Forgotten - A Skulduggery Pleasant Fanfic (COMPLETE)

6

Allara followed the Grand Mage through cold, empty hallways and up a thin staircase, scared and confused. They reached a small door at the top and he pushed it open, letting light spill into the grey space. He stepped out and held the door open for Allara and her Dad, waiting for them to pass before walking onwards.
They were in another small hallway, but this one had a nicer look to it. It was big enough to fit at least four people side-by-side, and had wooden doors, all wide and tall enough for a seven-foot person to step through cleanly. The floor was simple white marble, and the walls and ceiling were a cream paint, with chandeliers lighting the way.
As they walked, the Grand Mage put his arms in front of him. A second later they fell to his sides again.
They reached the end of the hallway and before Allara knew it, they had stepped into a cavernous room with a glass ceiling. People of all kinds walked around with purpose, from business-like workers with stern faces and pinned back hair, to teenagers around Allara's age, to small children wandering around by themselves, the youngest looking to be around six years old.
They all had somewhere to be going, but as the Grand Mage passed, they moved out of his way and created a clear path for him. He nodded to everyone, and they nodded or waved back in return. Allara tried to make herself invisible, but she still got the odd look from a passerby, a murmur to a friend or a raised eyebrow. She sped up and tried to get as close to the Grand Mage as possible without touching him, so people would notice her less.
It didn't work, and by the end of the room, whispers were being heard everywhere. Finally, they stepped through another door into a short hallway, with only two doors. There were strangely clad people at both doors, dressed in grey and holding scythes, they were a menacingly scary figure.
Allara couldn't tell if they were statues or not. The Grand Mage led them to the farthest door and opened it, ushering them through. Allara's Dad immediately moved to the side of the room, head down.
Allara stayed in the centre, unsure of what to do. She looked around the room nervously, seeing an old wooden desk, intricately carved with all kinds of symbols, and a wall full of portraits; hundreds of men and women. Looking down, she noticed the same white marble from the cavernous room on the floor, only this one was different. In between the pieces of marble, impossibly, there seemed to be a blue light emanating. She wanted to lean down and get a closer look, but the Grand Mage had already moved to his desk.
He cleared his throat, tapped a piece of wall, and immediately the section turned clear, and Allara could see out onto the tarmac of a massive parking lot, empty.
The Grand Mage motioned for her to come closer, and she braced herself for seeing his face again. She stopped at the desk and held her breath, ready for the sight.
The Grand Mage spun around, and Allara yelled in surprise.
His face was completely different. His face held none of the likeness that it had before. There was no more sagging, melted-looking skin. No longer was there a deformed nose or a missing eye. The Grand Mage had a perfectly normal human face, with two eyes, a nose and a mouth which all aligned nicely and made him a quite attractive person.
The Grand Mage glared at her before sitting at his desk, leaning forward.
"Now, Allana," He began.
"Allara," She corrected. The Grand Mage looked a bit taken aback.
"Correcting me now, I see? Should I bring my normal face back to scare you into not talking back?" He smiled at her briefly. Allara stayed silent.
"Good," The Grand Mage sat back in his chair and sighed, "Sam. Tell me why your mortal daughter is in my Sanctuary." He looked towards Allara's Dad for information.
"Well, it is honestly a long story," Allara's Dad moved up to the Grand Mage's desk and leaned against it, "and if we could, I would like Allara to be out of the room, for the sake of her mental state, when I tell it," He looked over at Allara, who murmured an agreement.
The Grand Mage put his hand on his chin, stroking it, as he thought. Finally, he stopped and sighed.
"Send her out to the Cleavers. They'll deal with her if anything arises," He said. Allara's Dad smiled and put a hand on Allara's shoulder, leading her to the double doors. He led her out and looked at her sternly.
"One. Do not aggravate the Cleavers. They have scythes for a reason," He looked over at the people clad in grey, "Two, do everything you can to convince Grand Mage you are worthy of learning magic and aren't just a mortal," He patted her on the shoulder and went to enter the Grand Mage's study again.
"If magic exists, show me some," Allara said. Her Dad stared at her, opened his mouth, shut it, and opened it again.
"Not with the Cleavers around," He disappeared into the room and Allara grunted in anger, sitting down against a wall. The floors were a red carpet, and a small window let in light from the outside. Allara eyed up the other door, curious about what was behind it. She stood up, waved her hands in front of the Cleavers, and reached for the handle.
A scythe blade stopped right before her wrist, hovering like it was daring her to move closer.
Allara squeaked in fear and pulled her hand back, rubbing her wrist. The Cleaver immediately moved back to its original position, looking straight ahead.
Allara raised an eyebrow at it.
"Hey," She said.
Nothing.
"Hey, you. Grey thing," She waved her hand in front of its mask.
Still nothing.
"Fine then." She sat back down at the wall again and stared at the opposite wall, trying to empty her mind of thoughts and zone out. She found zoning out was good to get rid of bad thoughts.
Especially some particular bad thoughts.

Finally the door opened and Allara's Dad ushered her inside. Allara pulled herself out of her catatonic state and stood up, stretching and feeling her joints crack. She felt like she had been sitting there for hours. She walked into the room and the Grand Mage was still sitting at his desk. The view of the car park was gone, replaced by a solid looking wall.
"Allana," The Grand Mage nodded at her as she walked in. Allara nodded at him back.
"Did you have trouble with the Cleavers?" He asked.
"No," She replied simply. The Grand Mage harrumphed. Obviously he wasn't used to such short answers.
"Your Father has told me you want to become a sorcerer. Is this true?" He asked. Allara bit her lip. She was still convinced that she was in some sort of cult situation, but she couldn't find a way out of it now, so she decided to go along and escape when she had the chance.
"Yeah! In fact, I really want to see some magic so I can understand what I'll be learning," She put a big smile on her face and took a few quick steps forward, trying to make them look eager. The Grand Mage laughed.
"Your Father hasn't shown you any magic?" He asked.
Allara desperately pulled on information from the various fantasy novels and tv shows she had seen.
"He says magic is too destructive for everyday tasks," She said.
"I see," The Grand Mage stood and stretched his hands out, "I guess I should show you, then," He flexed his hands, "don't move," He flexed his hands again and Allara sighed, ready for nothing to happen.
And then flames came out of the Grand Mage's hands and straight towards her.
Before she knew it, Allara was surrounded on all sides except down by bright flames, licking a bubble of something which surrounded her. She looked around in fear and wonder, trying to process the impossible feat.
She spun in a slow circle, mouth wide open. Although the flames should have been hot, she felt completely fine in the bubble she seemed to be in.
Suddenly, the flames stopped and Allara saw the door, smoking a little bit, but otherwise completely fine. She spun slowly, looking at the Grand Mage with awe. Her brain still couldn't comprehend what happened.
He brushed his hands on his suit jacket and sat down, smiling at her reaction.
"That is the expression of someone who has never seen magic. I find it pleasing that I won't have to erase her memories," He said, before turning to Allara's Dad.
"Unfortunately for you, Sam, you have still broken the rules. As I have said before, rules are here for a reason," The Grand Mage sighed, "I do like you, Sam. I really do. You've been a great asset to The Sanctuary."
"Wait-" Allara's Dad was cut off by the Grand Mage holding a hand up to silence him.
"Normally, a sorcerer would be given a sentence of ten years in jail for this kind of crime. However, Sam, I understand you feel the need to look after your daughter. Therefore, I am willing to compromise on this sentence.
"You will not be brought before a court, but you will be sent to jail. Five years is the least I can give you," The Grand Mage smiled sadly at Allara's Dad, who looked defeated. The sight of her Father in that state made Allara want to cry.
"Wait, Grand Mage..." She took a few steps forward. The Grand Mage turned to her expectantly.
"Please, can you shorten his sentence any more? He's all I have left, I can't live on my own," She stumbled over a few words, feeling a ball rise up in her throat. Her Father started waving his hands wildly in her peripheral, telling her to stop.
"The only people closest to family I have in Australia are my friend's parents, but I can't just barge into their home," Allara took a few more steps forward, until she had reached the desk. The Grand Mage looked at her, saw the desperation in her eyes.
"Three and a half years. That's all. You will not be living with your friend's parents," He said. Allara opened and closed her mouth.
"Oh, stop that. You look like a fish," He said, turning to her Father, "your last offer."
"Yes," Allara's Dad ran up to the desk, smiling, "Yes, please. Thankyou, Grand Mage. You're a wonderful person," Allara's Dad continued the thanks, not letting Allara get a word of complaint in.
The Grand Mage continued talking for a while longer, but Allara couldn't hear most of it. She was staring at her Dad. Three and a half years. She wouldn't be able to see him for three and a half years.
She felt a pit in her stomach rising into her throat. It was painful.