She tried not to read the horror in Arnon’s and Kanda’s eyes.
“We were older,” Meghan continued. “Not a lot older, but older. So, do I believe this prophecy will ever let go of me? That I would ever have the option to just walk away? That I have any choice but to do whatever it asks of me? And as much as I know you, or my mother, or Ivan, or so many others would love to step in and take over, the truth is, none of you can. It’s all on me, Colin and Colby.” She drew a long, shaky breath.
Just outside the front door, Ivan had heard every word. He reached up and grasped his chest. It felt like his heart squeezed so tightly that it could not beat properly. It hurt just to breathe. He didn’t want to feel this. He didn’t know how to feel this. He didn’t even know what this was...
Air suddenly seemed in short supply. He could not get enough, even standing in the great outdoors. He wandered off, heading nowhere in particular.
Meghan took a sip of her now cooled tea, almost wishing Kanda had actually given her a sleeping potion, too.
“I really wish I knew what to say,” said her uncle. “This isn’t anything I would have wished for you, in a million lifetimes.”
“I know. I really do know that. I guess I have accepted who I am. I just wish I knew my part in it all. I feel like I’m blindly being led into a fate I have no control over.”
There was silence again. Kanda got up to grab the hot water kettle.
There was a scratch at the door.
“That’ll be Nona,” said Meghan.
Kanda opened the door and let her inside.
“No more for me, thanks,” said Meghan, when Kanda approached with more tea. “I think I’ll try to get some sleep now.”
Kanda showed her to a room. Meghan slipped inside and closed the door. It was small, with just a bed. The bed looked inviting but now that she was sitting on it, she did not feel like sleeping.
Nona curled up in her lap.
“Don’t let everything overwhelm you,” she said to Meghan.
“I actually don’t feel overwhelmed. More like, relieved.”
“Sometimes talking can clear the mind,” said Nona.
“Yeah, I guess that had been building up for a little while. Poor Uncle Arnon and Kanda. I really laid it on them, huh.”
“Don’t feel bad. They will worry about you whether you tell them everything, or not.”
Meghan stroked Nona’s back. The hair on her body was so thin she could feel the Catawitch’s skin rumpling underneath her fingers.
Meghan leaned back, hoping for her mind to go blank and to sleep.
But blank did not happen.
She once again started to wonder how Colby had killed her, and again, whether he actually had.
She worried that her mother would try to sacrifice herself to end Colby’s life if it became necessary, only to find out it was for nothing, because he could not really die. That his immortality would bring him back after her spell had worn off when he reached his eighteenth birthday.
Without realizing, she dozed off, only to wake with a start after the face of Juliska Blackwell slithered its way into a dream.
I’m so glad she is not my mother, was her first thought upon waking. That is something to be thankful for, at least! But why was she the one staring down at my cradle as I slept in the orphanage? Why was Juliska’s face in my vision, rather than Isabella’s?
The vision had led Meghan to believe that Juliska might have been her mother.
Nona answered Meghan’s thought. “Perhaps it was simply that at the time you did want her to be your mother. You saw her as a mother figure. Since you didn’t know your true mother’s identity, you put Juliska’s face in her place. Your visions and your desires, merging.”
“I hadn’t thought about it like that,” whispered Meghan. “You’re right, I think. I did really want it at the time.” The possibility she had once desired, now made her shudder in disgust.
“Rest now,” insisted Nona.
Meghan rested her head on the pillow. “I’ll try,” she muttered sleepily. “I’ll try...”
Chapter 2
Maura handed Billie Sadorus a steaming cup of coffee. She took it in one hand and continued steering the ship with the other. Noah climbed the stairs, joining them. Maura poured him a cup too.
“Thanks,” he said, downing the first chug, licking his lips heartily. “There’s just something about that first sip in the morning.”
“I agree to that,” said Billie, tipping her mug towards his.
The sun was just coming up. It had been another long, cold night at sea. They had been afraid a storm was coming; cloud cover hung over them all night.
The morning brought sun peeking up over the horizon, casting beams of orange, gold and yellow across the water’s surface.
“I’ll take over steering the ship,” offered Noah.
Billie nodded and stepped back, allowing him to take her place, but she didn’t leave.
“Something’s on your mind, I wager?” he said.
“Have you noticed the difference?” she asked. “It’s been only days but already...”
“I was going to bring up,” he replied. “I wasn’t sure if it was just me. Quite glad it’s not, actually.”
“I assume you two are speaking of magic?” said Maura. “I feel it too.”
“I had no idea our magic was so drained. Even before returning to the island,” said Noah. “I haven’t felt this strong since... since I can’t even remember when. Years maybe.”
“I feel the same,” said Billie. “And you Maura? Is it the same for you?”
“It is. I don’t know exactly how or why, but my magic feels strong, renewed almost. Like it’s fresh and new in a way.”
“Which begs the question,” started Noah, “just how long has Juliska Blackwell been draining our magic? And more importantly, how did she do it?”
“I think it’s the same weapon they used on my group,” said Maura. “The treasure hunters had something that drained our powers. It’s how they overpowered us. But...” she paused.
“Go ahead,” coaxed Billie.
“We noticed months before that happened, that we were weaker. It happened subtly.”
“You know what it’s reminiscent of?” said Noah. “I can’t believe I’m even suggesting it, as they are supposed to be non-existent, but it reminds me of the stories about the Mazy Stones.”
“Mazy Stones. Huh. I wonder,” whispered Billie.
“Mazuruk died out ages ago,” reminded Maura. “How would they have gotten more stones?”
“Unless not all of the original stones were actually destroyed,” said Noah, with a hint of suggestion.
“That is a most disturbing thought,” said Billie. “Especially in the hands of Juliska Blackwell.”
Footsteps climbed the stairs behind them.
“Maria,” called out Billie. “Morning.”
Maria nodded hello. “I know it’s early, but I thought you guys might like a bit of breakfast, while it’s hot.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you,” said Maura. “I’ll certainly enjoy anything that’s throwing off any amount of heat,” she added. “This chill just doesn’t leave the bones, does it?”
“No. It certainly doesn’t,” agreed Maria. She set down a small basket covered with a cloth.
As if it would help, she pulled her long brown locks securely around her neck to stave off the chill. It didn’t give much protection, a shiver pulsating deeply into her spine and down her thin frame.
Maria pulled back the basket cloth, opening up a space just wide enough for a hand to fit inside and grab a freshly baked meat pie. They looked like stuffed half moons made of flaky crust with gravy oozing out of the sides.
“Oh, Maria,” exclaimed Noah, his mouth full. “You’ve outdone yourself!”
She gave a shy laugh. “You seem in good spirits this morning. I think everyone is.”
“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” agreed Noah. “I guess we’ve all
had some time to recuperate. Catch our breath.”
Maria glanced out over the side of the boat. “So where are we anyway?”
“We are just off the coast of Cobbscott, Maine,” answered Billie.
“Do we have a destination then?” asked Maura, glancing between Billie and Noah, the ship’s navigators.
“We’ve been giving it some thought and we think we need to have a group meeting, allow everyone to have their say,” explained Billie.
“We do have options, but I don’t think it’s right for the two of us to decide for everyone,” added Noah. “And truth be told,” he said with a hint of worry, “we can’t seem to decide what the best move is.”
“We have decided that trying to seek out Meghan or Ivan could potentially be a terrible mistake. If our escape was a trap set for them...” Billie trailed off.
“I agree,” said Maria. “We should let them be. I don’t know what those two are up to, but I know Ivan, a little, he’s always been very nice to me. Shy. Quite shy. But, I’d hate to see him get hurt, or lead him into a trap, especially one set up by Juliska Blackwell. I wonder why she wants them so badly?”
No one speculated. No one could imagine, or wanted to imagine, what Juliska had in mind for them.
“Wasn’t it Ivan that carried you to the hospital after you got injured in the meadow? You were hit pretty hard on the head weren’t you?” asked Billie.
“Yes. Tree fell and I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough. Thankfully, I’m okay after all that, but I was told that he did carry me all the way. He must be quite strong. But by the time I awoke, he was gone. I’m afraid I never did get a chance to thank him. We did take classes together a few years back, too.”
“Well, Ivan is a smart lad,” noted Billie, “and not one for thanks. But maybe some day you’ll get the chance to repay the favor.”
“I do hope so,” she said with a hopeful smile.
“He’s a pretty handsome young man, too,” Billie added, tossing Maria a quick wink.
Maria’s cheeks turned a rosy pink in reply and she pretended to look somewhere else.
Maura and Noah chuckled, Maura then asking, “So if Ivan and Meghan are out of the picture, what are our options?”
“There’s the banished,” suggested Noah. “We know they are still hidden in the northern Maine woods, but we don’t know much about what’s going on there. Ivan was in contact with Amelia, and her plans were sounding a little crazy. Nevertheless, options are limited and they are still Svoda. I don’t see them turning us away out of spite, especially now, seeing as Juliska’s no longer the beloved Banon she once was.”
“There’s also Colin and Catrina,” added Billie. “Although, I can’t imagine how we’d even begin tracking them down. Colin’s a very powerful young man. I don’t believe for a minute dangerous,” she added, for Noah’s benefit.
“No, I don’t think so either, and I’d be lying if I said having Catrina back wouldn’t be a relief... but I don’t know as searching them out would be any safer or easier than searching for Ivan and Meghan. Juliska probably still has it out for them, too!”
“Is there anyone she doesn’t have it out for?” launched Maura.
“You have a point there,” said Noah.
“What about the Tunkapog?” piped in Maria. “I don’t know much about them other than what I’ve learned in school; but they were once our allies, right?”
“Ah, yes. Indeed they were,” said Billie. “They tend to stay out of the affairs of magic, opting to live quiet lives.”
“Can’t imagine why,” mumbled Maura under her breath.
“I would definitely not count them out,” Billie added, tossing a humored grin in Maura’s direction.
“This would probably be easier if we knew more about what was going on,” Maura added, her tone taking a frustrated edge. “We have been so secluded these last months that we have no idea what’s going on, anywhere. We could be creating an even bigger problem, going so blindly into this next step.”
Before anyone could respond, there was a thump from underneath the ship. Maura grabbed hold of the wheel next to Noah; Billie reached out and steadied Maria.
“We are not close enough to shore to hit anything,” exclaimed Noah, answering their question before they could ask it. “There should be no reefs where we are.”
Another thump.
This one rattled the entire ship.
They heard a shout from below the deck.
Maria gasped, the color draining from her face.
“What is it?” Billie asked her.
Maria just pointed.
They turned to look.
Something was skimming across the surface of the water, heading directly at the ship.
“Oh damn,” gulped Billie.
Those below deck climbed the stairs to get top side, each becoming petrified as they witnessed round web-like bodies whirling with great speed towards them.
“Salt Spiders,” whispered Maria hoarsely. “So many of them.”
A great host of spiders skimmed across the water’s surface, preparing to consume the ship’s inhabitants.
Another thump hit the bottom, rippling its way to the deck.
“Magic stronger or not, we don’t have the numbers to fight this, and win,” warned Noah.
“We have no choice,” said Billie, in a take-charge voice. “We fight or we die.”
She jumped down the stairs leaving Noah to steer the ship.
“Prepare for battle!” she called out. “We’re under attack.”
##
Bedgewood Harbor. A place that should have been bustling with Svoda going about their day. People coming and going from work. Visiting shops. Kids heading to school. Zone meetings to discuss how to restore a normal, everyday life after years spent away, traveling aimlessly from magical portal to magical portal, often separated from friends and family.
The oncoming winter did nothing for the look of the island today. What would already be a dreary landscape of leafless trees and decaying gardens, was now also shrouded in a grayness that didn’t ever lift.
A darkness which greatly pleased their Queen, Juliska Nandalia Blackwell. She stood on the terrace of her stone fortress, just off the coastline of the island, overlooking her new conquest.
Oh, the things she had in store for her people. When she was done with them, they would be nothing more than a shell of what they once were. That is, if she allowed any of them to survive.
Currently, she was awaiting a report from Ardon, KarNavan’s number two in the Striper clan, now serving as guards for Juliska.
Ardon had come up with a devious plan that Juliska hoped would lead her directly to the two people she wanted returned to the island.
She had proposed the idea of allowing a group of escapees to get off the island, under the guise of helping them get away to find help. But not without a warning first: that Juliska was looking for two young people; two young people she wanted returned to her.
The plan: that the escapees, in their need to do good, and protect these young people, would lead them directly to the two people she most desperately wanted to be brought before her.
Juliska’s own powers had not been working correctly for some time. Her visions had disappeared. This fact, which she had shared with Meghan Jacoby (a possibly regretful move), was true.
The rest of her Firemancy skills remained intact, but not a single vision. So far she had been able to hide this fact from Jurekai Fazendiin, but she knew she would not be able to hide it for much longer. And what would happen after he found out? Would it change anything?
She had not given him anything useful towards his end game for far too long. Her visions had, in part, helped set this current path she was on. It had started long ago, back when she was just a student in the craft. Before she was named Banon to the Svoda. Back before she had met that dreadful excuse for a man, Edward Gillivray. Back before she had agreed to marry him and... a sour look spread across her face, like she had ea
ten something bitter.
No, she would not sink into memories now.
The only thing she needed to remember was that these people, the Svoda Gypsies, had taken everything from her. Including the most precious thing she had ever possessed.
And for that, they would pay. One by one. They would no longer rule the world of magic. And the world of magic would no longer play by their rules. Soon, it would have a new King, and a new Queen. And a new royal bloodline to reign for all eternity.
The sound of faint footsteps on the ground approaching her fortress turned her sour smirk into a malignant smile.
As Juliska waited to greet her guests, a shadow grew overhead, casting an immense silhouette over the terrace. Powerful wings slapped against the air, lowering towards the terrace floor. It’s jagged, curved toe nails clicking against the stone as it landed, striding towards Juliska.
With each step, it changed. Transformed. Snarls pushed through its wolf-like teeth as its face contorted and shifted. Its rough skin turned smooth and silky. Its wings shrunk, enclosing around a female form emerging underneath them, the wings morphing into a tight dress suit reminiscent to webbed-like mesh.
“My Queen,” said a voice, as the female lowered her head in a bow.
“Ah, Hollee. Perfect timing, I’m about to get a report.”
“Is there anything I can get you?” asked Hollee.
“I’ll dine, after my guests leave. We’ll speak then.”
Hollee nodded, departing.
KarNavan and Ardon came marching up the stairs onto the terrace.
They bowed in greeting and Juliska nodded back in reply.
KarNavan made an extra nod towards Ardon, indicating she could give her report.
“You’ll be pleased to know the ship’s tracing system is working and we have tracked them to the coastline, near Cobbscott, Maine. The names of the two people you’re searching for were mentioned a few times.” Ardon finished, but looked as though she had more to say.
Control (Book Seven) (Fated Saga Fantasy Series) Page 4