Chapter 10

10

Walking into the castle,I don’t know what I expected. Maybe a red carpet leading to a throne. Definitely thought I’d see suits of armor. What about a butler and other snooty-nosed people milling around?

My presumptions shattered at the sight of an empty, two-story chamber.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“Elsewhere.” Cain’s unhelpful reply.

“What’s this room used for?” I asked, seeing as how it held fuck all if you ignored the various doorways.

“Nothing currently. Used to be, back in the day, it was for hearing petitions from the people. A panel of three would sit and listen to a complaint and decide if the guild should deal with it.”

“Three?” I questioned. “I thought you only had the witch and reaper honchos running things.”

“Now we do. There was a time we had a Pontis. A go-between, if you will, for the two groups. Also a tie breaker if they argued on an outcome. But that position disappeared when we stopped the petitions.”

“Guess the new location isn’t conducive for having meetings.”

“No. Not to mention the whole superstition thing led to many accusations between neighbors that had nothing to do with demons and other arcane threats. We found it easier to monitor missing people and the discovery of mutilated bodies to track possible demon nests.”

“I thought the witches were supposed to scry for them.”

“They do. However, some demons are better at hiding from seeking magic than others.”

“I take it the ones in the subway didn’t cause a blip.”

“We knew almost the moment they emerged, but they attacked before we could muster,” stated a familiar voice. Nova emerged from a doorway at the far end, looking elegant in a bright sarong with her hair bound in a matching scarf.

“You’ve obviously heard of today’s subway ambush,” Cain stated.

“I have.” Nova’s lips pursed. “Right now, the news is claiming it was a terrorist event.”

“How many dead?” Cain asked.

“They’re not stating anything yet. Just that there is a police operation in the area.”

“They attacked the subway Sadie was riding on.” He indicated to me with a slight incline of his head. “She used magic to kill one.”

Not seeming surprised, Nova nodded. “That explains why she’s a beacon to them.”

“Excuse me?” I interjected.

Nova turned her gaze on me. “As your magic awakens, it acts as a magnet for demons. They can sense it and are drawn.”

I almost retorted, I don’t have magic, but then I remembered my hands. “Why now? According to pretty much every book and movie out there, special powers usually hit during puberty.”

“Puberty is the most common time, but it’s not unheard of for a latent power to rouse later on in life. Usually there is a catalyst to these kinds of things. Injury, a deep emotional loss…”

My nose wrinkled. “Hate to break it to you, but nothing special happened to me.”

“That you know of. I’m sure we’ll figure it out. And even if we don’t, it doesn’t change the fact you have traits of both a reaper and a witch. A rarity.”

Nothing like hearing I wasn’t like everyone else. “Does this mean I’ll be a target for demons for the rest of my life?”

“Only if you can’t learn to control your power. There are ways of hiding it, making it unnoticeable even to demons, but it’s not easy. Most witches can’t master it and are stuck living here or only entering the world during daylight with a reaper as protection.”

“Seems like the witches get a raw deal,” I pointed out.

“I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, there is a price for magic.”

“Only in movies and books.”

“And where do you think they got the expression from?” Nova laughed.

“Now that I’m here, what next?”

“That depends on you. You have options,” Nova stated.

“Oh, like what?”

“You could learn the basics of control and return to your life.”

“Sounds good to me,” I quickly stated.

She continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “That option is the riskiest, as you must maintain a tight grip on your magic at all times lest you attract demons.”

That sounded exhausting. “Ugh, maybe not the best course of action. What’s the next one?”

“You remain living here and immerse yourself in learning about the witches and reapers.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Aren’t I too old to be going to school?”

“Age is a state of mind.”

“Tell that to my body in the morning,” I muttered. Not to mention, I’d never been the scholarly type.

Undaunted by my sass, Nova replied, “A trained witch doesn’t have those kinds of issues and enjoys an extended lifespan.”

“Oh really?” That actually piqued my interest.

“If you remain here, you can discover what your magic is capable of. Learn to defend yourself, maybe even learn to fight.”

“I’m not brave,” I countered. “I can’t even kill a spider without freaking out.”

“Then there is a third option. We take your magic from you, removing the target you present to demons. We wipe your mind of everything you’ve learned, and you go back to your life as if nothing ever happened.”

Do it. Tell her that’s what you want.The coward in me would have given much to go back to my blissful ignorance. However, did I really want to be unaware of the things lurking around me? Did I want to return to a mundane life where all I did was eat, sleep, and go to work?

It would be a life without demon attacks,my sly subconscious reminded. Great, so I could live another thirty or forty years of boredom.

Or I could maybe become one of the heroines in my books...

“You really think I could learn at my age?” I asked.

To my surprise, Cain, and not Nova, replied. “One of our best reapers didn’t get trained until his mid-forties.”

I glanced at him. “You think I should do this.”

His broad shoulders rolled. “Doesn’t matter what I think. This is your life. Your choice.”

True, and yet I wondered if he’d like it if I stuck around. “Let’s say I decide to try but it doesn’t work out. Then what?”

“You won’t be a prisoner here if that’s what you’re worried about. At the same time, should you choose to leave, whether as a trained witch or one stripped, we cannot assure your safety outside this valley.”

“I thought witches out in the wild got a protector.”

“Those who work for the sisterhood do. Those who have opted to depart and live a life away from us don’t get the same perks.”

“Let’s say I agreed to the lessons, where would I be staying?” I asked.

“I’ll have Mizuki show you.” Nova waved her hand, and a door opened as if someone had been waiting behind it for her signal. A petite woman emerged. “Mizuki, can you give Sadie a tour? She will be staying with us and will require a room.”

“Yes, Regina.” The woman, maybe a decade younger than me with long dark hair pulled in a ponytail and an oval face, gave a short curtsy before eyeing me with a smile. “If you’ll follow me.”

I glanced at Cain, oddly reluctant to leave him behind. The man had saved my life, and right now I trusted him more than anyone else.

“You’ll be fine,” he reassured, as if reading my mind. “Mizuki isn’t known for biting. Although she is prone to over-spicing foods.”

Mizuki giggled. “I love the heat. And so do you!”

A strange pang of jealousy hit me as Cain smiled at the other woman.

“Speaking of food, we’ll see you at dinner,” Nova interceded. “Cain and I have much to discuss.”

With that, I was dismissed. I watched Cain walk away from me with Nova to disappear through the same door she’d emerged from.

“Cain is her favorite reaper,” Mizuki confided.

“Is he yours?” I couldn’t help my sour inquiry.

“He’s way too grumpy for me.” The woman laughed. “I’ve got my eye on Barron. He’s got the dreamiest eyes.”

For some reason, knowing she was crushing on someone else appeased my irritation.

Mizuki clapped her hands. “Where should we start?”

I glanced down at myself, my clothes grimy from my stint in the subway. “I don’t suppose a shower is possible? And maybe some clean garments.” Which led to me asking, “What should I do about my stuff in my apartment? Can I go pack it up? How much can I bring?” It should be noted, I wasn’t attached to any of my furniture, but I would like my clothes and some of my personal mementos.

“Not to worry. You’ll either be granted an escort to handle your affairs or we can send a team to do it for you.” She set off at an easy pace that I followed.

Have a stranger go through my underwear drawer and come across my vibrator? “I’d rather handle it myself.”

“No problem. Give us a day or two to make arrangements with the reapers to have someone go with you.” She opened a heavy wooden door, and we went through a hallway with slit-sized window slots that ended in another door.

“Can’t I just ask Cain?”

The query quirked Mizuki’s lips. “He usually doesn’t offer his services for these kinds of utilitarian trips, but who knows. Maybe he’ll make an exception for you.” She heaved open the door at the far end of the hall and announced, “Welcome to the Sisterhood’s side of the guild.” We entered a reception-type area with a few couches and chairs, all empty. Mizuki headed for a staircase.

“How many people live here?” I asked, trying to take it all in. The paintings proved especially interesting, as they were of women in clothing from past eras, severe of expression, at odds with the dancing motes of light dabbed around them on the canvas.

“Currently, there are thirteen of us in residence, fourteen with you.”

“So few?”

Mizuki paused on the first step. “You expected more?”

“Yeah. I mean, the way Cain spoke, it’s reapers and witches against all the demons in the world.”

“It is, but witches have a harder go of it because our magic attracts the monsters. Unless we’re discovered young or figure out how to protect ourselves, most die before ever making it to the guild.”

My mouth rounded. “That’s horrible.”

“It is. The reapers have it easier because they can see the demons at least, and even if they can’t fight, they can run away. Us witches never even see them coming.” Her lips turned down. “Thankfully Cain found you.”

“No shit,” I muttered, only to apologize, “Sorry. Potty mouth.”

Mizuki laughed. “You’ll hear much worse here. Although I do most of my swearing in Japanese. Drives Barron nuts because he never knows if I’m cussing him out or not. Now, which room to put you…” she mused aloud as we hit the first floor and a long hall with a series of doors. She tapped her chin. “Morning person or night?”

“Uh, morning?” I’d long ago stopped sleeping in late. Blame my job or old age. I couldn’t remain slumbering past seven.

“Then you’ll want a room that gets eastern exposure. Bright dawns to make you rise with a smile.” She clapped her hands. “I’ll give you the room next to mine.” A verdict that had us climbing more stairs.

“Uh, thanks?” My uncertainty came from her instant decision to befriend me. It didn’t bother me. I just found it odd. I had at least a decade on her, and for all she knew, I could be a bitch. I wasn’t, but mostly because I couldn’t be bothered.

“Our floor is the top one, which means lots of stairs,” Mizuki grimaced, “but it’s quieter than the lower levels with the younger witches.”

“How young?”

“The youngest would be Yara at thirteen. She hit puberty and her magic early. Almost lost her to a demon attack. Luckily, Nova had a premonition and saved her.”

“What do her parents think of her living here and learning to be a witch?”

Mizuki’s lips turned down. “They didn’t survive. The demon got into Yara’s house and went through her mom and dad before coming after her.”

“You said Nova had a premonition,” I commented as we trudged past a third floor. “Does that happen often? Is that part of her magic?” Look at me, acting as if this were a normal question to be asking.

“The Regina is the most powerful sorceress in our sisterhood. She can do much more than the rest of us, seeing snippets of the future being one of her gifts. She can also conjure light and manipulate three of the four elements.” Mizuki sounded impressed.

“What about you?”

“I’m a Firewitch.” She held up a finger, the tip of it suddenly showing a dancing flame. “My scrying is best when I can burn stuff, although my healing sucks unless it involves cauterizing a wound.”

“Do all the witches follow an element?” I’d read enough fantasy to grasp the concept.

“The ones we keep in the guild do. Those with basic skills that barely allow them to scry are usually un-magicked so they can live a normal life.”

“Were you ever tempted?”

“Hell no!” Mizuki laughed as we climbed the last set of stairs. “I like being different. As a teen, I got worried because I bloomed later than most.”

Her revelation led to me asking, “Were you attacked when your magic manifested?”

“Nope. I was always protected since I was born here. My parents were both guild.”

I heard the were and despite it being indiscreet had to ask. “They died? I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. Fluke accident in the city. Runaway horse carriage ran them over.”

I blinked. “That seems rather uncommon.”

“Not for that century. It was a few decades before cars took over the roads.”

The odd remark had me blurting out, “Exactly how old are you?”

Mizuki grinned as stopped in front of a door and said, “One hundred and fifty-seven. And before you ask, I’m not the oldest here. That would be Nova, although don’t ask her the exact number. She won’t tell.”

Over a century old? My mind spun at the news while Mizuki flung open the door and announced, “Welcome to your new home.”

I walked in and fell in love.