The Lightwielder Files

Chapter 9

“Max”, Mona yelled her hands clasping his shoulders pulling him away from the mirror. “Are you okay buddy?”

Max took a couple of deep breaths to steady himself. Then he opened his eyes and looked at her with a reassuring smile even though his heart was racing like a prize-winning horse in his chest.

“That’s a really interesting mirror to have as your favorite.”

Mona smiled sheepishly dragging him to another mirror. 

“I know what you mean. It’s a really hard thing to see yourself reflected like that. I guess that’s why a lot of people don’t come in here often. The vulnerability and self-awareness are too much for them.”

“Is it too much for you?” Max questioned. 

Mona bit her lip in thought, ruminating over how clear she would be to him. 

“It is usually, but sometimes I just push through for closure.”

“Who made these mirrors?” Max’s gaze was drawn to a black mirror in the corner of the room. It drew him but he tried to resist the urge to follow its beckoning call.

“Some old Lightwielders, the ones who set up the founders of the Chicago branch of the Luce Order. You could say that we’re the art geeks of the Order.”

She laughed at her joke. 

“How many branches are in the states?” Max asked. 

“24, but some aren’t as big as ours, they’re just little pockets to make sure any monsters about don’t cause any problems for the humans.”

Max nodded, starting to understand the hierarchy of the Order a bit more. 

“So could you compare them to the Darklighters?”

Mona shook her head coming closer to join him near the black mirror. 

“Nah, the Darklighters don’t answer to anyone except maybe their communes and they’re always breaking up like two-dollar suitcases. They’re just a bunch of rogue mad scientists in my opinion and not the fun sort. “

“Is there a really a  bunch of fun mad scientists?”

Mona smirked, also being entranced by the mirror before stopping in her tracks in front of it.

“Well, yeah. Think about it, they have all those chemicals and equipment, and they're mad so they’re not really thinking of anything else at that minute. So I think they’re having fun or at least I think that they believe that.”

Max hummed in thought before diverting his attention to the mirror in front of him. 

“What is this mirror for?” he asked.

“It shows you your past or some parts of it at least.”

Max stepped forward without an invitation and like the mirror before, the clear surface shifted to reveal Max and his dad years ago when they first arrived in Chicago. He was holding his old toy elephant while his dad unloaded boxes in the kitchen. 

Young Max was babbling about to his elephant companion while his dad was watching with a find expression. But then that expression faded into something Max could only describe as horror.

His dad ran over to the younger him and picked him up dropping the elephant in the process.

He carried him into another room that had its windows blacked out so at the midday sun couldn’t come in, just like he always did.

Max understood why his dad looked so worried. 

His younger self’s face was glowing like some indoor sun.

Once safely in the room his face stooped glowing much to his apparent chagrin and to his father’s apparent delight. 

He sighed in relief, holding his young son close to his chest. 

“It’s okay Maxie”, his dad cooed rocking them both back and forth, until the young max’s eyes fluttered shut into a gentle sleep. “They won’t find us again. I promise.”

Max in the present stepped back, clutching his head as the surface of the mirror stopped projecting turned back to normal.

He whipped around to face Mona who was beside him looking at the same mirror. Did she see what he saw?

“Did you see that Mona?” he asked, his heart galloping as if he had just run a marathon. 

Mona shook her head, though in her own trance of horror.

“Everyone sees their own memories'', she explained, her voice as hoarse as his own. “Even if they’re looking at the same mirror.”

“I saw my dad”, Max said. “When we were young. My face was glowing like it was earlier today.

Then it stopped and my dad told me that they won't find us. He promised me.”

Mona blinked, her gaze looking worried. “Who are “they”?” she asked. 

“I have no idea”, he replied, his head throbbing with a dull ache. “I don’t even remember that ever happening.”

“You don’t?”

He shook his head, feeling anxious as ever.

“Maybe you just forget it," Mona offered. “It can happen. Subconscious ones like that.”

She looked like she was speaking from experience which it always seemed like when they were together. 

“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” he placed a hand on his head.

“You okay?” Mona asked, placing her hands on his shoulder. “Looking in mirrors is kind of taxing.”

Max rolled his eyes, soothed by Mona’s hand. “You don’t say. It’s like having everything is you turned inside out.”

“That is definitely correct.”

She dragged him gently out of the room. 

“We can always come back another time.”

Another time. The words rang through his head. There would be another time which was something he knew but something he couldn’t really understand. 

Mona walked him to his room, stopping outside his room. 

“So this is me," Max said. “Hey thank you for showing me the mirrors.”

“Why are you thanking me, they looked like they gave you a massive headache," Mona retorted playfully but cautiously.

“Uh, it was nothing and it was nice to see the memory. It was like him being in the room with me even though he looked years younger.”

Mona laughed in support.

“You should get some rest”, she said gently. “Busy day tomorrow.”

Max nodded already thinking about what he had found out today and how his whole life had been turned upside down. 

It was strange and unsettling but it couldn’t say that he regretted any of it. 

He could say that he felt like a piece of his life, an important piece that was missing had suddenly been found at long last. No matter how dangerous this new world was, it was his. He felt like he belonged there. The thing that would make the situation any better would be if his dad was there with him.

“Goodnight and thanks again”, Max said opening his door. 

“Goodnight”, Mona replied sweetly. “And don’t worry we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

She gave him a small salute before walking off to her own room, or Max hoped she was. She needed, no deserved the rest. 

He closed the door behind him and flopped into his bed. He looked at the oil lamp and gingerly held out his finger towards it. It shone with a bright yellow light and he put it towards the interior of the lamp bathing the whole room in light. 

He smiled. He didn’t think it was possible to. He settled back and fell asleep immediately. 

  ***

He woke up to a fresh set of clothes consisting of a white jumpsuit with a  sun emblem on the sleeve some socks, underwear, and a pair of camel skin-colored boots. There was also a glass of water on the bedside table for which he was extremely grateful. He didn’t know how parched you could get during the night. 

He drank it all in one gulp.

Then he showered quickly in the ensuite and put on the clothes. After that, he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do.

Like a  speedy answer to prayer, there was a knock on the door. Max rushed to answer it and there stood Adam Davenymeyer in a black jumpsuit with a star emblem on his sleeve. 

He wore multiple chains around his neck, a sea glass bracelet on his left wrist, and a holster around his waist which two whips hung from either side. 

“Morning bestie," Adam chirped. “I hope you slept well.”

“I did thanks”, Max replied surprised. He wasn’t one for sleeping that well in places outside his own house.

“Come on or are you not ready for breakfast yet?” Adam asked.

“Oh yeah, I am. “

He walked out the door following Adam down the corridor. It seemed much brighter now. 

And more Lightweildrs were wlaking up and down the multiple corridors some congregating on groups poring over textbooks while others were making their way into training rooms filled with flashing lights. Max could see a lot of them congregating into a large room at the very end of the corridor. It had banners in black, white, and royal blue each of them depicting a symbol relating to each of the primary sources of light: the sun, the moon, the stars, fire, and lightning. Max was intrigued at the display and almost walked into the back of someone while entering the room.

 "I'm so sorry," he said moving back towards Adam but the man turned around and he could see that it was a Lucian Boyne from yesterday. A chill came down his shoulder and he looked to Adam for a direction but Adam just seemed so nonchalant.

 "No harm done ", said adjusting a spec of imaginary dust off his fleece jumper.  "I remember you from yesterday at the library. "

Max really wanted Adams's opinion now on what to say but hadn't looked cool as ever any more relaxed and he could be asleep. so Max decided to tell the truth what harm could it do?

  "That was me from yesterday so glad that you remembered ", he said awkwardly but Boyne just smiled and he had a smile that was comforting, to say the least. 

“You must be the Vandhurst boy,” boing said looking Max over from head to toe. “ I used to know your father very well but not that well he had a great reputation through here. 

Max recognized that different people had different definitions of what constituted a great reputation. 

“Uh thank you”, he replied. 

“Funny that It was after your arrival yesterday that someone came asking after the file on the braking.  it might not mean much to you now but your father played a pivotal role in that event.”

 Max really needed Adam's support now and when he turned to the other boy he could see that a hint of anxiety was starting to come on Adam Faith one that he was trying very hard to keep down.

 "To think of it it was you who asked wasn't it Adam Davenmeyer?”

 Adam replied with a sheepish boyish grin. “Yep, it was me.  you know how I was in history, sir. I always had an eye for research.” 

“That you did my boy ", replied will call a smile. “ and if I can remember correctly you also had a gift for abusing your memory Talent.”

 The boys tried as best as they could to not look at each other and seem suspicious.

“But it could be a trick of the mind ", Boyne said dismissively xenocide to allow them their part to the rest of the room.  “Good morning boys.”

 Then with that, he walked away only stopping to grab a glass of milk on his way out of the room.

Adam whistled low and hard. "Wow, I didn't think we get off that quickly "

Max blinked turning to face him rapidly. "You mean you weren't sure if the mesmer would hold?”  Max whispered a slight tremble in his voice. 

 " Yes”, Adam replied, Then he said with a cocky grin that matched his sister's,  "But aren't you so glad that it did?”

 Max smiled and response following Adam to a section of the room which looked like the buffet in one of those fancy hotels.  they joined the line of people in Black or White jumpsuits and Sam and other forms of clothing taking trays from a shelf.

 lifted his nose gently in the air at the smell of fresh baking and fresh fruit. 

It reminded him of summer when he was younger and his father would make pancakes or attempt pan dulce for breakfast. His dad said pan dulce was his mother's favorite food.

 “It's pancake day”, Adam said his voice laced with  happiness. “ this happens like once every blue moon.”

 “They probably want to make sure you don't go and eat everything,” a girl in front of them said lightly. Adam wrinkled his nose playfully at her brush turned away to look at Max.  and sort of all came over her speeches before she faced her front and took her tray.

Adam and Max did likewise each take in a tray.  the chefs handed them plates starting with pancakes and fresh fruit with the option of taking bacon and eggs or beans on toast as a side.  at the very end of the buffet were glasses of various beverages. 

"Are those protein shakes? ", Max asked incredulously, pointing at some glasses for thick brown substances.

“Yes," Adam replied with a  slight roll of his eyes when two strapping young Lightwielders took three glasses each. “For those guys who like that sort of thing.”

Adam directed him to another table Which glasses filled with a liquid that was red and orange in color.

“ now this you've got to try ", Adam said obvious Delight in his voice.  he put two glasses each on his tray and on Max's.

“ what is it?”, Max asked

 “Wait for it," Adam said pausing for dramatic effect, “star fruit juice”.

 “really?” Max asked looking at the liquid in front of him didn't smell like anything he never tasted before and was curious to taste it.

 “I may or may not have petitioned to have it brought on the menu,” Adam said mirth dancing in his dark eyes. “Now if only they could get some moonfruit juice.”

“They could just replace it with melon juice”, Max offered with a grin as he followed Adam out to the crowded room. 

“It wouldn't be the same though”,   Adam whined with mock despondency. “And would You really give up the chance to taste moon fruit juice and fruit juice or lightning fruit juice?”

“What’s this about lighting fruit juice?” 

The boys turned to the voice behind them and saw that a circular table by herself was Mona making her way quickly through the stack of pancakes and toast in front of her.

She beckoned them to join her with her fork. 

She took a long sip of what Max could see on closer inspection was star fruit juice.

 the boys down on either side of her and began to develop their breakfast. Mac student taught fully on the pancakes dripping with maple syrup.  they were much ticket than the way his dad made them they were good all the same really good he would have to admit after having a second bite. 

"How cool it would be if there was a lightning fruit ", Adam said between mouthfuls of toast. "Like think about it. If you ate it, your hair would stick up automatically.”

“Or you would be electrocuted automatically”, Moana equipped. “ How would how that would be for punishment?  Death by electric fruit.”

 she ignored her brother's explanation on food and turn to Max sizing him up as if she was looking him over for injuries.

 “How did you sleep?” she asked. “Not too badly I hope.”

 Max shook his head with a gentle smile. “Much better than I expected.”

They ate in silence for a couple of minutes before Max was brave enough to break the comfortable silence. 

 “So what are we doing today?” he asked. 

“You are starting a training today”, Mona said a little bit of disappointment tinged in her voice. “I wish  I was I was in your training set today that's alas there’s  just been some Hellhound sightings near Navy Pier.”

 Navy Pier Adam replied incredulously. I never knew they got this far into the city.

 neither did I reply with a shrug before shaving a piece of pancake into her mouth.

 then she smiled broadly brimming with Confidence. “ that's why they're sending out Chicago's finest to track it down.”

“ So where do you usually find hellhounds”, Max asked curiosity coating his voice. 

“Usually found outside cityscapes in rural areas but they do come in and out once in a while to feed  like any other monster wood.”

“So monsters in the woods aren't a joke then?”  Max mused. 

“Not exactly no”, Mona replied, Then give her younger brother a sharp pat on the shoulder. “At least you'll have Adam for company he'll show you the ropes.”

 Adam patted his whip belt fondly.

“Both figuratively and literally," he said with a wink. 

Max wasn't sure he was ready for a would ever be ready for a whip. Tying knots was not his favorite boy scout activity. He thought back to all the weapons he had seen when he first arrived. He wondered which ones he would be using. He also thought of the spear that Mona had given him to use yesterday. It didn’t end up being completely useless against the hounds but compared to his light it was a small thing. He suspected that the Lightwielder philosophy was to be prepared for anything whether they were monsters that could only be destroyed with weapons or monsters that had to be destroyed by the Light. 

He was about to ask what his new training regime would entail when suddenly a gong was sounded. 

He jumped in his seat and Adam on the other side of Mona nearly spilled his star fruit juice. At the of the room where the gong was sounded, three people stood in white robes. Two men and one woman and one of the men coming up to speak was Mona’s dad Hamid.

“Lightwielders good morning," he began in a commanding voice that was similar to the one that he had used with him yesterday, but this was more booming to be able to hear across the whole hall.  “I apologize for interrupting your breakfast, but some distressing news has come to light.

It would appear that Algar Fray, whom many of you as a wicked wayward former Lightwielder who was presumed to be dead is actually living. “

Gasps broke out all across the room except for the table that Max, Mona, and Adam sat at. They already knew the news for certain, so hearing it announced now in public made it appear more real than it had before. 

“There is no need to panic”, he went on.

“This is the perfect time to panic”, a Lightwielder behind Max whispered, fear permeating the atmosphere with his words.

Hamid Davenmeyer silenced the Lightwielder with a lethal glare. Once the Lightwielder was silent, Hamid went on. 

“Our watchers are on the walls and are keeping watch for any suspicious activity. I hope I don’t need to remind anyone of you but I will to be vigilant and report anything that doesn't sit right with you to a member of staff.”

“What if the son of Maolcm Vandhurst being here doesn’t sit well with some of us?”

Max whipped around to the source of the voice. It was Damien from yesterday sitting with his legs crossed a smug expression coming on his face as soon as he made eye contact with Max. 

“The boy is right," an older Lightwielder seated near the front piqued up. He somehow seemed to find Max at the back of the room with his eyes.

Max couldn’t help but flinch back all of a sudden and all his feelings of belonging here began to submerge into a deep dark hole where they had no hope of ever coming back. 

“I was there during the trial”, the man continued his eyes boring into Max’s skull and Max was beginning to believe that the man was a Burner. He expected to feel a hole in his head sometime from now. 

“Malcolm was all jittery and secretive during the trial. I think he was lying when he said he had no other choice but to kill Algar Fray because he was the one who helped Algar Fray escape.”

Murmurs of agreement broke out all across the room making Max’s blood boil with rage. 

“That’s not true”, he shouted. 

The man on the other side of the room sneered at him, and this time Max was sure he would see fire in his eyes. 

“And how would you  know that, you’re not even a proper Lightwielder!”

That stung Max but he did everything in his power to not let it show on his face. 

“Silence!” the woman at the top of the room yelled and an immediate hush fell over the room. Out of the corner of his eye, Max could see the women giving him a consoling looking, not entirely but not unfriendly but the damage was already done. 

Something inside Max sunk further and further and he found that he needed to get the hell out of there. He stood up without a word to his friends. 

He got up and dashed to the back of the room pushing past the doors as quietly as he could before running down a hallway which he didn’t recognize but he didn’t care.