The Mage in Black (9 page)

Rhea turned in her seat to look at me. “The Hekate Council prefers the security for our sacred rituals. It’s harder to control the environment in the city. We also enjoy the space the estate afford us, and of course there’s the Sacred Grove. There’s a ley line running under the spot.”

“Ley line?” Giguhl asked. I was glad he asked instead of me. The term sounded familiar, but the fact I couldn’t remember what it was served as yet another reminder of my utter ignorance when it came to magical stuff.

“They’re like rivers of concentrated magical energy running through the earth,” Maisie said. “They add power to all our rituals and spells.”

“Anyway,” Rhea continued. “The other reason we like it out here is a lot of mages live in Sleepy Hollow. The chaotic energy of the city is too much for many of our kind. The local humans think these mages are just humans with pagan beliefs, and everyone gets along. It’s nice.”

Soon, the headlights glared off a set of large gates in the middle of the road. The two sides met to form an iron Hekate’s Wheel similar to the one at the Prytania Place, only bigger. Underneath the symbol, letters spelled out the name of the estate.

“Crossroads?” I read aloud.

“Hekate is the goddess of the crossroads,” Maisie explained. “Among other things.”

The area tingled with magical wards. I also noted several mundane security measures like the ones Adam pointed out the night before at Prytania Place.

“This reminds me of the Adamantine Gate in Irkalla,” Giguhl said, looking around. “The only thing it’s missing is that bitch Cerberus.”

I looked over my shoulder. “Wait, the three-headed dog is female?”

“Duh, yeah. She’s got a serious case of eternal PMS, too.”

“Good to know.”

A long dirt road cut through heavy woods for another mile before the house appeared like an apparition through the leaves. The building was a collection of stone towers, balconies, and elaborate geometric designs done in terra-cotta and ochre. My eyes moved restlessly over the facade, trying to digest the colorful mosaic of architectural styles—Moorish, Victorian, Gothic, with a dash of the Prairie School here and there. I’d never seen anything like it, and I certainly hadn’t expected such an odd headquarters for the Hekate Council. Back in California, the Dominae’s compound was a stately Mediterranean style mansion. But this reminded me of something out of
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
or the Brothers Grimm.

Damara pulled the car to a stop in front of the steps leading to a wide archway. I got out and took stock. The house was imposing up close, like the fairy-tale fortress of an eccentric wizard.

Rhea clapped her hands and rubbed them together. “Allrighty, then. Who’s ready for a vision quest?”

T
he nausea hit almost immediately. I curled up into the fetal position on a pile of dead leaves. Cold sweat blossomed on my back and forehead.

“Easy. Don’t fight it. It will pass soon,” Rhea said, mopping my face with a cool, damp cloth.

Hunching over, I retched as my stomach emptied on the roots of an ancient oak. Between heaves, I cursed Rhea in colorful language. She just rubbed my back and said nothing.

When no bile was left to toss, I fell onto my back, my eyes clenched tight.

My stomach gurgled. “If I shit my pants, I’m gonna kill you.”

I rolled onto my side. My head swam like another bout of cookie tossing was imminent. I lay very still and breathed through my nose until it passed.

Freakin’ Maisie with her “It’s relatively painless.” When the world was done spinning, I was going to kick her understatement-making ass.

“I hate everyone right now.”

Rhea chuckled softly. “I know. It will pass soon and the visions will begin.”

I swallowed and nodded. Given the experience so far, I wasn’t looking forward to the vision portion. Rhea assured me the visions would give us clues about my magical path. From the looks of things so far, the path would be covered in puke.

Earlier, when Rhea led me into the oak grove, torches burned around the perimeter of the clearing, casting orange light and shadows on Rhea’s face. My steps faltered when I saw the stone altar at the center. Rhea urged me forward with a hand at my back.

Energy thrummed through me as I approached. With each step, the intensity grew. I glanced back at Maisie, who nodded encouragingly. Giguhl gave me a thumbs-up and then joined Damara near the entrance of the grove. I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve.

Part of me wondered why I continued to put myself through these weird—and nauseating—mage rituals. But the truth was, I was willing to do just about anything that would infuriate my grandmother. She hated mages more than just about anything in the world. Nothing would piss her off more than finding out I’d gone to the dark side, so to speak. Maybe it wasn’t rational, but I also liked the idea of being able to zap the shit out of her the next time we met. And if going through this crazy vision-quest thingy helped me learn those skills, I’d do it.

Given the solemn atmosphere, I was surprised to see Rhea pull a red thermos from a backpack at her feet. Without much pomp or circumstance, she poured the tea into the little plastic cup. “Bottoms up.”

I took an experimental sniff. “It smells like ass.”

Rhea nodded. “Yep. Drink up now.” She placed a hand under the cup to guide it to my lips.

What the hell? Might as well get this over with. The first sip nearly made me gag. When she’d first mentioned tea, I’d been expecting something like Earl Grey or Lemon Zinger. Instead, the liquid tasted oily and bitter—like evil.

“What the hell is in this?”

“Ayahuasca.”

“Aja-what-a?”

She repeated it slowly. “It means ‘spirit root.’ It’s only found in the Amazon. Shamans there use it to induce visions and gain insight. The brew contains other ingredients, but if I told you I’d have to kill you,” she joked lamely.

I couldn’t help but wonder if the tea would kill me before I’d have a chance to make her tell me.

“Now,” she continued, “chug-a-lug.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. I’ll puke.”

She muttered something under her breath that sounded like “If you only knew.” Louder, she said, “Stop being a baby. The faster you drink it, the less you’ll notice the taste.”

I looked at her skeptically. Then I shrugged and gulped down the rest of the vile potion. Gasping for breath, I tossed down the cup and glared at Rhea.

“See? Not so bad, was—”

She probably continued her thought, but I was suddenly too busy being doubled over as the first tidal wave of nausea hit.

Thirty minutes of torture had passed, but now things seemed to be calming down. Before, even a slight breeze made me turn green, but now I could actually open my eyes without wishing for the sweet release of death.

“Better?” Rhea asked, leaning over me.

Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded slowly, staring up at the shadowed leaves above. A crisp breeze swooped through the clearing. Leaves danced on the wind like autumn’s confetti.

“Odd,” I said. As the leaves swirled and dipped, they left colorful light tracers in their wake.

“What is it?”

“Those leaves.” I lifted a heavy hand to point, but it dropped back to the ground.

“What about them?”

“Pretty.” My body felt heavy, as if I’d become rooted in the soil. The ley line buzzed in my ears, calling to me.

Rhea patted my shoulder. “Just relax now and let the visions come.”

I barely heard her. My thoughts scattered and rolled like mercury. Leaves swirled above me like neon streamers. At first, they undulated hypnotically. Gained speed and switched direction. Shooting toward me like arrow-tipped ribbons.

Orange and purple became blue and red. The ribbons braided together in a double helix. My DNA lit up the night.

The braid rises above me. Up, up, up.

Split apart, flying. Blue jay and cardinal soar together. Honeyed song. No words, but I understand. Laughter.

They sing upon the branch. My song. The song of my sister. Movement, morphing. Serpent appears, slithering toward the pair. Must warn them. Move. Fly! The snake opens its maw and waits. Blue and red fly into the dark cave.

Ruby eyes sparkle against black scales. Frozen. Mouth opens. A flash of bloody iron fangs. The skeleton clock is ticking. Ticking. Ticking.

Wind whips up like the serpent’s tail. Scales scald my skin. Forked tongue licks away tears. No. NO. NO!

Iron fangs flashing, piercing, sucking. Blood first, then body. Sliding down forever.

Solid gives way to void. Water dripping. Cold, clammy fear. Black everywhere. Shadow upon shadow. Souls whisper from beyond, “We will obey.”

The midnight dogs emerge from the gloomy crossroads. Eyes of fire beckon, command me to follow.

Into the cavern. Deeper. Blood drips from stalactites into the pool. Dark whispers. Darker laughter. A black swan glides across the mirrored surface. Faces reflected. Ones I knew. Ones I loved. Ones I killed.

She rises from the water. Dry white robes flutter in an unfelt breeze. She is lit from the inside. Untouchable. Ethereal.

Fall to my knees. Forgive me.

Sobbing now. So sorry. Kissing her hem.

Butterfly lips on my skin. Gone, she’s gone. Again.

The skeleton clock is ticking, ticking, ticking. Time to go.

A male appears. His face is hidden in shadows. Unknown yet known. Dead yet alive. He takes my hand. Together, we fly.

I am the breeze on my face. I am the serpent’s tail. I am the end and the beginning.

I am the night.

I am the night.

I am the night.

T
he room was silent when I finished talking. I was relieved Damara had taken Giguhl for a tour of the grounds to give us some privacy. It was bad enough telling Maisie and Rhea about my freaky visions. What was worse, the stoic expressions on their faces when I finished told me I wouldn’t like their interpretation.

Maisie cleared her throat. “You’re certain that’s everything?”

I nodded. “I think so. Why?”

Maisie and Rhea shared a look. “The symbols you recounted confirm a vision Maisie had several months ago.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I was leaning toward bad, since the darkness of the vision still clung to me like a shadow. The females were silent, as if weighing how much to tell me. “Will someone please just tell me what they mean?”

Rhea smiled serenely. “Sabina, what do you know about the
Praescarium Lilitu
?”

“The book of prophecies?” I crossed my arms. “Adam told me in California you guys believe some of the prophecies Lilith outlined in the book are coming true, whatever that means.”

“He’s right, they are coming true,” Maisie said. “And your vision quest confirms it.”

“Wait.” I waved an arm. “How do you know? Adam told me the Caste of Nod is rumored to have the only copy of the
Praescarium Lilitu
.”

The Caste of Nod was supposedly a mysterious cabal of dark races. From what I could tell, no one really knew what exactly they did besides protect the book. However, their name had been invoked for centuries to scare kids—the dark-race version of the Boogey Man.

“It’s true we don’t have access to the sacred text, but over the centuries, parts of the prophecies have been leaked. Maisie’s visions over the last several months corroborate what we’ve been told about them.”

“So what does all this have to do with me?” All this talk of secret sects and prophecies made my skin feel too tight.

“The images you shared just now confirm you’re a Chthonic mage.”

Rhea looked at me like she’d just made some huge revelation, but I had no freakin’ clue what a Chthonic mage was. “And?”

“A Chthonic is a type of mage who manipulates dark energy to manifest magic,” Maisie whispered helpfully.

“Dark energy? You mean like black magic?”

“The concepts of white and black magic are constructs of superstitious mortals,” Rhea said. “In truth, there is no absolute good or absolute evil. Chthonics tap into ancient, primordial energy of the earth. We’re talking the heavy stuff here: death, fertility, the underworld, the dark feminine.”

“Chthonic powers are very rare,” Maisie added, “and the fact you have them is a big deal. Lilith and Hekate are both Chthonic goddesses, and your powers are heavily connected to their energy.”

The two females looked at me expectantly, their eyes glowing with excitement I didn’t feel. “That’s funny. I don’t feel Chthonic.”

Maisie frowned, clearly not amused. “That’s where Rhea comes in. She’s going to train you to harness all that energy. And once you do, you’ll be a formidable mage.”

I sighed. “Look, I get that you guys think this is a big deal, but I have trouble buying it. If I’m so powerful, why haven’t I ever been able to do magic?”