“I’ve told you before, I don’t want to be fostered or adopted. I have my own family … somewhere.”
He latched onto her arm, pulling her off the sidewalk and toward the swings. “I’ve been trying to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“What else, gettin’ away from this place.” He sat in the swing, leaning to one side. “Did you know Lance has a canoe?”
“That’s funny. Morri just asked me that this morning. No, I didn’t. But, now I do.” She pushed her swing into the air. “Do you know where that river goes?”
“Oh, you and me are thinkin’ along the same lines, girl.” He nodded at her. “Yeah, that there be the Little Tennessee. That way goes into Franklin.” He pointed. “The other way goes to Otto and on into Georgia.”
“Are you and Lance planning on leaving?” She stopped her swing in mid-sentence.
“No, not Lance and I. He doesn’t want to go anywhere yet.” Kelile pounded his left sneaker into the dirt. “He’s trying to get a hold of a Cherokee guy. I was thinkin’ you and I could take the canoe and—”
“You mean steal his canoe? No. I’m not doing that.”
“Borrow it, girl. Borrow it.”
“How would you get it back to him, then, if you aren’t stealing it?” She stood, fixing her fists onto her hips.
“Easy. We would write him a letter and tell him where we left it. He could have someone pick it up for him.”
“But where would we go and what would we do?”
“That depends on what you wanna do. We could paddle up to Franklin and put the canoe somewhere. Then we could hitch a ride over to Andrews.” He stood. “I have to get Mom and the twins away from asshole. Once I do that, then I’ll help you do whatever you want. So, what do you wanna do?”
She looked around to make sure no one was close by. “I want to go back to my home in Robbinsville and find Ma.”
“You never told me what happened to her.”
While hugging herself, she said, “I don’t talk about it much, not even to Morri.” She stared at the ground. “We had a terrible fire. I don’t really … Could the three of us fit in his canoe?”
“Three of—No! Prissy queen don’t need to come. She’s got an aunt coming for her.”
“She has to come. She doesn’t know her aunt, and she doesn’t want to go with her. She wants to stay with me. We’re like sisters. Morri has to come!”
“I have to come where?” Morrigan strolled up behind them. “What’s going on, Aish? What are you and slave boy talking about?”
“Oops, well, I’ll talk to ya later, girl. See ya, prissy queen.” He sauntered away, chuckling.
“Well?” Morrigan crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes bored into Aishling’s eyes.
“Now, listen to me before you say anything. He wants to get away from this place, too, and he—”
“No way. No way! He’s not going anywhere with us. No. No. No.” Morrigan turned and stepped away from her.
“Morri, wait. Please.” Morrigan stopped. “Kelile already knew about Lance’s canoe and already had a plan. He needs to get to Andrews and help his mother. Listen—”
“That was our secret. I can’t believe you told him. What exactly did you tell him?”
“I only told him I wanted to go back to my home and find Ma. But I said you had to come, too.”
Morrigan crossed her arms again and tapped her foot. “What did he say about Lance’s canoe?”
“He knew about it and had already asked Lance where that river goes. He said we could paddle up to Franklin and hitch a ride to Andrews.”
“Lance is okay with that?”
“He doesn’t know. Now wait a minute. I already told Kelile I wouldn’t steal it. He said we would just borrow it, and then send Lance a letter telling him where to find it. Someone could pick it up and bring it back to him.”
“And you went along with this?”
“We hadn’t agreed on anything yet. He was telling me his plan. He was talking about him and me, and I told him I wouldn’t go anywhere without you. That’s when you showed up.”
Morrigan chewed her bottom lip. “You hadn’t agreed yet?”
“No.”
10
*******
March 30
I’m ready for this day to be over. Morri was so mad about Kelile. I don’t understand why she doesn’t want him to come with us. He just wants to get home. He tried talking to me after she got mad, but I told him I wasn’t ready yet. That’s what she wanted me to say. He looked hurt. I’ve got to make Morri change her mind.
She’s figured a way to get my things. She went to Preacher Collins and told him she had something she wanted to put in a safe place. He told her there were school lockers in the storage building by the river where they kept personal stuff. When she told him it didn’t sound safe, he pointed at a cabinet behind him and told her not to worry, that he kept all the keys there. Not only is the storage shed locked, so is each locker. We’re going to get my stuff!
*******
March 31
I had a terrible, horrible burning nightmare last night! I watched my skin burn. I heard it sizzle. I could even smell it. I heard my mother screaming.
Morri woke me up. She said I had been screaming and crying. My hair was so wet I had to get a towel and dry it off.
I couldn’t remember all of the dream, though. Ma, I can’t stand this. Where are you? Why won’t you help me? Did I die in the fire? Maybe you think I did. That’s it! Maybe there was some kind of strange mix up.
But why wouldn’t Mrs. Dawes or the preacher tell her I’m still alive?
*******
“Are you writing about that dreadful nightmare?” Morrigan closed their bedroom door and sat on Aishling’s bed, handing her a piece of toast.
“Yeah. Mrs. Sloan let you bring food into the room?”
“She did. But, she knew what a dreadful night you had. I told her you were still shaking, and it would be better if we stayed here instead of going to church. She asked me if we knew this was Easter Sunday. I said we did and that later, when you felt better, we’d go to church and pray.” Morrigan rolled her eyes. “I also told her I didn’t think the preacher would want anyone disturbing the service, especially today.”
“Thank you.” Aishling took a bite of toast.
“Okay, everyone’s leaving soon. You should lie down and act upset or something in case Mrs. Sloan comes around before she goes.”
As Aishling finished eating her toast, she slipped off her shoes and climbed back into bed.
Someone knocked. Morrigan put a finger to her mouth and then opened the door. “Hi, she’s still resting. Can I stay here with her?” she whispered.
Mrs. Sloan answered, “Okay. Come and get me if you need anything.”
“Okay.” Morrigan closed the door, covering her giggles with both hands.
“You’re good,” Aishling whispered, getting up again.
“I know. I’m going for more toast. I’ll be right back.”
When she opened the door again, Kelile said, “I want to talk to Aishling.”
“Go ahead. Didn’t I tell you earlier you could?”
After she left, he said, “I think prissy queen is up to something. That was her ‘I’m-gonna-get-ya’ look.”
Noticing she had forgotten to put her diary away, Aishling snatched it off her desk.
“What’s that?”
She hugged it to her chest. “This? Nothing. Just personal notes.”
“Uh-huh.” He sat on Morrigan’s bed, leaned over, and picked up something.
Aishling turned away and slipped her diary into her desk drawer.
“Huh, your little book looks like this one.”
She couldn’t react fast enough. “No, Kelile!”
“Ow!” The diary landed open when he dropped it. He looked down at the opened page, picked the diary up again, and read aloud. “She doesn’t suspect anything. Ow!” He rubbed his eyes.
“Kel
ile, stop reading it, now!” She lunged for him.
He held her back and kept reading. “It must be in her amulet. Oho!” Kelile let go of her, dropping the diary as he collapsed to his knees. He covered his eyes with both hands.
When blood seeped through his knuckles, she shrieked, “Morri, help! Help!
Morrigan ran in immediately. “What’s going on?” she said before quietly snickering. “Oh my.”
“You’ve got to do something.” Aishling squatted and hugged him.
“No. He read my diary.”
11
That evening after supper, Morrigan helped Aishling with kitchen duty. “I’m telling you, tonight’s the night to leave. It’s perfect,” Morrigan said as she dried a plate. “I’ve already gotten the keys. Everyone is uptight about slave boy. They’ve all gone to their rooms. And since he’s in the hospital, he can’t interfere. We have to go tonight.”
“Don’t you care about what happened to him today?” Aishling rinsed the last plate.
“No. He shouldn’t have been reading my diary.”
“Why was it on the floor where he could find it?”
“Didn’t you say you had forgotten to put yours away, too?”
Aishling sighed while unplugging the sink. “Yes, but I was upset.”
“And you think I wasn’t? I was worried about you and forgot to put mine away.” Morrigan slung the dishtowel over the towel rack. “Let’s not think about that now. This is our best chance to leave. You know it, too.” She glanced out the window. “It’s still almost a full moon tonight. We’d have plenty of light. It’s perfect.”
Aishling wiped the countertop and dried her hands. “You said you already have the keys?”
“Yes.”
“When did you get them, Morri?” She grabbed the edge of the counter.
“Oh, when all that hullabaloo was going on with slave boy, after the ambulance came. I just slipped into the preacher’s office and took them. What? I think it was quite clever of me. It’ll give us more time to pack tonight before we go.”
“Morri, it’s almost like you planned the whole thing.”
“Well, that really hurts my feelings. Here I am going to all this trouble and taking all these chances to help you, and you say that to me.” Morrigan crossed her arms and began tapping her right foot.
Part of Aishling’s hearing dream popped into her mind—Be aware of a person’s actions more than their words. But then, she thought of the other part of the dream—Follow my Morrigan. She’ll help you. She hesitated, trying to decide which part of the dream to follow. “You’re right. Tonight’s the best time to go. But, I wish I could say goodbye to Kelile. Are you sure he’ll be all right?”
“Yes. The spell is temporary. I imagine they’ll bring him home tomorrow morning.” Morrigan bounced on her toes once and quietly clapped her hands. “By then, we’ll be gone.”
Stars glittered in the night sky, but a golden haze cradled the full moon, creating a haunting effect. Aishling’s stomach churned, and her heart drummed against her ribs as she followed Morrigan to the storage building. She couldn’t get over the feeling that it was her fault Kelile had been hurt. Would he really be okay? An owl screeched. She halted and stood listening. Crackling noises came from the bushes not far from the river’s edge. She stopped breathing as she listened again. But, hearing nothing else, she continued trekking after Morrigan. Slow down, Morri. She skipped to catch up. “Wait on me. You’ve got the flashlight, and I can’t see.”
“Shh! We don’t want anyone to hear us.”
By the time she reached the storage shed, Morrigan already had the key in the lock. “Come on, quickly.” She unlocked the door and rushed through. As soon as Aishling was in, Morrigan shoved the door closed.
They hesitated while Morrigan searched with the flashlight. “Over there.” She led Aishling to the canoe. “Wow, it’s big. There’ll be plenty of room.” She placed her backpack inside. “Look. There are the lockers. Your stuff should be in one of them.”
Aishling dropped her backpack in the canoe. They maneuvered through scattered piles of boxes before reaching the lockers.
They searched for the right locker and matching key. Aishling couldn’t stand still. She jiggled on her toes, breathless.
“This is it,” Morrigan said, unlocking the door.
As soon as she saw the box, she reached for it. Morrigan grabbed it first but abruptly backed away. “I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“I’ll get my stuff,” Aishling said, helping Morrigan over to a bench with a broken armrest. “You sit a minute.” When she returned, she sat on the bench next to Morrigan and opened her box.
A tattered, thick and black, leather book with a piece of purple cloth glued over part of the front cover was on top.
Morrigan grabbed for it. “That looks like—” She slumped back against the bench. “I really feel sick.”
“Why is this here?” When Aishling picked up the book, her amulet slid out.
Again, Morrigan reached for it first, but jerked her hand back, covering her eyes and mouth. “Every time I get close to your stuff, I want to throw up.” She moaned. “Everything is going black. I can’t see!”
On instinct, Aishling stashed her amulet in her pocket and set the book in the box, placing the lid back on. She touched Morrigan’s arm and said, “I put it all away. Can you see now?”
Morrigan opened her eyes and hesitated several seconds before answering, “Yes. I thought you said your mother didn’t do anything harmful. She’s put a curse on those things. You’re the only one who can touch them. No wonder Mrs. Dawes didn’t want to give your stuff back. They must have had a dreadful time getting that box in the locker.” She pushed herself off the bench and stepped away. “I don’t think—”
The door to the storage shed flung open and slapped against the wall.
Return to Beginning
entanglements and burns,
12
“What’s going on?” Lance’s voice exploded from the doorway.
“Oh, Lance.” Morrigan sighed, lightly touching Aishling’s hand. “It’s just Aish and I. We were trying to get her personal things that this silly ol’ place won’t give her.”
Aishling set her box aside, stood, and watched the beam from his flashlight move toward them. He bristled forward but stopped. “What are these backpacks doing in my canoe?” He picked one up and rummaged through it.
Aishling lurched ahead. “Lance, don’t be mad, I can ex—”
Morrigan grabbed her from behind and pulled her back, motioning for her to be quiet.
He pointed the flashlight in their faces. “Kelile warned me you two might steal my canoe.” He threw the backpack at them and snatched the other one up, throwing it aside. “Don’t you ever get near any of my stuff again!”
“Lance, wait!” Morrigan stumbled toward him.
“No. You and Aishling stay away from me and Kelile.”
“Wait, Lance. Please, let me explain,” Morrigan cried.
“I said stay away from me!” He pulled the paddles from the canoe. “I have these now. You can’t get anywhere without them.”
Aishling caught up with him and reached out for his arm. He shoved her away and stormed out of the shed.
After gaining her balance, she huddled next to Morrigan who was sobbing. On the verge of crying herself, she clutched her stomach and held off the first wave of tears. When that subsided, she grasped Morrigan’s hand. “Morri—”
“Leave me alone.” Morrigan yanked away and ran from the building.
“Now what do I do?” Choking her tears back again, she staggered to the bench and picked up the flashlight. She gathered their backpacks and returned to the bench, slumping next to her box. The tears came now. Why wouldn’t he let her explain? Would he ever talk to her again? Would he turn them in? Should she stay there? Go back to her room? Or, run?
*******
April 2
I’m using my old diary now. It feels safer than
the one Morri gave me. I don’t know whether to be mad, sad, or afraid. Morri won’t talk to me. Lance won’t talk to me. Kelile won’t talk to me.
I finally came back here Sunday night because I didn’t know what else to do. Even though I put my box back, I kept my amulet. Morri was asleep when I got back. She still had her clothes on, and the keys were lying next to her. I snuck into Preacher Collins’ office and put them back where she said she’d gotten them.
Kelile came back from the hospital yesterday. He seems okay. I’m glad about that.
I’ve been so scared the last two days. I just knew Preacher Collins or Mrs. Dawes would pull us out of class and question us. But they haven’t.
I’m happy to have my amulet, but since I can’t let anyone know—not even Morri—I hid it underneath one of my shirts hanging in the closet. I used the enfolding enchantment. No one should be able to see it. I don’t know if it was worth it, though. Why won’t Morri talk to me? Maybe she really knows I have it and is mad because I lied.
*******
April 3
I had that burning nightmare again last night. I woke up screaming. When I looked over at Morri, she had sat up in her bed. I thought she was going to say something, but she jerked away and wouldn’t look at me anymore.
I waited all day again, but no one came to pull us out of class. I guess Lance didn’t tell anyone. I wish he would let us explain.
*******
April 4
How long is Morri going to act like this? I’m so mad at her right now. She was just as much at fault as I was.
And it’s not my fault Lance caught us. I want to scream!!!
*******
April 5
Well, I guess you, diary, are the only one I can talk to now. Mrs. Dawes even acted weird this afternoon. She didn’t say anything about last Sunday or about running that couple off. She told me she had something else to do today, so I wasn’t even there very long. I bet she’s planning on sending me somewhere else. I need to leave before she does. I wish I knew what was going on. Ma, I’m so mad at you!!! Why don’t you come after me? Oh, I hate you too!
Dead Moon Awakens: A tale of Cherokee myth and Celtic magic (Mystic Gates) Page 5
