Emotionless (The Emotionless Book 1) Read online

  So, while I created a rune downstairs and hid it, my brothers made a dramatic love potion. I know the reason they would have made it, and knew they wanted to try it on me to see if it worked. However, now that Donte knows it works, I most certainly do not want to go to school tomorrow. It will be chaos.

  At my bed, I sagged against the fluffy pillows and stared at the various runes that were on my wall against the bed. I used to use them as nightlights when I was younger and couldn’t sleep. Some shined like newborn stars, waiting to shine as bright as the others, filled with power. Now, they were nothing more than dead runes, unable to activate again.

  I stayed on my bed, staring at the ceiling until dinner came around.

  I stared intently at the coffee table and at the white lace mat that was over the top of the rune that I created. Nixon and Donte entered the room. Nixon was sipping on a healing potion, his hands have swelled in size after all the peanut butter sandwich making he had done. By the time that he was out of the love potion, his hands were red and doubled in size. He couldn’t help Donte make the healing potion, so he sat and sulked while Donte showed him the video. During the potion time, he sang, “My Love Eileen.” I am not too sure who is more embarrassed, Nixon or me.

  I tucked my legs up on the cushion of the chair I sat on when I noticed Hopper come through the door. He had a silver platter of food in his hands, and he placed the food on the table.

  “Activate, jump,” I murmured.

  Hopper’s eyes widened when the rune underneath the lace mat lit up a bright blue colour. It was a jump. The rune activated and the platter of food bounced in the air. Food went in various directions, and that forced Hopper to morph in and out of rabbit form frantically. He bounced around and tried to grab all the feed before they spilt onto the carpet. The one that I wanted, steaming and hot, dropped in my hands. I tapped the egg, and the shell cracked off. I flicked it away onto the ground and bit into the delicious egg. The cloggy liquid oozed thick in my mouth. As I ate, Silas and Hopper glared at me.

  “What was that, Eileen?” Silas demanded.

  “A rune,” I answered.

  “I figured – But why was there one on the coffee table?”

  “I wanted to see if it would break the glass. It didn’t break. Good rune.”

  “Eileen.” Silas sighed dramatically.

  Hopper frowned. “Mistress, if you must, perhaps warn us of your plans beforehand. The gravy nearly spilt all over the clean white carpet.”

  Nixon huffed a breath of laughter. “Yeah. I have never seen a rabbit pounce around trying to catch everything as it falls.”

  Donte cackled with laughter. “Yeah. His ears constantly twitched with fury.”

  Hopped gave them both a blank expression of undeniable aggravation in the most placid of ways.

  “Oh, come on, Hopper. You are too adorable in bunny form. Let us pat you,” they said at the exact same time.

  “How unsightly,” he muttered.

  Hopper then sighed and straightened up. “May we speak seriously of the reason as to why I am here, Masters and Mistress?”

  “Alright. Why are you here?” Silas asked.

  “Very well. I have wonderful news for all of you,” Hopper started. “The new Headmage of Mage Academy has accepted the three of you to go and study there. Silas, they also have a spot open for crystal work and the new Headmage would love for you to join and help guide students in the right direction, considering you are so gifted.”

  “You are screwing with us!” Donte and Nixon exclaimed. “If you are joking, we get to shave you!”

  What?

  “Your parents have alerted me, and I have come at once to guide all of you to Mage Academy and be the household Guardian to protect all of you. They fear that mages will not like the fact that the Frost children will attend the most prestige school for mages.”

  “Let them try something on Eileen,” Donte and Nixon spat. “We will eat them for breakfast.”

  “I can handle myself,” I murmured.

  “Just like you did against Yasmine in the schoolyard?” Donte asked.

  “What happened to my Mistress?” Hopper demanded.

  “Continue,” I interrupted before this discussion turned into how weak and defenceless, they believe I am. “When will we attend?”

  “The beginning of the new year. January 1st.”

  “That’s in a month!” Nixon exclaimed.

  “Correct. You will need to pack for we will leave immediately so that you are all well rested and sorted before the new year.”

  “Does that mean we can go back to our old home?” Silas asked.

  “No. The Headmage wants you all to be like all the other students at the school. There will be a liveable quarter where we will be staying, well away from other mages and their living quarters, up in the south tower.”

  “Wasn’t that where the dragon family used to live, before…” Nixon trailed off and looked at me.

  “I am told not that many Guardians go to Mage Academy anymore. That tower has been long abandoned and should come to some use,” Hopper spoke without missing a beat.

  Because Dragons were so strong and feared, whenever a mage so happened to have summoned a dragon on their eighteenth birthday, the dragon stayed in the south tower. They could then fly freely above, for there was an opening where they could rest and enjoy the quiet without being bothered by other mages. However, a dragon has not been summoned in the last five years. It was like mages were not strong enough. Or dragons refused the call after that incident with my Guardian.

  “We will leave early tomorrow. I have already sorted out your school issues and have signed you all out of Richmond Public School. Everything is done. We can leave this house once and for all and get you all back to the mage world, where you all belong.”

  “Okay. Can you pack for me?” I asked Hopper.

  “Of course, my Mistress,” he agreed which made me puff my cheeks. “The rest of you need to pack tonight.”

  “So long for our potion deadline at school,” Donte and Nixon sighed. “So many people ordered energy boosters, love potions and weak giant.”

  “Thank god we are leaving,” Silas muttered.

  “Why don’t we use them on the mages at Mage Academy!” Donte exclaimed.

  Nixon grinned broadly. “We can pull all sorts of eviler pranks on them and not get in trouble because it’s a mage school!”

  “You can still get in trouble,” Silas tried to object. It was too late. They were already out the door. “I wonder why we aren’t allowed back to our old home. It is still technically ours, mum and Dad never sold it. Is it just going to sit there and do nothing?” Silas silver eyes then widened. “They don’t want us to live there because they are coming home.”

  Down the Rabbit Hole.

  I woke up early the next day. The tweeting bird flew out of its perch and screeched, “Wake up!”

  It was still dark outside when I opened the curtains. There was a slither of light that seeped through behind the cluster of homes, but not enough to illuminate the darkness.

  Still tired, I rubbed my eyes, yawned and looked around. Hopper packed everything up. The only items left were my bed and the tweet bird. I assume the reason I wouldn’t be taking a bed would be because they would already have one for me over there.

  The feel of this home, the home that I have lived in for five years feels lifeless now. The only sense of warmth was from the old runes on the walls that makes me believe this house wasn’t so cold and uninviting. Everything else has been shipped off late last night to Mage Academy.

  Silas argued with Hopper last night. I could hear them. Well… mainly Silas while Hopper tried to object, but it was futile. Silas wanted to know if our parents were going to use our old house as a base. If that was the case, why wouldn’t they tell us? Didn’t they want us to know they will be there? Do our parents want nothing to do with us… or put simply me?

  I barely got a wink of sleep because of the arguing.


  Downstairs and inside the kitchen, between the sounds of clattering pans and steam, Hopper stood proud and tall before his creation. He had a yellow smiley face apron on and had his sleeves rolled up. Hopper shouldn’t look so domestic while he cooks bacon and eggs.

  At the breakfast bar, Donte had his head against the countertop, half asleep. I shuffled into the seat beside him and stared blankly at the plate in front of me. Bacon, greasy and crisp slipped onto the white plate along with herbed scrambled eggs. Following the scent of breakfast, Nixon stomped his way into the kitchen. Drool slid down the corner of his mouth, and his eyes sparkled at Hopper when Hopper handed him his plate filled with food… that or my imagination was running wild once again.

  I picked the eggs up with my fingers and popped them in my mouth. Hopper was like Silas in away. They both were not pleased with my food etiquette but tried to ignore the fact that I would eat with my fingers. After years and years forced to eat proper, the best part of my day was to eat with my hands now.

  “Why couldn’t we go during the day?” Donte complained. “It’s too early.”

  “You would have said the same if we were going in the middle of the day, Master,” Hopper replied, grimacing.

  Early mornings were never the best time for the triplets. It was difficult for any of us to get up without an alarm. That’s why our parents installed insufferable tweet birds that screech very loudly, and they are persistent. They will not stop until we are up. They will not stop until all the mail has left its perch. They are the one thing I wouldn’t mind leaving behind.

  After breakfast, we all stood before the fireplace in the living room. Donte and Nixon were doing warmups. They stretched, jumped up and down and done some synchronised swimming? Anyways, while they hyped themselves up, I stared down at the carpet with profound boredom until Hopper entered the room. He stood a few paces away from us. After Donte and Nixon finished their warmups, Hopper raised his hand and swiped his arm across his body. Four human-sized rabbit holes warped into focus. Inside was a dark black hole.

  I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole. I know that it is the quickest way to get to our destination, but to dive down a deep and dark hole doesn’t really appeal to me like an Ordinary-Human car would. I dislike doing things that make my heart splutter in my chest. There’s no point if I cannot express outwardly of how much it makes me fear for my life.

  Silas went down the rabbit hole first. Unlike the rest of us, he has used Hopper’s rabbit hole a lot more and isn’t afraid or adrenaline junkies like Donte and Nixon. My older brother would have made a great ruler if it weren’t for how paranoid and awkward that he gets around other mages.

  Nixon and Donte went next. Both of them jumped down like they were diving into deep water in a pool. After the hole closed up for them, it was only Hopper and I. Every second that I stood over the hole, the faster my heartbeat. Hopper must have noticed or expected, I should say, my uneasiness.

  “My Mistress, if you need guidance and reassurance with the travel, I can make the rabbit hole larger so that I can come with you.”

  “No,” I declined. I then shuffled forward so that my feet were right at the edge of the rabbit hole. If Hopper does that, it will take us longer to get to Sorcerer City and Mage Academy. Mum and Dad would blame it all on Hopper for not timing our arrival correctly. “Thank you,” I then murmured and stepped off of the edge of the rabbit hole.

  Down the rabbit hole, I thought of the rules and went into the proper position. I tucked my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my knees. I spiralled, slid, and sometimes went upside down. Being in a rabbit hole is daunting because it was always dark. Not even my veins could illuminate the tunnel that was dark and slippery. Veins throbbed and I could feel tattoos wanting to activate, but I held them off for the veins themselves seemed to have calmed me the slightest.

  Soon enough, when my heart was used to the craziness, I slowed down. My body jolted the slightest, and I moved at a snail pace forward until my boots tapped the wall at the end. Yellow light then shined upwards at the ladder presented before me.

  Having the room to do so, I stood and brushed myself down. I flicked my hair back, tied it up into a ponytail and then ascended. I climbed up the metal bars, and the more I went upwards, the more familiar the sound of cars driving past were. Halfway up the ladder, I looked down the way that I came, the darkness faded, and the sewage drain revealed itself. Up the top now, I pushed on the drain lid, but it was too heavy. Puffing my cheeks, I scrambled down a few steps and raised my arm and pointed my finger up at the drain lid.

  “Attack rune, push.” Pressured wind gushed upwards, the lid flew off and dim morning light cast down from the rising sun. “Deactivate,” I then murmured.

  Silas’s hand reached down for me. Reassured, my veins released, and I raised my arm up and held onto Silas.

  Outside of the rabbit hole, I glanced back down the smooth ladder I went up, but it was now a rustic and bold red colour. Rabbit holes are ideal for manipulation as it twisted itself back to our reality.

  “Here.” Silas shoved a bottle of water in my face. “Down it.”

  I chugged a few mouthfuls of water. The cold liquid sloshed its way down my throat. After I finished with the water, I gave it back to Silas when I heard a strange sound coming through to my right. Nixon had his head bowed between his legs and vomit gurgled out of his mouth. Donte was before him with his phone propped up. I assume he was recording it all.

  “I can’t believe you refused water,” Donte barked a laugh.

  Nixon should know better than to refuse water after going down the rabbit hole. It’s his fault Donte was now recording him vomit on the main street surrounded by Ordinary-Humans who looked on with worry and disgust.

  “I hate you,” Nixon groaned.

  “You’re making us famous on Magtube! Seven hundred hits within three minutes.”

  We were already famous because of what I have done. Now we are going to be recognised for how incompetent and diabolical my brothers are. However, I cannot deny how much mages enjoy and love my brothers – But only for comedic reasons.

  “Masters, we need to leave for the train or else we are going to miss our chance to go to Sorcerer City. We would have to wait until tomorrow.” Hopper appeared from behind me. He had a disappointed look on his face when he noticed Nixon, vomit all over the ground before his feet. “Allow me.” Hopper went into his suit pocket and took out a bottle filled with bright orange liquid. “Master, drink this please.”

  “Stomach aid, nice,” Nixon said, grinning.

  After a few minutes, Nixon was racing after Donte, and he had an enraged look upon his face. We were now back on track and going towards the train that was at the edge of Mavyur City.

  The train station isn’t just any train station. We stood at the concrete boarding deck; the salty, cold morning chilled my skin. Howling wind crashed and roared to life at the edge of the deck. A rumbling came from underneath, and it vibrated the deck. An extended chute came up through the water and bubbled smoke puffed upwards and popped and burst. The back of the train then broke through the sea, and the train rose like a monstrous submarine. The wheels rolled like it was on an invisible railway track, chugging towards the deck area. I looked on in awe at the train that screeched to a halting stop right before my eyes. Windows slid open and flying fish and seaweed flung out from laughing and wet passengers.

  Hopper grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back so that I was behind the yellow line. The doors burst open, and many passengers came bustling out with suitcases floating from behind them. Some gave me a once over, recognised my face and sneered with disdain. I can already tell that I would be the most hated mage in Sorcerer City.

  When the path was clear, the Railway Mage flicked his long and bony finger at Hopper. Pushed forward, I stepped on right after Hopper. Donte and Nixon came up from behind, and Silas stood at the doors. Hopper flashed four cards that looked like identification cards. My picture was in a small square on
the left side of the laminated card he held. The Railway Mage gave us a unique look and must have realised who we were. I puffed my cheeks, stepped further behind Hopper in the hopes that the Railway Mage wouldn’t ask me any unfriendly questions.

  I looked down to the skirting when I noticed a protective rune. They were activated and a lovely pure bright blue colour. Crouched low, I raised my pointer finger and moved it to the rune when the rune pushed me. The rune was telling me to back off. The level of magic that someone would have had to place on here was incredibly high.

  “Book,” I demanded. I raised my hand towards Hopper while I stared at the rune intensely. Even the Railway Mage that glared down wasn’t enough to tear me away from a unique rune.

  “Eileen, you’re in my way,” Donte said.

  I looked up to see Nixon stepping on the walls to pass where I was crouched. “Oh! We can climb in here!” Donte then exclaimed.

  “It is uncommon,” the Railway Mage answered, frowning. “Mongrel, can you move your Highborn Mistress? She is blocking everyone else from entering.”

  “He’s a Guardian,” Silas muttered.

  “Yes. A low and weak Guardian. That’s what I said.”

  I could feel the tension in the air between my brother and the Railway Mage. Guardian’s that don’t hold loads of power like Dragons and such are considered mongrels for they are unworthy of being in the presence of some mages. I need to diffuse that situation.

  “I could give you a platinum coin if you tell the other mages to go into other doors,” I murmured. His eyes widened slightly, and that made me look away and back at the rune. “Thank you.”

  He huffed, but instead of telling me to get up, he shuffled past me and muttered to himself. I could only assume that Hopper gave him a platinum coin while they passed each other.

  The Railway Mage cleared his throat. “This door is forbidden to pass through. Doors Carlos and Marcos on either side of this door are friendly and will take good care of all of you.”

  Leather rubbed against gloved fingers. I took hold of my craft book from Hopper and flipped through the pages until I got to a blank one. Unclipping the pen on the flexible plastic loop, I then concentrated on the rune. I didn’t bother looking up when Silas stepped past after my brothers’ adventurous wall climbing.