“We may be stuck here, Jae, but it’s in no way your fault,” consoled Meghan. “We made the choice not to heed your warning.”
“Still…”
She cut him off. “Nope. Won’t hear it, Jae. We’re here. There is nothing that can change that now.”
Colin wished he could feel that brave. But he also sensed fear threatening to overwhelm his sister. She was doing her best. He would too.
“Since we are stuck here,” he said, “tell us about this place. How does it work exactly? An entire town inside a wagon. Or wagons?” There were a few parked in a circle.
“The magic used is similar to what’s used to create the inside of the wagons, like back in Cobbscott. Or the one you guys stayed in last night. Just on a much larger scale. Although the town has actually shrunk a great deal in recent years, since we find our magic getting weaker, the longer we travel. It’s not a full-sized replica.”
“Is there something different in each of the wagons parked in the circle, or are they all connected?” Colin wanted to know.
“All connected. You can enter through any door, but each one will take you into a different part of the town. So if you want to come in the same way you did, just use that wagon each time. It’s really hard to explain how it all works. It doesn’t always make sense, even to me, but the way I understand it, creating this town requires a huge amount of magical energy. When we travel, we don’t always have the option to stay inside the wagons. Sometimes we stay in homes that belong in the world we’re traveling in.”
“That must be kind of hard. Not just always traveling, but never knowing for sure where you’re even staying.” Meghan didn’t mind traveling with their uncle, but she did enjoy that she had her own space, even if it was small.
Colin took out his book, the Magicante, and thumbed through it.
“There is one thing I don’t understand.”
“What’s that, Col?” asked Meghan curiously.
“Do you remember, after we got Jae’s father through, when Uncle Arnon showed up?”
“Yeah, I recall,” she said snidely. As if I could’ve forgotten! Colin ignored her thought.
“Do you remember when we left the trailer that night that I did not have the Magicante? I’d forgotten it.”
Meghan’s eyes widened.
“I do,” answered Jae. “I remember asking you where it was.”
“Why would Uncle Arnon bring Magicante to me? I can see throwing something at me to get me out of the way, but why did he bring this book? Of all things…” Colin fought off tears, but he was too weak to hide it from Meghan.
“It wasn’t your fault, Colin,” she tried to assure him.
“But if I hadn’t forgotten my book, or hadn’t gone at all, Uncle Arnon might still be safe. Why would he risk his life to bring me this? It’s a handy book, but worth giving up his life for?”
“Colin, I think it’s vital that we try to put this out of our minds for now. We should focus on surviving the next three years. I think I’d rather curl up and die, than sit around drowning in misery over questions we have no answers to.”
He nodded. “I’ll try. I really will.”
Footsteps shuffled up the staircase.
“I think its best,” warned Jae, “to keep all of this to ourselves; using magic, the book… and Meghan, I wouldn’t tell anyone about your run-in with the Catawitch, either. Those things could easily change the Viancourt’s minds about you staying here.”
They nodded in apprehensive agreement.
They were permitted to stay with the Svoda, but what would happen if they found out all this other stuff? Would they be kicked out? Imprisoned? They pleaded silently that they never found out the answers to these questions.
It was Mireya who had come up the stairs. She disappeared into her room.
Jae got up to leave Meghan to her bath. Colin got up to follow.
Jae spun around just outside the door. “I almost forgot. The other room,” he pointed to the room across from the bath. “It belongs to Ivan Crane. He was with me the day I ran into you guys and dropped all my packages. He just turned seventeen. Busy all the time. We don’t see him much. My parents took him in a few years back after his grandfather passed on.”
“That’s nice of your family to do that,” said Meghan, recalling the rude boy and her instant dislike of him. The boys left her and she hurriedly bathed, allowing Colin time to clean up, too. After, they had dinner. During the meal, another package arrived from Banon Blackwell, this time for Colin.
“I already got mine, it’s beautiful,” said Meghan, mostly for Sheila’s benefit.
Colin opened his. It was a black jacket, with a hint of gold fringe.
“That’s what all the men wear to fancy type occasions,” said Jae, rolling his eyes. Colin tried it on over his clothes. Again, it fell to his ankles.
“Another item to grow into?” Colin asked hopefully.
“I can fix that, along with your other one,” said Sheila. “Leave it on the couch over there, but in the box. We must keep it nice. It’s a real honor to get a gift from Banon Blackwell.”
“Is there some event we need to have these outfits ready for? We were told there may be occasions we cannot attend.”
“We do have lots of fancy affairs. Best to always be ready.” Sheila smiled blankly.
They ate quietly and immediately after, Meghan announced she was ready for bed.
“I realize it’s early, but I’m spent.”
“I’m pretty beat myself, probably won’t be too far behind,” replied her brother.
“I think that’s a splendid idea all around,” announced Sheila. “I’m going to make a quick trip to see your father and when I get back, bed time.”
No one argued. The dinner meal had filled their bellies, causing the immensity of their gloomy tiredness to kick in.
“Night everyone,” yawned Meghan. She wound her way up the staircase. A chorus of sleepy goodnights swept through the house.
The boys and Mireya decided to stay up until Jae’s mother had returned from seeing Irving Mochrie at the hospital.
Meghan’s head hit her pillow, all thoughts left her mind, and exhaustion took over. She did not awaken until the next morning.
CHAPTER THREE
It took a few groggy minutes for Meghan to remember where she was. Her eyes fluttered open, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. She sensed in her mind for Colin.
“You’re finally awake,” he said, catching her probing through his thoughts. “Hurry and get up. Jae’s practicing magic.”
“K, gotta get dressed,” she mumbled back into his mind. How had she slept so soundly that everyone was awake and up? And she hadn’t heard a thing. She let out a long sigh. Her mind wanted to wander. To let in all the unanswered thoughts mulling around her brain.
She forced them away, hiding them deep.
“Here we go, day two.” She got out of bed and hurried to dress and make herself presentable. As she departed the bedroom, the door next to hers opened. A handsome, dark haired young man dressed in a sports coat bounced out, startled to see her. His eyes settled on hers, his gaze narrowing in, almost as if he saw someone he recognized for a moment. It vanished, replaced by smugness. He gave her a curt nod.
“You must be Meghan.”
“Yes, I am. And you’re Ivan?” He didn’t answer and before she could say more, he shifted past her and raced down the stairs.
She recalled their first encounter back in Cobbscott, and wondered again, is it really possible to know you hate someone, so instantaneously? And how did he get so lucky as to have his own room? While the rest of them shared.
She frowned, following him. Ivan hopped out the back door, yelling hello and goodbye before disappearing back inside the house and out the front door.
Irving Mochrie had returned home from the hospital early that morning and was sitting outside at the back of the house, near a lit fire pit, clearly impressed with this Ivan.
“Look at that, alre
ady off to work. Never an idle moment, that one.”
Off to the side, Jae was practicing some sort of balancing spell. He had many items stacked atop each other; his hand balancing the items without touching them. It was impressive.
Colin sensed Meghan’s arrival, but didn’t look as he was too enamored by watching Jae.
Irving Mochrie, still heavily bandaged, did acknowledge Meghan’s arrival.
“Good morning. It is nice to meet you, properly, although I wish it were under different circumstances.” His tone was kind, and yet held a hard edge.
“I can’t believe you’re home already, after what those Scratchers did to you,” said Meghan. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s nice to meet you as well. It’s just surprising to see you looking so well after what happened to you.”
“Yes, that was some ugly business. But the wounds will heal. We all have a price to pay for this lifestyle we lead.” He tossed her a terse smile. “I’ve already spoken with your brother, but I must thank you personally for your assistance in saving my life. And I am deeply sorry about your uncle. He would have been proud of your bravery.”
“Thanks,” she said, growing agitated that so many believed their uncle to be dead. She jumped, startled by the sound of glass shattering. A dish Jae was balancing had fallen and broken against a rock. He started to lose control of the entire stack, but his father used magic to stop it before they all plummeted to the ground in a pile.
“Pay attention, Jae.” he scolded harshly. “You’ve got a month’s worth of work to catch up on.”
Jae looked worn out. Meghan wondered if he’d slept at all, and had a twinge of guilt for having such a restful night.
Irving shifted in his chair, wincing a bit. Sheila Mochrie joined them from inside.
“Ivan’s off,” she told Irving. “Says he won’t make it home for dinner, another long day ahead.”
“I’ve never seen a young man so dedicated to his work,” proclaimed Irving.
Jae lost his concentration and the stack of items smashed to the ground.
Irving glowered in Jae’s direction, huffing. “Keep trying. Always keep trying, Jae.”
“Yes, Dad.” He flicked his wrist and the broken items magically repaired themselves.
Irving went back to his conversation with Sheila.
Meghan grabbed a meat pie that Sheila had stacked in front of her, trying not to listen in, but could not help it.
“Not nice, Sis,” Colin chided into her mind.
“They’re not exactly keeping it down,” she shot back.
“We cannot judge the Banon,” Irving was insisting in a low voice. “Has she ever led us astray?”
“No, she hasn’t. I was wrong to even think it.” Sheila disappeared into the cottage, followed by Irving a moment later.
“What was that about?” wondered Colin.
“It’s okay to listen in on other’s conversations now is it?”
“I got curious.” He shrugged.
The twins twitched uncomfortably. Had Jae’s parents been speaking about them? Were they not as welcome in the Mochrie house as they’d been led to believe? Maybe they should take up Billie’s offer and move in with her. Meghan got up the courage to ask.
“Jae. It’s not a problem is it, us staying with your family?”
“Problem? No. People are just a little slow to warm up to strangers is all. It’ll take some time, but they’ll come around.”
He wasn’t as reassuring as the twins had hoped.
“I know your parents probably feel obligated to take us in, but we could always go to Billie’s, if you think it would be a better idea.” Meghan bit her lip nervously.
“No. No. You’re fine here. Really.”
“Okay.” Meghan still wasn’t sure, but she’d give it some time. “What’s there to do around here anyway?” She had an urge to keep busy.
“There’s Grimble, other than that, not much other than school. Or magic practice. I should warn you that tomorrow I’ll be back in school. I haven’t heard any word as to what they’re going to have the two of you doing.”
Meghan frowned. The way he said it was as if they needed to be kept busy. “Wait, there’s school in the summer here?”
“School is sort of always in session around here.”
“How awful,” she replied.
“She hates school, or learning, period,” Colin explained.
“Is Ivan still in school?” she asked.
“No, Ivan graduated when he was sixteen, already been working near a year. Youngest to graduate ever! Usually, we don’t get to graduate level until about age sixteen or seventeen.” Jae sounded like he was trying to be proud of Ivan, but it came across as more of a sore subject.
“How about today?” asked Colin. “Are you busy?”
“Maybe I can talk my dad into letting me take you into Grimble.” Jae ran into the house and came back out, smiling. “I can’t believe it. He said yes. Guess he figures getting you two acquainted with Grimble is as important as magic practice.”
They departed immediately. The twins felt a nagging desire to keep moving.
“What’s Grimble like?” asked Meghan.
Jae thought about it, unsure of how to explain.
She added, “Let me guess, another one of those ‘we have to see to understand’ things?”
“Sorry, kind of.”
As they walked, Meghan got curious. “Sorry, Jae, I don’t mean to pry, but why don’t you all stay here permanently? It’s safe here, right? You’re not that large of a group and there’s no Scratchers here, right?”
Jae laughed. “I forget how little you know about us. It’s true, the Scratchers didn’t follow us here, but we are only one of nine groups of traveling Svoda.”
“Nine?” repeated Colin. “When do you see the other groups?”
“We don’t. That’s why we are working so hard to get back home, for good. We all have friends and family in the other groups. It was done that way on purpose, so that if one group was wiped out, the whole family wouldn’t be lost.”
“That’s absolutely appalling,” breathed out Meghan.
“Yes, it is,” Jae agreed.
The twins now understood Billie’s actions the previous day, too. The woman in the photo; whoever she was, it had been thirteen years since Billie had seen her. The picture was getting clearer.
“No wonder they don’t trust anyone,” sent Meghan to Colin.
“The words, welcome to Hell come to mind!” he declared. She had never heard her brother use such a strong word, but agreed with his sentiment.
They stepped through the wooden door onto the steps of the wagon. Outside in Grimble, the sky was darker and the foggy air smelled stale. There were trees, but they were leafless and dead.
“Is there a way, Jae, to at least keep in contact with the other groups?” asked Colin, hesitantly.
“We do leave messages behind. Problem is, sometimes another Svoda group may not get them for months, or years.” Jae stopped at a small stone bridge. Two tall dead trees grew up out of the bridge, and the streambed below had long dried up. With the exception of a few Svoda Gypsies (who couldn’t take their eyes off the twins) the town was deserted. They crossed the bridge, and so far, Grimble did not prove impressive. The buildings were empty and run down. Nothing looked open for business.
Then, as they stepped off the bridge, everything changed. The town was no longer dilapidated or deserted. It was bustling. With people whose bodies were caged in silvery essence. Some hovered just over the ground. Some walked on it, although never quite touching. Some floated hurriedly through the air. Businesses were open and busy, but there was nothing colorful or lifelike to the town. It was drab, almost foggy or hazy… the sky overhead dissolving upward into a gray abyss.
Without any warning, a floating body scurried right by Colin’s face. His jaw dropped, his mouth gaping.
“Is- Is that a ghost?” asked Meghan.
“That’s why it’s a little hard to explain,” sai
d Jae with a laugh. “Grimble is a ghost town,” he explained. “And when I say ghost town, I don’t mean a deserted old town with abandoned buildings and the like.”
“No. Clearly…” said Meghan, stunned at the sight.
Colin forced his mouth closed.
Silvery essences floated into and out of walls, buildings, and even the ground. Some you could see straight through and some looked almost alive until you looked close enough to see the silver shimmer encasing their bodies.
“This isn’t like any other ghost town I’ve ever seen,” said Colin. “This is… really cool.”
“Oh, I think one of them touched me,” whined Meghan. Jae and Colin broke into amused laughter.
“It does take a bit of getting used to,” warned Jae. “But don’t worry, the worst it can do is leave you feeling the cold, creepiness of death.”
Colin continued laughing at Meghan until he felt the rush of something icy against his skin. A ghost floated up out of the ground on the exact spot Colin stood. It bellowed something about getting out of the way and flew off.
“Not so pleasant, is it?” chided Meghan, with a shudder.
Colin frowned.
Jae took off into the town. “C’mon. Something I wanna show you guys.” They jogged a few buildings down and stopped at the least colorful candy shop the twins had ever seen. Each item was black, gray, or some other version of that color. “Wait here,” said Jae, racing inside.
A group of ghost children had gathered outside of the shop, arguing. The twins wondered where all the ghosts came from. Jae exited the store handing the twins a black piece of soft candy. “Watch,” he said, nodding toward the arguing ghost children.
A few of the ghosts were daring another ghost to try a certain kind of candy, which he did not want to do. Eventually, he caved. He shoved it in his mouth and seconds later, he was no longer a ghost, but a living boy!
He ran crazily, not believing he was solid and alive again. Seeing the living Colin, Meghan, and Jae, he rushed over, rubbing his hands over their faces.
“I can feel things again.” As instantaneously as he had transformed into the living boy, he changed back into the ghostly boy. His smile faded and he went back into the candy store, exiting with a pocketful of the candy.
Shifting (The Prophecy, The Spy, and The Ghostly Guardian) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 2) Page 4