Legacy Disowned - Book 1

Chapter 23 - Keeping Secrets

Maggie clenched her hands into fists as she glared up at the Keepers. All too predictably, they weren't listening.

"Our ability was not given to us to manipulate forces beyond our comprehension!" Rackham scolded her.

"This is exactly what we've been trying to warn you about," Rookwood chimed in, shaking his head.

Even Headmistress Fitzgerald was beside herself, "Have you learned nothing–"

San Bakar, meanwhile, was merely gazing haughtily down at her, and somehow it was every bit as frustrating as the others yelling.

"If you would all kindly shut the fuck up and listen!" Maggie snapped, losing her temper. It had the desired effect, the Keepers may have only stopped talking out of shock but at least they were quiet.

"As I was saying," she went on. "I'm not trying to mess with human emotion or any of that. I am asking if a similar method might be effective in removing a curse."

The Keepers looked taken aback, their expressions softening slightly as they realised her intentions. All save San Bakar who continued to regard her with suspicion.

"I know someone who has been cursed," she explained. "We are not sure what kind of magic was used but it causes bouts of intense physical pain. No healers seem to know how to reverse it. I just wondered with the way Isadora drew pain out, maybe a similar technique could be used on a curse... to remove the magic that isn't meant to be there..."

The portraits exchanged uneasy glances. Finally Niamh broke the silence. "We understand your concern for your friend, Miss Darling. However, you still have a trial to complete before we can discuss any further teachings."

"You cannot be serious?" Maggie shot back in frustration. "It'd be done by now if Bakar here would just administer the damned thing."

"Your eagerness for more information only justifies my reservations, Miss Darling," Bakar replied coldly. "The secrets contained in my memories are too precious to hand to someone so thirsty for power."

Maggie had to fight the urge to curse again. There was no point bothering with him, she knew that she'd only lose her temper. So she chose to ignore him and address the others. "Can you just tell me if it's possible?"

They just looked at eachother uncomfortably again, and Maggie felt her heart sink.

"None of us ever attempted such a thing" Niamh finally admitted apologetically.

Maggie swallowed hard, she had been afraid of this. "Have any of you attempted to do anything with it other than make some fancy architecture?" she asked, unable to keep the accusation out of her voice. "Do you even really understand this power yourselves?"

"Miss Darling, as we've said before," Rackham replied sternly, "you must complete all four trials before we can discuss anything further."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she snapped again. "What is the point of putting me through these dangerous tests? You're stringing me along without a care for what's going on in the world! We're on the brink of war, and you won't tell me what I need to know to stop it!"

"We cannot simply disregard the measures we have put in place," Rackam intoned evenly. "Regardless of the circumstances."

"Jackdaw died because of your stupid trials!" Maggie screamed, her voice breaking. "And you don't even care!"

But the Keepers merely stared down at her, and she felt what little hope she'd come here with wither away. It was clear they would be no help and San Bakar was still silent, regarding her through narrowed eyes. It was no use.