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

by Humphrey Quinn

  Meghan’s eyes were wide with petrified curiosity now, her heart reclaiming its quickened pace.

  Juliska’s body deflated. “I am completely freaking you out. I’m sorry, this was exactly what I wanted to avoid.” She took her seat again. The bed, stiff, barely depressing with the Queen’s weight.

  “This room is my safe room. It is magically protected. Anything I say, or do, cannot be seen, overheard, or witnessed by anyone not in this room. In addition, to enter, you must be invited by me. Few people have this honor.” Another reminder of the importance of the moment.

  Meghan nodded that she understood but was unable to find her voice to speak.

  “The truth is, I need your help, Meghan. The kind of help only a Firemancer can offer. What I am about to tell you is a secret I have kept for many long months. Not even my loyal Pantin has been told.”

  Meghan’s stomach did a lurch. What secret could Juliska possibly want to tell her, that she could not, or would not, tell another soul?

  “I have not had a vision in over a year.”

  Meghan had no response other than shock.

  “I do not know what has caused this, but my visions have simply vanished,” Juliska continued. She let go of Meghan and started pacing the room again.

  “I did not realize it was possible to lose them,” Meghan whispered.

  “Nor did I. It is a first, as far as my knowledge is aware. Perhaps this lifestyle we lead is…” Juliska did not finish, her hand waving into the air like the answer might just pop into her mind. “Regardless of the reason, Meghan, when I discovered you were a Firemancer, I knew instantly I would come to rely on your visions if mine continued to fail. I am afraid to admit I have been rather selfish in my cause. My lack of vision is why I pushed your training along so quickly. This is why I allowed you to be Ivan Crane’s Learner Companion in Eidolon’s Valley. I will point out, that I would not have pushed if I was not one hundred percent confident you were up to the task.”

  “I never feel that confident,” Meghan replied honestly.

  “Which is what will make you a great Firemancer, Meghan.”

  “How?”

  “It shows me that you are not arrogant, and will not abuse the power that comes with being a Firemancer.”

  Meghan’s heart nearly stopped. Power? What power? She saw visions. So far, mostly terrible visions about Jae Mochrie.

  “Meghan, breathe, please,” pleaded Juliska.

  Meghan did so, unaware she’d been holding it in.

  “I know a thousand equally frightening and confusing thoughts are rushing through your brain right now. Would you like some time?”

  “No,” exhaled Meghan. “I’m okay. Just, definitely caught me off guard. This was not what I expected in the least. Not that I expected anything specific, I just…”

  “What I am about to ask of you, is again, too much, and certainly not simple. Moreover, I understand you have much yet to learn. We are living in desperate days, Meghan. Without my visions, I fear for the survival of my people. I need you to be my eyes. I need you to see what I cannot. Our very existence may well rely upon it.”

  “That’s not adding any pressure or anything,” Meghan blurted without a second thought.

  Juliska covered her mouth as if not to laugh.

  “Sorry. Sometimes things just pop out.” Meghan hoped she had not offended. Juliska responded with an amused smile.

  “I could have handled this much better. I’m lucky you didn’t run out of here and call me crazy.”

  “You might be crazy,” Meghan responded despondently. “If you really think I’m ready for this.”

  “I have complete confidence. You know, I was about your age when I began an apprenticeship with my own teacher. I wasn’t far past my fourteenth birthday myself. To be fair though, you are still new to this world, and I was aware from a young age what I was.”

  “You had a Firemancer as a teacher then, too?” asked Meghan.

  “A seer, yes. A Firemancer, no. Firemancy is not as common as you or I make it seem. My teacher was a Watermancer… she used water to see her visions, in the same manner we use fire. Did you know the seer gift is passed down from mothers only to their daughters?”

  Meghan already knew this. However, it was Uncle Eddy, their ghostly, secret tutor in Grimble that had explained, so she pretended not to.

  “So my mother was a Firemancer, too?”

  “Do you know nothing of your mother at all?” prodded Juliska. “I have to admit I have been very curious. Especially since your gift came on so late in life.”

  “So that’s not normal?”

  “I’ve never seen it before. A gift like ours typically begins to show itself in some way or another when we are young children.”

  “So much I don’t know. And as for my mother, I know about as much. She died with my father in an accident when Colin and I were still babies. My uncle raised us.” Meghan choked up for a moment, at the same time, wondering how much to share. “I’m pretty sure my uncle was clueless about all this magic stuff,” she lied.

  It tore at her to do it, but talking about Uncle Arnon felt like a betrayal in a way. Whether he was dead, or by some miracle had survived the Scratcher attack and was alive.

  “Does it ever seem to you, that the more you learn about the gift of sight, you know less and less about everything else in the world?” Meghan wrinkled her nose as if to say, does that even make any sense?

  “Are you sure you’re only fourteen?” Juliska ribbed.

  Meghan laughed shyly. “I think I’ve always been part teen wannabe, and part, I’ve lived forever.”

  Juliska reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair back in place. Meghan shied away from the contact, not used to it, and yet a huge part of her craved it. Like she’d just talked about, she’d never known her mother. But she’d always wanted one.

  This was business though. And Juliska was her teacher.

  “If I can be honest, Meghan, getting this secret off my chest is more of a relief than I could have imagined. But I do not want you to be pressured into this. If you personally feel you are not ready, then that’s the end of it.”

  “You’d give me a choice?”

  “Of course. You do have a say in your future.” There was an edge of bitterness in Juliska’s tone, as if she’d not had the same privilege. But Meghan did not push the subject. Instead, she got herself sitting up straight, and lifted her chin in determination.

  “What do you need me to do? Where do I start?”

  Juliska grinned. Pleased.

  “By moving in with me again, actually.”

  Meghan perked up. “I’ll go pack my things.”

  Shoot. Colin.

  He’ll be fine. He’s busy guarding Catrina anyway.

  “We start first thing tomorrow,” Juliska told her.

  “So what’s in there?” asked Meghan, nodding in the direction of the trunk with the ornate doorways.

  Juliska smiled rather devilishly. “That will be one of our first lessons. I think you’re going to like it.”

  Meghan stared, wondering just what secret waited inside.

  CHAPTER 22

  Meghan’s nerves buzzed with anticipation as she departed Juliska’s tent. Moments later, Nona appeared.

  “You’re going to pack, I presume,” she asked Meghan. The Catawitch had already heard the entire conversation through her connection with Meghan’s thoughts.

  “Yup. I wonder if Juliska is keen to you being able to hear my thoughts even while in her room. She told me everything we said to each other there was completely secret, and nothing could be overheard from outside the room.”

  “I am sure your conversations are safe from others, but the connection we have is not breakable by any known magic,” Nona informed Meghan. “But it does make me curious…”

  “About what?”

  “Whether Colin would be able to hear you as well?”

  “Hm, I wonder. I haven’t told Juliska about being able to read Co
lin’s mind. I haven’t told many people. For good reason.”

  “And I think, for now, that is one secret that should remain,” Nona returned.

  “I agree,” smiled Meghan. “Pretty crazy though, huh, Nona?”

  “Juliska’s lack of visions concerns me greatly. Not only for what it means to everyone’s safety, but also to yours.”

  “She is under a great deal of pressure. I mean, can you even imagine living day to day with the knowledge that it’s your responsibility to protect all of these people?”

  “And now, in part, it is also yours,” Nona reminded.

  “I will do whatever I can to help Juliska. I just feel so… not ready. Even though I acted like I was.”

  “We will do this task together. I will help in whatever manner I can.”

  “Really don’t know how I ever lived without you, Nona.” She rubbed up against Meghan’s leg returning the compliment with a purr.

  “How about we take it one step at a time,” her Catawitch advised.

  “Right. So, pack first. Second, tell Colin. Third, move in with Juliska. And tomorrow...” Meghan’s voice rose with each task.

  “One step at a time,” Nona encouraged.

  A short while later they arrived at the Mochrie tent.

  “Hi, Mireya,” Meghan said upon entering.

  “Oh, hi,” she replied, lifting her head from a book.

  “Your parents gone?”

  “At a zone meeting.”

  Meghan continued into their shared room, confused by the scene unfolding inside. Jae was helping Colin go through his belongings.

  “What are you doing?” Meghan asked her brother.

  “Packing.”

  “Yeah, figured that much out on my own. Why are you packing?”

  “I’m not really staying here. Makes sense to have my stuff with me. And… Billie offered to let me stay with her. She has extra space and a free room all to myself.”

  “Ah, less crowd time.”

  “And less outside sleeping. I’m not that big a fan and neither is Catrina. Would make keeping her safe and secret much easier. You’re welcome too, of course.”

  “Actually, I have to pack as well. I’ve had an offer myself. I guess your tent is going to be a lot less crowded after today, Jae.”

  “Where are you…” Colin smirked, trailing off. “You’re going to stay with Juliska again, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. She asked me to, in order to continue my training as a Firemancer.”

  Colin ground his teeth, but it wasn’t like he could stop his sister. Or that she could say no, to Juliska. But he still did not like it one bit.

  “Is Catrina here?” Meghan whispered after a tense minute.

  “No. I left her at Billie’s to take a nap. I just got back about fifteen minutes before you did.” Meghan sensed his eagerness to return to her.

  “Tell her I said hi. I’ll try to come visit you when I can.”

  What Colin heard between the lines was, Best if I come visit you and not the other way around. Not that he planned to visit Juliska Blackwell anytime soon.

  “We’ve always got this, too.” Colin pointed at his head.

  “Yeah. Of course. Connection’s always open,” she insisted. She’d try at least. “We need to remember to thank your parents, Jae, for letting us stay with you all this time. And who knows, we might be back.”

  “I’ll pass the message along,” he offered. “This will be strange, though. We’ve been living together for a long time. Can’t say it won’t be nice to have a little extra space,” he jested lightheartedly.

  The three laughed and grinned.

  “It has been quite the adventure,” Meghan lamented as if it were all coming to an end.

  “You’re acting like we’re moving away permanently.” Colin squirmed a little. “It’s not like we’re leaving. Just be a few tents over.”

  “Oh, I know,” she blew it off. “But in a way, we are sort of all going our separate ways. It’s a little scary,” she said honestly.

  “Leave it to my dad to be right,” Jae muttered begrudgingly.

  Meghan and Colin waited for him to explain.

  “Nothing stays the same forever, so don’t get used to anything.”

  “That is actually a little depressing if you think about it,” Meghan mused glumly.

  “And sadly, these days, very true,” Colin pointed out.

  “Well, you two have fun,” Jae called out while falling back onto his sleeping cot. “I’ll be kicking back and enjoying all this peace and quiet.” He let out a fake bemoaning sigh. “Yup. This is downright tortuous. All this time, alone.”

  Colin tossed a sock at his face. Jae caught it and tossed it back with a grin.

  The twins shivered.

  Man, did they hate it when that happened.

  There was something missing behind their friend’s grin.

  Was he pretending to be happy they were leaving? But really disappointed?

  Was he relieved they were leaving? Glad of the extra space, or… or what?

  It was hard to place the emotion that whisked through his gaze, but it left the twins with a sense that this very moment was a pivotal change in all their futures. That in some way, they truly were following their own paths. Each headed out on some different journey.

  Another shudder down the twins’ spines.

  “Was that your bad feeling or mine?” Colin asked his sister through their mind connection.

  “Let’s not go there again,” she shot back. “Isn’t that how all this started? Back in Uncle Arnon’s travel trailer over a year ago.” Right after the Svoda had come into the campground. And nothing had been the same since.

  Meghan shut down the connection, blocking Colin.

  What am I doing?

  Leaving Colin to fend for himself.

  Taking on a life I’m not ready for.

  What happened to getting back home?

  Figuring out what happened to Uncle Arnon?

  How had this life become so all encompassing, in a year’s time?

  Nona licked her hand, jostling Meghan back into reality. She grabbed her packed bag and her Catawitch jumped down from the cot, leading the way out of the Mochrie tent. She opened up her thoughts to Colin. “Be careful.”

  “You, too.”

  “We might not be staying in the same place, but whenever you need me, I’ll hear you, I promise.”

  “Same here, Sis.” Colin patted Jae’s shoulder. They nodded a final time. Both Colin and Meghan left at the same time with a quick goodbye to Mireya and exited the tent, going in opposite directions.

  Mireya sighed.

  “Sad?” Jae asked his sister.

  “Don’t know. Kind of I guess. It’s not just them leaving.”

  “Kind of everything,” he guessed.

  “Yeah. Nothing’s normal anymore.”

  “Nothing’s ever really normal,” Jae pointed out.

  “I know. I just mean, everything is extra abnormal.”

  “You don’t have to explain, I get it. But maybe once we find out what’s happened here, some things will get back to normal.”

  “I hate sitting around, waiting and waiting. I wish there were some way I could help. I wish I could do something.”

  “I know what you mean,” he replied. “But we have to let the Initiated take care of this. The best thing we can do is keep our eyes open, our ears tuned in, and study hard while in school. So when the time comes, we can do our part.”

  Mireya picked up her book and bonked Jae on the head with it.

  “I have read this book so many times I practically have it memorized,” she exclaimed.

  “Ah, keyword – practically!”

  She shot him an ugly face, stuck out her tongue, and returned to studying and reading. Jae let her do so in silence, staring at the tent wall while deep in thought.

  His sister had it right. He wanted to do his part, too. He wanted to help. He wanted enough power to make a difference. Power like he�
�d had when he got stuck behind after first meeting Meghan and Colin. Power like he’d lost after coming home to his family and the other Svoda.

  And wasn’t it wrong to crave such things?

  To always want more…

  And yet it would solve so many problems. He’d be better at magic. His father might even… he shook his head and released an anxious exhale.

  Perhaps I should take the Banon up on her offer…

  She did say I was perfect for the job.

  She also said it would be dangerous… and no going back once I agreed.

  Jae’s heart raced with indecision.

  We face danger every single day.

  Shouldn’t I be as prepared as I can be?

  “I’ll be back in a little while,” Jae blurted suddenly, rising from his chair. He did not give Mireya a chance to question him. He flew out of the tent, his course, certain. Although once standing in front of the tent he sought, he had a moment of panic.

  No going back…

  His arm fell to his side before knocking.

  I’ll be strong and powerful if I do this.

  A withered hand pulled back the canvas tent door and a whiff of mothballs struck Jae’s nostrils.

  “Please enter, young Jae Mochrie,” encouraged a voice, from inside. “But only if you are certain. For as you have been warned this choice is final, and cannot be undone.”

  Jae’s heart pounded. All he had to do was step inside.

  “I have seen your true heart, Jae, and I understand, more than most, what it is you desire.” Banon Blackwell had told him this while in Eidolon’s Valley. Their conversation drummed around his brain.

  “It feels wrong. To want this.”

  “Maybe you are not meant to control the wanting,” the Banon posed. “Perhaps your experience of being left behind and fending for yourself was meant to happen, to change the course of your life for the better. Wanting, isn’t always bad. Or selfish. How would we ever make a goal and see it through if we didn’t want to?”

  Jae had never thought about it that way before.

  The Banon continued.

  “I see it as passion, Jae. And if people did not have a passion for power, how would the world ever find its leaders? There’s no argument that many in power are consumed by it, and ruled by it. But power is not purely good or purely bad.”