by Sarah Noffke
Liv shook her head. “It’s sort of a game, and no offense, but you’re not allowed to play.”
He laughed, his brown eyes lighting up. “No offense taken. I’m not sure I have time for games anyway.”
Liv couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t either, but we must make time to play. And if I had more pressing cases, I might have less of a chance to play.”
Akio took a bite of the croissant, his gaze thoughtful. “For a whole year, I was assigned to clean up after Lily Birds.”
“’Lily Birds?’” Liv asked.
“Oh, they are a type of magical bird that crossed over from Europe long ago. They wreak havoc on this ecosystem if gone unchecked, but more importantly, they are quite hard to catch because they look like flowers.”
Liv laughed. “Hence the name.”
Akio nodded. “The work wasn’t fun or exciting. It was quite tedious at times, and I feared I’d never find all of them and send them back to where they came from.”
“But you did?”
“Yes, and then when the Councilors thought I was ready, they assigned me cases that I enjoyed more.”
“Right, so the Council doesn’t think I’m ready yet. I get it.”
Akio tilted his head back and forth, considering the croissant. “That could very well be it. You are an unknown in the House. There are many questions about you.”
An old memory rushed to the surface of Liv’s mind. Not until she stared at the little boy in her memory did she remember something she wasn’t sure how she had forgotten. “I grew up here with you. Do you remember that?”
“Yes, but I’m a bit older, which is why I’m surprised that you remember it.”
The memory faded as she looked at the older Warrior. “But you left, didn’t you?”
Akio nodded. “Our parents wanted Haro and me to spend our youth in Japan, knowing that one day we’d have to take our place here. But yes, I spent my formative years here before the age of twelve.”
“Do you ever miss having that home away from this one?” Liv asked.
“I miss having an identity away from here,” Akio said. “Our parents wanted us to have that, knowing that one day our obligation would be solely to the House of Seven. For ten years I was Akio Takahashi the magician, the schoolboy, the lover, the poet. Now I’m Akio the Warrior, and that is all.”
Liv nodded. That made sense. How did people keep themselves from getting lost in this world? How would she? Then she reminded herself that this was only a twelve-year sentence. That was a long time, but it wasn’t a lifetime. For a magician, that was less than ten percent of her allotted span. One day Sophia would replace Liv as Warrior, giving her a chance to take back her life.
“Your parents…” Liv trailed off, realizing that the question flirted with a sensitive topic.
“They are alive,” Akio answered, taking another bite of the croissant. “My father and uncle stepped down willingly many years ago, giving their positions as Councilor and Warrior to Haro and me.”
“It’s a long tradition that the Takahashis have observed,” Liv began. “Being at the House of Seven, and also stepping down rather than having to be replaced.”
Akio agreed, finishing his food. “Yes. We believe it is better to step down gracefully rather than meet an untimely death. That might be one reason we are one of the oldest families in the House. We are trained for the positions, and strategize about how and when our replacements will happen.”
“That’s a lot less haphazard than finding out most of your family has died and the position now falls on you,” Liv said morbidly.
Akio’s face turned grave. “The Takahashi family has had its fair share of death, but nothing like the Beaufonts. And yet, your family remains one of the first three.”
Barely, Liv thought to herself. There were three Beaufonts left in all the world: Liv, Clark, and Sophia. She knew the history of the House of Seven. That was a desperately small number for a family, and unless things changed, they could easily lose their place in the House. Something only needed to happen to one of them.
“I’m keeping you from your game. I apologize,” Akio said, bowing slightly to Liv. She suddenly saw a flash of Akio as a boy, sparring with his father in one of the training studios in the basement. She’d actually forgotten all about the basement before that moment. That might be where she should search next.
“Your father was…is an excellent fighter if I remember correctly,” Liv said.
Akio eyes lit up. “He is one of the best martial artists I’ve ever known.”
Liv returned the bow. “I seem to remember that now.”
Akio strode past Liv to the entrance to the hall but paused at the archway. “Liv, if you ever need training, I’d be happy to assist.”
“Oh, well—”
“I know you don’t want training from the House, but consider this private lessons from the Takahashi family, not from the House of Seven. We have our own practices. My parents were adamant about Haro and me being trained outside these walls, so I understand your desire to be trained elsewhere.”
“Why was that?” Liv asked. “Why did they send you away for training?”
“You might need to ask them that, but I think they feared that if all Warriors and Councilors had the same training, they would all behave the same way. They’ve often said that the House of Seven only works because of the diversity of perspectives. The diversity of the families, and what each one brings to the table.”
“Your parents are very wise,” Liv said.
“As were yours,” Akio replied. “My father speaks very highly of them to this day.”
Liv bowed her head. “Thank you. I should be off.”
Akio nodded. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
“Who, actually. And me, too,” Liv said, striding toward the kitchen.
The chefs were in high gear, prepping for the next day’s meals. Liv had to duck several times as ingredients flew through the air, on course for a workstation. She hurried out into the gardens before the head chef sent a butcher knife in her direction. She’d noted the annoyed stare he’d given her as she traversed across the large kitchen.
The gardens had been one of Liv’s favorite places growing up. When she stepped into the large yard surrounded by moss-covered walls, she felt part of her burden lift off her shoulders. Large topiaries of centaurs lined the path, their spears angled like arrows, pointing the way ahead.
Fountains ran the length of the garden. Crystal blue water sat as placid as glass, contrasting brilliantly with the green grass around the fountain. When Liv had been younger, she’d thought the ponds were shallow basins, until one day she had fallen in and found herself sinking so far down she nearly lost sight of the sunlight overhead. To this day, Liv couldn’t remember how she made it out of the fountain, but it was too bizarre to have been a dream. All she recalled afterward was spitting up water for what felt like ages and receiving a stern lecture from her mother.
When she was confident there was no one hiding in the garden, Liv took the stairs to her favorite place in all of the House of Seven: the library.
There was no other place like it on Earth.
Chapter Eight
“Are you going to take Akio up on his offer?” Plato asked, materializing beside Liv as she topped the last set of stairs. The floor where the library was located held nothing else. That made sense, since the space was larger than all the residential rooms combined. One could spend months exploring the House of Seven’s library and still not see it all. Liv knew that because she’d tried.
“You know, sometimes I think that you’re a figment of my imagination,” Liv said to the cat.
“Because I only talk to you?” Plato asked.
“And you disappear when others are around.”
“I don’t like people,” he stated plainly.
“And I’m an exception?”
“You’re a rarity.”
“You like me,
” Liv sang in a teasing voice.
“I never said that.”
“And I don’t know about accepting training from Akio, although it could be a great opportunity.”
“Your walls are crumbling,” Plato observed.
Liv scoffed at him. “Maybe a little, but they are so tall that it will take eons for them to break down completely.”
She pushed the thick door to the library open. Even though she was prepared for what she would see next, the place still filled her with awe. Columns as big as small cars rose all the way to the third-story ceiling overhead. Balconies were located in multiple places, each providing a view of the masterfully painted ceiling. A painting of the Milky Way Galaxy spiraled and sparkled, following the movements of the real galaxy.
The first floor of the library somehow felt quaint and cozy, with its multiple seating areas and reading nooks. However, Liv knew this was deceiving. Too many times she’d fallen asleep in one of the areas, only to wake in a place she didn’t remember visiting. One didn’t just get lost in this library. If you weren’t careful, you became like a book passed along from reader to reader, shuffling through their shelves until at long last being found far from where you started.
Liv’s mother had explained that when so many magical texts are kept in the same place, the books start to conspire against the readers, playing tricks on them.
When she reached the first row of books, Liv stopped, taking in a breath to welcome the scent of pages cloaked in dust and brimming with knowledge. She reached out and ran her fingers across the spines, enjoying the sensation as they tickled her skin.
When she was at the end of the row, Liv realized she was already lost. She turned in a complete circle, not knowing which way she’d come in. It suddenly felt like when she’d fallen into the fountain and didn’t know which way was up and which way was down.
A giggle brought her back to the present, and Liv spun around. She caught a blur of blue to her right. Striding toward a large globe in a stand, she kept her eyes as unfocused as she could, knowing that was the best way to find the person she was looking for.
Another flash of blue, this time to the left. Liv halted. Waited. Listened for footsteps.
She heard them two rows over and doubled back that way.
“I know you’re here,” Liv whispered to the shelf of books.
Another giggle, this time closer.
Liv blinked, trying to will her eyes to relax and see the shelf of books as one rather than hundreds of separate volumes. It worked, and from the mix, a single book stood out. It was newer than all the rest. Brighter, its spine a sparkling blue.
Liv pointed at the book, muttering an incantation under her breath. The hardbound tome slipped off the shelf and hovered in the air before unfolding several times like a map, then all at once it blossomed into the form of Sophia Beaufont.
“I found you,” Liv said nearly too loudly before catching herself.
Sophia beamed, displaying a row of bright teeth with one gap on the bottom. At age eight, she’d started to lose her teeth, but it didn’t detract from the girl’s exquisite beauty or her timeless appearance. She was every bit as complex as the thick volume on the history of magic she’d disguised herself as. Sophia Beaufont was a rare and extraordinary child.
She ran forward, wrapping her arms around Liv’s waist. “I knew you would, although I got antsy during the long wait.”
Liv gripped her back. “I can’t believe you hid in a book.”
Sophia stepped back and curtsied to Plato, who briefly acknowledged her. “Actually, to be exact, I disguised myself as a book.”
“Well, I’m impressed.”
Sophia held her finger to her lips. “This is still our secret? My use of magic?”
Liv nodded. “Of course. Just as our hide-and-seek game is.”
Sophia smiled, her blue eyes twinkling. They matched the periwinkle dress she wore, which was full of ruffles and embroidered with yellow gems the color of her hair. “Good. I’ll come up with an even better place tomorrow.”
Sophia yawned, her mouth opening wide.
Liv reminded herself that this incredible magician was still a child. “Hey, it’s your bedtime.” She held out her hand. “Let’s go,” she said, more an order rather than a suggestion.
Sophia took her hand and allowed herself to be led away. Liv stopped, not entirely sure how to exit the library. “I forgot how to find my way out of this place.”
The young magician chuckled, taking the lead. “It’s like me when I want to be found. I gave you a clue, didn’t I?”
“Oh, was that what all the giggling was about?” Liv teased.
“Yes, otherwise I would have been hiding forever,” Sophia said, pointing up ahead to where a statue of a troll was indicating an open row.
“Was that there before?”
Sophia gave her a wink. “Probably not. The library changes based on what you want. If you want to leave, it points you in the right direction. If you want to hide, it gives you a place. And if you want to find out about smilgorms, it shoves you down that aisle.”
“What are smilgorm?” Liv asked.
Sophia shook her head. “I don’t know, and don’t wonder about it, or we’ll never make it out of here. Just focus on wanting the exit.”
Liv did as she was told by her authoritative younger sister. One day she’d make an excellent Warrior, and until then, Liv would serve in her place, preserving the role for the Beaufont family.
Chapter Nine
The portal spat Liv out into an area of London that most mortals had never seen. Even if they saw it, they might not know what they were looking at. It actually took Liv several seconds to decipher the scene before her.
The cobblestone road was dark, although it was a strangely sunny day in London. The proximity of the buildings to the road made it so hardly any sunlight streaked down onto the pavement.
“Move to the side, sweetheart. Coming through,” a man’s voice said behind Liv. She jumped out of the way and turned to find a tall fae standing with his arms crossed. His maroon wings beat slightly as he regarded her with a mischievous smile. “Oh, it must be your first time on Roya Lane. You can’t stand in the entrance, or no one can get through the portal. Newbie mistake.”
“Roya Lane?” Liv asked, distracted by the sheer beauty of the man who stood before her. He had long ears like an elf, pointing out of his smooth blond hair, and he wore an elegant maroon tunic that matched his wings. An assortment of medals hung around his neck.
“Well, or as I like to call it, Government Center,” he said, holding out a perfectly manicured hand to her. “My name is Rudolf. Who might you be, magician?”
Liv caught herself before blushing. She remembered then that the fae were deceptively beautiful. They’d made many a mortal fall in love with them over the centuries, leaving them lost and confused, pining for a lover who had long ago moved on.
She swallowed the tension in her throat and kept her face neutral, shaking Rudolf’s hand. “I’m Liv Beaufont, a Warrior for the House of Seven.”
Rudolf arched an eyebrow at her, his blue eyes smiling. “Do you have any identification? That’s a big role for such a small girl to play.”
Liv shook her head. “They don’t issue us security badges at the House. Sorry.”
Rudolf sighed, looking crestfallen. “Well, it appears I can’t believe you then. My oath to the truth prevents me from taking others at their word. I always need proof.”
“Umm, I’m not here to prove anything to you. I’m actually looking for the brownies’ official office.”
Raising his pointy chin high in the air, Rudolf turned his gaze to the blue sky. “I can’t offer you any information since I don’t know who you truly are.”
Liv almost allowed a growl to escape her mouth. Who did this guy think he was, questioning her? “Yeah, that’s not a problem. I’ll just ask any of the other dozen creatures on Roya Lane.” She turned her attention to the road, which was bustling with e
lves, gnomes, fairies of all sorts, and smaller creatures she could hardly make out that were streaking between the beings. The lane was closed off at the end; at Liv’s back was a solid brick wall. The only way in was via portal-type magic, and apparently they were standing at that entrance since a group of elves nearly bowled them over as they entered the lane.
Rudolf grabbed Liv by the arm and pulled her to the side, out of the way. “You’ll want to be careful to stay out of the portal area. And don’t talk to McClusky. He’ll steal your identity. And whatever you do, don’t eat anything if it looks like it has peanuts. Firstly, it’s probably not nuts, and secondly, it will make you break out in hives.”
“Why are you helping me?” Liv asked, pulling her arm out of his grasp and nearly tripping on a small furry creature that scurried under their feet as it tried to get through the crowd. “I thought you refused to offer me any information since I couldn’t prove my identity?”
“This is true, but I’m happy to offer a newbie to Roya Lane a small bit of knowledge so that you can navigate your way through the maze of this short road.” Rudolf opened his arms wide, looking out over the street and smiling broadly.
“Great, so where is the brownies’ headquarters?” Liv asked.
He shook his head. “I can’t tell you that. What if you mean to kick down their door and assault them with your fists?”
Liv gave him an impatient stare. “That’s not on my agenda, and all you’d be offering me is some directions. Not the code to a secret vault.”
Rudolf laughed. “You are so new to this place. Without directions to the brownies’ office, you won’t find it. I can assure you of that. Like brownies tend to be, it is hidden.”
Liv looked down the row of doors, each one marked clearly: Gnome Headquarters, Elf Central, Fairy Affairs.
There were many other signs, but none of them said anything about Brownies.
“Look, Rudolf, what sort of proof of identity do you take? I have a driver’s license and a lynx who can vouch for me.”