Denouncement Read online

  “Thanks for the heads up.”

  “So,” Gavin began as he locked up the lab. “You’re in the band, right?”

  “Yup.” They headed toward the parking structure.

  “Cool. My twin younger sisters are coming to Davis this year and they’re joining the band.”

  “That’s cool. What do they play?”

  “Kyxy plays tenor sax and Kylee plays trombone. What do you play?”

  “Mello. Marching French horn,” Iris added after Gavin gave her a very confused look.

  “Nice. I used to play. Trumpet. But they were all a bunch of bros and I never felt like I fit in.”

  “You should’ve switched to mellophone.”

  “That’s what my sisters said. Well, French horn, but I guess it amounts to the same thing.”

  “Pretty much,” Iris agreed.

  “Don’t interpret anything by this, but you’re really easy to talk to. I usually clam up if I’m not talking about the lab or schoolwork.”

  “Oh. Uh, thanks?” Iris was taken aback. If he hadn’t mentioned it, she would have assumed his easy, open manner was his normal personality.

  Gavin shook his head and looked down at his feet.

  “I mean it. Thanks. You’re not the first person to tell me that. In fact, some of my friends think I draw people toward me. Specific people who have a special skill set. Perhaps you’re one.” Iris had never been so forward in her life, but she felt Gavin was feeling her out to the same end.

  He looked sideways at her and they took a few dozen steps in silence. The tingling sensation at the back of her neck increased. Iris smiled. Gavin already knew how to draw in the flows of power surrounding him. They entered the deserted parking structure and headed upstairs.

  “This skill set you’re talking about. Would it be something like this?” He snapped his fingers. A spark ignited for less than a second.

  “Something like that.” Iris pulled flows into her being and released them. A small fireball appeared in front of their faces. She dismissed it before they crested the top of the stairs and looked at Gavin. He nodded in understanding rather than freaked out.

  “Yours is more impressive.”

  “I’ve been practicing that one for over a year now.”

  “Wow! That’s it?”

  “Yeah. Well, that particular skill.”

  “How long have you been able to, you know?”

  “I’m almost at the two-year mark. You?”

  “Close to three years, but I can’t do a lot. Neither can my sisters.”

  “They can do it too?”

  “Yup. I realized they could last year and tried to help them along. Do you know anyone else who can perform tasks?”

  “Hey, that’s what we call it too. Tasks and skills. Anyway, yes. I have six friends from high school, two of their boyfriends, and two band friends here at Davis. I can teach you if you want. All three of you.”

  “You read my mind. When can we start?”

  “It’d be better to get started before I realize I’ve bitten off more than I can chew with classes again. It’d be easier for me to teach all three of you the basics at once.”

  “You free Sunday? My parents are dropping the twins off at my place Saturday night so they can dump all their stuff since they can’t move into the dorms yet. Then I’m going to drop them off for band retreat on Monday.”

  “Sunday would be great,” Iris agreed. “Let me give you my cell number. Call when you guys are ready. After ten work?”

  “Should work. It may be a little later. Our parents want to go out for breakfast before taking off.”

  “No problem. Call me when you’re ready and you can come to my place. Everyone there has talents, so we can practice as much as we want. Oh, and I probably don’t have to say this, but be discreet when you talk on the phone about this stuff.”

  “I always am. Well, Iris, it was a pleasure to meet you. I really mean that. See you Sunday.”

  “See you Sunday,” Iris waved. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell her roommates about the three new magic users entering their lives.

  She didn’t wait to make a trip to the Gallery of Doors. Three new lights filled the vast room. They expanded at a rapid pace. She wondered if Gavin was talking to the twins now. Iris smiled.

  Sunday couldn’t come fast enough. Gavin called Iris closer to eleven than ten, but she had no other plans for the day, so she didn’t mind. She gave him her address and directions to her apartment and the three of them arrived about fifteen minutes later.

  “Hey, guys, come on in,” Iris invited them.

  “Hey! Iris, this is Kyxy, and that’s Kylee,” Gavin introduced them.

  Iris took a second to take in the twins. They were identical, so she’d have to use personality to figure them out. They were almost as tall as their brother who was a hair below six feet, but they didn’t have his broad shoulders. She could easily see the family resemblance in the shape and unique grey-green coloration of their eyes. It was striking against their olive skin and dark-brown hair.

  “Very nice to meet you. I’m Iris and that’s Aerianna in the kitchen.”

  “Hey!” Aerianna yelled back without coming out of the kitchen.

  “She’s a little preoccupied with a new baking recipe. Sorry. Anyway, you guys ready?”

  “Been looking forward to this!” Gavin said.

  “Great! Let’s go,” Iris said as she pulled flows into her being and requested her doorway appear in the middle of the living room.

  “Go? Where? That was so cool! Are you going to teach us that?” one of the twins said.

  “Yes. We may not get to it today. It’ll depend on what you guys can already do and how quickly you pick up on things. We have a lot to cover, but we can always get together again next Sunday and throughout the quarter depending on how swamped everyone is with classes. We try to meet as a group two to three times a quarter, but it doesn’t always happen.”

  “Gavin said you have a lot of friends with the ability to do magic,” the other twin said. Iris thought it was Kyxy.

  “Yes. All of my roommates plus another friend from Pacific, two of my roommates’ boyfriends—one is in the band—and two other band friends. So, you’ll not only have a lot of new friends through the band but also through magic. Should be a nice start to the year.”

  “Agreed,” Kylee said.

  Iris pulled her faerie-etched door open to reveal the heat-soaked island and stepped through. She and Aerianna had already checked it that morning for its continued deserted status. It took Aerianna’s laughter for Iris to turn and realize her three newest pupils weren’t following her.

  “You guys coming or what?” Iris called and kept moving away from her doorway.

  She glanced behind her when she heard feet crunching in the sand. It showed her it was safe to release the doorway, so she did. She stopped in the shade of a few palm trees and took a seat on a rock. They joined her a few moments later. Iris launched into her well-rehearsed explanation of magic before asking them to show her what they could already do.

  They were a little like Jaden and Rowen as they’d figured out magic on their own, but they weren’t strong in their magical abilities yet. Neither were they consistent with their ability to draw in flows and make accurate requests. It took Iris almost two hours to get them to easily accept, draw in, and release requests consistently. She needed a break away from the heat and knew they would too, so they headed back to her place for some lunch.

  Chapter 15

  “How’s it going?” Aerianna asked from where she still ruled the kitchen. She’d yelled at Iris to get out when she tried to make something for lunch. They ordered pizza instead.

  “Amazing!” Kyxy exclaimed.

  “Yeah. Iris, you’re a fantastic teacher,” Kylee told her.

  “Thanks. I’ve had a lot of practice.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Aerianna called from the kitchen. “She taught the rest of us too. Most from day one. It’
s why she’s in charge. She’s The First.”

  “Not you too, Aeri,” Iris groaned.

  “Can’t deny the truth.”

  “The First?” Gavin asked.

  “Yeah. It’s a dumb nickname our friend Cirrus came up with because I was the first to unlock my magical ability amongst our high school friends.”

  “And because you’re the leader.”

  Iris shook her head.

  “You guys game to go over a few things while we wait for pizza?” All three agreed and Iris launched into her explanation of the Gallery of Doors. Their doors finished forming that morning, so she knew they could attempt trips to the Gallery.

  “Wow! This is some seriously amazing artwork. Are these hand carved?”

  “No. Magically carved. They appear as each person realizes their abilities as a magic user. And come into my life,” Iris amended.

  “Either way, Kylee’s right. They’re mesmerizing,” Kyxy agreed. “Will you give us a tour?”

  “Sure thing. So this one is mine,” Iris pointed to the large door behind her.

  “Why is it so much bigger than everyone else’s?”

  “And why is it across the room from the rest?”

  Iris wasn’t sure which twin asked which question as she hadn’t been looking at them, but she answered both with one statement. “I think it’s because this room is connected to my mind.”

  “So you’re the gatekeeper as well?”

  “And the key master,” Iris agreed with Gavin. “Anyway, from left to right in the front row, we have Thorin, Cirrus, Violet, Aerianna, Rozlynd, Zarina, and Morrigan. In the second row from right to left there’s, Jaden, Rowen, Sienna, Gavin, Kylee, and Kyxy.”

  “Is there a significance to the order?” Kylee asked.

  “Except for Thorin’s, the doors go in order from left to right and then right to left in regard to when people became magic users. Actually, it’s more accurate to say they’re in order of when I started teaching them magic.”

  “You said Thorin, right? He’s not from Temescal, is he?” Gavin asked.

  “He is, actually.”

  “Sweet! How is that guy? I miss him. We went to high school together, but when I dropped out of band, we didn’t stay as close. I’ve seen him at Davis a few times, but again, it’s been very limited. We were always too busy to do more than catch up over coffee or lunch.”

  “He’s fine. I haven’t seen him in a few weeks because he was on a family vacation, but last I saw him, he was good.” Iris once more wondered at the smallness of the world. And the concentration of magic users from San Diego County. Perhaps they had been drawn to her. Kyxy pulled her back to the present.

  “So, the creatures on the doors?” Kyxy asked from where she traced the lines etched in her door.

  “Not to mention the type of wood,” Gavin added.

  “The creatures seem to be a representation of the individual, but to what purpose, we’re not sure yet. Some creatures are because of personality, others magical abilities. You know, I haven’t analyzed them enough to figure it out.”

  “Give Kylee a week. She’ll do it for you,” Gavin told her.

  “She may need to get to know the others a little first,” Iris countered.

  “No. It’s a really annoying skill she has. Or perhaps it’s one of her abilities,” Gavin countered.

  “I don’t need a week. I already know,” Kylee announced.

  “Prove it,” Gavin said with all the skepticism of an older brother.

  “Fine.” Kylee walked over to Iris’s door and traced a few of the deep lines that created the faerie on its surface. “Iris is a faerie because of her skill at magic and personal magical ability.”

  Iris followed Kylee’s actions as she crossed the room and started with the door on the left.

  “Thorin is a Thunderbird due in part to his loud personality, but also due to his strength—especially with elemental magic. Cirrus is a griffin because of his sense of dedication and unwavering allegiance to his friends. Violet, the Pegasus, is good-hearted and gentle if a little naïve. Aerianna as the white tiger is a protector of both people and knowledge.

  “The western dragon, Rozlynd, correct? She’s very intelligent and powerful but has a mean streak to her on occasion. Zarina, the unicorn, can quell disputes and heal with her words, but she’s innocent. Too innocent. Morrigan is the lone wolf. Protective, fierce and loyal. Kyxy is a phoenix—very fitting—as she possesses high values, honesty, grace, and loyalty.”

  “Don’t believe that for one second,” Gavin whispered to Iris.

  “I heard that,” Kyxy glared at him.

  Gavin looked away. Iris could see the corners of his lips lift a little.

  “Me, the caladrius—”

  “How do you even know the name of that bird?” Kyxy asked.

  “Because I’ve studied them and believe this is a perfect fit for me just like everyone else. Anyway, sometimes a preener, but also gentle, empathetic, and a healer.”

  Iris got the impression there was more to the bird’s and therefore Kylee’s abilities, but she didn’t press Kylee.

  “Gavin is a hippocamp. Loyal to a fault, agile, and great in water. He will drop everything to help you get anywhere you need to go. You said the mermaid was Sienna?”

  Iris nodded.

  “Then Sienna is beautiful, sweet, and always desires to be helpful. Anger her, and face her wrath, though.”

  Iris smiled at the description of Sienna. It brought forth images of unblinking eyes, a tossed head, and crossed arms. She always knew when Sienna was pissed off. Thankfully, the woman got over things quickly and reverted to her sweet disposition way faster than Iris ever could.

  “Which leads me to Rowen, the eastern dragon. He is friendly, intelligent, can disperse an argument, and will always offer protection. He’s also good at manipulating water and a bit of a prankster. And finally, Jaden.” Kylee paused for a moment as she took in his door. “As a centaur, Jaden is a skilled teacher, but can have a wild side to him.”

  Again, Iris thought Kylee held something back, but she had no idea what it could be. Her statements about everyone were accurate. Even Jaden, who it turned out was a great teacher and Iris had seen what one could deem his wild-side if you considered wild as confrontational.

  “Well, I’m impressed,” she told Kylee after she’d rejoined them at the center of the room. They stood in quiet contemplation for a few moments before a soft knock sounded at one of the doors.

  “Pizza’s here,” Aerianna stuck her head in briefly.

  “Thanks!” Iris called to her closing door. “Let’s go.”

  After pizza and some delicious cookies Aeri made, Iris decided to work with the three newest magic users in the living room. The island was too hot in the late afternoon this time of year. They switched to using magic in everyday life and covered precautions against using it too often in public or talking about it when there were people around or on the phone. By late that afternoon, all four of them were exhausted but thrilled with the progress they’d made. Iris showed them out just before dinner.

  “And don’t forget, don’t bring up magic in public. We refer to it as tutoring or practice or training. See you two tomorrow,” Iris waved and closed the door behind them.

  “Long day, huh?” Aerianna called on her way to the living room.

  “Yeah, no kidding. Whose turn is it to cook roommate dinner?”

  “Yours.”

  “Please tell me you’re joking.”

  “Don’t worry. I am. It’s Vi’s turn. She texted and asked if we’d have a problem with Chinese takeout instead of something home cooked.”

  “No objections here.”

  “Great! I’ll text her back . . . and she wants to know if she can invite boyfriends.”

  “Why would I object to that?”

  “I dunno. She’s just being polite.”

  “Fine by me. Make sure Zarina and Roz know. Oh and tell them the guys have to join in with the board games.
They can’t just heckle from the sidelines this time.”

  “Vi says she’ll pass on the caveat.”

  “Great. I’m going to pack for band retreat. Maybe a snack, first.”

  They had a blast playing games and heckling each other throughout the evening. Iris’s good mood carried over to the following morning and kept her eyes bright blue. She locked the 4Runner and hummed on her way to the dorm retreat was being held in, thoughts focused on what the officers chose for a theme this year.

  “Hey, Iris!” Matt called from where he stood in the shade of a tree in front of the dorm.

  “Hey!” Iris tossed her stuff down and gave him a hug. Matt returned it with a hearty squeeze and a kiss to her cheek that made Iris glad for the sunglasses she wore.

  “So, you’re taking Japanese again this quarter, right?”

  “I am. You?”

  “Yup. I figured if I have to take a fifth year, I might as well learn to converse with my grandmother a little before she comes to live with my folks.”

  “Sounds logical. What time did you get?” she asked even though she already knew the answer.

  “Ten. You?”

  “Same. Want to be my study partner again? I should probably do some review before the quarter starts.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that. You free Sunday or Monday?”

  “I think I can swing Sunday,” Iris said as she glanced at her calendar app. “I have a second orientation to the lab I’m going to be working at on Monday. Afternoons are better for you, right?”

  Matt nodded.

  “Would three on Sunday work?”

  “Three is just fine.”

  “Great! You coming to retreat this year?”

  “Na. I’m here to help set some stuff up for tonight, that’s all. But I’ll be at the game on Saturday and I’m hosting a get together at my place afterward. I’ll see you there, right?”

  “Definitely! All right, I should head inside before this line gets too out of control. See you later.”

  Matt waved and headed toward the back of the dorm building while Iris picked up her stuff and walked toward the front doors. She got in line a few people behind the twins. Before she could say hello, someone picked her up from behind and swung her in a circle.