Midnight Law

by Geanna Culbertson

  In many ways, Knight was the opposite of Kai. Kai had always accepted me for exactly who I was. She accepted the bluntness, the coldness, and the walls I put up. She loved me in spite of these downfalls. I loved and appreciated her for that in return. It was comforting to have someone care about you so deeply, and not ask you to change.

  Knight accepted me, but whether on purpose or not, she was always pushing and inspiring me to change and grow, which she actively did herself. As I watched her transform, it made me want to evolve with her. And so I did. It happened slowly at first, and without my noticing, but then one day suddenly I knew—I was different. I hoped to continue to evolve like this for as long as we knew each other. I liked myself better this way. I truly hadn’t known I was broken until I realized I’d changed.

  And yet, I was torn about what to do.

  Kai and I had a life together and we’d always planned for a future together. We couldn’t have either if I was turned into a statue. I’d lived most of my life without Knight. Was I really willing to risk all the life I had left for someone—even a staggeringly important someone—who’d I’d fundamentally only known a year?

  I sighed and pushed through the last of the bushes, coming upon the stream that marked the border with Lady Agnue’s. The grand school stretched to the blue sky farther ahead. I hopped the half-submerged rocks that formed a path above the gentle current. When I leapt onto the bank on the other side, a kaleidoscope of color briefly lit up the air space around me, signaling my passage through the In and Out Spell surrounding the female protagonist school. I loved being immune to those spells.

  I paused, noticing where I’d landed. My brow furrowed. Had I ended up here on accident, a consequence of aimless wandering? Or was this where my subconscious had been leading me?

  This clearing was where I first met Knight and defeated her in battle. I could almost see ghosts of us battling across the area—clashing swords and words, not knowing what we would eventually mean to each other. I cracked a smile thinking about her frustrated expression that day. She was a poor loser. Good thing it didn’t happen very often.

  Something inside clawed at me.

  I saw us. I heard our voices. I felt something that I couldn’t describe.

  Then, just like that, suddenly the clarity I’d been seeking overwhelmed me and I knew.

  Fear of losing a future with Kai wasn’t a good enough reason to not fight for a future with Knight. She was my best friend. Yes, I’d only known her a year, but I already knew I didn’t want to live another year without her. When I told Mauvrey I’d be willing to save her by any means necessary, I had been speaking the truth. It just took a while for my head to catch up with my heart. The two didn’t always have the same agenda.

  “Nice shot!”

  I turned and saw two figures sparring on the practice fields next to Lady Agnue’s Twenty-Three Skidd arena. Blue’s cloak was easy to identify, and the golden long hair of her companion meant that had to be Mauvrey with her.

  Hands in my pockets, I made my way across the grass toward the girls, the arena slowly towering over me more and more. Seeing it made me tense a bit. While I was happy Lady Agnue’s had its own arena to practice now, Chance had been the one to ensure it got built—a grand gesture to get into Knight’s good graces.

  Ugh. Chance.

  He’d been coming on to her pretty strong for a while. I didn’t think she was into him like he was into her, but sometimes the way she talked about him, the way she spent time with him, gave me mixed signals. Chance was a persistent, charismatic, and good-looking prince. He came from a wealthy, powerful, overall good family. He was a strong fighter and a leader in a lot of our classes. I knew all these things about him. However, the thing I knew best was this: he did not deserve her.

  The fact that Midnight Law deemed him eligible irritated me. I didn’t even like to think that Chance had a relationship with Knight. Midnight Law definitely shouldn’t be convincing him it was a strong one.

  “Yikes!”

  Ahead, Blue had been thrown to the ground. Wires currently wrapped around her arm led to a metallic glove on Mauvrey’s outstretched hand. The gloves had the ability to produce powerful shocks and shoot out thin dual wires that could ensnare targets and surge with electricity.

  Blue smiled as she got up. Mauvrey looked mortified.

  “Hey, Daniel. Good timing,” Blue said as I closed the distance between us. “You get to witness the fruits of my labor. Mauvrey is really coming into her own with these metallic gloves. Good thing we lowered her gloves’ shock setting or I probably would be knocked out right now.” She glanced down at her arm. “Uh, Mauvrey. Release please.”

  “Oh yes. Sorry.” Mauvrey swiftly touched her pointer finger to her thumb to loosen the wires from their target, then closed her fingers over her palm twice to reel them back inside the glove. “And I am sorry for knocking you to the ground as well.”

  Blue brushed off her arm. “From one kick-butt girl to another, never apologize for taking a good shot. It’s no small feat to take me down; you should be proud.”

  “You really should be,” I said. “Blue is a hard target to hit. And if you do manage to best her, she’ll just hit you back even harder. She’s as skilled as she is aggressive.”

  “A high compliment if I ever heard one.” Blue pivoted back to Mauvrey. “However, in your case you shall not receive my retaliatory wrath because I am genuinely impressed. Our training sessions have definitely tapped into your fighting muscle memory. I don’t even think you need my help anymore. Your moves are there; you’re just lacking in confidence.”

  “It is all you,” Mauvrey replied, ducking her head shyly. “Your coaching is responsible for my progress, like working with Javi has helped me remember how to play the piano.”

  “Mauvrey, seriously,” Blue said, annoyed. “You can rein in the modesty. If you trust and respect your strength, I think you could be as deadly as Tara with those gloves.”

  Mauvrey stared at the weapons on her hands. “That is what I am afraid of.”

  “Don’t be. If you’re hanging out with us now, you’ll be glad you can fight well,” I said, hoping to encourage her. She didn’t look at me.

  “You want to watch us spar, Daniel?” Blue asked. “Any feedback could help. There are only so many things I can make note of while actually fighting.”

  “Sure.” I stepped back and gestured for them to continue.

  “I’m going to use my hunting knife this time, Mauvrey,” Blue said. “At full force. You’re ready to deal with a dangerous, armed opponent, not just a girl using her fists.”

  Mauvrey gulped. “Okay.”

  Blue drew her knife as the girls squared off. Blue charged. The princess used a circular block to redirect Blue’s force. Blue spun around the princess—blade aimed at Mauvrey’s head. Mauvrey clapped once, activating the electricity in the gauntlets, before ducking Blue’s blow and striking Blue’s chest with her right hand. The electric punch shot Blue back several feet. Even that lower setting had serious juice.

  It took Blue a second to recover, which Mauvrey took advantage of by shooting out wires from her de-electrified glove. Blue dove into a forward roll, avoiding the wires and coming to her feet directly in front of Mauvrey.

  That’s when I saw it clearly—the hesitation. Mauvrey had a window to electric punch Blue with her other hand, but she didn’t take it. Before the princess could reel back her wires, Blue yanked on them and Mauvrey plowed into the dirt. Her electrified left glove combusted against a small patch of grass. A few miniscule flames danced around the residue tiny crater.

  “Time out!” Blue called. She quickly stamped out the flames. “We can’t have this part of the school burning down again.”

  I offered Mauvrey a hand up. She stood, wobbly, then reeled the wires back in.

  “Any thoughts?” she asked me.

  I looked at her, considering. In most of our interactions she seemed to be so delicate. I wasn’t sure how she’d respond to c
onstructive feedback. I’d have to be honest, but nice.

  “It’s hard to judge your skills from one fight,” I said. “But I think you’re holding back because you don’t want to hurt Blue. When she rushed in to grab your wires, your left hand was still electrified. If I were you, I would have gone straight for the throat.”

  Mauvrey looked aghast. “That could have really injured her!”

  Blue sighed. “We don’t fight to play pretend, Mauvrey. Sure, it’s fun. It’s good exercise. It’s empowering. But at its core, fighting is a way to defend ourselves. You can’t hold back here because the people we have to fight won’t hold back out there. Tara never did.”

  “But I do not want to be Tara. And I do not want to hurt anyone else.”

  Blue and I exchanged a look. “And what if someone tries to hurt you?” Blue asked.

  Mauvrey glanced at Blue then at me.

  “Don’t look at us,” Blue said. “There are no damsels in this story. Your role may seem like a non-combative one since you’re focusing on regaining Paige’s memories. And we’ll continue to protect you from the antagonists as long as they’re gunning for you while you’re doing that. But you need to do your part and fight back too. You don’t have to be Tara. But you do have to decide who you want to be and defend her. There’s too much going on. We can’t be constantly worried about holding your hand.”

  Mauvrey didn’t say anything. I didn’t blame her. Like me, Blue was very direct; it was one of the things I liked most about her. But just like my tendency to be blunt could be harsh, Blue shared the same flaw. It was evident by the uncertainty and fear in Mauvrey’s expression, which Blue didn’t seem affected by.

  “How about a water break,” I said, gesturing to where the girls had a duffel bag and a couple bottles nearby. Mauvrey nodded and walked toward them.

  I gave Blue a look.

  “What?” she said. “I know you feel the same way. If anyone understands what it’s like to be burdened with too much responsibility and be uneasy about taking on more it’s you, Mr. Midnight Law. You have a life-altering decision to make, buddy.”

  I took a breath. “Actually, I’ve already made it.”

  gazed out the window of my room. The forest below was a palette of darkness like an inkwell had spilled over the landscape.

  My fingers toyed with the old playing card in my hand, feeling its burnt edges. I glanced down. I always loved collecting commemorative player cards for the top athletes of our realm’s favorite sport, Twenty-Three Skidd. I kept my collection in an old toolbox beneath my bed. This card, however, I kept in a locked compartment within that box. Not because of the player on the card, but because it was one of the few things that survived the fire. Holding it brought me comfort.

  The door opened and Jason entered.

  “You doing your whole brooding thing?” He went to his desk, searching the drawers for something.

  “Just thinking.” I stashed the card in my pocket.

  “Not having second thoughts, are you?”

  A couple hours ago when we all met up, I made my announcement that I’d be going through with Midnight Law. Chance had done the same. That was good because it bettered our odds of finding Knight, and not getting turned to stone. Still, the gesture irritated me, as most things involving Chance did.

  “No. I haven’t changed my mind,” I said.

  Jason retrieved a folder from his desk and shoved it into a backpack. “Good. I’d hate to think that SJ and I had that awkward conversation with the peace talk committee about our ditch day for nothing.”

  Chance and I would be enacting Midnight Law tomorrow. SJ and Jason insisted on going with us, and the rest of our peace talk friends had agreed to stay and cover for them. They’d all conferred with Lenore and made up an excuse to the rest of the assembly for why SJ and Jason couldn’t show for a day. A quote “special mission” had arisen—or some vague lie like that.

  “I’m really glad you’re coming along,” I said. “My odds at being successful are way better with you on my team.”

  “About that . . .” Jason paused. “I’ve decided that I’m going to join Chance’s questing team.”

  I was both confused and offended. “Why?”

  “Because he needs me more, Daniel.” Jason sat on his bed and set his backpack down. “You may not like it, but Chance is growing on me. Knowing that, when I say this it’s not intended to be an insult to him in any way—you’re stronger than he is, Daniel. And you’re more experienced with quests. The prospect of turning to stone is a real threat to both of you, but Chance has a higher likelihood of getting killed before the time runs out. Blue has agreed to join me, and Girtha is coming with us too.”

  “I understand . . .” I struggled to find the words. “But I need you too, you know.”

  “I talked with SJ and she’s decided to go with you. And obviously Kai will go with you. With the two of them, that’s more than enough backup.”

  Actually, I wasn’t sure Kai would be coming. She’d seemed pretty ticked off after I made the announcement of my decision at dinner. But Jason was missing the point.

  “Man, it’s not about having backup. We’ve been through a lot together and I’d just prefer if we stayed on the same team.”

  Jason’s solemn expression turned to a smirk. “You’re going to miss me.”

  “What? No.”

  “What a plot twist—” Jason stood and crossed his arms “—Daniel the brooding hero doesn’t want to part ways with his endearing, more emotionally evolved roommate.”

  I huffed and rolled my eyes. “Just be careful, okay? Knight is my best friend, but so are you. And you’re probably the only guy at school who can put up with all my annoying habits. If you die, finding a new roommate would be murder.”

  “You’re right,” Jason said. Then he nodded with a serious expression. “So I’ll make sure not to die then. Promise you’ll do the same?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I promise.”

  “Daniel?”

  Knight stood in the white void. “Can you hear me, Daniel?”

  This time there was no desperation in her voice. It was calm and even. I nodded and stepped forward carefully.

  “I suspected you would,” she said. “My visions get much stronger the more I . . .” She hesitated.

  “The more you use your magic?” I offered.

  “That’s one way to put it.”

  We were two feet away from each other when she held up her hand to poke the air between us, sending a ripple in both directions to show me where the barrier stood.

  “I’m sorry it took us so long to realize you were trying to communicate,” I said.

  “It’s not your fault. I don’t have a lot of practice with this kind of dream communication. But you got the message about Earth, right?”

  Her image started to fade. This connection was clearer, but despite my hopes, it was turning out to be short-lived.

  “We did. Can you tell me anything else about where you are?”

  She shook her head, frowning. “I tried to escape once, but it didn’t go well. My only takeaways were that I’m in the mountains—there’s snow everywhere—and Arian’s prison is beneath a big log cabin.”

  She was a whisper of a person now, almost gone. I wanted to use my last moments with her wisely. “Hang on, Knight. I’m coming to get you.”

  “Daniel, I didn’t reach out to you this time to help you find me. I did it to warn you. I don’t know how much longer my body can last. By the time you find me, I’ll probably be . . .”

  She vanished as a loud buzzing sound flooded the void. I woke to the Mark Two going off on my desk. Jason stirred and sat up as I answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Can we meet?” SJ asked. She looked like she hadn’t slept a wink.

  I glanced at the clock. It was quarter past four in the morning. “SJ, what’s wrong?”

  “I must speak with you, Jason, and Blue. Meet us in your library in forty minutes.”

 
; She hung up the call and I glanced at Jason. Something was definitely wrong.

  The darkness and exhaustion decorating SJ’s eyes was even more pronounced in person.

  “What happened?” I asked as Jason closed the doors to the restricted section. Joplin raised his head, blinked, then curled back to sleep. He was getting used to us.

  “I think you should sit down first,” SJ said.

  The four of us sat at a long wooden table with shelves of books on all sides, crowding us like walls of expectations.

  “Wait, who’s watching Mauvrey?” Jason asked, eyes losing some of their sleepiness.

  “She’ll be fine for an hour,” Blue replied. “That sleepwalking suicide thing in Clevaunt took hold of her while she was asleep. She said she’d stay up and wait for us to return. I also locked the doors to the balcony and asked several Lady Agnue’s guards to stay in the hall outside our room just in case.”

  “Okay, then. What are the four of us doing here?” I asked, stifling a yawn. “And why is it just the four of us?”

  “Merlin and I had an early potions session this morning,” SJ explained. “But instead of instruction, he gave me these.” She pulled a pair of orbs from her magic sack. “These orbs contain a dream he had of Crisa a couple nights ago. He had reservations about showing it to us, but after I told him Daniel and Chance were enacting Midnight Law, he decided you should have all the facts. Merlin made three copies of the potion for viewing this dream. He wanted to give us the opportunity to view it before we shared it with the others. The four of us have a stronger connection with Crisa, and Merlin thought we deserved to see the truth first.”

  “You have two orbs in your hand though,” Jason said. “What happened to the third?”

  “I used that orb to view the vision alone first. It was Merlin’s idea. I know you all far better than he does and he wanted to ensure that you could handle it. I am honestly still not sure if you can. Part of me wishes he would not have shown it to me—and that we had not created a potion that worked so well . . .” She cleared her throat. “But we do not keep things like this from one another, so here I am.”