50 years ago
The weather matched the mood of the funeral on that cold autumn night. The rain came down heavily, making everything a blur, and drowning out the voice of the pastor. Men and women were dressed in black, and all demons had been dismissed. They were outside of an abbey, with paved walkways, and big marble pillars. There was over 10,000 people at the abbey and out on the streets, all here to pay their respects to the man to whom they owed their lives: John Mandrake.
Behind the abbey, on the other side of the river stood Westminister and Whitehall. Most of the buildings there were still being reconstructed, from the concrete and rock filling the streets. Lone figures walked through the streets quietly, wearing long cloaks and keeping their hoods up. Once, he would have been questioned by the night police. But after the conspiracy of Makepeace, the magicians power was waning. Commoners walked through the streets with the same hunched posture, but it was the little things. The way they spoke, when they looked you in the eyes. They knew it wasn't a dictatorship that could never be taken down. They knew the weaknesses of the magicians:each other. Dozens of ministers had been killed by Nouda and his army of demons. Many commoners were killed, and demons had run amuck the streets of London. But because of Mr. Mandrake, Nouda was defeated and London saved.
It was for Mandrake that the funeral was for. His coffin was elegant, with dark mahogany wood, and gold intricate carvings running along the sides and top. Pictures displayed him at his greatest moments. Holding a large amulet, with a brightly colored gem in the middle, a picture of a clay eye, and others. The last picture was Mr. Mandrake, holding a long staff of simple design. Colors flashed from the top, pointing at a thing sitting on a golden throne. Beneath this picture was latin: Pro vestri pacis. For your peace.
Among the people at the funeral, one woman in particular stood out. She was small, with white hair and dozens of wrinkles lining her face. But if you looked closely, you could see the vitality and vigor in the woman's dark brown eyes, and you could tell this was not an ordinary woman. Because despite her appearance, Kitty was only 18 years old.
Kitty was wearing a long black dress, something given to her by Ms. Piper after the battle with Nouda was over, and the funeral planned. She wore black satin gloves, and a black veil covering her face. It was raised now, and the tears streaming down her cheeks were obvious, though most were lost in the folds of her skin. The people next to her ignored her, as all were here for their savior. But only a select few knew that Kitty had been a prime member of the Resistance, a group of kids and young adults who attacked magicians, until a raid on a tomb went wrong and everyone save Kitty and a man named Nick survived. Kitty had also helped to save the junior ministers from the dungeons at Whitehall, and helped John Mandrake. And, only she and Bartimaues knew of this now, she had traveled to the one place magicians were too afraid to dare even think about going:The Other Place. Where demons dwelled, and where she ventured after reading Ptolemy's book on the subjects. Bartimaues suddenly had a newfound respect for Kitty, and came back to help. And because of Bartimaues and John Mandrake's efforts, they succeeded. But both perished, sacrificing themselves for the good of others. A new wave of tears assaulted Kitty as she slowly walked forward. In her hands was a delicate white rose. Most people had trinkets of power, or pieces of gold, but Kitty didn't have any of these. So she approached, her hand trembling, whether from grief or weakness who could know. There was no body, just an empty coffin. But he deserved at least that. Setting the rose down at the bottom of the coffin. And then she reached down into her dress, much to the displeasure of the people behind her. Ignoring them, Kitty pulled out a small, bent, and rusted copper disc. It had once held an imp, but it had been dismissed before John Mandrake died. It was of no value, to others. But she knew that John, or Nathaniel, she reminded herself, would appreciate it. So she set it down next to the rose, and stepped away.
Others swarmed his coffin, putting their possessions in, but Kitty knew it was time to leave. Stepping away from the group of people, Kitty started down the street toward Whitehall. The area she was in was nice, mostly a place of shops and small cafes. Stall owners beckoned to her, calling deals and urging her to buy their supplies. Kitty respectfully declined. While she walked she reminisced. Nathaniel's calm face before he left, his warms hands supporting her, and his eyes, a light, milky brown. Kitty closed her eyes, savoring the memory, when she crashed into a bulky person, sending her sprawling. Standing, Kitty faced who she had crashed into. It was a man, plain looking, with brown hair and brown dark green eyes. He was slightly taller than her, and and from his richly adorned clothing, Kitty could tell that he was a magician. "I'm sorry sir,"Kitty said, reciting the words she had been using for years. But she stood to her full height and stared him in the eyes, not backing down in the slightest. As if somehow amused by her stance, the man chuckled, his gaze sweeping her over. "It was nothing. My fault," He spoke easily, with a flash of a smile. Ignoring it, she continued along, hoping she would be on time for her meeting with Ms. Piper. Suddenly a hand grabbed her shoulder, and Kitty turned to face whoever it was. And she was surprised to see the magician. "You never told me your name," The man said. Warning bells rang through Kitty's head, the same warning bells that she had gotten used to hearing ever since she first joined the Resistance. Opening her mouth to scream, Kitty prepared for the worst. In a flash the man had a hand over her mouth, and was whispering in her ear.
"You don't have to make it hard Ms. Jones. Tell me what happened in the Other Place and nothing will have to happen," He spoke brutally, but with an air of confidence. Kitty couldn't have been more shocked. She hadn't thought that anyone knew she had gone there, and now he wanted her information. Biting down on his hand, Kitty turned to run, but was brought to the ground by an invisible assailant. Struggling, Kitty tried screaming again but found she was gagged. Hearing a chuckle Kitty looked behind her to see a beast, with a dog's body, eagle's head, and serpent's tail, holding her down. Kitty was never good with classification, but had a feeling this was a Djinn, of not much power. Attempting to throw the demon off of her, Kitty was met with a sharp jab of a claw or talon or something. Kitty felt numb, and as her vision went groggy she was met with the sight of the man's smiling face standing over her. Struggling to stay conscious, Kitty attempted some form of speech, but when she got the first hint of a word out, she blacked out.