Chapter 2
The power drew him, the way Dante knew it would, to someone who might be able to help. Ever since he woke one morning, his life changed by magic, he’d known he needed to find someone to teach him, otherwise he’d end up losing his sanity. Like his father. He’d hidden it well.
Luck had Dante out that day, with his younger sister. By the time they returned… it was impossible to forget, no matter how much he tried. At least he’d been able to keep Jessica from seeing too much. She’d kept the memories of their family as they once were.
The power coming off the stranger was similar to Titus, but Cornelius knew he couldn’t be old magic. He was new magic, and, potentially, the perfect solution to the problem they’d had. Leonora wasn’t going to change her mind. When she looked at the Lockwoods she saw darkness.
She wasn’t wrong about Titus. Anne… well, everyone changed. Titus wasn’t ready to see it, still assuming Anne was exactly who she was, but the time would come when he’d have to. Hopefully after the ritual. Cornelius ignored the stranger. When he was ready he’d say something.
Was there a right way to introduce himself? Dante knew so little, but it had to be done, and he was definitely in the right place. All he needed was the courage to break the silence, to say the words he’d been planning for days. It wasn’t a short journey to Glimmerbrook.
The silence went on. Cornelius focused on the plants, waiting. Had it been Titus his patience would have already failed. Anyone with new magic, to him, was a danger, and should be removed. It was understandable. With how things were it was an opportunity. One they needed.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your morning.” Dante could barely hear his own voice, so it wasn’t likely anyone else would be able to, and yet he didn’t want to speak any louder. Maybe then he’d be able to pretend. “My hope was I might be lucky enough to find someone to teach me.”
“Teach you what?”
“How to use my power.” Focused on watering, the mage didn’t look at Dante, and it made it a little easier to strengthen his voice. “I heard Glimmerbrook was where I needed to be if I was going to be able to gain control of it, rather than it controlling me.”
Turning, Cornelius looked properly at the new arrival. He was young, probably barely 20, and he’d definitely been through something. It wasn’t likely a story he’d be willing to share.
“At your age it’s likely you’re already in control, otherwise you’d have burned out.”
“Burned out?”
“Most who have magic come into it when they’re in their teens, and it’s then it would have killed you.”
“Only me?”
“Normally, yes. Sometimes there are exceptions to that rule, but it’s rare. I’ve never seen it happen.”
“Heard stories?”
“Everyone has.”
“What other problems can come with having magic?”
“Outside Glimmerbrook magic is very rare.” Cornelius studied the young man. “Someone like you is seen once in a generation.”
“I’m Dante.”
“Cornelius.” Their eyes met. “Where are you from?”
A flicker of uncertainty. “Not here.”
“Trust can be earned.” Not that it mattered – Dante would likely be dead soon, if Titus agreed. “I understand why you might keep it to yourself.”
Dante nodded. “It can.” Cornelius didn’t seem like the right person, but anything was possible. “Are you willing to teach me?”
“You’ll need to talk to the Council first. They will make the decision.”
“Who are the Council?”
“Mages from each of the magical families, the ones who have always called Glimmerbrook home, and I am one of them. Before me it was my father. I’m a Darkholme.”
“Who are the others?”
“The Tyrells, the Villareals, the Goths, the Embers, the Itos, the Kibos, the Landgraabs, the Moons, the Munches, the Harris’, the Kealohas, and the Lockwoods. I can introduce you to Titus. All you truly need to do is convince him. He’s the one with the most power.”
“Most power?”
“When it comes to the Council the mage with the most power leads. The Lockwoods have held the position for generations.”
“How do I convince Titus?”
“Prove to him it would be worth his time, and the time of whoever becomes your teacher. It may even be Titus.”
“You think he’d care enough to teach me himself, when he’s also the leader of the Council?”
“From the way you feel, Dante, I believe it’s a possibility. The others aren’t strong enough. It is also possible it may be Anne, but Titus is very protective of his sister.”
A name Dante recognised, from dreams he’d had before the journey, although he didn’t know her family. He never Saw a brother, but there was probably a reason for it.
“When can you introduce me, Cornelius?”
“You’re certain this is the path you want to walk?”
“I have no choice.”
“Everyone has a choice, Dante, whether they realise it or not. There is another option. You can give up your power.”
“Give it up?”
“If you fear it then it may be for the best.”
“Who said I feared it?”
“Your eyes tell me more than you’d like. I know something happened to you.”
“No one will take my power from me. I want to learn how to use it, not give it up.”
“That’s a good first step, but Titus is the one you’ll have to convince, and he sees much more than I do.”
“Sees how?”
“You ask the right questions.” Cornelius smiled. “He is a Seer, Dante.”
“Has he mentioned me before?”
“No, he hasn’t.”
“There’s a reason for that. He’s not the only Seer, and I’ve never Seen him either. Glimmerbrook I’ve Seen multiple times in the past, but I never understood why, until I ended up here. I didn’t even know what it was called.”
Interesting, and an added complication. Titus not being able to See Dante was something he definitely wouldn’t be pleased about.
“What else did you See?”
“Very little. I have limited understanding.”
Another lie, Dante keeping secrets, but it was to be expected.
“One of the most important things you need to know about Titus is he will be able to sense if you’re lying to him. Although it’s understandable it may cause issues when it comes to the decision whether or not you’re going to be taught. He decide it would be safer another way.”
“Taking my power?”
“Like I said new magic is rare, Dante, and if you want to be taught you need to show you’re willing to give us a chance.”
“Anything else I’ve Seen is personal.”
“Good, that was true.”
“You can tell too?”
“Some of us can. It’s not unusual.”
“What is?”
From the sounds of things making the journey to Glimmerbrook wasn’t the right choice, but there was nothing to be done to change what was. He’d made the decision for what seemed to be the best reasons, and it was still possible it wouldn’t go as badly as he’d Seen.
“Seeing magic. Very few of us can do that. I don’t even think Titus has that skill, although it’s hard to know for certain. He doesn’t trust easily.”
“You know him best?”
“Anne knows him best. I’m simply his closest ally on the Council. I know what he needs me to know.”
That didn’t sound good. “Anne and Titus are close.”
“Yes, very. It’s been the two of them since their father died not long after Titus’ 18th birthday. Emory is the only other living Lockwood, their father’s younger brother, but neither of them are close to him.”
“Emory doesn’t have the strength to be the leader of the Council?”
“No, he doesn’t, although I know he wishes he does. It’s one of the reasons Titus has kept him at a distance. With their father’s death it was the safest thing to do, especially with Anne a few years younger.”
“He was protecting her from her own uncle?”
“Anne is almost as strong as Titus, which makes her valuable. Had it not been for him she might have already been sold to the highest bidder.”
Dante raised an eyebrow. “That’s normal in Glimmerbrook.”
“Only with some families.”
“Titus believes differently?”
“He does. Anne will only marry when she wishes to. It will never be for the reasons Emory would marry her off.”
Every person had good and bad. It was possible Titus simply had some complicated beliefs when it came to magic, but was a good person.
“Do you have a time?”
“Midday. If you meet me here we can walk to the Lockwoods together, otherwise you’ll be stopped by their wards.”
“That must have been what I felt before.”
“Probably, but I know how to get through them. They won’t stop you this time. Just be certain.”