Magic's Divide

by Serena Lindahl

  Two enormous SUV’s parked outside the wards at the end of the dead-end road leading to the house’s driveway. Alec enjoyed watching Alena’s reaction when she saw the man who must be Rock. Davin had told him about his trusted friend. He was massive, even bigger than Davin. His hair was cut close to his scalp, and his face looked like it was carved out of craggy granite. He and Davin stopped talking as they approached.

  “Holy Gaia,” Alena breathed. “What do they put in the water in Brenville? Is everyone there a giant?” She tilted her head back to meet his eyes. Alec and Davin chuckled.

  “Not everyone. Alena and Alec, this is Rock.” The man shook Alena’s hand with a gentleness that belied his size, and she drew in a sharp breath.

  “You’re a mage.” The man nodded, but his face didn’t change expressions.

  “Rock has a special affinity for magical objects,” Davin explained. They all turned as two other people rounded the front of the van. One of them launched herself at Jenira.

  “Jen! Isn’t this exciting? Andrew said Davin’s place is like a castle! And there are House Brownies! Remember the Brownie Aunt Shila had?” The smaller woman looked nothing like her sister. She had plastic framed glasses, plain features, and brown hair.

  Jenira embraced her sister. “Cat, this is Alena and Alec.” Alena nodded at Cat while Alec studied their faces. He had already guessed that the women had different mothers because of their different natures, but he hadn’t expected them to look so dissimilar. Alec found himself blindsided by an unexpected thought; what if Alena and Eden each had a child? They would both be beautiful, amazingly powerful children. A pang of longing shot through him for something he hadn’t even realized he wanted.

  “You are sisters?” Alena asked in surprise, following Alec’s train of thought.

  Cat sighed. “We get that all the time,” she remarked to no one in particular.

  Jenira smirked. “Remember the two wives I mentioned?” Alena nodded with dawning realization. The girls’ father must have loved two very different women.

  “Where’s Kenzie?” the younger man asked. The family resemblance was far more evident in this one. He had wavy auburn hair cut short, a lean form like Mac, and they shared the same stormy gray eyes. Alec had met the kid several years ago, but he had changed a lot since then. It wasn’t surprising he hadn’t connected Davin to Mac.

  “She goes by Mac now,” Davin said quietly. “Alena and Alec, this is Andrew, Mac’s brother.” The young man didn’t remember Alec and was obviously preoccupied. He stared at the house, shifting impatiently. Alec had six siblings and didn’t miss any of them, but clearly, Andrew and Mac had been close. They were also twins, while Alec had been the baby of the family.

  “She’s coming soon with Eden,” Alec informed him with a soft smile.

  As they waited, Alec wondered how Eden was handling their conversation. He hadn’t lied; he would gladly be her friend if that were all she wanted. He knew, however, that some part of him already belonged to her. He understood it as clearly as he understood complicated equations, and numbers were his specialty. At least they were leaving together. She wasn’t going with Davin and leaving them behind as they thought last night. He and Alena would be able to protect her, and that was the most important thing.

  Chapter Thirty

  Eden

  Eden remained on the couch long after Alec and Alena had left.

  “Are you all right?”

  Eden jolted from her thoughts. Mac stood in the doorway holding a bag. She appeared nervous, and Eden attempted a brave smile. The dreamwalks, the events of the night, and the sleep on the couch had left her exhausted and uncertain.

  “Do you think…?” Eden stuttered as she played with the end of her braid and thought about Alena’s kiss and Alec’s smoldering eyes. “Do you think it’s possible to love two people?” Eden blushed but didn’t regret her question. She felt closer to Mac after the dreamwalk and witnessing the woman’s transformation.

  Mac considered Eden’s question seriously. “Absolutely,” she replied. “We love more than one person all the time - brothers, sisters, platonic friends. Parents typically love all their children equally, no matter the number. It’s not so much of a stretch to imagine we can romantically love more than one person. I think there’s a different question you should be asking. The question should be - do you want to love more than one person? It’s more challenging than having only one partner to care for or worry about. There’s also jealousy and other complications.”

  “Yeah,” Eden agreed. “I don’t think I’m a jealous person. I’ve been alone so long, though. And you know what?” she asked more quietly. Mac waited patiently. “The hardest thing is that I’ll only be able to touch one of them at a time. It doesn’t seem fair.” She held out both arms, but one only extended a short distance from her body.

  “If they really care about you, that shouldn’t matter. Besides, when you’re a mage, there are other ways to touch than just using our fingers.” Her eyes glinted with silver, and a naughty smile crossed her face. Eden blushed. What did that mean? It wasn’t something she felt comfortable asking Gideon. Mac interrupted her musings. “Come on; my uncle gets fearsome when he’s been made to wait.”

  The warning urged Eden to her feet. She glanced around the room one last time before following Mac. She had said goodbye to Bette earlier in a tear-laden farewell that still saddened her. There was nothing more for her here, though; everyone she cared about, except the Brownie, was already outside.

  She and Mac had just rounded the bend in the lane when a voice rang out. “Mackenzie!” The young man practically bounced on his feet. If it weren’t for the wards, Eden was sure he would have bolted past everyone else and launched himself into Mac’s arms. Mac grinned and ran to him, and they collided in a burst of magic and tech that nearly left Eden reeling. She watched with interest. Their magic and tech complemented the other’s. Eden examined it, remembering Mac’s words. Together, they made one whole Magitech. She wasn’t surprised the evil figure had hunted Mac and wondered if Andrew had been hunted as well. Eden looked away from them, unable to bear the love and tearful happiness flooding from the twins.

  She turned her attention to the other bright spot; it was a massive slab of a man that had a thin, pure line of magic through him. It was small but steady. His emotions were so controlled, she wondered if he felt much at all. That must be Rock, she had heard about him from Davin.

  The woman who talked to Jenira in low tones looked nothing like her sister, but Eden instantly knew it was Cat. They were so full of love for each other, and Eden knew she would like the shy woman. She possessed so much technical energy, she was like a soft pillow of soothing gray. The sisters’ magic and tech complemented each other well; they were almost as strong as the twins.

  Introductions occurred, and Eden was pleased to see she was no longer the only shy one. After they had all been given names, Davin began controlling the group, ordering bags and people into each vehicle. After a whirlwind of activity, Eden found herself seated comfortably in the middle of a bench seat in one of the SUVs. Andrew was driving, and Mac was in the passenger seat. The seat behind them had been folded into the floor so Zar could lie down if he wanted. Currently, though, he stared out the back window, his breath fogging the glass.

  Sandwiched between Alec and Alena, Eden felt a tingle of discomfort because of their last conversation. Soon, however, she found herself lulled by Alec and Andrew’s soft tech and Alena and Mac’s attempts to shield her magic from the vehicle’s internal computers. She finally fell asleep. Her head rested on Alena’s shoulder and her thighs pressed against Alec’s strong legs on the other side.

  “Welcome to Castle Ilona.” The words were just a whisper in the darkness of her vision. It was a rasp, like sandpaper against velvet. She recognized the voice. The light slowly illuminated her surroundings, revealing a figure in jeans and a black hoodie. Eden could see nothing of a face, just darkness.

  Behind the man, a bui
lding emerged out of the lightening scenery. Set on a hill surrounded by trees and wilderness, the structure was truly a castle. Stone turrets of rose marble shone in the afternoon light. The towers bracketed a beautiful façade of limestone and granite. Windows glinted with reflections. A short, winding road led through the trees around the castle and a couple outbuildings. The perimeter was guarded by a wall which snaked around the castle, nearly fifteen feet high and constructed of thick stone. A river wound along one side of the border and led to a shining, small lake behind the massive building. Eden studied it in her vision, examining the enormous, wrought iron gates.

  The figure that had spoken leaned casually against one of the trees in the surrounding grove. Eden could feel his smile even though she couldn’t see his face. “Wake up, Edania. I’d rather have a proper invitation into the castle rather than climb the wall like a marauder. I prefer to start this alliance off right. Wake up, sister.”

  His last word jolted Eden from her dreamwalk, frightening her seatmates. “Stop, stop the car!” She shouted, scrambling for her seatbelt. The other occupants of the car stared at her with wide eyes. Andrew slammed on the brakes, causing them all to bounce forward in their seats.

  Eden, still half asleep, struggled groggily over Alec, reaching for the door handle. “Eden?” Alena asked. “We’re almost there. What’s going on?”

  “I have to get out,” Eden replied. “Tell Davin.” Andrew was on his cell phone before she got the door open, and Eden peered through the windows. They were in a forest made up of deciduous and needled trees, the canopy a riot of autumn colors. The road they followed was nothing more than a graveled, one-lane path. Magic leaked from the land itself, making Eden feel powerful. The dark stone of the wall was visible just beyond the bend. She searched the woods beside the road for the figure of her vision.

  “Davin said not to get out until he joins you,” Andrew said. He watched her like she might be a madwoman. Eden had barely spoken to Andrew so she could understand his hesitance. She continued to pull on the handle, but it wouldn’t budge, and she realized that Andrew must be controlling the locks from the driver’s seat. She huffed in frustration. The other vehicle stopped behind them, releasing Jenira and Davin.

  “Now?” Eden asked. Andrew glanced in the rearview mirror and the locks unclicked. Alec and Alena were half standing as if they meant to follow. “No, you guys stay here.” She looked once at Mac, wondering if the other woman would recognize her dream figure. She didn’t want to tell her yet, and she felt it should just be her and Davin this time. Jenira wasn’t necessary, but she wasn’t going to suggest the warrior woman go away.

  Eden pushed open the door with one arm, hopping onto the gravel road. Jenira had her dagger drawn, and Davin scanned the trees surrounding them.

  “What’s going on?” Davin demanded. “The house is literally right there. We have ten feet to drive before we get past the gates and the wards.”

  “I know,” Eden replied, joining them at the edge of the road. The faces of everyone else were pressed against the glass to watch them, but she ignored the vehicles. She couldn’t see the figure, but she could feel him. His soft green magic felt more timeless than the forest itself. It also felt unbelievably familiar. Her legs began to shake, but she stepped off the gravel path, her feet sinking into the dead leaves and rich soil. Birds sang around them, only slightly worried by their presence.

  “I stopped,” Eden called out, raising her voice. “Come out and talk.”

  Beside her, Jenira unsheathed another dagger, and Davin drew himself up, preparing to fight. “He’s not going to hurt us,” Eden said, although she didn’t know how she knew.

  “Well, isn’t this quite the group?” The voice echoed through the trees, dripping with amusement and faint mockery. Eden shivered as she recognized the voice from two consecutive dreamtimes. “Tell that warrior woman not to skewer me, Edania.”

  Eden frowned and made a flapping motion towards Jenira. The woman just looked at her. “He’s not going to hurt us,” Eden said in frustration. “He saved Mac and he’s my, he’s my…” her voice caught.

  The figure stepped out, taller than he’d appeared in her visions. He was dressed just as she remembered though. His sturdy black boots bragged tarnished silver buckles, his blue jeans were ripped and frayed, and a black sweatshirt’s hood hid his face. His hands were held up in the typical “surrender” position.

  “It’s good to see you again, sister,” the man said, his tone still amused. Jenira didn’t throw her knife, although she remained wary. He moved slowly, possibly aware of her deadly instincts, and pulled the hood down.

  Eden’s breath caught, and she nearly fell to her knees in the leaves and grass. She looked on the familiar face of the man in her dreams. He had stood watch outside her apartment and during the crash, and he looked just like her. His black hair was straight and hung down to his shoulders in a raven fall. His olive-toned skin had handsome features, though his crooked nose had been broken at some point. He grinned with rakish amusement. His eyes were golden and flecked with brown, the opposite of hers. Her breath caught as her gaze moved to the rest of him. Every visible part of his body was covered in scars. They were white and dark, puckered and flat. One bisected his face at an angle, one cut into his upper lip, and another traced across his left cheekbone. He cocked his head, still smiling.

  “Don’t we make a pretty party? The armless Magitech and scarred warriors?” He bowed to Jenira.

  “Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?” Davin demanded. His muscles were bunched so tightly, Eden feared for his clothes.

  The man’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Why, I’ve come to help. You’ll never be able to battle old Mather without me. I’ve been looking forward to this for years.” He leaned against a tree nonchalantly and whipped out a blade. Jenira twitched, but he only used the dagger to clean his fingernails, occasionally glancing up at them.

  “Mather?” Davin demanded.

  The man shrugged. “The crazy Magitech who is, as we speak, raising an army of automatons to wipe out mages and techies. You know, the whole world domination angle.” He used his dagger to make slow circles against one of his temples. “He’s a bit crazy. But,” the man continued, turning back to his fingernails, “I know where he is and what he’s doing. I’ve been waiting years for my sis here to get rid of that damn locket. I know who to thank for that.” He tipped his head toward Eden’s vehicle. Eden glanced back. Alec and Alena were watching, and Eden could feel their interest. Mac also watched, and in that second, the younger woman recognized the stranger.

  “You!” Mac screamed, opening her door and jumping out. She walked straight towards the figure and poked him in the chest, ignoring his dagger. Her voice was tight with anger. “You were there that night!”

  He smiled at her. “Ah, you got your memory back. Did my dear sister help with that? She is a dreamwalker, after all.”

  Mac looked back at Eden. “Sister?” she asked, temporarily forgetting the reason she had stormed out of the van. A familiar tingle of energy glowed above her, and Eden looked up. The giant snowy owl soared towards them and landed on a nearby tree branch with two powerful flaps of its wings.

  “Gideon?” she asked out loud. “Is this man my brother?”

  Indeed, he is. You can trust him. He’s on our side.

  Eden had known this instinctively, but she appreciated Gideon’s confirmation. Mac was still standing in front of the scarred man. The irate mage spoke before she could. “Why were you there that night? Why didn’t you help my mother? Why did you just leave me there?” Mac demanded.

  Eden’s brother sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes to the treetops. “So many questions, my dear,” he said in a patronizing tone. “I’m sorry about your mother; I arrived just a couple seconds too late. As for why I was there, well I was following you, of course. It’s been my personal mission to seek out Magitechs to fight the crazy old man, and you were one I’d had my eye on. I couldn’t stay
because the authorities were coming and I’m not exactly welcome in the Eastern Territory.” He frowned but didn’t seem truly upset.

  “Mac,” Davin sighed. “We can talk about this later.”

  Mac groaned in frustration but backed up, still staring at the stranger. “This conversation isn’t over,” she warned him. He grinned at her, and his eyes wandered over her, from her black combat boots to the tight blue tank top, to the glimmering ring in her eyebrow. His gaze glittered with heat.

  “Oh, I very much look forward to chatting more with you, my darling. Right now, however, I need an invitation into Castle Ilona so the wards won’t fry me. Knives I can handle, you see, but fire is a tad more painful.”

  “How did you know we were coming?” Jenira asked. He turned his attention to her.

  “I know a lot of things,” he replied vaguely, retaining his ever-present, jaunty grin.

  “Why have you been following me? Why were you in my dreams?” Eden asked. Pain flashed across his face for a brief second before being replaced with the smile.

  “The cursed necklace prevented me from close contact. I was watching over you to protect you. You know, that’s what big brothers do and all. Now, are we going to go inside where I can get a beer, or are we going to stand here chatting until the evil one himself shows up?”

  Eden continued to stare at him, wondering whether to believe him. Had he honestly been watching over her all that time? Why was he there the night of the accident?

  “He knows where we’re at?” Davin asked, his form amazingly still.

  The man shrugged. “He will if we stand here blabbing. This much concentrated magic is bound to attract the attention of someone. We’ll be safe once we get inside; I know that much.”

  “Are you a visionary?” Jenira asked. She had been quiet this whole time, just studying the man as a hunter studies potential prey. Eden was convinced she looked at everyone like that.

  “Aye, beautiful,” he said with a wink. “A blood prophet, at your service,” he bowed again but kept his gaze trained on Davin and Jenira.