“Got it.” Layla swooped in quickly, telekinetically catching the coffee cup and hot liquid inside, then delicately moving it back to Campbell’s grasp. “Some people can be so clumsy. Certainly, not the impression you’d want to make in an important meeting.”
“Thank you, Layla.” Campbell sipped her drink, eyes smiling before turning sour and shooting daggers at the helpful intern. “But don’t presume to know what impressions I intend to make during my meetings. Go file something or scare one of the useless acolytes into thinking your position holds some type of merit. I don’t need you for this meeting.”
Layla shivered, keeping the dread that flooded her veins hidden with a blank expression. “Of course, Guild Master Campbell.”
“Goodbye.” Campbell shooed Layla and Amani away before tilting her head to direct Katherine and Tia ahead.
Once out of sight from Campbell’s attention, Layla glared. Her mind swirled with so many obscenities for her fellow interns that I could barely hear any other thoughts.
After Campbell stepped inside her office with the girls and closed her door, the minds of everyone else quieted. The wards shielding her privacy definitely dampened my telepathy, but didn’t block it. My branch had grown far too powerful for standard cloaks and barriers.
“And who do we have here?” Cassidy Gardner asked, sending a heat of irritation coursing through me. So much so, it almost reeled my mind back to the Global Guild detainment center where I worked, but curiosity and concern kept me locked onto the meeting.
By day, Cassidy ran the prolific nightclub Gwendolyn’s Guns & Gals, but by night, she funneled illegal enchantments throughout the city, having inherited her family’s crime organization. Campbell setting aside time to meet with the crime lord could only mean Cassidy had finally gained enough clout to be considered a viable contributor for guild funding.
I recoiled. The idea of her working as a board member, a private donor, or an elite client each made my stomach twist into knots. It was bad enough that Milo turned to her on occasion when working on his investigations.
“Please, sit.” Campbell gestured to Katherine and Tia, directing them to join the meeting as opposed to merely standing on the outskirts.
Katherine loosened her nervous grip on her grimoire and went to put it back in the holster on her hip.
“A tome that old must have quite a few fascinating outlawed spells.” Cassidy’s eyes lit up with intrigue.
“There could be some written text not permitted for practice, but I assure you there’s nothing outlawed in spell craft literature, merely the—”
“Summoning of unsanctioned spells,” Cassidy interjected. “Yes, I have quite an understanding of the enchantment doctrine of authority and usage. They’d have you believe their chokehold on casting is firm, but I’ve found the grip is rather loose.”
“Says everyone right before the noose tightens.” Campbell smirked, sipping her coffee.
“And you, what enchantment magic do you possess?” Cassidy turned her attention to Tia, who flicked her gaze between Cassidy’s lips and the assistant signing.
Tia signed her response and then squeezed the necklace that tracked her spell-casting progress, as opposed to the newly acquired Cast-9-Watch every other student received.
Name: Tatiana Owens
Branch: Enchantment (Invocation)
I smirked. That tiny little jab was directed toward Campbell, as Tia learned working as her intern, the guild master held a tight leash on all the funding that passed through Gemini Academy. It meant every other student got the new tech to track their casting progress, while Tia needed to make do with her legally required accommodation because the board of officials couldn’t possibly pay to update her technology.
“She says that her branch is related to the enchantment class, yes,” the assistant translated for Tia, already avoiding the commentary meant to take a crack at Campbell. “And she says that her specific enchantment branch is invocation, which allows—”
“Allows her to speak spells into existence.” Cassidy waved dismissively, not requiring the definition of the magic, but finding Tia’s ability to sign spells fascinating as, like most of us, the only invocation enchantment magic she’d seen came from vocal language users.
“Just translate what she says,” Campbell said, eyeing her assistant. “No need to express she’s the one saying it. We won’t mistake any commentary for your personal insight since you have none at this meeting or, quite frankly, ever.”
Damn. I couldn’t tell if that was supportive or cutting. On the one hand, she elevated Tia’s voice in this meeting. On the other hand, she just announced her PA of five years had nothing of value to say.
“Based on my line of work, some people are better just seen, and nothing else.” Cassidy smiled, placating as if the only work she involved herself in was in relation to the burlesque shows her elegant club put on. If that were remotely true, Campbell wouldn’t have a sit-down meeting with the undercity boss.
It might’ve escaped Katherine and Tia’s understanding, but I very much knew why Campbell invited those two into the meeting while excluding the other girls. They possessed enchantment branches, and Cassidy ran an illegal enchantment ring, selling black market spells to the common folk who couldn’t afford government-issued magical assistance or legal practicing rights.
I rolled my eyes as Milo’s thoughts on the subject infiltrated my own. He vehemently believed Cassidy cared for people and sold these products to help those who couldn’t afford other options. In his mind, she was some type of Robin Hood-style witch out to help the masses. But I saw Cassidy for who she was: a social climbing, money-hungry mob boss who exploited the desperate and poor to build a throne on their pain and anguishin the undercity of Chicago, which she sought to rule. Milo had to see her as the lesser of evils, given the many horrors his magic showed him every day, and the friendship he still carried for Cassidy from their time together at Gemini Academy.
“Now, before we dive into business,” Cassidy said, retrieving a small napkin-sized enchantment from her purse. “I’d like to ensure complete discretion.”
“I assure you, we have plenty of privacy.” Campbell gestured to her useless wards lining the walls.
“Humor me, will you?” Cassidy asked, handing off the napkin to Tia. “Perhaps one of your interns could activate the spell.”
