Shifting

by Unknown

  “Well,” Colin started, “when I did magic the second time, before the Scratcher attack …”

  “Again?” she questioned.

  34

  Uncle Eddy gestured Colin to explain.

  “Remember when you sensed I was being bullied, and you came looking for me with Sebastien and Jae?” Colin bowed his head, embarrassed to let his uncle hear that he had been bullied.

  “Yeah, I remember, you had this smug look on your face…” she exhaled and asked in a dark voice, “What – Did – You- Do?”

  “It was a complete accident,” he insisted. “I didn’t realize anything would happen. I wished that the boys would freeze, and they did. Then they started yelling. I was afraid someone might see what I’d done, so I wished for them to shut up, and they did. I heard the spell wear off after I ran away.”

  Meghan was dumbfounded that Colin had done magic, twice, before she had known about it.

  What scared her most was that he had successfully kept this fact hidden from her.

  “He must be getting better at blocking me,” she thought.

  “Yes, I am!” He stuck out his tongue.

  She mimicked him and then folded her arms in disgust. Uncle Eddy eyed them both apprehensively.

  “I am afraid that before either of you can continue, this bickering has to stop. You must both find peace with each other. Your bond is strong, but it needs to remain so. Remember… no secrets.”

  Once again, the twins found themselves in trouble for arguing. They tried to put aside their bitterness and continue.

  “So how do I do it? Magic, I mean,” asked Meghan.

  Uncle Eddy took a worried breath.

  “Let’s start with something simple. Perhaps the book will allow some assistance, since it’s your first try.”

  The book answered, this time with a snide poem.

  Assistance I will give,

  For the one that lives,

  Although her brain a sieve,

  Oh drat! We all know she can’t do it on her own!

  Colin frowned at the odd poem, while sensing in Meghan’s mind a desire to kick the book.

  “What would you like to try, Meghan?” asked Eddy.

  “I don’t know,” she replied, unsure.

  “How about something simple, like color changing,” Eddy prompted.

  “Color changing!” she grinned. “How about my hair?”

  It wasn’t exactly what Uncle Eddy had in mind, but it would work. Colin rolled his eyes and was about to make a joke, when Meghan gave him a glare; he put on a fake smile, motioning for her to continue.

  35

  “Book,” she tried to ask politely. “Hm hmm,” she cleared her throat. “Give me a spell to turn my hair sky blue.”

  “As you wish your…” Uncle Eddy interrupted.

  “If you don’t mind, stick to the spell, thanks.”

  It sniveled and snarled under its breath. The pages flipped, stopping on a shimmering yellow leaf.

  Meghan was thankful to her uncle for stopping the oncoming onslaught of contempt. She read the directions, which floated over the shimmering leaf.

  “Although an insult to my knowledge…”

  Hmpfff Meghan’s thoughts shouted.

  A Spell for Blue Hair.

  To have hair of blue in every strand,

  Say three times, whilst waving your hand,

  Blue hair everywhere.

  To have blue hair just in stripes,

  Please say thrice, while trying to be nice,

  Blue hair here, blue hair there.

  Meghan stopped reading. “I’m going to try it!” She stood up.

  “But there’s more options, Meghan,” pointed out Colin.

  “I want the first one, all blue.”

  Colin was going to argue, but decided to play nice.

  “Okay. Here I go. My first spell. Hope it doesn’t go wonky and turn it a bad blue, ‘cause that would suck.” She closed her eyes and waved her hand, palm side toward her face.

  “Blue hair everywhere,” she repeated it three times.

  After the third time, the hair on her head changed to a brilliant sky blue. She opened her eyes and admired herself in a nearby broken window.

  “Too cool! I love…” she choked, looking down at her arms as bright blue hairs took the place of her normally blond ones. “What the…”

  Torrents of laughter filled the empty mill, Colin couldn’t help himself; even Uncle Eddy got in a good chuckle. Meghan’s hair was blue from head to toe, including her eyebrows and arms.

  She hiked up the bottom of her skirt. All she could muster was a low grumble.

  “I guess,” Colin squeaked, “when it says everywhere,” he could barely talk, “it means everywhere.”

  Meghan grabbed the book, snarling. A steady stream of insults churned in her mind: Reviling!

  Ridiculous! Conniving little … Dang book thinks its sooo smug! Well, I’ll show…

  A new bout of hysterics bubbled out of Colin. He had not laughed so hard since he could remember.

  36

  Meghan, humiliated, continued reading.

  “Since you’ve decided to be smart enough to read all I have written…” Meghan ignored the sneering remarks, and the hysterical laughter bellowing from Colin, and read the final verse.

  If blue on your head is what you desire,

  Then what you need is a way to inspire,

  Sing it three times like a children's choir,

  And if you’re lucky (ha), blue will be your outcome!

  “Be your… outcome?” She glared at the book, shaking her head.

  It took all Colin’s strength to stop laughing, and feel even the slightest bit of remorse. It was possibly the most humiliated he’d ever seen her. Even more so than the night he’d found out about her crush on Sebastien Jendaya.

  She mustered up what courage she had left and sang blue fire three times. The hair on her body returned to its normal color, and only the hair on her head remained blue. “At least that’s over!” she stated, plopping herself down. “I suppose,” she said, humbled, “That the first lesson is to read all the instructions, first.”

  “The first lesson was no secrets, but alas, number two. Understanding the entire picture, even on a seemingly simple task, requires complete knowledge of the situation.”

  “Don’t worry. Think I’ll remember that one.” She took a deep breath, and then said, “I still don’t understand why the book helped us, before we even knew what it was?”

  “I am sure when you first needed help it realized you would not yet understand.”

  “So it’s a rude book, with a heart o’ gold?” she said smugly.

  “It is said that a little bit of the creator’s, let’s say, humor and temperament, seeped in during the book’s creation. This book may have an off kilter sense of humor, but it will never fail you.

  Again, I reiterate, you may not like the answer, or the solution, but it will never fail you.” He then asked, “Do you both understand so far?”

  They shook their heads yes and he continued.

  “Now, I…” Eddy was cut off by a shadow moving outside one of the broken mill windows. He chased it, yelling for the twins to stay put. They waited impatiently for their uncle to return, their thoughts wandering.

  “If you’d told me a few months ago we’d find out our parents were magical, well, it’s so hard to believe,” said Meghan.

  “I wish Uncle Arnon would have told us. Maybe things could have turned out differently,” he choked. “He gave up so much to keep us safe. Maybe if he had found a group like the Svoda, he could have had more of a home, or friends.”

  “But the Svoda hide, too.”

  “Yeah, but at least they still have each other.”

  Meghan did not reply.

  They remained silent, hiding their thoughts from each other. A few minutes later, their uncle flew back in.

  37

  “Saw a ghost, tried to follow him, but he disappeared before I
got a real fix on him. Probably accidentally happened upon this place, but can’t be too careful.”

  “Uncle Eddy, why is it so important for us to keep our magic a secret? Between the Svoda, who are magical, and the ghosts, who are dead magical people, would anyone even care?”

  “Ah, yes. Something I did wish to discuss with you. Simply put, it may not matter much at all, and yet, doing things in the right order always works best. Your magic will come out when the moment is right, perhaps once they have begun trusting two new strangers.” Colin heard a hint of suggestion.

  “If I understand what you’re saying,” said Colin, “we should try to make a good impression, get people to like us and then maybe they will be more accepting.”

  “Something like that, yes, Colin.”

  “It would make life easier if they’d stop gawking at us all the time,” huffed Meghan.

  Uncle Eddy laughed and then sighed.

  “It’s already getting later than I expected. I’d imagine you’re getting hungry by now, so eat, and then off you go for the day.”

  The twins realized they had been there for hours already and were starving. At the same time, they didn’t want their first day to come to an end so soon. They ate slowly. Even Meghan, whose first magical attempt went awry, didn’t want to leave. But the end came.

  “Let’s plan on meeting same time, same place, tomorrow,” said Uncle Eddy as they departed.

  “We’ll be here,” grinned Colin.

  “One more thing. And this applies to both of you. Keep that book safe. Even if your magic does become public knowledge, or you get upset with it,” his eyes rolled to Meghan. “There are a lot of people who would love to get their hands on Magicante, and this one is meant for you.” Colin gripped it tighter.

  During the walk home, a few Gypsies passed them by; all taking double-takes of Meghan’s blue hair.

  “I’m not sure this is what Uncle Eddy had in mind when he wanted us to impress the Svoda.” Meghan simply held her head up high and walked on. Once back in the wagons they met up with Jae and Mireya. She ran up to Meghan’s head and touched it.

  “Wow, I love it! Wish my mom and dad would let me.”

  “You know dad would never,” reminded Jae.

  Meghan wished she hadn’t done it, realizing it was more trouble than it was worth.

  “I had it done in Grimble,” she lied half-heartedly.

  “How was your first day back at school?” asked Colin, taking the attention away from his sister. Mireya’s eyebrows raised and she briskly walked away. Jae waited for Mireya to walk out of hearing distance before explaining.

  “Not my best day. The class wanted to hear about my month alone. I told them about fighting the Scratchers, don’t worry, they don’t know about you, Colin,” he added. “Then, I told them how strong I felt out there, but when I went to perform a spell, I could barely pull it off. I guess it’s so crowded here, I’m just weaker.” He frowned, hiding his face behind his stringy hair.

  Timidly, he continued.

  38

  “For a minute, I wished I were on my own again. The power I felt out there, with no one else to use it all up...”

  The twins were not sure how to reply. Jae changed the subject.

  “How about you guys?”

  The twins decided they could tell Jae what their uncle was teaching them. If he confided in them, they saw no reason not to do the same.

  “I had a little fiasco of my own there,” said Meghan, retelling the story of her blue nightmare.

  It helped cheer him up, and Jae wasn’t surprised at all that Meghan performed magic, seeing as Colin had already done it.

  Before bed, Colin, hidden behind his curtain, opened Magicante, hoping to ask it a question he knew it probably wouldn’t answer.

  “Book, tell me, is there a way to make myself taller?” Colin swore he heard the book sigh, and then in a whisper it barked its answer.

  “Yes! By learning how not to waste my time!” There was a pause, and then more words appeared, but in the form of a poem which the book did not speak.

  Now if you don’t mind,

  I’d like to unwind,

  I think you will find,

  That someone is going to arrive any minute now!

  “Huh? Doesn’t rhyme.” Colin shook his head, listening, as footsteps approached. He hid the book at the bottom of his dresser and crawled into bed. Through the open bedroom door, and a crack in his curtain, he spied Ivan Crane going into his room. His sister barged into his head.

  “Hey, Col. Awake?”

  “Yeah, I’ve been waiting for Jae to come up. Must’ve had a ton of school work to catch up on.”

  “I don’t think he has taken a break since he got home today. Just wanted to say goodnight,” she said.

  “K, night, Sis.”

  A few hours later, Colin awoke as Jae sauntered in. Colin poked his head out of the curtain and was about to rib Jae about working so hard when he heard sniffling. He sucked himself back behind his curtain, holding his breath.

  What was the right thing to do? Ask Jae what was wrong, or pretend he did not notice. He desperately wanted to wake Meghan, but decided it was best for at least one of them to sleep.

  Colin supposed it could wait until morning. Confrontation was her strong forte after all, not his!

  39

  5

  Days had passed since Colin had awakened in the middle of the night, having overheard Jae crying. After discussing it with Meghan, they decided to wait and see if Jae volunteered any information. However, a chance for volunteered information had not yet developed, as Jae was busy morning until late at night, typically with his father.

  The twins were also busy with their Uncle Eddy, practicing simple spells. Meghan had the book help her change her hair color back to red, keeping a single blue streak, to draw less attention.

  Colin had successfully used magic to pick up a rock, and hurl it thirty feet, hitting his target straight on ten times in a row. He hoped there would be no occasion when this talent would become useful…aka… a Scratcher attack.

  Meghan, however, struggled without the book’s help. She worked on creating fire, by touching a pile of wood and telling it to burn.

  “You couldn’t start a fire, magic or not!” Colin joked.

  She could not argue.

  “I’m not sure why I’m even trying this spell. I’m all thumbs when it comes to matches and lighters.” She persisted, though. For some reason she liked the idea of a roaring fire, but when the day ended, the pile remained unlit.

  “Meghan, you better get up,” sent Colin from the backyard, a few mornings later. “If you don’t hurry you won’t get to see Jae at all, he’s leaving with his dad, again.”

  “Okay, okay, I’m up already. What is with this place, getting up so dang early all the time?” she mumbled haughtily.

  “If you’re worried about your beauty sleep, don’t bother,” he teased, laughing, which silenced everyone at the breakfast table. It became awkwardly obvious that the conversation he had not been attending to was not humorous. Colin stuffed his face with food, pretending it didn’t happen and the conversation continued. A whisper found his thoughts.

  “Serves you right, little bro.”

  “Hey! Not fair,” he shot back.

  The Mochrie’s were having a heated conversation.

  “Maybe this will be your turn, Irving. Even Vinson Troast cannot ignore what a fine job you do at the bank.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure, Sheila. I not only have to pass the approval of Troast, but also Vian Sadorus. I don’t think either of them wants me for the job. I’ve been hearing rumors about Markus Scraggs.”

  “Since when do you pay attention to rumor, Irving Mochrie?” Sheila scolded. “What would the rest of your family think if they heard you planning your life according to rumor?” Sheila Mochrie decided the conversation was over. She got up and went into house.

  40

  “Dad’s not fond of Vian Sadorus,
” whispered Jae. “He bought the bank and demoted dad, who was next in line to manage the place.”

  “I wouldn’t like him either if he’d done that to me.” Colin whispered back, and then asked, “I don’t understand why you need a bank, if things in the village are free.”

  “In the village, yes. However, outside the village, not the case. Everyone has to chip in to the town fund. We do odd jobs as we travel, like here, working in Grimble, so we can buy supplies we need along the way. But, the businesses in our village are still owned by people, and Garner owns a lot.”

  “How does he afford to buy businesses?” asked Colin, confused.

  “He’s old money, plus, the owners get small stipends to keep their businesses open. It’s not much, but it helps.” Jae added, “Sorry I haven’t been around much, been helping dad at the bank. He’s due for a promotion, as you heard.” Colin realized that he and Meghan should give some of their recently inherited money to the town fund.

  “Better be off then, Jae,” said Irving Mochrie, darting his stern eyes at Jae to see if he was ready to leave.

  Jae jumped up and said he’d be ready in a flash and ran inside bounding up the spiral staircase.

  Meghan, at that same moment, was bounding down the stairs. She glanced through the staircase window into the lit outdoor fire pit; she didn’t notice Jae rounding the staircase at full speed.

  They crashed head-on!

  Meghan fell back and Jae fell down a stair, thankfully catching himself before falling all the way. He was back up instantly and held out his hand to offer Meghan assistance.

  “Sorry, always in a hurry these days. I was telling Colin, I’ve been helping my dad at the bank.

  Should calm down soon, though.” She held out her hand to accept his help. It was nice to see Jae, if even for a minute.

  As she grabbed hold of his hand, an overpowering sensation crept into her mind; intense heat, followed by crippling pain. She doubled over, feeling as though her body was being squeezed like a tube, emptying every last ounce of her breath. It felt like the last breath, the final breath before death.

  Jae propped her up, setting her down on the stairway, letting go of her hand. Instantly her breath returned and she began to feel normal again. Colin, sensing something wrong, snuck inside.