“Ah, yes, well you see, there’s actually something I need you to do for me.”
“Colin, whatever he’s asking, don’t do it,” begged Catrina. “Find some other way to free me. Don’t do it.”
Colin heard her pleas but kept an unblinking gaze on Freyne’s mirrored image.
“There is someone that I want you to free, from another prison. One I know you’re not completely powerless against,” explained Freyne.
“And why would I do this?” Colin asked.
“Oh, I think you will. If not, then I won’t find it in my heart to release your little gal pal over there.”
Colin lowered his head.
There had been a time when he was used to being ordered around, and would have accepted it at once, knowing the consequences would be much worse if he did not.
This was not a feeling he ever wanted to feel again.
But for Catrina, it didn’t matter. He’d have gotten on his knees and licked Freyne’s feet to save her.
“Where is this person? Where are they imprisoned?”
He heard Catrina beg him again not to do it but he tuned her out.
“Jurekai Fazendiin’s estate,” replied Freyne. “She’s been there for a very long time. And it is about time she was set free.”
“It’s a she. So what, some long lost girlfriend of yours?”
Freyne let out a deep chortle. “Never. An enemy as old as we Grosvenor.”
“Enemy?” repeated Colin, unsure he heard correctly.
“Yes. Don’t ask why, my reasons are my own. Just free her. Bring me back a single strand of her hair as proof. Once I know she is free your bird gets out of her cage.”
“Really? That easy. Free this woman, return with a strand of her hair and just like that, you free Catrina. For some reason, I don’t trust you.”
“I don’t break bargains,” barked Freyne. “And the job won’t be easy! If it was easy I’d have done it myself.”
“You know, I’m starting to get the impression that you Grosvenor don’t like to get your hands dirty. You prefer to let anyone else do your dirty work for you.”
“Why mess with a good thing?”
Colin’s nerves tingled with unease. Breaking into the estate of Jurekai Fazendiin was bound to be anything but easy. Even with his powers and the fact that he could not die, he did not relish the idea.
But if this is what it took to free Catrina, then that’s what he needed to do.
“Fine,” agreed Colin. “I’ll free this long time enemy of yours. I’ll return here with the proof.” He took in a meaningful breath. “However, if you try to break the agreement, or even think about not freeing Catrina, or get some lame idea that I will become a willing puppet to continue your dirty work...” Colin let a little of his own darkness. “I will hunt you down. I will not only kill you, I will destroy you. And you know that I can.”
“Which is why I will keep my end of the deal, boy!” Freyne rumbled impatiently.
“Where on the estate is this woman imprisoned?” asked Colin. “Do you know at least that much?”
“She is inside the house,” muttered Freyne. “She is inside the very walls. Jurekai’s dear old mummy.”
“His mother?” stammered Colin. “What do you mean she’s in the walls?”
Freyne did not answer Colin, instead saying, “One last thing, when the time comes to enter the estate you cannot go alone. You’ll need help to enter. Help only one person can give you.”
“And just who is that?” asked Colin, thinking this entire deal was getting more complicated by the minute.
“That girl. Meghan. Yes, that’s the one. Meghan Jacoby.”
This infuriated Colin instantly. “Why would I need her help?”
Freyne did not reply. His image started to blur and fade.
“Answer me!” roared Colin.
The mirror was empty. Just Colin staring back at himself.
Meghan. Of all people, why her? He had more or less forgiven her for what she had done, but was he ready to see her again? To ask for her help? Would she even give it?
Freyne was gone. He wouldn’t get his questions answered.
He spun around and flew back to Catrina, careful not to touch the dust-bone wall between them.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes,” she replied in a small voice.
“I’m so sorry. I left the lighthouse and when I got back you were gone, and I realized I messed up. Badly.” He didn’t bother telling her about his adventure at sea. That could wait.
“Colin,” she started. “What’s done is done. I can’t get out of here now until you do this thing he’s asking. I don’t like it. I don’t like putting you in this position. But I guess there’s no other choice.”
“I’ll hurry. I’ll be as fast as I can,” he promised.
“Colin. Don’t be rash. Don’t hurry. I’ll be okay here.” She glanced around and tried to conceal a shudder.
“I can’t do it. I can’t leave you here.” The very idea of it was making him sick.
“I don’t want to stay here, just as equally as you don’t want to leave me here. We don’t have a choice. For whatever reason, he wants this woman freed.”
“Doesn’t it seem odd to you? He calls her their oldest enemy, and yet he wants her freed... and the woman I am freeing is Jurekai’s own mother. Something just doesn’t add up.”
“No. It doesn’t. But I guess that doesn’t matter for right now. But, Colin,” she began.
“Yes.”
“Are you going to be okay? Doing this without me?”
“Like you said, I don’t have a choice.”
“And reuniting with Meghan? Can you handle that?”
“Yes,” he replied, although his tone didn’t give her much confidence. “I can handle it.” He didn’t want Catrina worrying about him flying off the handle and losing it the entire time she was stuck here.
“Please be careful,” she whimpered. “I know you’ll be worried about me, but promise me you won’t do anything rash.”
“I will worry about you. Every single moment I’m gone. I don’t know if I can do it. You don’t even have any food, or water. Or warm enough clothes.”
“Freyne told me before you arrived that if I needed food or water to ask for it and it would arrive. I’m not sure I want to know what his version of food is. He claimed it was part of the magic he used to create this prison. And I’m not cold.” In truth, she was a little cold, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “Look, I’m no happier about being here than you are, but obviously, Freyne doesn’t want me dead. He could have killed me numerous times already.”
To further prove her point, she called out, “Water, please.”
A glass appeared, sitting on the ground. She picked it up and tasted it. “It’s fine,” she insisted.
He couldn’t speak. He knew she was putting up a brave front, and he knew he had to go, but he had a hard time just taking his eyes off her. His chest ached at the mere thought of letting her out of his sight.
“When I get you out of here, Catrina, I am never leaving your side again. I don’t care who needs my help, or who we need to hide from. Never again. I love you.” He wanted so desperately to wrap his arms around her and carry her away from this place.
“I love you,” she whispered back.
It took every ounce of strength he had to leave.
Catrina watched her savior disappear.
She heard a distant bellow from the direction of Freyne’s mirror.
“He will kill you, you know,” she responded confidently. “It’s only a matter of time.”
There was no reply, but the laughter stopped.
CHAPTER 9
Many hours had passed since the mysterious ship landed in the middle of the banished encampment earlier that morning.
Everyone on board with injuries now treated, waited anxiously along with many others for a long meeting to end; between Nashua, the Tunkapog leader, Curtis Bevins, current leade
r of the banished Svoda and the new arrivals. Billie and Noah spoke on behalf of the group.
As an advisor to Nashua, Kanda sat in as well, along with Arnon Jacoby and a few others from the banished camp.
Ivan, Meghan, Nona, and Sebastien all waited together. Jae had decided to return to bed, after another cup of Kanda’s potion laden tea during lunch. It was coming up on night and the lack of sleep was starting to catch up with Meghan and Ivan. Neither had slept properly in days. Kanda’s tea was looking like a better option by the minute.
Nevertheless, both stayed awake, desperate to find out what was happening on the island. And what was going to happen after this meeting ended.
If the plan to confront Fazendiin and reclaim the Stone would be postponed, in order to confront Juliska Blackwell, or if nothing would change and the Immortality Stone would still take precedent.
Meghan hung her head looking distressed. “If Billie and the rest of her crew had to escape on a ship belonging to the Stripers, things must have gone down hill, fast.”
“The meeting should be over soon,” said Sebastien. “Let’s wait and see. Maybe it won’t be as bad as we’re thinking.”
“They sure are taking a long time for it to be better than we’re thinking,” Meghan replied, holding no hope.
Ivan kept his thoughts to himself.
Nona hopped up. “My cat sense is telling me there’s a nice juicy...”
“Don’t need to hear the details, Nona,” said Meghan, as playfully as she could muster. “Go. Hunt. Eat.”
Nona liked being in the encampment. Being so far hidden in the woods, small rodents didn’t scare so easily; hunting was almost too easy. Meghan thought if they stayed long enough, Nona would end up getting fat with all the food roaming around. The Catawitch certainly enjoyed it.
The tale of the ship’s battle with the Slopikes, Amphivena and Salt Spiders, had already spread like wildfire through the encampment. Looking over the ship now, the damage made perfect sense. Meghan wondered how Colin had found the ship? And what would have happened if he had not.
A door opened.
“Finally,” breathed out Meghan.
A few bodies exited, people Meghan didn’t recognize.
No one spoke a word.
No one tried to make eye contact.
Meghan’s first thought: It’s even worse than we thought.
After a painfully long minute, Billie and Noah exited, with Kanda and Arnon directly behind.
Billie came up to them and at first, said nothing. Their desperate gazes cried out for good news, which she could not give them.
“I know how much you all want to know what’s happening on the island. I’m afraid all I can truthfully say is... it’s bad. Really bad.”
“What happened?” asked Ivan. “We fled just after Jae jumped over the cliff. I knew things would change after that, but, what’s happened?”
Billie explained all that had happened after Jae had jumped off the cliff. How everyone was confused and disbelieving of what they had witnessed and how Garner and his wife had confronted Juliska, casting off any disbelief that might have lingered.
“After our failed attempt at an attack, we fled, too. Those who came with me on the ship are all that got away. At least to my knowledge. As to what’s going on back there, right this very minute, I cannot imagine. But I have no doubt that Juliska is very much in charge, and that everyone’s lives are in grave danger. She has a host of Scratchers and an army of Stripers at her beck and call.”
Meghan’s chest heaved as if weighted down. She thought about all those innocent people on the island. She wondered about the Mochries, Jae’s family; were they still alive? What had happened to them after Jae’s death? She felt instant guilt for not having thought of Mireya sooner. How was she coping with what she thought was her brother’s death? They didn’t even know he hadn’t actually died.
“Our escape,” continued Noah, “was with the aid of someone in the Striper guard. We feel fairly certain it is a trap. In part to follow us to wherever we sought out help, and in part to hunt down the two of you,” Noah aimed at Meghan and Ivan.
“Us?” they asked together.
“Yes,” answered Billie. “We can’t be sure why, but for some reason, Juliska is hunting you both. Apparently she is quite determined to find you, if she let us go in hopes of locating you. And here we are, we’ve possibly shown them exactly where you are.” Her tone held nothing but apologies.
“I can’t say it’s not disturbing,” said Meghan, “but honestly, I’d rather know. If you were not here, Billie, we wouldn’t even know she is hunting for us.”
Ivan kept quiet but nodded his agreement with Meghan. She could not tell what he was thinking.
“If we were tracked here, we may have put this entire encampment in danger,” Billie said.
“Which is why we will need to act fast,” Arnon said.
“We all knew time was of the essence,” added Kanda. “But our guests have made that point exceedingly clear. Juliska has become as equally threatening as the Grosvenor.”
“Is there a plan?” asked Sebastien.
“Nothing, as of yet,” answered Arnon. “We are taking the night to mull things over.”
“We will meet again tomorrow. A decision will need to be made then,” finished Kanda.
Arnon and Kanda took their leave and started towards home, their heads together, whispering as they walked.
Meghan turned to Billie. “Regardless of the circumstances, it is still nice to see you.”
“And you all as well,” she answered, looking worn.
“Listen,” said Meghan, taking them aside and out of earshot of anyone that might be nearby. “There’s something I wanted to tell you guys before you turn in for the night. Sebastien, you haven’t heard this yet either,” she told him.
Ivan did not join. He leaned up against a tree, still having not spoken. Meghan cast him a worried glance; she could not tell what was going on in his head, but he looked far away. Not present.
She put him out of her mind for the moment and whispered, “I know how the ship got here.”
Billie and Noah waited wide-eyed for her to explain.
“It was Colin.”
“Colin? How did he...” Billie was cut off.
“Is Catrina with him?” asked Noah.
Meghan raised her hands motioning for them to wait and let her explain.
“Sorry,” said Noah. “We’ve been wondering for such a long time.”
Meghan nodded, continuing her explanation. “Colin’s abilities as a Projector are... impressive, from what my uncle has told me. Exactly how he found you and got you here, I have no clue. And in regards to Catrina, as of a few days ago, Catrina and Colin were still together and they were,” she paused, searching for the right word. “I hate to say fine, because I don’t imagine them being fine, but they are together and alive.” She attempted to sound positive, but there wasn’t much to sound positive about.
“For now, alive does sound just fine, thank you,” said Noah. “You have no idea what a relief it is to hear something. When we helped them escape,” he trailed off, peering awkwardly at Meghan.
“I messed up,” she replied. “We don’t have to pretend it didn’t happen.”
Noah nodded graciously. “When we helped them escape, we didn’t know if that might be the last time we ever saw Catrina. To know she’s still alive, it makes a disastrous day end just a little brighter.”
“Colin really brought the ship here?” Sebastien asked Meghan, still stunned.
“Yeah. He did. We didn’t talk, he just let me know it was him and then vanished.”
“He’s a powerful young man,” Billie said unexpectedly. “But a good one, too.”
“He has changed though,” said Meghan. “Didn’t have a choice, I guess.”
“That’s the real shame of it all,” Billie spoke with an edge of fire in her tone. “You young people, forced into a battle created by stupid old people!”
> Meghan for some reason found it humorous. A bit of Billie’s usual spunk had found its way back.
Billie tossed Noah a knowing glance. He returned it with a silent shrug. Billie looked directly at Meghan.
“There’s something else you should know. During the meeting, the subject of Colin was brought up.”
“In what way?” she asked.
“Curtis was explaining how Amelia died and that Colin had been publicly ousted as the Projector,” said Noah. “And, the subject wasn’t exactly expanded upon, but it seemed clear they had been discussing things previous to that moment. To what extent, I’m afraid we don’t know.”
“Do you think they are hunting him?” Meghan barely dared to ask.
Billie reached out and patted her shoulder. They didn’t know. But they feared this was the case, too.
Meghan blew out a distraught breath. She wondered if Kanda and Arnon had been in on these discussions. Surely not! Surely if they had, they would have shared this information with her.
“So, not to change the subject,” started Billie, “but I just need to ask, how is it that Jae Mochrie is alive?”
“Oh, right,” said Meghan. She took the next few minutes and explained the situation.
“That poor boy,” Billie whispered when Meghan had finished.
“And also rather lucky,” Noah added. “Does he have any idea the chain reaction his stunt set off?”
Meghan could not tell by his tone if he were pleased or disgusted.
Noah picked up on this and added, “I didn’t mean that in a bad way. This thing with Juliska was going to happen. It was always just a matter of when. Jae’s actions, as far as I’m concerned, were beyond brave.”
“I don’t think he sees it that way.” It was Ivan that said it, sidling up alongside Meghan.
“Maybe he doesn’t now,” said Billie. “I’m sure he’s still feeling guilty for what he did, but choosing to forfeit his own life to reveal Juliska’s secret, and die rather than accept his fate, shows great bravery.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Meghan. “You guys should go,” she added. “You must be exhausted. They’ve got you all set up somewhere?”
Control (The Blood Vision, The Immortality Stone, and The Woman in Glass) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 7) Page 9
