by MJ Fletcher
“I’m so glad you came back,” Faith said, “I was hoping you would. Does this mean you want to start training again?”
“I might, though for now I just want to check things out. I never really did explore this place.”
“Come on, I’ll show you around.” Faith looped her arm through mine and pulled me along the pathway. As we approached the manor I saw that two men stood on either side of the main entrance, which got me curious since the few times I had been here to train I had never seen any guards.
“What’s that about?” I motioned to the men.
“Oh, that’s a big deal. Ever since the truces fell apart the Orders have only been willing to trust the HVO. They have been acting as guards for us and from what I hear the Mapmakers as well, at least since they lost their artifact.” She nudged me in the arm and I nodded slightly since it had been us who had technically stolen that artifact.
“Why not use DS members as guards? I didn’t think we let other Societies come here?”
“We usually don’t, but with the First Kind no one knows who to trust even among our own.”
“Interesting.”
We stopped in front of the guards and they both pulled out their silver stars, focusing them on us until we were bathed in silver light.
“Two doorknob devices and one Impossible Engineer device, you two may pass.” The guard waved us into the Manor.
My hand unconsciously slipped over my doorknob in my pocket. What had they meant an Impossible Engineer device? I turned to Faith to ask her about it when I suddenly forgot what it was I wanted to ask her. My mind went foggy and I lost my train of thought.
“You have your own team now?” I already knew the answer but I didn’t know what else to ask about.
“Yeah, I’m sure they would rather you were their leader but I am doing my best.”
We entered the manor and I glanced at the floor where the symbol of DS, a huge doorknob with the head of a lion was emblazoned. I found a certain pride being part of it all, but apprehension as well. “I doubt they would want me to lead them.”
“You seem a natural leader, born to it if ever I have seen one.” The voice was unfamiliar as was the European accent that I couldn’t place. I turned to find a man about my dad’s age standing at the bottom of the stairs that wrapped around the room. His hair was black as night and combed back, his skin deep olive and his eyes blue and sharp.
“Who are you?” My body tensed and my hand instinctively went to my doorknob.
“No need to worry, Ms. Masters, I’m Dante the interim head of the Doorknob Society.”
“Of course you are.” I glanced at Faith and she shook her head letting me know she hadn’t been the one to tell him I was visiting here today.
“I’d hoped to be able to talk with you.”
“The last time the head of DS talked to me it didn’t work out too well for him.”
“I am well aware of that, though I would prefer to be judged on my own merits and principals rather than on my predecessor’s inadequacies and mistakes. So if you please, a moment of your time.”
He had a point and I was curious. “Fine.”
“Thank you, your understanding is appreciated.”
I nodded to Faith. “I’ll be right back.” I stepped forward as he reached out and I felt the flow of power as he opened a portal in the wall next to him, and then opened a doorway. He gestured for me to enter and I stepped forward, though stopped for a moment to look at the tapestry hanging on the wall. I’d seen it the first time I was here. It was of my ancestor Ichibod Masters fighting some breakaway group. It certainly impressed and I smiled as I stepped through the portal thinking that perhaps there was someone in the family I actually took after. I entered an office overlooking the grounds of Doorknob Society Manor. Rolling hills of green seemed to extend on forever and for all I knew they very well did since we were in another dimension.
“I’m glad you’re willing to speak with me,” Dante said extending his hand for me to sit in one of the two plush chairs in front of the window that looked out onto the lovely grounds.
I didn’t want him to think that I intended to linger for a nice chat so I remained standing. “What do you want?”
Dante remained standing as well. “I want to let you know that we’re not your enemy.”
“That’d be a change.”
“Chloe, I know you’ve had a bad experience with us. However, I want you to know that the Doorknob Society is not as bad of a Society as you think. I admit that mistakes have been and I will be the first to admit that your family has been made to suffer from them, but I want to correct all that.”
“Why?”
“It’s the right thing to do.”
“You must know that my father is a magician.”
“Yes, I do know.”
“Then you won’t be surprised to learn that he has trained me from a young age to be able to spot tricks and illusions. The key to seeing through an illusion is to know that what you’re being told or shown s is what that person only wants you to hear and see. What you have to look for is what they don’t want you to see.”
“So you think I’m hiding something?”
“I don’t think... I know. You could have introduced yourself to me at any time or tried to make things right with my family. Why wait until now? And by the way, if you wanted to do the right thing, then you would have talked with my dad, not me. So I ask myself just what is it you want from me?”
He chuckled and sat in one of the plush chairs. “You’re a very smart young lady.”
“You can cut out the flattery as well.”
“The flattery is all very true, but yes, I do have other motives. The truces have failed and DS is vulnerable. You’ve become something of a celebrity since the events that brought down my predecessor not to mention your very public battles with the First Kind. For lack of a better term you’ve become the face of DS to many young people.”
“If you say so.”
“Oh, I say so. Faith was not joking when she said they would rather you were leading them. I’ve been asked almost daily when you would return here and start training again.”
“What does that matter?”
“In times of struggle, it matters a great deal. DS has been weakened greatly by Jordan’s betrayal. He populated the reaches of power with his own neophytes and I find myself struggling daily to rid myself of them. DS needs to become strong again if we’re going to survive the battle with the First Kind. Many are looking to you as a symbol of our future and our past.”
“What do you mean our past?”
“That tapestry you saw of Ichibod Masters, he helped to save DS from the Darkwatch and create the truces that in one form or another have mostly kept the peace. The Masters name still carries a lot of weight in DS.”
“So you want my name?”
“Your name certainly doesn’t do DS any harm, but what I really want is... you on our side. If the younger generation sees you committed to DS it will give them confidence to believe that we’ll be victorious at stopping the First Kind.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Make appearances here at the Manor and anything you need help with I will give it.”
“What I want is no leash and to be allowed to do what I think is best.”
“Done.” Dante smiled. “All I ask is to be kept in the loop when you discover anything about the First Kind.”
I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want to be anybody’s puppet and if he thought that’s what he was getting, he was in for a shock. Just how many secret deals had I made? First, I had Dad who me keeping secrets from DS, then Gavin who had me keeping secrets from everyone about me being a Polymorph and helping him learn just what the Societies were up too. Now DS wanted something of me as well. How the hell was I supposed to keep all of this straight? I mean even the First Kind had offered me a deal. I was beginning to feel like I had stepped in quicksand and was sinking slowly.
; “I’ve been ordered by the head of the Council, Mr. Tower to refrain from anything to do concerning the First Kind.” I still wasn’t sure what game Tower, was playing when he had given me the order, but I was beginning to feel like a mouse stuck between hungry cats.
“Tower may be head of the Council but he doesn’t have the authority to command DS members. You will be working for me.”
“Let’s get this straight; I don’t take orders or anything like that.”
“That’s fine, Chloe, and as I said I will reciprocate, anything we can help you with consider it done.”
I wanted to see just what he meant by anything, so I asked, “I’m curious about apprenticeships?”
“Perfect.” He jumped up and hurried to his desk, shifting papers around till he found what he was looking for, then held it out to me. “A list of every open apprentice spot we have, whichever one you want is yours when you finish the Academy.”
“Seriously?”
“Of course, what better way to show unity than to have you accept an apprenticeship with the Society.”
I snatched the paper from him. A list of names with cities and specialties ran down the length of the page. I scanned it quickly and stopped when I saw a name I recognized. “Uncle Archie?”
“Yes, Archibald is looking for a new apprentice. He’d be a good choice, but there are several other high profile spots that could work as well. Look over the list and let me know if any of them interest you.” He leaned over the desk and pressed a button and a small gear turned and a metal bar with what looked like a brass horn spun out of the top of the desk. “Sandra, please forward the most up-to-date apprenticeship positions to the Masters household in Cape May.”
I rolled up the paper and slid it into my coat pocket. “I’ll think about it.”
“Would you be interested in leading a team again?”
“That’s a little much right now. Let’s take this one step at a time.”
“Of course, I don’t want to scare you off like I did your father.” He laughed.
I shook my head. “What?”
“Oh, I thought you knew that I offered your father one of the three DS spots on the Council.”
This was news to me. Dad hadn’t said anything about being offered a spot on the council. “You did?”
“Yes, and I wished he would have taken it. Your father being on the Council would go a long way in convincing people that Jordan’s reign was at an end. Unfortunately, he turned me down.”
Why had Dad kept that from me? I needed to talk with him and see just what was going on, though I defended his decision. “I’m sure he had his reasons.”
“When you see him, do be sure to give him my regards.”
I took that to mean that our little meeting was at an end and wasn’t surprised when he pulled a lever on the desk and a door generated on the wall in a haze of blue energy. I stepped forward, grabbed the doorknob, and opened the door. Faith stood in the foyer of the manor staring back at me.
“Dante,” I glanced back and the head of the Doorknob Society turned to me, “if you’re setting me up like Jordan, it’ll end badly for you.”
He didn’t blink; he stared directly into my eyes and nodded. “Understood.”
Chapter Twenty
Status: The new normal.
“OMG!” You’re here for five minutes and you’re already having meetings with the head of DS.” Faith was talking loudly as we walked down the wood paneled hallways of DS manor. Energy permeated every crevice of this place, doors ran the length of the corridor, and people stepped in and out of them from across dimensions.
“It’s no big deal.” I tried to ignore the people staring at me as they passed by and hearing my name much too often in hushed whispers didn’t help either.
“Do you want to go to the training room?”
That was the one room I was intimately familiar with in this place. “No, I’ve seen that plenty.” We exited the hallway into a large common room with floor to ceiling windows and fireplaces situated on opposite walls. Couches and arm chairs were placed around the room in small groups so people could huddle in conversation. It reminded me a bit of the Reliquary.
Faith grabbed my arm and pulled me to a set of couches where a small group was sitting and chatting. She came to a stop and they all turned to us smiling.
“Everyone this is Chloe Masters.”
Two guys and a one girl stared back at me. They seemed to be about my age or slightly young. I thought I might have seen some of them before, maybe at the Paladin Academy.
“This is my team,” Faith said proudly.
“Hi, everyone.” I lifted my hand and gave a short wave and immediately felt like an idiot for doing so.
The girl stepped forward and offered her hand. “Hi, I’m Mary Hing.”
I shook it and smiled. Her hand trembled nervously and her voice had cracked just a bit as she spoke. Her ink black hair hung in a long braid down her back to her waist. She wore a black skirt and red sweater and though her few words only gave me a slight hint to her accent, I figured she was from Hong Kong. Dad had done a few tours there and I had learned the difference between some of the dialects.
“I’m Jackson and that one’s Hitch; he doesn’t talk much.” Jackson jerked his thumb toward Hitch who sat quietly watching us and nodded in my direction. “So are all the stories about you true?”
“Jackson,” Mary scolded and Faith reached out and slapped his shoulder.
“What? I know she’s done a lot but I half expected her to be ten feet tall.”
“Sorry to disappoint you—and as for the stories—what stories?”
“You have to forgive Jackson, he’s an idiot.” Mary smiled and pushed him and Jackson gave up and slid down on the couch beside Hitch. Who, at this point, was turning out to be my favorite member of Faith’s team.
“I’m showing Chloe around. She never really got a chance when we practiced with our old team,” Faith explained as she shot Jackson a death stare. He pretended not to notice by gazing at the wall as if it mesmerized him.
“I could walk around with you guys,” Mary offered hopefully.
“That’s okay. Why don’t you guys try and get in some practice and I’ll be back later to check on your progress.” Faith took my arm once again and we walked out of the common room and onto the grounds of the manor.
“Nice team,” I offered.
“I guess. Jackson is always trying to be in charge and Mary is always busy asking about you. While Hitch, I don’t think has ever said more than two words to me.” Faith dropped her head back for a moment as if exasperated and let out an audible sigh.
“I’m sure it’ll all work out.”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m cut out to lead like you. When you ran our old team no one ever questioned you, and you always had a plan.”
That was the second time today someone had said I was meant to lead. What was everyone drinking? While I always had plans, they usually failed miserably or got people hurt or worse killed. “Having people follow you isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.”
“You should be the one leading a team not me. I know you’re not sure you want too, but it could be great. You could take over the team and I could learn from you.” Faith spun and grabbed my hand squeezing it.
Her eyes gleamed unusually bright and for a moment a pain shot from the back of my neck through my skull. I pulled my hand away and grabbed the back of my neck.
“Are you okay?”
I opened my eyes and wasn’t quite sure if Faith was smiling or wore a worried look. I gave my head a slight shake and suddenly felt terrible for her situation. Here was my best friend asking for help and I all I could do was think of myself.
“Is everything okay out here?”
I turned to the familiar voice and came face to face with a very handsome man in a trench coat and wearing a fedora pushed high on his forehead.
“Look who we have here, Chloe Masters.”
“Declan?
” I was surprised to see him here.
“You two know each other?” Faith chimed in.
“Declan is a bouncer at The Bronze Compass, we met there.”
“I was right about you; trouble just seems to follow you.” He smiled as he reached up and pulled off his fedora, his blonde hair falling loosely and perfectly around his perfect face.
“What’re you talking about? What trouble?”
“The HVO just detected a surge of Impossible Engineer energy out here. Are you two okay?” He looked back and forth between us.
“We’re fine and there was no Impossible Engineers here with us.”
“Now that’s odd, isn’t it?” He scratched his head.
I swallowed hard, worried that I somehow activated my Engineer abilities and wondered if that was the reason for my headache.
“The HVO is rarely wrong about these things.” The words hung in the air like an accusation, and I really didn’t need this right now.
“There is a first time for everything, and besides, does either of us look like Engineers to you?” I snapped and he chuckled at me.
“No, you don’t.”
“Good, then I think we’re done.”
“Actually, there is one other thing.” Declan said.
“Yeah, and what’s that?”
“You never did answer me about that date?”
“What?”
“You know... me and you going out.” He smiled and I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out. “Should I take that as a yes?”
“No.”
“It’s a no then?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“When you decide what you do mean make sure to let me know.” He winked and walked off leaving me standing next to Faith scratching my head as to just why I was always an abject fool around him.