The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend, but they sure make a good ally.
All Mages
As I stumbled toward my room, Simon floated beside me, a quiet presence guiding me through the shadows. The air felt heavy, thick with unspoken words and lingering sorrow.
Once we reached my room, I sank onto the mattress, the cool sheets welcoming me like a forgotten embrace. He lingered for a moment, his translucent form shimmering in the dim light, before leaning closer.
With a gentle touch, Simon brushed his icy fingers against my forehead, sending a shiver coursing through me. I closed my eyes, the world fading into darkness as sleep began to envelop me. The last thing I remembered was the bitter smile that tugged at Simon's lips and a haunting reflection of the pain hidden in his dead eyes.
The next morning arrived far too quickly, a blinding light piercing through my eyelids, dragging me from the depths of a restless slumber. I groaned, the remnants of my dreams slipping away like smoke, leaving me feeling as though I hadn't slept at all.
Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the fog of exhaustion that clung to me. I felt empty, hollowed out. The remnants of my heartache echoed in my mind, the shadows of four lifetimes whispering their regrets.
With a heavy sigh, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cool floor against my feet. Reaching for the pack of cigarettes on my nightstand, I pulled one out and lit it, taking a deep drag as the smoke curled around me like a comforting veil. The familiar burn in my lungs felt like a bittersweet reminder that I was still here.
I watched the smoke spiral upward, each exhale carrying away a fragment of my sorrow, even if only for a moment.
Just as I settled into the quiet haze of my cigarette, the door swung open, and Alex strolled in.
"What the hell, Shay?" he exclaimed, his eyes narrowing as the pungent scent of tobacco hit him at full force. "You can't smoke indoors! What are you trying to do, gas yourself?"
He rushed over to the window, flinging it open with a dramatic flourish, the cool morning air rushing in to disperse the lingering smoke. Alex waved his arms as if he could physically fan the remnants of my bad habit out into the world.
"You're going to kill me with this stuff," he muttered, shaking his head. "And you look like shit, by the way."
I couldn't help but laugh, a dry, humorless sound that felt foreign against the heaviness of my mood. Well, I feel like shit, I thought.
When I didn't answer, Alex paused, glancing at me with a mixture of concern and exasperation. "What did you do last night, Shay? You look like you haven't slept in days." He crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in a way that was both endearing and irritating.
I shrugged, taking another drag from my cigarette. "Just the usual," I said, trying to downplay the turmoil that churned within me. "You know, battling my inner demons."
He rolled his eyes, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You really need to find a better way to deal with things. Smoking isn't going to help."
"Yeah, well, it helps me right now," I replied, the truth of my statement heavy with irony.
He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and studying me. "Alright, fine. Just try to keep it down a bit, okay? I don't want to breathe in your bad habits all day."
"Sure thing," I said, feigning innocence. "I'll be sure to blow all the smoke outside from now on."
Alex shook his head, but the warmth in his eyes suggested he wasn't truly annoyed.
"Good," he said, the lightness returning to his voice. "Now get your shit together. Breakfast is ready."
I nodded, dragging myself out of bed and stubbing out the cigarette in the ashtray by the window. I washed up quickly and I made my way downstairs. The smell of something hearty wafted through the air, mingling with the faint aroma of cocoa.
Rolo sat slumped in his chair, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he absentmindedly pushed around a mound of scrambled eggs on his plate. Alex was bustling about, pouring coffee and flipping pancakes, the sound of sizzling filling the air.
"Feeling better?" Alex asked, glancing up and raising an eyebrow.
"More like I'm running on empty," I said with a grimace as I dropped into the chair beside Rolo.
"Aren't we all?" Rolo replied, rubbing his eyes. "I think I'm still half-asleep."
Alex chuckled as he placed a stack of pancakes in front of me. "Well, you both better wake up quick."
I picked up a fork, poking at the fluffy stack before me. Alex poured syrup over his own pancakes with a kind of mad enthusiasm.
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily, but I could feel Rolo stealing glances at me, concern etched into his features.
"So, what's on the agenda for today?" Rolo asked, popping some eggs into his mouth. His expression shifted, a flicker of seriousness crossing his face. "You know, there's quite the turmoil in the ranks of mages right now. Rumors are flying—factions are forming."
My phone buzzed on the table, breaking the tense atmosphere. I reached for it, glancing at the screen to see a message from Lil.
Trouble's Chauffeur: [I'm coming by in 10. Be ready. I bring you to Livius.]
Well, it's settled then. I will go to the Sorcerer Lord, it seems.
I let out a resigned sigh, pushing the remnants of my breakfast aside. "Looks like I have an appointment with the Sorcerer Lord."
I barely had time to finish my breakfast before there was a sharp knock on the door.
I opened the door to find Lilinette standing there, tension radiating off her in waves. Her eyes were hard, jaw clenched tight. She barely looked at me before speaking.
"Ready?" Her voice was clipped, barely masking her impatience.
I raised an eyebrow. "You look… tense."
She shot me a glare that could've cut through stone. "Not the time, Shay."
Before I could push her further, Lil grabbed my arm, and the familiar disorienting rush of teleportation swallowed us. My stomach lurched as the world twisted, the air shimmering like heat waves, until we landed in a large, dimly lit office.
I steadied myself, my head still spinning from the abrupt transition. The room was filled with dark wood, heavy drapes, and shelves crammed with ancient tomes. There was a coldness to the air that didn't come from temperature, and at the far end of the room, sitting behind an oversized desk was Livius.
He was as small as ever, but his presence dominated the space. His cloak seemed to swallow the light, and his eyes, hawk-like and calculating did not leave Lil's figure for a long moment.
"Lilinette," he greeted her with a thin, venomous smile as if her mere presence was a thorn in his side. "Hello, Shay. Hope you had a pleasant ride."
I could already feel the tension crackling between them, the animosity practically tangible. Lil leaned against one of the bookcases, arms crossed, her expression colder than usual.
"Get to the point, Livius," she said sharply, not bothering with any niceties. "We both know this isn't going to work."
Livius's gaze flicked to her, his lips curling slightly. "You always did lack vision."
Lil's eyes narrowed, her fingers twitching as if ready to cast something unpleasant, but she held back.
I watched the exchange, feeling the weight of something much bigger than their personal feud. If Lil and Livius were in the same room and trying to work together, the situation was worse than I'd thought.
Livius rose from his chair, his small figure somehow exuding menace. "The Time Mage is on the move. You know what that means, Lilinette. The rest of the mage factions are already feeling the ripples. We can't fight her alone."
"I'm not stupid," Lil snapped. "But an alliance of all mages? Do you really think that's feasible? You and I both know the factions are too divided. We barely tolerate each other."
"Perhaps," Livius conceded with a slight tilt of his head. "For you and me, that is true."
Then he looked at me. I knew what he was implying before he said it.
"But not for him." His voice was low, almost conspiratorial.
Lil shot me a glance, her face tightening with frustration. I could tell she hated where this was going. I didn't blame her.
"Shay," Livius continued, "you have influence—more than you realize. You've crossed boundaries, made allies where others wouldn't dare. You could unite the factions. And if we want any hope of stopping the Time Mage, we'll need everyone."
Lil scoffed, pushing off the wall. "You really think Shay alone can fix centuries of distrust and hatred between the factions? Even if he tried, they wouldn't listen. Not to him, not to any of us."
Livius smiled, and it was an unpleasant thing to witness. "You underestimate him, Lilinette. As always."
"I don't—" she began, but I interrupted.
"She's right," I said, my voice hardening. "You're asking for the impossible. Even if I did try, how long would it take? The Time Mage isn't going to wait around for us to play politics."
Livius's smile didn't falter. "Which is why you have no choice. Either you try… or you watch as she tears the world apart."
Still, an alliance of all mages? That was beyond a long shot.
I glanced at Lil, who looked as if she wanted to burn the room to the ground just to get out of this conversation. I could feel her frustration, the helplessness beneath her anger.
"This won't work," she said again, her voice softer this time, almost resigned.
Livius leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with something like triumph. "That's where you're wrong. It will work because it has to. Or none of us will have magic."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
I took a deep breath, my voice low. "Fine. I'll try."
Livius's smile widened, but Lil just shook her head, turning her back to both of us.
"This is going to end badly," she muttered, but there was no stopping it now.
I wasn't sure if she meant the alliance—or me.
She left the study without another word.
Livius's eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary, that ever-present calculating glint softening just a little. He waved his hand, and an armchair materialized in front of me, plush and inviting. Without a word, he flicked his fingers again, and the cold tea on his desk warmed instantly, steam curling from the surface. He pushed the cup toward me, his movements deliberate.
"How did you get into this mess?" Livius asked, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and genuine concern.
I sat down slowly, the armchair cushioning me more than I expected, my mind still reeling from the tension Lil had left behind in the room. "It wasn't exactly a choice," I muttered, taking the tea. "Just... got caught up in things."
Livius chuckled, the sound low and knowing. "You always find a way to get involved, don't you, Shay?" His eyes flicked up to mine, warm now, unlike the earlier coldness when he'd spoken with Lil. There was something in his gaze, a kind of fondness perhaps.
I shrugged, trying to brush it off, but I felt the weight of his attention more than usual. "Guess I just have that kind of luck."
His lips twitched into a half-smile as if he knew more than he was letting on. He took a sip of his tea, the cup almost disappearing in his small hands, but his gaze never left mine.
Livius set his tea down, leaning back in his chair with a contemplative look. "You know, Shay, you only need to be the front cover of this operation," he said casually, as though he were suggesting the simplest thing in the world. "Mazen and Lilinette—they can do the legwork. Contact the sensible mages of their kind. Convince them."
He studied me for a moment, letting his words sink in. "And I will reach out to the white mages."
There was a pause, and I could feel the weight of his words hanging between us. He meant more than just the alliance. I sipped the tea, feeling its warmth chase away some of the cold that had settled in my bones.
"Why me, though?" I asked, trying to make sense of why he was so insistent on involving me directly.
His eyes never wavered. "Because, Shay... you're the only one we all trust, whether we like it or not. And whether you believe it or not."
I stared into the cup of tea, its warmth spreading through my fingers. It felt almost ironic.
"Maybe," I muttered, more to myself than to him. "But trust isn't enough."
Livius gave a slow nod as if he understood the hesitation in my voice. "No, it isn't. But it's a start."
The only sound was the ticking of the clock and the distant hum of magic in the air.