Chapter 1
The arrival of Thaddeus wasn’t expected, but Victor took him to the back porch, a conversation not something he was entirely against. First impressions weren’t everything. Yet he still wasn’t comfortable. He was new magic, so different to Thaddeus’ old magic.
“The first thing I know I need to do is apologise, Victor. What I said before was uncalled for. Magic is magic.” Thaddeus sighed. “It’s unusual to have new arrivals.”
Easy to say. “Thaddeus, neither you or your brother have been welcoming. I believe in second chances, but…”
A short distance away, able to hear every word, stood Dante. Of course Father would give second chances to the man who’d insulted their family before there had even been an introduction. It was the kind of person he’d always been, to his own detriment.
“You’re giving this second chance on behalf of your family.”
At least he understood, Victor’s eyes still on the ground rather than Thaddeus, and it wouldn’t need to be explained.
“I can’t pretend my son will be happy. Dante… he doesn’t always agree with my choices.”
“Zachary is the one I can always rely on disagreeing with me.”
At least there was a subject they might be able to talk about without issues. “You have two sons, right?”
“Yes, and a daughter. Zachary, Titus, and Anne.”
“I have three sons. Matthew and Alexander are twins.”
“Anne has mentioned them a couple of times. From the ways she speaks I can tell she likes them, and it’s part of the reason I made the choice I did. I don’t want to come between them.”
“You care about your daughter.”
“She’s so much like her mother. It’s hard, sometimes.”
Matthew talked about Anne all the time, and how complicated her relationship was with Thaddeus. It seemed so easy for him to lie, although he’d never said the words – it was Victor who assumed. Of course a father cared for his children. Dante knew better.
“Parenting often is.” Victor studied Thaddeus. “You aren’t here to talk about our children.”
“No, I’m not. I’m here to invite you to join us for a ritual.”
Their eyes met. “A ritual?”
“With Emory, and, hopefully, Issac. I want you to meet everyone again, to become one of us.”
“After what you said before?”
“This will be a new start for all of us. Our families working together. Emory and I talked about it recently. Issac, I know, has nothing against you.”
“Why did you? I don’t think I can agree to this new start without understanding. The hatred…”
The hatred of those who were different. Anne and Matthew talked about it, with Matthew sharing what he learnt with his brothers. How those with old magic, like the Lockwoods, often looked down on those with new magics, like the Fitzgeralds. Anne didn’t. She accepted them easily.
“Was a remnant of old times. Something we both need to let go of. There are many stories I can share with you about those who taught us, when you have the time.”
“Like the Tyrells.”
“Once, and Marion’s father was someone I was very close to. His beliefs affected me.”
“Marion wasn’t?”
“She was never close to her father, and neither was Issac, in the end. It’s one of the reasons we connected.” Victor smiled. “What I don’t want is for that to get in the way of building something new.”
“With us?”
“Old magic combining with new magic.”
Pretty lies. Dante sighed. Thaddeus had another plan in mind.
“Words are easy, Thaddeus.”
“I know, which is the reason for the invite. We want to show you we mean them. One night to prove ourselves. That’s all I’m asking.”
“One night?”
“After that you can walk away if you want.”
“I think I’m willing to give you that one night, Thaddeus. Dante may not be, but I’ll talk him round, because we came here for a reason.”
“What was it?”
“Magic is very new to us, and I want Dante to be taught by someone who knows more than me. He deserves it. So do the twins.”
“If it goes well I’d be happy to take on Dante as a student. There are many lessons I can teach him.”
“Matthew and Alexander?”
“Emory and Issac are possibilities, although I may also talk with Zachary. Although he’s not as interested in magic as Titus he has other strengths.”
That wasn’t happening. Lessons from Thaddeus Lockwood? All the man cared about was power, not about people, and he wasn’t someone Dante would ever have chosen for a teacher. Victor, unfortunately, was still too hopeful. He wanted their future to be different.
“What kind of strengths?”
“Zachary loves gardening, and he’s a very skilled potion maker. Last we spoke he was looking more deeply in alchemy.”
More interesting than worrying. “He may be right for Alexander. I’d like to speak with him, get to know both your sons better.”
“I’d be happy for you to spend time with them. This, I believe, will be the start of something we both want.”
“I hope you’re right, Thaddeus. More than anything I’d love for this to become home, and for us to be friends.”
“Whatever happens I think that is possible.”
“In that case when is this ritual, and where do we need to be?”
“The night of the full moon, at our home, because I already have a space created for things like this. It’s something else I can share with you.”
“Ritual magic is very new to me.”
“Everything will be provided.”
Nothing to stop it going ahead, other than him. Dante rested his hands on his hips, going over everything in his head, because if they went to the Lockwood’s he had a feeling nothing would ever be the same again… and not in the way Father wanted. It would be worse.
“For all of us?”
“Yes, for all of you. The only thing you need to bring is your magic. When the night is over I’m certain everything will be better than before.”
“Thank you, Thaddeus. I appreciate this. You didn’t have to come here today.”
“It was necessary, to fix the damage.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to the ritual. You’re certain you don’t need anything.”
“Nothing at all. In time we may look into you bringing something, but for now I have everything.”
“In that case we’ll see you on the full moon. Let me know if anything changes.”