Prophecy Breakers (Excerpt)

Lisette is wandering around the lake at the base of the lodge. The sun is high in the sky and the water sparkles in a reassuringly nonmagical way. She breathes deep and leans against a tree next to a stream flowing away from the lake. There is a modest wooden bridge over the stream. The path on either side of it is packed dirt, clean of leaves and twigs but otherwise surprisingly utilitarian compared to the ostentatious lodge. Lisette closes her eyes and leans her head against the tree, soaking up the sun dappling her face. Someone jogs down the path that snakes into the woods beyond the lodge and the lake, coming closer to Lisette. She turns around and sees Jeremiah in casual sweats and a crop-top, her short hair plastered to her forehead with sweat, her breathing heavy and her cheeks flushed. She slows to a stop near Lisette and starts some cool-down stretches a couple feet away, facing the lake. Lisette closes herself off but looks nervous like she wants to start a conversation.

JEREMIAH

You aren't doing the spa stuff with the rest of the wedding party?

Lisette startles but relaxes as Jeremiah continues to stretch, eyes on the lake and not facing her.

LISETTE

Well, no. It's not really my cup of tea. You aren't doing it either?

JEREMIAH

Naw, I don't need mud baths and seaweed wraps to look this good.

Lisette blushes and giggles nervously. Silence descends on them like a comforting blanket as they both relax in each other's company. Jeremiah finishes her stretches and settles on a nearby bench, rolling her head back to look over at Lisette and raises a questioning eyebrow. Lisette looks down demurely and comes over to sit next to her, knees together, hands on her lap, biting her lip.

JEREMIAH

You okay there, Hometown, with all the-

Jeremiah waves a hand vaguely at everything.

LISETTE

I mean, I wasn't. I was really not okay with it but even though I'm terrified I can deal. I can handle it for Hennie.

JEREMIAH

You're terrified? Of magic?

Jeremeiah flares her fingers, a spark dancing over them until it gets too close to Lisette and it jumps to her skin and burrows in. Lisette flinches away, hunching her shoulders and Jeremiah retreats her hand.

JEREMIAH

That is odd.

LISETTE

You think?

JEREMIAH

At least you can leave it all behind I guess, after the wedding.

LISETTE

Not really. My parents sold the farm. They left to retire in Florida. Nothing left for me in Unfortunate.

JEREMIAH

So you turned to Hennie. And of course she'll take you in. She wouldn't be Hennie if she didn't. And that Monica is as mothering as all get out so she won't object in the least, but are you sure it's good for you?

LISETTE

What's that supposed to mean?

JEREMIAH

If you're terrified of magic maybe staying with a couple of witches isn't the best idea. Especially them, Monica is the Hub you know? No, you wouldn't actually. Monica is known throughout the magical community as being someone who knows everyone and can get you anything. She is the hub of magical information. They have different witches in and out of their place all the time. It's something her family has always done. That's how they built their wealth.

Jeremiah looks up at the lodge towering behind them and Lisette follows her gaze.

LISETTE

When you say it like that I'm almost convinced it is a bad idea but I can handle it for Hennie.

JEREMIAH

You shouldn't have to live somewhere you can just barely stand.

LISETTE

It's not the magic! I, I'm still learning. It can be kinda pretty, can't it?

Jeremiah conjors an ember at the tip of her finger and the smoke that drifts up becomes a dancing woman.

JEREMIAH

(Deadpan)

I mean, I'm terrified right now, I don't know about you.

LISETTE

I guess I'm not so scared of all magic as the idea that I had no idea. How do you hide that? What else have I missed?

JEREMIAH

Nah, don't be like that. Witches have been hiding for centuries and no one's been any the wiser. I had no idea before I was told either. My mentor, she was a character, she was looking for an apprentice and saw something in me. Interrupted me in the middle of practicing with a bone saw and I cut her arm wide open. She fixed it up in a second. So my first magic was healing though I didn't stop there. I like to be well rounded.

LISETTE

That's fascinating and all but what were you doing with a bone saw?

JEREMIAH

Hennie never told you?

LISETTE

She didn't talk about you much, or anything that must have been related to magic now that I think about it.

JEREMIAH

I was studying to be a doctor. Got my EMT certification before I dropped out to pursue magic.

LISETTE

Wouldn't that be frustrating? To know you could heal someone with magic but not be able to do it?

JEREMIAH

Well that's not why I quit medical school but it's a good point. I wasn't happy where I was, nothing was interesting me like it did when I started. Magic- it gave me so much more to learn. It's an art and a science and a religion to some. There's always something to learn or invent.

LISETTE

It sounds almost appealing when you say it like that. I don't think I can use magic, I couldn't use the sigil Hennie showed me.

JEREMIAH

What sort of sigil? You couldn't use it at all?

LISETTE

It was something for helping me rest easy I think. I couldn't make it glow, it just exploded.

JEREMIAH

But that's- That's impossible.

LISETTE

Well, you learned something new I guess.

JEREMIAH

You're certainly a fascinating puzzle, Hometown.