Cursed

by Christina Bauer

“Back to work.” Sophia snapped her fingers.

  The first guard stepped forward with a small blue box in his hands. Sophia turned to me. There was a flash of some emotion on her face—regret, maybe?—before she went back to her old sleepwalking self. With half-hearted motions she opened the box and pulled out a tiny snake about two inches long. My shoulders tightened. That serpent radiated the same solid energy that I’d felt from Rowan’s dagger and Hestia’s mark. More hybrid magick. I couldn’t guess what it was for, but I knew it couldn’t be anything good.

  “Raise your left arm,” Sophia ordered. I did as she asked and was proud when my hand didn’t shake too badly.

  Sophia gripped my wrist. Her papery skin felt cool against mine as she set the tiny snake onto my palm. I froze. What if I have another reaction like I did with Rowan’s dagger? It might expose my true identity. My heart pounded so hard, it felt like it had crawled into my throat. I watched speechlessly as the snake wriggled to wind itself around my thumb. My own liquid magick stirred within me. The solid hybrid magick pushed back. A flare of purple light appeared on my palm.

  “Is that right?” asked the guard. “Usually, that light’s blue.”

  “I’ve seen purple before,” said Sophia casually. “You keep to guarding and leave the magick to me.”

  She had? I didn’t know much about hybrid magick, but Rowan’s dagger had let out a purple light for me, but not for Jakob or any of the other Casters. Once I got the chance, I’d have to ask Sophia about that.

  The tiny snake felt chilly against my finger as it solidified into a metal ring. At the same time, the metal loops about my wrists took on the texture of snake scales.

  Sophia pulled off the ring and held it up. “This now contains some of your magick. If you ever leave the Midnight Cloister, we’ll be able to track you when you cast.”

  “Yes, Sister.”

  “And these.” She tapped my manacles. “You can only get a few leagues from the wall before your irons will start to kill you. Don’t bother trying to escape.” She stepped to the next girl in line.

  The others went through the same so-called ceremony, but I could only focus on the changes in my enchanted manacles. I’d placed a spell on my totem ring to break any magickal irons, but that incantation wasn’t likely to work on a hybrid spell. That meant that even if Rowan got me my totem rings, they were useless to me.

  I needed another way to remove these manacles and their hybrid magick.

  I scanned the Cloister, desperate for anything that might be of use. There were boarded up windows. Sentinel spirits. Old boxes stacked by the wall.

  Hold there.

  Those boxes were the same ones that the little girl had just jumped behind. They were weather-beaten and cracked, but the image of a red swirl was still clear on one of them. That mark meant Creation Casters.

  My pulse picked up. Even back at the Zelle, we kept some of their herbs and animals from the Creation Casters. A place like the Midnight Cloister should have an even better collection. The most likely places to look were in the library or the storehouse.

  Sophia’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Congratulations. You’re all officially Novices in the Midnight Cloister. I’ll take you to the dormitory now. The other Novices await you.”

  Turning on her heel, Sophia marched us into a long covered hallway that led through a maze of buildings. I kept watching for other Sisters, but there were none to be seen. How could that be? We hadn’t heard from the other Cloisters in years, but that didn’t mean they were all empty. A place like the Midnight should be mobbed with Sisters. So, far I’d only seen Sophia.

  Who was left to sing at morning spell-work? Who celebrated the gifts of the Sire of Souls?

  At length, Sophia led us to a bright blue door that was flanked with guards in black armor. “Go inside,” said Sophia. “We’re done with you for today.”

  The guards ushered us into the dormitory. The space was a long and rectangular with a low ceiling. One tiny window-hole looked out over the floor. Cots lined either wall. It reminded me of the Zelle, only everything was larger. At one time, this room had been nicer as well. Now the wooden bedframes were cracked, the mattresses torn, and the blankets all had holes.

  A few dozen girls milled about, all of them in gray Novice robes. None looked older than twelve. The realization made me ill. What was the Tsar doing with so many children? A voice broke through my thoughts.

  “Hello.” I looked down to see the little girl from the courtyard. She blinked up at me with huge brown eyes.

  “Greetings,” I said.

  “I saw you before.”

  “I know you did.”

  Nan stepped up to whisper in my ear. “Watch yourself, now. If we’re going to escape, we can’t go picking up strays.”

  “It’ll be fine.” I knelt down so the girl and I were at eye level. “I’m Elea.”

  “I’m Ada. This is Wulf.”

  I looked from side to side. “Where’s Wulf?”

  “He’s invisible. He runs off all the time, too. Let me show you where he hides.” Ada gripped my hand, dragged me along, and told me all about Wulf’s adventures. I tried to enjoy her sweet tales, but I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened today.

  Sophia had said there would be an Initiation ceremony before the Tsar arrived. That must be when they gave the Novices their marks. But what did the marks do for the Tsar? I thought through every spell that I knew. Nothing explained what Viktor was really up to.

  I only hoped to figure it out before Sunday.

  Chapter Nine

  “Elea, what’s wrong?” It was Ada. Judging by the curious look on her face, she may have been asking that question for a while before I noticed her. We’d been sitting in the Novice’s dormitory ever since Sophia dropped us off.

  “Hmm?” The last time I’d paid attention to Ada, she was saying something about her invisible friend.

  “We have to get your Novice robes,” said Ada. “Everyone’s going.”

  “What, the guards don’t take us?” I asked.

  “No, silly. You have your irons on now. Besides, the guards block all the places where we’re not supposed to go.” She lowered her voice to a kid whisper, which was to say, no whisper at all. “Ute and I know ways around them, though. It makes the guards so angry.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I noticed.”

  Nan stepped up. “We better get going. There’s dinner after this and I’m hungry.”

  Dinner. At the Zelle, the Sisters always joined the Novices for meals. This place was so huge, there had to be some Sisters around. And I needed a chance to talk to them. Dinner might be my best chance. “I’m hungry, too,” I said. “Let’s get going.”

  Ada showed us to the cloakroom. The other new Novices were already there, toying with their garments. The first time you see Necromancer robes, they seem like an impossible puzzle of ties and fabric. The previous group of Novices were trying to help, but I only saw them making the new arrivals more confused. This was my chance to quickly choose the right robe and make my way to the dining hall alone. I needed some quiet time to talk to the Sisters.

  While everyone tore through the many armoires of robes, I quickly grabbed the right size, quickly got dressed, and headed off for dinner.

  The feasting hall was a cavernous room made with wooden pillars, plaster walls, and an arched ceiling. Row after row of long tables and benches stretched across the rectangular floor, all of them empty. Cobwebs swung lazily from the ceiling. This place could have seated two thousand Sisters easily. Right now, there was only me and a few Sentinel spirits who lurked in the corners. Maybe these knew something that could help me.

  I strode over to the spirits. Every movement I made seemed to echo loudly through the empty space. It made the lack of other Sisters here all the more noticeable.

  The two Sentinels were tall, middle aged, and wearing Mistress-level robes. In life, they’d had the classic Necromancer look with their long black
hair, pale skin, and elegant features. They also held themselves board-straight and with carefully controlled faces. If you didn’t look closely, it would be easy to miss the gleam of hatred in their eyes.

  I paused before them. “Greetings.”

  Their serene faces contorted with silent screams. One crumpled to the floor in pain as, bit by bit, both of their mist-like bodies faded away.

  Soon, they were gone.

  I set my hand on my throat. How horrible. I knew exactly what spell had been placed on those Sentinels. It was another kind of curse that prevented them from interacting with the living. Usually, this was only done to punish a Sentinel who’d done something especially evil. In this case, I feared that Viktor didn’t want the Sentinels talking to anyone.

  Rage tightened up my neck. Sentinel spirits gave up their eternity to serve a Cloister. This is a terrible misuse of their trust.

  A shuffling sound echoed in behind me, followed by the low warble of elderly female voices. Some actual Sisters were coming into the feasting hall. I straightened my robes and tried to relax my cramped shoulders.

  You only have until Sunday, Elea. Don’t let anger stop you from getting the information you need.

  I carefully approached the pair of Sisters who’d entered the hall. The two were frail and stooped, with gray hair and twitchy movements. The first set out wooden bowls while the second ladled in marrow pudding. I approached the first Sister.

  “Greetings.” She gave me a blank look and continued with her work. I tried again. “Would you like to eat with me?”

  She shot me a wary look under her heavily-lidded eyes. “You’ve no mark. It’s against the rules.”

  I glanced around. “There’s no one’s here but us. I won’t tell.”

  “It’s the mark.” She scratched at her shoulder. “It’ll hurt.”

  My brows lifted. “So if you break the rules, then the mark hurts you?” I lowered my voice. “What does it do, exactly?”

  The second Sister grabbed the first. “Over here. I need your help.”

  “But I need your help, too,” I said lamely.

  The pair hurried away. I tried to follow them, but they slipped behind a servant’s door that locked soundly after them.

  I stared at the closed door and tapped my foot. So, the mark knew when a Sister was doing something against the rules, it somehow hurt them as punishment. There were some Necromancer spells that could do that, but you needed to be connected to the master mage. And that kind of magick had limits. The master mage could either keep a lot of short distance connections… Or build a handful that stayed in place over long distances.

  I thought about pounding on the door, but that’s when the other Novices trudged into the room. I’d never been around many young girls, let alone a few dozen in one spot. I’d expect them to have more life about them, like Nan and Ada. Instead, they all had the same hollow and hopeless look as the other Sisters. Veronique and her friends walked in next, looking as sad and frightened as the rest. They slowly filled up a few lonely tables in the vast hall.

  After that, Nan and Ada burst into the room. The empty space reverberated with their energy and life. Nan had clearly given up on ignoring Ada. Now, the little girl was clutching to Nan’s ankle as the older girl dragged her around, asking “Where’s Ada?”

  It was ridiculous. Nan knew we’d all been kidnapped under a dark purpose. That’s why she’d asked for my help escaping. It was insane to be playing around with a child right now.

  It was also wonderful. I couldn’t help admiring the two of them for seeing something to laugh about in this prison.

  Nan walk-dragged Ada up to the table. “Have you seen Ada?”

  “Why no, I haven’t. Wherever could she be?”

  Ada hopped up to stand straight. “I’m right here, sillies.”

  “So you are.” I patted the stretch of bench to my left. “Why don’t you have some marrow pudding?”

  Ada slipped in beside me and Nan took the seat across from us. We all dove into our bowls. I didn’t even mind the foul taste, I was so hungry.

  Ada scooped in a mouthful of pudding and I considered what she said back in the dormitory. She and Wulf could go anywhere they wanted. What had she seen? When I spoke again, I took care to keep my voice low. “Ada, what do you know about the Tsar’s marks?”

  All the color drained from Ada’s round face. “Nothing.”

  Nan lowered her voice. “Come on, now. You can tell us.”

  “No. Sophia says no talking about that.” Her lower lip trembled.

  A pang of guilt tightened my chest. “It’s all right, Ada. Maybe another time.”

  Another Sister marched into the room. “Greetings,” she said in a clipped tone. “I am Marlene, Mother Superior of this Cloister.” She was middle aged, tall, and lean with a single lock of white hair striped along her temple. Her robes were Grand Mistress level and every inch of her was focused and intense. She wasn’t controlled in the classic Necromancer way, though. Something greedy and overpowering bubbled behind her smooth facade.

  Marlene waved to the door. “Sophia! Come here.” The elder sister shuffled to stand at Marlene’s side. “Sophia tells me that you all have completed the ceremony to become Novices. My congratulations. I’ll initiate you all as Sisters Thursday night.”

  Sophia’s eyes widened. “Not Sunday morning? We always do it right before the Tsar arrives for the Examination Ceremony. And… everyone?” She shot a glance at Ada.

  “We’re doing it Thursday night this time.” A hungry look gleamed in Marlene’s eyes. “It pleases me.”

  “But only the elder girls, am I right?”

  The more Sophia worried, the brighter the gleam in Marlene’s eyes. I’d seen that look before. My barn cat Lucy used to get that gleam when she had a mouse on her claws. Some creatures just liked to torture others.

  “Things are changing,” said Marlene. “The Novices will be initiated on Thursday.” She smiled at Ada. “And it will be everyone this time.”

  Sophia’s eyes glistened. “You can’t mean that.”

  Ada bounced a little in her chair. “I want to be a real Sister,” she whispered.

  “Shh,” I said. “There’s no rush to get the Tsar’s mark.”

  “We’ll discuss this later.” Marlene returned her attention to the room. “Greetings once again. I’m sure Sophia has given you an introduction, but I find that you Novices are a brainless lot who rarely listen. Best if I repeat things now.”

  The young Novices looked crestfallen by her insult, and Marlene seemed to like that even more.

  “Thursday night, I will give you all the Tsar’s mark. You’ll then become full Sisters. The Tsar himself will arrive soon afterwards for the Examination ceremony. If he examines you and finds you strong enough, then you may join his entourage.” She clapped her hands with glee. “The Tsar graces us on every equinox, but this next visit is very special.”

  Interesting. Novices always practiced spells on the equinox because that’s when their powers would be strongest. I wondered if the Tsar wanted a performance of some kind.

  “I have important news,” continued Marlene. “For the Tsar’s next visit, the Vicomte will be joining us in person, as will Genesis Rex himself.”

  I forced myself not to smile. Rowan’s missives had worked. He’d be here on Sunday. And I wasn’t the only one who was pleased with Marlene’s news. At the mention of the Vicomte, Veronique visibly brightened.

  Marlene’s nose flared with disdain. “That is all I have to say. You may all sup now. Don’t be gluttons.” She sashayed out the door with Sophia following closely behind. I was sorry to see Sophia trapped with that kind of evil.

  Once we were alone again, Veronique rose to speak. “Ah, I can only imagine how worried the Vicomte is right now.” She fluttered her hands by her throat. “Imagine. Me, his beloved ward, torn away from him!” She exhaled a dramatic sigh. “I wouldn’t wish to be Mother Superior when he learns what’s happened to me.”

>   “Be quiet.” A Novice leaned in closer to Veronique. “We don’t speak ill of Mother Superior.”

  “She’s giving us a chance to join the Tsar’s entourage,” added another. “Once we’re Sisters and have his mark, he may choose us.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. Their faith in Mother Superior and the Tsar seemed absolute. This could only cause more problems. It would be harder to murder someone with loyal subjects nearby.

  I tapped my spoon against the wooden tabletop. Things were becoming trickier by the second. I needed more information and fast. “Ada, you know how to get places, don’t you?”

  “Oh, sure.”

  I lowered my voice. “If I wanted to get into the library or the storehouse, how would I do it?”

  “Forget the library, you’re too big to climb in.”

  “What about the storehouse?”

  “Oh, Sophia might assign you to work there.”

  Nan looked up from her bowl of pudding. “They make us work?”

  Ada nodded. “The storehouse is one of the places you can go. I’ll talk to Sophia. Maybe the three of us can work there together. It will be so fun!”

  “The storehouse,” Nan said slowly. “That’s by the back gate, right?”

  “And the back wall.” I didn’t need to add that the back wall was the same as the front, complete with guards.

  “I like the storehouse,” said Nan.

  I knew what she was thinking. Escape. My thoughts were elsewhere, though. I needed some Creation Caster magick so I could break these enchanted manacles.

  Ada grinned. “I’ll ask Sophia. She’ll get us all assigned there in the morning. You’ll see.”

  “I hope so.” Because right now, my many years of planning all came down to whether a six-year-old girl can get me into a storehouse.

  Chapter Ten

  I lay on my back and stared up at the ceiling of the Novice’s dormitory. Everyone else was asleep, based on all the soft snores and creaking bedframes. I closed my eyes, whispered Tristan’s name, and quickly drifted off.

  My dreams took me back to the kitchen in my old farmhouse. Tristan stood before the fireplace, his face looking more pale and haggard than ever.