by Helen Harper
I glared at Alex. I knew there would be consequences. There were always consequences when humans found out about shifters. History was littered with examples.
The Arch-Mage picked up the thread again. “Is there anyone to whom this young lady presents a threat?”
Alex shot me another quick look. “Only those dudes who try to hurt the people she cares about, sir.”
I was getting impatient. “See? I’m not going to hurt you or anyone else. Just let my friend go.”
The Arch-Mage silenced me with a look. “One more thing before you go, Mage Florides. Could she perform magic when you met her in Cornwall?”
“Uh, no, sir. I don’t think she knew much about magic, actually. She’d never seen a trace spell in action before, although she could recognise wards. The Cornish alpha had warded a drawer and she knew it was there but not how to break it.”
“Fine, you may go now.”
Alex stayed where he was. “Uh, Your Magnificence?”
“What?”
“Mack is a good person. She wouldn’t hurt anyone unless it was necessary. I know that she attacked Martha and…”
I interrupted. “They attacked me! I didn’t do anything other than defend myself!”
“Mack Attack, dude, I’m trying to help you out here. Shut up,” Alex said kindly. He looked back at the Arch-Mage. “My allegiance is always to the Ministry, sir, and I promise you that she is not a threat. At least not consciously.”
I spluttered. “Not consciously! How could I…?
“Mack Attack, you don’t know that much about yourself. Who knows what you’re really capable of?”
The Arch-Mage’s eyes narrowed at that. “Very well. Leave us now.”
Alex sent me a small smile. I folded my arms and looked away whilst he turned and left the little room.
Once he’d gone, closing the door behind him, the Arch-Mage raised an eyebrow at me. “So it appears you may be telling the truth.”
“Of course I’m telling the truth,” I nearly shouted. “Why would I want to take on the entire Ministry? I’m not a complete idiot!”
He waited until I’d calmed down. “That’s as may be. However I’m starting to get the impression that, whatever you are, you don’t really know much about what you’re capable of yourself.”
I bit my lip. The Arch-Mage continued. “And that concerns me. Mage May told me that you had appeared surprised by what occurred when she placed the necklace on you. “ He jerked his head towards the thing around my neck. “And despite his efforts to stand up for you, Mage Florides has intimated that you do not understand your own limits.”
“But I have no interest in having anything to do with any mages,” I stated firmly. “I am not a threat. Just release the enforced inhibitory gnosis and I promise you will never see me again.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Mack Attack? Is that what you go by?”
“No, it’s just Mack. Well, Mackenzie, Mackenzie Smith. But please call me Mack.”
He ignored my last comment. “Well, Mackenzie, have you ever heard of Helen Duncan?”
I shook my head in the negative.
“She was the last person to ever be convicted of witchcraft in this country. She went to prison in 1944 for almost releasing information that would have had devastating consequences for the war effort. She came by this information through the illegal practice of magic.” He paused for a moment. “It was a very bad time in our history, Mackenzie. The damage she could have caused might have changed the course of history. There is a good reason why your Lord Alpha is so concerned about rogue shifters. Especially now.”
“He’s not my Lord Alpha,” I protested, although I was struck by the Arch-Mage’s last comment. What did he mean ‘especially now?’
“There is also a good reason as to why we are concerned about rogue mages and why your Mrs Alcoon has been placed under enforced inhibitory gnosis.” He leaned forward. “We do not exist in a vacuum. Every decision we make, every action we take, affects the human world. We need to live side by side with the humans; we need to support them.”
I was slightly puzzled. “Aren’t mages human though?”
“Yes, yes, in a manner of speaking. However we do not refer to ourselves as such. My point, Miss Mackenzie, is that we cannot allow unfettered magical beings, whether they are actual mages or not, to roam around the countryside. We have a duty to keep the peace and maintain the equilibrium.”
“I’m not going to upset the equilibrium! Mrs Alcoon is not going to upset the equilibrium!”
“You say that now, but who knows what may happen in the future? I don’t think even you know what you are capable of.”
I held out both my wrists. “So take me prisoner. I promise I’ll be good and I won’t escape. “ I shrugged. “Or execute me if that’s what you’d prefer. But Mrs Alcoon is innocent. Please let her go.”
The Arch-Mage barked out a laugh. “We don’t want or need to go around imprisoning people. We certainly have no desire to suddenly become executioners.” He wrinkled his nose again. “How distasteful. Besides, Mage Florides has vouched for you and we trust our own. In the interests of safety, however, I will require that you submit to training.”
I was taken aback. “Err, training? What, in magic?”
“Yes,” he said impatiently, “in magic. You will travel to our academy – the location of which is kept secret – and live there full-time until such time as your learning is completed. This will enable you to realise your full potential, whatever that may be, and means that we can impress upon you the consequences of you misusing that potential. You may even learn to trust us and to reveal your true self.” He permitted himself a smile. “You never know, I may be able to help you with it.”
I was pretty sure that as Draco Wyr had supposedly been extinct for centuries, that wasn’t going to happen. “And Mrs Alcoon? What about her?”
“Complete the training to my satisfaction and, once you are done, sign a binding agreement that proves you will not use your powers to harm others, and I will free your Mrs Alcoon. Incidentally, where is she?”
“Tir-na-Nog,” I muttered.
The Arch-Mage looked surprised for the first time. “You are friendly with the Fae?”
I shifted uncomfortably. “Just one of them. But I knew she’d be safe there and you won’t be able to harm her. Alex said that it doesn’t end well for people in her situation.” There was a hint of challenge to my voice.
“And that’s because we concern ourselves with the whole of society, not just the needs and desires of individuals, Miss Mackenzie. I thought I had already explained that.”
“Yes, well, maybe you should ask questions first then act later.” I stopped there, realising that telling off the leader of the Ministry of the Mages probably wouldn’t help. “Can’t you free Mrs Alcoon first? I promise I’ll do this training.”
He snorted. “We need something to make sure you toe the line. You don’t strike me as the type who takes orders easily.”
I opened my mouth to protest but he held up his hand. “This is non-negotiable. I will already have enough trouble as it is for offering you this olive branch.”
I was somewhat surprised at this statement. My experience so far had done nothing to indicate that the Ministry was run as an absolute dictatorship. The idea that there were mages who would disagree with their ‘Magnificence’ did not quite gibe with what I’d seen. Still, as I’d been more successful than I could have hoped for, I decided that I’d just have to grin and bear it. I had the horrible feeling that it would be Mrs Alcoon who would suffer the most from this however.
I looked challengingly at the Arch-Mage. “And the Lord Alpha?”
“I will ask him to leave. Although it might be better if you spoke to him yourself so that he is aware you are not being coerced.”
“I can’t meet him face to face,” I said, “I might be able to use the Voice, though. That should be enough.”
For the second time, the Arch-Mage appeared
startled. “You can use the Voice? Not just to answer an alpha but to initiate contact?”
I nodded.
“Are you sure you’re not a shifter?”
I just stared at him.
He looked puzzled, but shrugged. “Very well, I shall lift the nullifying spell that prevents such contact from taking place. Only for five minutes you understand though?”
Ah, I’d been wondering why Corrigan had not tried to use his Voice on me just yet. In fact that probably explained how he’d known where I was in the first place – his previous communication after I’d left the restaurant had been abruptly cut off, probably because of my proximity to the College. It must work in a similar fashion for Solus. I nodded my acquiescence at the mage who moved towards the door.
“Wait,” I said suddenly.
He turned and looked at me questioningly. I guessed that not many people demanded that the Arch-Mage wait but things were kind of going my way. “How long will the training take?”
He smirked. “It usually lasts for five years. It depends on the trainee, really.”
“Five years?” I screeched.
“It’s possible we can fast-track you. It will depend on your progress and abilities. Do you have a choice? Or somewhere else to be?”
I stared at him mutely. He smirked again. I thought about Solus; I couldn’t disappear for five whole years and expect him to continue to look after Mrs Alcoon. Sure, time moved differently in Fae-land and five years for him would pass by in the blink of an eye, but the Fae were fickle. I’d have to talk to him first and solidify our agreement. As for Mrs Alcoon, I’d just have do my best to complete the training as quickly as possible so that she could be freed. What the local police in Inverness would make of her suddenly reappearing after five years’ mysterious disappearance, and after an even more mysterious fire, I had no idea. I’d have to think of something to solve that problem. Perhaps if I played the willing student for a month or two, then the mages would have more faith in me and release her early. I could only hope.
“I will need to make some arrangements first,” I said cautiously.
“Arrangements?”
“If I am going away for up to five years, then there are things that I will need to sort out first. I will do what you want, but you need to give me a day to clear my affairs.” Such as they were. “You have my word that I will return here in twenty-four hours.”
The Arch-mage was silent for a moment, clearly mulling it over. Then, to my relief, he nodded. “Fair enough. You’ve got five minutes now to make your Voice contact with the Lord Alpha then, after he has left, someone will come and fetch you to escort you from the building. I will expect you to return here by this time tomorrow. Goodbye, Miss Mackenzie. But, one other thing before I go.”
“Yeah?”
His eyes grew dark and cloudy. “Don’t fuck up. Or I will kill you.” Then he turned and left.
Chapter Nineteen
After the Arch-Mage left, I pulled myself up to my feet. My hand instinctively went to my cheek. The blood had dried but I had no doubt that the over-eager guard had left a considerably visible bruise. The flesh under my eye was tender and swollen. I sighed and dropped my hand to my side.
Mackenzie?
Here we go. I’m here.
Would you mind explaining to me what the fuck is going on?
I wondered if I was imagining the worry in his Voice. As I believe I’ve mentioned before, I’m no longer part of the Pack. This is not your concern.
It’s my damn concern when the Ministry takes a shifter off the street and holds them against their will.
I tugged at my ponytail, irritably. I came here of my own free will. I’m not a prisoner.
There was a momentary silence before his Voice filled my head again. So tell me why you are here.
The imperious tone was starting to get annoying. No. It’s got nothing to do with you and nothing to do with the Pack. It’s time you left me alone.
I will not allow a rogue shifter to wander around the streets of London making unauthorised deals with the mages! There are rules, Mackenzie.
Screw your rules, Corrigan, and get with the programme. I left so get over it. Go play with the shifters who want you.
Well that’s funny you say that, kitten, because I could swear that when you materialized in my bedroom you wanted me too.
I stiffened. You’ve been Lord Alpha for too long, Corrigan. Your ego is letting your mind play tricks on you.
I don’t think so, sweetheart. But why don’t you come and prove that to me in person. We are in the same building after all.
I’m busy.
He exploded in frustration. Goddamnit, Mack! I need to see you to make sure that you’re alright.
I didn’t quite know how to answer that. I tried very hard to ignore the surge of warmth that his words had caused, quite different to the angry heat of my bloodfire that I was used to. I licked my lips and took a deep breath. And I’ve told you that it’s not your concern.
You’re not feeling ill in any way?
I assure you that I am perfectly fine and I thank you for the thought. But it’s not necessary. Now, with all due respect, fuck off.
I broke off the link. The Arch-Mage would be re-instigating the block any moment now anyway. Sinking back down to the floor, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of utter dejection at Corrigan’s words. He cared for me. He wouldn’t have interrupted whatever he was doing to come over and threaten the leader of the freaking mages if he didn’t care for me. I wondered if it was just because he was enjoying the chase. He was effectively a cat after all – the feline shifters back in Cornwall had often spent more time and effort on chasing the objects of their lust than they had in actually fulfilling the relationships that were created afterwards. I wasn’t just playing hard to get though: there was still no doubt in my mind that if he found out I wasn’t what he thought I was he would rip me from limb to limb and then do the same to everyone else who knew I didn’t have a were. The memory of him sitting in the pub back in Cornwall and dismissing Nick as ‘just a human’ was still remarkably fresh in my mind. For a moment I considered what would happen if things were different. Would I be some piece of eye candy on his arm right now if I really was a were-hamster? It seemed faintly ridiculous. No, I just got under his skin because I’d walked away, that was all. I leaned my head against the wall, suddenly feeling a wash of fatigue flood through me.
There was a noise at the door and the knob turned. It was Alex, looking rather sheepish.
“Hey, Mack Attack,” he said weakly.
“Hey Alex.” I didn’t think I had the strength to say much more to him.
He came and crouched down beside me. “Mack Attack, dude, I hope you’re not pissed at me.”
I raised my eyes to his. “No, Alex. You stood up for me, that was enough.”
“I feel like I shoulda done more, y’know?”
“I get that feeling a lot. I’m sorry I gave you up to your boss.”
He reached out and gently brushed the wound on my cheek. “We can take care of that for you.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s only superficial – I’ll live.”
He nodded. “So, turns out you can do magic as well, huh?”
“So it seems, Alex.”
“Dude, that’s pretty freaky. Can you show me? What else can you do?”
“I’m not a performing seal,” I said irritably, then regretted it. If it hadn’t been for Alex then I wasn’t sure that the Arch-Mage would have given me the time of day. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired, that’s all. It’s not a really big deal anyway, I can’t do that much.”
“You’ve not had any training. Maybe the academy will uncover even more. You’ll become some major kick-ass super-hero.” He deepened his voice dramatically. “Mack Attack, the protector of the people.”
I just looked at him. He shrugged and grinned. I couldn’t help smiling back, despite the energy it seemed to take. Leaning over he grabbed me in a bear hug and squee
zed tight, whispering in my ear. “I’m glad you’re okay, Mackenzie.”
I whispered back, “I’m glad too.”
He pulled me up to my feet. “Lord Shifty has vamoosed back to his lair. His Magnificence has said you have twenty-four hours and then you need to get back here.”
“Why do you call him that?”
“Huh?”
“’His Magnificence’, ‘Your Magnificence’, whatever you say. Why do you call him that?”
Alex looked puzzled. “He’s the dude in charge. That’s what we call him.”
I thought about what the Arch-Mage had said about having trouble with dissension in the ranks. “Does everyone, I mean, all the mages, do they all do what he says? Without questioning it?”
“Dude, I can’t…” Alex’s voice trailed off.
I felt sorry for him and changed the subject. “Never mind. Are you going to escort me off the property so I don’t beat anyone else up?”
He reverted back to cheerful mode. “That’s the plan, Mack Attack, that’s the plan.”
“Can I get my daggers back before we go?”
“Mack Attack?”
“Yes, Alex?”
“Don’t push your luck.”
I raised my chin slightly in acknowledgement, sending a silent apology to Solus for my incredibly brief possession of the weapons, then placed my hand on Alex’s forearm. I wasn’t entirely sure that I could make it all the way to the exit of the College without collapsing but I was damned if I was going to let any of those mages see that they might have managed to beat me into that state.
Once we left the little room, and the cage behind, we emerged onto another corridor that was identical to the one that I’d entered from the garage. This time, however, rather than being impressed by the soft, sinking carpet, I was worried that I’d just trip over it. My whole body was aching now. There was a particularly painful surge in my right leg every time I placed it down on the floor as I walked. One day I’d get that guard back, I vowed. He’d thought that he was being a hero by attacking someone who was in no position to even defend herself, let alone fight back. Well, he’d pay.