Matthew Davenport

The goons were slipping around the corner chasing the false lead while I went into the room where I’d actually seen the patternless boy. My curiosity got the better of me. Which reminded me I need to make sure the twins fed Ophelia.

I slipped past the door into what looked like a small reception area, a boy sat on the white couch dressed in all black, his hair was a mess. He was a stark contrast compared to the white sterile room he sat in. His legs were crossed in front of him and he was pretending like he never moved. I knew better. I asked, “You alone?”

He looked up at me trying to look innocent. “Yes, sir.”

I smirked. “It’s Nox.”

“I know who you are. You are an example of what they say we shouldn’t be in school.”

“If you are supposed to be in the academy what are you doing here?” I asked.

“I … uh… ran away.”

“You ran away?” I asked with a smirk. That was ballsy. “So are you in here because you are in trouble or are you hiding?”

“Both. Ms. Snow told me to stay in here until my parents came. Which they won’t care either way. But they told me because this was my third strike that they were going to make me tacet. I can’t even fucking touch the elements.”

“But you can see them, can’t you?”

“Yeah, they think because I can see them that I can touch them. But they just slip through my fingers.”

I wove four strands of elements in front of me. “Show me, what you can do.” I knelt down in front of him holding the four strands.

He waved his hand through each element and they winked out of my web like they were never there. “My mom used to take me to work with her when I was younger so I’d cancel out all the voices in her head. She’s in the infirmary now because she can’t handle it. They call her crazy.”

“You’re a null,” I said with a smile. I offered him a hand, “What’s your name?”

“Matthew.”

“Matthew?”

He sighed, “Davenport.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He took my hand slowly and I tried to weave a fireball but my power didn’t work. “Does it only work on contact?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“That’s the test of your skill. You know right?”

“How do you know this?”

I shrugged. “Come back to the Academy with me. I’ll make sure you get the right education even if I have to teach you myself.”

“How can you teach me?”

I laughed. “I have a theory. I believe all Magnus can touch all elements most just need to work harder. And then there are some who absorb all of the magic. Just like I do whatever it is I do with magic.”

“Why would you think that?” he asked.

“Why can I wield all four elements at the same time? Why can’t someone theoretically repel all elements at the same time?” I grinned at him.

“If you let me, Dorian will help us fix whatever it is that’s wrong with your record and we’ll get you that training you need.”

Matthew shook his head, “Ms. Snow won’t let that happen. She told me if she caught me home again that she’d make me tacet herself.”

I grinned at him. “Let me handle Ms. Snow.”

The door opened and the blonde leader of Vegas Venatori walked in followed by the goons I’d sent off on a wild goose chase.

“Handle me, Mr. Sétanta? Hardly.”

“Well, see. I promised him I’d get him training. I guarantee you if people stop telling him to touch the elements he’ll stay in school, finish his lesson and be a productive member of our society. All you people think you know what’s best for us that are different.”

Scarlet sneered at me. “You are hardly older than he is.”

“Maybe so. But he’s more like me than you. Or than anyone else in the Venatori or at The Academy.”

“And you know better than those who’ve been doing this for more years than you’ve lived?” she asked rather pointedly as she took Matthew by the scruff of his neck and stood him up. “Come Mr. Davenport.”

“If I can give you a curriculum for him for his magical ability only, will you let him come with me?” I pleaded. The boy looked scared. “Let him come with me so I can access his ability. I’ll have a lesson plan for the next two years. He’s sixteen right? He’ll stay in school. Make his parents proud.”

Scarlet sneered. “Doubtful on the latter, but no. He will not go with you until I see a plan. I am his legal guardian as you were Dorian Vega’s.”

I sighed reluctanly. “Fine. But I’m also going to make sure he gets out of your hands too.”

“Doubtful again, Mr. Sétanta.”

I shrugged. “We’ll see. I already have one coming to me. What’s a sixteen year old boy who I can teach compared to a three year old.”

“Don’t you have things to do?” she asked as she lead Matthew away from the couch and do the door.

I nodded. “I have a lot of things to do. I’ll see myself out.”