The Havoc Chronicles (Book II): Unbound (6 page)

How frustrating!

“If you want, when we get home we can ask Mallika about it, but I don’t think there is much she is going to be able to do. I think at this point you’re going to have to deal with this as a relationship, not a problem with Binder powers.”

For the rest of lunch Josh continued to watch me from his table. Several times he caught me watching him back and motioned for me to come over. Each time I turned away, pretending I hadn’t seen him.

I left lunch early to make sure that I didn’t have another run-in with Josh. Rhys accompanied me to my locker to get my books for pre-calc. On the way, I saw Mrs. Abrams, my English teacher and the Drama coach plastering the walls with audition posters for the spring musical. I squealed when I saw what it was – Camelot. I had seen a production when I was much younger and had fallen in love with it. I even bought the Broadway soundtrack with Julie Andrews and Richard Burton.

Mrs. Abrams saw me peering over her shoulder and turned around, smiling at me.

“Are you going to try out, Madison?” she asked. “You are such a talented actress I would love to have you in the play. You should try out for Guinevere.”

I blushed deeply at the complement. I had been in most of the plays since I had been in high school, but they were generally minor parts. I had never had the confidence to try out for a lead role.

“I don’t know, Mrs. Abrams,” I said. “I’m really busy these days, and I’m not sure I can make that kind of commitment.”

“Well, you think about it,” she said. “I hope to see you at auditions this Friday after school.”

***

In the locker room while we changed for Gym class, Amy asked me about Josh.

“Are you and Josh back together?” she asked, her voice a whisper as she looked around surreptitiously.

“No,” I said. “What gave you that idea?”

Amy gave an exasperated sigh. “I know you don’t pay attention to the social happenings here, but you should at least be wired in on your own gossip.”

I shrugged. “That’s why I have you as a friend.”

Amy beamed. “Yeah, it is.” She leaned in close. “So the latest gossip is that Josh is trying to get back with you again. Everyone’s talking about how he’s gone back to his old self and invited you to sit with him at lunch. It’s like he’s been under a spell for the last several months and it was just broken.”

I tried very hard to keep my face smooth and not show the panic I was feeling. Amy was a little too close to the truth for my comfort. She just had it reversed.

“Ginger is livid,” Amy said.  “Which is understandable since I’m pretty sure she’s the witch who cast the spell.” She paused, an exaggerated expression of thoughtfulness on her face. “Maybe I’ve got my words confused. I think the word I’m looking for to describe her actually starts with a B.” 

“Speaking of,” I said. Ginger had just stormed in, her long red hair whipping around her, making her look even more fierce than usual. As she walked past she glared at me with an intense loathing that I hadn’t seen from her for months. Clearly the intimidation had worn off.

“Come on,” said Amy. “Let’s get out of here before she unsheathes her claws.”

***

After school Rhys took me back to the Berserker house so I could talk with Mallika. He wanted to give us some privacy, so he and Kara left to run errands, leaving Mallika and me alone. We sat in the kitchen, on the padded stools in front of the large island. Mallika had made herself a cup of tea, and me a mug of hot chocolate – she knew it was my favorite.

As I spoke, Mallika listened quietly without interrupting until I had told her everything. When I was done she tapped her teacup, looking thoughtful.

“The evidence continues to mount in support of you being both a Berserker and Binder.” Mallika sat up and took another sip. “My report to the council about your additional Binder abilities was met with skepticism. Most of the other Binders can’t decide if I’m going senile, or concocting some scheme to manipulate them. But this new development moves us beyond just the ability to see Binder work. The fact that you are a Berserker and cast a haze without being trained means that the magic is changing, something that hasn’t happened in a thousand years if not longer.”

“But why?” I asked. “Why would Berserker powers change after so long?”

“I don’t know that it’s the Berserker powers that are changing Madison. I think this situation is particular to you and is happening
because
of you.”

“Because of me?” I asked. “How can that be?”

“Because you are the child of a Berserker and a Binder, Madison. I believe that is what causes your powers to manifest differently than usual.”

“But my dad said that other children had been born to Berserkers and Binders and that there was no genetic link?”

Mallika nodded. “He did say that, and he is right – after a fashion. I have done some investigating and it seems to me that there was one variable that was missing in the other cases.”

I set down my mug. “What variable was that?”

“In the other cases where a child was born to a Berserker and Binder, there was never a death during the child’s teenage years.”

“What do you mean?”

Mallika cupped her hands around her tea. “There are only twelve Berserkers and twelve Binders at any given time. When one of them dies, another is chosen somewhere in the world. You already know this. The chosen is always a boy or girl in their early to mid teenage years. However, I discovered that in the cases of the other children of Berserker parents, there were no Berserker or Binder deaths while they were of age to receive the powers.

“It is entirely possible, and I would say even probable that the reason they never manifested powers like yours was because they missed their window of opportunity. By the time someone died and there was an opening, they were too old.”

“What about Josh?” I asked. “If I am a Binder and really did cast a haze on him is there anything I can do to fix it?”

Mallika smiled at me. “My child, your problem is not with the haze. From everything you told me, you cast the haze perfectly. All you have done is to remove the reason for your break-up with Josh. Think about it from his perspective. He can no longer remember why you stopped dating. His feelings are now untainted by the fear and pain of that night.” She reached out and put a comforting hand on mine. “It’s up to you to decide how you want to handle the situation. Do you want to go back to the way things were with Josh, or are there other, uh, older men who may interest you instead?”

I blushed, and the room suddenly felt very warm. Was I just a completely open book that everyone could read, or was I cursed to be surrounded by exceptionally perceptive people?

Mallika stood and cleared our dishes. “Be happy Madison, not everyone is as loved as you are.”

I knew there was truth in what she said, but somehow that didn’t make my situation any easier.

***

As the week progressed Josh remained persistent. He left flowers in front of my locker, tried to walk with me between classes – which, since we didn’t have any classes together, was rather difficult and caused him to be late for his own classes several times – and every day at lunch repeated his invitation to sit with him. He hadn’t yet tried to sit with me and Rhys, but I wouldn’t have put it past him.

I know there are girls who love to be chased. I wasn’t one of those girls. While it was extremely flattering that Josh wanted me back, the net result was a massive spike in my stress level. I had difficulty sleeping – a rarity for me – and couldn’t concentrate on my Berserker training. Rhys and I still practiced most days after school, but I felt like I had reached a plateau and wasn’t getting any better.   

Finally, on Thursday afternoon after a particularly mediocre sparring session in which Rhys repeatedly poked holes in my defense, I had an epiphany.

I wanted to be in the play.

Not just wanted – I
needed
to be in it. In the middle of all this stress, I needed to find something that was for me. Not for anyone else, not for the Berserkers, not for Rhys, or Josh, but me. I remembered how good it felt to be part of the cast and bond with the other actors. It was something I enjoyed, and I desperately needed something enjoyable in life right now.  

I was going to try out for the play.

When I told Rhys, I thought he would object and tell me I should focus on my Berserker training and not waste my time on frivolous pursuits. I wouldn’t have blamed him because that was exactly what the voice of duty was saying inside my head. Shouting was more like it. Like an angry drill sergeant, or worse – those guys who sell kitchen appliances on infomercials.

Instead he raised an eyebrow, but wisely did not try to talk me out of it. He took a moment and looked at me – I mean really looked at me. The kind of look that made my heart race, my face flush, and caused other embarrassing physical reactions.

“If it means that much to you then you should do it,” he said. “It might be good for you. You haven’t been yourself lately and maybe this will help.”

I reached out and gave him a hug. “Thank you,” I said.

“For what?”

“For understanding me.”

***

Dad, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as understanding.

“The Berserkers are out there hunting for Osadyn and instead of improving your skills, you want to be in a play?” he asked. “Is that really where your priorities are?”

I felt the beginnings of a spectacular fight brewing. Dad and I didn’t fight often, but what we lacked in quantity we made up for in quality. I could already tell that this one was going to be one for the Montgomery family history books.

But before I could work up a good righteous indignation at Dad’s comment, Rhys stepped in. He pulled Dad into his office and closed the door behind them.

I didn’t want to eavesdrop, but I was upset, solidly in pre-zerk state. My hearing was too good to not hear them through the door, so I went onto the back porch and sat on a rocking chair, trying to calm down.

When Dad and Rhys came out ten minutes later, Dad looked slightly sheepish and pulled me in for a hug.

“I’m sorry, Madison,” he said. “If this is something you really want to do then you should do it. You have my full support.”

It took all my effort not to let my jaw drop in surprise. Dad backed down on this? I looked over at Rhys, but he was carefully studying a lone bird hopping from branch to branch in the tree above. I didn’t know what he had said to Dad, but I wanted him to teach that trick to me.

I squeezed Dad tight. “Thanks, Dad. You don’t know how much this means to me!”

Dad pulled back and looked slightly embarrassed. “That’s true. I didn’t know how much it meant to you, and I should have. I’ve been so worried about you being a Berserker that I’ve forgotten that you’re still a teenage girl. I’ll do better in the future. I’m sorry.”

***

During school Friday, I convinced Amy to try out with me. She had been in plays with me before and it was always more fun when she was part of the cast.

“I don’t want a big part,” she said. “Just a nice bit part that doesn’t require much in the way of skill or talent – preferably non-speaking so I don’t have to memorize any lines. Unless there’s a kissing scene in this?”

That was my Amy.

***

Auditions were held in the auditorium right after school. Amy came to try out and Rhys tagged along for support – plus he was my ride home. During auditions, Mrs. Abrams typically asked each student to read an excerpt from the play. Those who were auditioning for major parts were also supposed to come prepared to sing a song. It didn’t have to be from Camelot, but the audition announcement clearly stated that it would be to our advantage if we preformed one of the songs our part would sing.

 I read a scene from Act two as Guinevere and Garry Crean read the part of King Arthur. I felt myself settle into the role of Guinevere and the words came easily for me. I felt alive and exhilarated. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed being on the stage. It was liberating to take on another persona, even if it was just for a few minutes.

Then Josh walked into the auditorium.

What was he doing here? Josh was a jock and never even came to any of the plays, let alone attended the auditions. Apart from required assemblies, I didn’t think I had ever seen him in the auditorium before.