“You have come to a unanimous decision in the matter of the Jacoby siblings?” asked the note taker of the court members. The three answered, “Yes” in unison.
The man returned to his desk and began scribbling a transcript of the meeting. The one female court member, an older, rough looking woman, whose nameplate read, Tanzea Chase, was the first to speak.
“I have been led to believe that you lived with your uncle. Is this correct?” Her voice was cold and the smell of mothballs emanated from her direction.
Colin was shaking too hard to speak, so Meghan started.
“Yes, that’s true, our Uncle, Arnon Jacoby… Ma’am.” Meghan tried to be courteous, but lifted her chin and answered with confidence.
Tanzea Chase cast a deliberate gaze at Juliska whose face remained even.
“What circumstances brought you to living with him?” the mothball woman continued.
“Our parents,” she gulped hard, “died when we were two years old.”
Another member of the court spoke, his nameplate read, Darius Hadrian. His face was stern and gave away no emotion.
“How is it that you decided to help our Jae Mochrie?” The twins were not sure how to answer this and Meghan trilled a silent reminder to Colin not to mention that Jae had told them about magic.
“We met Jae at the lake one day, back at Camp Cobbscott,” explained Colin timidly. “Then we asked him to hang out again the next day, and he told us that he would be leaving. We left it as, it’s been nice to meet you and all…”
Meghan sent him a mind nudge to get to the point.
He continued nervously.
“The night you were all leaving, my sister and I did something we now realize was a very bad idea.”
He took a deep breath and retold the story of the night Jae got stuck behind, and how they had found the fallen down pine tree hours before, and encountered the Scratchers.
As Colin explained, Meghan realized something: their current predicament was entirely her fault! It was due to her desire to go into the woods that began the series of events that brought them to this moment. Moreover, she was the reason her uncle was likely dead, or worse, being tortured; if he had somehow survived. Her knees wobbled and she grabbed the podium for support.
Meanwhile, Colin finished explaining their first encounter with the Scratchers.
The group talked amongst themselves.
“Their story corroborates his,” Tanzea’s rough voice said.
“Fascinating information. This could prove most useful, proof of a Scratchman,” said Darius Hadrian.
Garner just scowled and looked at them with a gaze that insinuated he’d never trust them, no matter what they decided as a Court, together.
Juliska Blackwell suddenly vaulted gracefully from her chair, facing the twins. The three members of the Viancourt went mute behind her.
“Enough questioning. We are sorry for putting you through this, and we are sorry for your uncle. It has been decided by this Court that you will be permitted to live amongst us. There is no alternative. There is no way to send you home.”
The Court clapped lightly behind her, although the twins noticed Garner Sadorus and Tanzea Chase hunched over, in rushed whispers. After a moment, they rose, believing the Banon had said her piece and would depart the chamber. However, she lingered.
“There are a few things you must understand,” she explained to the twins. “Though guests here, there will be certain events you may not be permitted to attend. Things meant only for the Svoda people. Things that must be kept secret.”
Both Meghan and Colin nodded that they understood. They were in an unfamiliar place, with no knowledge of how to get home, but at least they could stay. They knew Jae. It was better than not knowing anyone.
He will be so relieved, they both thought.
The Banon exited the room in the same graceful manner as she had entered. The Court followed behind her, but not before Garner got in one last scowl at the twins. He had been so anxious to question them yesterday, and today he had not asked them one single question. The twins didn’t know what to think about this.
The note taker remained hunched over his desk, scribbling away. After a minute, he noticed the two still standing there, awkwardly.
“Oh, sorry, forgot. This way to get out,” he headed them off to another door. As he pushed them through the door, he advised, “Go down a flight of stairs and then up two levels, and then down a flight. Find yourselves right back where you started.”
He slammed the door behind them.
CHAPTER 21
They could not get out of the building fast enough. A crowd of around twenty waited just outside, breathlessly, with Jae in front. They hadn’t expected an audience. Some glared. Some smiled weakly.
Colin swallowed hard, losing his voice.
Meghan answered the group’s silent question. “They said we can stay.”
Jae was instantly relieved.
The glaring gypsies stormed off, muttering to each other. This clearly was not the decision they had expected, or wanted. A few others shot them kind smiles, but left hurriedly as well.
“Well, now that part’s over…” Jae sighed. “I wanted to introduce you to my family. This is my mother, Sheila, and my sister, Mireya.”
“Oh, nice to meet you,” the twins replied, though half-heartedly.
Sheila was a frail looking woman, with short, thin hair. She wore a knee length skirt and apron, with tall tan boots. Mireya was a miniature image of her mother, and hung off her arm nervously.
“This situation is dreadful,” Sheila spoke softly. “I must admit I am glad to be able to thank you in person, for everything you’ve done for my family. Helping my son return home, and saving my husband from a fate worse than death. I’m deeply sorry about your uncle. Arnon Jacoby, was it?”
“Yes, it is Arnon,” Meghan corrected.
Sheila’s left eye lifted in a look that claimed, Poor dear. In total denial. There’s no way their uncle could be alive. Nevertheless, she did not vocalize this.
“It’s odd,” Shelia did say, “his name sounds familiar. I suppose that can’t be correct though, can it?” She smiled kindly at the twins, unable to shake off the familiarity of the name.
“No. I don’t imagine it is,” replied Meghan.
Jae’s mother shook it off as bad memory and told them, “While here, you are welcome to stay with us. It is the least, and the most, I can offer.” She abruptly took hold of Mireya’s hand and sped her frail frame down the walkway. She shouted back, “Make sure you’re home early tonight, Jae.”
“Yeah, I will, Mom.” After she was out of sight, Jae said, “Why don’t I show you around a little, help you get settled in.”
Before they could begin, the trio noticed someone standing in the shadows of a nearby building. It was Billie Sadorus. Seeing that the crowd had dispersed she strutted over, muttering her satisfaction that the court had made the only right decision.
“That took long enough! Don’t see why they couldn’t have done that last night. Keeping two youngins locked up like common criminals. A shame! That’s what it is, a shame,” her voice was raspy as it spoke the same mutterings the twins had heard the evening before.
“Hi, Billie,” said Jae in an excited voice, after her tirade ended.
“Glad to have you back, boy. Why don’t you, and our new guests, come over for a bite?”
“I can show you around later, you’ll love Billie’s place,” insisted Jae.
The twins were overwhelmed and not in the mood for visiting, but did not feel they had a choice. They tiredly agreed and followed Billie down a street called Scrooby, which ended abruptly at a boat-shaped brown shingled cottage; crooked turrets protruded from the sides of the home.
Billie held the front door open for them. “Make yourselves at home. Jae, you can show them around. I’ll go get us a bite.”
They followed Jae inside.
“Cool house, huh,” he said.
Why i
s it that every building they stepped into was like stepping onto a boat, or ship? It was a strange home, with tiny rooms and walkways. The wall planks a bit dark. But to breathe it in took away any discomfort. It was like breathing in the ocean. Breathing in the open sea. It soothed them all instantly, taking away the feeling of being in a cramped space.
“Where are all her belongings?” asked Meghan, noticing how empty the house was as they made their way through.
“Our homes here are replicas. All our real belongings are still on our island, other than what we could bring with us.”
Jae brought them to what appeared to be a living room. It was the largest room they’d seen in the place. There was a fireplace, some sparse, simple furniture, and a few travel trunks stuffed with papers and books, a lot of which were strewn about on the floor.
“Ah, I see you’ve found my papers. Sorry ‘bout that. I was filing some work. Can’t locate the file I’m looking for,” said Billie with a terse head shake. She arrived carrying a tray of steaming cocoa, and the most delicious chocolate chip cookies the twins had ever smelled.
She set the tray down on one of the closed trunks and offered each of them a mug and a cookie. “Nothing like a little sugar to ease the day.” She winked at the twins.
Colin took a swig and licked his lips. “What do you do for work, Billie?” he asked.
“A little o’ this, little o’ that. Mostly I keep track of historical information. I like to collect things. Keep a record of our journey. If you ever have questions about Svoda history, in these papers lie your answers. I keep hoping one of these days my sad excuse for a brother will...” the rest of her words strung out in an incoherent mumble.
“Garner Sadorus, your brother. I don’t think he likes us,” said Colin, forgetting it might offend their host.
Meghan shot him a glare.
Billie responded as if speaking to the air.
“Not a full day here and already they see how atrocious my brother has become.”
“I don’t know if I’d say atrocious,” said Colin, trying to make up for his mistake. “But definitely scary.”
“Exactly! He’s lost touch with reality, that man! I don’t understand what’s gotten into Garner these last few years. He’s changed. Listen to me babbling on about my sibling issues. Eat up, drink up, and tell me about yourselves.”
To Meghan’s surprise her brother started.
“We were raised by our uncle and we just turned thirteen.” Meghan thoughts strayed to Kanda Macawi, the Jendayas (especially Sebastien), and how at this precise moment they could be mourning their uncle’s death, and wondering what had happened to them.
Was there a search party out looking for them? Would Sebastien even remember her in three years’ time? She set down her mug and cookie, unable to eat.
Billie smiled compassionately. “It’s a real shame I’ll say again, you two being stuck here. Must have plenty of people worried about ya back home. If I knew of any way to even get a message to them, I’d sure help ya out.”
“Thanks, Billie,” said Meghan. She reminded her of Kanda just a little. A rougher, brasher version. Still, regardless, it felt like Billie would be a good friend in this new world.
Their host sat cross-legged on the floor, shuffling through some folders when a photograph of a woman slipped out. Billie’s rugged eyes saddened, and even though it was a black and white picture, it was easy to see that the woman’s natural features were pale, her smile addictive. A tattoo crawled over her left shoulder and up her neck.
Jae sighed. “It’s been a long time, Billie? Hasn’t it?”
“Yes. Such a long time.” Billie slipped the picture back into the folder. She cleared her throat. “No worries now. We all have loved ones we haven’t seen in a long time.”
Meghan was about to ask what she meant when Jae interrupted.
“I hate to run, Billie, but I should show these two around and get them settled in.”
“Sure, sure, a ‘course. Thanks for coming and don’t be strangers. Stop in any time you like. If you weren’t staying with the Mochries, I’d have invited you both to stay with me. If it gets too crowded, well not to impose on your family’s generosity, Jae. But my door’s always open.”
“Thanks, Billie,” returned Jae.
She nodded and went back to searching through her folders. As the trio departed, the twins noticed her slide out the photo of the pale, tattooed woman. It looked as though it broke her heart to see it and she cast her gaze to the floor, clutching the photo to her heart. As pained as they already were over their uncle, this depressed them even more. There was a lot they didn’t understand about this place. Why hadn’t Billie seen this woman in so long? Who was she? Had she died? Somehow, the twins didn’t pick up the vibe that the woman was deceased.
Jae led them out of Billie’s house and back into Bedgewood.
“I like Billie,” blurted Colin, unexpectedly.
Meghan raised her brow, impressed. Her brother had met someone and not shied away from her. She could sense the confidence he felt over Billie.
This is good, she thought, blocking him from hearing. She liked the idea of Colin having another ally here, besides her or Jae.
“She is great,” agreed Jae. “Couldn’t be more opposite from her brother.”
“I can’t believe they’re even from the same family,” retorted Meghan.
“I don’t remember, ‘cause this was years ago, but Billie insists that Garner wasn’t always mean. Says he’s changed since we started traveling again.”
“So you haven’t always?” asked Meghan.
“No. Like I said before, we actually come from the same world you live in.”
“That’s right,” remembered Colin. “Off the Northern Maine coast.”
“Yeah. But we haven’t been home in a long time.”
“How long?” asked Meghan.
“Almost thirteen years ago.”
“So until thirteen years ago, you lived off the coast of Maine,” she clarified. “Who could’ve guessed we have been camping every summer just a few hours away from a magical island?”
Jae chuckled. “It is odd. When you think about it like that, I guess.”
As anxious as the twins were about the unknown fate of their uncle, and their new life with the gypsies, it was becoming obvious that the Svoda had some serious problems of their own. And they were now stuck in the middle of it.
Meghan shook off her apprehensions. “In all the confusion today, Jae, we didn’t ask how your father is doing. Shouldn’t you be with him, rather than showing us around?”
“Yeah, we can wait,” agreed Colin.
“No, it’s fine. My dad is getting better. I saw him this morning. He might even come home tomorrow. It’ll still take a while for him to fully heal.”
“What about that huge gash across his chest?” asked Colin.
“We do things a little differently here when it comes to healing.”
“Oh, right. Magic,” said Colin.
“Not all injuries are so easily healed with magic. This time we were lucky!” insisted Jae. They arrived back in the village center and Jae pointed out where they had come in. It was an odd sight to behold, an ornate wooden door framed by two trees. Jae pointed out the shops; most were closed and not in business. They left the main village and trudged closer to the Mochrie home. Just out of town, he pointed out an old brick building, far off the road.
“That’s our school.”
“I hadn’t even thought about school,” mumbled Colin.
“Will we have to go? We can’t exactly be in classes that teach magic,” said Meghan. She hoped perhaps this one thing could go right, and she would not have to attend school.
“Guess we’ll see,” said Jae, not knowing the answer.
On the twins’ next inhale the smell of the ocean overwhelmed their nostrils. They were close to the water here. Something they both enjoyed. The cobblestone road they strolled down merged into one made of packed down dirt. A c
luster of shingled cottages, all colored in dark browns and yellows popped into view. Green stiff shrubs lined the streets, breaking only for small, gated entrances. They passed a side street to their right.
“That’s our closest ocean access,” Jae noted. As he said it, another strong whiff of ocean wafted by, reminding them of their many trips to the Maine coast. They stopped in front of an iron gate, which Jae swung open.
“This is our home while we’re here in Grimble, and now, I guess it’s your home away from home, too.”
He opened the front door and showed them in. The inside of the cottage was not what the twins expected. It was normal sized, unlike the wagons. It was cozy and warm, and a haven from the fog and drizzle still falling outside.
Sheila, and Jae’s sister Mireya, were in the kitchen cooking over an old-fashioned wood stove; it was about four feet long and made of iron, with copper pots hanging overhead. Across from the stove was a stone fireplace; a large pot simmered over the fire. Dried herbs and fruit hung from the ceiling. A wooden table and chairs filled the middle of the kitchen, with a small sofa covered with a plaid pattern shoved against the wall. The twins thought for a moment they had stepped back in time.
“Good, you’re back,” began Sheila. “Dinner will be a bit yet. How did you two like our little village?”
“It’s very nice,” answered Meghan sleepily.
“Anything new on Dad?” asked Jae.
“Nothing new,” Sheila replied. “Show our guests where they will sleep. Oh, and there are some packages upstairs for you two, things you’ll need while you’re here.”
“People sent them,” added Mireya. “They assumed you would need clothes and stuff.” Her voice was young and giggly.
“Clothes?” Meghan perked up.
Jae and Mireya took them up a wooden spiral staircase. The rest of the cottage had the same old-fashioned feel as the kitchen. There was nothing remotely modern about the place. The twins imagined this is what the coastal cottages looked like before the invention of such things as electricity or indoor plumbing.
The Book, The Witches, and the Doorway (Fated Chronicles Book 1) Page 20
