Chapter Text
The sun still hung low over the lagoon as copia watched from his window in the palace. Through the low hanging morning mist he could see preparations beginning for the day’s ceremony. The wedding of the sea was always a long tiring day especially for him but duty is duty. He began to cough, air scratching his throat as he raised a handkerchief to his mouth. It came away bloody.
“The tonic didn’t work.” He muttered to himself although he never really believed it would. Over fifteen years of physicians and tonics had done little to nothing for his health. Trips to villas on the mainland for air that only left him homesick, bleedings and leaches that only gave him bruises. None of it had worked so he remained slower and weaker than his family. Although that wasn’t the only difference between them. A little warm wriggle interrupted his wandering thoughts as a small white rat squirmed out the folds of his velvet blanket it’s pointy little nose twitching, “good morning to you too Avalanche.” He whispered while running his trembling fingers through the sweet rodents fur. Rats, Copia had always believed were similar to him, that is unwanted an unwelcome pest getting under people’s feet. He was also sure that given half a chance his father would hire a rat catcher to finally be rid of copia. So he had always had a soft spot for the misunderstood creatures, they were not the carriers of plague like so many believed (he knew that was the flees) and in a damp city like Venice there were plenty to found. “None as perfect as you.” He reassured Avalanche as she ate one of the biscuits he’d stolen for her yesterday.
Later that morning Copia made his way to the grand hall. Slowly. Very slowly. His ceremonial doublet was heavy with gold brocade and rare jewels, so grand it boarded on tacky but this was the most important day in the Venetian calendar. He felt even weaker than usual as he shuffled down the cold marble corridors leaning heavily on one of his butler’s so as not to collapse in the middle of the palace. If only he had been permitted his cane. The halls seemed to extend for miles as Copia fought to regain his breath, his mother would not be happy if he arrived breathless and faint. The butler sensed his struggle and wrapped an arm around his waist to take more of his weight. Ridiculous, he could barely walk the halls of his own home but at least he was on his feet after that terrible fever last month. They had almost given up on him, if it wasn’t for his twin they may have been right.
“Heavens and hell Copia! You are late again.” His mother chided as he finally made it to the anti-chamber. Imperator was dressed in a pale green gown layered with cloth of gold but her face was dark and stormy. “I am sorry mama,” he gasped, “if you had allowed me use of a cane. Per- perhaps,” Perpetua guided him to a chair again the wall as his condition became clear. “He’s not well mama.”
“He never is!” Their mother snapped. “Really? It’s enough of an embarrassment without such an important ceremony. If people found out the truth Copia, we would be ruined.”
She didn’t mean his infirmity. No, it was the other loss and shame. In a family of mages he was completely powerless. An unknown shame, one twin born strong and gifted the other Copia. It was the source of endless shame and secrecy, illness was nothing to wonder about but a giftless child born into the only remaining magic line of Venice was. Copia felt the shame of his existence everyday, especially when Perpetua went for lessons with their father leaving Copia alone. Hell, even Secondos short lived bastard had the gift of magic. Just not Copia. A fact his parents could never forgive him for. As if to prove that point his father had turned his back the moment Copia entered the room and gone straight for a glass of brandy.
“After your collapse at Countess DeFroques ball I thought you would have learnt. If anything -Anything, happens today you’ll be sent to the mainland again.” Copia could only nod. Imperator at least seemed content and turned to lecture cousin Terzo who as usual was already drunk. “Ignore her. She means well.” Perpetua whispered, Copia felt warmth bloom in his chest as Perpetuas magic cleared his lungs and allowed him to breathe deeply. He would be lost without his twin even if the gift they possessed left a shred of jealousy in Copia’s heart. Perpetua wore purple of course, since birth they had assigned colours; Purple for Perpetua and Red for Copia. They had no garments of any other colour in their wardrobes other than mourning black. Copia looked his twin in the eyes, both had inherited the one green and one white eye if their fathers line although Perpetuas were shadowed by the pale mask they were forced to wear for events. Perpetua took his hand, they both had pale skin from being indoors but with Perpetuas curled black hair it was a fair complexion while Copia just looked sickly with his mousy brown hair and small moustache.
The trumpets outside blew in warning as the family scrambled into position. Perpetua helped Copia to his feet with a ruffle of silver underskirts. They truly looked beautiful in the silk gown with the deep purple mantua pinned and draped at the waist. Together they went to join the back of the formation. Terzo stood ahead of them, his slightly creased waistcoat straining slightly at his stomach. Primo and Secondo stood together in second, Secondo being unmarried and Primo a widower. At the front stood the two undisputed heads of the family, Nihil and Imperator. Copia’s parents.
The trumpets blared again as the gilded doors opened. “The noble house Emeritus. Lord Nihil, magus to his serene highness, and family.” As the herald announced them the whole royal court turned to watch them. Thousands of eyes, some admiring others filled with an all too familiar jealousy but all looking for the smallest mistake. He wasn’t going to give them on. Copia took a deep breath and stood as tall as his aching back would allow, Perpetua extended an arm with a smile full of pointed teeth, an arm he gladly took as they stepped onto the cold chequered marble floor. While most eyes stayed on elder members but the twins got a fair share of attention, at twenty they would soon be expected to marry and who wouldn’t want to become part of the last gifted house? Copia for one as he walked past paintings of Dukes and Magus’s past, staring down disapprovingly from golden frames at his trembling frame. Without Perpetua he would surely have collapsed but he made it to the dais and the two golden thrones.
Sat on the larger throne or rather slumped and wheezing was his serene highness the Duke of Venice although he seemed none the wiser to his surroundings. Duke Psaltarian was the one person at court more ill than Copia but at least Copia’s mind was not addled. The second throne was occupied by a far kinder figure, the Duchess and regent Marika but Copia simply called her Aunty. He rose from his bow and caught her smiling at him. The family moved to stand on the left of the thrones while Nihils sworn nemesis Father Jim DeFroque stood to the right. The screen doors behind the throne opened to show the royal barge, it was time to begin.
The water of the lagoon lapped gently against the sides of the barge as it was pushed off the palace. All the most important members of the court were gathered, the ladies large skirts pressing against each other. Copia, thankfully, sat on a gilded stool next to Marikas throne with Perpetua stood behind him. Last year he was forced to stand and had been confined to bed for days afterward. Now at least he could relax, Perpetuas earlier spell meant him to breathe freely without hacking up a lung so he focused on the waters. Being on it was very different to observing it from a window, up there it sparkled and flowed but on the barge it was dark and unforgiving. This close up he believed in its power and the tales of the magical connection to not just the city but his family. It had always seemed strange however that the only thing living in were plain grey cod, rather a let down compared to the stories of old.
“As we do every year we gather here today to honour the sea,” Father Jim said as the barge arrived. “To tie together the islands of our city and the sea it sits on we ask his eminence Magus Nihil to provide his… gifts.” Jim loathed magic, it was a well known fact because he didn’t even try to hide it. “Please allow the Duchess to bring forward the ring.” Both Nihil and Marika stood, one in a gown of gold and the other in heavily embroidered robes of the darkest black. Nihil was still rather handsome despite his advancing age of six and fifty, still strong and powerful as his weathered hands took the gold ring and it immediately began to glow. “Per aspara ad inferi.” The old man began to chant as the choir in a smaller boat sung. Perpetua had told Copia chanting wasn’t necessary for the spell but people enjoyed the theatrics. Under Nihils spell the glowing ring began to spin and twist in the air.
Copia couldn’t look away. If he could just touch it he was sure his own powers would finally awaken and next year he would be the one stood there in control while his father watched. If he was any younger he would have reached out already. The metal seemed so soft and warm, he wanted to touch it.
With a flick of Nihils wrist the ring flew out into the water, down to join the chain of others that had been placed over centuries. As it hit the water Copia flinched snapping out of his trance with laboured breaths, Perpetuas hand now rested on his shoulder although when it moved there he could not recall. The choir resumed as the barge began to move. Copia attempted to still his shaking hands and calm down by listening. He had sung once, well he believed and actually made his mother proud but as his health deteriorated he was forced to stop.
He barely noticed the journey back to the palace, all he could think off was the ring. He twisted the similar ring on his thumb but he didn’t find that helped. It took Perpetua and Terzo to help him cross the jetty to the palace although how much help a drunk Terzo truly provided was questionable. “I think you should lie down frattello.” Perpetua commanded as they made their way towards his rooms only to be stopped by Imperator. “Copia go lay down.” She snapped, “a servant will assist you. Perpetua must come to the feast, it would not be proper otherwise.” Perpetua nodded sadly as Copia felt himself being led away. “I shall sit with you later.” His twin promised but all Copia had the strength to do was turn and nod weakly as they were both led away in opposite directions.