Chapter Seven

I considered maybe it was Talia, but the feeling didn't disappear when I passed Darwin's rose garden. When I looked behind me, I couldn't see anyone immediately, aside from someone on a bicycle several meters behind me who stopped at a tree across from Darwin's house.

I continued running, picking up the pace to outrun that feeling until I was sprinting. But the feeling never left, and it got heavier until I could hear someone behind me.

The person on the bike was following me.

I growled in annoyance as I sprinted for a large tree on the side of the road, the sound of petals and wheel trinkets clicking behind me, as I hopped over the roots and hid on the other side of the trunk. The bike rider approached the tree and was forced to dismount his bike because of the roots. I heard him step over some of the roots, other times just crushing it under his weight. I closed my eyes, steadied my breathing and pressed my palm against the tree, feeling the strange heartbeat of the large oak and the sensation of fresh dirt and air on its branches and roots. I could see the outline of someone approaching me, edging closer and closer around the tree to see where I went.

I opened my eyes, picked up a loose tree branch by my foot, and emerged, swinging my weapon at the stalker. A boy yelped in surprise as my stick knocked him off his feet. "Why are you following me?" I snapped, holding the branch up, ready to beat him. He was a short boy, wearing a bright red and white flannel and worn jeans, and despite the patches of dirt on his arms and clothes, he had gentle brown eyes and adorable clusters of freckles on his cheeks.

"Truce, truce, I'm sorry!" He held his hands up to protect himself from my branch. "I've never seen you before. I got curious."

I dropped the branch, blowing some loose strands of my hair from my eyes. "You scared me," I informed, holding a hand out to the boy. He took it, and I helped him up. He was the same size as me.

He didn't let go of my hand, the helpful gesture immediately turning into another handshake. "I'm Eric," he introduced.

I couldn't escape his introduction as I let him shake my hand, "Anya."

His palm was sweaty, so I wiped my hand on my pants as he retrieved his hat I had knocked off his head. He looked like a classic farmer but young. "There are better ways to meet a person," I said, folding my arms, "You could've just said hello." That's what literally everybody else has been doing.

"I'll remember that for next time." He put his hat on, hiding most of his brown mop of hair, as he gave me an overly cheerful smile. "I take it you're new."

"You and everyone else." I didn't want to sound dismissive, but I wanted to get back to the cottage. "Nice meeting you, Eric. I'll see you around." I turned to continue running, ignoring his attempts to gain my attention as I started running.

Moments later, Eric was beside me, matching my slow speed with his bike. "Do you need a lift somewhere?" he asked, looking up and down the dirt pathway.

"No."

"You sure? It's no trouble. I have some petals on the back of my bike you could stand on." I took a quick glance and saw them on his back wheel.

"I'm fine."

He nodded. "Alright." He didn't leave me alone; he continued to follow me.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" I puffed.

Eric was fighting a laugh. "Then watch some new girl turn into a tomato? Nope."

I wanted to shove him off his bike but didn't have the energy to do so. "So where are you from?" he asked, "I was born here, and I'm gonna be a farmer like my Dad. He rides horses to get to our sheep flock in the fields."

I ignored him, hoping he would leave me alone. When I didn't answer, he filled the silence himself, guessing I was from the city, or not from the country, because otherwise, I would ride everywhere instead of running. "My Ma told me there weren't any new families moving in, so who are you living with then?" He seemed to get excited, "Are you a Farm Hand like me?"

I gritted my teeth to keep running, "No. I'm an apprentice."

"Who's apprentice?"

"Theodore Doldrum's…"

I felt like I was going to be sick and was forced to slow down. I heaved over, leaning on my knees to catch my breath. Eric didn't anticipate my sudden stop and brought up a cloud of dust from the dirt road as he waited for me. I coughed as I tried to slow my breathing without success.

He hopped off his bike and walked over to me. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

I wiped the sweat from my brow and shook my head, "You really don't have to."

"I know where Mr Doldrum lives. If you keep running like that all the way there, you're going to faint," he informed. His face was plastered with a smile. I so desperately wanted to slap him.

"I'll be fine."

"Well, you can't stop me," he replied, mounting his bike but not moving.

I was still panting, and my legs started to feel jelly-like. "You're not serious?"

"I'm just on a bike ride." Eric was really annoying me.

I rolled my eyes as I started walking, resting my hands on my hips as I arched my head to the sky. It was a bright day with no clouds. Eric began doing circles around me from how slow I was going. I closed my eyes to try and ignore him, allowing the warmth of the sun to overpower the heat of me running too fast. It wasn't a nice mix, but I just wanted Eric to go leave me alone.

His nasal voice continued to remind me he was still there. "I don't mind, Mr Doldrum. He sometimes comes into town and shows everyone magic tricks," he said.

I opened one of my eyes at hearing this. Based on what I've seen, I doubted they were simple magic tricks. "He's like the special medicine man in our town. When our usual pharmacist can't do anything, his remedies usually work."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Just making conversation," he said, "That and he's so cool!" I was getting tired of listening to Eric rave on about how amazing the man who yesterday bought me for five million dollars was. When he had finished looping around me, I started running again. Surprised, he followed, "Hey! Wait up!"

*

I misjudged Eric.

He was far more annoying than I thought.

But he was funny annoying, like a little brother who wants to act cool around his older siblings' friends. Strangely, he reminded me of my little brother.

When the cottage came into view, relief filled me and gave me the last bout of strength I needed to sprint towards the front gate. "Bye, Eric!"

He didn't follow me into the front garden, but he waited by the brick fence as I ran to the front door, opened it and slammed it closed. Ignoring a confused Gaelle, I ran into the living room and peered between the curtains. He stood there awkwardly for a moment before continuing down the road on his bike.

"What're we looking at?" Theodore asked.

His lack of presence frightened me as I dropped the curtain and looked up to him. "Some guy followed me back to the cottage," I said, double-checking he wasn't still out there.

"Ahh yes, Eric Mason," he said as Eric reappeared to go back towards town.

"He followed me from town," I grumbled, sinking to the floor and sitting. My cheeks still burned, and I felt a headache forming behind my eyes. Gaelle kneeled to me with a glass of liquid in her hands; she offered it to me. It was fizzy in my mouth and tasted sweet, I couldn't guess what it was, but it soothed my headache quickly. I skolled it down within a minute.

"You came back later than I thought," Theodore informed, returning to his respected armchair. "I finished three crosswords while you were away."

Gaelle raised an eyebrow, clearly knowing something I didn't, as she took my empty cup and left the room. "I'll give you a moment to rest," Theodore said, "But then we're heading out again."

My breathing managed to calm, but my heartbeat still throbbed. "Where are we going?" Gaelle returned with a glass of water, which I drank with equal desperation.

"To meet a friend," Theodore informed, "They'll be able to help set you up for the time being. Magic retardants, charms, books, jewels exedra. It'll also be a good learning excursion."

Gaelle pulled me to my feet, and I sat down on the lounge. "How are the common folk then?" he asked, leaning forwards.

I shrugged, "Very chatty…" I confessed, "I met Abagail Marshall, an older man named Darwin, a creature named Talia and then my stalker Eric."

When I lifted off the names, they were met with a familiar nod. "If you meet Darwin, you'll meet Talia." Gaelle placed a tea set in front of us, the teapot spitting out steam. "She goes wherever he goes."

I picked up a crumpet Gaelle had set out. "What was she?" I asked, "I mean, she told me she was a former servant of an Abere, but I didn't understand what that meant."

Theodore took a moment to drink some tea before sighing happily and saying, "An Abere is a demoness, usually portrayed as wild-looking women. They're mainly found in Asian countries and areas because they usually reside within marshes and wetlands. An Abere will have anywhere from four to twelve servants to help them carry out certain tasks without question."

"What kind of tasks?" Gaelle poured me some tea and encouraged me to drink it.

My owner hesitated, leaving the teacup at his lips but not drinking anything. He eventually placed it down and said, "Not all fantastical creatures are kind, Anya, and you have to understand they don't know any better, or this is their way of life." He placed his cup back on the coffee table. "And humans are the easiest source of energy for most creatures. Most of you don't possess enough power to fight back, nor do you understand what may be attacking you." Gaelle poured some more tea. "An Abere and her servants will display themselves as helpless women in the marshes to draw them in. When someone gets too close, they wrap their prey in reeds, completely immobilising them. Once they're trapped, an Abere will devour her victim while her servants feed off her power."

I gulped the last of my tea, imagining the cold feeling of reeds on my arms as they forced me to sink into the marshes. "It plays on people's concern?"

Theodore nodded, "Simplified, yes. Talia was a servant to one of them. It's tough to get out of a contract like that."

"How did she get out then?" I asked.

"Her Abere died," he stated plainly, "Meaning she was a wondering ex-Abere servant. Destined to be aimless until she latches onto someone else to serve."

I tilted my head, "She serves Darwin?"

Theodore nodded.

"But he can't see her or even feel her."

Theodore nodded again. "Without an official master, she will be nothing more than a presence. A shadow of an entity that only those who possess proper Sight will see." Gaelle poured him some more tea. "I imagine you didn't just see Talia during your run, did you?"

I shook my head. "I saw this weird turtle lizard thing with mushrooms and moss and grass on its back."

"Interesting…" he murmured, leaning back in his chair. "I'd like for you to start bringing a notepad around with you. It'll be much easier for me to explain to you what you saw if you can draw it."

"Why, what was it?" I asked.

He shrugged, "No clue. I have no idea what you saw."

I felt myself blush as I looked down at my empty cup. "Is there some spare paper I may use?"

He turned to Gaelle, "Would you be able to find some spare notepads for Anya?" he requested.

She nodded, placing the teapot on the table and exiting the room.

I rocked back and forth in my chair. "Everyone was singing your praises when I told them I was your apprentice," I said.

He lifted his gaze, "Is that so?"

I nodded. "Said I was lucky to be your apprentice. That you're a miracle worker and a medicine man."

He shrugged, "Medicine is human magic."

"How doesn't anyone know you're a mage?"

He cleared his throat. "When you look at me, Anya, what do you see? Be honest?"

I saw a white young man dressed in dark colours when I looked at him, making him look pale yet somehow glow. His eyes were a bright red, simultaneously making him look fierce but kind. "I see someone mirroring a human being so well, but bits of themselves just couldn't be hidden."

He laughed at my description and nodded, "You're not wrong," he agreed, "But the keyword in that description is human. In a world where you're taught magic doesn't exist, your first thought of me wouldn't be 'Mage!'"

"But you do use magic on people," I stated.

He nodded again. "On products that I give them. Sleeping remedies, fever reducers, certain luck-oriented products," he confessed, "But everything comes from human established things. I never just blatantly walk up to someone, touch their forehead and say, 'You are now healed!'"

"Could you, though?"

"Oh definitely, if anything, it's much more hilarious when I do that," he said, "Though I usually go overseas to do that, never locally."

Gaelle returned, giving me a wide array of colourful covered notebooks. "I get that you're not human, but what are you then?" I asked.

Gaelle looked to see his reaction to my question, both of us waiting for an answer.

"Hopefully, something you will never have to see, my dear," he ominously stated as he stood up. On the way past, he rubbed my head. "We leave in half an hour."