Thistle and Stone [Chaennie]

Chapter 20

Mirror

Being at the Ministry again felt strange. Jennie walked slowly through the halls, taking her time in getting to the entrance to the Department of Ministries. A few heads nodded their hellos as she passed, and she smiled in response. Truthfully, she was tired—that type of bone-weariness that came from not enough rest, too many fitful nights, days spent feeling cagey and irritated.

When she finally pulled herself from bed that morning, she convinced herself to put on something a little professional before she went in. Trousers and an old jumper were the result, and she hadn't bothered to twist her hair back into braids or pile it on her head. Instead, it sprung in curls around her face and down her neck. She wrapped one of those curls around her finger as she walked, trying to distract herself from the very real reality that Roseanne was somewhere here, hidden within the deep walls of the Ministry. She was nearby, but perhaps not close. Jennie acknowledged she had no real way of knowing, no bond to drain the magic from her when she was gone, no tug in her heart when she reached through.

Jennie boarded one of the many lifts in the atrium and waited as it descended further and further down, stopping at every floor to let off passengers. Mild chatter filled the lift and notes buzzed around the top, waiting to fly to their receiver. Jennie shuffled to the very back and waited until she was the last one left as the doors opened and signalled arrival at level nine.

She hadn't been to the Department for many, many years. A chill ran over her as she walked past the black-tiled walls and waited beside the unassuming door at the end. A moment later, it opened.

"Ms. Kim," Croaker's looming frame was in front of her, smiling down, "glad you were able to make it. Please, I'll take you to the testing area. Ms. Park is already waiting."

Jennie nodded and followed him through the door, leading them into the entrance chamber. It was just as she remembered it. She stared at the dark floor, almost like glass, seemingly unending.

"Just here, Ms. Kim," Croaker called, pointing towards one of the many doors surrounding them. Jennie already felt disoriented and she quickened her pace to keep up with Croaker. She trailed behind his heavy robes and heard the door behind her firmly shut and grind in its hinges as it shifted places. The testing area was somewhere she had never been before. She glanced up at its impossibly high arches and wondered if it was an illusion.

Her gaze found Roseanne next. She was in the centre of the room, alone, in her Unspeakables uniform. The sight of her still tightened Jennie's throat. Her face was almost unreadable, but she looked worn out, like she hadn't slept much the night before.

Croaker motioned for her to move towards Roseanne and so she did, tipping her head in a quick greeting. Roseanne nodded in return. Jennie thought her eyes softened when she did but wasn't sure if she imagined it or not. Croaker waited until the two of them were side by side and arranged himself in front of them. He clasped his hands tightly and smiled at the pair. "Ms. Park, Ms. Kim, I'd like to begin by thanking you both wholeheartedly for agreeing to undergo testing. As you know, the origins and ramifications of the soul magic you both have undergone are of great interest to the Department of Mysteries. While solo tests have been unsuccessful, I have hope that dual testing might be more illuminating."

Roseanne cleared her throat. "Unspeakable Croaker, my apologies, but are you to perform the testing on your own?"

Jennie watched her from the corner of her eye and noticed the thinness to her voice.

"Yes, Ms. Park," Croaker confirmed, spreading his hands in an open gesture, "as you can see, I will be the one performing the testing today. I didn't want your colleagues to pose as...distractions to our goal today. I hope this is an example of my seriousness in this endeavour."