Awakening - The Last Science #1

Chapter 3 - Making Connections - II

  "It's a mess," Kendra Laushire agreed, as they examined the map on her desk. Rachel had joined her at her small estate on the west end of town. Kendra leaned over the table, her fiery curls brushing the surface as she pored over the proposal schematic. Rachel marveled once more at how she managed to keep her hair so gorgeous despite its length and clear rebellious attitude toward anything resembling organization. "He asked for this much space?"

  "It'll encroach over a few normals," Rachel pointed out, "but no Awakened should be directly affected."

  Kendra shook her head. "You shouldn't categorize people like that. It'll come to a bad end."

  Rachel privately disagreed. Everyone categorized everyone else, that was human nature. It was the only way human beings knew how to interact with the world, by interpreting, categorizing and learning from patterns. This was just yet another category they had at their disposal; those with magic and those without. Still, arguing with Kendra Laushire wasn't about to get her very far.

  "He's offering a pretty penny for it," Kendra noted with interest.

  "Isn't that like nothing to you?"

  She frowned. "It's not about my wealth, dear," Kendra replied dismissively, in the way only an upper-class British woman could, "it's about his own. A sum like this is princely for a man who makes fourteen quid an hour driving a lorry round town."

  Rachel conceded the point. She hadn't factored in Julian's own wealth. "My mistake. You're right, of course. It's a lot for a donation to the council."

  "Don't fret," Kendra said, still a tad condescending. "Either way, you're right about it not affecting the town. The students have mostly gone home for break. Did he declare his intentions for the space?"

  "He didn't."

  "Well, that's settled then. We can't be giving out massive tracts of land to a man who won't tell us what manner of devilry he intends to wreak upon it. Not after that mess with the Grey cult," Kendra declared.

  "Like he's just going to up and tell us?" Rachel furrowed her brow.

  "Doubtful. Anything this big, Julian will keep close to the chest. He's not one for sharing, unfortunately. We'll have to force him in front of the council."

  "I can't imagine him doing something as insane as trying to summon Gray-eyes by way of burning down a forest. At least Cinza helped us put a stop to it in time."

  "Quite."

  "He's not really popular enough to have the votes though, is he? I could test the waters, try to get a nose count."

  "Well, I'd say don't bother, but sadly he seems intent on ruining our summer with whatever madness he's cooking up. I'm terribly curious to figure out what manner of ritual it entails." Kendra leaned back in her chair, grabbing a sheet off one stack of papers. "By the way, Rachel, you scored a ninety-three on your final exam. You're slipping a little. Did something change with your own ritual?"

  "You knew?" Rachel asked, taken aback.

  Kendra shrugged, not looking up from the paper she was scribbling through with her favorite red pen. "I know a thing or two about seeing magic in the air. You seem to be in constant flux in your own brain. That can't be healthy."

  "I'm fine," Rachel insisted, though the information did trouble her. Fluctuations of magic in my brain?

  Before she could get Kendra to elaborate, the phone in the corner of the room practically flung itself off its cradle with a earsplitting ring. Kendra had a particularly old looking rotary-style phone, but it was strictly superficial. The electronics inside were as modern as could be. It was all a façade. Kendra was simply old-fashioned enough that she hadn't transitioned to cell phones entirely, though with her wealth she kept everything in the best quality, upgrading regularly.

  She picked up the receiver and muttered a few words that Rachel couldn't quite make out. Kendra was doing something to muffle her voice, she was sure of it. After a minute or so, she set the receiver down with a worried look on her face.

  "It was Will. Something's happening," she said abruptly.

  "Where?"

  "You'd better hurry. It's near the old library."

  Rachel stood up immediately. "Do I need anything?"

  Kendra latched shut Rachel's bag with the new materials she had purchased. She handed it over with a frown. "I don't expect so, but do be careful anyway, dear. We do still need you around."