the universe.
Soon the non-magic users would be able to power their homes and transport their goods without magic. Steam was a growing trend, and he knew that humans, in their incessant questioning, would discover ever more efficient ways of doing without magic.
He looked out over the buildings that grew taller every year, and watched the teeming masses move like ants through the narrow city streets. In time the sky would be darkened by smoke and the water undrinkable.
He swore, turning from the window. Everywhere he looked he saw uncertainty in his life. His city might only be his for a few more years. His life, too, could be cut short if his father won this contest of wills. Cora, his darling Cora, might be taken from him tomorrow. He slumped into his chair and removed his glove. He stared hard at the magical rune scarred into his palm. He rubbed it and frowned. Though he hated the events that had brought him his magic, and had often times vowed to be rid of it, he would need to rely on it now more than ever. He poured himself a glass of good bourbon and tossed it back with a grimace. A man with too many worries was a horse with too heavy a burden. Eventually what he carried would bear him to the ground and to his death.
He wasn't fool enough to believe that he would ever have a normal life. No wife to cook his meals and care for him in his dotage. No children to laugh with and pamper. He would be lucky to love Cora from afar and die in her arms.
He poured another drink and watched the sun peek from behind the clouds. Though he knew he couldn't have those things, he nevertheless dreamed about them every night. His Cora in her wedding dress, and heavy with their child. Smiling at him with love in her eyes instead of anger. He grinned against his glass. That might truly be a dream, but it was still worthy of wishing for. He poured his bourbon down his throat and let it numb the stark white pain that was reality.
***
“He's locked himself away again.” I ground my teeth in frustration as Archimedes looked up from his newspaper.
“He carries a heavy burden, Cora.”
I narrowed my eyes at the muddy footprints marring the beauty of my Parisian rug. “He's too stubborn to allow us to help.”
“He's scared, Cora. Give him time.”
I sat on the arm of Archie's chair, dropping my arm around his shoulder. It was a truly unladylike gesture but the man was one of my closest friends. “You're far too wise for your years, Archie.”
He looked up at me with a grin. “Someone has to mediate your squabbles. I fear you'd have maimed each other years ago if I didn't.”
“True.” I laid my head against his. “He makes it so hard to love him.”
“Don't give up yet, Cora.” He patted my hand where it lay against his shoulder. “He's worthy of the time.”
“I know.” I kissed his cheek and stood with a sigh. “I just wish he'd realize it sooner rather than later.”
“Nothing can be achieved by antagonizing him.” Archie winked at me and I laughed.
“It's far too easy.”
“What do you want him to do, Cora?”
I stopped and turned around with a frown. “I want him to burst into my room and tell me to stop being angry. I want him to be passionate for once. He's so cold that I don't know how he feels most of the time. I want to know he wants me, Archie.”
“Then you need to tell him.” Archie stood and folded the paper. He slipped on his coat and kissed my cheek. “As powerful as he is, he doesn't read minds.”
“I.....” I trailed off as Archie laughed.
“You can't.” He shook his head. “You two are just the same.” He clapped his bowler to his head and opened the door. “I'm off to the apothecary for mandrake.”
“Be careful!” I called, and he nodded. I moved to the sofa and sat, picking up my tea. I dropped in a cube of sugar and stared into the flames.
“When this is over,” I swore to myself, “I'll tell Icarus exactly how I feel.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Cora.”
I
Soon the non-magic users would be able to power their homes and transport their goods without magic. Steam was a growing trend, and he knew that humans, in their incessant questioning, would discover ever more efficient ways of doing without magic.
He looked out over the buildings that grew taller every year, and watched the teeming masses move like ants through the narrow city streets. In time the sky would be darkened by smoke and the water undrinkable.
He swore, turning from the window. Everywhere he looked he saw uncertainty in his life. His city might only be his for a few more years. His life, too, could be cut short if his father won this contest of wills. Cora, his darling Cora, might be taken from him tomorrow. He slumped into his chair and removed his glove. He stared hard at the magical rune scarred into his palm. He rubbed it and frowned. Though he hated the events that had brought him his magic, and had often times vowed to be rid of it, he would need to rely on it now more than ever. He poured himself a glass of good bourbon and tossed it back with a grimace. A man with too many worries was a horse with too heavy a burden. Eventually what he carried would bear him to the ground and to his death.
He wasn't fool enough to believe that he would ever have a normal life. No wife to cook his meals and care for him in his dotage. No children to laugh with and pamper. He would be lucky to love Cora from afar and die in her arms.
He poured another drink and watched the sun peek from behind the clouds. Though he knew he couldn't have those things, he nevertheless dreamed about them every night. His Cora in her wedding dress, and heavy with their child. Smiling at him with love in her eyes instead of anger. He grinned against his glass. That might truly be a dream, but it was still worthy of wishing for. He poured his bourbon down his throat and let it numb the stark white pain that was reality.
***
“He's locked himself away again.” I ground my teeth in frustration as Archimedes looked up from his newspaper.
“He carries a heavy burden, Cora.”
I narrowed my eyes at the muddy footprints marring the beauty of my Parisian rug. “He's too stubborn to allow us to help.”
“He's scared, Cora. Give him time.”
I sat on the arm of Archie's chair, dropping my arm around his shoulder. It was a truly unladylike gesture but the man was one of my closest friends. “You're far too wise for your years, Archie.”
He looked up at me with a grin. “Someone has to mediate your squabbles. I fear you'd have maimed each other years ago if I didn't.”
“True.” I laid my head against his. “He makes it so hard to love him.”
“Don't give up yet, Cora.” He patted my hand where it lay against his shoulder. “He's worthy of the time.”
“I know.” I kissed his cheek and stood with a sigh. “I just wish he'd realize it sooner rather than later.”
“Nothing can be achieved by antagonizing him.” Archie winked at me and I laughed.
“It's far too easy.”
“What do you want him to do, Cora?”
I stopped and turned around with a frown. “I want him to burst into my room and tell me to stop being angry. I want him to be passionate for once. He's so cold that I don't know how he feels most of the time. I want to know he wants me, Archie.”
“Then you need to tell him.” Archie stood and folded the paper. He slipped on his coat and kissed my cheek. “As powerful as he is, he doesn't read minds.”
“I.....” I trailed off as Archie laughed.
“You can't.” He shook his head. “You two are just the same.” He clapped his bowler to his head and opened the door. “I'm off to the apothecary for mandrake.”
“Be careful!” I called, and he nodded. I moved to the sofa and sat, picking up my tea. I dropped in a cube of sugar and stared into the flames.
“When this is over,” I swore to myself, “I'll tell Icarus exactly how I feel.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Cora.”
I
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