“Thanks for not telling me where you were all day! I had no idea if you were all right or not.”
“I’m obviously fine. Maybe I didn’t feel like having you in my brain all day,” she whispered angrily, hoping no one would overhear.
“Fine. Whatever. I’ve got to send a leaf to Uncle Eddy and tell him you’re all right. He was worried, too.” Meghan could see that her brother had been anxious, but for some reason this made her even more furious, rather than sorry.
“Don’t worry about me, okay? I went for a walk. I just... needed some air.”
“You know, I don’t think you can play by your own rules in this place. You missed classes all day, and the teacher is expecting you to have some kind of letter of excuse for not being there. I think she is worried that you won’t have enough practice time to pass to the next level or...” he stopped.
“Or what, Colin?” she barked.
“Maybe you would enjoy being the only thirteen-year-old in the elementary class, when Jae and I both pass, and you don’t.” Although there was no guarantee any of them would pass.
Daveena either, and she was thirteen too. And there was that other girl, Maria, who Colin thought was actually older than all of them. But he was just trying to make a point. One that went right through one of Meghan’s ears and out the other.
She jumped out of her chair and promptly left the backyard, huffing her way to the bedroom, sliding the curtain closed as angrily as she could.
DAYS PASSED WITHOUT the twins speaking, and each time Colin tried, Meghan made herself busy writing in her journal. Whenever Meghan thought she might try, Colin was busy impressing some student, or the teacher, with his ever-fast-increasing magical abilities; something she was not improving on, and growing increasingly agitated by.
The weekend arrived and they headed out to visit Uncle Eddy, not saying a word the entire way. When they arrived at the old mill, Uncle Eddy instantly noticed that something was wrong.
“You might as well spill the beans,” he said. The twins ignored each other. This did not please their uncle. “Listen to me, carefully,” he said, gaining their attention. “If there is only one thing you remember from what I teach you, it better be this. I understand you have been through a lot these last few months, but it is imperative that you stick together. You are both stuck here! You are both starting new lives. If you work out your problems, rather than ignoring each other, you’d at least be certain that you will always have each other.”
Colin knew he was being foolish, but his sister had not been nice to be around lately.
“That’s not true!” she objected, hearing the thought.
“Oh, it’s okay to spy on my thoughts now, but I’m still not allowed in yours.”
“If you were to try harder, you could block me out better!” she shouted.
“Why would I want to block you all of the time? I don’t have anything to hide.”
“And you’re saying I do?” She jumped up folding her arms tightly.
“ENOUGH!” roared Uncle Eddy, stopping the twins in their tracks. It had sounded exactly like Uncle Arnon. “Did you not hear a word I said?” he scolded. The twins quieted.
Meghan sat down, leaving her arms securely folded. “Uncle Eddy, you have no idea what it’s like to always have someone in your head, reading all your thoughts.”
“It’s the same for me, too,” Colin said, trying to calm down. “Not so much lately. We’ve pretty much been blocking each other. All the time.”
“I can’t imagine having someone with the ability to be in my head all the time,” said their uncle. “However, regardless of your needs for privacy you must work this out. And being in each other’s heads or not doesn’t really have to do with this problem. Your lives have been entwined since birth. No secrets between you. If you let your bonds fail, these next few years could be even harder to live through.”
He gave them each a loving, but stern, gaze. He needed them to understand how important they were to each other. Not just today, but for the future.
Meghan sighed. Right. No secrets. She kept her block in place but did let go of her anger. Why didn’t she want to share with Colin? She never really kept anything from him before. She was the Firemancer, not him. So why burden him with all the details? Some part of her relished the idea of keeping it all to herself. Having something that was totally just hers.
Colin just didn’t feel like sharing because he was pissed at his sister. It wasn’t like her to be so distant and hide things from him. Maybe he missed that more than he expected. Or was it something else? Like what? Like I’m jealous? That’s nothing new. Meghan pretty much always gets what she wants, one way or another...
The twins understood being angry with each other was stupid, and that Eddy was right, but were not yet ready to admit it to each other. They did do their best to get along the rest of the day.
Eddy had them practice drawing energy and using it to perform spells. Very similar to what Colin had done in class with the pillows. Meghan made slow progress but was still far behind Colin; this irritated her tremendously, but she tried to not show it. Colin congratulated her when her spells did work, and she thanked him nicely, and by the end of the day they were at least speaking to each other.
Another day with Uncle Eddy was ending though.
Meghan fed her kitten, in disbelief over how fast she grew: the kitten could barely fit into her pocket already.
Timothy arrived, happy to see the kitten looking healthy.
“Have you given her a name yet? I’ve thought up a bunch if you need help,” and without waiting he began listing names. “There’s Waggles, Blackberry, although, she looks more like a fuzzy peach, and then there’s Athena, Bashful, Buttons, Cuddles. Another one I like is Jingles, and then Doodles.”
“I think I’ve chosen one,” Meghan interrupted. “But thanks, Timothy.” She realized he could have continued for hours, easily. “I’ve decided to name her, Nona Jacoby. She will be an elegant full-grown cat someday. Therefore, she needs an elegant name.”
“Nona it is then,” said her uncle, casting her a smile. He escorted them to the edge of the mill, making an obvious gesture to survey the area.
“What are you looking for?” asked Colin.
“Just being careful. I didn’t bring it up, but last time you were here, Colin, I thought I caught someone watching us.”
The twins glanced around, hoping Eddy was wrong.
Their thoughts strayed to the Three D’s and they cast each other wary stares.
“I’m sure it was my imagination,” he shook it off. “Do be careful though, and remember what I have said today. No secrets. It will only lead to trouble. You can still keep your personal privacy up here,” he pointed to their heads, “without keeping secrets from each other.”
They nodded. Although neither had willingly lifted the block yet. He dissolved and disappeared. Timothy floated alongside, entertaining the duo as they worked their way homeward. Their amusement ended abruptly.
A hideous looking ghost flew out of nowhere in front of them. His clothes were tattered and burnt. His face held what they were sure was a permanent scowl, embellished with a few gash-like scars across his face.
Timothy floated up high and away, taking cover behind a tree limb. “It’s Duppy, the mean one,” he shouted down at the twins.
Meghan and Colin gasped when the ghost named Duppy snarled at them.
“Give it to me, now!” he ordered them.
Colin froze up at the sight of the confronting ghost. As usual, he was leaving it up to his sister to handle.
Meghan lifted her chin and demanded, “Give you what?”
“You know what.”
“I really don’t,” Meghan argued.
“Hand it over now. It will be so much easier for you.” Duppy flitted around them menacingly, looking for the object of his obsession. “My employer won’t be happy until it’s delivered.” He stopped in front of them, his ghostly eyes shooting silent warnings.
Meghan stepped forward as if she meant to walk straight through the ghost, grabbing Colin to get him moving with her.
“Honestly, unless you can be more precise, you’re wasting our time.”
Duppy growled and shot right up to her face. His ghostly head flitted down to Colin.
“The book. The Magicante,” he accursedly grunted. “I want it now!”
Colin sucked in a breath and held it. Meghan’s eyes widened. How did this ghost know about the book? She dropped the block in her mind and sensed Colin had done the same.
“Ghosts can’t use magic on us, right?” she sent him.
“No. At least, that’s what Jae said when we first met Uncle Eddy.”
“Better get Timothy outta here, then. This Duppy guy already has it out for him.” Meghan looked upward and shouted. “Timothy, go find Uncle Eddy. And tell him there’s a ghost who wants our book.”
Timothy was gone instantly.
Duppy floated away from their faces, backing up.
“What? Afraid of our uncle?” egged Meghan. “Been waiting to get us alone, have you?”
Duppy snarled. If possible, the scowl etched into his face turned nastier and deeper.
“You wait long enough,” he warned, “and my employer might decide to handle matters differently.”
Meghan swallowed hard. He might be a ghost that could not cause them any harm, but something in what he said pinged true. Somehow, someone had found out about the book, recognized it for what it was, and wanted it. Enough to hire a ghost to try to scare it out of them.
Duppy surged forward, stabbing his icy silhouette straight through the twins, leaving the unpleasant sting of death seeping into their bones. Uncle Eddy appeared right behind them, facing Duppy. Timothy floated nervously overhead.
The twins spun around just in time to see Duppy raise his palm, preparing to throw a spell at their uncle. Eddy was prepared with a fireball in his hand. He shouted for the twins to duck as he shot it and hit Duppy straight on. The hideous ghost exploded into a million tiny spectral bits. They pushed out and upward, raining down around the twins.
Eddy raced forward. “Are you both all right?”
“Yes,” they answered, though somewhat shakily.
“And the book...” he whispered softly.
“Fine,” answered Colin.
Eddy nodded, relieved.
“Wh-what did you do to him? Has he moved on?” asked Colin.
“No. Going to take him some time to put himself back together though,” explained Eddy. “You can’t kill someone who’s already dead, and you can’t make them move on, either. Not until it’s their time.”
Meghan let out a sigh. A foreboding prickle attached to her spine, unwilling to let go. Something told her they were in a lot more danger than their uncle was letting on.
He continued to explain the spell he’d used.
“It’s called Sphaera. It’s a spell you can use whether living or dead. But like any magic, if you’re living, it only works on the living.”
“And if you’re dead, only on the dead,” finished Colin.
“Right. Saying the word, Sphaera, will collect magical energy in the form of a powerful orb. In my case, ghostly energy, and this energy can then be thrown, subduing your opponent. It does some serious damage as you can see. In the world of the living, you would only want to use this spell in dire circumstances, as it might well kill whoever you’re aiming for.”
“Spells that can kill...” Colin muttered, in awe of it. Of course, they existed. But to see one, to even think of using one on a living person. He shuddered at the thought, unable to imagine what predicament they’d have to be in where they’d deem this action necessary.
Timothy floated down and joined them.
“All right there, Tim?” asked Eddy.
“Yeah. Okay here. Really really don’t like that Duppy.” His ghostly frame shuddered from head to toe.
“We don’t blame you,” said Meghan. “He’s not a nice ghost at all. You be careful.” She worried for the small ghost’s safety. He didn’t know any magic, and yet for some reason was stuck in a magical afterlife ghost town.
Colin sent her a thought. “Do you think Duppy is giving him a hard time because he’s been hanging out with us?”
She only grunted a silent reply. It was exactly what she was thinking.
Timothy smiled, suddenly not worried at all. “I’ll be fine.” He grinned wider just at the thought that someone was so concerned about him. “I may not know any magic, but I can fly super-fast. I’ve had twelve years to practice.” As if to prove his point, he flew upward in a tight twist and swirled around the treetops at incredible speeds.
They all chuckled at that.
“So what now, Uncle Eddy?” asked Colin.
“You’re close to home, you should be safe. Just... keep that book hidden. Show it to no one.”
They nodded that they understood.
“I’m also afraid it’s too dangerous for you to return to Grimble.”
The twins let out frustrated protests. Eddy held up his hands to calm them.
“Just until I send word that it’s safe. Not for good.”
“But when will that be?” bemoaned Meghan.
“Not until I figure out why Duppy wants the book. And who this supposed employer of his is.”
They sighed. Agreeing. Although, begrudgingly.
Eddy departed, and Timothy escorted them the rest of the way, which wasn’t far. Meghan and Colin stepped through the wagon door, back into Bedgewood, each secretly afraid that it might never be safe to return to Grimble, again.
THE TWINS WERE VEXED. An entire week went by without a word from Uncle Eddy. Their classes were getting more difficult and time-consuming. Exam time rolled closer, and nerves shot into overdrive for all the students.
The twin’s tutor turned out to be Teacher Lindy; she’d taken a liking to the twins, especially Colin, who was excelling in all his subjects, unlike Meghan. The only time they saw Jae was in school; otherwise, he was with his father, or on occasion, Ivan. Some nights he did not come home at all.
“I’m concerned about Jae,” said Meghan one night before bed, noticing once again, he was not home.
“Yeah, me too,” agreed Colin. Meghan grabbed her journal and scribbled a few notes down.
“What are you writing?” he questioned hesitantly.
She set down the pen. It was time to tell him, she couldn’t hide it anymore.
“Something bad is happening to Jae. I’m trying to figure out what.”
“By using Firemancy?”
“Yes. Except I’m not sure how yet, which is why I have the journal. I started writing things down as they happen. I thought it might help me decipher what I see,” she lied, feeling guilty for not telling him it was Juliska’s advice. For some reason she felt protective of that knowledge.
“Why couldn’t you just tell me that before?”
“Not everything I do has to be public knowledge,” she replied. Not wanting to argue, she added, “I just needed more time. To figure things out in my own head, first. I’m starting to think I never will, until it’s too late.”
“Who’s to say we can even help anyway? I mean, we can’t do much about how things are done around here. And I’m guessing it’s something to do with his father. Or school. Or...” he shrugged, unsure of what else, only wishing he could help.
Meghan eyed her brother uneasily. “Colin... I don’t think it’s any of those things. Whatever this is, whatever is happening to Jae... it’s so much bigger than that.” The fearful inflection in her tone caught Colin off guard. He had no reply. His sister left the bedroom, deciding to take a bath before bed.
Just outside the door, she ran into Ivan, just coming up the stairs. He gawked at her, his face blank. After a long silent moment, he whispered, “Goodnight.” And disappeared into his room.
“Ugh, that boy,” she snarled, turning toward the bath. She did not notice Ivan’s door reopen. His ey
es narrowed in on her, spying until she had closed herself inside. His door closed gently, a wry smile etching across his face as he listened to her annoyed mutterings.
Colin lay on his bed, but sleep wouldn’t come. What was happening to Jae? It was becoming obvious that his sister was holding back on him.
A light rapping at the window startled him. He sat up quick, his head spinning for a second. There was a leaf tapping gently on the glass. “What the heck?” He tiptoed over and opened the window. The leaf flew inside, landing on his hand.
A message appeared.
“Uncle Eddy,” realized Colin excitedly.
“Timothy and I are fine. However, it’s still not safe to visit. So sit tight. There’s still plenty of time. Work hard for your upcoming exams, and if anything out of the ordinary happens, leaf me right away.” He didn’t sign it. Colin wondered why. “Guess he knew we’d know it was from him.” He let his mind block down and reached out for Meghan. She answered and he explained the message. They were both bummed they could not visit yet. What was taking so long? Was tracking down Duppy, or his employer, proving difficult? They wondered if they could help in some way. But neither had any clue as to how to do so.
Meghan sighed. “Getting out of the bath now. Night, Col.”
He grunted his reply. Their mind blocks went back up.
Meghan dried off and sat in front of the fire. She did not want to fear it. Fire was supposed to be her ally. Yet anytime she was near, it felt like it was trying to pull her in and show her something. But she hadn’t really just stared into the flames, long enough for them to show her.
She’d caught glimpses. Small pieces of a puzzle that made no sense. Other than, it was Jae, and he was going through something terrifying.
And whenever a flame caught her eye, it called to her, almost begging her to look long enough to see. She hadn’t wanted to. Didn’t feel ready to. She feared now, she might have waited too long. It might be too late to help Jae, even if the flames could show her all she needed to see.
So now, she stared, watching the flames burst and flicker. Allowing them to pull her in and take her to what she needed to see. She had to give in to this. Let it show her whatever thing it needed to.
Fated Fantasy Adventure Page 30
