by Sarah Noffke
Liv pictured a similar box in her mind. This time it was labeled “emotions.” She visualized sticking all her frustrations and insecurities and anger in the box, then she closed and locked it.
As if she were standing on a desert plain, Liv looked out at the expanse of her mind, the “emotions” box sitting right beside her.
The constant shaking under her feet gently faded until the ground was still once more. The loud rustling of the trees subsided to a gentle melody. The red light tinting her vision disappeared. She suddenly felt each of her senses acutely: The taste of the autumn air, the smell of grass, the feel of the air gently catching in her hair. In her body, she became aware of a force, one that ticked like a clock while also flowing like a river. It was in all parts of her, connected to everything and bound by nothing.
For the first time in her entire life, Liv felt her magic in its purest form. It was all-encompassing, unstoppable, and completely mesmerizing. She saw it in her mind’s eye, flowing like strands of ribbon, gliding across the plains of her consciousness. It moved like a dragon, flying free, unrestricted in this form. She looked down at the emotions box and understood how she now held the reins on her magic. This was completely different than before, when her feelings had been driving the wild beast, allowing it to charge in any direction it wanted.
Opening her eyes, Liv found herself smiling.
“Well, good thing you got that under control before you pushed up all my bulbs,” Rory stated, looking around the now-calm garden.
“So, you made me mad in order to teach me how to control my emotions?” she asked, sort of peeved and also impressed.
“Hard labor is the best way to learn how to restrain your feelings because it’s a humbling act.”
Liv looked at the place where the hole she’d dug twice had been. “It was definitely humbling.”
“Well, and I also knew that the physical exertion would keep your magic from getting out of control,” Rory admitted.
A glass of ice water appeared on the table next to the swing and Rory pointed at it. “That’s for you.”
“Thank you.” Liv strode over, picking up the drink and enjoying the cold condensation on the glass against her aching fingers.
“So, you see how to untie your emotions from your magic,” Rory began. “Now you have to keep them that way.”
“But how? What I feel colors everything from my mood to my tone of voice.”
Rory nodded. “It used to, but now you need to be more careful. People often say that something makes them feel a certain way, but honestly, emotions are always choices. You chose to get angry about me making you re-dig the hole, and then you allowed your emotions to take over. It’s like when someone drives a car. If they become upset, they might start driving erratically, but someone who has mastered their emotions knows better. They deal with the frustration and keep it separate from how they drive. You’ll have to practice doing this with your magic. You have to drive it, not allow your emotions to.”
“Hmmmm…that actually makes sense.” Liv wiped her hand on her jeans, before pulling her phone from her pocket. It was ten minutes to nine. “Oh, shit! I’m late. I’ve got to go to the House of Seven!”
She froze, realizing there was no way she could get to Santa Monica in such a short time.
“You appear lost,” Rory observed.
“I need to get across town in only a few minutes.”
He yawned, unconcerned by her problem. “Make a portal, then.”
“I don’t know how to make one,” she admitted.
“You know where you’re going, right?”
She nodded.
“Then you know how to make a portal,” Rory stated. “Magic is about intention and energy. Combine the two, and you can do many amazing things.”
“But isn’t there a spell or something specific I need to create a portal? I always thought portals were incredibly difficult to produce.”
Rory pushed himself out of the hammock and stretched. “Most magicians overcomplicate magic. Yes, there are spells and potions and many other things we can get into, but the most complicated magic is the simplest to perform. It might tax you greatly, but all you must do is focus.”
Liv nodded and pressed her eyes shut, visualizing the portal location for the House of Seven. Her eyes popped open at a sudden thought. “What if I can’t do it? Can you open a portal for me?”
Rory shook his head. “Confidence is key. The most successful magicians have an ego the size of a giant’s mansion. Believe you can do something and you will. Couple that with humbling activities, and maybe you won’t turn out like most of the magicians I know.”
Liv sighed. Confidence. She had always pretended to have that, but magic couldn’t be fooled. She truly had to believe in herself, not just fake it until she made it, which had been her motto for the last five years.
In her mind, she pictured the location of the Santa Monica entrance of the House of Seven. She also felt the reins of her magic firmly in her control. They could take her anywhere, based simply on her will, so with all her soul, she tried to make herself believe she could go anywhere. She’d seen Clark open a portal last night. She’d seen her parents do it throughout her childhood. There was no reason that she, a powerful magician, shouldn’t be able to do the same.
A light so bright it nearly blinded her with her eyes closed shone in front of her. She thought for a moment that Rory had shined a floodlight on her, but when she opened her eyes, she saw a shimmering archway full of blues and greens.
“That was me?” Liv asked in disbelief. In the same instant, the lights began to fade.
“Remember, confidence is key,” Rory prompted.
Liv nodded, bolstering herself. “Hell yeah, that was me. I created a portal.”
She took a step, about to enter the portal, when Rory chuckled. “Let’s just hope you made it right or it might distort your ugly little human face.”
Liv halted. “Wait, what? Distort my face? And hey, what’s up with the insults?”
He strode over, standing next to her and looking at the portal. “Humans are funny-looking with their tiny features.”
She shook her head at him. “You’re funny-looking, and take up entirely too much space.”
“And you’re stalling, afraid that your first portal will sever you in half.”
“Well, can you blame me?” Liv asked the giant.
“Nope, and that’s why you need tough love.” Rory clapped a hand on her back, thrusting her forward and straight through the portal.
Chapter Nineteen
Liv held her breath as she fell through the portal, a flash of anger at Rory surging through her. She clamped down hard on that emotion though, putting it in the box before it caused her to shake the Earth upon landing.
Her feet hit the ground with a thud, and Liv’s fingertips touched the concrete softly as she realized she was in a crouch. The portal shielded her appearance momentarily when she landed, giving her a chance to right herself before it blended her into her surroundings. Or that was supposed to be how a portal transitioned a person. She’d never made one, and usually had a ton of trouble coming through them.
Liv looked around upon landing, highly curious to see if she’d made the portal right and also wanting to orient herself. Passing out from portal travel would be no good, with no one to help her. The salty ocean air hit her right away, and the sounds mimicked the ones from last night. Liv looked at her right and was relieved to find the Pacific Ocean there, as well as shops and bars on her left.
“So you did it,” Plato said, standing next to Liv and looking around.
“Where have you been? And where did you come from?” she asked.
“Watching you be a gardener, mostly.” He looked at the portal. “Might want to close that thing unless you want to create all sorts of problems.”
“How do I do that?” Liv asked.
“It’s like closing a door,” Plato explained. “You just do it.”
“Oh m
an, why am I seeking advice about this magic stuff when it’s so easy to use?” Liv said, sarcasm oozing in her tone.
Plato walked a few paces away before turning back. “It’s not easy to implement, but the process is mostly straightforward. You’d be amazed how hard it is for people to focus. The keys to a successful life are simple and riches and fame can be achieved through habitual practices, yet few ever get there.”
“If you’re so smart about all this stuff, why aren’t you rolling in dough?” Liv asked, closing the portal and striding after the cat.
“How do you know I’m not?”
She rolled her eyes. “I forgot that you trade stocks. Never mind.”
The pair stopped in front of the Palm Reading shop.
Liv looked at her phone. “Hey, I made it with two minutes to spare.”
She had held her hand up to the door and was preparing to enter when Plato said, “Yeah, too bad you don’t have another extra few minutes.”
“Wait, what?” Liv asked, looking down at him. “Why?”
He shook his head. “No time for that now. You don’t want to be late.”
“What are you wearing?” Clark asked when he caught sight of Liv as she strode down the hallway.
She looked down. Her jeans and t-shirt were caked with dirt, and she realized that it was probably also streaked across her face in places.
“Oh,” she said. She looked around for Plato but realized he’d disappeared again. That was what the feline had meant. “I had a long day, and just came from another thing.”
“Another thing?” Clark asked, eyeing her with disgust. He, conversely, was wearing a dark-blue pinstriped suit and white tie. “You look like you just dug a ditch.”
Liv laughed. “I sort of did. Twice.”
Clark sighed. “You’re supposed to be taking this seriously. Did you even look into getting training or just play in a community garden all day?”
Liv sighed. “I wasn’t off playing. As hard as it is to believe, I was getting trained. I even opened the portal to get here.”
Clark shook his head. “Look, I don’t have time for your games. We need to get into the Chamber of the Tree.”
Liv gawked at him. “I’m not lying to you. I opened a portal. It’s not that hard. Just focus, and bam.”
Clark gave her an annoyed look. “Yeah, ‘focus and bam.’ Very funny. Do I need to pay for your taxi?”
Liv shook her head and charged past her brother. “No, I’m good. I paid for it with the produce I sold at the farmer’s market. Don’t worry, Bro.”
She only heard half the grunt Clark made before it was muffled by the Wall of Reflection. Again, she felt blind. Saw indistinct figures. Heard the chanting. When she could take no more, it spat her out into the Chamber of the Tree, where the Warriors and Councilors stared at her in disgust. In comparison to the regal appearance of the other Warriors, Liv looked like a homeless person. The Councilors all put their snotty noses in the air once they caught sight of her, as if fearful they might catch whatever degenerate gene she possessed.
Liv ignored the stares and marched over to her blue light, taking her position as Clark came through the Wall of Reflection.
“As soon as Mr. Beaufont is in place, we’ll get started,” Adler said, disapproval heavy in his tone.
“Yes, I’m sorry, sir.” Clark climbed the stairs to where the Councilors sat.
Once he’d taken his seat, Adler began. “Now, everyone here knows how the day-to-day meetings are carried out except for Ms. Beaufont, so I’ll take a minute to explain the process quickly for her.”
Bianca smiled and nodded in Adler’s direction, apparently appreciating his consideration of Liv’s newbie status.
“The Councilors meet prior to this to review the various cases that have come in,” Adler continued. “During that meeting, we decide the best way to intervene, and also assign cases to the Warriors at our disposal. We have the benefit of knowing which Warrior’s profile best matches up with the level of difficulty each case is coded with.”
“Has my magic level normalized?” Liv interrupted.
Adler lifted a white eyebrow, giving her an impatient stare. “Olivia, I really haven’t had a chance to review your stats.” He looked down the table at the Councilors. “Has anyone else?”
Raina Ludwig cleared her throat. “It appears that your magic is still surging, and might need another day to even out.”
“Is that normal?” Liv asked.
“Really, Olivia, we don’t have time to discuss the specifics of your magic levels,” Adler stated. “If you need to discuss that, you’ll have to schedule a private meeting with the Councilors.”
“I don’t think my inquiry into my abnormal magic levels is out of line,” Liv countered boldly. “This is my first day on the job, after all.”
The white tiger strode out from the side of the bench, his green eyes on her.
Adler glanced at the white tiger, then redirected his attention to Liv. “Your magic level is the concern of the Councilors, and we’ve taken it under advisement when making assignments today.”
“I thought you said you were unaware of what my magic level currently was,” Liv challenged.
Adler sighed heavily. “I really can’t be expected to remember everything about every new Warrior. Now, if you have nothing else to interject, we will be making assignments.”
Liv stretched her arm out dramatically, offering the floor to the Councilors.
Adler cleared his throat, lifting a pad to read. “Firstly, Trudy and Stefan, we’ve located a group of unregistered magicians somewhere in Bali, Indonesia. The readings have been haphazard, but we believe that there are at least half a dozen. You will go there and bring in the offenders. You have authority to use lethal force on those who resist.”
Liv bit her tongue, although she had a ton of questions and complaints. Lethal force was something that should be applied to those who committed heinous crimes. Someone not registering their magic seemed like a minor infringement.
The two figures beside Liv, a man and a woman, nodded before striding for the door.
“Maria,” Adler said, looking at the Warrior on the far side who had two long black braids framing her face. “A shop in Manhattan has been selling enchanted merchandise to mortals. There have been a series of explosions and some near fatalities. You are to round up the merchandise after bringing in those responsible. You can use any method you deem necessary to apprehend them.”
The woman nodded and marched for the exit without a word.
Adler’s attention shifted to his brother, who was in front of him. “Decar, you’re to continue to work on your current case. The Councilors have reviewed your reports, and we think you’re on the right track.”
The tall Warrior beside Liv strode off at once, earning a glance from the white tiger as he left.
“Emilio and Akio, there are several cases involving gnomes and elves operating outside our agreement,” Adler stated. “You should divide the cases and deal with them accordingly.”
Neither Warrior said anything, only spun and charged for the exit.
“Olivia,” Adler began.
Liv pointed up at the tree where her name was etched. “It’s Liv, actually.”
Clark partially covered his face with his hand, hiding his embarrassment.
“Right. As I was saying,” Adler said, his voice tight, “there is a troll loose in Las Vegas on the Strip. You are to track down this creature and dispose of him quickly.”
“’Dispose of him?’ Are you insinuating that I should kill the thing?” Liv asked.
Adler nodded. “Naturally. It has violated the treaty.”
Liv scratched her head. “Right. And it’s strolling down the Strip doing what, exactly?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Adler answered, his attention on something in front of him. “A public sighting of a troll is unacceptable.”
“It’s not like anyone on the Strip is going to notice,” Liv argued. “The drunk touri
sts probably think it’s just a guy in a suit.”
Adler’s eyes cut to Liv. “It doesn’t matter what the mortals think. The troll must be punished for his violation.”
“How do you suggest I find this troll?” Liv pointed over her shoulder. “Actually, how are any of the Warriors finding those they are assigned to ‘handle?’”
Adler turned to the woman on the far end. “Do you have Ms. Beaufont’s digital codex?”
Hester nodded, flicking her hand and sending a small device over the edge of the bench. It floated down, landing in Liv’s hand.
“You will find the details of your cases in there from now on,” Adler explained. “It will give you some information, but tracking the troll will be up to you.”
“How do I—”
A sharp glare from Clark cut Liv off.
Adler gave Clark a sideways look. “Are you wondering how to track the troll, Ms. Beaufont? Because if you had taken our offer to train, you wouldn’t need to ask.”
“Oh, the House’s training covers troll-tracking on the first day, does it?” Liv asked sarcastically.
Adler peered over the edge of the bench, exaggerating the effort of looking down at her. “What did your training today teach you? How to farm?”
Bianca covered her mouth as a tight laugh fell from it.
“I learned how to control my emotions,” Liv said reflexively, feeling her temper flare. The irony of her statement and the emotional blaze wasn’t lost on her. She pressed all her frustration at the Councilors into the box, kicking it into a corner in her mind.
Adler looked down the row at the Councilors to the left. “Our new Warrior spent the entire day learning how to control her emotions. Isn’t that something?”
“It sounds like a complete waste of time to me,” Lorenzo Rosario said, looking bored as he combed his thin fingers through his goatee.
“I didn’t spend the entire day learning that,” Liv spat. “I worked most of the day.”
Most of Clark’s face was covered by his hand as Bianca laughed even louder.