The Rising - Ennead 2

Scene 10.1: What the Heart Wants

I killed another man today

Shot him in his back as he ran away

-Lupe Fiasco, Little Weapon

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Manuela Corazon de los Santos

Journal Entry #134

I killed another man today. He was Magi, or that's what the Archon says. Levi said we shouldn't believe everything the Archon says. Levi was an idiot.

Archons are the law and the fifth societies keep it pure. The other societies may have other ideas about that, but that's them. Real quickly, before you judge me, I didn't actually kill an actual man. Witch-people are not really human, they're just kinda-sorta-human looking. Freaks in people's clothing.

What's sad is having to kill people who consort with witches. I mean, it's not their fault that they lack the fortitude to resist the compulsion of witches. BUT. When you scrub a stain out, you have to make sure not to leave a single thing behind, right?

My Archon, the Princeps Acolytos himself, called me to this task, the hidden police force. Some people think he did it because once, like ages ago, he was in love with my mother. I can't even imagine that ever happening – not in this world or any possible parallel dimension.

Back to the cleansing I performed today (cool way to put it huh? Levi came up with that idea). It was clean. A clean cleansing. No collateral damage, just pushing that one in a billion chance of steel cables snapping under stress – took his head clean off (cos that's the best way to get them).

The usual Pakistani dreamer shifted me away. He doesn't speak much, which is good. I guess he's paid a lot, and that helps. The Archon says that it's easier sticking to the same Faerie. If a leak needs to be plugged, it'll only be one leak.

He must have thought that hiding out as a construction worker would keep him hidden. Sucks for him. I can literally smell Magi now.

In retrospect though. He wasn't too much of a bad sort as Magi go. Didn't draw other people into his web. He was the only one that had to go. Saves me time on the tapers I have to light for the soul he possessed before the witchy-ness drove it out. Tonight it well rest in peace, and so will I.

Journal Entry #140

Mum made me help her out with her potluck thing. I thoroughly hated it. She CHOSE to be normal, she doesn't have to pull me into it! And all this talk talk talk all the time...

At least I controlled my temper. Levi taught me how to

Stop thinking about Levi

STOP THINKING ABOUT LEVI

Stop thinking about..

[different colored pen]

Mum is always showing me how much better the foreman's daughter is. As if two ranks above me in class is a big deal. The foreman's daughter is a slut. And besides, anyone could speak English that good if they were had a senior tutoring them.

I save the world and see the possibility fabric, all mum ever did with her life was to give up the Path she'd chosen. That's weak. Why would anyone ever give up being Society?

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Journal Entry #1

Today I took my vows. It was awesome. I don't know how other societies do it, but I'm curious to find out how. The scary part was when I was smuggled out of my room – the people who came to get me were wearing very scary masks, I couldn't tell if they were women or men.

The room was very cold. Five other children were with me, about 4 or 5, but we were all wearing black cloaks and hoods, and they were not talking.

I was scared, but removing the hoods was not allowed. There was a gents and ladies door, just in case someone wanted to pee-pee, but no one went. I think we were all very excited and scared at the same time, just like me.

And then it started.

Older people came to take us. One for each of us. The others held hands with their guides, but I didn't. I'm not a baby. The place we walked through had a very high ceiling.

Halfway down the hall, there was a whisper in my head. It was someone trying to talk to me the way we had been though in dream class. It was very difficult, but I reached out with my inside and listened again.

"Manuela"

I knew the smell of the voice in my head. The one who had told me about the secret world the first time. I heard one of my pre-initiation teachers saying that he is very important once. I almost made a mistake and looked up at him. I didn't.

"Wise. And talented. I won't regret my choice."

I didn't know how to reply, but it made me really happy to hear him say that.

Then we got to the stairs. There were a lot of stairs, but after the stairs we came to a cloth hanging like a door, and then a humongous room. And the room was very pretty, and people were all around us, dressed in white, adults and older children, and a lot of them were smiling.

I went last. I almost made a mistake when I was saying the vows, because my stomach was feeling funny, but I didn't, and I got it right. And then the man who led me in the vows, said with the inside voice.

"Let all here, on behalf of the Fifth Society, recognize one who has passed through the veil and will witness the true world. Speaking her first vows, she places herself as an acolyte in our noble Society, to walk an ancient path and keep the darkness at bay."

The room was very quiet. I think that is part of the initiation.

Then the man continued and said, "Manuela Corazon Perron, Tweaker of the Fifth Society, let back your hood and see the true world."

I did what he said. And then he said, "Without kin in the Societies, who stands as her Guardian within the true world?"

My tummy felt very funny then. The man didn't say those words for the others. They all had relatives who were in the Societies. I was alone.

People started whispering. I felt like the tiger I saw in the zoo when I went with my mummy and daddy. I was very sad and I wanted to run away and hide. And then my guide held my hand and let down his hood and said.

"I, Justin Mamoa, Archon of the Pacific Diocese of the Fifth Society take her as my ward."

He said it in my language, before he said it with his inside voice. It made me feel very special, because I remember that Archons are very important in the Society, and everyone also knew it was a big deal because they were acting like adults do when they are surprised and don't want to show it.

That was the best part of last night. Now that I am initiated, I am a big girl. No more diaries. This is my journal where I will write all the important days. And one day, when I become Archon too, I will write it here also.

Diary Entry #150

Today I was given my first unsupervised mission. To say I'm excited is an understatement. The target is super-elusive, so this may take a while. I've got a plan though – and it's going to work. My plans always do.

What kind of name is that to give yourself anyway? The White Rabbit. Magi are so broken.

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A/N

Yeah, I'm sorry, this chapter is shorter than I'd have liked. It may be a while before the next chapter is posted because I'd like to get a couple of words lead first. :)

I do hope you like this as much as you liked the first (feel free to love it even more, I don't mind). Remember to vote if you like it, and comment if you've got feedback.

And if you somehow managed to get here without reading the first book... there's a lot of spoilers here and a lot of information you'll need from back there. Go read it, mate!