Page 93 of Blackwicket
The idea seemed almost too ridiculous to believe. The authority had built their platform on making the world safe, protecting it from the Fiend, from Drudge, by eradicating curses and rogue magic users capable of manipulating them.
“It’s the very thing they’re against,” I argued, though it was feeble logic.
“If you haven’t noticed,” Thea’s contempt for my ignorance was on full display, “The Authority is interested in power. They want to make sure they’re the ones in control of it. It’s why they snuffed out Curse Eaters, banned Narthex. But when the power dynamic shifted, and the Brom became strong, they grew interested in playing nice.”
I remained silent, fearing a misstep would jeopardize Thea’s willingness to share the crucial insights I needed to navigate thehornet’s nest I’d stepped on, filled with warring factions I’d been, until now, ignorant of.
“So the people in charge gave in here and there, made concessions, let the Brom open clubs like the Vapors, rubbed elbows with powerful men like Grigori. Their elite got first access to all the vile magic we were pumping into the veins of our clients, got hooked, every last one, and when Grigori Nightglass asked for Dark Hall children to help support the whole disgusting scheme, they agreed. It benefited them.”
“What was my sister’s part in all of this, Thea?”
Again, Thea cut her eyes to Ramsey, and I caught the lead, following it to face the stocky man dressed in a driver’s uniform, who was no more a chauffeur than a shark in a bow was a little girl.
Forgetting the regret I’d once felt for crossing a boundary I hadn’t been invited over, I viciously snatched at the edges of his magic. This time, he didn’t hide from me, and our power struck head-on. His unexpected strength fueled my ferocity.
“Easy there, Blackwicket,” he cautioned, voice strained with the effort of holding me at bay.
“Is this magic yours?” I snarled.
“It is, girl, stand down.” With effort he hadn’t expected to spend, he shook me off and raised his defenses. It was an unnecessary precaution as I’d depleted myself well below any ability to attack further. The sensation in my head was airy and vast.
Ramsey noted my wooziness.
“A warning for you, Ms. Blackwicket. It takes stamina and control to wield magic that forcefully, and you have neither. You keep exploding like that and you’re going to burn yourself out permanently.” He shook his head. “It’s a damn waste no one taught you to control all that power you have.”
“I’m more than capable of keeping it under control. I’ve done it my whole life.”
“Repressing it isn’t control. It’s fear.”
I didn’t want advice from this strange man.
“Why does Thea keep silently asking your permission to speak?” I challenged.
“She doesn’t think you’re safe,” he replied, raising his hands as though he were calming a wild animal. “She’s checking in with me because I’m good at determining that sort of thing. It’s part of my job.”
“As adriver?”
“There’s something far bigger going on here than you know, Eleanora.”
“Don’t patronize me, Ramsey.” I spat, wondering if they knew Victor was once a boy fed curses by Grigori until his soul couldn’t remember a time before it wasn’t half made of them.
“I know Fiona Blackwicket is responsible for the disappearances,” he said, his curt voice like sandpaper on the hull of an old boat. “I know the Veil tried to use her to bring the Nightglass family to its knees, then delivered their wrath over her failure to your door. Now, I’ll ask that you appreciate my honesty by keeping your magic to yourself.”
“Who are you affiliated with?” I demanded, shivering from the cold sweeping through the open front entry. After expending so much energy clashing with Ramsey, the chill seeped deeper.
“Barrick Harrow,” he replied simply.
“Inspector Harrow’s father?” The words stuck slightly.
“A good friend of mine. We went to academy together,” Ramsey’s voice was rough with an emotion I recognized as grief. “He was assigned by the Authority to monitor the strongest magic users, keep them out of the Brom toolbox, so to speak. He was also tasked with uncovering Dark Hall children.”
I knew a bit of this story already.
“But he didn’t turn any of them in,” I ventured. “He hid them away.”
Ramsey studied my face briefly.
“Yes. You can’t do that kind of job without eventually realizing what it’s for,” the man acknowledged. “And when Barrick figured it out … that’s when he started doing his job too well. Suddenly, he was bringing down the boom so hard few magic users remained for either the Brom or the Authority, and all the children were disappearing. He was happy with everyone thinking he was annulling them, it kept the scrutiny off, gave him more room to organize safe places for kids like Thea.”
