Unsettled Magic

Chapter 1 - Unknowing

        I sighed as I glanced at the clock. It ticked away slowly, mocking me with the reminder that there was another two hours left before release into freedom.   The slideshow played on the whiteboard as our teacher, Mrs. Emmerson, prattled on about the world we live in now versus how it used to be.  

        Her melancholy voice rang out through the classroom as she recited the speech that was required of her to give.  Her words and gestures timed so perfectly with the presentation that she didn’t even need to look at the pictures she was preaching about.  It was as if her life had lost all meaning while she rambled her memorized script. 

        Most of my classmates seem to have tuned her out, their eyes glazing over and their expressions hollow as we listened to the same lecture that is given every week.  I honestly don’t know how they do it.  The repetitiveness of our everyday lives makes me want to pluck my hair out one strand at a time.  

        Usually, I can handle the agitation well enough, but I tend to get a little antsy the last couple days before I’m due for my monthly treatment.  Does everyone get like this, or is it just me?  Sighing again, I began tapping my fingers on the edge of my desk, my mind flooding with thoughts.  I hated the way the medication made me feel but I was more scared of what would happen if I didn’t take it. 

        “Ms. Shaw…”  I mean.  What is the worst that could happen?  The stories my father told me couldn’t be true, could they?  “Ms. Shaw!”  My uncle was already sick when the Contagion had taken him.  That wasn’t because he missed one dose of his treatment, was it?  The pictures we are forced to look at in class crept into my mind as if to disprove my objecting thoughts. “LOGAN. SHAW!”  I looked up as the teacher enunciated my name.  An angry Mrs. Emmerson hovered over my desk.  I guess I was tapping my fingers too loud again.  I do that when I let my thoughts wander. 

        “I’m sorry ma’am.  Today is my treatment day. It won’t happen again.”  Her eyes soften ever so slightly, a brief bob of her head letting me know she understood and sympathized.  Turning on her heel, she marched back up to the front of the classroom and resumed her lecture.  

        “Nearly eight thousand years ago the world was in peace.  A harmonious balance brought each species together.  Through this balance, they respected one another and worked together so that all their people would prosper.   It is written that one representative of each species would come together to maintain the stability amongst their people. To do this, they shared their power and in turn their joint strength flowed through all supernatural beings that roamed the Earth.  This power was known as the Haven.” I found myself mentally repeating her lecture word for word.

        Fighting to keep my mind focused, I began asking myself how I managed to stay awake during one of the most dull lectures we could possibly have.  Looking around at my peers, I noticed all but one wore similar masks of numbness.   It was as if their bodies were on autopilot while their minds slept.  Blinking clearly wasn’t a necessary function, and their chests seem to rise and fall in unison with each breath taken.  My gut told me something wasn’t right, but Mrs. Emmerson didn’t seem to think anything was amiss.  Chalking my unease up to this being my treatment day, I glanced toward the only other clearly functioning person in the room. 

        His behavior was nothing like the others.  The boy really was quite robust looking with his jagged jaw line and hair so blond it was as if it were highlighted by the moon itself.  An irritated bounce of his leg caused the slightest ruffles in his dark-washed jeans.  Aside from the subtle movement of his leg, he appeared to be holding the same posture as the other students in the class.  The stance didn’t fit him well.  The other students looked as though the military-like posture was as natural as their rhythmic breathing whereas he made it look quite forced. 

        I wish I felt comfortable enough to approach the other student in class whose clarity seemed to perplex him as much as mine did.  I glanced at the teacher who had her eyes closed as she sat at her desk, still explaining the slides away and moving them along as necessary.  When I looked back, I caught his striking amber eyes.  At first, surprise rippled across his face.  His thinly shaped eyebrows shot up nearly to his hairline and his jawline dropped a little as his lips formed into an “o” with his shock.  

        I tilted my head to the side as if to question his reaction when his eyes widened.  I guess my actions confirmed my behavior wasn’t a fluke since I was not robotically staring ahead like the rest of our classmates.  Shaking his head slightly, I had the sudden impression he was imploring me to watch myself. He then turned his gaze away and molded his features to be like everyone else.  

        What in the world was that about?  It wasn’t until I started gnawing on my bottom lip that I realized I had wandered off again.  Thankfully, Mrs. Emmerson didn’t seem to notice this time, and after listening to the same lecture every week, I had no problem picking up on where we were in the presentation. 

        “…and so a challenge was issued.   The desire for control over each species led to a rebellion against what they viewed as oppressors.   To have complete control over each species' magic would mean riots, monopoly over goods, slavery, and manipulation over those who showed skill.  

        For thirty long years, the Haven fought to protect its people.  But the enemy was cunning.  They saw that the Haven’s greatest weakness was also their strength:  the trust they had in each other.  One by one, each representative withdrew their magic from the collective power to protect their people.  The lack of support from their former allies caused all the species to turn against one another.” Taking a breath, she continued as if a silent question had been asked.

        “Who this enemy was or what triggered this act of defiance is still unknown.  When our ancestors split off from the Haven, however, they realized that sharing our magic and strength with everyone else is what held us back from evolving to be an even better generation of werewolf.  One by one the Haven was slain by the very people they were trying to protect, and each species went their own way.  It is because of the Haven and their ideals that each species now do not get along.”  The bell signaling the end of the day finally rang.         

        “See everyone tomorrow!  As you know, history of the Contagion is a topic required by our Elders.  If you miss it, you can still catch it with your families at the adult education class this weekend.”  Well, so much for the thought of skipping that class.  The only thing worse than sitting through Mrs. Emmerson’s class is sitting through Mrs. Emmerson’s class with my parents and baby brother in tow. 

        I rushed to throw my jacket on and backpack over my shoulder.  Maybe I could still catch the boy whose eye I caught earlier.  Getting up to call out to him, I found nothing but an empty desk.  As I turn, the only glimpse I catch is his back retreating out the classroom door.