Cyrus led me out of the arena and down another hallway, then stopped in front of a small room. His magic wrapped around me once again, and pushed me inside. Before I could argue, the door slammed shut and locked, leaving me, yet again, alone in a cell.
I glared at the door, hoping Cyrus could feel my anger through the door.
But after a moment, my anger dissolved into the nagging fear that had been just below the surface.
Gavon wasn't going to help me, that was fairly clear. There was a small chance—minuscule, really—that Jeanie would come for me. But even if she did, what could she do? She barely used magic as it was. And forget the rest of the Carrigans. Thanks to my little Thanksgiving outburst, I was dead to them.
I was truly on my own. And really, I wasn't all that sure I could save myself.
I went to the single window in the room. I couldn't see much from this angle, but I could see some stands that had filled with people, and I heard an echo of the crowd. Duels must've been the only entertainment in this place, and I'm sure watching the Guildmaster's daughter get blown to bits would be great fun.
The door behind me opened and my pulse went into overdrive. "It's time, Apprentice."
I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how out-of-my-mind terrified I was, so I squared my shoulders and followed him out of the cell. When we reached the arena, I couldn't help a gasp of surprise.
There weren't just a few people, there were hundreds filling the stands, and even more milled around the top level looking down. Most of them were unwashed and unkempt, a far cry from Gavon or even Cyrus. In the center of the stands, there was a box of sorts where some of the magicals I'd met earlier stood. They ignored the masses completely; one whipping out a handkerchief to cover his nose when a peasant walked too close.
"Is everyone here a Warrior?" I asked, unable to help myself.
Cyrus snorted and for a moment, I thought he might ignore me, then he said, "Obviously not. These peasants are the weaker sort. Enchanters, Charmers, a few Empaths. The occasional Healer."
It didn't escape my notice that he hadn't mentioned potion-makers. I didn't want to know what they did to those.
My curiosity ended as two figures materialized at the other end of the arena and a cheer broke out amongst the spectators. Neither Gavon nor James wore a happy expression.
"Shall we?" Cyrus said, as if I had a choice.
His magic pushed me toward the center of the ring, where we met Gavon and James. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I still hoped Gavon was working some magic to get me out of this. As we approached each other, I searched his face for a sign that he was going to let me go, even though my hopes dwindled.
"You see, Apprentice?" Cyrus said, as we approached. "I've given you a gift. You will duel with someone familiar."
I glanced at James and read anger, jealousy, and a desire to blow me to smithereens. I didn't see how this was a gift.
"Master Gavon." Cyrus tilted his head. His magic forced me into a bow again.
"Master Cyrus," James said, bowing low of his own volition. Gavon said nothing but there was blistering anger in his eyes. That, at least, was something in my favor.
"In mortem?" Cyrus asked leisurely.
Gavon's eyes grew wide, the first bit of real emotion I'd seen from him since I'd arrived in New Salem. "That's uncalled for an introduction match."
"As the potential master of the indroductee, I'm within the Guild's rules to—"
"I know the damned Guild rules," Gavon snarled. I waited for him to argue, but yet again…nothing.
"Then it's settled," Cyrus said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "After all, if she doesn't prove herself worthy to lead us, it's just as well. She's of no use to us then, don't you agree?"
Gavon gnashed his teeth together and said nothing. Somehow, I was still waiting for him to deck Cyrus in the face, or to do something. Magic me out of there. Go nuclear. Something.
But he jerked out his hand, a murderous look on his face, and Cyrus gently accepted it. A jolt of electricity shot through my heart as they shook, and I knew the outcome of the duel was set.
Cyrus released Gavon's hand and led me back to my end of the ring. I struggled to control my magic, but my heart was racing too fast, my mind too preoccupied with probably dying in the next few minutes. I couldn't even remember a simple protective spell.
"I suppose this is goodbye," Cyrus said, snapping me out of my panicked reverie.
"Go to hell," I spat back at him.
He reached for me and I flinched, but he simply took my chin gently in his hands. "Say hello to your mother for me."
I'd already been on the verge of falling over, but his parting words nearly sent me to my knees.
"Welcome to the five hundred seventy seventh introduction match to our Guild—James Riley against Alexis McKinnon…"
"Carrigan," I corrected, glaring at the announcer.
Per the Guild rules, the Master of the potential introductee has requested in mortem. The fight will end when either one of the participants are dead—"
"What?" I screamed, taking a step back.
I'd thought that this was a one-way street, that they'd be trying to kill me. But if I wanted to walk out of this place alive, I would have to kill James. Who might be a turd blossom, but was a kid like me.
I looked across the ring at James and was unsurprised to see him…well, unsurprised. The asshole actually looked happy.
Probably because he knew I was toast.
"Duelers, please take your marks."
I couldn't do it. I couldn't be a murderer. Even if it meant I'd survive by killing him.
"Begin!"
Magic erupted around us, but the purple end was near James this time. Over my head was a dark gray magic, Cyrus's magic. I knew that if I survived this match, I wouldn't survive Cyrus' apprenticeship.
James's first spell came at me like a freight train, blasting me backward into the wall of the dome. I slid to my knees, shaking my head, just as another came hurtling toward me. I shifted out of the way on pure instinct.
"What the hell is your problem?" I screamed. I knew we had to kill each other and all, but he could give me a little time to breathe.
James didn't respond, flinging another scorching spell at me. This one I barely escaped, feeling the edges of my cotton shirt grow warm with the closeness of the flames.
Talking wasn't going to work with this guy. He had a chip on his shoulder and the only way that I was going to get out of this was—
To kill him. And although I had some major hangups about becoming a murderer at fifteen, the alternative was also pretty terrible. I really wasn't ready to die.
His next spell landed during my momentary distraction. The magic bruised and bloodied me before leaving me on the ground. I lay for a moment, as there was nothing else I could do.
"Had enough?" James stood over me, a swirling ball of green in his hands. "Shall I kill you now and get it over with?"
"Why do you want to kill me?" I asked, lifting my head off the ground.
"Because you're a threat," he snarled and released the spell.
I deflected it with one of my own, sending it flying into the stands, scattering the spectators.
"I'm not a damned threat," I spat, coming to my feet. "I don't even want to be here. You can have the little Guildmaster thing for all I care."
"This isn't about the Guildmaster," James growled, and released another spell, which I deflected again, much easier than before. He was growing angry, and was losing control of his magic, the same way I had. But his gaze kept darting to Gavon, whose white knuckle grip on his ornate chair was visible, even from here.
Oh.
I could work with this.
"Bet it killed you when I showed up, huh?" I asked, firing off a spell that knocked him down. "Gavon's own kid taking his attention."
James's snarl told me my blow had landed. The angrier I could get him, the less likely he'd be able to kill me, and the more time I could use to figure out how to leave this ring without needing to take his life.
"Where are your parents, huh?" I asked, dodging another blow from him. "You can't have mine."
"He's not yours." James was red-faced now, anger radiating off him. In fact, I could now see his magic. Glowing green and fierce, it surrounded him, gathering and pulsing with rage. And like a rubber band about to snap, I had pulled him tight.
Perhaps getting him angry wasn't the best idea after all.
"You're going to regret ever setting foot here," James said. And he released his life-ending wave of magic, headed straight for me.
"Stop!"
The green wave disappeared just before it hit me, and James collapsed to the ground. Just as suddenly, my own magic disappeared, and with it, my strength to stand. I tumbled to my knees, lightheaded and realizing how much of my strength had been thanks to magic.
But then I felt it, that familiar warmth spreading from my heart to my fingertips.
"Marie…?"
"I'm here," she said. As her healing magic replenished that which I'd lost, I began to think a little clearer.
Wait a minute…
"Marie!" I cried, springing to my feet. The change was too much and I swooned, leaning into Marie and someone else.
"Stay here," Nicole whispered, clutching me tightly to her. "Let Gram handle this."
"Gram?"
My shock overpowered my exhaustion, or Marie's healing had kicked in, because I stood upright and stared at the center of the sparring arena. My grandmother stood with eight other family members I only briefly remembered talking with, and Jeanie. She was speaking with Gavon, who wore a mask of indifference. But I saw it—the small spark in his eyes.
"W-what's going on?" I said. "How…what are you doing here?"
"D—"
"It's a long story," Nicole snapped, cutting Marie off with a look. "The bottom line is that you're safe now. Gram's working it out."
"But they said—" I said, glancing around at James, who was still lying in the dust. I hoped he wasn't dead. "They said it was to the death."
"He's not dead," Marie said quietly. "Just depleted."
I hoped they didn't have healers in New Salem. James deserved to heal the old-fashioned way.
"But the duel—"
"We found a loophole. You can't belong to this Guild until you formally renounce your membership to our clan," Nicole said. "You can't belong to both."
"But Gram said—"
"She claimed you," Nicole said with a smile.
I closed my eyes, thanking my lucky stars that I'd never figured out how to formally distance myself from the clan. I would also grovel and beg for Gram's forgiveness. Maybe even attempt a hug, if she'd let me.
"And since the rules of their Guild expressly forbid granting membership to someone ineligible, this match had to be ended," Jeanie said, appearing in front of me. "Are you all right, honey?"
I leaped from Marie into Jeanie's, words of gratitude and apology tumbling out of my mouth quicker than I could say them. To my relief, she returned the embrace and kissed me gently on the top of my head.
"You're all right now," she said. "But next time, don't run off, okay?"
I nodded fervently, until my gaze landed on Cyrus on the other side of the arena. I took comfort in the look of pure fury on his face, while Gavon calmly spoke with the so-called "esteemed Council." None of them looked pleased with the situation, but their looks of displeasure were mostly directed toward Cyrus.
"What's he saying?" I asked.
"None of—"
"Jeanie, just stop," I whispered. "I know everything."
She sighed heavily and locked gazes with Gavon for a brief moment. Before I knew what was happening, Gram's magic surrounded us, transporting us back to the tear. It was with no small amount of relief that I crossed through it, grateful to hold Jeanie's hand.