Magus

Prologue

Phryne Selizabeth had known that something big was going to happen when she woke up that morning. She just assumed it was more of the 'Wow-I-got-full-marks' garden variety, rather than the slightly less common, and slightly more adrenaline inducing 'Why-in-seven-heavens-was-I-kidnapped?!' variety.

The men who had... kidnapped her were (predictably) dressed in black. Phryne was always confused at that. Didn't wearing black suits and earpieces sort of defeat the purpose of going incognito?

Not that there was anyone home to figure that out. Her parents were at work, her little brother Ben at a friend's, and her elder brother, Tommy, was out with his girlfriend. Not that he'd ever call her that. Apparently, Cara was just a 'childhood friend'. As if.

The black van she had been stuffed in (again; seriously?) sputtered to a stop, and Phryne wondered if the men in black ever took it to a mechanic or engineer. By the sound of the dying engine, it didn't seem like it.

One of the doors to the back opened, and a tall man stepped in, quickly shutting the door behind him. He then fully turned to face her, taking off the abhorrent gray mask that only he had been wearing.

Staring at his strangely youthful face (She thought he was older), Phryne updated her impression of him - Correction; he was a teenager.

He stared grimly at her, jaded green eyes steadfast. "We don't like to do this. Holding people hostage is not our favourite job."

She shrugged. "Truthfully, it seems like you enjoy it," She muttered crossly, not bothering to scream her throat raw a second time. The van had proved to have sound-proof walls.

The boy glared at her. "It wouldn't have to be done if you had agreed to come with us."

"Sorry if I don't just up and follow strangers."

He blew his black hair out of his eyes, clearly frustrated. "Your... abilities make you dangerous to your country, your family and yourself. The country of Aaea is the only place where you can learn to control them," He nodded at the door. "In any case, no one out there would care about you. Either you can come willingly, with your respect still intact, or Basil will carry you kicking and screaming to the ship."

"So we're at the port then? Fun," But she got up anyway, rolling her eyes as the black-haired boy's frown morphed into a smirk.

"Good choice. Basil's not very gentle, at times."

-------

The ship was elegant and clean, with scarcely any other people. In fact, the captive hardly remembered the journey, because she slept through most of it. What else was there to do when locked in a cabin? Plus, the soft bed was there for a reason, she imagined.

Thirteen hours later, when the ship docked at the port of Aaea, Phryne took a moment to glance around. It was nearing night, and guards stood at every entrance and exit point. The heavily descending mist probably answered why the people weren't out and about.

Her captor led her to a black car instantly after stepping off the ship. "Where are we going?" Phryne asked, frowning. "And why is everything so dark and sad? It's depressing me."

He ignored her last comment. "We're going to the capital of Aaea, Hylvin. And not everything is dark. Hylvin is very lively and colourful. By the way, my name is Archer."

Phryne tried to supress the nervousness that was finally starting to gather in a corner of her heart. "Why the capital, anyway?"

"Every new wizard starts there. When they learn how to stand on their own feet, they can move to any other part of the country."