She tilted her head, as if she couldn't understand me. "Are you really from some alternate dimension where all the evil magicals were banished three hundred years ago?"
"The story I was told was that we were trying to live freely, lost a war, and were banished," I said. "But yes, I am from New Salem."
"What do you mean, live freely?"
"Live in a world where magic can be practiced in the open," I said, pressing the book to my chest.
"That sounds like a great world to me," she said with a huff. "But Mom said that James Riley wanted to enslave humanity or something like that."
"He might have," I said, recalling it being mentioned once or twice in my history lessons with Master Jones. "But it's been three hundred years. He's long since dead."
"Do you want to enslave humanity?"
My brows shot upward. I was at a loss for words.
"So last night, we had a big clan meeting about…well, about you. Mom stood up in front of everyone and told them to be on the lookout for you 'cause you're here to cause trouble. But…" She tilted her head. "I mean, I guess you're powerful. But you don't look evil."
Still at a loss for words, I looked down at my clothes then back at her.
"I mean, look at you. More like a lost puppy. A really preppy lost puppy. Where'd you get that get-up?"
"Get-up?"
"Your clothes," she said. "You look like you just stepped off Martha's Vineyard."
"Are these not typical?" I asked, looking down. "I tried to mimic what I saw on the street, but—"
"Oh, well, yeah. There are a lot of rich boys in town right now on summer vacation," she said. "You know, beach and all that. But I guess you sort of fit that vibe."
"I honestly have no idea what you just said," I replied, as my cheeks warmed.
To my surprise, she smiled. "You really aren't from around here, are you?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
She took a hesitant step toward me, then another—then held out her hand. "I'm Mora. Mora Carrigan."
"Gavon McKinnon," I said, shaking her hand. Her skin was soft, unlike mine, which had borne the brunt of cold winds my entire life. "If I may ask, what's your specialty? I can't seem to figure it out."
"What's a specialty?"
"It's the type of magic you have," I said. Perhaps they called it something different now. "Some people are Warriors, some are Charmers or Enchanters…"
"Oh, right. Mom said something about that," she said with a nod. "We don't have any of those anymore."
"I'm sorry…what?" No specialties? That was ludicrous. "How is that even possible?"
"Apparently, there was some agreement right after…well, all you guys had your big war or whatever. Everyone on this side agreed to get rid of specialties."
I furrowed my brow. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"So is Warrior magic." She snorted, but there was no malice in her gaze. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard of."
Again, we shared a smile and my cheeks were now growing warm, although it might have had less to do with my embarrassment and more with this bold girl in front of me. From this angle, I could see down her shirt, my gaze drawing to the separation of her breasts, nestled in a corset—
"Well, you're still a guy, I guess," she said, placing a hand on her hip.
"I'm sorry, you just…don't look like anyone I've ever met before. Your clothes are…" I cleared my throat. "Aren't you a bit indecent?"
She burst out laughing, her guffaws booming and loud, but somehow still endearing. This girl wasn't meek or mild, and I rather liked that about her.
"You and my mother could start a club. But it's hot outside."
"Right," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. It still felt warm to the touch. "There's no sun in New Salem, so this warmth takes some getting used to."
She made a sound and there was pity on her face. "There's no sun?"
I shook my head. "The land is dark, barren. No water other than a magical wellspring. The food is only what we can breed and create with magic."
"So you've never even had a burger?"
I shook my head. "I don't know what that is."
The curiosity grew on her face. "So, you really have no idea what anything is, do you?"
"I do have an education. I know physics and mathematics and—"
"Ugh, like that'll help you in the real world. I mean like TV and burgers and cars and…" Her grin widened. "Are you hungry?"
"I…suppose?"
"I'm starving," she said. "If you promise not to enslave humanity, I'll show you a few things. Starting with lunch."
Six
It was rather fortuitous, I thought, that I'd happened upon Mora. I had thousands of questions about everything, and she seemed willing to answer all of them. As well as she could, anyway.
"A car," I said.
"Yeah, you put gas in it, turn on the ignition, step on the pedal, and vroom-vroom!" she said, guiding me down the street. "They also have airplanes—which are like cars, but they fly in the sky. Like a bird."
"Fascinating," I said, watching these so-called cars rumble by. "The nonmagicals really are quite adept, aren't they?"
"I guess," she said, taking my hand. "C'mon. I'm starving."
She dragged me into a dimly lit building that smelled absolutely delicious. She leaned against the counter and smiled as the pockmarked teenager blushed and wrote down what she said.
"Thanks, Timmy," she said with a sultry wink. How she could get away with such acts was beyond me, but it was fun to watch her work. She took two white paper cups and sauntered over to a dispenser of sorts, where fizzy dark liquid came out.
"What's this?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Soda," she said, handing me one. It had a tube sticking out the top, so I pulled off the lid. She sighed and placed her hand on top of mine, sucking the tube. I followed suit and grimaced as a vile, acidic taste filled my mouth.
I coughed. "What is this?"
"It's Coke," she said. "You don't like it?"
I licked my lips. After the initial shock wore off, what was left was a sweet tang. I tentatively drank more. "No, it's not bad. It's different."
"This is so ridiculous," she said, leaning against the table and chewing on the tube. "You have no idea what anything is. Not even a straw."
"Which part of this is a straw?"
She flicked the tube on my drink then turned as the pockmarked teen called a number. She retrieved two bags from him and beckoned me to follow her out into the sun once more. We sat underneath a multicolored shade, and she handed me a warm bag that wafted a delicious aroma my way.
"Do I gotta show you how to eat or…?"
"I think I understand this part," I said, fishing a long, yellow piece out of the bag. "What am I about to put in my mouth?"
"Potato," she said. "Heard of that?"
"In a book," I said, taking a bite. It burned the roof of my mouth, but it was so delicious, I didn't care. It melted in my mouth, and I savored every last drop. Truly, I had been underprivileged to have never had food not touched by magic.
"You seem to be enjoying that," Mora said with a giggle.
I swallowed and took another bite, closing my eyes. "Most of what we eat, besides the meat, is created by magic."
"How does that even work?" she asked, slowly dragging her brown nugget-like food through a red sauce.
"Well, Enchanters have the ability to stretch and grow things," I began, picking up another stick. "So they could take a small piece of this potato and turn it into a thousand more."
"Oh wow," she said. "But I thought you can't create new things from magic?"
I smiled. A girl who knew her magical theory. "Exactly. So they fake it with…other things. Our bread is made from a tiny speck of bread and…dirt."
"Gross," she said, scrunching her nose. "You mean, you guys eat dirt?"
"It tastes…well, I suppose I've never really had bread not created by magic, so I don't know the differen
ce."
"Here." She picked up the other part of my meal and handed it to me. "That's got bread in it."
I took a bite, my eyes widening as the flavor exploded in my mouth. Every piece of meat I'd had before then had been a cheap imitation of the real thing, the bread no more than the dirt from which it had been made. I chewed slowly, savoring every moment, before washing it down with the soda once more.
"Well?"
"Incredible," I replied. Her gaze rested on me, warming my cheeks as she toyed with her food, an unreadable smile on her face. "What is it?"
"I've just never met anyone who's had an orgasm after a bite of a burger before," she said.
I blinked. "A what?"
"Like, when you're having sex, and you, you know…" She closed her eyes and made a few noises. I quickly reached across the table to quiet her, my face growing even warmer.
"Oh yes, I'm quite aware," I said. "Was that how I looked eating this food?"
"I mean," she giggled again, and I liked the sound, "kind of."
"I'll have to be more careful," I replied, picking up the meat again. I kept my gaze on her and took a bite, a smile teasing the corners of my mouth as she watched expectantly. "How'm I doing?"
"PG," she said.
"PG?"
"Like, at the movies, when you go, there's a rating system," she said.
I shook my head, confused.
She sighed and put her chin on the heel of her hand. "Never mind."
As I ate (making sure to school my face), it was my turn to watch her. Even without free magic, she had an energy that was addictive. Her gaze danced around the restaurant, landing on the shop across the street. There was a little bit of red sauce on the corner of her mouth that I wanted to wipe away. Her golden hair swung from the gathering at the top of her head when she moved. Nothing against the girls in New Salem, but I think I preferred Mora.
"What?" she asked, catching me staring. "Do I have something on my face?"
"No," I said, swallowing. "I just find you interesting."
Her lips parted and her blue eyes widened, giving her something of a younger expression. A nervous chuckle rumbled through her words. "Why? You don't know anything about me."
"I'd love to learn more," I said. "About you, about this place. The name of whatever I'm eating."
The shock wore off. "You're eating a burger—hamburger. This place is Salem and it's boring as hell. And me…" She shrugged her brown shoulders. "I'm not that interesting."
I certainly begged to differ, but didn't push the point.
"I'm in high school," she said after a moment. "I'm gonna be a senior in the fall. Still not sure where I want to go to college. Um…I hate physics."
I perked up; finally, something I understood. "You're studying physics?"
"Studying?" She snorted. "Barely passing is more like it. Math has never been my strong suit."
"I wonder how much of it has changed," I asked. "After all, if there's burgers and…cars, and all this change, I'm sure the world of physics has matured."
She held out her hand, as if summoning something, then grimaced. "Oh yeah. I'm fucking grounded."
"Grounded?" I put two and two together. "You mean a magical restriction?"
"Yeah, grounded." She huffed and dipped another potato stick into the red sauce. "I had to go to summer school 'cause I failed physics. And…" She shifted and cast a wary glance in my direction. "Technically, I'm supposed to be at the library studying. And technically, I guess, I'm supposed to go back to the compound if I run into any evil men."
I actually found myself grinning. "I'll certainly keep my eye out for any."
Her eyes lit up, and she stole another potato. "If she knew I was out with you right now, she'd kill me." Somehow the punishment didn't sound so bad. I wondered if Mora was one of those children who delighted in giving their parents trouble. But it had been several hours since I'd left. Presumably, Alexandra would notice my absence once she and Cyrus finished sparring.
"I should probably return home," I said with a sad sigh. "My mistress will be wondering where I've run off to. Until I'm officially inducted…"
"Inducted?"
"Yes, it's the last step before I become an official member of my Guild."
She reached across the table and took a potato stick from my dwindling pile. "And then what?"
"I…" I furrowed my brow. "I don't know. Up until a few days ago, I was going to continue experimentations on the magic binding us to New Salem." A smile grew on my face. "Perhaps now I'll learn what I can in this new land. I'd love to see Rome. I wonder if it's anything like Julius Caesar." I tilted my head. "Do you still read Shakespeare in your time?"
She snorted. "You have to be the biggest nerd I've ever met. Next time I have a book report, I'm coming to you."
"There's precious little to do in New Salem," I said. "Reading nonmagical books is strictly forbidden."
"Ooh, rebel," she said, leaning across the table and taking more food. "Well, if you're going to be exploring the world, you should definitely expand beyond Shakespeare. Go to music festivals. Concerts. See a movie! Go to Disney World!" She began counting off other things on her fingertips, and I had no idea what any of them were.
"Would you go with me?" I found myself asking.
Her counting ended, and her eyes grew wide. "What?"
"I know nothing about anything," I said. "I could use a guide to help me make sure I'm getting the most out of it."
She grinned. "That sounds like a better way to spend a summer. You do the magic, I'll tell you what's a burger and a French fry."
It was faint, the tug from Alexandra, and I sighed. "This may have to wait. I have to return to New Salem."
"Are you gonna come back?" she asked.
I smiled. "As soon as my chores are done tomorrow. I'll meet you here. It should be around the same time."
"It's a date."
New Salem was bleak and hopeless compared to the shimmering daylight of the new world. Perhaps it was also the lack of Mora that added to its dullness. The girls in New Salem were certainly pretty in their own way, but they lacked that rebellious fire. I couldn't wait to return to the world to see more of her.
Before all of that, though, there was the matter of my induction to be concerned with. Now, more than ever, I wanted to be free of this cursed tether to Alexandra. It wasn't just a nuisance—it could lead her to the tear. And I wasn't quite ready to share it with anyone yet.
The house was quiet when I returned, and I crept down the hall to Alexandra's study, not wanting to rouse Cyrus, if he were home. I listened for the rustling of papers then softly rapped on the door.
"Enter."
I cracked open the door and slipped inside. The study was filled to the brim with books. On days when I cleaned her room, I'd had a chance to peer at her titles, but today, I kept my gaze on the woman herself. She was lounging on a chaise, her black boots crossed at the ankles and a large tome in her lap. Her brow was quirked up in curiosity as she waited for me to speak.
"You called for me," I said.
"Yes, because it's late, and I can't have you gallivanting around the village," she said, eyeing me. "Where have you been?"
"Around."
She closed the book and considered me. "Am I boring you with my questions, Gavon? Is there somewhere more important you'd rather be?"
There was, but I couldn't very well tell her about it. But there was something I could do.
"I want to be inducted," I said simply. "What do I have to do?"
She chuckled and leaned back on the chaise, surveying me with sharp brown eyes. "What do you think you have to do?"
"I…don't know, that's why I'm asking."
"Gavon, you're a smart boy."
I didn't like it when she played games with me, but I kept my temper down. "You said to prove to you I should be inducted. I don't know how I can do that."
"A good first step is coming to ask," she said, tilting her head. "What else do you think I want
from you?"
Damn it, just tell me. "I honestly have no idea."
"I suggest you do some thinking," she said simply, returning to the book.
That wasn't an answer—it was more of the same. Anger burned a hole in my tongue, but I kept my lips closed except to utter, "Yes, Mistress."
Seven
A night's rest calmed my rage somewhat, but it still simmered beneath the surface. Alexandra enjoyed torturing me—why, I had no idea. Perhaps it was merely because she was, as she said, embarrassed by me. Embarrassed or not, Alexandra wouldn't keep me as her apprentice forever.
Dutifully, I did my morning chores and put the kettle on for morning tea. The key to my induction couldn't be demonstrating servitude, for I'd done that in spades for years. Perhaps one morning I would stay in bed and let Cyrus bear the brunt of Alexandra's rage.
Instead, I assembled bread and cheese on the serving plate and walked out into the dining room.
Alexandra was already there, as was, surprisingly, Councilman Rogers, an old Enchanter way past his prime. Wiry gray hair grew out from all angles of his head and came out of his bulbous nose. His face was always a shade pinker than everyone else's, a testament to his love of beer, most of which he made himself. He'd yet to pass on his spellcasting knowledge to any younger Enchanters, and therefore was the only beer-maker in the village, probably why he remained on the Council.
I summoned a fourth tea cup then set the bread and cheese in the center of the table, quietly greeting him with a nod.
"These boys have been taught well, Guildmaster," Rogers said, looking at Alexandra. "A humble Warrior is a strong Warrior."
"Indeed," Alexandra said, glancing in my direction.
I helped myself to the food. I took one bite of the bread and almost spat it out. It had no flavor, or perhaps, having tasted something more palatable, going back to my magically-created diet was a shock. Everything at the table looked gray, ashen. Unappetizing.
"Something wrong, Gav?" Cyrus asked, seeing through my attempt. "You look as if you've swallowed a fly."
"Not at all," I said as evenly as I could. I imagined the beautiful blue ocean I'd seen the day before to steady my pulse. The waves rolling to the shore then back again, as if magic imbued their very form. But water wasn't magical. I'd have to ask Mora how it worked. Thinking of the new world was a salve to the reality of sitting in a room with an old Enchanter, a smug apprentice, and my infuriating mistress.
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