Colby raised his hand, snapped his finger and they heard a crack. Amelia Cobb’s head was suddenly facing the wrong direction, looking back at the Tunkapog, her dead eyes bulging with fury. Her body slumped to the ground.
“You killed her,” said one of her followers, stunned.
“Oh, she needed to be killed,” said Colby. “You know, that’s the problem with all of you... sometimes, people just need to die.”
Another voice called out from the bewildered crowd.
“Colby?” It was Meghan. She had returned. Her eyes were their normal shade of ocean blue and she was casting them back and forth between the dead body of Amelia Cobb and her brother, Colby.
“Ah. Hello again, Sis,” he spoke in a cold hiss. “Long time no see.”
All eyes swiftly landed on Meghan, demanding an explanation of who this boy was, why he was here, and why this boy called her Sis!
She couldn’t speak and just looked away. No words would come to her.
“Don’t look so disappointed,” he told her. “Trying to convince that nut job to stop what she was doing wasn’t possible! She would have had to be put down one day or another. Why not now? Save a few lives,” he rattled on.
Silently, she sent him, “It’s not that you did it, it’s that you enjoyed doing it.”
“I certainly won’t mourn her loss,” he sent back. “Sometimes, you have to be the one that stands up and says enough. Enough of all this craziness. And actually do something about it.”
Meghan refused to reply and shut her thoughts off from him.
Aloud, Colby said, “See ya soon, Sis. Oh and by the way, early happy birthday. Sixteen tomorrow. Maybe next year we’ll get to throw a party?”
Meghan folded her arms in defiance, looking down. When she looked back up, Colby was gone.
And so was the Immortality Stone.
“Please, please tell me that what I think just happened, did not just happen,” said Arnon.
“Colby is Meghan’s real twin brother. It’s a really long story,” said Sebastien.
“And do we know who this boy’s father is?” asked Nashua, stalking over to them.
“Jurekai Fazendiin,” answered Meghan, weakly. “I can’t believe he killed her, just like that. I thought...” she didn’t know what to think. She had hoped there was some small piece of Colby that could be saved. And why had he said happy birthday to her? She wasn’t supposed to turn sixteen for months yet.
Their eyes again fell onto the dead body of Amelia Cobb.
No one approached her, they just stared.
Someone treated Kanda’s wound while Arnon located Meghan, finally able to see her and speak to her. Her eyes widened, tearing up upon seeing him. She hadn’t even realized he was there. She hadn’t recognized his voice. She ran into his arms. Kanda joined a moment later, her arm bandaged, the blood stopped.
“I thought once I’d spoken to Colin that I was pretty well caught up with what’s being going on in your lives, but it seems I may be incorrect in that theory,” Arnon told her.
“You have no idea,” she replied tiredly. “Wait! You talked to Colin. Is he here?”
“No, he’s gone. Just minutes ago.”
“What exactly happened anyway? I’m a bit fuzzy about how I got here.”
“I’ll let you handle this,” said Kanda, heading to aid her brother.
While Nashua and Kanda spoke to the stunned followers of the now deceased Amelia Cobb, and Sebastien had a reunion with his parents, Meghan spent the next couple of hours updating her uncle on everything that Colin had not told him, or had not known to tell him. He in turn, filled her in on everything Colin had shared with him.
“So Colin has no idea you’re not really twins?” said Arnon, his voice saddened.
“No. And he refuses any of my attempts to reach out to him, not that I can blame him.”
Arnon understood her pain but also Colin’s anger.
“We were always sure that you were born of immortal blood, we were just never certain which immortal. And Fazendiin, the first created. Considered the most powerful. The most wise.”
“I don’t know if I’d say wise,” said Meghan, a short smile flitting across her lips.
“Don’t mistake what I mean,” said Arnon. “His knowledge is as vast as the many long years of his life.”
“Oh, yeah, well...” she shrugged, no idea what to say. “Oh, um, so is it really my birthday tomorrow?”
Arnon shrugged. “I was not to long ago explaining to Colin that we picked a date we thought was close. We didn’t actually know when you were born.”
“I suppose Colby has no reason to lie,” she said with an accepting sigh. “Birthdays just don’t seem as important as they used to.”
“I don’t think your bro... I mean Colin, would agree with you,” said Arnon.
“How much danger is he really in?”
When Arnon could not reply she knew it was the worst kind.
“I’m going to try and help him,” she said. “I don’t know how. But I cannot give up. On Colin or Colby. Not yet. Oh! I can’t believe I haven’t told you yet!” she blurted out at the end. “My mother is still alive!”
Arnon’s mouth fell open, no words coming out. Just sounds mimicking attempts to speak.
“Yeah, I know,” she replied. “That was pretty much my reaction too. I was about to meet her when all this craziness with Colby started. I don’t know what all’s going to be happening around here, but I really have to go back. I have to meet her. I need answers, about a lot of things.”
“Yes. You must,” he agreed, finding his voice again. “Although, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it pains me to see you leave.”
She leaned in and hugged him again.
“So grown up,” he muttered lovingly. “I knew it would happen, but to see it all at once, like this. You’re sixteen tomorrow.”
“Sixteen! It feels more like forty!”
He laughed. “I miss you, and Colin. So much. I worry about you every moment I’m awake and I dream worry about you every night in my sleep.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice to just be back in the trailer, pulling in to some new campground getting ready to roast marshmallows?” she said whimsically. “I know, not going to happen, but a girl can dream. I can’t believe how much I miss that life right now. I really am sixteen going on forty!”
Arnon felt exactly the same as the moment he had found out that Colin’s and Meghan’s lives were about to change. He had wanted to run away with them, hide them from the horrors to come. He wished more than anything he could take them away from this nightmare.
“Hey, don’t go too far okay,” he said. “I’m going to go check in with Kanda and see what’s happening.” As soon as Arnon stepped away, Ivan and Sebastien hopped over.
“We have given Nashua and Kanda all the info we could about Juliska,” said Ivan. “We figured it was best they knew everything that we did, all that’s going on. Amelia’s followers are a little confused and frightened, but I think they have come around to seeing reason.”
Sebastien shook his head in agreement with what Ivan said. “So, what now? This,” he waved his arm around, “could take days.”
“I’m not waiting that long,” said Meghan. “I need to get back to the cave.”
Nona purred at Meghan’s feet. “I can take you back.”
“And what about after? After you meet your mother, what then?” asked Ivan.
Meghan sighed, glancing at her uncle, Kanda and Sebastien’s parents. “I know they won’t approve but... everyone knows what Colin is now. I have to help him. I have find a way to save him. My real brother or not, I just have to find a way. And Colby, I actually thought that maybe I could save him, but I’m starting to think his father’s, our father’s, claws are dug too deep. But I don’t want to give up.”
“So, plan one, get back to the cave,” said Sebastien.
“You guys are really going to come with me?” she asked, looking quite serious. “Are you
sure you should? I have no idea how dangerous things might get.”
“Which is exactly why we’re coming with you,” said Ivan matter-of-factly. Sebastien eyed him sternly; a part of him still disbelieving that Ivan was not in love with Meghan.
“I have to help,” Sebastien told her. “Colin is my oldest friend besides you and no matter what, we’re sticking together through this one.”
Meghan grinned. She couldn’t help it.
Sebastien hoped this was a sign that maybe, just maybe, she could forgive him for all that he had done.
“C’mon. Let’s just sneak away,” she suggested.
“Good idea,” agreed Sebastien. “If we try to say goodbye we’ll never get out of here!”
Nona stepped out in front, saying, “Follow me, there’s a way out in this direction.” They walked toward the backside of the camp, past burnt buildings that still smoldered.
“I can’t believe I did all of this,” said Meghan.
“You were under a spell,” reminded Nona.
Meghan shuddered. “I so hope that never happens again.”
As they reached the edge of the hideout, Nona stopped, her ears perking up.
“What is it?” asked Meghan. “Oh, I hear it too.”
Someone was shouting, not too far away. They raced toward the voice fearing it was someone that needed help, stopping in front of a tall wooden fence. There seemed to be no way to get inside. It took all three of them to break through.
What they saw shocked them all.
Meghan’s legs faltered but Ivan and Sebastien caught her, although they had trouble keeping their own balance.
“Is it really you?” she asked the figure.
“Wh-what are you guys doing here?” Jae Mochrie asked, equally shocked.
Meghan responded by racing forward and flinging her arms around him. “You’re alive!” she said repeatedly. “I can’t believe it.”
Another figure stepped out next to Jae. He was quite concerned with what was happening further into the encampment.
“You mind what we’ve talked about,” he told Jae, patting him on the shoulder.
“I will, Curtis. Thank you.” The man nodded toward the others and scurried off.
As soon as Meghan let go of Jae and backed away, she gasped.
Ivan lunged in and bear hugged Jae, who stiffened a little, throwing a look a Meghan. She just bit her lip and held back the jokes hanging on her lips.
He stepped back and straightened out his jacket. “Sorry, just never been so happy to see someone.”
“Um, thanks,” said Jae. “What the heck happened out here anyway? It sounded like a war zone. Now that I can see it, it looks like one too.”
“Pretty much exactly that,” said Meghan. “Amelia Cobb is dead,” she told him. It’s all kind of a long story.”
“So she won’t be returning magic?” Jae asked.
“No,” said Ivan.
“Well at least something went right.”
“How exactly did you get here?” asked Ivan. “We all thought you died.”
“Amelia,” he breathed out. “I jumped over the cliff and somehow she knew and captured me, been holding me here ever since. She wanted information about Juliska, the island and you and Colin,” he said to Meghan.
Meghan rolled her eyes, about to start in when Ivan said, “How about we move catch up time somewhere else? We were about to split and I think we should stick to that idea.”
“Yeah, we should get outta here before we get sucked back in,” said Sebastien.
They made it outside of the hideout in the northern Maine woods and Meghan snapped her fingers, starting a fire. They each took hold of Nona and the Catawitch jumped into the flame, pulling the foursome along with her.
This time, they landed deeper into the woods.
“I thought that perhaps some better cover might be a smarter move,” said Nona, spying a run down shack. “You three,” she said to the young men, “can wait here. I will take Meghan just inside the cave and make sure she gets there this time. I’ll wait there until she’s ready to return.”
“That sounds perfect,” said Meghan nervously.
Nona took Meghan to the cave and while they were away, Ivan and Sebastien filled Jae in on all that had happened. And he, all that had happened to him.
“Jae,” said Ivan after they had finished, “I just need to say this, no matter if you get angry. I knew what was happening to you. I knew that Juliska was working on recruiting you. But I couldn’t chance her finding out that I was trying to take her down. I had to stay loyal to her. I wanted to warn you, to tell you to stay way, that you didn’t know what you were getting into...” Jae stopped him.
“And do you think that for one minute I would have listened to you? All I ever heard these last years were Ivan this and Ivan that, the boy that could do no wrong! I...” he stumbled over his words. “I sort of hated you.”
Ivan nodded.
“The real issue is that I’m still a monster,” said Jae. “If Juliska finds out I’m alive, I’m dead. For real.”
“Did you believe Amelia?” asked Sebastien. “When she told you there was a cure? Or a way to break the bond?”
“She seemed genuine when she said it, but seeing how crazy she was... the man I was with, Curtis. He knew her better than I did and he seemed to think she spoke the truth. Told me to keep looking.”
“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do,” said Ivan decidedly.
Sebastien agreed. “I guess we know what’s next then, other than helping Colin.”
Ivan sighed. “I would never, never say this to Meghan, but I have no idea how to save him. If he got enough help and can keep it in control, I don’t see why he can’t just live like he is, in hiding. It’s not a great life, but it’s a life.”
“But if he can’t?” asked Sebastien. “The entire magical world is about to start the largest manhunt ever. They don’t realize he cannot be killed. Colin is one of my best friends, but...”
“We may have no say,” said Ivan. “He’ll either kill us all or we’ll have to...”
“Find a way to kill someone, a friend, that cannot die,” finished Jae, horrified by the thought.
“How long do you think Meghan’s going to be?” asked Sebastien. He stood and started pacing, eager to be on the move.
Chapter 8
Colin Jacoby knelt before the great oak tree, where the body of Jasper Thorndike had been laid to rest. Colin had taken them back to the campground in Cobbscott. It was the only place he could think of when they’d had to flee.
Catrina knelt down beside him. They were alone now. Just the two of them. There was no one else they could trust.
“I want to get Jasper’s book,” Colin told Catrina. “I think it might contain some answers. Might even be like having a bit of Jasper still with me. Us,” he corrected.
“Okay,” she answered.
“You’re really okay with that?” he asked her. He turned his head to see her speak.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? It should not be left in the hands of the Grosvenor, even if you didn’t want it.”
“It will be very dangerous. I know what I am, but I’ve never gone up against the Grosvenor. Never mind that I’m now the most wanted man in the magical world.”
“You cannot die,” she reminded him calmly.
“I know. I know that’s what everyone believes. I just don’t know as I fully believe it yet. And...” he paused, nervous to say the rest.
She reached out and took hold of his hands.
“I need to know if you feel safe with me?” he said. “I could never forgive myself if I hurt you.”
“Do you wish me to leave you?” she asked.
“No,” he answered quickly. He feared too quickly. He wanted her to know how he felt, but wanted her to be honest, and to leave him if she truly wanted to. He did not want her living in fear of him.
“I always want you to be with me,” he admitted, his voice shaking as he spoke. “I
just need to know that you are sure. And if you’re not, I could never be mad at you. I could never blame you. I don’t know what I will be like soon. I might not be someone you want to be around.”
She answered by leaning in and kissing him. She wrapped her arms around him, and let her forehead lean on his.
“I’m afraid, Colin Jacoby, that you’re stuck with me. For as long as you’ll have me. You should know by now that I don’t give up that easily. I love you. And that’s enough for me.”
Hearing Catrina say those words set his heart strumming. The truth was, that being alone frightened him more than anything.
More than how he might change.
More than any battle he would inevitably find himself in.
So much had been said over the previous days. So much learned. He owed Catrina the truth about how he felt, and a chance to change her mind even if it meant letting her go.
He needed her to know that even though he was immortal, powerful beyond imagining, and feared by nearly everyone, the thing he feared most was losing her.
“I don’t want to end up like Jasper,” he admitted somberly. “Facing a life in hiding, on the run for hundreds of years, and alone.” It was hard to say aloud, but he needed to.
“You’ll never be alone,” she whispered with certainty. “You will always have me.”
He closed his eyes, his lips finding hers once again. After a moment, he pulled away, searching her eyes for any signs of doubt.
He saw none.
“You don’t believe me?” she asked.
“Yes. I do believe you,” he replied assuredly. “And now that I know I have you, Catrina Flummer, I’m ready to face forever.”
##
“You’ll be fine,” said Nona, coaxing Meghan to take a few steps deeper into the cave.
“I know, I’m not scared, not in that sense, just, scared because this is like, my mother!” She took a deep breath. “Okay, doing it. Here I go.” She started walking. The path was clear of rocks and such, just a layer of fine sand, but it got dark fast. She was about to snap a fire in her hand so she could see, when flames burst to life just to her side; torches on the cave wall. They began to light up all along the walls, illuminating her path.
Taken (Book Six) (Fated Saga Fantasy Series) Page 14