"I thought you were mad at me after that," said Zayn.
Instructor Allgood leaned his staff against the window, grabbed one of the leather seats, plopped into it, and set his scuffed black boots on the stone table.
"I was mad. Real mad. A few decades ago, I might have put a fist through your neck, but I've mellowed some. Not a lot, but some." He paused, tapping on the table. "Can I give you both some advice? Advice that I'm sure you're going to ignore due to the false invulnerability of youth. But I'd like to impart it just the same."
Enraptured by his unexpected candor, they both nodded. Zayn felt like he was witnessing a rare event like a triple supernova, or a unicorn doing Zumba.
"You're both damn impressive. After you took down the Goon, I reevaluated the year, found that I hadn't properly understood what you were doing," he said, clearly indicating Zayn. "I worried that you'd gotten lucky, but you've done more of the same, maybe better, in your second year. These are the kinds of things that impress Priyanka and earn consideration for more important responsibilities."
He chewed on his words for a moment, as if he were deciding how best to say them.
"But it occurred to me there might be another explanation of what you're doing. I am well aware of what happens in Varna. I've been picking up aspirants from your town for decades. Sometimes the students that come with me to the Halls have one desire, to burn themselves out in a blaze of glory so they never have to return to the Lady's embrace. I want to know, and I want to know it straight. Is that what you're after?"
Zayn shook his head right away, while catching a slight delay from Keelan.
"No. No way. I came to the Halls to learn, and to use these skills in the best way possible," said Zayn.
Keelan nodded along, but offered no verbal response.
"Good," said Instructor Allgood. "I like you both. I want to see you succeed. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to be a fool's errand."
Other instructors filtered in through the door.
"Don't let me down," said Allgood with a wink.
Instructor Pennywhistle walked past Allgood, patting him on the head. "Don't tell me that he's trying to schmooze you with his soft side. Don't believe him. He's bone and gristle all the way down."
"And you're candy and martinis," said Allgood with a snort of laughter.
Instructor Pennywhistle gave them a salacious wink. "Enjoy his good mood while it lasts. It's like an eclipse, it doesn't happen very often, nor for long."
When Pennywhistle moved to sit down, Allgood stuck his tongue out behind her back, flipping her off for good measure.
"I can see the reflection in the window, Carron," she said drolly.
"As intended," he replied, chuckling.
The other instructors took seats around the table, motioning for Zayn and Keelan to take a place. The only other one that Zayn recognized, Maggie O'Keefe, the Scottish instructor for the upper classes, sat next to Zayn and gave him a welcoming pat on the arm. She smelled like spent explosives and gasoline.
Zayn didn't recognize the three other instructors at the table, but he didn't have time to study them, as the patron entered the room. He resisted the urge to stand, but he must have moved slightly, because Priyanka's eyes sparkled with mirth in his direction.
"Thank you for joining me on such short notice. Instructor Zhang was not able to extract himself from his current duties, and Noyade, of course, preferred to stay in the Grotto, but I will relay our discussion to her later," said Priyanka.
She paused as if she were waiting for a response, but when none came, she continued. The other instructors, while attentive, seemed highly relaxed. Zayn couldn't decide if that was their natural state, or cockiness.
"I'm afraid there's no good way to say this, but I have extremely bad news. Thanks to these enterprising young men, we now know what the Gurken, and whoever is behind him, is after."
A wellspring of pride bubbled up in his chest. Keelan sat up straighter as well.
Priyanka made an arcane gesture in the air and the monitors on the wall came to life showing various handwritten and typed notes zoomed close enough to read the text easily. Zayn recognized some of them because he and Keelan had taken them from the Smallest Eye.
"These are the documents from Patron Abbey Scarlon. His was the last hall created after Invictus' death. Before the attack from the Gurken, I'd honestly never heard of him," said Priyanka, drawing nods of agreement from the others. There seemed to be a general sense that this was strange.
"It appears that Scarlon's research had to do with the biological nature of our access to magic. I can't say that I understand his reasoning, the science is far beyond me, but it appears he figured out how it is accomplished."
The earlier interest turned to rigid attention, and chairs shifted forward. Instructor Allgood's boots hit the floor with a resounding thud.
The implications of the research reverberated through Zayn's mind. He could imagine how such knowledge could be very dangerous.
"Yes, you all understand. What can be understood can be manipulated or destroyed. Which leads me to the second set of documents recovered. Thank you, Marilyn. I appreciate that you were able to get over your friend's death to acquire these."
Instructor Pennywhistle still didn't look like she'd gotten over it, but she gave a respectful nod, keeping her ruby-red lips tight.
"Doctor Abelock was doing some cutting-edge work with viruses. A little too cutting edge, I'm afraid. These documents, including some samples, were taken from his lab after his death. The samples are of a magically modified virus that can be designed to enter particular parts of the brain."
"Wait," said Zayn, and all eyes turned to him. He'd forgotten he was surrounded by his instructors. He cleared his throat and continued. "Why take his head if everything was on the notes?"
Keelan chimed in with his own question. "And how did you get those documents?"
The corner of Priyanka's lips curled with a secret smile. The other instructors nodded with thought.
"The documents were copies that he had in a safe. As for the heads, I thought the same thing," said Priyanka. "But it's possible there are aspects of his research that weren't contained in the documents. The Gurken can preserve a head and all the knowledge within it for later retrieval. The beheadings may have been for insurance."
Instructor Allgood slammed his fist on the table, his earlier jolly mood lost beneath a mask of righteousness.
"This smells like week-old fish. I see what you're suggesting, but there ain't no way that someone can just mash these two things together and make something dangerous. Science, like magic, doesn't work like that. There are rules," he said.
"Unless, dear Carron, the same person funded both studies," said Instructor Pennywhistle.
"Is that true?" asked Allgood.
Priyanka nodded. "The details that we have are damning, to say the least. It appears this has been planned for quite some time. I wish I could tell you not to be worried, but they're well-funded and patient."
"How dangerous is this virus?" asked Zayn.
Priyanka squeezed her lips tight. "It could end magic as we know it in the human race."
A few expletives from the instructors followed. Zayn found his heartbeat soaring as if he were perched on a tower in the sky. A general sense of disbelief permeated the room.
"If the virus does what we think it does, it would attack the part of the brain that allows certain humans to utilize magic. This means we have to stop whoever is making this. Destroy it before it can get out. The Hundred Halls has been in danger many times before, but never by a threat that could attack it at the very root of its existence."
Mentioning the Halls reminded Zayn how important the university was to the functioning of the world. Few wars were fought anymore, because of the devastating effects of magical warfare, and because the network of alumni kept the balance of power out of individual country's hands.
Not only would the loss of magic be devastati
ng to the individuals, but it would upset the structure of the world's governments. Not to mention the other realms near this one that would certainly invade if they knew the Halls were no longer.
"I hope for Merlin's sake you're about to tell us who's behind it," said Allgood grimly.
"I wish," said Priyanka heavily. "I truly wish."
"There has to be something more in Scarlon's documents? Maybe something the lads didn't get?" asked Instructor O'Keefe in her thick Scottish accent.
"Unfortunately, that hall was burnt down to the timbers two days ago. The same with Doctor Abelock's apartment. They said it was a gas leak," said Priyanka.
Allgood pounded the table again. "How'd they know to cover their tracks? It's like they're ready to launch whatever plan they've got cooked up."
"Tally!" said Zayn, a little too loud. "The girl from Metallum Nocturne. She was working on a universal filter. Something that would work on a virus I imagine."
"Working on is one thing, finishing is another. If it's only a student then maybe we have time," said Allgood.
Zayn put his hand to his mouth in horror. "She may have figured it out, and I might have supplied the answer. That's why Oculus saw me at the fish market. Not to stop her from being beheaded, but to give her the idea that would help her complete it. It's all my fault."
"If it is, then it's mine," said Priyanka. "But in reality it's neither. Prophecies and forecasts are malleable. There's no point in fighting them, because they could just as likely turn up false."
"At least she's alive," said Zayn. "I should let the team know so they can keep an eye out."
As soon as he saw Priyanka's face, he knew the answer. "She was found beheaded and mutilated this morning at a location away from the hall."
She seemed to be watching for his reaction, so he kept a stoic expression even though his face was numb. The memory of her kiss was like a brand on his lips. He could almost taste the strawberries.
Keelan knew the truth of his feelings for Tally, even though he hadn't explicitly expressed them, and gave him a sympathetic nod.
The room sunk into quiet reflection. The potential existence of a deadly virus, one that might possibly interfere with their use of magic, kept everyone busy thinking about the apocalyptic repercussions.
"We need to know who has those virus samples," said Instructor Pennywhistle.
"If we knew that, Marilyn, we wouldn't all be sittin' here, now would we?" asked Instructor O'Keefe.
Pennywhistle's forehead wrinkled with displeasure, but she didn't rise to O'Keefe's bait. Zayn wondered what sort of history they had, but clearly it didn't bother Priyanka, because she was staring at the documents on the screen.
"The centrifuge," said Keelan suddenly, drawing everyone's gaze.
"Go on, explain," said Priyanka.
Keelan rubbed his hands on the table, a sure sign his mind was whirling with thoughts. "Abbey Scarlon had new lab equipment, lots of it. But he didn't look like the kind of guy that had money. Maybe there's a trail leading to whoever hired him."
"It's a good idea, Keelan, but I already checked that. There were no large purchases in his bank records which means he was probably given cash," said Priyanka.
Right as the thought appeared in Zayn's head, he saw Keelan's eyes light up. He let his cousin speak so they would know how smart he was.
"Billy had to cost a lot of money," said Keelan, then realizing that the instructors couldn't follow him, he added, "Billy was Scarlon's homunculus. They're way more expensive than a piece of lab equipment, more than you can purchase with just cash. If there were no large purchases on his bank account, then it must have originated with whoever hired him."
"There's only one place to get a homunculus in Invictus, and Maggie knows the maker," said Priyanka.
Instructor O'Keefe was already standing, wearing a sly grin. "I'm already on it. I'll have an answer within the hour."
While they were waiting, Zayn used the bathroom. Keelan joined him as he was washing his hands.
"Sorry about Tally," said Keelan.
"I barely knew her and I was watching the hall, not her," said Zayn.
"I know you, cuz. Even if you didn't like her, it still sucks knowing someone you were just hanging out with died. I feel like we did her wrong by not protecting her."
"Me too," said Zayn.
Further conversation was cut short when Instructor O'Keefe's thick brogue cut through the bathroom door. They followed her into the room. She chanted for a few seconds with her hand on the table, and suddenly a vision of the city appeared on it like a miniature holodeck.
"That's the eighth ward," said Instructor Allgood, rising to his feet.
"Enchanted Threads Garment factory to be exact," said O'Keefe. "They make fancy spelled knickers."
Priyanka held a private smile. "We're leaving in five minutes. Ready yourselves as you can."
The other instructors filed out past Priyanka. When it was just the three of them, Zayn asked, "Are we coming too?"
"We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you two," she said with a wink.
After she was gone, Keelan gave him a big grin. "This is everything I hoped the Academy would be." He paused. "Minus the magic-eating virus, of course."
"Of course," said Zayn, feeling like he'd just jumped out of a plane with a parachute that might not open. "If we're gonna die, at least we'll go down fighting."
Chapter Twenty
Eighth Ward, March 2015
Even magic can't stop everything
The nine of them fanned out on the street. They'd reached the eighth ward through a portal in the back of a coin-operated laundromat. A little old lady smoking on a bench inside the store—even though there were multiple signs that read no smoking—barely gave them a second glance as they marched out from the supply closet. Trailing behind the instructors, Zayn felt like a superhero.
The Enchanted Threads Garment factory was two blocks from their location. The instructors seemed to know what they were doing, leaving Zayn feeling like the little brother their parents made bring along. Keelan raised an eyebrow, but otherwise looked like he was trying to hold back a grin. It was strange to feel excited, terrified, and completely out of his element at the same time. Zayn took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself.
Instructor O'Keefe threw a handful of metal rings into the air. They fell briefly, before flattening out into a hover about three feet above her head. She whispered softly for a few seconds before the sharp scent of faez filled Zayn's nose, then the rings shot out like UFOs, zinging through the air and quickly disappearing from view.
"I'll head up Allanon Street," said O'Keefe, "circle around the back."
"Try not to destroy any buildings," said Priyanka.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear ya, lass," said O'Keefe as she jogged away.
Priyanka looked to Instructor Allgood, who only said, "Eye in the sky?"
She nodded, and he strode across the street, took a giant leap onto the Wizard Burger, and then continued on to the higher buildings until they could no longer see him.
Instructor Pennywhistle had a tube of clear liquid that she placed into a spray nozzle that she'd pulled from her coat.
"No one will remember a thing," she said with a wink, before heading towards the Wizard Burger.
"What do you want us to do?" asked Keelan.
Priyanka considered them for a moment. "Move up the street, but no closer than two blocks. You don't know what kind of magics we're using, nor do you have the defenses for them. And if the Gurken is here, he'd cut through you like tissue paper." She paused. "Do you still have those tracking discs?"
They both nodded.
"Use them if you see anyone suspicious," said Priyanka.
She took a couple of steps down the street, ignoring the delivery truck speeding right past her, and cracked her neck to one side. Two knives appeared in her fists as if they were spring-loaded, and she sped forward, blurring past the delivery truck as if it were standing still.
"Did you see that," said Keelan, shaking his head.
"Either she's got better imbuements than us, or she's crazy loaded with faez," said Zayn. "Either way, I'd never want to mess with her."
"Do you think they'll find anyone inside?" asked Keelan.
"Doubtful," said Zayn. "Why set up shop in the middle of the city, right in Priyanka's territory?"
"It's the perfect location if you want to spread the virus," said Keelan.
Zayn didn't respond because he knew his cousin was right. If the virus was spread here, the whole world would have it in a week. If there was a capital of the world, it was the city of Invictus.
"Spread out, use your senses," said Zayn.
Keelan took up position on one side of the street, while Zayn took the other. He knew it was unlikely that anyone would get past the instructors and Priyanka, but he didn't want to let them down either.
Amping his senses hammered him with sensory details. A dumpster full of trash in the alleyway assaulted his nose until he dampened it. It seemed like every third car was using their horn, which made picking out the important sounds using his hearing difficult. He wished it was a less busy section of town, not only for the sensory reasons, but to keep any bystanders from getting hurt if things went sideways.
Keelan headed up the cross street, while Zayn stayed in place, using his senses like a satellite dish. He was scanning front to back, not finding anything interesting, when he caught a hint of vibration beneath his feet.
At first he thought it was the nearby train station, or a distant jackhammer, but the vibration had a central point and was moving in a direct line. Zayn quickly focused underground, and caught the sound of heavy boots splashing, along with a faint vibration, suggesting someone was running through the sewers. He followed the noise, which was headed away from the garment factory, and wished he had a moment to get Keelan's attention, but he didn't want to lose the trail.
The sound of boots went south, and Zayn followed, dodging around other pedestrians on the sidewalk. He nearly knocked over a lady jogger when he crossed the street, then froze when a car screeched to a stop two inches from his knees. The driver leaned into his horn, forcing Zayn's hands around his ears in agony, until he could dial back the faez and get out of the street. The driver flipped him off as he sped away.
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