The Arcane Houses of London by Naomi Kuttner

Author:Naomi Kuttner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Naomi

16

Thorne’s face was shadowed as he leaned over the snooker table. David tried not to stare at his gloved left hand wrapped around the pool cue. What would it look like if he took the glove off? Would it be invisible?

A swift tap, the clink of pool balls striking, and a red ball shot into the corner pocket, followed by another red ball rolling into a side pocket.

“I can never figure out if you’re cheating with shadow magic, or just good at this game.” Jamie rubbed blue chalk onto the end of his cue, eyes narrowed as he studied the table.

“Could be both,” said Thorne.

“Aren’t you going to teach your apprentice something?”

“And save you a humiliating defeat? Maybe.” Thorne stalked to another position at the pool table.

Another set up, a measuring glance, and the last red ball clinked into the pocket, leaving the white ball perfectly positioned to sink the first coloured ball.

“Chalk?” Thorne caught the small cube of chalk one-handed as Jamie lobbed it to him. He leaned against the wall, eyes half closed as he surveyed the game. “David, it’s time for your next lesson. Over here.”

When he was close, Thorne leaned down to speak softly in his ear. “How many shadows does the white ball have?”

“Three.” In the centre of the green velvet, the ball cast one short, dark shadow, one longer one, and a vague third shadow from the main chandelier in the parlour.

“Good. Your task for the rest of the game is to steal one of those three shadows.”

David looked at him in bewilderment.

Thorne’s eyebrows rose in amusement. “It’s not that complicated. Just reach out and take it with one hand. But don’t let me see it. That’s all.” He leaned over the table and, lightning fast, sunk the next ball. “Best be quick about it.”

David took a step away from the table and studied the white ball. Steal a shadow. He remembered the moment of unified awareness when he had lit the candle. That’s what he needed. But how to get there?

Thorne sank the next two balls in quick succession but missed sinking the third. He leaned on the wall next to David as Jamie paced around the table to take his shot.

“You’ve stolen things before, right?” he said quietly.

David nodded.

“This is just like that. Except with the will and sinew of your mind, not your body.”

“What will happen if I steal the shadow?”

Thorne’s eyes flickered. “Do it and see.”

It reminded David a little too much of the scary stories his Nona used to tell about witches, and how you must never let them take a piece of your shadow. But Thorne wasn’t telling him to steal a person’s shadow.

But what if he does? What if he’s a kind of witch? David pushed his concerns away and focused on the smallest, darkest shadow of the white ball. It grew blacker in his imagination, so dense he could almost feel the weight of it.

Reach out with the will and sinew of your mind.

Jamie was lining up his shot, so David concentrated harder.

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