Chapter 18 #2
Vincentius studies me carefully and a drum of his fingers gives him away, just like his son. He looks down, studying the desk, his hand smoothing over the lacquer. “You and Valen make quite the pair. Two halves of the same coin. You balance each other.”
I catch it. The give-away. Balancing. I draw in air sharply. “You think my magic is unbalanced.” My voice cracks. “You fear I’m unhinged.”
His gaze snaps up. “No. Never.” My lips tremble and Vincentius makes his voice firm.
“You are powerful, Astoria. Any idiot with a wand can sense that. Not only powerful, but you have a will to wield it. Creation and Entropy thrum through your veins. Lesser children died in the womb from it, but not you. You came out glowing with power. And by the Tapestry, you were smart and creative enough to bend those threads like a true master, even as a child.”
I wait, letting the silence stretch. There’s more. I sense it and I don’t let my gaze waver from him. Finally, his tongue clicks. “But you have that fire from your mother.”
There it is. My jaw clenches, teeth clicking.
He takes another long draw from his cigarette.
“The Entropy Flame is a curse to your blood. Even now I can see it.” His eyes narrow, the blue brightening with magic.
“The darkness of your pupils has a flicker, a fire that threatens to burn you from the inside out. Not many can see it. I doubt even Valen can.”
The cigarette’s paper crackles, Vincentius taking his time with this intake.
The smoke curls when he speaks softly. “We all expected you to fall to your fate as a Dual Thread as an infant, but instead, you grew to wield both threads with a skill that no one fully predicted. And if you were with Valen? You’d have the chance to live a full weaver’s life cycle.
He has mastered my abilities and is more than capable of balancing you. ”
My heart seizes. “Balance? You’d use your powers over Preservation to suppress me!
You’d create a shield around my threads to stop them from warring, but then it was impossible for me to wield magic.
” I suck in a harsh breath, my eyes wide and voice a harsh whisper.
“Is that what my father wanted? For me to be magicless?”
Vincentius sighs, rubbing his brow. “Your father was concerned that if nothing was done, then your threads would detonate. I had my doubts that it would come to that, but he made a convincing argument. There were signs we couldn’t ignore.”
When I scoff, his eyes harden and he adds, “You might not see it now, but I was trying my best to save you. Atticus is a cruel, vicious man who lacks Viola’s creativity.
He wanted your Dual Threads snuffed, but he agreed to let you marry Valen if we kept you controlled.
And he agreed to let you birth children if you were blessed by the Tapestry.
I was trying my best to do right by you, Tori, and Atticus did not give me much of an option.
The alternative was Atticus muzzling you for the rest of your life and the other Council members agreed with him.
They were too afraid of your power and what an eruption from you would do.
That Raveng boy killed his whole line, but your power could destroy the whole forest, perhaps even Havenport. ”
He stubs out his cigarette and gets up. He walks over to the bar hidden in the globe and pours two tumblers full of amber liquid with a large, perfectly clear ice cube in the center of each.
“What I didn’t expect was your reaction.
I knew you’d be upset and would never forgive me for it, but I was ready to accept that burden.
I never thought you’d take it out on Valen.
” When I don’t take the glass he offers me, he sets it on the desk in front of me.
I glare venomously at him while he returns to his seat. “He betrayed me.”
Vincentius shakes his head, sitting down in his chair heavily. “He didn’t know.”
“Regardless! He should’ve said something at the naming. Stood beside me.” My teeth bare. “He should’ve stood up to you, but he’s too spineless.”
Annoyance flashes across his face. “That’s an unfair accusation. He was barely nineteen.”
“Is it?” I lean forward, head tilting down. “Even now, he’s your dog. He came running to me the moment you snapped your fingers.”
“Valen is loyal to the family. To you, if you still want to be a part of it.” Vincentius takes a sip, watching me over the rim of his glass. “I suspect even more loyal to you than me.”
I snatch my glass off the desk to keep from lashing out magically. I take a large, burning gulp. I gasp, fumes curling over my lips.
Vincentius studies me carefully before resting his glass on his knee.
“I didn’t anticipate your father’s rash reaction.
” His eyes grow cold, the room’s temperature dropping several degrees.
“If I’d known he still planned on muzzling you, despite our deal, I would’ve dragged you back here instead of letting you go home.
” The glass creaks in his hand and he relaxes his fingers.
He brings it back to his lips. His gulp is as large as mine was.
“I thought you needed space to calm. I was wrong.”
Slowly, the cold withdraws, and I can no longer see my misting breath. His glass clicks down on the wood. “Astoria.”
The seriousness in his tone straightens my spine. His gaze meets mine. “I owe you quite the apology. Would you like it best while I’m on my knees?”
Panic cracks through me. The genuineness of his question is overwhelming. “No—I mean, I…” I flounder and take another large gulp to settle myself.
“Let me make this simple. You belong here. You are one of mine, just like Emilia and Valentin are mine. I raised you. Protected you. Taught you the secrets of magic.” Anger darkens his gaze. “I’ve let this fighting go on for far too long and it ends now. Come home, Tori.”
His words, the intensity and sincerity of his voice, tighten my heart in a vice.
My breath shudders, my eyes burning. “There was a time when that was all I wanted to hear.” I’ve dreamed it, especially in the early days.
I’ve missed this estate. I’ve missed this life that would’ve been mine.
But I let it fuel my anger, my fire within warming me during the cold nights.
I swallow. “But it’s not what I want anymore.
I built a life. A new life. And it’s mine.
” Warmth blooms in my chest. “And I love this life of mine.”
He stills. “You no longer want to be Archweaver?”
My chest eases some of its tightness and I breathe out. “No. I don’t.” And it’s true.
Disappointment flickers and he nods. “I understand.”
My breath rushes past my lips. He smiles softly. “Can we still make amends? I’ve missed you.”
I laugh and it’s a weak, choked noise. Hastily, I wipe away the welling tears that blind me.
The chair creaks. Vincentius’ hands gently grip my elbows and he draws me up to standing.
“We’ve all missed you. My Astoria.” His embrace is warm and I fail to find the strength to stand against it.
I collapse into his hold, my trembling fingers resting against his back.
He draws back and hands me a handkerchief. I accept it gratefully. His smile has all the fatherly love I starve for but never admit aloud. A fresh surge of tears pours from me and his smile widens.
“My girl. I should’ve done this much sooner. For far too long, I held out hope that you’d return on your own. Perhaps I was a touch prideful, too. I hope you can forgive me for failing as your mentor and father.”
All I can do is nod. He gestures to the chairs behind us. “Sit. Tell me all about your shop. I could only prod the outer defenses, but my arachnid gods, you’ve created something marvelous. True magical ingenuity.”
My heart swells and I lower into my seat, startling when the chair shifts to something plush and comfortable. Vincentius takes his own beside me. The bottle from the bar glides over and tops off both of our glasses. I accept mine with a smile.
And then I tell him all about my life for the last seven years.
Every detail. Vincentius hangs on every word, gasping and lighting with amazement.
His warmth and interest loosen my lips and I sip my drink while I go.
The glass never empties; the bottle tops it off frequently.
The heat from the liquor soothes me and I melt into the soft chair.
It feels good to talk to him again. We used to sit together like this for hours, discussing magical theory and powerful books. His attention is unwavering, his eyes warm, and his enthusiasm genuine.
He kicks his feet up on his desk, contemplating the heart of my shop. His voice is low as he strokes his mustache. “Extraordinary. And you use Entropy to feed it? No one with your lineage would dare…”
A sleepiness droops my eyes and I take another sip. “No one can wield the Entropy Thread like me.”
“That they cannot. Then again, no one has the creativity you do. Or the balls to dare it.”
I laugh and it turns into a tittering giggle. I tuck my legs under me, leaning on the armrest. “Cowards. All of them. No true magical discovery can happen without the will to bend the magic. That’s what a true weaver is.”
He clinks his full glass with mine. “Spoken like my apprentice. Never change, my dear.”
I glow and take another sip. Vincentius’ full glass rests on his knee.
“I’m proud of you. You’ve accomplished so much in such a short amount of time.
I look forward to seeing what the future holds for you.
What new magics you’ll discover to strengthen us all.
It’s what Viola envisioned for your Dual Threads.
The next generation of weavers will be stronger for it, if only we have the bravery to evolve.
” He watches me drink. “I wish to do something for you. Something to smooth over old hurts. What do you need from me? You can keep the amulet. I’ll honor Valen’s deal on that. ”