by Sarah Noffke
Alone in the corridor, Liv suddenly felt vulnerable. A shiver ran up her spine and she spun, thinking someone was watching her. The large door at her back was still shut, but the dark area to the side was as open as ever, like a large cave mouth waiting to swallow her. Liv stepped back, looking toward the golden entryway. It was empty, but she could have sworn she’d seen movement there out of the corner of her eye.
Shaking off the strangeness, Liv prepared herself again. If she kept the Seven waiting any longer, Clark was going to have a hissy fit and probably stomp around wearing that impatient look. She giggled to herself, feeling strangely fond of her older brother. Maybe she’d missed him these last five years, although there’d been little time to reminisce. For so long she was just trying to survive. Still, she was never telling Clark that she had missed him. That would only lead to his head getting even bigger. Then he’d need even more hair gel to corral his blond locks.
Smiling to herself, Liv stepped into the mirrored surface. It was like walking into a warm bath, but what surrounded her wasn’t water. It felt like moist air whipping against her face.
Liv’s vision blurred. She tried to blink, but that made her eyes sear with pain. Figures stood around her, their forms wavy. Liv’s eyes burned, tears rolling down her face. She rubbed, but nothing seemed to fix her vision.
“You’re blind,” a voice intoned in her mind.
The figures began to move closer, chanting softly, “You’re blind. You’re blind. You’re blind.”
Fear rose in Liv’s chest as her vision receded. She couldn’t imagine not seeing again, but the more she tried to force her eyes to work, the more they burned with a pain that was becoming unbearable.
“You’re blind,” the figures chanted, their voices growing louder in her mind.
She clapped her hands to her ears, reeling from a sensory overload she’d never before experienced. She was going blind while her hearing was simultaneously amplified. It made no sense.
“You’re blind!” the group yelled, nearly making her double over from pain and fear.
“No! No! No!” Liv screamed, rushing forward and slipping, falling to her hands and knees.
Her vision suddenly cleared and the voices were gone. She lifted her head and realized at once that she’d entered the Chamber of the Tree.
Chapter Seven
For a minute Liv felt like she’d fallen into the wrong room, then she saw Clark looking down at her from a high table, where six others sat around him. His expression accurately expressed his embarrassment. Even in the darkened space, she could see his cherry-red cheeks and low angle of his eyes as he stared away from the others, who were looking between him and his sister.
Liv stood abruptly, stumbling back on her shoes as she stared at the figures in front of her. There were six magicians standing before the council in a half-circle, each on a circular blue light. They had turned to gawk at Liv as she continued to back away until she felt the mirrored door behind her.
The Warriors were all dressed differently, although each wore the finest of fabrics. Some wore silk robes or sophisticated suits, others traveling cloaks with shimmering designs. She didn’t recognize most of the faces, although old memories flickered to the surface as she studied them.
A magician sitting in the half-circle of Councilors at the high table at the back cleared his throat. His long white beard and the matching hair on his head didn’t contrast with his pale skin. Adler Sinclair was one of the few who Liv recognized. He was the longest-standing Councilor the Seven had ever had, but his age wasn’t why he had a face full of white hair. Adler, as an albino, had always looked as he did now.
“Welcome, Olivia Beaufont,” Adler greeted her, his voice low and raspy. “Did you have difficulty coming through the Door of Reflection?”
Liv felt the strange warmth of the door behind her like it was trying to suck her back through. She straightened and took a step forward. It was then that she noticed the solid white tiger standing next to her. Reflexively, she shrank away from the creature, wondering what it was doing there. She recalled that there were many strange pets in the House of Seven, where the families all resided with their own. However, she’d never seen anything as majestic as the tiger staring at her. It was massive, almost as tall as she was.
“I-I-I’m fine,” Liv stuttered, still gazing at the all-white tiger.
“What did you see in the Door of Reflection?” Adler asked from the council table.
Liv pulled her gaze away from the tiger, but strangely found herself still looking at the face of the all-white magician. She caught Clark’s eyes next to Adler and they seemed to say, “No, don’t answer that.”
“I don’t recall,” Liv responded, taking another step forward.
It was then that she noticed that the chamber was shaped like a half-dome, which matched the half-circle of the council table and the one where the Warriors stoically stood around. On the far wall, behind the council, was a picture of a giant tree. Its trunk was gold, and each of the seven branches swept overhead and forked in two. One part of each branch glowed blue, while the other was bright green. Liv squinted and noticed that the branches were labeled with the family names of the Seven: DeVries, Ludwig, Beaufont, Sinclair, Mantovani, Takahashi, and Rosario. Each colored portion was labeled with the name of the Councilor or Warrior. The last one had the green portion of the branch lit up, and under it was Clark’s name. However, the other part of the branch was pale gray, with no name.
Liv’s chin rose as she noticed the twinkling gold lights that cascaded over the tree and above them on the domed ceiling. She instantly knew what the lights represented. Her father had told her about the Chamber of the Tree but had made all this sound romantic and fantastical rather than intimidating.
“The ceiling of the Chamber of the Tree is filled with the lights of all the registered magicians,” her father had told her one night as he prepared to tuck her into bed. “They shine down on the Councilors and Warriors, reminding us of our mission: to protect and serve them.”
Liv was overwhelmed by the number of twinkling lights. Were there a thousand? Ten thousand? It was impossible to tell.
“Olivia Beaufont,” Adler began, “you know why you’ve been called here today, correct?”
Liv caught a flicker to her left but kept herself from looking in that direction. She would have recognized the flick of Plato’s tail anywhere, even though he was hiding in a dark shadow.
“My brother, Ian, the eldest even-numbered child in the Beaufont family, has passed,” Liv said, finding her voice low and aching.
“That’s correct,” Adler said, his voice lacking remorse. “Which means you’re next in line to take the role of Warrior for your family. Are you prepared to do that?”
Liv tried to clear her throat, but she couldn’t get whatever was in it out. “I think so, but—”
“The role of Warrior is not something anyone should take on lightly,” a woman with her black hair pulled into a high bun beside Adler said. Bianca Mantovani. She wasn’t much older than Liv. They used to play together, but the high collar of her dress and smug expression made her appear a decade older than Liv.
“I agree,” a young Japanese man said. He sat on the other side of Bianca. “Do you know what is expected of you as a Warrior? You have been out of the House of Seven for many years, is that right?”
Liv looked up at the family tree and found the man’s name: Haro Takahashi. She stepped forward. “I grew up here. I know that Warriors carry out the tasks the council assigns. You all rule over the affairs of the magical community, and the Warriors go into the field, working cases.”
Liv couldn’t believe how even her voice sounded. It didn’t even have a hint of bitterness as she plainly described the strange system the House of Seven had used for centuries to “objectively” divide the work.
“A Warrior does more than work cases,” Decar Sinclair said, sweeping around to face Liv straight on. He was younger than his brother Adler but had the
same albino coloring, his piercing light eyes seeming to glow in the darkened room. Unlike Adler, he had no beard, but his straight white hair cascaded down his back in a long braid. “As Warriors, we are expected to face danger in order to protect magic. A Warrior must be strong, expertly trained, and above all else, courageous.”
Adler nodded at his brother before directing his gaze to Liv. “We understand that you’ve been away for a while and your education neglected. We are prepared to have you trained, but you will be expected to work cases simultaneously.”
“But she’s not ready,” Clark protested, earning the attention of everyone in the room. Well, everyone but the white tiger, who had settled down and was resting his head on his giant paws. Clark leaned back, blushing from all the eyes on him. “My sister hasn’t had her magic in five years. She’ll need time to get used to it.”
Adler gave a small, insensitive smile. “Your sister made the choice to abdicate her role with the House of Seven. We as a group have met on the matter, and feel that giving her a second chance is beyond kind. If she’s going to take on this role, she’ll do it as anyone from a family of the Seven would: seamlessly and with the urgency that it deserves. Magical disasters and crimes will not halt for her to train, and therefore we can’t delay any longer in filling this role.”
“But you will put her in serious danger if you thrust her out there without training,” Clark countered, his face growing redder. “She doesn’t even know how to control her magic. That takes time.”
Bianca leaned forward, peering over the table at Liv. “You did always struggle with your magic if I remember correctly. Your training might take longer than most.”
Liv wanted to remind Bianca that she had peed the bed until she was twelve, but this didn’t seem like the time to do that.
“The length of Ms. Beaufont’s training is not our concern,” Adler stated. “If you are to accept the role the Seven have generously offered you, you will train while working as a Warrior. Otherwise, we will have to resort to other methods to fill your position.”
“Other methods?” Clark asked, leaning forward and looking down the table at the older magician.
“Sophia isn’t old enough,” Liv interjected. “You can’t put an eight-year-old in the role of Warrior.”
Around her, the Warriors and Councilors laughed. A man with short black hair and a chiseled goatee shook his head from the bench. “Adler is referring to replacing your family in the Seven. It hasn’t been done in a little while but—”
Clark stood up at once, shaking. “You can’t do that! The Beaufonts were some of the first. We were Founders.”
Adler shook his head as though he was dismayed by this but could do nothing. “It’s true. Your family, as well as mine and the Takahashis, have been part of the Seven from the beginning. We do not take replacing a family lightly, but it has been done in cases such as these. It’s important to remember, young Mr. Beaufont, that we serve the magical community and not ourselves, and we can’t do that properly when we are short a Warrior.”
Liv wanted to laugh. It was such a crock of bullshit. The Seven were constantly overlooking rules that didn’t favor their families or friends, but all of a sudden they were going to stand on some spotty principle of servitude? The Sinclair brothers probably wanted Liv to decline. Then they could boot Clark and her out and be one of the last two remaining Founders.
Liv looked to the side, briefly catching Plato’s expression. He appeared as impassive as ever, but there was a new fire in his eyes—one that infected her at once.
“I’ll do it!” Liv declared, and everyone turned to face her.
Clark was visibly shaking. He opened his mouth to protest, but she held up her hand and stepped forward. “I’ll take the role of Warrior, which is mine by birthright, and I will train at the same time, as soon as you unlock my magic.”
The smug look on Adler’s face disappeared as he sat back in his seat. “We will arrange for your training once you receive your magic.”
“I don’t want to be trained here at the House of Seven,” Liv argued.
Around the room, muttering broke out. Clark’s eyes looked like they were about to burst out of his head. He still stood, but he was now leaning over the table, his hands resting on its surface.
“It is customary that Warriors train here,” Bianca stated, her face pinched.
“But it isn’t required,” Liv said definitively. She might not have been good with her magic, but she’d read the books her mother had given her, trying to prepare her for her potential future as a Warrior. She knew that Warriors could choose their own method of training. It could be tailor-made to fit the specific person or customized by family tradition. It was only Councilors who had to undergo a specific education, which Clark would have passed years ago.
“She’s correct,” a young man just in front of her said. He wore a solid black suit and a curious expression. She looked at the spot where he stood and followed it to the family tree. Stefan Ludwig.
“And you want to seek out your own training, thinking it is better than what we can offer you?” Decar Sinclair asked.
“I think it’s none of your concern,” Liv retorted boldly. “If I agree to both train and work cases as a Warrior, you have no room for objection.”
They all stirred uneasily. Clark had never looked so furious with Liv. Still, she kept her chin up and didn’t falter, although the white tiger had risen to his feet and was closer than before.
Adler looked down the table at a few befuddled Councilors but quieted them with a wave of his hand. “I think that if Ms. Beaufont wants to handle her own training, we should fully support her.” He sounded almost giddy.
Decar agreed at once, his light eyes dancing with evil delight. “Yes. To each Warrior, their own.”
Liv wanted to yell at them all, declare that she knew what she was doing. However, that wasn’t true. She didn’t know where she’d get trained, but she knew it couldn’t be here in the House of Seven where she trusted no one. Instead, Liv strode to the empty circle between two Warriors and directly across from Clark. She stopped on top of the only unlit circle in the arc and looked at her peers. “Well, since that’s settled, I’m ready for you to give me my magic back.”
Chapter Eight
Liv looked at the Warriors, who all regarded her with both awe and mild irritation. She felt like a dwarf, standing in the half circle among the fierce, strong soldiers who towered around her. They were all dressed in traveling clothes, many of them bearing sheathed swords on their belt or across their backs. Some had pouches tied to their belts or other weapons strapped to them. Liv nearly laughed to herself, thinking of the sheathed tools she still had in her back pocket from picking John’s lock on his door. She wasn’t just out of her element, she was in a whole new world of weirdos. She tried to remind herself that she used to be one of these freaks before she chose to leave.
On the far side of the chamber, the white tiger regarded her with curiosity as he sauntered in her direction from behind the Warriors. For a moment, she considered that he might pounce and maul her when he neared. She didn’t have time to worry about that, though, because the council stirred, doing something that she couldn’t see.
“Councilors, prepare to unlock Olivia Beaufont’s magic,” Adler stated, not looking impressed by her display as she took her rightful spot.
Liv glanced down at the dimmed circle where she stood. It was hard to believe that only a few days ago, Ian had stood in this spot, ready to do whatever the council asked of him to “protect” magic. Before him, it had been her mother. A cold chill wrapped around Liv’s throat, threatening to close her airway.
She hadn’t allowed herself to think about her mother as a Warrior or how beautiful she always looked after returning from missions, her long, flowing blonde hair a gorgeous chaotic mess and her cheeks flushed from the night air. But even more memorable to Liv was the way her father’s stressed face changed to relief when Guinevere Beaufont walked through the d
oor, safe for another day. She was about to take her mother’s place as a Warrior. Ian’s place. Liv didn’t feel like she was good enough to be here. It didn’t feel like the role fit her, but she was damned if the Beaufont family would lose their standing in the Seven because of her.
This is for you, Mother, Liv thought, looking up at her brother. Clark seemed lost in thought as he punched several keys in front of him. When he was done, he gazed at Liv with anticipation.
“My codes have been entered,” Clark said, his voice clear and loud.
Around him, other Councilors muttered confirmation that they’d done the same.
A decade prior, the House of the Seven had done something risky, at least by her parent’s standards. They’d moved to magical tech, intertwining many of their security systems with technology fueled by magic. Her parents had said that it was dangerous to protect magicians using technology, which was why many had been resistant to register their magic when the change happened. Yet, Liv’s parents, as well as all who opposed the advancement, had been outvoted.
Probably every member in that chamber where Liv stood had a cell phone that looked completely normal but had features unique to magicians. For instance, before Liv had left the House and was stripped of her magic and anything magical, her phone could find lost objects, call people whose numbers she didn’t have, or appear in her hand simply by her intending it. And her phone never had to be charged, since it was powered by the ever-present source of magic. Liv had never been good at using all of the features, though, since it meant she had to have control over her magic. Many times her phone had ended up in someone else’s hands when she summoned it, or it found the wrong lost object.
“All codes but one have been entered,” Adler said, his light eyes cast low on the screen before him. He looked up at Liv, suddenly appearing much older with the lights above him creating shadows under his eyes. “Are you ready, Olivia Beaufont?”