Beyond, was a cold, clinical room that looked something like a surgery. Cecilia hated to think about what went on here.
‘Search every nook and cranny,’ Cecilia ordered, heading straight for a glass cabinet containing numerous glass vials. She pulled bottle after bottle down, but had no idea what it was she was searching for.
Xara concentrated hard, and duplicated herself as many times as possible. Each projection flickered in an unstable way, but they were able to assist in the search.
Kenneth made a beeline for the paperwork on the desk, shuffling through the notes while R?ven turned into her Mage-self and began to open drawers.
‘It’s got to be here somewhere,’ said Cecilia, after checking every single bottle. ‘Do we know what it’s called? What it looks like?’
No one answered. They had no clue what the cure looked like.
‘Are we even sure this cure exists?’ asked Kenneth, throwing various sheaves of parchment over his shoulder. ‘Is it a drink? An injection? A pill? What?’
‘Oh, it exists,’ said a voice in the doorway, ‘but you’re looking for the wrong thing.’
Cecilia’s head snapped up, and she stared at the man in the door. He was unfamiliar. He was a man in his fifties, with a black beard, which was flecked with grey. His eyes were cold and small, and his teeth were strangely long.
‘Who are you?’ Cecilia demanded. Judging by his expensive clothes, he was obviously a Realm employee.
‘My name is John Mackerville,’ he drawled in an American twang. ‘And I am … the cure.’
Cecilia detected no lie in his statement. She stared, slowly placing the vial she’d been holding on the counter.
‘You what?’ said Kenneth, dropping the paperwork he’d been holding. Xara and R?ven stood close to one another, watching John Mackerville apprehensively.
‘I can bring back lost memories,’ he said calmly, a smug grin on his face.
‘Well?’ Kenneth said, looking at Cecilia. ‘Is he?’
‘He isn’t lying,’ she confirmed.
‘Why did he reveal himself?’ Kenneth demanded. ‘Why tell us who you are?’ Flames appeared in Kenneth’s hands, and he took a step towards Mackerville.
‘Not so fast, Fire-Mage.’ Mackerville held up a hand to stop Kenneth. ‘You wouldn’t want to harm me, would you?’
‘Yeah? And why do you think that?’ Kenneth snarled.
Mackerville scoffed. ‘Clearly not a man of intelligence, I see. If you kill me, I won’t be able to restore your human’s memories.’
Cecilia and Kenneth shared confused glances.
‘Are you offering your help to us?’ asked Cecilia.
Mackerville grinned widely, showing every one of his long, yellow teeth. ‘Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, shall we? I believe we can strike a deal.’
‘A deal?’ said Cecilia. ‘What is it you want? We have gold-’
‘I don’t require gold,’ he said. ‘I have enough of that.’
‘Then what?’ Cecilia pressed.
‘I will help you bring back the memories of every single human taken by the Realm … in exchange for … Power.’
‘Power?’ Cecilia repeated. ‘How can we give you Power?’
‘You see, I am gifted with a unique ability. I can completely absorb a Mage’s Power, but I can only do it with permission. That is how I earned the Power to gift memory. An elderly Mage offered it to me on her death bed.’
‘A Power thief,’ growled Kenneth. ‘What happens to the Mage whose Power you absorb?’
‘They become Human,’ said Mackerville. ‘I take their Power completely.’
Cecilia blanched. ‘You want … you want to take our Power?’
‘Not all of you,’ Mackerville said, stepping inside the laboratory. ‘Just one will suffice. Power is a very valuable substance, you know?’
They all looked between each other. No Mage would ever give up their Power. It was who they were.
‘I’ll do it,’ R?ven whispered. All eyes snapped towards the girl.
‘R?ven, no!’ Kenneth said at once. ‘You are young. Let me.’
R?ven shook her head. ‘Mr. Mackerville, you may have my voice,’ she said, specifically. ‘I am a Siren, and can manipulate people with my vocals.’
‘How … interesting.’ Mackerville gave a devilish grin. Cecilia was suspicious. She could tell that R?ven spoke the truth when she offered her Power to Mackerville, but there was something she wasn’t telling him.
If R?ven only offered her voice to John Mackerville, would she retain her shape-shifting ability? After all, he said he could only take Power with a Mage’s permission.
‘Do you accept?’ asked R?ven softly.
‘A very desirable Power, indeed,’ said Mackerville, licking his lips. ‘I’d be more than happy to devour your voice, my sweet.’
‘How do we know you’ll keep your end of the bargain?’ asked Kenneth.
‘You have my word as a gentleman,’ he said, bowing slightly.
‘A gentleman that takes a sixteen-year-old girl’s Power?’ Kenneth said angrily.
‘I don’t see you volunteering your Power, Fire-Mage.’
Kenneth scowled, but did not retort.