At the top of the stairs was a short hallway, with two doors on the backside, and one to their immediate left.
“The one directly across from us, that is where we sleep,” said Mireya, in her playful voice.
Meghan glanced at the door, wondering if she had heard correctly. “Where we sleep?”
“Yes, we all share a room here.”
Meghan and Colin were used to sharing a room, but the thought of two extra people was a little daunting.
Jae opened the door to the left. “This is the bath-room.” Inside was a large porcelain tub a few feet from the fireplace, with a bronze pump attached. There was a matching pump latched to a deep sink on the wall.
Wow. Pumping water by hand. It’s like the campgrounds… Colin caught her thought and smirked in agreement.
“How do I run hot water?” asked Meghan.
“That’s what the fireplace is for,” twittered Mireya, twirling her way out of the room.
“Don’t worry,” said Jae. “We have ways of heating up water, fast.”
Another question popped into Colin’s mind.
“If this is the bath-room, where is the toilet?”
“Not inside. This is for bathing only.” Jae walked to the end of the hallway and nodded to a small window. The twins peered through the window to a rectangular shack in the backyard.
“Outhouse,” Jae said, adding smugly, “Just beware.”
“Beware of what?” asked Colin, not sure he could handle any more bad news.
“Spiders, real big ugly ones. But they’re perfectly harmless,” he insisted. “They’re like statues. You’ll rarely ever catch one moving.”
“In the outhouse?” verified Meghan.
Jae nodded yes.
Both twins secretly took bets on how long they could hold it, before facing the outhouse spiders. And what if they had to pee in the middle of the night? They’d really have to get dressed and go outside? They guessed it wasn’t any worse than when their uncle’s travel trailer toilet broke down, and they were all stuck using campground facilities. It still wasn’t fun. And the campgrounds didn’t have large spiders guarding the toilets…
Next, Jae showed them into the shared bedroom. Once inside, the twins knew it would not be as bad as they had pictured. Lining the side and back walls were four small curtained rooms. They were surprisingly similar to the rooms the twins were used to: a bunk bed, with a chair and table underneath, a small dresser beside the bed, and about three feet of space between the bed and the curtain.
“It’s small,” said Mireya, “but comfy.” She closed her curtain, hiding behind it. A number of packages covered in brown paper lined the twins’ beds.
“Actually, it’s not bad at all, huh Sis,” said Colin, trying to think positively about yet another reminder of home, and their uncle.
“Yeah,” she answered, hoping she could handle this many roommates. “Should I open these?” asked Meghan, looking at her packages.
Mireya’s curtain flew open. “Oh, yes,” she exclaimed excitedly. “I can’t wait to see what people brought. Even Banon Blackwell had something delivered. That’s such an honor!”
It was becoming clear to the twins that they would have even less privacy than they were used to back home.
“How can we thank everyone for being so nice?” asked Meghan.
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” said Mireya. “That’s what people do here. No one has real jobs or money anymore, we all share.”
“No money?” questioned Meghan.
“Not no money,” corrected Jae. “People still have it. It just doesn’t do us much good, living like we do.”
“So people share everything?” Meghan tried to comprehend. She also didn’t understand why people would be nice enough to give them these things, especially when it was clear they weren’t welcome. Perhaps not everyone felt that way.
“We share things, more or less,” explained Jae. “Take the café, for example. It’s always open and you don’t pay to eat. We’re not a large enough number to charge each other and make any money. We save our money for what we need from the outside world.”
The twins nodded. It made sense, they guessed. Hard to make money off such a small group of people.
“How many are you?” Colin asked.
“A couple hundred,” answered Jae.
Meghan sat down on her bed, ready to open the first package; she noticed a ladder leading to a small loft. “What’s up there?”
“Not much. A place to sit and study.”
Meghan wanted to check it out; perhaps it could be a place of solitude.
Colin climbed a few rungs of the ladder, stopping before he got too high. He noticed a short door on the back of the loft wall. Jae answered his question before he could ask.
“It’s a crawl space that connects the upstairs rooms. Don’t use it much.”
“Wow, a secret hiding place in such a small cottage,” Meghan said, impressed. She opened a package, deciding to save Juliska Blackwell’s for last, secretly hoping it would be something that Juliska, herself, would wear. The woman looked perfectly groomed and stylish each time Meghan saw her. She wondered if the leader dressed herself or had help.
After she’d opened nearly all of her packages, Meghan had a pile of dresses, skirts, tunics, shoes, scarves, hats, underthings, and a few of the long-jackets she’d seen some of the gypsy women wearing. It was everything someone away from home would need. A few of the items Meghan was positive she would not wear; they were far too bright or too multi-colored for her taste. Mireya showed interest though, so she offered them to her.
Mireya grinned from ear to ear. “Thanks, but are you sure? These are really nice.”
“Yes, definitely sure,” replied Meghan. Away from home or not, she’d keep to her darker colors. She wouldn’t lose herself completely.
There was just one package left, the one delivered from Juliska Blackwell. Meghan opened it cautiously. She took out a black and gold full-length long-jacket, exactly like the ones she had seen Juliska wearing.
“It’s magnificent. What is it?” asked Meghan.
Mireya touched the delicate gold and black fabric. “It’s a long-jacket, very popular. They are thin, so you can wear them even if it’s warm, or over other clothes if it’s cooler. This is the prettiest one I’ve ever seen, besides the Banon’s of course.”
Meghan wanted desperately to try it on, but she was too dirty and in need of a bath.
“That’s a special occasion long-jacket,” said Mireya, still in awe of the piece.
“It could possibly be the nicest piece of clothing I’ve ever owned.” But it wasn’t the only item in the box from Juliska. There was a long sleeved sweater, with a jumper looking item. It had one button in the front, up near her chest, to hold it together, and then the rest was open.
“It’s kind of a stylish apron,” said Mireya. “Not many Svoda women like them. They prefer the front to be closed, then they don’t have to wear skirts or pants underneath. They prefer the jackets…”
Meghan loved it. As she put her new things away, Colin dove into his own packages. He didn’t care nearly as much as his sister.
Meghan wasn’t sure what else to talk about, so she thought up some small talk. “How old are you?” she asked Mireya.
“Eleven and a half.” Meghan was not sure what to talk about with a giggly eleven-year-old. Meghan had never been one to enjoy giggling.
Thankfully, Mireya continued explaining the clothes. “Those long shirts, with ties down the sides, and that apron-like piece, they help keep things clean and out of the way, which is good, because sometimes magic can be messy.”
“Well, I won’t be practicing any magic in them.” Meghan shrugged. She was too tired to come up with more conversation. A bath sounded good. Perfect and needed actually. Mireya showed her how the bath worked; mainly, pumping in enough water, followed by Jae performing a water-heating spell.
“We can heat water using the fireplace, if we have to,�
� he explained. “Magic is definitely easier and faster.”
Before Mireya and Jae left Meghan to her bath, Colin slumped around the corner. Meghan held back a laugh, although the urge bubbled up easily in her stressed-out mind.
Finally, she gave up and laughed, forcefully.
Colin was dressed in a long coat-like thing; it was thin and maroon in color, with sleeves that fell to his fingertips. It was also so big on him that it hit the floor, and then some.
“It’s not funny,” he sighed, looking downhearted.
“Sorry,” replied Meghan, biting her lip. “What exactly is that thing?”
Mireya smiled kindly at him. “I think it looks wonderful, Colin. The color matches you really well.” She turned to her brother. “I do hope you will help him,” she chirped, leaving the room.
Colin scowled. “I look stupid, don’t I?”
“Don’t worry,” said Jae. “My mother can fix it. All the boys’ suits come extra long, so we can grow into them.”
“Oh,” answered Colin, taking it off.
“I’ll give it to my mother later,” said Jae, peeking out of the bath-room to see if they were alone. He closed the door, rolling his eyes. “I’ve been dying for a moment that we could talk privately. What happened at the Viancourt?”
The twins described what had taken place.
“They didn’t bring up you using magic, did they?” he asked Colin.
“No, not at all. I don’t think they saw anything.”
“That’s such a relief. I was afraid you’d be in there for hours.”
“Or maybe not come out at all?” Meghan eyed him.
“That too.”
She sucked in and got up the courage to confirm her and Colin’s worst fear.
“We really are stuck here, aren’t we, Jae?”
“Yes. I’m afraid there’s no way, not until the next blue moon. This time it’s my fault though, and you’ll be stuck away from home much longer than I was. If there were any way of finding out anything, even if it broke a hundred rules, I’d tell you in an instant.”
“We have no option then,” whispered Colin. He forced his mind to accept their plight. It wasn’t easy. It was hard to give in to the reality they faced. Not to fight for some way to get home.
Jae shook his head, apologetically.
The twins had to accept that he spoke the truth. There was no way home. They were stuck here. They needed to find a way to deal, and fit in. But how? How would they fit into a world where many did not welcome them? A world of magic, and secrets… a world they didn’t belong in, even if for some reason Colin could perform magic. And even if Meghan did somehow see a glimpse into the future, right before they’d been attacked by Scratchers in Cobbscott, with Jae.
None of that mattered now. Only survival. Only making it through until they could go home. Meghan lifted her chin stubbornly.
“We may be stuck here, Jae, but it’s in no way your fault,” consoled Meghan. “We made the choice not to heed your warning.”
“Still…”
She cut him off. “Nope. Won’t hear it, Jae. We’re here. There is nothing that can change that now.”
Colin wished he could feel that brave. But he also sensed fear threatening to overwhelm his sister. She was doing her best. He would too.
“Since we are stuck here,” he said, “tell us about this place. How does it work exactly? An entire town inside a wagon. Or wagons?” There were a few parked in a circle.
“The magic used is similar to what’s used to create the inside of the wagons, like back in Cobbscott. Or the one you guys stayed in last night. Just on a much larger scale. Although the town has actually shrunk a great deal in recent years, since we find our magic getting weaker, the longer we travel. It’s not a full-sized replica.”
“Is there something different in each of the wagons parked in the circle, or are they all connected?” Colin wanted to know.
“All connected. You can enter through any door, but each one will take you into a different part of the town. So if you want to come in the same way you did, just use that wagon each time. It’s really hard to explain how it all works. It doesn’t always make sense, even to me, but the way I understand it, creating this town requires a huge amount of magical energy. When we travel, we don’t always have the option to stay inside the wagons. Sometimes we stay in homes that belong in the world we’re traveling in.”
“That must be kind of hard. Not just always traveling, but never knowing for sure where you’re even staying.” Meghan didn’t mind traveling with their uncle, but she did enjoy that she had her own space, even if it was small.
Colin took out his book, the Magicante, and thumbed through it.
“There is one thing I don’t understand.”
“What’s that, Col?” asked Meghan curiously.
“Do you remember, after we got Jae’s father through, when Uncle Arnon showed up?”
“Yeah, I recall,” she said snidely. As if I could’ve forgotten! Colin ignored her thought.
“Do you remember when we left the trailer that night that I did not have the Magicante? I’d forgotten it.”
Meghan’s eyes widened.
“I do,” answered Jae. “I remember asking you where it was.”
“Why would Uncle Arnon bring Magicante to me? I can see throwing something at me to get me out of the way, but why did he bring this book? Of all things…” Colin fought off tears, but he was too weak to hide it from Meghan.
“It wasn’t your fault, Colin,” she tried to assure him.
“But if I hadn’t forgotten my book, or hadn’t gone at all, Uncle Arnon might still be safe. Why would he risk his life to bring me this? It’s a handy book, but worth giving up his life for?”
“Colin, I think it’s vital that we try to put this out of our minds for now. We should focus on surviving the next three years. I think I’d rather curl up and die, than sit around drowning in misery over questions we have no answers to.”
He nodded. “I’ll try. I really will.”
Footsteps shuffled up the staircase.
“I think its best,” warned Jae, “to keep all of this to ourselves; using magic, the book… and Meghan, I wouldn’t tell anyone about your run-in with the Catawitch, either. Those things could easily change the Viancourt’s minds about you staying here.”
They nodded in apprehensive agreement.
They were permitted to stay with the Svoda, but what would happen if they found out all this other stuff? Would they be kicked out? Imprisoned? They pleaded silently that they never found out the answers to these questions.
It was Mireya who had come up the stairs. She disappeared into her room.
Jae got up to leave Meghan to her bath. Colin got up to follow.
Jae spun around just outside the door. “I almost forgot. The other room,” he pointed to the room across from the bath. “It belongs to Ivan Crane. He was with me the day I ran into you guys and dropped all my packages. He just turned seventeen. Busy all the time. We don’t see him much. My parents took him in a few years back after his grandfather passed on.”
“That’s nice of your family to do that,” said Meghan, recalling the rude boy and her instant dislike of him. The boys left her and she hurriedly bathed, allowing Colin time to clean up, too. After, they had dinner. During the meal, another package arrived from Banon Blackwell, this time for Colin.
“I already got mine, it’s beautiful,” said Meghan, mostly for Sheila’s benefit.
Colin opened his. It was a black jacket, with a hint of gold fringe.
“That’s what all the men wear to fancy type occasions,” said Jae, rolling his eyes. Colin tried it on over his clothes. Again, it fell to his ankles.
“Another item to grow into?” Colin asked hopefully.
“I can fix that, along with your other one,” said Sheila. “Leave it on the couch over there, but in the box. We must keep it nice. It’s a real honor to get a gift from Banon Blackwell.”
“Is
there some event we need to have these outfits ready for? We were told there may be occasions we cannot attend.”
“We do have lots of fancy affairs. Best to always be ready.” Sheila smiled blankly.
They ate quietly and immediately after, Meghan announced she was ready for bed.
“I realize it’s early, but I’m spent.”
“I’m pretty beat myself, probably won’t be too far behind,” replied her brother.
“I think that’s a splendid idea all around,” announced Sheila. “I’m going to make a quick trip to see your father and when I get back, bed time.”
No one argued. The dinner meal had filled their bellies, causing the immensity of their gloomy tiredness to kick in.
“Night everyone,” yawned Meghan. She wound her way up the staircase. A chorus of sleepy goodnights swept through the house.
The boys and Mireya decided to stay up until Jae’s mother had returned from seeing Irving Mochrie at the hospital.
Meghan’s head hit her pillow, all thoughts left her mind, and exhaustion took over. She did not awaken until the next morning.
CHAPTER 22
It took a few groggy minutes for Meghan to remember where she was. Her eyes fluttered open, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. She sensed in her mind for Colin.
“You’re finally awake,” he said, catching her probing through his thoughts. “Hurry and get up. Jae’s practicing magic.”
“K, gotta get dressed,” she mumbled back into his mind. How had she slept so soundly that everyone was awake and up? And she hadn’t heard a thing. She let out a long sigh. Her mind wanted to wander. To let in all the unanswered thoughts mulling around her brain.
She forced them away, hiding them deep.
“Here we go, day two.” She got out of bed and hurried to dress and make herself presentable. As she departed the bedroom, the door next to hers opened. A handsome, dark haired young man dressed in a sports coat bounced out, startled to see her. His eyes settled on hers, his gaze narrowing in, almost as if he saw someone he recognized for a moment. It vanished, replaced by smugness. He gave her a curt nod.
“You must be Meghan.”
The Book, The Witches, and the Doorway (Fated Chronicles Book 1) Page 21
