Chapter 21 #2
After spinning on the makeshift stage last night, my friends hadn’t left my side.
Everly’s amazing dress wrapped me in her and Cayden’s colors.
Instead of avoiding me, people braved Cayden’s dark scowls to introduce themselves.
I’d been a dark Christmas present, glitter and all, whom everyone had wanted to meet.
I might be wrapped in shitty packaging and surly as shit this morning, but I was the same Quinn as last night, and I wasn’t taking Matt’s shit.
That was a lot of ‘shit.’ Maybe I needed to calm down.
A server slid a tray of coffees onto the bar, and I started salivating.
“I still want to fix this myself.” I leaned forward and blinked innocently. “But I guess I can talk to Brit and see what she recommends I do?”
The color drained out of Matt’s face.
“Oh, look, my coffee!” I exclaimed, helping myself to a cup of what was hopefully mocha. Warm caffeine and chocolate filled my mouth. My empty stomach wasn’t keen, but the jolt of energy would be worth it.
Anger burned in Matt’s gaze.
A pang of regret shot through me, not for Matt. I was done being walked on, but because I’d stolen someone else’s drink.
Before I could overthink it, I slid past him and went to the back, racks upon racks of glassware from the party needed to be polished.
Although I wanted to savor my stolen drink, maybe enjoy it with breakfast, I wasn’t going to get either option, so I downed the coffee and waited for my caffeine kick to lift my arms again.
After polishing a few glasses, I found a rhythm and let my mind wander.
I hadn’t outright told Cayden I couldn’t use magic. I did show him my Majekah, or at least I’d destroyed a weird dusty sculpture I’d found in what was becoming our favorite spot in the library.
“I’ve never seen Majekah like it,” Cayden said. “But I’ve not seen most people’s Majekah. The Prophet only shines his light on those who follow in his footsteps. My family Majekah is runes. All of us.”
Cayden clenched his fists and wrinkled his nose the way he did every time ‘the Prophet’ slipped out of his mouth. Before I could ask, he pressed on.
“Anyone can push magic into objects and themselves. It is raw energy. Majekah, however, is shaped by the user. You. It’s your experiences.”
“So Majekah, is magic going through a person filter?”
Cayden raised an eyebrow and nodded.
“What if I don’t have a filter? Like, I was born before the filters became a thing?”
Cayden peered at me. “Then you would be a monster. During the tremors, people either died, evolved, or their bodies rejected the magic, and they turned into something else.”
“Like Chancellor Morgen?” I asked.
Cayden nodded. “And Professor Holiday and Winston.”
“But they can all do magic, too.”
Cayden shrugged. “They’re also over a hundred years old. There are not many monsters left. The fact the Architect brought three together in one place is probably the only reason he still has this castle at all.”
“Quinn,” Matt said.
I yelped and dropped my glass, which promptly shattered on the floor.
“Excited to run up your tab?” Matt asked.
I glared at him, and he held out his hands peacefully. “I don’t make the rules.”
“But you enjoy enforcing them,” I grumbled.
The bartender gave me an unfriendly grin but passed me my TB.
A new schedule looked me in the face. I pulled the glowing words closer and farther, then shook my TB. It stayed the same.
Usually, after placement tests were over, the Architect had a meeting with each person and got them set up in their new role in the family.
However, with the Architect still asleep, no one really knew what to do.
A few individuals who had a clear idea of what they wanted and made connections moved into jobs.
But the bulk of us were continuing our work-studies and waiting, but not me, apparently. Every minute of my day, from my five a.m. work-study until seven at night, was scheduled.
Introductory sessions to jobs I didn’t know existed filled my days. They were labeled as ‘tag-alongs’ in my TB. Hope and Chancellor Morgen alternated generic tutoring. And I now had daily one-on-one combat sessions with Rowan, which started in ten minutes.
My stomach flopped reading that. I still had a thing for my Witcher look-alike. Yeah, his suitress had started some rumors, but he hadn’t. He’d tried really hard after the physical to help me, and then pissed off when I told him to. I appreciated the respect.
But he was on Ezra’s approved list.
What did that even mean?
“We’re still slammed.” Matt scowled at me. “How long does it take to read a TB?”
I pulled a pad of paper out of my pocket-void and jotted down my new schedule.
My thoughts drifted to Erick’s point. I didn’t actually know how other families would treat me.
After three bad experiences, I’d found myself here, not being pressured to do anything with my biology.
As much as I felt trapped by Ezra, I also didn’t envy Everly.
I sighed and turned my TB to my messages.
Despite Matt’s time crunch, or maybe because of it, I lingered over my meager social feed. Everly and Brit had been trading messages about Joe, along with a short thread of Everly walking Brit through a logic puzzle for one of her placements, which she must have already taken.
I wrinkled my nose. I’d known the answer to that one, too. I could have helped.
The generic baby blue made an announcement, and a new color popped up in the chat.
Baby Blue
Alert: Group is now 5.
Forest Green
What is this?
Blood Red
It's a group.
Your observation skills are shit, Cayden, like your taste in wine.
Don't make me regret inviting you.
Baby Blue
Alert: Group is now 4.
Moss Green
Hahahahahahahahaha.
Blood Red
I'm sticking him back in here.
For Quinn!
Baby Blue
Alert: Group is now 5.
Blood Red
I swear to God, just be normal.
Forest Green
What even is normal?
Moss Green
He got a point.
Blood Red
How dare you take his side!!
Forest Green
I don't need anyone on my side.
Blood Red
Too bad, you've got us now.
Did you see our girl tonight? That dress. I think we might continue our walks on the promenade.
Two girls, scandalous.
Right, Quinn?
Forest Green
Is Quinn here?
Blood Red
No. Sigh. Cayden, these are just messages.
She’s not inside your TB.
Moss Green
Hahahahahahaha.
Baby Blue
Alert: Group is now 4.
Moss Green
Keep adding em. This is great.
Baby Blue
Alert: Group is now 5.
Matt cleared his throat, and despite not wanting to, I forced myself to skim. Cayden left the chat four more times as Everly continued to misunderstand his comments. I guess she was taking a page out of my book to get under Cayden’s skin. It made me giggle, though I literally yearned to join in.
I flipped the cube to the side where individual messages came through and found a single dark purple one that read: Gym, now.
Ezra’s magic was plum purple. He had reached out to me, just not officially, which told me nothing. The whole point of my gender reveal was to get a reaction from the people running this mess, but nothing changed. What did that mean?
I sighed and handed Matt my social life. If I did get my TB back, I’d still need to make a scrawl to send a message, and I didn’t know how to do that.
“I found someone I can sell my clothing to,” I said. “But things didn’t go well, and I couldn’t complete the transaction.”
Matt shook his head. “You didn’t…” He swallowed. “The rumors say someone beat you up… you didn’t go to The Green alone because of us—”
“How are there rumors about that?” I groaned.
“I woke up unconscious in my room.” I glared at Matt.
“No one hit me. I fell. I know it’s the oldest lie in the book, but it’s what happened.
” I shook my fist at him. “And I did go to The Green because of you! You’re holding my TB hostage.
” Matt cowered again, though not before I noticed his smirk.
He enjoyed this. How messed up. “I need to go. Same time tomorrow morning?”
Matt nodded. “Back door.”
I stepped over the broken glass, ignoring him, and headed for the restroom. Coming out in my clean trainee uniform, I headed toward the front door. I spied Brit sitting with Joe and blew her a double-handed kiss before exiting. I didn’t make it far before two figures stepped into my path.
I recognized Brody immediately, but it took me longer to place Seth Silver, Mister Harrogate, who would make a ‘good friend’ and something about sheep, according to Everly. He tossed his cyan-blue ponytail behind him and rolled up his sleeves, exposing the twisted lines he used to cast magic.
My blood chilled, and fear prickled down my spine.
“Hey, I was on my way to the coliseum. Rowan’s expecting me,” I said, dropping the enforcer’s name purposely. “And I’m running late.”
Brody took a step forward. “Quinn, you don’t know what you’re getting into.”
I stepped back. “I think I have a good idea—”
“You don’t,” Seth cut me off. “Cayden’s a Lawson. Women disappear into their compound and are never seen again. Their family has their finger in every pie. Look at how easily he made friends with your roommate.”
I sighed, though unease churned under my skin. “What’s wrong with Erick, other than everything?”
Seth looked down his nose. “He’s a spy for his family. It’s obvious.”
“He could be.” I threw up my hands. “But I know literally nothing.”
“You are information.” Brody stepped forward. “Quinn, everyone knows now. How could you be so stupid? It was our secret to keep you safe.”
I took a sharp breath. ‘Our secret to keep you safe.’ Was he referring to the two of us, or Hope, Chancellor Morgen, and every other person trying to steer me?
Ezra. Fucking Ezra.
The dark and handsome mage was still at the top of my mind. I couldn't imagine he’d want Brody to harass me. The stoic general asked before touching me platonically at the gym, but he’d also trapped me inside the castle walls.
“Brody,” I said, meeting the kid’s angry gaze. “This is stalking. Like whatever you did to your sister.” I didn’t know if that was true, but it couldn’t hurt to let him think I knew more than I did.
Brody paled and hunched his shoulders defensively. “She kept staying out. Dad told her not to, but she didn’t listen. She was going to get hurt.” He straightened and leaned toward me. “Women are precious. They need to be kept clean and controlled so they can’t get hurt.”
My stomach twisted while my hackles rose. ‘My precious.’ Gollum from The Lord of the Rings hissed in my head.
“I only used my magic a little and made her safe.” Brody clenched his fist in front of himself, and his tone took on a hard edge.
“That’s all I wanted. I am a protector, and my family didn’t understand that.
They accused me of being a mentalist, but I’m not.
You know I’m not. You get me, Quinn. I know you do. ”
I looked right at Seth, who flinched and side-eyed Brody, clearly unaware of what he’d gotten into.
I bit my lips together and focused on Brody again. “You’re not my protector, Brody. You’ve got to stop following me.” I kept my words short and impactful. “Knocking on my door. Knowing my schedule. Waiting for me to leave my room.” I put my hands on my hips. “It’s not right.”
Seth sidestepped, looking between us.
“If I’d waited outside your door, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.” Rage heated Brody’s words, and his voice cracked, only making him feel more unpredictable. “No one believes you fell. Someone hurt you because you were alone. You promised me a shot.”
I flailed my hands. “I was new and confused, and you took advantage of that.”
“Cayden’s evil,” Brody almost hissed the second word. “He’s got twenty kids, most of them from raping his cousins.”
Cayden wasn’t that much older than me and loaded. I had no idea what his past was, but twenty kids, all from rape, couldn’t be it.
Brody took another small step toward me, and my heart raced with fear.
I glanced at Seth, who watched me with apologetic eyes, but didn’t move.
Coward. Brody had magic. His lanky teenage body would still overpower me in a heartbeat.
I wanted to run, but turning my back on the violence in Brody’s eyes was a worse idea.
“His family treats women like cattle,” Brody pushed, seeing his words impact me. “I can’t let that be you next. You’re beautiful and strong. Cayden will destroy you.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have Everly and Brit to back me up.” The fear in my voice was the exact opposite of my words.
Seth took another step farther from Brody, though he still kept his distance from both of us.
“I don’t know if Cayden’s evil.” He held out a single hand.
“But he’s a Lawson. He has other kids already, I guarantee it.
” His voice sounded apologetic and too reasonable.
“Whatever he’s promised you is a lie. Maybe I approached this wrong, but at least take a second look at Cayden. ”
I took another step away from them. Cayden was my friend, one of the three people in this world I trusted.
A hand landed on my shoulder, making me jump. I looked up to find Rowan’s glowing white eyes looking down at me.
“You’re late,” he said. “Are these men bothering you?”
The warmth of his hand sank into my tense shoulders. His enforcer blacks filled my peripheral vision. Seth turned white as a sheet. I honestly believed he had no idea who he’d joined forces with. And Brody, I couldn’t read him. He’d gone so still, and his eyes bore into me and only me.
If I said yes to Rowan, what would happen?
The easy violence from my physical placement made it hard to breathe.
Brody was sick; he needed help, not to get beaten up by Rowan. I hated it, but I couldn’t be the reason either man got hurt.