“You had a Firemancer as a teacher then, too?” asked Meghan.
“A seer, yes. A Firemancer, no. Firemancy is not as common as you or I make it seem. My teacher was a Watermancer… she used water to see her visions, in the same manner we use fire. Did you know the seer gift is passed down from mothers only to their daughters?”
Meghan already knew this. However, it was Uncle Eddy, their ghostly, secret tutor in Grimble that had explained, so she pretended not to.
“So my mother was a Firemancer, too?”
“Do you know nothing of your mother at all?” prodded Juliska. “I have to admit I have been very curious. Especially since your gift came on so late in life.”
“So that’s not normal?”
“I’ve never seen it before. A gift like ours typically begins to show itself in some way or another when we are young children.”
“So much I don’t know. And as for my mother, I know about as much. She died with my father in an accident when Colin and I were still babies. My uncle raised us.” Meghan choked up for a moment, at the same time, wondering how much to share. “I’m pretty sure my uncle was clueless about all this magic stuff,” she lied.
It tore at her to do it, but talking about Uncle Arnon felt like a betrayal in a way. Whether he was dead, or by some miracle had survived the Scratcher attack and was alive.
“Does it ever seem to you, that the more you learn about the gift of sight, you know less and less about everything else in the world?” Meghan wrinkled her nose as if to say, does that even make any sense?
“Are you sure you’re only fourteen?” Juliska ribbed.
Meghan laughed shyly. “I think I’ve always been part teen wannabe, and part, I’ve lived forever.”
Juliska reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair back in place. Meghan shied away from the contact, not used to it, and yet a huge part of her craved it. Like she’d just talked about, she’d never known her mother. But she’d always wanted one.
This was business though. And Juliska was her teacher.
“If I can be honest, Meghan, getting this secret off my chest is more of a relief than I could have imagined. But I do not want you to be pressured into this. If you personally feel you are not ready, then that’s the end of it.”
“You’d give me a choice?”
“Of course. You do have a say in your future.” There was an edge of bitterness in Juliska’s tone, as if she’d not had the same privilege. But Meghan did not push the subject. Instead, she got herself sitting up straight, and lifted her chin in determination.
“What do you need me to do? Where do I start?”
Juliska grinned. Pleased.
“By moving in with me again, actually.”
Meghan perked up. “I’ll go pack my things.”
Shoot. Colin.
He’ll be fine. He’s busy guarding Catrina anyway.
“We start first thing tomorrow,” Juliska told her.
“So what’s in there?” asked Meghan, nodding in the direction of the trunk with the ornate doorways.
Juliska smiled rather devilishly. “That will be one of our first lessons. I think you’re going to like it.”
Meghan stared, wondering just what secret waited inside.
CHAPTER 6
Meghan’s nerves buzzed with anticipation as she departed Juliska’s tent. Moments later, Nona appeared.
“You’re going to pack, I presume,” she asked Meghan. The Catawitch had already heard the entire conversation through her connection with Meghan’s thoughts.
“Yup. I wonder if Juliska is keen to you being able to hear my thoughts even while in her room. She told me everything we said to each other there was completely secret, and nothing could be overheard from outside the room.”
“I am sure your conversations are safe from others, but the connection we have is not breakable by any known magic,” Nona informed Meghan. “But it does make me curious…”
“About what?”
“Whether Colin would be able to hear you as well?”
“Hm, I wonder. I haven’t told Juliska about being able to read Colin’s mind. I haven’t told many people. For good reason.”
“And I think, for now, that is one secret that should remain,” Nona returned.
“I agree,” smiled Meghan. “Pretty crazy though, huh, Nona?”
“Juliska’s lack of visions concerns me greatly. Not only for what it means to everyone’s safety, but also to yours.”
“She is under a great deal of pressure. I mean, can you even imagine living day to day with the knowledge that it’s your responsibility to protect all of these people?”
“And now, in part, it is also yours,” Nona reminded.
“I will do whatever I can to help Juliska. I just feel so… not ready. Even though I acted like I was.”
“We will do this task together. I will help in whatever manner I can.”
“Really don’t know how I ever lived without you, Nona.” She rubbed up against Meghan’s leg returning the compliment with a purr.
“How about we take it one step at a time,” her Catawitch advised.
“Right. So, pack first. Second, tell Colin. Third, move in with Juliska. And tomorrow...” Meghan’s voice rose with each task.
“One step at a time,” Nona encouraged.
A short while later they arrived at the Mochrie tent.
“Hi, Mireya,” Meghan said upon entering.
“Oh, hi,” she replied, lifting her head from a book.
“Your parents gone?”
“At a zone meeting.”
Meghan continued into their shared room, confused by the scene unfolding inside. Jae was helping Colin go through his belongings.
“What are you doing?” Meghan asked her brother.
“Packing.”
“Yeah, figured that much out on my own. Why are you packing?”
“I’m not really staying here. Makes sense to have my stuff with me. And… Billie offered to let me stay with her. She has extra space and a free room all to myself.”
“Ah, less crowd time.”
“And less outside sleeping. I’m not that big a fan and neither is Catrina. Would make keeping her safe and secret much easier. You’re welcome too, of course.”
“Actually, I have to pack as well. I’ve had an offer myself. I guess your tent is going to be a lot less crowded after today, Jae.”
“Where are you…” Colin smirked, trailing off. “You’re going to stay with Juliska again, aren’t you?”
“Yes. She asked me to, in order to continue my training as a Firemancer.”
Colin ground his teeth, but it wasn’t like he could stop his sister. Or that she could say no, to Juliska. But he still did not like it one bit.
“Is Catrina here?” Meghan whispered after a tense minute.
“No. I left her at Billie’s to take a nap. I just got back about fifteen minutes before you did.” Meghan sensed his eagerness to return to her.
“Tell her I said hi. I’ll try to come visit you when I can.”
What Colin heard between the lines was, Best if I come visit you and not the other way around. Not that he planned to visit Juliska Blackwell anytime soon.
“We’ve always got this, too.” Colin pointed at his head.
“Yeah. Of course. Connection’s always open,” she insisted. She’d try at least. “We need to remember to thank your parents, Jae, for letting us stay with you all this time. And who knows, we might be back.”
“I’ll pass the message along,” he offered. “This will be strange, though. We’ve been living together for a long time. Can’t say it won’t be nice to have a little extra space,” he jested lightheartedly.
The three laughed and grinned.
“It has been quite the adventure,” Meghan lamented as if it were all coming to an end.
“You’re acting like we’re moving away permanently.” Colin squirmed a little. “It’s not like we’re leaving. Just be a few tents over.”
“Oh, I know,” she blew it off. “But in a way, we are sort of all going our separate ways. It’s a little scary,” she said honestly.
“Leave it to my dad to be right,” Jae muttered begrudgingly.
Meghan and Colin waited for him to explain.
“Nothing stays the same forever, so don’t get used to anything.”
“That is actually a little depressing if you think about it,” Meghan mused glumly.
“And sadly, these days, very true,” Colin pointed out.
“Well, you two have fun,” Jae called out while falling back onto his sleeping cot. “I’ll be kicking back and enjoying all this peace and quiet.” He let out a fake bemoaning sigh. “Yup. This is downright tortuous. All this time, alone.”
Colin tossed a sock at his face. Jae caught it and tossed it back with a grin.
The twins shivered.
Man, did they hate it when that happened.
There was something missing behind their friend’s grin.
Was he pretending to be happy they were leaving? But really disappointed?
Was he relieved they were leaving? Glad of the extra space, or… or what?
It was hard to place the emotion that whisked through his gaze, but it left the twins with a sense that this very moment was a pivotal change in all their futures. That in some way, they truly were following their own paths. Each headed out on some different journey.
Another shudder down the twins’ spines.
“Was that your bad feeling or mine?” Colin asked his sister through their mind connection.
“Let’s not go there again,” she shot back. “Isn’t that how all this started? Back in Uncle Arnon’s travel trailer over a year ago.” Right after the Svoda had come into the campground. And nothing had been the same since.
Meghan shut down the connection, blocking Colin.
What am I doing?
Leaving Colin to fend for himself.
Taking on a life I’m not ready for.
What happened to getting back home?
Figuring out what happened to Uncle Arnon?
How had this life become so all encompassing, in a year’s time?
Nona licked her hand, jostling Meghan back into reality. She grabbed her packed bag and her Catawitch jumped down from the cot, leading the way out of the Mochrie tent. She opened up her thoughts to Colin. “Be careful.”
“You, too.”
“We might not be staying in the same place, but whenever you need me, I’ll hear you, I promise.”
“Same here, Sis.” Colin patted Jae’s shoulder. They nodded a final time. Both Colin and Meghan left at the same time with a quick goodbye to Mireya and exited the tent, going in opposite directions.
Mireya sighed.
“Sad?” Jae asked his sister.
“Don’t know. Kind of I guess. It’s not just them leaving.”
“Kind of everything,” he guessed.
“Yeah. Nothing’s normal anymore.”
“Nothing’s ever really normal,” Jae pointed out.
“I know. I just mean, everything is extra abnormal.”
“You don’t have to explain, I get it. But maybe once we find out what’s happened here, some things will get back to normal.”
“I hate sitting around, waiting and waiting. I wish there were some way I could help. I wish I could do something.”
“I know what you mean,” he replied. “But we have to let the Initiated take care of this. The best thing we can do is keep our eyes open, our ears tuned in, and study hard while in school. So when the time comes, we can do our part.”
Mireya picked up her book and bonked Jae on the head with it.
“I have read this book so many times I practically have it memorized,” she exclaimed.
“Ah, keyword – practically!”
She shot him an ugly face, stuck out her tongue, and returned to studying and reading. Jae let her do so in silence, staring at the tent wall while deep in thought.
His sister had it right. He wanted to do his part, too. He wanted to help. He wanted enough power to make a difference. Power like he’d had when he got stuck behind after first meeting Meghan and Colin. Power like he’d lost after coming home to his family and the other Svoda.
And wasn’t it wrong to crave such things?
To always want more…
And yet it would solve so many problems. He’d be better at magic. His father might even… he shook his head and released an anxious exhale.
Perhaps I should take the Banon up on her offer…
She did say I was perfect for the job.
She also said it would be dangerous… and no going back once I agreed.
Jae’s heart raced with indecision.
We face danger every single day.
Shouldn’t I be as prepared as I can be?
“I’ll be back in a little while,” Jae blurted suddenly, rising from his chair. He did not give Mireya a chance to question him. He flew out of the tent, his course, certain. Although once standing in front of the tent he sought, he had a moment of panic.
No going back…
His arm fell to his side before knocking.
I’ll be strong and powerful if I do this.
A withered hand pulled back the canvas tent door and a whiff of mothballs struck Jae’s nostrils.
“Please enter, young Jae Mochrie,” encouraged a voice, from inside. “But only if you are certain. For as you have been warned this choice is final, and cannot be undone.”
Jae’s heart pounded. All he had to do was step inside.
“I have seen your true heart, Jae, and I understand, more than most, what it is you desire.” Banon Blackwell had told him this while in Eidolon’s Valley. Their conversation drummed around his brain.
“It feels wrong. To want this.”
“Maybe you are not meant to control the wanting,” the Banon posed. “Perhaps your experience of being left behind and fending for yourself was meant to happen, to change the course of your life for the better. Wanting, isn’t always bad. Or selfish. How would we ever make a goal and see it through if we didn’t want to?”
Jae had never thought about it that way before.
The Banon continued.
“I see it as passion, Jae. And if people did not have a passion for power, how would the world ever find its leaders? There’s no argument that many in power are consumed by it, and ruled by it. But power is not purely good or purely bad.”
Jae was glad he had finally dared have this conversation. It had been eating him up inside. But the last thing he’d expected was Viancourt member Tanzea Chase, to pass him on a path one day and read him almost like she was reading his mind. And then set up a meeting with the Banon. And for her to offer him a job! He was about to turn fifteen and had not passed Initiation. Passed! He wasn’t even close to getting through school, never mind what came after. And if he had to hear his father drone on and on, one more time, about Ivan and his ability to do no wrong…
“I guess what you say is true,” Jae replied after thinking it through. “I mean, look at you,” he said with reverence. “You are what we are all supposed to be striving to be like. I guess that can’t be bad.”
Juliska just smiled her reply, pleased.
“I just think I could do so much if only given the chance,” he told her. “But not like I am now. I feel… weak.” His admission flushed his skin.
“If you take this position, Jae, you will never be weak again. However, do be sure that it is weakness you feel, and not cowardice, you’re trying to hide from instead.”
His gaze fixed on her.
“I’m not a coward. I’m not always confident, either.”
“Confidence does not equal bravery, nor does fear equal cowardice. Knowledge, is the true power.”
Jae nodded. “I just want what’s inside me to match the vision I have of myself. A way to do all the things I know I’m capable of, but just cannot seem to do the way I am now. I feel out of place. Stuck
in the wrong body.” He shook himself, a bit of disbelief in his honesty. He’d never been so forthcoming.
“You are not a coward, Jae. A coward would never find himself sitting in front of me getting a lifetime job offer. I only meant for you to see it too. I want you to make this choice certain of who you are, and what you want from your future.”
Her eyes beamed, waiting for his response.
He’d given none. Needing some time to think.
And now time was up and he had to make the choice. Juliska wasn’t going to wait forever, and if this is the path he wanted to take, why wait? Why not start right this minute?
He could study, graduate, and wait for his Initiation, or he could step through this door and bypass years of waiting for his life to begin. Jae had been told no more other than once he agreed and said yes, the decision was final. He would face unimaginable dangers, but serve his Queen and fulfill his duty. What more was expected from this life? It also meant skipping ahead, never looking back, and being powerful enough to do something important. Today. Not next month. Or next year. Or in five years.
“Well… I don’t have all day, Jae,” the voice echoed out of the tent impatiently. “What’s it going to be?”
Jae hastened inside, letting the canvas door close behind him.
CHAPTER 7
Colin arrived at Billie’s tent. She greeted him at the door.
“Hi, Billie. Back with my stuff.” It was not much, just a backpack and a small trunk.
“Sure am glad ya said yes,” she told him.
“It was getting a bit crowded at the Mochrie’s.”
“You make yourself right at home, now. I have a meetin’ to get off to, but I’ll be home ‘round evening.” She winked and left Colin to get settled.
Catrina slept through the afternoon. It was the first uninterrupted sleep she had been able to have since Colin had saved her from the cave.
Evening came and Billie did not come home.
Catrina woke briefly and Colin told her he would grab them some dinner. When he returned she was sitting up in the cot, but still looked tired.
Catrina yawned.
“You should get more rest,” insisted Colin.
She did not argue. “I’ve never felt so tired,” she muttered, sinking into her blanket.
Broken (The Stones, The Vampyres, and The Cursed Child) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 4) Page 4
