"Justin? How are you—?" Juliette's voice was confused and panicked, and Justin felt about the same way.
"I saw Alex and you guys go into the woods, so I followed you." Justin didn't look at her, but at Alex, who was sneering.
"What do you mean, I'm wrong?"
Justin held firm, for once forcing his hands to remain still. No fidgeting. "There are more important things than power."
"Yeah? Like what?" Pain shot through Justin at the harshness in his friend's tone.
"Like— like friendship. And love, and laughter—"
Alex burst out laughing. "You sound like some cheesy romance novel. Or Dumbledore or someone stupid like that."
Justin heard Penny gasp from behind him, and he flushed. "Well, maybe I do, but at least I'm not hurting my friends."
Alex's laugh was incredulous. "Friends? None of you are my friends. You're all weak. Penny's a coward and a nerd, Juliette, you're a jerk and a know-it-all, and Justin— why was I even friends with you in the first place? You're so annoying."
Tears pricked at the backs of Justin eyes. Alex doesn't mean those things. But did he?
To the side, a familiar voice spoke. "Justin, come with us. I can bring you to our headquarters, all of you."
Justin turned, and his heart plummeted. No. No way. It can't be, not here, not now.
There was Mrs. Proditor, his teacher for the last few months. But now Justin recognized her as someone else, someone he hadn't seen in years but for in dreams.
"Mom?"
She gave him a pained smile. "Hello, Justin."
***
Seeing her sent mixed emotions spinning through Justin. Anger. Fear. Happiness. Pain.
Memories, too, coursed through his mind. Time spent with his mother, father, brother as a child.
And of course, the day his mom left.
Despite Justin's youth when it happened, he could still clearly see it in his mind's eye. He had lied to Alex all those months ago when telling Alex his secret. He remembered everything.
Justin remembered the darkness that had entered her body, the black of her eyes. How all of them— Justin, Nathan, and their father— had watched in frozen horror as she yelled horrible things before leaving, all of them too scared to say anything.
When Justin grew older, he researched the Malum and the darkness that seemed to possess people and change them. What he learned filled him with shame.
This darkness, the remnants of Malum magic used, could only take over those who had the capacity to join the Malum, something inside making them susceptible to that darkness. It would enter the body through the nose or mouth, and twist their personality.
They would be the same person, and be completely aware of it, but have a sick pleasure from the increase in their power and a desire to hurt others. And of course, it turned the eyes of the person to solid black throughout.
But this condition was reversible, Justin had learned. If someone close to the affected person, someone who knew them well, loved them, then they would turn back the darkness. It was difficult, but it could be done.
YOU ARE READING
Magicae
Fantasy[COMPLETED] The Magicae are among us. They always have been there, looking and acting the same as us, but with one difference. They are magic. Now, with the evil society known as the Malum rising once again, the three prophesied Fabulosa must make t...
