Styxx

Styxx Lancaster decides to take on his first apprentice in five hundred years.

It wasn't every day that I traveled into the mainland. Usually, I stayed on Blackwater Isle to myself. But I'd woken up with a strange feeling in my gut. I had the strangest feeling that I should go to Key Harbor, the nearest Secret City. I'd been there a few times, mainly for supplies, and knew that there was something there that waited for me. I didn't know what it was or who it was but I knew that I had to go there. Today. So I got dressed and headed to the mainland, a little curious about what I'd find. My strange feeling led me to a bar called the Black Cove. There were two people inside. The bartender, a tall guy with brown hair and eyes. The second man was seated on a bar stool. He had short black hair and electric blue eyes. His arms were covered in a myriad of tattoos and he had snakebite piercings on his lower lip. It was to him that my strange feeling pulled me. I sat down next to him, noting that both he and the bartender were staring at me, wide eyed. 

 

I asked him about what he'd been discussing with the bartender when I walked in. He explained that his name was Ryder Sullivan and that he'd been kicked out of his house because he wanted to study Magick. Admirable for a second born son. In most Clans, the second born son is left to his own devices. But there were some Clans that made the second born son do whatever it was that the Head of Clan do. The Sullivan Clan, which was as old as my own Clan, was one of these. In these Clans, the second born son was usually little more than a glorified servant. As he spoke, I pushed my magick towards his, testing how strong he was. He was incredibly strong Magickally and had the potential to be a great Mage. Why his mother hadn't understood this was beyond me but I knew I had to take advantage of the situation I'd been led to.  

 

 "I came here today because I felt a pull. It usually only happens when I'm supposed to do something. Pulling is a gift that is only given to members of the Lancaster Clan. It's a form of psychic energy that leads you to something important. My pull led me to you."  

 

"Why did it lead you to me?" Ryder asked, he seemed stunned.  

 

"I can't answer that yet. I've no idea why it led me to you. All I know is that it did. You said you were looking for an apprenticeship. How would you like to be my apprentice?"  

 

Ryder stared at me, his blue eyes wider than normal. After a moment he nodded. "Hell yeah. You're the most powerful Mage anyone knows of. It would be an honor to study under you."  

 

I felt myself grin. "It took centuries of practice before I could master my own power, though. You have great potential and I think you could be great...but it's going to take time."  

 

Ryder nodded, turning serious. "I'm willing to take that time. I have forever, as you probably already know. The Sullivan Clan has been an Immortal Clan for...well thousands of years." 

 

"Actually, your Clan was among the first Immortal Clans. The records just don't show that because things weren't very well documented back then. I was around when most of your ancestors were just bumps on their mother's bellies."  

 

Ryder grinned. "Wow. That's amazing. I can't believe I'm apprentice to Styxx Lancaster of all people. My mother is never going to believe it." 

 

"If she doesn't believe it, she's welcome to come see me and find out for herself. I'll set her straight." I said, thinking of how much I really did want to set the woman straight. In more ways than one. 

 

"Something tells me that would just piss her off."  

 

"Something tells me I wouldn't care if she got pissed off at me. Er...no offense. I know she's your mother."  

 

Ryder snorted. "She gave birth to me but that woman is no mother. That's something my twin brother and I can agree on easily. She left us to the care of nannies most of our lives. The only time she pretended to care about us was when she wanted something."  

 

I nodded. "My dad was a lot like that when he was alive. Thankfully, he was killed and I didn't have to deal with him when it came to my twenty-first birthday." 

 

"It kinda sucks. Feels good to be free."  

 

"Yeah, I would think it does. We should head to the palace. I need to send off the official apprenticeship paperwork and you need to get settled in."  

 

"Good idea." Ryder looked to the bartender whose name I couldn't remember. "I'll keep in touch, Frank."  

 
The bartender grinned. "You'd better. Want me to say anything to Ryan?"  

 

Ryder shook his head. "Nah. I'll email him when we get to the Palace. He'll be pissed if he doesn't hear it from me. You know how he is."  

 

Frank laughed. "Yeah, that's true. Keep in touch bro."  

 

"I will."  

 

The two friends shook hands and then Ryder and I left the bar. I led him down to the docks where my boat and driver were waiting. I laughed when Ryder's eyes widened at the sight of the boat. Most of the boats around here were small but mine was a large yacht-type boat. I owned smaller boats but I'd brought this one because I hadn't been sure what I'd come here for. In the event that it had been a large object, I'd needed something to carry it in. Still, I was glad I'd brought it. Not that I liked showing off but it was nice to show the kind of lifestyle Ryder could get accustomed to living with me. We climbed aboard the boat and my driver, Harrison Dellinor, came up from the lower deck. He eyed Ryder and then looked to me for an explanation. I grinned, knowing how shocked he was going to be when I told him that Ryder was my apprentice. I hadn't taken an apprentice in five hundred and sixty two years. Mainly because I'd gotten famous around that time and the only people who'd wanted to be my apprentice were Mages with no Magickal power to speak of. Ryder was different. He was strong Magickally and he wanted to learn. Most of the Mages that had come to me were Magickally weak and had absolutely no desire to learn.  

 

 "Harrison, this is Ryder Sullivan. He's my apprentice as of now."  

 

"Your...apprentice? Dude are you serious? You haven't taken an apprentice in -"  

 

"Five hundred and sixty two years. I know. But Ryder here...well we have a lot in common. He's a second born son. He's Magickally talented. And he has a desire to learn about Magick."  

 

Harrison held out his hand to Ryder. "Nice to meet you dude. I'm glad you're with us. If Styxx has chosen you as his apprentice, you must be pretty good. He doesn't usually do this. Especially now he's such a big-shot." 

 

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and get us back to the Palace you freak." 

 

Ryder shot me an appreciative look as I said the words. I figured I knew the reason behind the look. Most of the more wealthy Clans had servants but they were usually treated like...well like the house elves from Harry Potter. I was the opposite of most people. My servants were my friends. They lived on my island, they took care of it and me. They deserved the best care and treatment possible. His family, the Sullivan's, were famous for their mistreatment of servants. In fact, the only reason they still had servants was because they paid well. I didn't even pay my servants as much as the Sullivan's did. However, I did provide free housing and food on top of what I did pay them.  

 

Harrison got the boat running and pulled away from the docks. As we started the long journey home, I told Ryder to take a seat and relax. After all, we were going to be on the boat for at least two hours. Taking my usual seat, I stared across the water with a smile. It was a beautiful day out and the water was sparkling. I'd always loved the ocean. It was part of the reason I'd purchased Blackwater  Isle. The island I'd built my palace on was a huge island. It was big enough for a decent sized castle - something I'd dreamt of having since I was a boy - and quite a few homes for servants and friends. I'd purchased the island in 1684 and Lancaster Palace had finished building in 1691. I lived in a four story, 67 room castle with an indoor pool. I loved it and was proud of everything I'd built. Honestly, I couldn't wait for Ryder to see it too. I knew he'd fall in love with the Palace as much as I had. Closing my eyes, I drifted off for a nap before we got to the Palace. When I woke up, we were just pulling into the docks... 

Author's Note

Ignore grammar and spelling. Focus on plot.