After the Scour over three generations ago, the face of magic had changed completely. Most of the bloodline families had gone underground to escape. A few had stayed on the surface and hidden alone, spreading out to pretend to be normal and not a threat to mankind who saw them as monstrous.
Underground, there were dozens of the old families, but the four most powerful rose up to rule over the rest of us. Some of us had more by way of the Spark than others did and more Spark in our bloodline to pass on.
My family, we were on the bottom. My parents had not shown a personal Spark with no ability of their own. It was in their bloodline and that meant they carried it, but had no abilities of their own and they were therefore useless to the powerful families.
Underground, there were tiers. The four great families lived near the surface, under them were the 'gentry' as they were referred to. Sparkers with moderate abilities who were kept close to the 'royalty' in case someone emerged with an exceptional ability. They were immediately brought up and blended into one of the royal families through marriage, whether they were willing or not.
It was well known that someone who disappeared suddenly had surfaced an exceptional Spark and was above now, living a better life. Some dreaded it, some lived with the hope they would be next.
My sister was one of the latter. We had lived on the lowest level for so long, in what was now commonly referred to as Dante's seventh level. There was level 1, the 4 'royal' families, level 2, the gentry which consisted of about six families. Level 3 was the wealthier and more well to do families with above average Spark. Level 4 were the crafters and engineers with decent Spark. Level 5 were the wealthier Sparkers who had shown declining or lower Spark. Level 6 was the working class with low Spark and level 7, my family's level, was poor with no Spark showing for over two decades.
It was it's own sort of hell, I supposed, but it was also all I knew, all I had ever had. I had heard stories and rumors about the decadence of the upper levels, but I never took them seriously. They couldn't be that much better if we were still all hiding underground.
My sister on the other hand, talked about it constantly. She wanted the life they had above. She dreamed of it, fantasized about it. She worked every charm she had, gaining favor, getting the best clothes available to us, clothes that showed off her figure. She wore make-up, as if looks would sway anyone in our world. She was beautiful, I would give her that, but everyone knew that in our world, that didn't mean much. Our parents would have passed for nulls in the above world and here, that meant we were the lowest of the low.
Still, she was convinced that she was meant for larger things. And if she was, that meant I was too. That was how it worked. If one sibling showed promise, the others were snapped up quickly in the hopes that they too would show promise.
She was coming up on her 20th birthday, the day she would go to the third level and see the Seer. The Spark, if it was going to surface, would surface by the birthday of the 20th year. She was beside herself with excitement and worry. Saying goodbye and worrying that she would be returning all at the same time. I didn't know why she was upsetting herself over it, it wasn't like Mom and I wouldn't both be going with her to watch the Seer touch her. Hell, she already had me carrying her bag for her, full of her most treasured things, just in case. I didn't mind, not really, though the walk back down to our home was going to suck with her crying the whole time.
I myself had just turned nineteen the week before and the day had passed with zero fanfare. There could be none while Leona was so focused on her own impending 20th birthday. I wasn't worried about it, I worked through the day as if it was a normal day and also pretended not to know that I overheard my mother speaking to my boss about my sister's hand in marriage tomorrow, after we came home with her. In return, he would give my mom and I both a raise. That was the way of things down here. In a year, she would find a similar arrangement for my hand.
I followed her and my mother quietly, listening to her talking to the guide, asking questions about the above and how large of a Spark would be required to get to the top level. I only shook my head. Why did she get her hopes up so high? She was only going to be let down when she had to marry Geoff tomorrow.
The trek up to the third level was longer than I had imagined it would be and I was actually sore and tired when we finally arrived outside of the Seer's hall. We weren't the only ones there. It happened to actually be Leona's birthday, but there were others here who had had a birthday in the last week from the third level and below. The first and second level never had to travel to see the Seer, the Seer was brought to them, and not just on Sunday. That was only for those of us from below.
I stood in line with my small family, watching the others curiously. I realized for the first time the huge difference between the levels. It wasn't just the clothing and quality of clothing, it was their weight. Some of these people never went without a meal, or even went light on a meal. Some were tall, as if they had room to grow more and they were less pale as if they had access to sun lamps and therefore electricity. I saw several of the men in line looking at Leona with interest and even a few who looked me over, which surprised me. I didn't dress like my sister or wear makeup or try at all. I hadn't even brushed my hair, just twisted it up quickly to get it out of my way. I was wearing my work uniform, knowing I was going to be hard pressed to make it back for my shift.
Leona was smiling under the appraisal, flourishing with the attention. I could see the way it made her shine, she was in her element. If personality alone could get her to the top, she would be there.
I stood and watched as one after one, the families went in to see the Seer. They almost all came out looking dejected or disappointed. One young man came out looking pleased, but not overly excited.
The young man behind me spoke up as I watched. "You know, if they get flagged for up top, they don't come back out, right?" he said.
I turned, looking at him. "Hello Arik, I didn't know you were twenty already."
"Hello Hailene. Yesterday."
"I know. Have you met my sister? I am pretty sure I know this ritual and what happens better than anyone else on the 7th level."
"She is a little over the top about it, isn't she? I guess that means I won't be seeing her at the factory for a week or so."
"Probably never. Mom promised her to Geoff so she will probably start working at the mill with us instead."
"Pay is better. Geoff, huh? Yikes. That is going to upset her. How old is he?"
"Not that old, his first wife passed on darklung."
"Yeah, I guess I heard that. How long till you are twenty?"
"A year."
"You have a plan? Someone in mind?"
I looked back at Arik. He looked... hopeful. I looked him over again. He was a solid enough boy, his head not too high in the clouds. A hard worker, smart, pleasant. He was even pleasant to look at. I gave him a small smile. "It will be my mothers choice of course, but I am sure with the right encouragement I can let her know if I have a preference."
His smile brightened his entire face.
I felt a little awkward then as I stood there. What did you even say to someone after that while stuck in a slow line with them? He didn't seem to have the same issue at all. He stepped up closer and caught my mother's attention, saying hello to her and engaging both of us in conversation.
After that, the time passed quickly as we talked and he had my mother and I both smiling. Even Leona joined us and smiled with us.
Her turn finally came and Leona was smiling radiantly as we went in. The Seer wasn't nearly as old as I assumed she would be. She was younger than my mother and she looked bored and put upon as she sat on her pile of cushions. More cushions that I had seen in one place.
The Seer looked my sister over, then finally lifted a hand and Leona went rushing forward to take the seer's extended hand excitedly.
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but nothing really happened. The Seer touched her hand for a moment, her eyes distant, then released her. The Seer turned to one of the guards next to her and made a motion and the man stepped up and took Leona by the arm and pulled her away roughly through a back door and Leona looked back at us in confusion.
I blinked and started to look at my mother, but I was grabbed from behind by another hand and dragged through the same door as I tried to pull away and look back at the large man dragging me. I was shoved into a small room with Leona who looked terrified now as the door was shut and we were left alone.
What the hell was happening?!?
