“Let’s find somewhere private to chat, Wedd,” she said as I joined her in the foyer. That seemed slightly mysterious, but I was excited to learn more about what was planned for me.
She called through the gap in the Administration office window for Carter to help Gypcie. We walked across the foyer and then turned right to step into the Faculty Lounge. Ms. Usher asked the two Council of Venice soldiers stationed there, dressed in their typical white uniforms with light blue berets, to give us the room for a moment. They nodded and stepped into the back portion of lounge, leaving Ms. Usher and me alone in the front.
“I wanted to talk to you for a moment about your initiation into the Templars,” she began. “As you know, Innsmouth Academy is largely funded by the Illuminati in keeping with the faction’s history on this island. What you may not know is that I am not Illuminati.”
My eyes widened a bit at the information, although it wasn’t an incredible surprise. Even though the Illuminati funded the school, it served students with many different backgrounds, which was part of the reason I had been able to convince my mother to send me here. It made sense to me that some of the instructors came from different factions as well. I said as much to Ms. Usher.
“It also helped that your mother and I were acquainted.”
“Well, yes,” I said, not understanding. “You met her when she dropped me off at Innsmouth Academy four years ago.”
Ms. Usher smiled gently. “That is not when we first met, Wedd. We met at Temple Hall about 15 years ago, when I began my faction training to become an agent.”
My jaw dropped. Ms. Usher was a Templar?
“My family are Templars, proper old Templars. The house of Usher, aye, that's hilarious,” she noted, with a dry smile. “Once I finished up with the basics, I decided I didn’t want to be an agent, and I was tired of the bustle of London besides, so I took this position to trade an overcrowded island for a quiet one, for a peaceful life.”
She pursed her lips. “Before life went and said bollocks to that.”
I nodded firmly in agreement. It may have been a sleepy place once upon a time, but there was nothing quiet about Solomon Island these days.
“There was something pure ironic about the move too, you know. My kind weren't popular in these parts three hundred years ago,” Ms. Usher gestured vaguely in the direction of Kingsmouth Town. “Witches, not Scotswomen.”
She gave me a sly wink. “It's occult suffrage in action.”
“But what did your family say when you moved here?” I asked.
“They didn't disown me when I said I wanted nothing to do with anyone's army or the posturing and scheming. The ‘my cabal is bigger than your cabal,’” Ms. Usher said. “That's worked out right well for us so far, hasn't it? I didn't come here for the Templars or the Illuminati. I came here for the kids. And that's why I'm staying. I came here for kids like you and Gypcie. For the ones who come back, for the ones who won't. For Carter, who's brushing up to be one of the most powerful mages on the Atlantic seaboard, but just wants to be a girl. One out of two's fraught enough.”
She paused, lost in thought.
My head spun as I considered the implications. Ms. Usher, a Templar here, in an Illuminati school, teaching magical children. Who else knew this about her? Her next words jolted me back to attention.
“Are ye sure about this, Wedd?”
I cocked my head at her in confusion. “Sure about what?
“Are ye sure ye want tae join th’ Templars?”
She held up a hand as I opened my mouth to assure her I was.
“Jest hear me out,” Ms. Usher continued. Her brogue was starting to surface, so I knew that she was serious about what she was telling me and perhaps just a little upset. “Ah ken ye’re excited tae put on th’ red uniform and gang tae London tae join th’ barmie to sae th’ warld, but there’s a lot ye don’t quite kin yit abit the…complications bein’ an agent brings. Th’ varoous factions, despite whit yoo’ve seen haur at Innsmouth Academy, hae troubled relationships. Things will be required ay ye that may…change how ye feel.”
She took a deep breath to calm herself as she worked to get her brogue under control, looking at me gravely. “The Templars are all abit tradition an’ loyalty, but ‘at can be a burden in and ay itself. Havin' th' reit bluid.” Ms. Usher paused as if waiting for me to understand what she meant. I was a little confused. Brogue or not, I followed her words, but it sounded like there were broader implications.
“I ken ye want to follow in yer mother’s footsteps, and that ye ha’ a fine Templar family name, but ye have been chosen by Gaia as weel. That alone means the implications of joining any faction for ye are vera long-lasting. Ye ha’ choices. I want ta make sure ye ken what ye’re getting into. Ha’ ye done any research on yer other options?
Of course, I knew about the Illuminati, having come to Innsmouth Academy to school, and meeting Renee had given me a little insight into the chaos-focused perspective of the Dragon. I told her what I knew.
“There are other factions as well,” Ms. Usher said, her brogue pushed back into hiding, “which we don’t hear as much about because they’re not as large. Druids, Ourobori, Freemasons, even the Phoenicians. The Council of Venice keeps them all in line and away from each other’s throats, most o’ the time.”
I looked at her in surprise. I hadn’t realized there were so many different factions. Still, I didn’t want to be in any other faction. I wanted to be a Templar, like my mother. Even if she wasn’t a Bee.
Ms. Usher cleared her throat. “Here’s the point, Wedd. Once ye’re in, ye’re in. It can be difficult to…change course or leave. Ah was only able ta come here tae Innsmouth Academy because the Templar leadership felt Ah was in a position tae influence up-and-coming agents, loch ye.”
Why would anyone ever want to leave the Templars? I wondered. I’d been waiting my whole life for the chance to join! Still, her words had given me pause.
Ms. Usher looked at my face and bit her lip, unhappiness crinkling her brow. “Ah’ve said tae mooch already. And Ah certainly don’t want to dampen yer enthusiasm. It’s yer life. I suppose I’ve jist become attached tae ye girls an’ I’m nae ready tae lit ye gang.”
She put an arm around me and gave me a hug.
“But, of course, my history puts me in the position to be of a little more assistance to you, Wedd,” Ms. Usher continued, speaking slowly and clearly. “I still have contacts at Temple Hall, which is how I’ve been able to get word to you about your mother. I spent three years there before I moved to Solomon Island to take this teaching position.”
Ms. Usher put both hands on my shoulders and looked at me squarely.
“During that time, I met many of the people you’ll be meeting soon. Dame Julia. Brigadier Lethe. Richard Sonnac—he was still just an agent then,” she said, smiling as my eyes lit up. I suspected she knew about my little crush on Richard Sonnac. It was a poorly kept secret on campus. Probably because I talked about him all the time.
“I knew your father somewhat better than your mother. Now he was a dab hand with a sword. Your mother only stopped in for brief visits here and there, since she was busy raising you at the time. Before she went active again as an agent when you came to us.”
Now she had my full attention. My father?! And he was a swordsman? Was he also a Templar? It sure sounded like it. Of course, I was clear that I had a father somewhere in the world, but my mother had raised me by herself and was decidedly closed-lipped about providing details about him. I wanted to ask more, but Ms. Usher was still reminiscing.
“I give them a lot of grief, but the Templars were ahead of the curve among the factions in pushing for a proper magical education. Oxford, Uttar Pradesh, Cairo, et cetera. Of course, their reasoning was a bag of shite. It's got bugger all to do with entitlement and everything about sorting out your place in the world. But, you’ll run into them that still hold those opinions when you get to Temple Hall.”
She shook her head. “Och, I don�
�t want to influence your views any more than I already have. You’ll find out soon enough what’s in store and make your choices as you do.”
Ms. Usher nodded her chin firmly to punctuate the comment, then changed the topic. “I’m sorry tae say it, but your mother isn’t able to come get you right now to take you to London herself.”
That wasn’t really news. I nodded. I wasn’t happy, but neither was I surprised. I’d hoped I’d get a chance to see her and have her help getting settled in London, but she stayed really busy out in the field on assignment. It wasn’t unusual for me not to see her for months at a time.
“So, I’ve contacted Temple Hall and made arrangements to have an agent come to pick up you. They should be here tomorrow.”
A thrill went through me. Tomorrow! I had to finish packing. I’d leave before Gypcie even. I’d be traveling to London and meeting a real Templar agent!
She smiled at my obvious excitement, then added. “It’s no secret, really, these things that I’ve shared with you. But, it’s also not something that I broadcast, if you get my meaning. So, in your excitement, there’s no need for you to share the parts of our conversation that don’t pertain to you in particular, eh?”
I nodded my agreement. I was headed for London tomorrow!
“Ms. Usher!”
We both turned at Gypcie’s urgent call. She rushed up to the threshold of the Faculty Lounge but slowed to a stop as she stepped through into the door. We had both had to learn not to startle the Council of Venice soldiers who normally stood armed with assault rifles at the inner doorway.
“Ms. Usher, come quick!”
“Whit is it?”
“Carter has…has accidentally lit the dorm building on fire trying to kill a pair of arcane cadavers. We could use some help,” Gypcie panted out, bending over as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Och! Let’s gang swatch. That lassie will be th’ death ay me,” Ms. Usher headed out the door Gypcie had just rushed in and ran across the foyer and down the front steps to the yard with Gypcie and me hot on her heels. “Carter! Carter! Ur ye aw reit?”
CHAPTER THREE
Refusal of the Call
“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to go.”
I started taking the shirts I’d folded out of my suitcase and reached behind me to grab a hanger from my small dorm room closet.
I couldn’t get the picture of Carter out of my head, her face covered with soot, standing helplessly in front of the dorms, as Ms. Usher ran over to put the fires out. She was working so hard on gaining control of her powers, but in the stress of combat, they were unpredictable. By the look on her face when we ran up to her, I could tell she felt terrible about it. Ms. Usher had things set to right in no time, and the bricks were only slightly scorched, but I felt awful about it, too. Innsmouth Academy needed more help, not less, to deal with everything these days.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous, Wedd. You’ve been planning for this for years,” Gypcie said to me incredulously. She was sitting cross-legged on my bed hanging out with me while I finished packing. “What is going on in that head of yours?”
I set the pile of shirts down on the bed next to her, then bowed my head and scratched my forehead, the obnoxiously short chunk of my bangs that never seemed to grow out swinging forward as I did. I sighed in irritation and sorrow. “I can’t bear the idea of leaving Ms. Usher and Headmaster Montag with no help. How will they keep the wards refreshed? Who will be here for Carter? To make sure she has someone to talk to and someone to hang out with?”
“Uh, you mean like Danny?” Gypcie said dryly and stuck her tongue out at me. “She probably would prefer hanging out with him anyway. That is if she can talk Montag and Ms. Usher into letting her go to Kingsmouth.”
“I still don’t think she and Danny are dating.” Danny Dufresne was a local Kingsmouth boy who holed up from the zombies in the Kingsmouth skate park. Carter had gotten into a pile of trouble a few months ago sneaking out to meet him and had been on house arrest more or less ever since, after giving the headmaster a near case of apoplexy.
“Whatever. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.” Gypcie grabbed the pile of shirts from the bed and stood to put them back in my suitcase. “You’ve got some martyr complex, you know. Who says it’s your responsibility to fix this? The Illuminati will send some agents or something to help out.”
“I don’t want to leave you either,” I wailed.
“Well, too bad,” she said intently. “I’m going whether you go or not.”
She put a hand on my shoulder to take the sting out of her words. “Wedd, this is just change. We’ll get through it, and we’ll stay friends, regardless of where we are in the world. I’ll write to you every week and let you know what’s happening and you can do the same for me. Ugh. I can’t wait until you get a cell phone. It would be so much easier to just text or tweet to you!”
It was true. We could stay in touch despite my lack of technology and exchange addresses once we both arrived at our new locations. I know Gypcie thought it was weird I didn’t have a phone, but I didn’t have anyone besides my mother to call, and with her being out on assignment most of the time, I couldn’t call her anyway. Being a single mom, she’d decided that particular expense could wait until I was older. Maybe I’d be able to get one once I was in London.
I nodded to Gypcie in acknowledgment, but I was still glum about one thing in particular. I decided to share my pain with her.
“I don’t know how to get in touch with Renee,” I said quietly. “I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again.”
“Oh, Wedd,” Gypcie said, her face filling with understanding. She gave me a quick hug. “I’m sorry about that. Do you have a phone number for him? I could try to get in touch with him.”
I shook my head sadly. “We only went out when he was in town. I never got it from him because…no phone. I don’t know how to get in touch to let him know where I’m going.”
“Maybe Ms. Usher would be willing to give him a message?”
“Ugh.” I pulled a face at the thought. “That’s presuming he actually asks her about me. Remember, I’ve been trying to keep it on the down low. He knows I didn’t want her or Montag to know I was seeing him.”
Gypcie tipped her head to the side as she listened, crooking an eyebrow at me.
“What? All we ever did was have coffee in the Faculty Lounge. I didn’t need them to—I don’t know—forbid it or something.”
She nodded at that. “When did you see Renee last?”
“It was in March,” I admitted. “I was supposed to see him again in May, but then the Tokyo thing happened, and he didn’t come back here. I’m a little afraid he got sent to Japan to deal with the aftermath.”
“He’s a Bee, right?” Gypcie asked. I nodded my head in confirmation. “Well, then, we know better than anyone how hard we Bees are to kill. He’ll be okay, Wedd. You’ll just have to trust that if he wants to see you again, he’ll find you.”
With that, Gypcie reached down to the floor of my closet and grabbed my old blue and white Innsmouth Academy gym bag and started shoving pairs of shoes into it.
“Wait! Don’t pack all of them,” I said. “I’m thinking of getting rid of some.”
She held up my favorite purple ankle boots with the cute straps and three-inch heels. “Like these?” she said mischievously. “I’ll take them! You will need red ones where you’re going anyway.”
“Nice try, but no. I was thinking more about the shabby track shoes or these old flip-flops.”
Gypcie held the flip-flops up and turned her nose up in the air with a dramatic flourish. “Yup, those can definitely go. You’ve had them since you got here, I think. At least they smell that way.”
She grinned at my look of disgust. She knew she’d distracted me from my reservations.
“Now,” she said, smugly. “What are you going to wear tomorrow?”
Gypcie and I spent the rest of the day finishing up my packing, th
rowing the clothes I planned to take into my suitcase, and my other meager possessions into my backpack. With that on my back, the duffel bag on my arm, and the suitcase in hand, I could manage to carry my stuff pretty well. I’d be fine as long as I didn’t have to walk too far. I had a box of other things that Ms. Usher agreed to hang onto until I knew what my new space in London would hold, but it didn’t contain anything critical, just a few posters, a small microwave, and a couple of pictures. My framed photo of and the letter from Richard Sonnac were securely packed in the backpack along with my chaos and blood foci, my address book, and a couple of my favorite novels.
Before I knew it, everything was packed and ready to go, and all that was left was to wait until morning.
CHAPTER FOUR
Meeting with a Mentor
I got word my escort had arrived shortly before noon the next morning. I shuffled into the Administration Office, my face shiny and red from hauling my bags down the stairs in the dormitory and schlepping them across the Academy yard, and then up the stairs of the Main Hall. I got hung up on the door frame as I tried to wedge all my bags into the back room of the office. I muscled my way through and dropped them with a grunt in front of a table along the wall. I was already regretting my choice of clothing—I had on a short, red leather jacket, a white button-down shirt, and a black bandage skirt with black low-heeled pumps. My feet were not going to last long at this rate, and my shirt was already wrinkled beyond repair.
“I hope you’re not expecting that I’ll carry any of that,” a dry, male English voice said. “Let’s hope you’re one of those liberated young American women, shall we?”
I looked up from the pile on the floor to see a tall man with white-blond hair scowling at me from the threshold of the inner office. He was wearing a superbly tailored red, black, and white Templar uniform and, incongruously, a pair of ridiculous looking bunny ears on his head.
“Oh, Wedd, there you are,” called Ms. Usher as she moved past him through the doorway over to me. “I’d like you to meet Agent Michael DePayen. He’s come to assist you in traveling to London.” She put a hand on my shoulder and gestured toward him. “Michael, this is Blodwedd Mallory.”
London Underground: An Unofficial Legend of The Secret World (Unofficial Legends of The Secret World Book 2) Page 3