Casters

Chapter 13

Tory walked down the hallway, capturing the attention of the crowd. She was wearing her lavish black and red dress as she heard it was a grand meeting.

"Where are the Brotherhood, Jones?" Tory asked. The hallway was filled with the members of the Elemental Posse. Their young master has announced an urgent meeting.

"They are already coming, Tory," he replied, "you and the sisterhood may enter." He looked at her in confusion, "where is Stephan?"

"He has been sick ever since the battle with that wench," she hissed. "I'll never forgive them."

Jones shook his head and said, "pity, I say. I hope he gets well, soon. We do need him for the upcoming event."

"Event?" Tory asked. He nodded and continued, "the young master has finally decided to go with the plan."

Tory was surprised by this, "what do you mean? The plan wouldn't start until a week after the claiming ceremony, right?"

"You'll see, Tory," he said. He turned around to welcome the other member of the Elemental Posse.

She rolled her eyes and went inside. Sue came to her and whispered, "Young master has asked for your presence in the next room with Jones. He needs to talk to you before the meeting." Torry nodded and thanked her.

She walked across the room and entered the next room. The young master was inside, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "Tory..."

She genuflected and said, "Young Master, you asked for me."

"Yes, I have. I am sorry to hear about how Stephan is doing," he stated. Tory felt her hand hardened. "Also, before you and Jones sit alongside my throne, I would like to tell you about the plan."

"Yes, Master," she replied, "I heard we will carry on with the plan earlier than decided, is this true?"

"Yes, Tory. You, Fred, and Stephan will be the ones to lead the plan," he said, pacing back and forth.

"Are there any changes?" she asked.

"Not that I planned, but there are some... additional decisions I made for the big surprise," he smirked. "Where will you be at the time of the plan?" she asked. "Oh, I shall be with you, as well."

"I see, Master. When will this big surprise take place?"

He grinned and said, "On our dear chosen one's birthday..."

---

"Everyone, please take their seats," a shadowwalker exclaimed, "together we welcome the Young Master and the heads of the council!"

Everyone clapped their hands as the three entered. Thunders roared across the room, expressing their excitement for the big event. Tory and Jones sat down as the Young Master raised his glass to the Elemental Posse.

"Settle down, please," the Young Master smiled, with a mask on his face. "I am glad to hear everyone came today, except for our brother, Stephan." People frowned upon hearing this, some shook their head, pitying Stephan.

"We shall wish him a quick recovery after the incident."

He sat down and smiled, "however, we shall also celebrate today's meeting!" Everyone was whispering with excitement. The hall was filled with "I wonder what could be the good news!" "I do hope whatever is this would turn out successful!"

"Silence, please!" The shadowwalker exclaimed.

"Earlier this day, I have planned a grand surprise for our chosen one," he started to explain, "On her claiming ceremony, we shall leave her a gift. The most unforgettable one she would ever receive."

Thirty minutes after hearing the plan, everyone was in shock. The hallway was silent, trying to imagine the outcome of the ceremony.

I will finally get my revenge, Tory thought. They shall pay.

"The chosen one would be thrilled to see our grand gift. This also serves as a welcoming gift for our young chosen one upon arriving in France, of course," he then looked at Tory and motioned for her to speak. She stood up and took a deep breath.

"I am sure you all have heard the rumors regarding my reckless actions a few days ago. During that incident, the Grand Shadowwalkers and I have noticed how the chosen one has grown weak over the years. The grand surprise would be easier for us to handle as she does not recognize her own kind."

"Is the plan not taking place on the day of the chosen one's birthday? Is she not going to be stronger after she is claimed?" a shadowwalker asked. She shook her head and said,

"She may be stronger after the claiming ceremony, but she would be weak without further control of her powers," she answered.

"How? She is the oracle, and the moon caster," another asked.

"Our magic is not just about the level of strength our powers have," she explained, "it is also about control."

"For now, everyone,"  the Young Master interrupted, "we shall trust Tory's description of her encounter. Whether or not the chosen one recognizes her own kind, our plan will go well."

Everyone nodded and looked at each other. After further discussions within themselves, the Brotherhood of the Curse stood up and said, "we, the Brotherhood of the Curse, shall agree and carry on with the plan," holding up their cups.

The sisterhood stood up and said the same thing, bowing their heads.

Jones and Tory looked at each other, "May we always be guided."

"On the very same day," the Young Master continued, "Gideon shall finally receive the strength to escape from his prison."

"Finally!" The shadowwalkers exclaimed.

"Do not be mistaken, brothers and sisters,"  he said, "he shall receive the power and strength, but he still could not live without a vessel."

He motioned for Jones to bring in the glass box. "As soon as our chosen one opens the gate with her key," he said as Jones place the glass box for everyone to see, "Gideon shall finally escape from this crystal.

"We also thank our humans for bringing our chosen one closer to us," he smirked.

"Pathetic humans!" Shadowwalkers would shout, laughing at them, "no wonder why the Celestials never chose them. They are beyond stupid and pathetic."

"Now, now, fellow followers," the Young Master chuckled, "we wouldn't want to insult our dear baits after their help, correct?" The hall was filled with chuckles and laughter, but it soon died out after the doors of the hallway opened.

"Ah, it seems like our grand feast is finally about to begin!"  he exclaimed, "Everyone, hold out your cups and let us make our cheers for our new beginnings as Casters!"

"To new beginnings!" He said with a smile.

"To new beginnings!" the voices cheered. 

---

Tory went out of the room to go back to the Sisterhood's hall. "Where is the great Tory heading?" Jones said, catching up.

"Not now, Jones. I do not wish to converse with you today," she said, rolling her eyes. She took her steps quicker, attempting to lose him along the way.

He suddenly grabbed her arm and pushed her to the wall, "Come on, Tory. Don't tell me you don't miss me."

Tory pushed him aside and said, "I do not. Perhaps, you should go and visit that woman you cheated on me for."

Jones laughed and exclaimed, "Oh, come on! It was a mistake!"

Tory's eyes lit up and she cast her flames against Jones. "Pillars of the kingdom, protect!" he cast.

 "We are already evil enough, Jones. What you did was unforgivable," she sneered. She turned around and Jones pulled her back. He held her waist and kissed her neck.

"Come on, Tory. I miss you," he whispered, kissing her neck. "Unfortunately for you, I don't. Leave... me..." she held her breath and shouted, "ALONE!"

She summoned her flames around her, burning Jones' arm. "Ow! You witch!" he exclaimed after Tory as she ran away.

---

Tory finally arrived at her hall and she went inside her room. She sat by the dresser, letting out a loud sigh.

I'm awfully tired, she thought.

She opened her drawer and took out a box. She opened it to see a picture of her and her biological mother. She smiled and slowly sobbed. As she dug through the box, she started to cry. The box was filled with only pictures of her and her mother.

"I was only two years old when they took me away from you, Ma," she said, wiping her tears away. "I know you could never forget about me, but I know you barely even had pictures of me."

She held out a picture when she was a baby and her siblings were the ones carrying her. She was the youngest of them all.

"What am I thinking? Of course, none of you could have possibly remembered me," she whispered, wiping away her tears. "I know the Young Master erased all your memories about me. But why? Why am I still holding on, praying for you to remember me?"

She cried at the realization that she could never see them, especially her mother, ever again. Even if they would someday cross paths, she knew they wouldn't recognize who she was.

"On the chosen one's 18th birthday,"  she whispered, "I know I couldn't even see you then. I could never reach you in time..."

She eyed the bracelet her mother gave her as a baby. She sadly smiled at the memory. She dug through the box further and found some images of her mother and her family from afar. She took pictures of them at times she would cross paths with them.

She broke down and cried, "I will always love you, and I will never forget you, Ma.

I hope you forgive me, Mother Christen..."

---

"Where is Tory?" The Young Master asked Jones. He shrugged his shoulders and responded with "She left a few minutes ago."

Under the mask, Jones could sense the Young Master's look. "If you ever did something to Tory," he started, "you will end up in a battle with me."

Jones gulped and bowed his head, "understood, Master."

"Very well, Jones. Leave my sight," he said, motioning for him to leave.

I know how you are feeling, Tory, he thought, I should have erased those memories of yours when you were a baby. I could never do that, though.

He stood up and poured another glass to drink. He stared at the portrait and took a sip.

They are still family, after all.

"Young Master," a group of ladies called.

He turned to look at them, "yes?"

"The Sisterhood would like to thank you for guiding us to greatness and security. We are grateful for your guidance," they bowed. He chuckled and said, "please, do not thank me. We know this is for our own good as casters. Each one of us is doing our part for our own kind's greatness.

The rest of the Magic Realm should have thought twice about Gideon's principles. He only wanted what was best for our kind," he continued. The ladies nodded in reply. "We agree. It is not fair that we get to live in the shadows while the human realm thinks highly of itself. How ordinary and pathetic."

"Enjoy the feast, sisters. We shall celebrate until eve!" he said with a smile.

No one could see his face, but his tone says it all. 

---

Suddenly, there was a knock on Tory's room. She quickly opened it and it was the lady who was watching over Stephan.

"How is she doing, sister?" she asked.

"Quite well. However, we still had to continue things in the darkness. His eyes were very sensitive at a small amount of light," the lady replied. Tory sighed.

"I'm quite impressed on the caster's light spell," the lady continued, "he trained well. He used very powerful mixtures of magic. Fortunately for Stephan, his injury was not as threatening as it seemed."

 Tory's anger grew back. "Thank you, sister. Please continue to take good care of him," she said and bid her goodbye.

As young as 5, Stephan was the first person to welcome her with arms wide open, even as a child. They grew up together and looked after each other. In times of darkness, on caster battles, or on life, they were there for each other. He was family, not by blood, but by heart.

She eyed the box and returned it inside the drawer.

"I have no more family, except for you, Stephan," she whispered, "I lost my family once, and I would never lose another one again."

She looked at the mirror and took a deep breath, "they will pay."