maybe it’s the same goal, but he resorts to different methods to achieve it.”
“What goal is that?” Allyn asked.
“Survival. The ancient magi were different from Lukas. They had been cast aside and shunned or worse. Because they became aloof and helped in only the direst of circumstances, they became affiliated with loss, pain, and death. They were resented when they refused help and feared when they did. A parent rejoices when their child is miraculously saved from certain death, but a neighbor sees a sinister force behind it. For every good deed a magi performed, a hundred rumors spread. Magi were consorting with demons, performing sacrifices, and dark deals were made with dark spirits. They were evil.
“Large Families had strength in numbers, but single magi or small Families were easy targets. Their homes were ransacked. Their property stolen or destroyed. Houses burned. Magi died. And a rift formed between magi and humans. So when a human came to a magi with vengeance on their mind, you can see how some would be tempted to accept the offer. It became retaliation on a small scale.”
“Which would only make things worse. Strengthen the fears between them,” Allyn said.
“The big picture is the last thing on the mind of someone who has been beaten down and broken.”
Allyn leaned back in his seat. He knew what Graeme was talking about. People could resort to being sour or petty in a hurry—score a victory right away, even if it meant losing the war later. And he dealt with people who’d only been slightly wronged, nothing to the extent of what Graeme was talking about.
“But you’re right,” Graeme continued. “Things did get worse. Violence erupted between humans and magi. Hundreds, even thousands, died. Magi fled—small Families first—seeking refuge in a town or city that didn’t know their true nature. Larger Families became the target of anti-magic vitriol, and out of a desire to end the violence and protect their loved ones, the Families broke apart, spreading across the land. We call it the Fracture. We adopted human practices, embraced technology and culture and, in the name of survival, hid who we were.”
Graeme pulled his cell phone from his hip and held it up for Allyn to see. “That strategy continues today. And because of it, our existence is a rumor. A story or myth, at best.”
“Lukas wants to change that,” Allyn said. “He’s tired of hiding.”
Graeme nodded. “Something the rest of the Families don’t agree with.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Graeme took a deep breath. “This is where we venture into the unknown. I have an idea, but I want you to understand that it’s nothing more than that.”
“I understand.”
“I believe Lukas thinks you can wield.”
Chapter 5
A llyn laughed. It all felt like a mistake, one big, ridiculous mistake. Graeme didn’t look amused. Allyn stopped laughing but failed to wipe the smile from his face. “How would that even be possible?”
“I’ll show you.” Graeme stood. He motioned for Allyn to follow and, without waiting, walked back down the stone path to the manor.
Allyn followed sluggishly, wondering what time it was. The sky was starting to lighten. Dawn wasn’t far off.
Graeme led him up the stairs to the main entrance, grabbed the brass handles, and pushed open the red double doors.
Allyn looked on in amazement.
Two grand staircases curved along the wall on either side, mirroring each other. Hallways painted an ornate red split off in opposite directions at the top of the stairs, and another led forward, deeper into the house. A crystal chandelier that was taller than Allyn hung from the coffered ceiling, and the light reflecting off it made the room feel alive.
Another set of hallways branched off in both directions to his immediate right and left, but Allyn followed Graeme forward, between the stairs, deeper into the house. Sculptures and paintings of various sizes and shapes hung on the
“What goal is that?” Allyn asked.
“Survival. The ancient magi were different from Lukas. They had been cast aside and shunned or worse. Because they became aloof and helped in only the direst of circumstances, they became affiliated with loss, pain, and death. They were resented when they refused help and feared when they did. A parent rejoices when their child is miraculously saved from certain death, but a neighbor sees a sinister force behind it. For every good deed a magi performed, a hundred rumors spread. Magi were consorting with demons, performing sacrifices, and dark deals were made with dark spirits. They were evil.
“Large Families had strength in numbers, but single magi or small Families were easy targets. Their homes were ransacked. Their property stolen or destroyed. Houses burned. Magi died. And a rift formed between magi and humans. So when a human came to a magi with vengeance on their mind, you can see how some would be tempted to accept the offer. It became retaliation on a small scale.”
“Which would only make things worse. Strengthen the fears between them,” Allyn said.
“The big picture is the last thing on the mind of someone who has been beaten down and broken.”
Allyn leaned back in his seat. He knew what Graeme was talking about. People could resort to being sour or petty in a hurry—score a victory right away, even if it meant losing the war later. And he dealt with people who’d only been slightly wronged, nothing to the extent of what Graeme was talking about.
“But you’re right,” Graeme continued. “Things did get worse. Violence erupted between humans and magi. Hundreds, even thousands, died. Magi fled—small Families first—seeking refuge in a town or city that didn’t know their true nature. Larger Families became the target of anti-magic vitriol, and out of a desire to end the violence and protect their loved ones, the Families broke apart, spreading across the land. We call it the Fracture. We adopted human practices, embraced technology and culture and, in the name of survival, hid who we were.”
Graeme pulled his cell phone from his hip and held it up for Allyn to see. “That strategy continues today. And because of it, our existence is a rumor. A story or myth, at best.”
“Lukas wants to change that,” Allyn said. “He’s tired of hiding.”
Graeme nodded. “Something the rest of the Families don’t agree with.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Graeme took a deep breath. “This is where we venture into the unknown. I have an idea, but I want you to understand that it’s nothing more than that.”
“I understand.”
“I believe Lukas thinks you can wield.”
Chapter 5
A llyn laughed. It all felt like a mistake, one big, ridiculous mistake. Graeme didn’t look amused. Allyn stopped laughing but failed to wipe the smile from his face. “How would that even be possible?”
“I’ll show you.” Graeme stood. He motioned for Allyn to follow and, without waiting, walked back down the stone path to the manor.
Allyn followed sluggishly, wondering what time it was. The sky was starting to lighten. Dawn wasn’t far off.
Graeme led him up the stairs to the main entrance, grabbed the brass handles, and pushed open the red double doors.
Allyn looked on in amazement.
Two grand staircases curved along the wall on either side, mirroring each other. Hallways painted an ornate red split off in opposite directions at the top of the stairs, and another led forward, deeper into the house. A crystal chandelier that was taller than Allyn hung from the coffered ceiling, and the light reflecting off it made the room feel alive.
Another set of hallways branched off in both directions to his immediate right and left, but Allyn followed Graeme forward, between the stairs, deeper into the house. Sculptures and paintings of various sizes and shapes hung on the
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