by Sarah Noffke
“But I—” Trudy began to protest.
“It isn’t a disciplinary action,” Raina Ludwig assured the Warrior, her tone empathetic. “It will just give some of us a chance to cool down before we rule on the matter.” Her eyes cut in the direction of Adler, who was repeatedly clenching and unclenching his jaw.
“Okay, well, that’s fair,” Trudy agreed, reassured by Raina’s words.
“Fine, very well,” Adler snapped, shaking his head. “We will reconvene on this matter tomorrow, not that it will change the fact that our orders were ignored in favor of those who disobey the law.”
Raina cleared her throat and looked down the bench at Adler. “As I said, we will table the matter and review it tomorrow when we are fresh.”
Trudy swiftly strode for the Wall of Reflection, her boots making sharp clapping sounds on the floor.
“Ms. Beaufont, please tell us that you have brought us good news of your talks with the Brownies?” Adler asked, his tone full of frustration.
Liv looked up, catching the hopeful expression on Clark’s face. She could have sworn that he winked at her as if they were parties to the same joke, but then she reminded herself that he didn’t know everything she was working on, and that was for the best.
“Yes, it was a complete success,” Liv stated, startled when the black crow landed just in front of her with a stern expression that seemed to see right through her. “They were open to our suggestions and stated they would start implementing them as soon as they could.”
Adler sighed, shaking his head at Bianca. “Never trust a brownie, am I right?”
She agreed, nodding. “They are deceitful little beings.”
“I was only told to have them agree,” Liv stated, pulling out her device with her orders.
“Yes, and that’s all well and good,” Adler stated dismissively. “It’s just that when a brownie says they will do something when they can, that usually means it will take eons. Whatever, we’ll just speed up their timeline by having you—”
Lorenzo Rosario stood suddenly, striding over to Adler’s side. He pointed to the screen in front of him. The older magician’s eyes widened as he peered intently at the screen, and his expression grew darker.
The other Councilors looked at their own devices, also watching something closely.
Slowly Adler brought his gaze up, his eyes smoldering with rage. “Ms. Beaufont, have you been at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles?”
Liv nearly choked. “As a child, I used to frequent the place.”
Adler shot forward, his hands pressed into the bench. “No, were you there today?” He twirled a finger, and an image appeared in front of the Council like a video screen. A moment later, a figure who looked remarkably like Liv threw her hands in the direction of three running guards, sending a barrage of wind at them that made the men slide back the other way. This went on for a moment, the video apparently having been taken by a shaking camera phone. There was shouting, and Liv yelled, “Hey, free money!” Then everything went blank.
Liv lowered her chin to her chest, letting out a long breath.
“Were you or were you not the person in this video?” Lorenzo asked, having retaken his seat.
“I can explain,” Liv said, careful to not look at Clark, who she could already tell was smoldering with anger.
“I really hope that you can,” Adler said, his tone punishing.
The crow looked up at her, its eyes full of interest. She flicked her gaze to the white tiger, who had turned so he wasn’t even looking at her. For whatever reason, Liv was suddenly inclined to tell a version of the truth. It couldn’t hurt, not since she had sixteen scrutinizing eyes on her at that very moment.
“It was a complete misunderstanding,” Liv began. “I was just browsing the collection when I touched a case and it sent shocks through my body.”
“A case did that?” Haro asked, leaning forward.
“Yes. It knocked me back and set off the alarms,” Liv continued. “I didn’t have any choice but to run after the incident. I tried to minimize the damage, and I took out the security cameras and the footage.”
“That was smart thinking,” Hester said, nodding her approval.
“Smart thinking would have been to not have created a scene in the first place,” Adler scolded. “You made money fall from the ceiling!”
“It was a diversion,” Liv stated.
Hester laughed. “I remember when you, Mr. Sinclair, accidentally set off an alarm in a bank vault at one of the major branches of a bank downtown. SWAT forces were called, and you had to do quite a lot of magic in order to keep from being apprehended.”
Raina joined in. “I heard about that, although it was before my time.” She looked down the bench at Adler. “Didn’t you overturn several vehicles trying to flee? The news didn’t know what to make of it. They called it the strangest heist in history since nothing was stolen and no one was apprehended.”
Liv did not remember ever seeing Adler so angry, his usually pale face currently a dark scarlet. “I don’t think that past incident has any bearing on what Ms. Beaufont has done.”
“I think it does,” Haro cut in, his tone musing. “It proves that sometimes magicians can be caught in circumstances beyond their control. We control our magic, and yet we can’t control how it affects certain systems. For instance, your magic set off security systems that guarded against magical thievery.”
Mortal security systems that guarded against magic? Liv had never heard of such a thing. Before she could roll the questions around in her head anymore, the Councilors erupted in a barrage of arguing. Adler spun back and forth to combat what Haro, Raina, and Hester were saying.
“Look what you’ve done,” Stefan said from the corner of his mouth.
“Me?” Liv mouthed in return. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Right. What was this case you touched?”
She shrugged. “I think it was dinosaur teeth or something.”
“Hmmm,” Stefan said, a slight smile on his face.
“The past is inconsequential!” Adler yelled, making the entire chamber go silent. His breath rattled between his lips several times as he regained his composure. “We must be careful with the disturbances we create.”
“I’m sorry,” Liv said honestly. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. And once things got out of hand, I tried to minimize the damage and get away without being seen.”
Looking up from her screen, Hester nodded. “It appears you were successful. The authorities have no leads on the suspect who got away and are calling the entire incident a mystery. It seems that once again, magicians have simply been the victim of technology.” She smiled thoughtfully at Liv. “This happens more than most realize. It wasn’t your fault.”
Liv swallowed and tried to nod.
“Still, in the future, don’t put yourself in situations that you know could put us all under scrutiny,” Adler warned.
“He means, stay away from bank vaults and museums,” Raina clarified with a laugh.
“I meant that you should spend less time galivanting around and more time working on cases and training,” Adler said impatiently. “Another case has been sent to your device, Ms. Beaufont.”
Liv lifted her tablet and read the first line from the new case. She expected it to say something like Wipe Fairies’ Asses.
She laughed to herself when she read the case file.
“Is everything all right, Olivia?” Bianca asked, having read the sour expression on her face.
“Oh, this is fine,” Liv stated. “Just starting to feel clairvoyant. And again, for the hundredth time, my name is Liv.”
Adler rolled his eyes. “There has been no sign of clairvoyance in the Beaufont family to date.”
“No, I just meant that I was certain I’d get a case of this sort,” Liv stated, and then something occurred to her. “Actually, my magic… Has it normalized yet, or is it still showing a spike since being unlocked?”
A
dler sighed as if he were bored with the whole conversation suddenly. “It’s really no concern of yours.”
“It’s my magic!” Liv found herself yelling.
Hester smiled good-naturedly down at Liv. “It’s still showing a bit high, my dear, but it’s nothing to worry about.”
“I would disagree,” Haro cut in. “Liv blew out multiple windows in the Natural History Museum and created a projection of herself while simultaneously creating a portal. That kind of magic is unprecedented for a magician with her limited experience.”
Adler glared at the other Councilor. “Mr. Takahashi, I really don’t think—”
“Actually, I do think it’s important,” Haro said, cutting Adler off. “Liv’s magic might normalize, or this may be something she needs to deal with before it gets out of hand.”
“Wait, what?” Liv asked, looking at the two magicians. “Is everything okay?”
Haro considered for a moment and then nodded. “It’s fine, but you’re presently very powerful, and we have no way of telling how long that could last.”
“More powerful than I should be, or more powerful than…”
Haro nodded, sensing the words Liv hadn’t said. “You’re more powerful than most, and I would encourage you to continue to train in order to hone your power. You used it effectively at the museum, but it could have quickly gotten out of hand. I also think that you could benefit from other types of training. Maybe things related to combat, so that you don’t always have to drain your magic. The two together could make you a formidable force.”
Liv noticed Akio’s eyes flicker in her direction for an instant. She bowed slightly to his brother. “I’ll take that under advisement. Thank you.”
At the conclusion of her words, Liv turned and left the chamber. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something the Takahashi brothers weren’t saying, and she couldn’t figure out whether they could be trusted or not.
Chapter Fifteen
Liv and Plato went up to the library in complete silence. She didn’t know if she’d find Sophia hiding in there again, but for some reason, she hadn’t been able to shake the location out of her head since revisiting it. Every night she’d dreamed of getting lost in the aisle, and she wondered if her dreams were giving her a message.
She wasn’t one to put stock in dream interpretation or dwell very long on their hidden messages. She thought that sometimes the subconsciousness needed to doodle and that was what dreams were. They didn’t make any sense, and rarely were they works of art, but they released some of a person’s tension. That was important.
“When are you going to tell me what you know about the white tiger and the crow?” Liv finally asked, breaking the silence.
“When do you want to know?” Plato asked coyly.
“Now would be good,” Liv answered.
“If my suspicions are correct, their meaning is quite straightforward,” Plato said as they reached the library. There was no one around, but that was how it always felt in the grand space; like Liv was alone on a deserted island, safe and free to explore at her leisure.
She halted in the entrance, for a moment wanting to pay her respects as if she’d entered a chapel. It was always like she wanted to perform a ritual out of respect for the knowledge the library held. Plato glanced at her with a curious expression on his face.
Shaking off the temptation, Liv directed her attention at the cat. There must be no one around, she realized, or Plato wouldn’t be out in plain sight. “So, the tiger and crow? What are your suspicions?”
“Remember what your ring has inscribed on it?” Plato asked.
“My mother’s ring,” she corrected. “Or Ian’s ring, maybe. Not mine.”
“It’s in your possession now, and you are one of three remaining Beaufonts,” Plato reminded her, although she wished he wouldn’t have.
Liv pulled the ring from her pocket and read from it, wanting to get the phrase exactly right. “Together we are strong and balanced.”
Plato nodded. “Exactly. I think the crow and the tiger are meant to keep the balance in the Chamber of the Tree.”
Liv seemed to remember Clark saying something about how the tiger helped with balance, but that still didn’t compute for her. “But how do they do that?”
“All things that last in life have balance,” Plato began as they strolled down an aisle. They were not heading for any particular place, but rather just ambling. “Each person has a feminine and a masculine side, and we all have a right and left side, one of which is usually dominant in our body one way or another. And then there’s the most common example: good and evil, also known as yin and yang.”
“So the white tiger and the black crow represent good and evil in the House of Seven?” Liv asked, thinking that sounded too simple.
“I think they represent much more than that,” Plato began. “But yes. That, at their core, is the ultimate purpose, but we must remember that life isn’t always black and white.”
Liv found herself nodding at the irony since the animals actually were black and white.
“So how do they create balance for the House?” Liv asked.
“I’m not entirely certain yet,” Plato answered. “But I think it’s important that you’re aware of the role they potentially play. You don’t want to obsess, though. For instance, it might be flawed thinking to pine for the attention of the white tiger, entirely dismissing the presence of the black crow.”
“But if he represents evil, then wouldn’t it be good to want to see less of him?”
Plato considered this for a moment and then sauntered forward. “Balance is achieved by having equality between two forces or influences. If we are too masculine, then we neglect an important aspect of ourselves, or vice-versa. Things aren’t inherently good or bad, but rather a mix of the two.”
Liv scratched her head. “I don’t think I completely get all of this.”
“Nor do I,” Plato admitted. “I believe there is something missing, but I don’t know what.”
As if on cue, Liv walked around a row of books and halted, staring at a wall of murals. It was the ancient language, she realized, watching as the symbols danced like the shadows of trees being blown around by the wind. This area of the library was suddenly darker, and she somehow felt as though she was standing outside near a campfire.
She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until her head began to beat with blood. Letting out her breath, Liv strode forward, unsure exactly what she was looking at.
“The symbols? Why do they appear different here?” she asked Plato.
“I’m not sure, but I think you’re right,” he answered.
“Is this one of those times when you say you’re not sure but you know and just won’t tell me?”
“I’m not sure,” he repeated with a mischievous smile on his face.
She waved him off. “Oh, you’re such a lovely pain in the ass.” Liv touched the wall, thinking that the symbols would dance under her fingertips like they did in the long entrance hall. However, here they glowed brighter and seemed to jump off the wall, enlarging in size. For a long few minutes, Liv was fascinated by the display, running her hand back and forth as she walked down the wall. Then she noticed something different—a groove in the wall. She would have dismissed it as nothing, except that it looked familiar to her.
There was a deep indentation, and around it were smaller ones. Fourteen, to be exact. Liv realized then that she still had her mother’s ring clasped in the palm of her hand. She opened her fist, noting that the stones in the ring matched the indentations.
“Could this be?” Liv asked, looking over her shoulder for Plato. He wasn’t there; again he’d disappeared.
“Damn cat is never there when I need him,” she muttered to herself.
“Which cat do you mean?” Stefan’s voice called from a nearby row of books.
Liv started, folding her fingers over the ring and turning to face him.
Of course Plato had disappe
ared. He had probably known Stefan was approaching long before he reached her. Maybe next time he’ll give me a little heads up, she thought.
“I was referring to my cat Plato, who appears to be hiding again,” Liv explained, looking sideways at the groove in the wall that had caught her attention moments prior.
Stefan strode out from between two rows. He was wearing a long black jacket and traveling boots, his hair covered in a knit hat. “That’s funny. I didn’t know that you had a pet that is approved to enter the House of Seven.”
“Rules don’t really apply to Plato,” she said, chewing her lip and wishing that Stefan would disappear so she could inspect the wall again.
“He sounds like he takes after you.” He looked behind her, his gaze full of interest. “Did you find something on that wall? You seemed fascinated by it a moment ago.”
Liv glanced casually over her shoulder. “Oh, no. I’m looking for my sister and thought she might be hiding somewhere over here. She’s good with disguises.”
“She’d have to be if you thought she was hiding against a solid wall,” Stefan said, sounding impressed.
Liv nearly clenched her eyes shut, thinking she’d made a grave error by giving Stefan a hint that her sister’s magic had come in and was strong enough for her to do such thing as disguises. However, he continued to smile good-naturedly, the same way his sister did during meetings with the Seven. Maybe the Ludwigs could be trusted? She wasn’t about to tell them everything, but having an ally might possibly prove useful.
“So where do you suppose Ms. Sophia Beaufont is hiding?” Stefan asked, looking around. “Is this a game you play, or did she run away?”
Liv laughed. “It’s a game. I suspect that if Sophia wanted to run away, then she would, and none of us would ever find her. I can only discover her hiding places because she allows it.”
Stefan nodded. “That seems about right. May I help you find her?”
Liv lifted a curious eyebrow at him. “Don’t you have important Warrior business to attend to?”
“I do,” Stefan replied, unhurried. “However, I won’t set off for several more hours. Not until the timing is correct. And you? Has the Council assigned you another case to keep you busy and out of harm’s way?”