The Party Convention

After school ended, she walked to the Social Unity Party’s headquarters. Brittney sat at the desk nervously tapping her black pen against the smooth surface. “They’re in the assembly hall.”

The party had an underground hall that had been magically expanded, but it was also usually magically closed off. They were a small party after all and did not often need much space. Tonight, all the members from across the country who could travel to the meeting would be there, and then they would cast their ballots for the new party leader.

“Aren’t you coming, too?” She asked Brittney as tension rises in her chest. She was worried about how the convention will go. She did not know why she even bothered asking Brittney. It did not really matter if she asked or not.

“Someone has to direct the stragglers,” Brittney replied, but both she and Katelyn knew that Brittney could have been running for leadership rather than carrying out the basic work.

Katelyn did not say anything but turned away from Brittney and found the side door that leads down to the underground. She did not know many people in the party, despite having worked for it for some time, and seeing all the unfamiliar faces of the countrywide membership gave her an ominous feeling. She wished that she did not come. Admittedly, probably only a few hundred members were there and there were probably a few thousand members countrywide. Many members hid their faces behind tinted glasses, hoods, and cloaks and their hands behind gloves and long-sleeves. Some members had bright eyes while others had normally coloured eyes. They milled about, displeasure written across many faces.

She traced the faces of the candidates. Sylvan Ecclestie, the co-founder accused of performing magic in public when Katelyn was a child stood behind one table. She wore a long-sleeved green blazer with black gloves. Her eyes engaged two party members standing on the other side of the table, but there was a darkness in them. Despite vying for attention from the members, she was hiding something. She had faced punishment from the state—from the wizards. Katelyn could feel the same fear radiating off Ecclestie as off Hanna Jean. She did not want to be punished again. Did that make reverse magic an effective deterrent from repeat offences? It doesn’t matter, Katelyn resolved. It is inhumane to destroy the soul of a witch in that manner, and it is a punishment that wizards do not ever have to face even though they also have magic.

Katelyn spotted Kristyn Marshadow behind another desk. Kristyn was a wraith witch, a witch who gained energy from invading other people’s dreams and bringing them nightmares. She was one of the more radical members of the party, the ones who believed traditional magic should be embraced rather than shunned. She also supported the equality of wraiths within the party.

At another table, Zara Anthony tapped her hands. Zara argued that witches should be respected the same as wizards, but that traditional magic should be avoided, because of the dangers it possessed. She spoke out strongly against dark magic.

Neither Kristyn nor Zara had the same reputation as Sylvan, but Sylvan’s values were less clear. Sylvan was clearly in support of witch equality and opposed to reverse magic. She clearly opposed institutionalized oppression of witches, but the other candidates also emphasized those points. Sylvan had been imprisoned and faced punishment, which could suggest that she was willing to take more extreme actions or protest, but she also seemed afraid of facing the same situation. That might make her more careful and conservative. Perhaps, some people would think Sylvan had more experience than the other candidates, but Katelyn felt uncertainty and tension within Sylvan. Sylvan’s motivations might not be reliable, and she had temporarily been a criminal, although it had been an unjust charge. Sylvan was friends with Victoria, though.

Katelyn cautiously made her way to Sylvan as fear rose in her chest. She wanted to say something to Sylvan about Victoria, but she was not sure what. She hardly wanted to bring up her parents’ murder. Sylvan’s eyes immediately flicked to Katelyn as soon as Katelyn approached. Katelyn did not really know Sylvan, but unfortunately, Katelyn was a fairly recognizable girl with her red-tipped brown hair and dark eyes.

“Miss Valedette?” Sylvan questioned softly. The two party members who she was talking to flinched at Katelyn’s last name. Katelyn knew people probably resented her parents for the murder. Apparently, Brittney’s attempts to publicize the case had succeeded among the members of the party, and probably even beyond judging by the reaction of students at Katelyn’s school.

Sylvan hid her fear well, but Katelyn could feel her doubt of Katelyn’s character. Brittney, too, had doubted Katelyn at first. It was probably justified. Katelyn’s parents had used her magic to kill Victoria, after all.

“You knew Victoria?” Katelyn questioned, even though the answer to the question was obvious. Sylvan narrowed her eyes. She was planning to cancel Victoria’s mentorship program. Protecting young members was not worth the risk to the older members of the party. Sylvan did not think Victoria should have ever participated in the program to begin with, especially not in person, and especially not with a strongly conservative family like the Valedettes. Sylvan blamed Victoria for her own death. Sylvan thought Victoria should have known better.

No, Katelyn thought. It is my fault. If I had never been a witch this would never have been a problem. And if I had never started practicing magic, I would not have created a substance that Victoria was allergic to.

“Of course, I knew Victoria,” Sylvan responded with fake cheerfulness. “She was my best friend and the leader of the party. We created it together.”

“Go easy on her, Sylvan,” Brittney commanded, appearing from the other room. She studied Sylvan for a moment. “Ladies! It is time for the speeches.”

Katelyn had missed her opportunity to ask Sylvan whatever it was that she had wanted to ask. Instead, she had only succeeded in making herself look foolish. Katelyn always just looked foolish.

Brittney waved her wand, creating a stage. Since only party members were present, it was not considered a public act. Most members of the party were witches, after all. There was also no one present who would report her. Brittney mounted the stage and held her wand before her face like a microphone. She would be acting as the moderator.

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The unfamiliarity of the other members’ faces swam before Katelyn’s mind again. She could sense a general tension in the air as well as excitement, but inside she only felt fear and uncertainty. She had not been a member of the party for long. She had come because of Victoria, and because she was a witch like most of the other members of the party. They were the sort of people interested in the party’s ideals. Nevertheless, part of her wondered if she should really be there.

Sylvan mounted the stage and held her own wand to her face. “Ladies, I have seen this party rise from an idea to Victoria’s hands, and I will see this party fly so much higher. Victoria was the best friend and leader I have ever known. She always cared about the young witches and always looked to our future. We must carry on her legacy. We must ensure the safety of our members in light of her tragic passing, but not let that draw us away from continuing all that she has accomplished.

“I would lead this party against the corrupt reverse magic campaign and fight against the punishment of young witches. I have seen the darkness of the prison halls they design for witches like us. I have fought against the injustice the wizards place on us, claiming to be superior because of their supposed ‘greater control’ but they are just like us. We should not have to hide in the shadows when we try to help people, only for them to be privileged in the ‘right’ of our destruction. They deserve no higher ground.

“But, we must work within the resources they grant us. They will feel no compassion in our defeat. We must show them we are better than they think we are and fight them on that basis to slowly assert the rights they think that they possess alone. We must wage a campaign of enlightenment, drawing their attention to the unequal conditions we face despite our equal demeanour. Our priority must be on ensuring the safety of minorities, and I have the experience to ensure a successful campaign. Thank you.” Sylvan finished her speech with a curtsey and then stood to the side. The party members assembled applauded.

Zara Anthony mounted the stage and raised her wand to her face. “Ladies, our focus should not be on mere safety. Safety without equality is a lie Ms. Ecclestie perpetuates in the face of her own imprisonment. How can you trust her? She performed traditional magic in public! That is a clear crime under the law, and yet she would have you obey their rules and deny your own identity.

“We should instead focus on ensuring they recognize our equality to perform the same magic as wizards are entitled to perform. There is no reason for them to be allowed to perform simple magic while we must be punished for the same level of magic.

“We must demonstrate our focus on what the wizards are allowed, demonstrating our equality and competence, but we must also speak out against dark magic. Only if we show the public that we do not overreach into the evil depths can we achieve equality. We must show them that the magic wizards are entitled to is a part of our being, but dark magic and blood magic is not necessary. We have the same control as wizards, so we should ensure they treat us the same for the same level of goodness. Vote for me to ensure witches have the same respect as everyone else. Thank you.” Zara Anthony finished her speech with a curtsey and then stood beside Sylvan. The audience applauded.

Kristyn Marshadow mounted the stage and both Sylvan and Zara seemed to flinch. “Good evening, comrades. Do not forget who we are as witches! I am afraid my compatriots would have you forget your own identity to blend into the mainstream culture. They would have you leave behind your magic to fit in. They may preach equality, but the equality they try to convince you that you should have is merely another form of marginalization. Why should we forget the minorities within our own party?

“Ms. Anthony tells you traditional magic is evil and that we should throw blood magic aside, but traditional magic and blood magic are the life and soul of the wraith people. Why should we be denied that which makes us who we are, regardless of the legislated rights of anyone else. These ‘rights’ are merely artificial constructs designed to make the state appear respectful, but these ‘rights’ do not serve those who truly need support.

“Fitting in with the mainstream will only fragment us as a movement. We are already a fringe party. We have nothing to gain by accommodating the majority! Will they accept us if we act more like them? Only at our oblivion!

“Support your fellow party members, sparing no one, and united we should stand for the equality of all people, non-magical and magical, wizards and witches, witches and wraiths. Thank you.” Kristyn Marshadow finished her speech and stood beside Sylvan and Zara, a cold shadow in her eyes.

The audience applauded, but the applause was more hesitant, but whether it was because Kristyn had less support among the party or because fewer people wanted to admit their support Katelyn was not sure. Whatever the reason, a deadly silence spread across the hall.

Brittney Pallivar cleared her throat, drawing the focus of the audience back to her. “And now, we will allow a few moments for the candidates to address each other’s points. Ms. Ecclestie?”

Sylvan drew her wand back to her face. “I have experience fighting back against the oppression of witches. I know what we are up against. Ms. Marshadow only speaks of an ideal—”

“—a necessity for the survival of wraiths—” Kristyn interrupted.

“—An ideal,” Sylvan continued firmly. “That will never gain us inclusion in the overall community. We must take small steps or we will get nowhere. Ms. Anthony rejects the importance of our safety as if it would satisfy her to see us all to be locked up for performing simple magic in public—”

“—Says the woman imprisoned for performing traditional magic in public!” Zara interceded angrily.

“We should not simply leave traditional magic behind, as Zara would have you believe, but should perform it in private only,” Sylvan finished.

“Ms. Ecclestie,” Kristyn began, “haven’t you ever faced discrimination for the markings of traditional magic?”

“We should and must fight discrimination to ensure our survival,” Sylvan commented.

“And I would agree,” Kristyn responded, “but you can hardly expect safety if people can tell you have performed traditional magic. Safety is a false aim. You will never achieve it until you have respect.”

“Which is why we must aim for equality,” Zara asserted. “Leave behind the traditional magic, if you can,” she spoke louder to try to prevent Kristyn from interrupting her, “so that you do not become a target, and then ensure respect for the sameness we share with wizards.”

“So, you would have us cower away from our traditional selves just so that we can appear to be the same as other magic-holders?” Kristyn questioned. “The wizards are not the same as the non-magical people and we are not the same as the wizards? Why should we pretend? We should rather garner respect for our differences. We should have equal support for our own circumstances, because we are not equal in being the same. We are not ourselves in being the same, and thus in being the same we are pronounced as lesser.”

“Dark magic is dangerous, whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, Ms. Marshadow,” Zara countered. “We must ensure the protection of the non-magical as well in the decency of reasonable people.”

“And so you must acknowledge, Ms. Anthony,” Sylvan interjected, “that safety is important with respect to the circumstances to ensure the prospering of all people.”

“Alright!” Brittney concluded. “And now, we will have a quick round of questioning.”

Someone in the audience raised their hand. “What will you do to address the murder of Victoria Leste?”