amber?" I asked (also dumped in the nearby alley).

  "Nothing," Crystal said after a minute's thought, "She's made her bed."

  I called an ambulance and ensured that they took the girl away first, for all the good it would do, and then I led Crystal around the corner with the fish-bucket in hand.

  "Would it help if I came back with you? Smooth things over with Price?" I asked.

  "You've done enough already."

  "That's a yes. Where's the 'Carpet from here?"

  "About two miles that way," she said, pointing to my right.

  "You mind flying? It'll be faster."

  She blushed, "Okay."

  I wrapped us up in Shadow and she 'whooped' in glee as we darted up and over the buildings, a Will Shield in front of her face so she could see out as we flew.

  "This is amazing!" she squealed. It made me smile.

  It didn't take long to find the place, and I brought us in for a gentle landing on the driveway. Guards pointed guns until Crystal made herself known and they calmed down. I added a little extra warmth to my casket of fish (it was a cool night) and followed her in, up the stairs and to Price's office.

  Francois didn't say a word except to announce us. We had to wait a few minutes before we were invited in.

  "Good evening, my lord," Price said, "Crystal, where have you been?"

  Crystal swallowed under the scrutiny as she sat down.

  "I must apologise, Miss Price," I said, trying to lend my friend a hand, "I decided on a little entertainment this evening, and, needing a guide, I called Crystal. She agreed to lend me some of her time, and we adjourned to a lovely little spot called... ooh, what was it? Michael something. Anyway, a great time was had by all."

  Price was tapping her long fingers on the table, glaring at me.

  "You were with her the whole time?" she asked.

  "I was."

  "You made sure that there were no... complications with management?"

  "Nothing that will ever come up again. I think that place was a little flat, nothing to recommend it. I should think they'd be shutting soon."

  Crystal seemed to choke for a moment over my terrible pun. Price smiled slightly. We understood each other, and yet we still had our parts to play.

  "You'll have to pay for her time," Price said, "This isn't some candy jar for you to stick your fingers in whenever you want. That's what, four hours? Premium time. Five thousand, and I must insist that all bookings go through my people in the future, understand?"

  "Of course, Ma'am," I said, reaching into my satchel, "I trust that Crystal won't be penalised for my poor behaviour?"

  I put five grand on the table, and Price took it, counting it quickly and professionally.

  "Of course, not. You were to blame, I'm sure."

  I nodded, "Any luck with our other enterprise?"

  "Some, I'll let you know when I have something concrete. Can Crystal be of any further use to you tonight?"

  "Oh no, I'm quite exhausted as it is, thank you," I said, standing.

  Price smiled, "Alright then. Feel free to come back whenever you like, my lord."

  I bowed slightly and withdrew with Crystal.

  "Best of luck," I whispered.

  "Thank you, Mathew. For everything. For helping me through that."

  "You're welc-"

  She planted another kiss on me, and I have to say that it was one of the sweetest, most gentle ones I'd ever received, full of meaning, but not in any way tawdry; it was a kiss for a dear friend, and a truly wonderful thing.

  "Don't wait too long before visiting me again," she said, stroking my cheek before biting her lip with those cute fangs of hers.

  And then she was gone, darting through a convenient doorway.

  Bloody hell, I needed a shower. First a hot one to get the stink of that town off me, and then a cold one to wash the memory of the Vampire away.

  Can't say that I was expecting the second one to be entirely successful.

  Chapter 17

  Even after all of that, my night wasn't quite over. I had to go to the Grotto and persuade the nymphs to look after my rescue fish. Well, that didn't take too much work, they thought they were pretty and the water was more than warm enough to accommodate them. The trouble was getting away from the Pixies once they'd found me. Not just because they wouldn't let me go, but because I couldn't bear to leave them. In a world where Gomorrah existed, and pain was just a corner away, those three girls were a soothing balm that let me remember that Creation was a beautiful thing.

  In the end, I settled down against the roots of my Willow tree and slept with the Pixies wrapped around my chest. It felt good.

  Naturally, as so often happens these days, I didn't wake up with the same number of women I'd gone to sleep with...

  This time it was Gwendolyn.

  She was propped up on an elbow, lying next to me, her lovely eyes watching me as she stroked my hair. I smiled, and she did the same.

  "Gwen?" I said groggily, no idea why I said that, and she blushed, waking me up a little, "Sorry, Gwendolyn. What are you doing here?"

  "No, that's okay, I like Gwen," she said, "I felt you. Your connection to this place, it buzzed through our bond."

  The Pixies perked up enough to yawn and glare at us for waking them. I stroked their heads one by one and they relaxed back onto me. Gwen smiled and laid down next to us.

  "I love it here," she wh
ispered, "it's beautiful, and so peaceful."

  I nodded my agreement, relaxing again.

  "Oh, you little snake!" Evelina said, startling everyone. The Pixies legged it immediately and ended up in the branches above us, glaring down at the interloping Unseelie.

  Gwendolyn started giggling, "I sent a note," she protested, "You were invited."

  "You sent it by pigeon. By a very fat, very slow, pigeon," Evi said with a glare, dropping down on my other side.

  I groaned and sat up, rubbing my face. I was running on maybe three hours sleep, and I had the headache to prove it. I looked at my watch and found that it was just before seven. Classes started at nine, and I needed to be at breakfast in an hour or Cathy would be crotchety all day.

  "Atticus is a lovely pigeon. Very reliable, always gets where he needs to go," Gwendolyn replied.

  "If it weren't for the fact that you'd use the resultant tears to lure him into another cuddle, I'd have eaten that pigeon," Evi muttered.

  Gwen smiled at Evi and the Unseelie glared back.

  I rubbed my eyes again and reached into the lake to splash some water on my face.

  "You're usually more alert than this, Beloved, long night?" Evelina asked.

  I nodded and yawned, "Destroyed a torture house in Gardenia; stayed up past my bed time."

  I felt soft hands on my neck and shoulder as Gwen touched me, soothing and relaxing. It felt terrific, something utterly sincere in the gesture that made me want to go right back to sleep and stay there with them.

  Naturally, Evelina's touch was a little different, but no less interesting. I sighed happily, but forced myself to wake up.

  "I wish I could stay longer," I said sadly, looking around at them.

  "Really?" Evelina said, "How interesting."

  She grinned evilly and I shook my head. It took me the better part of my hour to rouse the Pixies and say goodbye to them and the princesses. I felt an awful wrench leaving the Grotto, but I did it, and Shadow-Walked back to Windward in record time.

  I showed up to breakfast half asleep, but perked right up after Cathy kissed me good morning. She had that effect.

  I was feeling a bit more recovered when English rolled around. 'Romeo and Juliette' this term. Allow me to summarise: Love, cock-up, bad communication, sad ending; waste of time that could have been spent reading 'The Hobbit'. Hopkins was still making us plough through it, depressing though it was.

  "Mister Graves, a word?" she said as we started filing out. Some students started tittering, which made her glare and them run.

  "Yeah?" I said.

  "Lucille needs you. She... she's not in a good way, Matty. She feels so guilty."

  "Of course I'll see her," I said immediately, "When?"

  "You have a study period now, right? Then now," she said, waving her hand to open a portal.

  I followed her through and into a foyer. It was white and beautiful, with a small fountain in the centre, the basin filled with bright fish. Some of Palmyra's battle nuns were in evidence, looking tense and upset.

  "Come on," Hopkins said, leading the way around a corner and deeper into the house.

  The whole place seemed homey and comfortable; the floors were polished wood or covered in thick, bright carpet. There was some beautiful art on the walls and the windows were wide and let in bright light. The house was warded like mine, and was surrounded by trees and lakes from what I could see. It was a beautiful place.

  Hopkins opened a set of double doors leading to a bedroom. It was dark in there, but I saw my sister on the bed, curled up into a ball.

  "Lucille?" Hopkins said, "I brought him. You have to talk."

  "No, no," she whispered, "I can't bear it, go away!"

  She radiated misery and pain, it nearly made me weep.

  I lowered my shields as I approached and she gasped as she felt me. I sat on the bed next to her and she looked up after a moment. I smiled down at her tear-streaked face and took her hand.

  She could feel my emotions, each and every one. By looking at her, I made sure she understood the context. There was nothing but affection in me for her. She was my sister; I knew there wasn't a mean bone in her body. I knew that Sutton's word and her two siblings' opinion were against me, and I was sorry that she'd been upset by my gambit.

  "Really?" she asked in a small voice.

  "Of course. I could never stay mad at you. You mean too well. I put you in a horrible position, and I'm sorry. If I'd know for a second it would do this to you, I'd have brought out the evidence I had at the beginning and had it done with."

  She burst into tears again. I rubbed her shoulder, and she sat up to hug me tight.

  "I'm sorry I doubted you," she said, "I've known Namia so long. I never thought she'd say things like that. I never knew she was like that."

  "I understand," I said, stroking her hair, "Jen told me about Nash, I know that you and the others have every right to be wary of a Shadowborn."

  "But we have no right to feel that way about you. Not a one! You have proved, time and again, that you're a good man, that you're doing your best for us and those around you. I mean, even the idea of being responsible for people dying broke your heart. How could I have forgotten that?"

  "Namia's your friend, you've known her for centuries. You've known me for months. I understand, really I do. I swear, you can check, I don't blame you at all."

  "I can't believe she fooled me," Palmyra said, "The sheer Will she must have to control her emotions like that... And that should have been a clue! They were always clear and perfect, no variation at all, like they were programmed responses. Yours are raw and alive, I wasn't thinking."

  "Alright," I said firmly, pulling back to look in her eyes, "I'm going to say this once and then we're going to forget all about it, okay?"

  She sniffed but met my eyes.

  "I forgive you. I never blamed you to begin with, but I forgive you. You're my big sister, and you were trying to be someone else's too. I couldn't hold that against you. You know I'm telling the truth?"

  She nodded, smiling a little.

  "Good, now why don't you get up and, for God's sake, shower? Because I lived in a forest for a three week camping trip that involved getting covered in Basilisk faeces and didn't smell this bad."

  She squawked a little at that and swatted me hard enough to knock me off the bed.

  "You arse," she said, stepping on my stomach as she went towards the shower, hugging Hopkins on the way. It was as if the room had lightened, the oppressive atmosphere gone in an instant. She radiated contentment and relief.

  I smiled as I stood and saw Hopkins cuffing away a tear.

  "You tell anyone, and I'll brain you," she said with a glare as she saw me noticing.

  I nodded.

  "So, how do we convince the others that I'm not a bastard? I take it they still believe Sutton?"

  Hopkins nodded, "That may take some more doing. You may not like it."

  "It's worth it," I said, actually meaning it.

  Hopkins smiled proudly at me.

  "Stupid Shadowborn," she said fondly.

  That was how we ended up back in that black room a few days later. All five of us again, plus Kron and Killian's bodyguards, none of whom were looking at me fondly. Palmyra and Hopkins stood behind me. Palmyra had arranged the meeting, told them I wanted to make nice.

  "You called this meeting, Lord Shadow," Killian said, using the title ironically, "Speak."

  "You think I'm a villain," I said simply, "How do I fix that?"

  Kron's expression changed, confusion crossing her features.

  "What do you mean?" she asked.

  "I've lost your trust, how do I get it back?" I asked, "I'm willing to do anything you reasonably ask."

  "You put qualifiers on it?" Killian asked, glaring.

  "Trust is a two-way street, Lord Death," I replied, "Would you fully trust two people so willing to cast you in the role of the antagonist? One of whom very nearly beat you to death?"

 
At this, Kron looked chagrined, but she held her position and her glare.

  "I ask again, what's it going to take? You want another look in my head? Do you want me to hold a Truth Stone? What?"

  Killian stepped forward, his dark eyes boring into mine.

  "You're serious about this?" he asked.

  "The alternative is making enemies of you two for life, and I don't have the energy for that," I said, "Just tell me how to make this right."

  His eyes softened, just a very little, but enough that I had hope of a rapprochement. The others conferred Telepathically for a few moments, I could feel it but didn't intrude, even if I felt a little snubbed. Finally Killian nodded and turned back to me.

  "Trust must be rebuilt. As far as we're concerned, you attacked a member of our extended families. You are a declared Danger. So, the first thing you must do is agree not to go near her again."

  "Without conceding the point or the issue, I agree to the term," I said.

  He nodded, "And you will have a Watcher until we can be sure that we can trust you again."

  "What kind of Watcher?" I asked.

  "Demise," Killian said, the bodyguard walked forward, "Where you go, she goes, what you do, she does. For as long as it takes. You shower, she does, you sleep, she sleeps. You need to take a piss in the night, you wake her and she goes with you. There is not a time when she is not with you. The second you leave her sight is the one in which you fail, understand?"

  Hopkins was quite right, I didn't like that at all (which wasn't good; she was the worst 'I-told-you-so-er' I knew). I wanted to point out the million or so problems and complications that this would cause for my daily life, not to mention all the ethical issues inherent to having a woman shadow a man in such intimate conditions, and indeed I opened my mouth to do exactly that... but then I thought about it, and I looked at Killian and Kron. I saw the look in their eyes and I realised that the very conditions of the test were themselves, a test (very crafty of them, actually), and that protesting not only wouldn't do me any good, it would damage my standing further.

  I was trapped, locked into months (or maybe more!) of a stranger watching my every move, seeing everything I did. It represented a complete removal of privacy and the idea repulsed me more than I can reasonably describe. But in the end, I accepted it, because I'd been telling the truth when I said I didn't have the energy to make enemies of them. I had quite enough problems in my life without adding them to the list.