The Map, The Dagger, and The Vampyres (Fated Chronicles Book 2)

by Humphrey Quinn

  “Do I need to cast it just once?” asked Colin, noticing how short the spell was.

  “You need to cast it before you perform any spell,” the book explained, his voice instructively excited. “For example, Abdo Emissio. Always add the word Abdo before any spell you perform, each time you perform it, and it will be hidden from all.”

  “That. Is. Cool.” said Colin, eager to get started.

  “Let me clarify though, it does not hide magic completely. This spell keeps magic from being traced, by hiding the trail of expelled energy that magic leaves behind. If someone physically sees you doing magic on the other hand… well you can put the rest together.”

  Just then, Jae walked in.

  “Hoped I’d find you in here. Mom wanted me to tell you dinner’ll be ready soon.” He sat down on Colin’s bed, watching as he stashed the Magicante. “Have you heard from Meghan yet?”

  “Not since that first day. She sent me a leaf letting me know she’d gotten settled in, but would be busy studying. I’m sure she’s having her fill of fun studying with Ivan,” laughed Colin.

  Jae joined in.

  After a minute, Colin noticed a new injury, this time on Jae’s hand.

  “It’s nothing,” he insisted, after seeing Colin’s questioning gaze.

  “Nothing? Looks like a nasty gash, Jae.”

  “The doctor gave me some salve. It’ll heal in no time. I’ve just been kind of clumsy lately.”

  Colin did not believe Jae’s explanation, and for a brief moment, wished Meghan was there. A sudden case of clumsiness just did not fit.

  “We’d better go eat,” reminded Jae.

  After dinner, Colin and Jae went outside of the caves and meandered down a path. Both were silent, each rooted in their own thoughts. It seemed like hours drifted by without a single word passing between them.

  Colin got a fleeting urge to let Jae in on his secret. He was not sure why he felt such a desire, except for the fact that no one did know, not even his own sister. He’d told no one of Catrina. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how stupid it would be to go gallivanting off to find her without telling someone what he was doing. What if something happened? It’s the smart thing to do, isn’t it?

  “Jae,” he began tentatively, before he could lose his nerve. “Do you recall the girl that is sick, from the Flummer family?”

  “Um, yeah, Balloch’s granddaughter, Catrina, right? I heard my dad mention her.”

  Colin was not sure how to explain his dream girl situation without sounding nuts. He began with explaining his first encounter with Catrina, back in the Grimble hospital, and told Jae about his dreams, finishing with his encounter with Balloch’s ghost.

  Jae perched himself on a nearby slick sided rock, listening without interruption. When Colin had finished, he slid down the edge until his feet hit the ground. He stood up, looking puzzled.

  “And you believe she is here, somewhere in Eidolon’s Valley?”

  Colin nodded yes.

  “I don’t understand how you could have seen her in Grimble though. She’s from another group. Are you positive it was her?”

  Colin nodded yes, again, hoping his instincts had been correct to confide in his friend.

  “I don’t know how to explain it all, Jae. I just know I’m right. And I need to save her.”

  “You could get into so much trouble, Colin,” Jae blurted unexpectedly. “I mean, we don’t know the whole story. Maybe there’s something important we’re missing. Maybe she’s really really sick, like contagious or something... maybe you should just forget about it?”

  This was not the response Colin expected. His heart filled with dread. Thus far, Jae had always agreed with the twins, if not actually perpetrating their previous troublemaking escapades. Before Colin could argue his side though, Jae’s attitude took an all too familiar turn.

  “On the other hand, if she really is in trouble and no one knows, I suppose you’d have no choice, would you?”

  Colin could practically see Jae’s mind churning through the information, struggling with what it all meant. He must have been thinking the same thoughts Colin had. How could she be in two different groups at the same time? It went against everything they had been told. Everything they believed true. Everything their leader, Juliska Blackwell, claimed as truth.

  Out of nowhere, Billie Sadorus popped out from a nearby path, jogging by.

  “Oh. Hi Billie,” called out Colin.

  “Gettin’ dark. You boys better be gettin’ home,” she reminded as they sped by.

  They hadn’t realized how late it had become. The duo raced back toward their cave dwelling, reaching the entrance with just minutes to spare. Off to the side of the dwelling, standing not too far away in another doorway, was the Three D’s.

  Colin and Jae were at least thankful that the oncoming darkness would keep them from adding insult to injury. As it was, Irving Mochrie glared and shook his head at Jae and Colin as they entered.

  “Sorry, Dad,” Jae apologized rapidly. “We lost track of the time.”

  “Time for bed,” was all Irving replied.

  As Colin and Jae headed to bed, followed by Mireya, Sheila appeared.

  “Oh, good, Colin, I believe these are for you.” She handed him a stack of papers.

  “Papers from Corny,” he whispered.

  Sheila looked amused as she handed them over.

  As soon as Mireya was asleep, Jae snuck into Colin’s cubby and they studied the papers. They moved them around, trying to put them together so they made sense. After a few tries they still spelled nothing. They shortly gave up, leaning against the back wall. Neither was in the mood to sleep.

  “If you decide to go searching for Catrina, Colin,” whispered Jae, “I think that you should go during the Feast of the Blest Arcane. No one would miss you for a day or two.”

  “That’s true, huh. You said it would be a busy time. It really lasts an entire week?”

  “Yes, and good busy, since unlike the retelling festival, it’s not just one big gathering. People have smaller parties and dinners to go to, so it’s an easier excuse if you’re not around. And I can handle mom and dad, I’ll tell them you were invited to dinner with someone else.”

  Colin’s mind began to race. The thought of searching for Catrina all on his own, was daunting. Could he really do it? He took a deep breath deciding that somehow, he would need to find the strength and bravery to do so.

  CHAPTER 7

  Concentration escaped Meghan. Since moving in with Juliska, she felt distracted, not quite settled in. Then, there was the extra time spent with Ivan; he had been attending her training at least once a day.

  At what felt like a snail’s pace, she was learning how to create fire in the palm of her hand. The trick was for it not to spread to her entire body, or to some-one or some-thing else. Juliska and Ivan both agreed this was a vital ability needed on any journey.

  The ability to create fire anywhere, anytime, would be of great use… the much harder part was controlling that fire. Followed by learning to see at will. No pressure. And Meghan already knew that having visions of specific events was nearly impossible without many long years of practice so she wasn’t sure how uncontrolled visions were going to help Ivan on this task.

  The Initiation training was proving just as strenuous as Meghan had anticipated.

  On the afternoon of the sixth day, Juliska had her take a break from practicing Firemancy, and instead, focused on using actual magic.

  “Don’t worry,” her teacher said, before Meghan could ask. “This castle has protection around it. Eidolon cannot sense that we are practicing magic in here.”

  “Oh. Cool,” Meghan said. She later changed her mind on ‘cool’, as magic practice did not go well. Meghan attempted the Emissio spell, but to no avail.

  After a while, Ivan arrived to monitor her progress.

  Things went from bad to worse.

  “Are you taking the time to collect energy before you try
the spell?” he asked, after seeing Meghan fail time after time.

  “Well, of course I’m trying to,” she retorted.

  “Can I make a suggestion?” he aimed at Juliska.

  She nodded yes.

  “Perhaps Meghan needs better motivation.”

  Meghan did not like the sound of Ivan’s suggestion one little bit. Juliska pondered the idea, at first appearing unsure.

  “The only reason I agree is that we are running out of time, but yes, perhaps you are right, Ivan.”

  “Let’s change spells,” he said, taking Meghan aside. “I know you can do this,” he whispered under his breath so Juliska couldn’t hear. “I’ve seen you.”

  “That was a life and death situation,” she whispered back, realizing he was speaking of the secret adventure they’d shared while in Grimble. When they’d ventured into the ghost huts in search of Colin’s stolen book.

  “Exactly,” he mouthed.

  Meghan scowled. What was he going to do now, put her in another life or death situation?

  Ivan took a stance about ten feet away from Meghan and faced her.

  “I want you to block my spell,” Ivan explained. “If anything, blocking a spell might help you stay out of harm’s way, even if you can’t defend yourself after.”

  Meghan growled under her breath.

  “I am going to send a spell at you. Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy on you the first time. You will use the Obstructo spell to block me.”

  Meghan had heard Jae use the Obstructo spell, back in Grimble. She readied her mind, attempting to collect magical energy to use for her spell.

  “Ready?” asked Ivan.

  Meghan replied by taking a defensive stance with her palm faced out.

  “Carnacari!” he called out. Ivan’s spell flew at her so fast that Meghan didn’t even have the chance to say her counter spell. She lost her stance and screamed as a cascade of white carnations pummeled her body. They broke and fell to the floor after hitting her. They were easily breakable, but still stung upon impact.

  “That hurt,” she grumbled through gritted teeth.

  Ivan frowned. “What happened? You were supposed to block them.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you. Guess I freaked a little when a cavalcade of white flew at me. It wasn’t what I expected.”

  “What did you expect?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. To be thrown into a wall or something.”

  Ivan sighed. “Let’s try it again, now that you know what’s coming. Although I might remind you…”

  Meghan cut him off. “Yeah yeah yeah. In the real world I won’t have any clue what’s coming at me. You’ve reminded me a few times, Ivan.”

  “At least you’re listening,” he retorted. “And remember what I tell you.”

  “That’s because your voice is so…” Meghan caught herself when Juliska cleared her throat. “Let’s just try it again.” She got her defensive stance at the ready again.

  Ivan shot off the same spell again. And again. And again, until finally, Meghan got her obstruction spell off fast enough to block a few of the flower arrows. It surprised her, the damage an innocent looking batch of flowers could do to her arms, face, and clothes.

  Ivan would have kept going, but Juliska decided it was time for a break, for which Meghan was very grateful. She left without a word to Ivan, and changed her clothes and cleaned up. The flower welts weren’t as bad as they felt and had cleared up a short while later, thanks to Nona’s cat tongue licking them until they’d healed. Although she wished she’d waited to clean up until after her arms, neck, and face had gotten covered in cat saliva.

  That evening, they returned to the study of Firemancy. It was time for Meghan to gain control of the fire she was creating, and keep it in the palm of her hand and not spreading all over her body. Three attempts in a row, she created fire, but not until the third try did she successfully keep it from spreading. She held her palm upward, controlling the flames, but that is when the real trouble started: uncontrollable visions.

  “This is no good, Meghan,” warned Ivan, after lifting her off the floor. “If all that’s going to happen is you fall instantly into a vision... this is too dangerous.”

  For once, Meghan thought he was actually talking sense and regretted his decision to choose her.

  “You are free to find someone else,” she responded with a fake smile.

  He rolled his eyes. “Far too late for that now.”

  Meghan laughed. “Your fault you’re stuck with me. I had nothing to do with this.”

  “Just focus, please,” he responded caustically.

  Meghan let out a heavy breath that blew the hair off her sweaty face and lit into him.

  “I’m doing my best, Ivan,” she articulated in an angry whisper. “I’m exhausted from trying. And focusing. If I focus any harder my brain’s going to explode. And you know, is it such an impossibility for you to just say one nice thing? How about, gee, I picked you for this crazy mission and you didn’t have any choice in the matter and thanks for working your butt off…” he cut her off, uncaring of her mood or request to say something nice.

  “Exhausted isn’t going to help either of us if you’re stuck in an uncontrollable vision when I need you awake and in the present,” he grumbled back.

  “Well maybe you shouldn’t have picked me, then!” she shot back.

  “What’s done is done,” intruded Juliska, before the argument escalated further.

  Ivan shut up, nodding at Juliska but biting his lip to hold his tongue.

  At least he never argues with her, thought Meghan.

  “I say enough for today,” announced Juliska. “I think, in all honesty,” she glanced slightly toward Ivan, “that you are trying too hard, Meghan. Take some rest. We will start again tomorrow morning.”

  Meghan left the room abruptly. She noticed that Ivan stayed behind, however, shutting the door behind her.

  Her fury was instant. She knew Ivan and Juliska were discussing her failures, and before she knew it, she had burst into flames, losing complete control. She attempted to squelch it, but Ivan was too quick. The door flew open just as she put out the final flame.

  She glared at him ignoring the smoldering and singed curtains behind her. Ivan’s self-righteous gaze caught her and he grinned smugly before closing the door.

  Nona thought Meghan’s blood might boil over. “Ignore him,” she insisted. “I watched you practice all afternoon, and you did very well. Even Juliska believes that. Now, it’s time to rest.” Nona knew her words would hardly calm Meghan’s fiery temper. At least as she stormed away, no more fires erupted.

  By morning, however, she had ruined her sheets, singing them beyond repair. Meghan sat up, still fuming, but more determined than ever to succeed.

  “I will keep my emotions under control today,” she said decidedly. “I will not let Ivan Crane get the best of me.” She immediately got up and began practice. She created a controlled fire in her palm on the first try, but a vision awaited her.

  Nona sat, still as a statue, keeping guard as the vision took over.

  It began much the same as it always did; her repeated nightmare of Jae Mochrie, injured and beaten, lying on his pillar, just out of her reach. She held her breath through to the end, not wanting to relive the vision, but as it neared its typical ending (Jae’s beaten body hurled into the great dark abyss) something new occurred.

  Jae stood up, egging on the faceless silhouette, challenging it.

  Meghan breathed, paying more attention now.

  “Jae! You can’t fight that thing,” she yelled instinctively. Then she thought, Maybe he’s supposed to fight this thing? Maybe he needs to fight it. “Be strong Jae!” she encouraged. “Fight it! I know you can!”

  The vision did not take the turn Meghan hoped it would.

  Jae spun and peered at Meghan. She fell backwards in shock.

  Burnished black eyes stared down at her. His face was contorted and wrong. Angry and powerful.


  He spun around facing the foe that typically hurled him into the abyss and to Meghan’s amazement, the being backed away. A face formed underneath the dark cloak; there were no distinctive features other than a vile, pleased smile.

  This was the result it wanted. What it had been hoping for.

  Whatever was wrong with Jae, it was getting worse.

  Whatever dark path he was traveling down, Meghan got the distinct impression that soon it would be too late for him to turn around.

  The being vanished, dissolving into nothing, leaving Jae to fight this evil thing inside him. This darkness that expanded, fighting for control. He fell to his knees, panting, screaming and convulsing until the darkness had ripped itself out of his body and he slumped over, unconscious.

  The vision ended and Meghan was on her bedroom floor. She fell onto her back with a thud. Nona licked her face lovingly as she moaned in despair.

  What did this change mean? Was this still Ivan’s fear she was seeing? Would he ever explain to her what it all meant? Or was this something new that only she was seeing?

  Meghan feared she was defeated. How could she forget about this vision and move forward? How could she keep this, or any other vision, from happening every time she created a fire?

  “Oh, Nona. I’m so tired. I’m not cut out for this.”

  Nona stopped her licking as a knock at the bedroom door intervened and sidetracked Meghan’s melancholy mood. Breakfast, delivered by Pantin Hollee.

  “Thank you, Hollee,” mumbled Meghan, rising from the floor.

  “Up early and hard at work already, I see.”

  Meghan nodded half-heartedly.

  “I’ve never seen anyone work so hard and learn so fast, Meghan. It will all come together.”

  Desperation and failure must have been written all over her face. Meghan fought the lump rising in her throat, determined not to let it surface. She mustered out, “Thanks.”

  Hollee gave her an understanding pat on the shoulder and left, insisting she eat.