Galena

Maggie checked the tele-messenger. It had been a week since Jace left and he was still in Vorik. Even though he was communicating his whereabouts with her, Maggie was becoming nervous. She was ready to go to Vorik, but every time she thought about doing this, she quickly changed her mind.

Maggie pulled her hair up into a ponytail and turned around to lean against the counter, debating on what to do. Her breath caught at the sight of Benzi standing at the kitchen doorway. She crossed her arms against her chest and stared at the wolf. The last time she saw Benzi, it was during that Void attack. She wasn’t turning, so why was he here now?

Just then there was a knock on the door.

Her eyes dropped to Benzi. He stepped backwards, as if to tell her not to answer the door.

Maggie scrunched her eyebrows at him and walked around him to look outside between the curtains. She felt her chest get tighter with what she saw outside. She stared at the black carriage at the end of the walkway and chills ran down her spine thinking about that death box. She counted three Knights who stood at the carriage’s doors and a few other Knights around. She turned to look at Benzi again, but he was gone.

Another knock came harder on the door.

She took in a deep breath and took the door knob. She slowly opened it and her stomach began to twist at who stood on the other side. Heath had his cowl down and his eyes filled with sadness. ”Why did it have to be him?" were the only thoughts running through her mind. She fought to keep her knees from shaking.

Heath stepped down from the steps and painfully called out, “Maggie Creed, daughter of the Thaumaturgist leader Vivian Creed, please step forward.”

Maggie thought about how that Knight called for her mother to do the same. She followed Heath down the stairs and stood in the middle of her yard with him. He raised his arm as the small screen came out from his wrist plate.

He continued to read her rites, “We have been led to believe that unauthorized magic has been used by your person. We have also come to the finding of unauthorized tools of magic and trade in the basement of Creed’s Baked Goods, as well as in the home.”

Maggie felt her fingertips tingling as Heath spoke to her. Heath was the only one who knew what she did to the basement of the bakery, but she couldn’t believe it was him. She tried to ignore her accusations - Heath wouldn’t do that to her. Besides, Diana only trusted a few people and she trusted him enough that night to help her. She looked back at Heath when he asked if she wished to speak before the arrest was taken place, but nothing came out. She could only stare at him with thoughts swarming in her head.

“On what grounds do you have for arresting my sister?” Maggie heard from behind her. She turned to see Jace approaching her from the house. Once he stood face to face with Heath, he realized who he was. “Heath?” he said, looking at the man who stood by him as kids and throughout their Knighthood until he was removed.

Maggie looked up at Jace, giving him a confused look.

“That memory lock was placed on you by Garos,” Heath began to say, surprised to hear Jace remember him. “Only he could remove it.”

“Or a Mage,” another Knight called out from behind Heath.

Jace’s eyes rose to the Knight - he knew exactly who was speaking. He could see her icy blue eyes as she came closer to him. She was the Knight he bumped into at Ori’s bridge, triggering those headaches; she was also the woman he shared a bed with for so many years. After knowing what she did to him, she disgusted him now.

“Vanessa,” he muttered, watching her pull her cowl down.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow at Maggie, knowing Maggie recognized her from the cafe, then answered Jace with a smile.

“This was your doing,” he said, pointing at the carriage.

“Of course, it is,” she laughed, “We forced the buyout on the store and would’ve left it at that, if your sister didn’t destroy evidence of the Thaumaturgy. Which is considered a huge violation. You should know this, Jace. You were once in my position as Commander.”

Maggie’s eyes widened then instantly narrowed on Jace. “You were a Knight?” she forced out in disbelief.

Before Jace could answer, Vanessa interrupted, “Oh! You didn’t know?” Vanessa looked from Maggie to Jace, “He’s been sleeping with the enemy for a very long time.”

“How long have you remembered this?” Maggie asked, still staring at her brother.

Jace hesitated at first before answering, “A few weeks.” His eyes dropped to the side as he added, “I didn’t want to upset you.”

Vanessa began to laugh, “And this doesn’t? We’re here for her arrest and she just now finds out where you’ve been?” She laughed again then looked back at Maggie, adding, “Your brother left you and became a Garzil Knight. He might have as well been the one to have killed your mother.”

“How dare you,” Maggie spat out, stepping forward to hit Vanessa, but was stopped.

Heath stepped between them, locking eyes with her - something Jace noticed right away. He looked at his sister and saw how quickly she cooled down looking at Heath. He recognized that look she gave him. It was a look of adoration and Heath expressed the same towards her.

Jace’s attention turned back to Vanessa, who walked around Heath towards Maggie, saying, “You’re not helping your case, Maggie Creed.” Vanessa was amused by Maggie’s attempt. She grabbed Maggie’s hands and Jace watched Vanessa pull gloves off his sister’s hands, revealing magic. “You’re pathetic,” Vanessa continued, “You can’t even control your own magic, so you hide it.” She held Maggie’s wrist, keeping her from pulling away.

Maggie let out a cry as she felt her wrist burning.

“Commander-” Heath let out at the same time Jace stepped forward stating, “You got what you wanted from me. Don’t bring my sister into this.”

“She did it to herself, Jace. After using a reversal spell and a tracker, we found out exactly what your sister did to that basement. And as you can see, she was clearly capable of using magic illegally to destroy evidence. And now look-! She’s concealing magic!” Vanessa grinned at him. “There’s no getting around this and as far as I’m concerned, you’re now an accomplice.” Vanessa turned away, calling out, “Cuff her and arrest them both!”

As the two Knights approached the siblings from the carriage, Heath turned away to follow Vanessa, but stopped when hearing a voice call out from behind them

“You will not touch them!”

Jace and Maggie turned around to see Marie standing a few feet from them. She had teleported directly into Kent and was pointing her scepter forward, placing a protection bubble around her and the Creeds.

Vanessa looked at the shield Marie cast, her eyes lighting up. She looked back at Marie, smiling. “The last Mage has finally revealed herself,” Vanessa said, coming back to where she stood before. “How’s that eye treating you?” she asked, glaring a devilish grin at Marie. She touched the shield - instantly dropping it. “Sorry, old friend, but your powers are useless here,” she added, “Being the first Archmage to become Garos’ Knight, my powers are exceptional compared to yours.”

Jace stared at Vanessa. She was the one who took Marie’s eye and if he calculated correctly, Vanessa was well over a hundred years old. His stomach turned at this thought.

“Then as a member of the clergy, you know to bow to your High King,” Marie answered.

“The High King doesn’t exist,” Vanessa responded, turning away once again and snickering.

Marie stared at Vanessa, telling her, “You don’t seem so confident with those words.”

Vanessa paused for a moment, feeling anger swell inside her. “The High King is dead, as is the High Advisor,” she forced out between clenched teeth.

“And who do you think Vivian’s successor is?” Marie said, stepping forward.

Vanessa’s eyes slowly went to Maggie. Her anger swelled within her again. Jace watched as a force of energy shot through her arms and into her hands as she threw her arms in front of her. She was aiming for his sister.

At once, Marie and Jace took action - Marie threw an energy ball at Vanessa, sending her back a few yards, while Jace stepped in front of Maggie with a sword raised to deflect Vanessa’s attack. Jace looked up at the faintly glowing sword. It was lined with gold and the silver shimmered. Vivian hid it within him until he desperately needed it to protect his bloodline.

“Kard!?” Vanessa yelled, holding her eye and stomach while she caught her balance. Anger burned inside her as her good eye pierced through the space between her and the sword.

“Tell Garos the rightful heirs to Galena’s throne will be coming for him,” Jace said, pointing Kard towards Vanessa. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “And you will be losing more than an eye if you come after us.”

With a smirk from Marie, Marie’s scepter glowed and the three disappeared.