20. The Tipping Point
1582 Words
20
The Tipping Point
Emilia pulled Jacob through the crisp, white kitchen, which had either never been used, or was cleaned with a liberal amount of bleach several times a day. She pushed through a narrow door in the corner of the room into a small pantry.
Emilia turned sideways and pulled Jacob in behind her. “Close the door,” she whispered.
The door clicked quietly shut. The only light came from a small air vent at the very bottom of the back wall.
“What are we doing in here?”
Emilia reached into her back pocket and pulled out a tiny mirror. “Not getting caught. Volavertus.” The mirror shimmered for a moment, casting strange shadows onto the pantry walls, before voices sounded from the depths of its glowing surface.
“The time has come for action.”
“I think that’s Mr. Chandler,” Emilia murmured, holding the mirror up close to her ear.
“We can no longer be driven from our homes and forced into hiding. Now is when we must act. It is time to show the humans who they are stealing from. To show them the consequences of their actions and prove we will take retribution.”
“What are you doing?” Jacob asked, his eyes flicking from Emilia to the mirror.
“I snuck a mirror into Iz’s purse on our way in.” Emilia smiled. “You don’t think Claire’s the only trouble maker in the family?”
“But Iz never accepted―”
“Shh,” Emilia hushed him. “My mirror to my mirror. No acceptance needed. Now listen.”
“Are you mad, Mr. Chandler? Or perhaps I misunderstood.” Aunt Iz spoke calmly, but Emilia recognized the danger in her tone. “Are you actually suggesting we reveal ourselves to the world? That we should attack the general population outright?”
“Do you―” Mr. Chandler tried to interrupt, but Iz continued, her voice still calm but louder now.
“If humans discover the existence of our kind, they hunt us.”
“Let them try,” growled a voice, too softly for Emilia to identify.
“They may not be able to find any real witches, but humans are violent,” Iz said, each of her words striking like arrows. “Do you want another m******e like the one at Salem? Those people never found a real witch, but they killed each other. Innocent humans who knew nothing about magic. Some wizards think it doesn’t matter. A few human deaths don’t bother them. But I believe a human life is just as sacred as a magical one, and I will grieve the loss of either, equally.”
“Then you are a fool, Isadora Gray.” It was Mr. Wayland who spoke this time. “You would sacrifice the progress of our kind to protect humans, who have proven themselves to be vicious murderers, horrible bigots, and incapable of protecting the planet we have been forced to share with them. We must ensure our own survival, whether or not that is conducive to the survival of humans.”
“Mr. Wayland hates humans,” Emilia whispered, answering the confused look on Jacob’s face. “His territory is crowded, and MAGI says it’s too dangerous for him to expand his land. Dex says his dad thinks the humans have taken too much.”
“Are you proposing the Council condone the killing of humans?” a woman’s voice asked.
“No,” Mr. Wayland said. “I am proposing we let the Dragons follow their course and thank them when they’re done. I would never expect this Council to have the courage to do anything significant for the advancement of Magickind.”
“The rebels aren’t just some fringe group anymore. They are gaining power, and quickly. If they reveal us to the public―” said a woman’s raspy voice.
“Ms. Sable, please,” a male voice said. “There have always been problems controlling some of the more rebellious young wizards and travelers, but as long as the Clans remain in alliance―”
“The Clans haven’t been in alliance for a long time,” Emilia whispered in Jacob’s ear. “If he thinks―”
Iz’s voice spoke clearly and firmly through the mirror. “The reports from MAGI have suggested the recent atrocities are not the acts of disgruntled youths, but systematic attacks by a rebel group strong enough to be called an army. These Dragons are a real threat and must be treated as such. Already there have been disappearances. Proteus’s daughter Willow disappeared weeks ago.”
“What does that have to do with us?” Mr. Wayland snapped.
“Centaurs don’t just go missing. There are so few places for them to go. Proteus has heard rumors of wizards on the preserve. Wizards traveling together.”
“A group of travelers taking up residence on a preserve is not unheard of,” Mr. Proctor said. “And even if there are a few rebellious sorts in the woods somewhere, does that really need to cause this kind of concern?”
“Some of the resources the rebels have―the numbers, the money―are unprecedented for a mere group of travelers,” Iz said, her voice steady as the murmurs in the room grew. “They are receiving help from within the Clans. Aiding any group whose aim is to expose our existence is against the very principles upon which this Council was founded, as well as against the laws that govern our kind. Any wizard or Clan found aiding the rebels would be committing an act of war against the rest of the Clans and the Council of Elders.
“Should the situation progress to that point, the international community may also consider involving themselves for the protection of Magickind the world over. If this conflict escalates to an international level, the freedoms we have long enjoyed in America could be lost to us forever.”
“Is that true?” Jacob glanced up from the mirror and bumped heads with Emilia.
“Yes,” Emilia said, aware for the first time of how close she was to Jacob. Of his hip pressing against hers.
“If the international community sees American wizards standing up and taking their rightful place at the head of society,” Mr. Wayland said, his voice rising in excitement, “they will see the Dragons are right in demanding that Magickind be given their due. They will hail the Dragons as leaders and heroes.”
“What the Dragons are doing is wrong.” Iz’s voice rang loud and clear over the angry chatter in the room. “And not all wizards will agree to stand idly by. This could turn into a war between factions of Magickind, as well as a war with the humans. What will this Council do when the human government decides we are a threat and bombs one of the preserves? Whose hands will that blood be on?”
“Humans could destroy us. They would lock us up.” The mirror shook in Emilia’s hand. “They’d do tests on us. Does Mr. Wayland want Dexter to end up in a padded room?”
Jacob wrapped his hand around hers, helping her hold the mirror steady.
“If the humans are naïve enough to threaten us, then we shall destroy their government,” Mr. Chandler spat.
“It is not for us to decide what path their government takes,” Iz said.
“But it could be!” Mr. Wayland shouted.
There was silence.
Emilia held her breath.
“I am afraid that is not something my family will ever be a part of, Mr. Wayland,” Iz said softly.
“Until such a time as trust can be restored within the Council, I suggest we end this meeting,” a man’s low rumbling voice said.
“Or until such a time as a new Council has been formed,” Mr. Wayland snapped without even a note of apprehension in his voice.
Mr. Proctor sputtered. “That is a treasonous statement. That could constitute a declaration of war.”
“So be it,” Mr. Wayland said.
The clomp of footsteps and the crash of a door being flung open carried through the glass.
The relief Emilia had felt at Jacob being declared innocent vanished.
War. They were facing an all-out magical war. Dexter’s father wanted it to happen. And she had just heard the beginning of it.
“Jacob,” Emilia whispered as she silently pushed Jacob toward the pantry door, “we have to get out of here. Aunt Iz will be looking for us.”
Jacob reached for the door, but Emilia stopped him, putting her hand on his chest. His heart raced beneath her palm.
“No one can know what we heard,” Emilia said. “Not even Iz.”
They emerged into the bright whiteness of the kitchen. Emilia pushed herself up to sit on one of the sparkling counters. Her breath caught in her throat. Tears burned in her eyes. She forced the air from her lungs as a laugh, trying to smile. Trying to look as though the world weren’t falling apart.
“You did it, Jacob. You get to come home.” Emilia took his hand, holding on to it like a lifeline.
Jacob slid onto the counter next to Emilia. A smile hitched onto his face. Their eyes met. So much had changed since the first time they had sat together at Fairfield Elementary.
At least he’s safe, Emilia thought. She squeezed Jacob’s hand, and for a moment, his smile became almost real.
Aunt Iz found them in the kitchen and rushed them out the front door and into the waiting car. Samuel’s face fell at the sight of Iz’s grim expression and Jacob and Emilia’s plastered on smiles.
“Oh, Jacob,” Samuel said, worry spreading into his eyes. “What did they say?”
“Not guilty,” Jacob said.
“Wonderful.” Samuel pulled out into traffic. “They had no other choice. No way they could’ve convicted you.”
“Funny,” Jacob muttered. “You seemed to think they had convicted me a second ago.”
“They’ll be glad to hear the good news at the house. Claire and Connor have been calling me all morning wanting to know what’s happening.” Samuel looked at Jacob through the rear view mirror. “Everything’s going to be fine now.”
Samuel gave them a smile. A smile Emilia couldn’t help noticing didn’t quite reach his eyes.
- Writer
