“I’d say it was bizarre if my own, mother didn’t get up early to jog,” Molly interjected.
“True, but there has to be more to Jones than he’s telling us hints, clues, our class. It’s as if he wants us to uncover his true identity,” I said, as I glanced out the window watching pine trees fly by on either side of us. I hadn’t even noticed we’d left the city. I was too busy discussing current events.
“I assume we’re almost there. I keep seeing all these trees, and we passed a small gas station a few minutes ago,” said Jenson tapping the steering wheel. He’d turned on some low, music. I couldn’t tell who the group was singing la la la.
“It can’t be too far out then. We’ve been driving for about twenty minutes,” said Owl.
Molly played with the necklace Maine had given her, and then set her hands back to her side.
“You alright?” I asked.
“Yeah, just a bit nervous about this,” she admitted.
The van in front us of slowed down. We turned right onto another side road, made a left, then right again and pulled up to a tiny log cabin surrounded by pine trees.
“This is it,” said Jenson, pulling into the drive and parking the car. We unbuckled our seat belts and then got out to stretch before beginning the search.
Jenson stepped out of the car opening the door for me.
“Thanks,” I stated, hoping down onto the snowy earth.
“Welcome, we’ll figure this Jones thing out,” he said as he shut the door. “Let’s only hope he’s not an enemy, directing us into a trap,” Jenson whispered in my ear. Odd, perhaps he didn’t want Lance or Shellena to hear? I spotted Lance jumping out of the other van.
“It’s good to see we all made it here safely.” He slapped Jenson on the back in a friendly manner. I smiled. Hmm, maybe he would be a good addition to our team.
Molly and Owl stood, off to the side waiting.
Shellena got out of the van and slammed the door shut behind her. She trotted up to me as if I was her new best friend.
“You look better. Less pale than when we left the park. Any word on your guardian status?” she asked playfully punching me in the shoulder.
“Nayla, says I have a great deal of knowledge to obtain. I presume she’ll guide me until I’m up to speed on things.”
“Sure thing kid, you’re probably right.”
“I may be new, but I’m not a kid,” I prompted her, gesturing for the rest of my friends to join me.
“I have the key so you’ll have to step aside,” Lance said behind me. We entered the small open porch that led up to the door. Jenson stood beside me.
“How do you know it’s locked?” he asked, tugging on it.
“Nuria never left it open being paranoid about privacy. She claimed in the last few months she was here, she was being tracked. The clan was never able to prove it,” said Lance.
“She constantly had me monitor her mail. I couldn’t tell who sent it. No return address. We, all kept our distance for fear if we tried to interfere with her business or secrecy that we’d be expunged, from her life altogether,” Shellena explained while Lance unlocked the door.
It swung open, and we shuffled inside to escape the cold. Lance closed it behind us latching the lock by the chain above the door.
“That should do it. You never know who might show up,” he said.
The small living area contained a desk, on the far left corner of the room with a chair tucked under it. It must have been where she wrote her notes, letters, I observed. On top of the desk laid several books, letters, stamps, and a small lamp. In front of us sat a faded gray couch, next to that on the right an old blue lazy-boy. The only other item, in the room, was a coffee table, where a small radio and several magazines, had been placed.
“No, TV?” I asked.
“No, she just had the radio out here. I don’t even think, she could get reception, for the local channels, if she tried to,” said Owl thumbing through several books, then setting them down.
“Anything there?” asked Lance glancing at the books.
“A few spell books, “Portrait of a Lady”, and a dictionary,” replied owl.
“Is this it?” I asked.
“What do you mean?” said Lance.
“Are there other rooms, I’m not seeing any.”
“Come, let me show you,” he said.
We followed him straight to the end of the room on the right-hand side. He placed his hand on an odd looking button concealed in the wall. Gradually the wooden panel slid open, revealing a bedroom, which joined a bath.
“Check the bathroom? See if there are any unusual items in there,” I demanded.
“Give me a minute,” Owl mumbled.
Pushing past him, I shoved the door open, revealing a black and white tile floor, a sink with a cabinet above it, next to it the toilet and an over-sized bathtub. Man, I would have loved a soak in that! I peered into the cabinet above the sink, empty. No toothbrush, soap, or any toiletries. The bathtub had been cleaned, and no shampoo, soap, or other products remained.
“Nothing, it’s spotless,” I said making my way back into the bedroom. It was simply furnished with a full bed, nightstand, a dresser, and shelves of books.
“This is the main room, her sanctuary. She never allowed me in. The rules in place being, enter only if an intruder, were to appear on the premises. It was vital that I respected her wishes. No one ever asked Nuria why, about anything. Even Eva rarely spoke with her except for clan meetings. It’s not something you’d expect from one seeking peace,” said Lance.
“If she sought serenity outside of society, it would make complete sense to me,” I said, sitting down on her bed. My eyes made contact with a picture on her nightstand. Nuria and Eva, they were quite young. A diary laid next to it with a few letters tucked in-between its pages. I picked it up as we heard a ruckus outside, a raccoon’s maybe? They were scavengers.
“Shhh, Stay quiet, and in this room, don’t make a sound, and don’t come out whatever you do!” said Lance.
Then I heard it, revving or maybe an engine that wouldn’t turn over. How could that be with no neighbors, garages or other outbuildings? Still, it seemed far away.
“What? Don’t you think we could handle facing an enemy?” I asked, trying to hone in on my fox audible range.
“There could be more than one,” Owl pointed out.
“Let them take care of it,” Molly whispered shivering as she sat down on the bed beside me. Jenson stood, near the door, we’d entered.
The revving of motorcycles or a vehicle of some kind, grew louder. Were they going to ride right through the cottage?
“Just let Shellena, and I deal with this,” spat Lance.
“What about Nayla? She told me she was going to track us. Wouldn’t she have placed some, kind of barrier or protection spell around us?”
“She’ll do what she can to distract them,” Shellena clarified.
“Your job right now, is to collect as much information as possible. Let us deal with whoever is outside. Once you have the data study it, save it and keep it close. If we don’t come back in twenty minutes, I hope one of you has a good mobile plan.”
Jenson held up his phone. He was still getting two bars, and had a full charge. Lance patted him on the back.
“Good man, now Shellena and I are going to take care of this.”
My body urged me to transform. All of my senses were telling me to merge into a fox and here was the bro/sis team telling me to collect data, stay behind and play the mastermind. I took a gulp of air asking myself what Willow would do and then sucked it up, taking out the letters inside the journal. Owl and Molly gathered near me as I read it out loud.
Dear Nuria,
It’s getting worse. I sense the need to take Cal away from here. I didn’t imagine the bandits would get this hostel. I only wanted to keep our species divided for our well-being. After River Rogue and all that death, I’m unable to continue. At the time, I thought it was right.
Now that they want to start an anarchy, I can no longer be a part of this. I’ve realized it was a war of hate. The only achievable success I now seek is through compromise. For now, I’m taking Cal into hiding. She never knew why she was kidnaped. We made her believe it was for her protection. That her clan had a plan, to sacrifice her to your gods and it’s such a mess! I’m asking for your alliance. I’m leaving today. I know it’s been years since her disappearance. I’ve observed you among your people. You have a gentle kindness, warmth; along with that I admire your ability to protect your life, keeping it off the grid. Make sure you avoid getting close to anyone. If you already have, please end it. We must stop them from destroying what tranquility you and your tribe have found.
Sincerely,
Minder
After reading the correspondence out loud, I set it down on the bed beside me. Molly and Jenson wore expressions of concern.
“So this is why she broke it off with Rascal. There is no mention of a sibling or a child. It could mean we were wrong assuming she may have been pregnant.”
“True, but there are other notes, can you hear what is going on outside? Are they, OK?” asked Molly.
“I hope so,” I replied surveying the room once more. I noted, it was windowless and stepped towards the wall, to press my ear against it.
“You need to leave! I don’t care who you work for or your intentions. This is private property,” shouted Lance.
“Others like us will be arriving. We cannot allow the mergers you’ve created with the outside world,” said the man.
“Mergers protect us all, keep us safe. It’s when you are divided, splitting up clans, humans, and hybrids into categories that the evils begin. Death, bloodshed, hate, and prejudice all over the vengeance you seek,” Shellena shrieked. It sounded as if there was more than one of them.
“What’s happening, are they fighting?” asked Owl.
“Shhh let me listen, unless you want to go out there.”
“This land belongs to Nuria and our clan. Blood, will not be splattered this evening. You will leave!” argued Lance.
Glancing over, I saw Molly. She’d opened up the next memo reading it silently. Her eyes got big, yet she kept silent.
Listening, I heard, a padding of feet. I closed my eyes, trying to tune myself into the beings outside of the building. If I could just align myself with one of them to see what was going on. Was it possible? Could you do that with current events as I had with the past at the meeting?
Nayla, is she out there? I thought.
Then it began...
“Into the darkness you shall subside, leave this land go back to your pride. I Scorn those who wish to inflict harm. I come in peace while you have come armed. Our love here is for all now. I banish you into the night. Leave now or there will be a brawl.”
I took my ear away from the partition. Molly came over to me with a note in her hand.
“They are in a hilly area, maybe mountains? This letter doesn’t give a good description. It would have been before Nuria left. In it, she asks them to meet her at a place called Great Lakes edge,” she said.
“Did she include any pictures or hints of how far away this place is from Springville? It’s not in another dimension, is it?” I asked.
“They cannot hide everything. This postcard is stamped, from a place in Michigan. It can’t be too far away. We are already residing in a Northern town,” stated Molly.
She handed me the memoir along with the mail. I placed them in the large tote I’d brought with me.
“Think it’s safe to leave?” Jenson asked taking my hand in his. I pulled him close, leaning a bit on his shoulder. He kissed my cheek. Molly smiled at us.
Abruptly the entrance slide opened, before us, stood Shellena, Lance, and Nayla.
“I heard you perform a spell. Did it make them disappear?”
Nayla trotted over, nuzzling my left hand that lay at my side. I detected sadness in her big bright green eyes.
“All is well now. The spell will keep them at bay, till dawn. If we leave now, I can mask our scent. Have you gotten what you came for?”
“It’s difficult to say yes confidently,” I replied
“Then allow me to go foxy on, this place,” she snickered swishing her tail.
A white spot darted from one end of the room to the other, in madness. It looked as if a ray of light bounced off the walls. It reminded me of the clubs in L.A. I’d gotten into one once. Mom had not been pleased when she’d found out.
“It’s clear, we should move now and get back to Hunters Park. Transport what you’ve collected. Come along now,” she said scowling.
Following her out into the cold, it was ironic. Things were heating up, and this ice burg was about to melt.
Chapter 25
Dead air filled the van like an unexpected visitor. Sitting in the back seat, Molly rifled through letters we’d found. She’d pushed me to grant her the authority to search through them, hoping for a hot lead. I hadn’t heard a peep since. Jenson’s eyes remained on the street. I dare not even attempt, a romantic gesture. . Frowning at the gray sky, I stretched my arms over my head and yawned. It was overcast, not a night for star gazing. I shivered, it had become bitter cold. Slumping back down in my seat, I fought to get comfortable. The long drive that now seemed shorter on the way to Nuria’s became an irritation. We had been right, and then we’d also been wrong. Jenson took his free hand and squeezed mine. Reassurance, leave it to Jenson. I squeezed back and then ran my fingers over his.
Finally, Owl broke the silence.
“Want some,” he said, pushing the pack of pink bubble gum over the center console.
“Yeah, sure I’ll take some bubble gum! That way I can blow away my worries on the way to the Ranger’s station,” I said with a weak smile. I took a piece out and popped it in my mouth.
“Jenson?” he asked.
“Nah, I need to concentrate on what just developed. I’m curious if Nayla will advise us on training for the next mission.” “You mean, as a group alongside Starla?”
“Yes, that’s precisely, what I mean. We are alliances in this. I’d like to consider us protectors. Peace seekers. What else would you call us?” he demanded.
“We are a rather odd bunch,” I responded.
“It’s what drove us together in the first place,” Molly said closing the journal.
“Did you find anything in that?” Owl asked, pointing to the red book.
“Wouldn’t you like to know!” Molly replied.
“Why, aren’t you getting sassy? I’d think that you’re trying to take my place,” I said to her. She smiled mischievously.
“Really, can you, at least, tell us one item or subject that’s in the book?” I urged.
“This is rather relevant, a map. It’s on the last page at the end of the journal. The rest is the usual stuff, for example, her day to day life with Cal up, until her disappearance. Then she grieves for her daughter. There is a bit about the bandits, but not much to go on otherwise. If you want to look it over to see if I missed anything you can,” Molly replied.
“Pull out the map,” I insisted.
She opened the diary to its last page and unfolded the map stapled to it.
“Michigan, hadn’t Star talked about a place there?”
“Are you familiar with it?” asked Molly. She traced the bodies of water surrounding the land in the drawing.
“Yes, Star mentioned a few places there. Her, folks were involved, in a massacre in River Rogue. She lived in Charlevoix for a while before it happened,” I said.
“Hey! These markings weren’t here earlier. Perhaps they appeared when I touched the paper? Someone drew a path from Charlevoix to Thunderhead Bay. I’m not sure how Great Lakes edge fits into it,” Molly replied.
“It is on a corner, maybe they just simply called it Great Lakes Edge,” Owl observed.
“Maybe, but I’d like to take a look at it and the journal once we get back,” Jenson suggested.
&
nbsp; “Ay, ay, Captain!” I teased.
Molly and Owl laughed. I then realized we’d entered Hunters Park.
“This map is the one I gave Nuria when she mentioned being interested in learning about Michigan. You know it’s a tad north of here,” he said, as we gathered around the table in the main room of the station.
“I believe we live in a pretty northern region, already,” stated Molly boldly from where she sat.
“We do for Illinois that is,” Mike responded. He’d been shuffling pamphlets into stacks before we arrived. They sat in a large pile on the wooden table.
I rubbed my arms chilled.
“Do you have any hot cocoa?” I asked.
“In that cabinet over there, why don’t you make yourself some?”
“Anyone else want Co Co?” I asked, standing up.
“Me, please,” said Molly.
“Us too,” Owl and Jenson replied.
I walked over to the tiny observation area with the sink and microwave to make the drinks listening to the discussion.
“What else did you uncover, besides the map? What’s in the diary and those notes there?” he asked.
“From what we read, Minder has Cal. She’s protecting her from the bandits. They manipulated her into accepting the idea our clan would sacrifice her to their gods!” Owl asserted.
“That’s some messed up brainwashing,” Nayla replied. She trotted forward near the table where they sat.
I spoke up as I put the second cup of cocoa in the microwave. “Minder left the group when she realized what happened at River Rogue wasn’t a one-time thing. She stated she agreed with keeping our species divided, but was against increased bloodshed. The letter made it sound as if she seeks to compromise.”
Nayla paced back and forth. “Still, we must be careful young ones. Starla, you need to prepare for this additionally. If all of you intend to back us, then we must organize a gathering for you to study our ways. We have a short time to lay out the groundwork. Cal’s been missing for years, and this cannot wait,” she pleaded.
“How are we going to trace Minder?” Molly asked Nayla.
Myth (Book 1) Page 18
