“I always knew the Stone would come in handy,” Jurekai continued. “Oh, I always knew where it was. Jasper thought he had me fooled, but hey! Why spend my time and energy protecting it? Jasper did all the hard work for me.”
“That seems to be your number one theme,” noted Colin. “Letting others do your work for you.”
“Why mess with a working system?” he returned. “For example, you just finished off my competition and all I had to do was give up the Stone for a few hours.”
“I won’t let you take it back,” said Meghan insistently.
“Ah. My daughter. Such a pleasure to see you again,” he said with fake enthusiasm.
Ivan and Sebastien took protective stances in front of her.
“Tsk tsk boys! I can’t speak to my own daughter?”
“I have nothing to say to you,” Meghan retorted.
“You know,” started Fazendiin arrogantly, “I always knew you were alive. Your mother may have believed you dead. But I knew otherwise.”
Her face gave away that she was curious as to what he meant, but she refused to ask.
He continued regardless, turning to Colin. “I always knew you were out there somewhere too. I never told anyone, of course. Would have ruined everything. And everything, has gone exactly. As. I. Planned.” He spoke clearly and precisely.
Some part of Meghan rejoiced in the fact that Aloyna had been right. Her son had tried to manipulate the prophecy. Make it work for him instead of for the side of good. Her rejoicing dimmed when she realized that her father was still winning. And that they had helped him do so.
It had been his plan all along. To use them to finish what he could not: to kill off the remaining Grosvenor.
Meghan pounded against the block in Colin’s mind until he opened it. She shared this with him, instantly regretting her choice. Colin put the block back in place and took a menacing step towards Fazendiin.
“Ah ah ah,” he warned. “I would not do that if I were you.”
Colin relinquished only slightly.
“You know,” said Fazendiin, “you were a surprise I did not expect, the night I set fire to that pathetic human orphanage.”
Meghan’s mouth turned down in disgust.
“I knew you were alive,” he continued with Meghan, “but your mother had hidden you from me. What luck, that when I traced my daughter, Colin just happened to be sleeping in the crib next to her. It should have been obvious I suppose. It was the only orphanage around. Where else would one safely hide a child?” He looked extremely pleased with himself. “And besides, it worked. The fire separated you from your mother,” he aimed at Meghan.
“You,” mustered out Meghan. “You murdered innocent children.” Her thoughts were on the ghost boy Timothy, whom she and Colin had befriended while in Grimble. She stepped out in front of Ivan and Sebastien, being sure to look her father directly in his eyes.
“Do not ever call me daughter! You will never be my father. Your blood might run through my veins, but you’re not worth the breath to say the word.”
“Fiery,” replied Fazendiin. “There’s hope for you yet.”
Colin leapt forward again, out of Catrina’s grasp.
“Ah yes, get mad! Colin Jacoby. The lost little lamb. Doesn’t know who his mommy and daddy are,” mocked Fazendiin.
Catrina grabbed desperately at Colin, pulling him back.
Ivan and Sebastien did not weaken their stance, forcing Meghan back behind them.
Nona, as usual, was weaving around her legs.
“You will want to think twice about killing me, Colin.”
“Why?”
“I guess that depends on how desperate you are to find out who your parents are.”
“And you know?” assumed Colin.
Fazendiin’s jeering grin hurled down at them like waves of hate. “Of course I know who they are. You don’t seem to be comprehending what I’m trying to tell you all. I am the one pulling the strings. I am so many steps ahead of this game. You cannot win.”
“You might not think we’re much of a threat to you,” shouted Meghan, “but what about your dear old mummy?”
“My mother,” he laughed again. “She has no power in this world. You know nothing of her.”
“I might know just a little bit more than you’re thinking, Dad,” she added in the most smug tone she could muster. She had inched her way in front of Ivan and Sebastien again; she heard them both groan when she egged her father on. She realized pissing him off probably wasn’t the smartest idea.
Catrina struggled to keep Colin calm. She didn’t want him killing anyone else today. He’d done enough. He’d taken enough steps toward darkness.
Meghan looked back up at her father.
“You know what? I think you might need to take a little trip home. I think, you’re about to discover you’re not quite as many steps ahead in this game as you might believe.”
The look on her father’s face did not immediately indicate whether he believed anything she said or not. But then she saw it. A glimmer of doubt. A hint of fear.
He didn’t say a word.
In a flash, he and the Immortality Stone vanished.
It took a moment for them to realize they were once again alone.
Meghan let out a long sigh, feeling exhilarated; she had told off her dad. It was followed by dread; she had told off her dad.
What consequences would it all bring? Had she made things more difficult for Colby? Exhilaration degraded into guilt. She had been so worked up and felt such a need to pull one over on her father, she hadn’t even thought about how this might affect Colby.
Ivan leaned against a beam, closing his eyes.
Sebastien slid to the floor, lying onto his back and covered his face for a moment.
“I don’t think we should stay here,” they heard Colin saying.
Meghan looked up to see Catrina agreeing with him.
“No, we should get back to the banished camp,” agreed Meghan.
Ivan seconded the motion and Sebastien threw in a hearty agreement of his own.
Colin sighed.
Meghan realized he had not been speaking of all of them. Just himself and Catrina.
“Do you have to go?”
“I don’t see that I have any other choice. Regardless of what’s happened here today, the Grosvenor being dead except your father, I’m still not going to be accepted back into your world. Most of them still want to hunt me down.”
“Even if they did, they can’t kill you,” reminded Meghan.
“No. But it’s not just me. And frankly, I’d rather be in hiding and have some kind of life, than try to live in your world, where I’m despised.” And maybe I should be, he added silently. Today was almost certain proof that he wasn’t capable of living in the outside world any longer.
Meghan didn’t like how he used the term your world. It was so separating. And after all she’d witnessed from him, it was hard to argue. He’d taken steps toward that darker path tonight.
“Just promise me, you’ll check in now and then. Let me know you guys are okay.”
“We will,” he replied. “Things will be different from now on. I promise.”
“Where will you go?” asked Sebastien.
Colin cast a worried look toward Catrina.
“I have no idea. Somewhere remote, where no one can find us. Maybe somewhere in a city? Get lost in the crowd.”
“A city,” mumbled Sebastien, deep in thought. “If you want the city, I know where you can go. Amelia has safe houses set up all over the place, for the banished that were working in the non-magical world. They’re all abandoned now. You’d be safe. The closest one’s in Portland, Maine. Not a real busy city to get lost in, but there’s another one right in the heart of Boston.”
Colin and Meghan had been to Boston a few times during travels with their uncle. It was a much busier city. Much easier to get lost in.
Sebastien explained where it was.
Meghan felt a bit o
f relief come over her. At least she’d know where he was. She knew he’d have the place cloaked and be impossible to find, but at least he’d be somewhere safe.
Ivan came over and wished them luck.
Colin patted Sebastien on the shoulder, thanking him.
Catrina leaned down and pet Nona, thanking her again for her company during her imprisonment. She purred her response in a gracious meow.
Catrina smiled and stood up facing Meghan.
“Thank you,” Meghan told her. “For taking care of my brother.”
“I don’t mind,” she replied with a slight blush in her cheeks.
“Just the same. Thank you.”
She moved her gaze to Colin, not sure when she’d see him again.
“I will stay in contact,” he promised.
Looking at him, she had a hard time finding what she was searching for; a little piece of the boy she knew. There was a tiny glimmer of it in his eyes. She clung to that glimmer, forcing it to erase all the thoughts that terrified her.
“Be careful,” she told him. “Anything you need, find me. And, um, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, perhaps it might be best if you don’t tell me where you’re going. In the future. I want to know. But with Colby being able to get into my mind, too,” she shrugged. “I can’t tell anyone something I don’t honestly know.”
He got the point. Once they decided to leave Boston, he’d not tell her where they went. It was the safer option.
He nodded, took hold of Catrina’s hand and in an instant, they were gone. Meghan held back tears trying desperately to escape. She wasn’t going to let the waterworks start. Man, did being sixteen and a chick, suck. All the wanting to cry over everything all the time was for the birds.
“Nona,” she called out, her voice husky. “I’d like to get out of here.”
“You light the fire, I’ll take us home.”
Meghan did so and she, Sebastien, and Ivan grabbed Nona’s back, disappearing into the flames, leaving the barn and what was left of the Grosvenor’s bodies to fall into decay.
This time, they popped out of a bonfire set in the middle of the banished camp. A few onlookers jumped, startled when three bodies and a Catawitch bounded out of the flames; but after recognizing who it was, stood down.
The three stepped onto a walkway, odd looks and questioning gazes thrown their way. They realized they hadn’t even thought to use magic to repair their clothes or clean themselves up.
Meghan’s clothes were torn in too many places to count. Her red hair was a tangled mess of knots intermingled with hay and dirt from the barn.
Sebastien had blood running down his arm from a cut he hadn’t even seen until just now. And as he thought about it, he hurt all over. That fall he’d taken from the cross beams suddenly felt like it had bruised his entire body. For the moment, he accepted the pain, like a badge that he’d survived to see another day.
Ivan’s jacket and shirt were torn beyond repair. He also had a nasty scratch across his cheek; the bleeding had stopped, but he hadn’t even noticed it.
“Whatever,” said Meghan, in an I don’t care tone. She started towards home, no desire to do anything, say anything, or think about anything. She wanted to sink into a numbing sort of dream and just vanish for the rest of her life.
Sebastien followed; his home wasn’t too far beyond hers. He wasn’t ready to deal with the wrath of his parents. They’d be thrilled he was home and safe, but angry, nonetheless. No, not angry, just worried. He was tired of constantly being consumed by guilt. But it didn’t matter. He was in this until it was finished. He felt responsible for a lot of what Meghan was dealing with, and still had tons to make up for.
Ivan followed, but not on purpose. He didn’t know where he was headed. His mind felt blank. Empty. Except for this one feeling he couldn’t quite grasp yet. It was growing though. A need. A desire for something he could not place yet.
They hadn’t walked far when Meghan let out an “eew.”
Ivan and Sebastien tossed her a concerned look.
“Sorry,” she replied. “It’s just Nona. Her nose picked up the scent of a nice juicy rodent.”
“Ah,” said Ivan, his tone even.
“I’ll see you later,” Nona said. “I smell dinner and I’m famished.”
Meghan shook her head. “I really should just make her eat regular cat food or something, but she loves to hunt.”
“It’s her nature,” said Sebastien, sounding weary.
Meghan noticed Ivan, staring into nothing.
“You okay?”
“I think I’m going to... walk,” he said it like a question. “Will you be okay getting home?”
“I’m going straight there. No detours,” she swore. She stared at him; he didn’t even notice. Ivan looked like a blank canvas that needed painting before it could be brought to life. She worried he really needed to talk, and part of her dreaded she should stay and force him to, but in all honesty, she didn’t have it in her. Perhaps, like her, he just really needed to be alone. To process everything that had happened. To process all his life had become.
They had all nearly died today.
Well, Meghan felt as though she had nearly died, even though she was immortal and could not.
They had nearly lost Colin today. If it hadn’t been for Catrina, he might have crossed a line he could not return from.
They did lose Jae. He had returned to Juliska. Meghan couldn’t handle thinking about what might be happening to him right now.
And Ivan was having one heck of a time trying to figure out where exactly he fit into this new world he’d been thrust into after his life had spun upside down and inside out, when he’d found out his mother was alive.
Meghan let Ivan wander off, hoping it wasn’t a mistake to do so.
“He’ll be fine,” said Sebastien. “Give him a little space. He probably just needs to think about things. Plus, he’s got that whole ‘not liking to show emotion’ thing.”
“Yeah, he’s definitely got that,” she agreed. “He’s getting better at it, though,” she noted as they continued walking.
“Oh, hello,” they heard a voice call out in front of them. They looked up to see Maria.
“Maria, hello,” replied Meghan. “I take it everyone is back?”
“Yes,” she answered apprehensively.
“They are probably really angry at me, aren’t they?”
“There was a little of that going around. Everyone is in a meeting,” she explained.
“This late?” asked Sebastien.
“I guess no one could sleep. I got antsy, needed some air,” she admitted. “Not to be mean, but you guys look dreadful.” Her voice held only concern for their condition.
“You know, Maria,” said Meghan, “I would really like to explain it all, but I just don’t have it in me to do so.”
“I understand. Really, I do. Are you all okay?”
“More or less.”
“Um...” Maria paused, looking like she wanted to ask something.
“If you’re wondering about Ivan,” guessed Meghan, “he just took off that way.” She pointed with a nod of her head.
“Oh. Okay. Well, good night. I’m glad you’re all okay. Whatever happened.” Maria sped off.
Meghan was actually glad everyone was in a late meeting. She wasn’t quite ready to face anyone yet. Explaining what had happened was something she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready for. Something stirred in the pit of her stomach. Something she needed to be alone for.
“Sebastien, I need to go home now.”
“Do you want me to walk you home? It’s on the way to my house anyway,” he added, as if it were no big deal.
“Yeah, that would be nice.”
They walked, an awkward silence falling over them.
Meghan could not recall the last time she had been alone with Sebastien. At least, when she knew it was him, and he was in his human form and not bird form, spying on her.
The pit in her stomach
was expanding, the events of the night weighing her down, crushing her. Like there was a weight on top of her body too heavy for her to move.
She reached where Arnon and Kanda were staying and stopped at the front door. “Good night, Sebastien,” she said, barely audibly.
“Yeah. I’ll see you.” He started to walk away and then stopped and turned.
Meghan held up her hand. “Not tonight. Whatever you want to say, I’m sorry, it needs to wait. Don’t give up telling me, just, not tonight.”
He nodded, tossed her a sympathetic smile and slipped away. She hadn’t said no. And he knew the timing was bad. It was just the first time he’d had her alone to even think about speaking to her. To officially apologize for everything he’d ever done, to explain why he’d kissed her, and to ask her the one question he desperately wanted to know: if she’d ever be able to forgive him?
Meghan stepped inside and shut the door behind her. As hoped, no one was home. This fact could not have come at a better moment.
She let her head fall forward, tears forming.
It was too much.
It was all just too much.
This world wanted more than she had to give.
Prophecy or no prophecy, she had nothing more to give.
She should feel happy. Part of the job was done! The Grosvenor had been defeated, minus her father, a heartless man she wished was dead. Colby had seen the truth and freed Aloyna; maybe there was hope for him yet. She could not even think about Colin...
She slid to the floor, head in hands, wondering if she’d ever feel as though she could step foot back into the world again.
CHAPTER 23
Ivan wandered, what he thought was aimlessly, until he found himself in front of a familiar door. He stood in front of it, unable to bring himself to knock.
“If you don’t knock, I can’t answer,” a soft voice startled him from behind.
He turned around. Maria sucked in an uncontrolled inhale at the sight of him. “Wh-what happened to you?”
He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He could not formulate the night into words. Heck, it wasn’t just this night. It was his entire life. All of it was sitting on his chest like a heavy weight he was unable to lift.
Control (The Blood Vision, The Immortality Stone, and The Woman in Glass) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 7) Page 24