Archon's Hope: Book III of 'The Magician's Brother' Series

by HDA Roberts

  "Reformed, eh?"

  "More or less..."

  "Mostly less would be my guess," Hopkins replied with an eye-roll.

  "That's not fair," Tethys said, suddenly behind us, "in the old days I'd have had Matty wrapped around my little finger, doing all sorts of degrading and very pleasant things day and night. These days I just have him on speed-dial."

  She put an arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek, which made me smile.

  "I must say that this is rather unusual. Generally Succubae either shit or get off the pot, so to speak. This relationship is rather out of character," Hopkins said, frowning a little.

  "Don't assume the best, Miss Hopkins, I'm playing the long game, here. I told Matty all about it, didn't I?"

  I nodded.

  "Having met your Cathy, I'm revising me estimate. Seventy years, tops. I know what you like now," she said.

  I snorted and kissed the back of Tethys' hand. She trembled.

  "God, you can't even do this normally, can you?" Hopkins said, shaking her head, before looking at her watch, "I've got to go speak to the others about your latest snafu. I'll see you later."

  "Thanks for coming," I said, "and for the talk."

  She pulled me into another hug, patting my back.

  Wait, what was that? Something out of reach, just like before. Damn it, what was I supposed to know?

  She pulled away with a smile and vanished through a portal.

  "Isn't she a little old for you?" Tethys asked.

  "Eew," I replied, "that would be like dating my sister."

  Whoa, and where did that thought come from? I'd only really ever really thought of Hopkins in the teacher context, but now... now I was thinking of her as a friend. A good friend, almost like family.

  "Is that how you think about me these days?" Tethys asked, taking my hand and leading me back towards her office.

  "More like a naughty step-sister," I said before going bright red at my own words.

  Tethys shivered, grinning widely, "Oh, that is just the most perfect answer you could have given to that question," she said, "And, by the way, before we go back in there, remember when I told you that I loved you a little bit?"

  "Hardly likely to forget that."

  "Well, it's not so little any more. Christmas made it worse; now I just want to move into your underwear drawer."

  I looked over at her, "Me too," I said.

  Still not a romantic thing, but she was becoming precious to me as time went on.

  She squeezed my hand, "The second you're free, I'm going to ruin you for other women."

  I smiled, I knew she was only half joking, but the emotions underneath were real. We really were very fond of each other.

  "Oh, and don't turn your back on Karina, she's like how I used to be, only worse. She doesn't have my restraint, and she's under the impression that you won't hurt her because she's related to me."

  "She's got a point."

  "Just don't kill her or amputate anything, anything else is fine if you have to."

  "Not fond of your sister, I take it?"

  "Oh, you know how it is with sisters... they always take your toys without asking."

  Chapter 23

  Cathy and I took the bus back to school after an abbreviated goodbye. I decided to call it a day when Tethys offered to show Cathy the looks on my face when I walked in on her and Kandi. Apparently she recorded everything, and the last thing I wanted was Tethys showing Cathy just how well I slept when I was staying with her for Christmas.

  Nothing untoward happened, I swear, but Tethys didn't really have boundaries when it came to me, and sleeping with often meant sleeping on. I'd rather not put any bad thoughts into Cathy's head.

  "I like her," Cathy said as we walked up the drive hand in hand, "I didn't think I would, but she's nice."

  "She's been a very good friend. And an occasionally diabolical puppet master, but she promised she'd keep that to a minimum."

  Cathy laughed, "And I like Kandi, she's so sweet."

  "They're good people."

  "Kept staring at you when they thought you weren't looking."

  "I hadn't noticed, that skirt you're wearing is shorter than usual," I said with a smile.

  She squeaked and swatted my arm before kissing my cheek.

  "Good answer."

  "You know that you have literally nothing to worry about there, right? You can love as many people as you like, but you can only be in love with one person. And you're her. You get that?"

  "I figured," she said, moving in close. I put my arm around her shoulder, "Nice to hear it, though."

  "A temporary arrangement if ever I heard one," Evelina said from my other side, making me jump and shadows surge dangerously, requiring me to make a frantic effort to throw them back.

  "Damn it to hell, Evelina! I've begged you not to do that!" I growled, my heart pounding in my chest.

  "A little jumpy today?" she asked, sidling over gracefully to plant a little peck on my cheek.

  "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to sneak up on a Shadowborn?" I asked.

  "Actually, sneaking up on Sorcerers is the only way you can kill one without getting burned to a crisp, so my mother actively encouraged my being good at it," the Sidhe said with a predatory look on her face.

  "Well, that's a thought that's going to fester," I said, looking at her, "and what are you wearing?"

  "You like? I had one of my servants base it on that Courtney creature's attire, I know how you enjoy the cut of her outfit."

  She was wearing a Windward uniform, a lot like Mira's actually. A little too tight, a little too short, a little too revealing at the collar.

  "What's this, now?" Cathy asked.

  "Thank you Evelina," I said through gritted teeth.

  The Fairy grinned.

  "Mira's outfit..." Cathy said, tapping her lip thoughtfully.

  Damn it!

  "Still you, though, I should get points for that," I said.

  "You'd prefer it if I dressed more... daringly?" she asked, tugging at her skirt.

  "Not even a little bit," I said, "It wouldn't be you. You are regulation lengths, ties properly tied and I wouldn't change you for anything."

  "Another very good answer, you're doing well today," she said, planting a deep kiss on my lips, as much to annoy the fairy, I would think, as anything else, "talk to your little friend, who must be desperate for some attention if she's trying this hard. I'll see you at Dinner."

  It was after five, Chapel was at seven. Dinner was from half-past five to seven. We usually ate at six, so she sure was budgeting an awful lot of time for Evelina's use.

  "She should be more respectful of Royalty," Evelina said with a pout after Cathy was out of earshot.

  "She thinks you're trying to steal her boyfriend, were you expecting a curtsey?" I asked.

  "I suppose not," she said, looking me over, "you look tired, are you well?"

  "Long day. Black Revenant."

  "Corpses?" she scoffed, "Easy prey for my beloved."

  "She was a Sorceress. A very good one. I have no idea how she was killed by that hack, Caine," I said angrily.

  "This upsets you?"

  "My friend... the Revenant was her girlfriend. They were in love, and they shouldn't have been pulled apart only for that connection to be used against her like this. And if I ever get proof of who did this..."

  Evelina put her hand on my shoulder.

  "You live a long life, Mathew. In time these people will present themselves to you. Then you can do whatever you wish to avenge your friend. Rushing forward without thinking gives the advantage to them."

  "I know," I said, clenching my fists, "I just very much want to hurt them, and I wish to do it now, before they can do something else."

  She smiled, "Not such a goody-two-shoes after all. Good, I'd hate to think you didn't have a dark side."

  "I'm a Shadow Mage, I'm pretty much all dark side."

  She snorted.

  "Walk with
me a while?" she asked.

  I nodded.

  It was actually surprisingly pleasant. I showed her around the grounds and we chatted, nothing too deep. She told me about her home (which was a castle in the middle of a lake, by the way), her large and extended family, her pets, of which one was a Wyvern called Horris. I told her about my home and family. She found it all 'quaint, but nice enough for humans'.

  When the time came for dinner, she smiled and kissed my cheek before saying goodbye and vanishing.

  I instantly missed her.

  Not good...

  Things started to drift back in the vague direction of normal. Evelina showed up once or twice a week, and we chatted. Cathy took part as well and they seemed to get along, which worried me no end. Nothing good comes from letting the women-folk cooperate; they form alliances shockingly fast and we poor men can't keep up.

  I kept working at the Archive and practicing the resultant spell work. I spent as much time with Cathy as she could spare. Over the two weeks following the raising, I checked in on Tethys at least once a day, more often than not in person, just to make sure she was coping.

  When I visited, she tended to grab on tight and not let go. So I sat with her and talked about nothing for hours on end, just helping her to move past it. It wasn't until the end of the second week that she was even willing to discuss Lucy, and what seeing her used like that had done to her.

  "I miss her," Tethys whispered on that second Sunday.

  "I think I would have liked her," I said, "I know that what I saw was twisted from the original, but what I recognised made me think she and I would have been friends."

  "You'd have loved her," Tethys said with a smile. She was sitting next to me on the sofa, her feet on my lap, her head on my shoulder. Kandi and Cathy were playing chess on the other side of the room, and Kandi was winning! I was going to have some fun with that later...

  "She was exactly your sort of tricky," Tethys said, squeezing my hand, "she always thought her way through her problems, just like you. The one time she didn't..."

  I squeezed her shoulders and she brushed her nose against my neck, trembling with emotion.

  "Was there anything I could have done?" she asked in a very small voice, "Could I have brought her out, brought her back from that thing?"

  "No," I said gently, "I'm so sorry, but it wasn't really her."

  "But she knew everything; she knew me. Maybe... maybe I could..."

  "You know I'm not one to get existential," I said, rubbing her hand, "but the parts of us that matter, that can love another person, aren't in the mind, or even in the heart. Love is a matter for the soul; I've actually seen that, in a way. When the Black brought back Lucy's body, that's all it did. The woman you loved is at peace. She never came back. I promise you that."

  She cried again and I held her. Kandi and Cathy pretended not to notice.

  "She... she killed people," she whispered, "I don't know where she went when she died."

  "Anyone who is loved and who loves has little to fear from eternity, Tethys," I said.

  "Really?" she asked.

  "That's what I believe. And from what you've told me of her, she wasn't a murderer. Killing to defend yourself... it's not terrific, but it's far from unforgivable. And I doubt that she was the sort of person who did it lightly."

  She nodded, and seemed to relax a little.

  "Intentions do matter," I continued, "if you try to lead a good life, that's enough for whoever is waiting on the other side."

  "She did," Tethys said, "she was such a wonderful person."

  "Then you'll see her again one day, but not too soon, alright?"

  She nodded, tears streaming down her face as she held on to me. I rubbed her back and just let her cry herself out. It was the best way. She was grieving all over again. I was just glad I could be there for her, though it made me want to hurt whoever had done this all the more.

  Over another hour, Tethys seemed to digest what I'd said and slowly calmed down, relaxing by degrees. Then she wiped her eyes on my sleeve and stood up.

  "Kandi, go get your outfit, I want to do things to you," she said suddenly.

  "Which one?" Kandi asked, blushing, dropping her rook on the chessboard.

  "You know which one, mush!" Tethys said with a sly look in my direction.

  "Cathy, that's our cue, neither of us wants to see that," I said, standing up as Kandi darted for the door to Tethys' rooms.

  "What's that?" Cathy asked as I came over to her with her jacket.

  "Nothing," I said as Tethys started to giggle.

  "Seriously, what?" Cathy said with a smile as I shooed her towards the door.

  "Come to me, Woman, it's time to pay what you owe!" Kandi said from beyond the crack in the door in a deeper voice.

  "Kandi, we're not clear yet!" I shouted, finally using my Will to heft Cathy into my arms.

  "Sorry!" Kandi said as Tethys bent over laughing and I ran out the door.

  "See you Wednesday!" Tethys shouted after us.

  "Matty put me down!" Cathy said with a laugh.

  "I thought you liked it when I carry you," I said, darting through the club room past a bemused looking bartender.

  "Oh alright, then," she said, wrapping her arms around my neck, "but what was that all about?"

  "You don't want to know. I wish I didn't know," I said, putting her down outside the club, where she straightened her jacket.

  "Oh, go on," she said, running her nose along my chin, "Tell your Cathy. I'll make it worth your while."

  I shivered, "That's it," she whispered, "spill the beans."

  "You're getting a little manipulative, you know that?" I gasped as she planted a tiny kiss on my neck.

  "Just with you," she said, planting another one, and then another.

  "It's not my secret to tell, Cath, or I would tell you in a heartbeat, you know that."

  She looked up at me, smiling.

  "Is it naughty?" she asked with a coquettish look.

  "Very, and embarrassing."

  "Oh, alright then," she said before kissing my lips.

  "My secrets, they're yours, all three of them, but I have to keep others people's, or what's my word worth?"

  "Oh, I get it, and I love you for it. It's one of the reasons I know I can trust you," she said, hugging me.

  "Pizza before we go back?" I offered.

  "Sure."

  The bus stop was about a hundred yards away from the school 'gates'. There used to be actual gates, but the wall was knocked down to make a wider entryway about a hundred years ago. There was a pavement running along the edge of the grounds, and two brick columns at the truncated ends of the old walls.

  There was a group of people there as we arrived, some held placards, about a dozen of them. One was in a wheelchair, missing his arms, his face covered with a scarf down to his lips, which were scarred.

  I gasped, "Here, show us those eyes..." the ghastly voice suddenly flooded my mind and my face twisted into a snarl.

  "What?" Cathy asked as I saw the placards. White squares with black pentacles inside

  "Puritus," I hissed.

  "The ones who...?" she asked.

  "Yes," I said.

  "There it is!" one of them shouted, pointing at me, "The thing!"

  Yes. Let them come. Teach them respect.

  The whispers again.

  "Cathy, stay close, alright?" I said.

  She took my arm and pressed in to my side as we walked towards the crowd.

  I had a Will shield in place, just to be on the safe side, which was good, because the first half-brick bounced off within a second of that first step, and then another and another. I stopped moving. They didn't stop shouting, or throwing things.

  "Cathy, hands over your ears. And hum something so you can't hear."

  She obeyed, humming Taylor Swift's 'Starlight' of all things.

  Now this was a cheap little trick, but one that I was rather fond of. It only worked on someone without any mental
defences, and even then only on weak-willed people (but then, how many members of a mob are thinking for themselves?).

  I connected my Will to my voice and spoke, my voice booming.

  "STOP!" I commanded.

  My Will entered their minds through their hearing, and all but two of them froze and shut up.

  "Stay like that until I'm gone," I said, leading a still-humming Cathy away with a touch on her elbow.

  "Don't let him leave!" said the rabble rouser, an older man in a dark suit, with white hair and icy blue eyes.

  "He's taking an innocent with him!" he shouted when nobody responded.

  "Wake up!" said a woman, shaking the man next to her.

  I threw a pair of sleeping spells at them and they dropped like puppets with their strings cut.

  I led Cathy through the gates and patted her arm. She stopped humming and looked around.

  "So now what?" she asked, glaring back at the assembly.

  Well, essentially, what happened was absolutely nothing at all, except that the crowd of fanatics doubled and then tripled in size over the next couple of days. Hopkins was livid and said something about setting them on fire.

  It didn't really change my life much, aside from the fact that I couldn't use the front gates anymore; whenever I went near them, the chanting started.

  Mostly trite crap like 'Shine a light on the Darkness', and other stuff that gave me the distinct impression that they didn't like me very much.

  I could live with that. It wasn't the first group of people to hate me.

  Naturally, dominating their minds and putting them to sleep didn't help my side of the argument any...

  That was the situation for a while. But then the TV cameras showed up and things started getting a little tense. That's the thing about hate... it spreads. And as much as Saturday morning cartoons would like to tell us otherwise, love doesn't spread faster.

  Cathy and I were in Kimmel's common room with Bill on a lazy Thursday afternoon. They were playing cards and I was dozing, waiting my turn.

  Someone turned the TV on.

  "...and that's when he just attacked me!"

  That voice again... "Here, show us those eyes..."

  I turned to see a news report, from right outside the gates. An older gentleman with greying hair and wearing a casual suit was interviewing one of my attackers, that one who'd been in the wheelchair.