Potent

With hard, swift strokes, Gemini swept away the dirt and dust into a neat pile. The work had almost made forget her the last time she and Valentine spoke. Almost.

She swept up the pile, wanting to distract herself but knowing that it wouldn’t work. She couldn’t help wondering if Valentine was only acting to be cruel and harsh. Then she shook her head. No, if he was only acting, he wouldn’t enjoy being cruel.

Sighing, she grabbed her broom and moved to the next room, which happened to be a room she’d never been in before. The oddest sound reached her ears. A harp. Gemini gently knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

She went rigid. Valentine was in there. Was he playing the harp? Despite her fear, she slowly walked inside.

It must have been Valentine’s office because papers, books, quills, and inkwells were strewn all over the room. Valentine himself sat in the center of the room plucking and strumming a large harp, which was surprisingly bigger than him. He glanced up at her. “You’re here to clean?”

“Yes, Lord Valentine.”

He paused his song and snapped his fingers. All of his things flew into place on a polished, wood desk. Then he continued. Gemini began to sweep around the room. As she did, she noticed a large book open on his desk. Quickly, she glanced up to make sure Valentine wasn’t watching her. She read the first page:

Valentine Eames’-son was born on the third day of the third month. His parents were Eames Dymory’s-son and Clara Adaline’s-daughter. His brothers were Arthur Eames’-son and Gregory Eames’-son. His sister was Anne Clara’s-daughter.

At age eight, Valentine’s home village was attacked and burned by a rogue group of Masterminds who called themselves the Elite. All of Valentine’s family were killed by the Elite. Valentine himself was captured and taken to the underground city the Elite had created for themselves.

It was there that he learned to practice magic and soon to become the new Mastermind of that field. He then found out--

“You’re supposed to be cleaning.”

Gemini jerked her head up from the book. Valentine leaned over the desk, supporting himself with one hand. She backed away. She hadn’t even noticed that he stopped playing.

“I’m so sorry, I was just reading--”

Valentine rolled his eyes and waved his hand at the book, causing it to close.

“Read when you don’t have work to do. And don’t go snooping around this room.”

“I-I won’t, my lord.” Gemini snatched her broom and immediately went back to sweeping.

To her surprise, he left the room, slamming the door shut. She blinked. He told her not to snoop, then he left her alone in the room he told her not to snoop in. Was he testing her?

Gemini cleaned the room as fast as she could, before the temptation to read that book won out. She loved books and half finishing one always had her bursting with curiosity. Finally, unable to suppress the urge any longer, she went over the book. “The History of the Masterminds,” she whispered to herself. She stared at the cover, memorizing every detail so that she could spot it again. She desperately wanted to take it back to her room and read it. But Valentine would find out and have her cut up for firewood. Maybe if she didn’t steal it but asked him nicely…

Gemini tore herself away from it and went to clean the other rooms. For the first time, she almost felt excited. Maybe staying here wouldn’t be so bad if she had some books to read.

A week later, Gemini returned to clean Valentine’s office again. She hadn’t forgotten The History of the Masterminds. But she couldn’t seem to muster the courage to ask him if she could borrow it.

When she came in, the room was empty. All of his things were strewn about again. Gemini bit her lip, wondering what to do. Maybe she should skip his office and come back to it later?

Someone behind her snapped their fingers. She started to turn around but she saw all the pens, papers, inkwells, books, and other assorted items fly off the floor. Even though it was the second time it happened, she couldn’t quell her surprise. Valentine stood behind her, the same expressionless face glaring at her.

“Thank you, my lord,” Gemini murmured, trying not to give away her unease.

He walked past her and inside his office without a word. She wondered if that meant he was in a good mood or a bad one. Nevertheless, she swept his room again, seeing him shelve books out of the corner of her eye. He was still shelving when she finished cleaning the room.

Gathering every atom of bravery she had, Gemini spoke.

“My lord, may I ask you something?” She hoped she sounded respectful.

“Depends on what it is.”

Good, maybe he was in a good mood.

“My lord, may I borrow a book of yours?” Gemini commanded herself not to cross her fingers.

Valentine turned to her, making her feel like he didn’t like the question. “Not for very long--I’ll read it when I’m done with my work--I’ll take care of it like it was my own--”

“Have you ever read a book?” His face was back to it’s exasperated but arrogant state.

She blinked. Gemini hadn’t expected that answer.

“Yes, I’ve read one, my lord. But not for a long time.”

He put down a stack of books with a sigh that sounded like a groan.

“What book?”

Gemini opened her mouth to speak but he silenced her by glaring at her. “Give me the title and nothing else.”

“The History of the Masterminds,” Gemini said, obediently.

Valentine gave her a look but moved a few shelves down and to the left. He pulled out the same green and leather book and handed it to her. Nearly glowing with excitement, Gemini took it from him, unable to contain a smile as she stared at the cover again. She glanced up and Valentine casually picked up his stack of books again. Had he been watching her?

“I expect that book to be back on my desk within five days and in the same condition it was before.” The nasty tone in his voice nearly ruined her excitement. But Gemini ignored it.

“I will, my lord. Thank y--”

“Stop babbling and go back to cleaning.”

The words stung but she gathered her cleaning supplies and the book.

That night when Gemini got back to her room, she immediately picked up The History of the Masterminds and searched for the page she had been reading earlier. Finally, she continued where she left off:

It was there that he learned to practice magic and soon to become the new Mastermind of that field. Valentine grew stronger than the Elite and was eventually able to kill them and destroying their underground city. Due to his deed, Emperor Benedict invited him to join the ranks of the Masterminds, which Valentine accepted.

But Valentine betrayed the Emperor and the other Masterminds, destroying nearly all of Kalt. Valentine, having done his damage, went into the Finsternis Stürtzen--the Dark Lands--and created his own fortress there. There he has stayed, lingering in the shadows, perhaps to come out again one day and wage war on Dunstorria.

Gemini realized she was trembling and tore her eyes away from the book. She tried to calm herself but couldn’t help thinking that the author’s prediction had come very, very true. She went back to the book but there was no more written on Valentine.

Gemini furrowed her brow. There has to be more…

She looked up the Finsternis Stürtzen:

The Finsternis Stürtzen, or the Dark Lands, is home to the Dark Creatures.

Some are demons, some are beasts, others are merely spirits. But all evil lurks and lives there, in the land beyond the Trenn Mountains, where the sky is black and the land is barren.

The two things that Dark Creatures fear are light and most recently: Valentine Eames’-son.

Gemini felt cold. She wrapped herself tighter in her blankets. There were demons and beasts in this land? Why did they fear Valentine? And more importantly: Why hadn’t they killed her family already? She quickly went back to reading.

Valentine is the only man in Dunstorria to have earned the fear of the Dark Creatures. Because of his dominance over all magic, he is the only thing besides light that can kill them. Which is why they can only live in the Finsternis Stürtzen, because there is no sunlight or moonlight.

Criminals and lawbreakers of Dunstorria are sent to the Dark Lands as their punishment for their crimes.

Instantly, Gemini shut the book and shoved it away. She just became aware of how hard she was breathing.

I am living in a land where demons and beasts roam free. And my family is living in this evil land too.

Were they already dead? Gemini curled up in her blankets, terrified of the answer to that question. She had to know if they were still alive. But there were only two ways to find out. One, to go back to her family and see. Or two, to ask Valentine. Both could led to death. But Gemini knew that if she left Nebel Manor, Valentine would punish her or catch her or she could be killed by the Dark Creatures she had read about. That left the option of asking Valentine if her family was alive.

“I doubt he’ll agree to find out. Why should he do another favor for me?” Gemini muttered to herself. But I need to know…

She knew she wouldn’t be able to work, let alone sleep until she found out if they were alive. Gemini crept out of her room and made her way to Valentine’s office, bringing the book with her. Giving a small knock on the door, she gathered her courage and stood tall.