Mage of Shadows

by Austen, Chanel

  The night when I had burned Two-Bit returned in that moment. But it wasn't his screams I remembered, but my encounter with the first mage I had met at the university that occurred after. I remembered his dangerous grin, his easy use of power I couldn't yet comprehend… calling me by name, telling me to be careful. I hadn't gone out since, and hadn't heard from him either.

  If I kept under the radar, they would leave me alone, because I wasn't powerful enough to be a threat. What could I do against these people, anyways? Carmen could take me apart by herself and she wasn't even a full member. Danae and her muscular friend, or that person at the memorial service whose will was so imposing that he could take away my ability to even perceive magic? Every mage I met always seemed to be an instant away from sending me to the morgue.

  But then again not Nishi or Jimmy though. Not Max… or Emily, who died because she wanted to change things… and hadn't Carmen said that Emily wasn't alone in her thinking? There were obviously mages that were dangerous, bad. But just like everywhere else there were people trying to do the right thing even if it wasn't easy.

  I could turn away… if I didn't believe there was a chance to do good here. But there was though.

  Carmen saw it in my eyes even just as I came to the realization myself. She bowed her head and pushed away what remained of the food in front of her, "Alright, then. I tried, I really did." She seemed apologetic, and I didn't really comprehend why until what happened next.

  A heavy hand clapped down on my shoulder causing me to look up in surprise. I saw the easy grin of the Indian mage I had seen walking out with Danae earlier. Though he looked pleasant enough in that moment, my heart hammered furiously against my ribcage.

  "You did try." He said to Carmen, "But he chose. And now it's time for the next step for him."

  "The next step?" I managed to squeak, even as his grip tightened and I felt myself being lifted to my feet.

  "The next step," He repeated cheerfully, "Come with me, Stratus, we're going to have a talk. My name is Vivek, but you can call me Vik."

  As this 'Vik' led me out of the cafeteria, I took one last look behind me at Carmen. The girl hadn't moved from her seat, made no protest about me being dragged away… but her eyes followed me, unhappy and defeated. They were the eyes of someone watching another person marching to their death- soon to be a casualty of war.

  More than Vik frog-marching me towards the doors of RT, more than his pan-sized hand clamped down on my shoulder in an iron grip, Carmen's defeated look scared me the most.

  I had made my choice and now I would face the consequences whether I liked them or not.

  Chapter 6: Feared New World

  There's a sort of exhilaration that comes with meeting new people- not quite the same exhilaration that comes when going down the steepest hill of a rollercoaster, but similar in a way… sort of like standing by the edge of the cliff, safe and secure in for footing. But just standing there, staring down and being unable to see the bottom, fills you with anxiety.

  Will they like me? Why not?

  Are they important to others, or to myself? Will they be?

  People are deeper than what lies at the bottom of a simple cliff. It takes years to fully know a person, to learn everything about them… and even then you're never quite sure if you've really explored every hidden crevice.

  Because unlike cliffs and what sits at the bottom, people can and will lie to you. All the way up until the day they die or you do. It's not wrong per se, its human nature to grease the spinning wheels of social interactions with white lies. But the untruths people will tell to protect hidden shames, are often far more insidious than simple white lies.

  Vik loosed his grip on my poor shoulder as soon as we exited RT. He then calmly walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. He promptly pulled out a cigarette and a plastic lighter. He took a long steady drag, a well-practiced smoker. His beady eyes were focused on my own as if he were attempting to discern the contents of my soul. It was disconcerting, but I didn't turn my eyes away from Vik, nor did I attempt to walk away from him.

  He had been right, I made my choice. There would be no walking away now.

  "I've heard about you." Vik said, smiling at me. He had a dangerous kind of smile, it reflected the predator I could sense within him, hidden just beneath the surface.

  "Really?" I said, managing a dry laugh, "I'm famous, people I never met have heard about me. I'll have to phone my folks."

  My new companion didn't laugh at my attempt at dry humor, instead he leaned forward, "I've heard you have the ability to set a man ablaze with just a thought."

  Two-Bit's dying screams and violent thrashing came to the forefront of my mind immediately, I desperately pushed them away and swallowed, "It's not my proudest ability; I'm not very good with fire yet." I admitted, trying to get distance from both the memory and conversation.

  Another drag from his cig, still studying me. It was unnerving- though I tried to seem calm under his scrutiny. Vik's thick eyebrows scrunched together curiously, and he ran a finger down one cheek as he considered me, almost puzzled. Like I had said something he hadn't quite understood.

  "You don't know." Vik murmured, more to himself than to me, "You don't understand the significance…"

  "What?" I asked, puzzled. What didn't I know? This conversation wasn't going quite the way I thought it would.

  Vik ignored my question to field another one of his own, "Do you know how Julius Caesar died?"

  What kind of question was that?

  Still, I responded to the best of my weak knowledge, "Er, he was murdered by Brutus."

  "Not just Brutus," Vik corrected absentmindedly, flicking away ash from the end of his cigarette, "A group of senators led by Brutus killed Caesar together. They stabbed him over and over long after the killing blow was made. Do you know why?" The pause was too short here for me to guess, "Because they were angry and afraid. Caesar had taken Rome and turned into an empire that only he ruled. They had lost all of their power and Caesar was foolish enough to think that they would be okay with that."

  He took a long drag of his cig here, and we sat in silence. I wasn't sure what to say, or what the point of the story was.

  "According to lore, Caesar was a mage." Vik said as matter-of-fact despite my surprise, "Supposedly what really separated the plebeians from the ruling class in Rome was the fact that magical ability was far more common in the elite. It was a right to rule over the masses, back in the old days. No mage had to hide himself; they were respected as the rightful rulers of the human race. Two mages birth a mage almost always. Hence mages married other mages, no mixing with… lesser classes."

  Vik turned to laugh at the dumbfounded look on my face, "Of course, you don't know any of this. With the advent of Christianity, then Islam, really monotheism in general, the world became a very different place… the Vatican especially was renowned for its destruction of Old World records that had anything to do with magic. Still, it lives on with us. Magic is a birthright, and its prevalence is starting to spike again."

  The playfulness he had had with Carmen was gone, and it had been replaced with a passion that I didn't understand or expect from someone who looked like he could crush my head using one enormous hand, "How do you know all this?" I managed to say finally.

  "You learn a lot in college." Vik said with a mysterious smile, "Granted I'm a bit more interested in true history than others, understanding the past is key to understanding the present, right?"

  "Right."

  He laughed, "Are you agreeing with me because you think I'm right, or because you're afraid of me?"

  "Does it matter?"

  "Yes, of course it does." Vik said, sounding surprised that I might think otherwise, "Choice is a fundamental right of humanity. We choose our actions, Stratus, and suffer the consequences. Our choices can lead to the development of the greatest civilizations on Earth… and they have always led to their eventual collapse, as well."

  At that moment, a couple
walked through the gap between us and we didn't speak for several breaths as they passed, chatting obliviously with each other. I watched them go; half-wishing I could follow and leave Vik behind.

  The other User was staring after them as well, but for very different reasons, "Look at them." Vik said quietly, "They're free, Stratus. They can say whatever they want, whenever they want, with no consequence. This is the land of the free… if you're Normal. But us, we have to constantly watch ourselves. How is that fair?"

  I sensed the question was rhetorical, but answered anyways, "It's not."

  Vik looked at me again, beady eyes glittering ominously, "No, freshman. It is fair, because we chose this. We chose to hide in the shadows, integrate into society and get normal jobs while having our little secret meetings…" I could hear the anger and disgust dripping in his voice, "We're afraid of them, but we shouldn't be. They should fear us."

  It was something that I had thought about before. Why did mages hide? Because we knew we were different, and people didn't like different. When entire races had been persecuted for simply the color of their skin, the religion they practiced, or the language they spoke… then mages would obviously be nothing but freaks to be destroyed.

  "There are too many of them," I said quietly, "That's why we're afraid. One mage is strong, but there are billions of Normals. How many mages could possibly exist?"

  He smiled dangerously, "More than you think, my friend. There are over twelve mages at this university alone, at this moment. Do you realize how significant that is? Our population is growing, exponentially from what it was in the past. Covens are bursting at the seams due to all the new members being acquired in the past twenty or so years. You know the real reason why the dam hasn't burst? Why we're still in hiding?"

  I shook my head.

  Vik clenched a fist, "Because we're too busy going for each other's throats rather than focus on conquering the real enemy. We should be focusing on the Normals."

  He saw the look on my face and shook his head quickly, "Don't get me wrong! I don't mean killing them, far from it. But we should be on top, we're better than them. Tell me you don't agree with that."

  I couldn't say it, because I knew he had a point.

  "This country is already rotten." Vik continued, "Greed has corrupted any morals it once held, and trust me when I say that the only reason the government hasn't become overrun with mages is because coven law prevents us. That will change, soon enough." The older student looked at me again, gaze calculating, "You made your choice to join, but you didn't really know what that would mean. I have to ask if you still will, even though I can't tell you everything. I have to ask for your trust and loyalty for a cause that you don't quite understand yet… but what I can tell you is that joining us is the right choice."

  "So you're saying I have another choice?" I said, a wry smile playing across my lips, "I thought there was no going back already."

  Vik matched my smile, "You chose blindly, and that's no choice at all. I tried to shine a little light on the situation without giving away too much, because I'm bound by The Laws not to do so. I know it's still a little dim and unclear, but what in life isn't? We don't know the future, not really. All we can do is march forward, and try to make the right choices when we're faced with them. Don't you agree?"

  He stood and dropped his cigarette to the ground. I followed its short arc with my eyes, and saw it had been burned to the bud. Without preamble, Vik's foot came down to crush it. He then held out his hand to me while offering a winning smile at the same time.

  "Yeah," I said quietly, "I agree with that." And I gripped his extended hand with a loose handshake, and I felt him suddenly grip it as if we had just been magnetized to each other, eternally tethered as comrades fighting for a just cause. As mages, I could sense him as well, that always familiar spark that traveled up my arm like a playful reminder of the power we shared.

  Vik's smile widened as he felt the same from me, and his grip tightened further as he said, "Welcome, brother. We're going to do great things together, I know it."

  I wanted to believe him, I really did… but as the rare fall's sun hid its face behind the clouds and the sky darkened, Vik's grin seemed to take on a sinister quality, and I felt as if I was shaking hands with the devil himself.

  Am I really his brother, I thought to myself even as I smiled, or am I simply like that cigarette to him?

  Lit up and used until it is burned away to nothing.

  Then immediately tossed away to be squashed underfoot.

  111

  I had been drawn in further to the sociopolitical miasma that was the Archanos society, yet in the days that followed my strange conversation with Vik I was able to walk feeling like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I no longer felt the urge to check behind me when walking back home alone at night, and I felt free to speak to Nishi and Jimmy about all things magical. Archanos was on my side now; or rather I was on their side.

  Decidedly tired of pestering my parents for money, which seemed like a constant fight that I would much rather avoid, I got a job at the Science and Engineering library, on the very slow weekends. It was a very lackadaisical type of job that mostly consisted of managing the front desk, where I did a majority of my studying, and 'tidying up' the various floors, which I spent taking long breaks with Raj, who shared shifts with me, and any other friends I could convince to visit and keep me company.

  For the moment, everything seemed to be going right. I had managed an 88% on my second Bio exam, which was huge for me. It wasn't the grade I wanted but it definitely showed progress in the right direction. I had never felt better motivation to study in my entire life. For the first time, I actually cared about school.

  Weird.

  When I wasn't working at the SEL, I was at the UGL or in class. My schedule was simple and consistent, I would wake up; go to class or the library. I had early morning classes three days of the week, so the other days I was at the library alone for at least two hours. It was dead silent in the morning, most students weren't at the UGL until ten or eleven, and I found it relaxing to work with absolutely no distractions. Even Eliza wasn't there that early, which emboldened me even more. I was actually studying harder than Eliza. Not sure when I turned into such a nerd, but I was kind of enjoying it to be completely honest.

  During the day my time was equally split between classes, studying in my little corner, and visiting the busier side of third floor whenever David and Raj were around. I could recognize their friends- now my friends too- by name. I was no longer the freshman roommate, but a comrade in the eternal war against scholastic failure.

  And trust me when I said that these students had experienced enough educational hell to wholly treat it like a real war.

  I was let in on the secrets of success as a pre-med, or student in general. This wasn't just study tips from Eliza; these were entire battle plans for future fights that every student faced. Fitting in classes in the right way for the maximally efficient schedule, when I needed to keep a job and when it would be too difficult, even what classes I should attempt to test out of so I could save time and money.

  I discovered what teachers to take and when to take them, and who would write the best recommendation letters for the least effort. The easy A's, the difficult but worthwhile classes, where to get test banks- the list continued on and on. I didn't keep a record; Eliza scribbled it all down to the amusement of our veteran pupils. They lamented about how lucky we were to have them, they had to learn through first-hand experience. David and Raj mostly just watched, with twinned smiles of amusement.

  I remember asking David why they bothered to help me, introducing them to their friends and persistently attempting to bring me into the fold of normal campus life when I resisted for weeks on end.

  David shrugged, eyes distant as he sipped his drink absentmindedly while staring at the TV, "I guess it's because someone did the same thing for me when I got here. You're a nice guy, Strat, a little secretive but
who isn't? When I first got here I didn't know anyone either. Even now most of the friends I have are because of Raj, he attracts people. Then when they get annoyed by him sometimes, I keep them around."

  It was a vague answer, but I didn't push the subject, which David quickly changed anyways.

  "Raj told me you asked about Carmen?"

  I winced, wondering when this would be brought up, "I didn't know she was your ex, honestly. I just thought she was cute." The lie came easy enough; I had been waiting for this conversation.

  David nodded, but his questioning gaze didn't shift away from me, "Sam told me you were at RT, a couple days after you talked to Raj."

  "Er… that was for something else, really. I was visiting someone else."

  Still, his stare didn't break, "I know, Janine said she saw you walking out with Shah."

  I stared back blankly, confused by both unrecognizable names, "Who?"

  "Vik." David amended, "Are you planning on rushing APA, Nick? Not many people get in, and the ones that do…" He looked genuinely worried, "It's kind of a strange group, really varied. No one really understands what they get up to. No one except members can even get into the frat house."

  I cursed inwardly about how easily David had found out about my comings and goings. At the same time I had to marvel at the seemingly effortless ability, because it seemed like he didn't even try to find out what I was doing, people told him offhand. It was equal parts scary and admirable. It was like he had his own personal spy grid.

  "I am planning on rushing." I admitted, there was no point denying it now.

  "Why?" He asked curiously.

  I contemplated for a long moment how to respond, I didn't see the conversation heading in this direction. "They're the most exclusive frat on campus," I finally said, "I just was wondering if I could make the cut. If not… oh well, right? It seems like good networking."

  David nodded slowly, networking was something he understood. "I get that," He replied, but shook his head, "Just be careful, Nick. I mean… they're alright people, for the most part. I've never had a real problem with any of them, even Carmen, but like I said… they're really secretive."