A door at the back of the room opened and in swept the elegantly dressed Juliska Blackwell; she wore a long sleeved slimming gown in pure black.
“I made my excuses and got away for a minute. Now tell me, what is this all about?”
Meghan closed her eyes and tried to explain.
“On the ride here I discovered some information about a vision I’ve been having.”
“Not good, I take it?” Juliska gathered from Meghan’s voice.
“No.”
“Have you been able to figure out what it means?”
“No. I did put it together that it belonged to Iv... this guy.” She decided not to reveal her source. She supposed it was obvious. She and Ivan had shared a carriage here.
Juliska took the towel from Hollee and dabbed at Meghan’s face.
“It would appear you have a good start on the problem then,” the Banon told her, looking pleased.
“I guess.” She shuddered, the coldness sweeping through her, unwilling to relent to the warmth trying to find its way in.
Juliska handed Hollee the towel and fluffed Meghan’s dry hair. “There. All good again.”
“Thanks,” Meghan muttered.
“Take a few minutes and gather yourself.”
Meghan nodded.
“When you’re ready, Hollee will show you down. She’ll help you clean up.” Juliska got up to leave. “Remember this Meghan. A respected seer understands she must always keep it together. Looking crazy in public leads to... well, looking crazy in public,” she laughed lightheartedly. “As you must learn to see, you must also learn to live with seeing.”
Meghan sighed. “You always make so much sense. I wish...” she did not dare speak the words she felt.
“Wish what?” Juliska asked. Her voice held the slightest tone of unbridled eagerness.
“I wish someday I could make as much sense, to myself.” Meghan chickened out, keeping her real thoughts to herself.
Juliska nodded and returned to her guests.
Meghan wished she’d been daring enough to say what she had really been thinking.
I wish I could live here with you.
Around you, everything makes sense and seems easy, even when it’s not.
When I’m here... I feel like I’m at home.
Meghan felt immense guilt for feeling that last one. This place should not feel like home, no matter what. Home, was with Uncle Arnon.
The Pantin helped Meghan get cleaned up. Once ready, looking and feeling like herself again, Hollee led her down to a back entrance, which Juliska often used when entertaining. The doors opened into a grand room, filled with guests milling about. Greeting each other. But the room went quiet and all eyes froze on Meghan as their leader welcomed her to the dinner from her own private quarters.
She fell into her part instantly, a wide grin spreading across her face in greeting. There were too many envious eyes to count. Including Darcy Scraggs, who to Meghan’s dismay was also in attendance. She searched for a familiar face other than Darcy’s, but Ivan was the only other face she recognized, and she highly doubted he wanted to see her. In fact, he avoided her most of the evening.
It did not matter however; appearing to be Juliska’s guest of honor Meghan had no problem meeting all of the guests in attendance, which consisted mostly of the members of the Viancourt, plus a few older students she had never met. They, of course, knew who she was, as the new kid in town.
Meghan ignored the icy stares of Garner and Darcy, purposely parading next to Juliska. As the evening wore on, Meghan had nearly forgotten the incident in the carriage and was having the best time of her life. After dinner, nearing the end of the evening, Pantin Hollee clanged her glass, gathering the guests’ attention.
“Banon Blackwell has an exciting announcement,” said Hollee with eager eyes. The small crowd hushed, waiting with mounting anticipation. Juliska joined her side, Hollee nodded and left her to speak.
“Before our evening comes to an end, I have a special announcement. It is time,” she paused dramatically, “for an Initiation.”
These were words the students all hoped to hear. The graduated students waited anxiously, each hoping they had been deemed worthy to join the Svoda as a fully-fledged and initiated member. It was their primary goal after finishing school.
“Ivan Crane. Please step forward.”
The crowd was stunned. His name was not what the group expected to hear. Other than Meghan and Darcy, he was the youngest in attendance at seventeen.
Ivan stepped forward and knelt before the Banon, with a look of overwhelmed awe on his face.
“Your Initiation will begin after the transfer to our next world. Congratulations, Mr. Crane. You have proven yourself a loyal servant to the Svoda.”
“I am truly honored, Banon Blackwell, and I pledge my life to the Svoda,” Ivan replied humbly.
The small crowd clapped, and crowded Ivan, congratulating him on his Initiation announcement. Most, with looks of great envy and disappointment that they’d not been selected. Meghan kept her distance, confident he did not want her congratulations.
Soon, the evening was ending and guests began to depart.
Meghan grew ill. Quite suddenly. Her head got dizzy as she waited in line to say her farewells to Juliska. A few spots behind her in line stood the ever-observant Ivan Crane, who noticed Meghan start to sway. He swooped in, putting his arm around her waist.
“There you are,” he said. “I was looking for you.” Ivan steadied her, smugly. She wanted to push him away but realized she might fall over if he let go. She had no idea what was wrong.
“Ah, our newest Initiate, Mr. Crane,” said Juliska, her eyes brightening. “It’s been a pleasure to have you.” She brushed a concerned hand against Meghan’s face, which was growing paler by the second. “I trust you will get Ms. Jacoby home safely, and quickly,” she added, realizing Meghan’s current condition was not suited for public exposure.
“Yes, of course, Banon Blackwell. Right away,” he promised. “Also, thank you on behalf of myself, and Ms. Jacoby, for your hospitality this evening.”
She leaned, whispering in Meghan’s ear. “Don’t be a stranger now.”
“I won’t. Thank you. Good night.”
Ivan scurried outside, Meghan in tow.
“You’ve become quite the little chum to Banon Blackwell, haven’t you?” he interrogated while assisting her into the carriage.
“Are you making fun, Ivan? Because honestly, I’m not in the mood.”
“In all honesty,” he said, “you look sick.”
“Thanks,” Meghan responded sardonically, adding, “My head is spinning.”
The carriage took off with a start. Nona jumped onto her lap meowing raucously.
“What is it?” Meghan asked.
Nona lifted her paw touching Meghan’s cheek, somehow calming her dizziness, bringing a clearer picture into her head.
“Something’s wrong,” understood Meghan. “Colin!” she gasped. She had been blocking him all night, but he had been trying to reach her. “I- I can’t feel him anymore, he’s...” She put her hands over her mouth, not daring to say what she truly felt.
Empty.
Alone.
Colin had always been in her mind; even when they blocked each other, the essence of the other always there.
“Do you know where he is?” asked Ivan, not questioning how she knew he was in trouble.
“When I saw him last he was walking toward the wharf. But that was hours ago.”
Ivan dove into action, jumping out of the carriage, which was moving at a snails pace through the falling snow. They’d barely made it across the long roadway leading to Juliska’s fort back to the main part of the island.
Meghan and Nona followed at his heels. They tried to run but the heavy snow impeded their progress. Meghan’s feet froze in no time; her dress shoes were no match for the weather.
As they neared the Mochrie house, Ivan veered off, grasping Meghan’s hand, forcing her to come with
him. Once inside, he threw a pair of oversized boots and coat at her, while explaining to the bewildered Mochrie family what was happening. Jae jumped up off the sofa, having fallen asleep. His gaze caught Meghan’s but they exchanged no words.
They immediately dressed and minutes later all raced frantically for the wharf.
Meghan called out to Colin but he did not answer. They ran to every shadow that could have been her brother, but the forms were either frozen driftwood or jutting rocks. Then a petrified thought struck her.
What if he isn’t here? The truth was that Colin could be anywhere. He might even have wandered into Grimble. How would she ever find him? The bitter winds wailed with blinding snow, making it near impossible to see.
“Please answer me, Colin,” she begged. “I’m sorry, I’m not mad anymore. Please tell me where you are.” The emptiness inside her flourished, and tears froze to her plump cheeks.
“Are you sure he’s here?” asked Mireya. “How do you know he’s hurt?”
“Because, he’s my brother,” was all she could think of to say. “And no, I’m not positive he’s here, it’s the last place I saw him.”
“He said he was going for a walk,” stammered Jae. “I’m sorry. I should have realized something was wrong when he didn’t come back earlier. I fell asleep. I didn’t realize so much time had passed.”
“You couldn’t have known, Jae. Let’s just find him,” she said with growing desperation.
Meghan and Jae both thought briefly on the demand they had not met: turning over the Magicante to Darcy Scraggs.
“I think we should sound the alarm,” bleated Irving. “We need more help. And fast.”
Ivan sped off to heed Irving’s wishes.
“We will have the entire village searching if we have to,” insisted Irving. “Don’t worry! We will find him.”
In the distance, over the raging blizzard, a bell clanged loudly. Lights popped on and the Svoda village came to life. Ivan returned, and he was not alone. Two Balaton followed. Meghan was glad that Ivan had already explained.
“This snow is falling harder with each passing minute,” one of them said. “We need to hurry!”
“We’ll check outside the wagons, too,” said the other. With a pop, they vanished.
The group left the wharf, confident they had searched every inch of it. Meghan was glad Ivan had forced her to wear boots; she couldn’t imagine what condition her feet would be in if she hadn’t. She walked onward, recalling that Colin had not been dressed for this weather either. The thought of him lying somewhere, buried, almost knocked her over.
How stupid could she be? She’d been out having a grand old time, and her brother was where? Lying buried in the snow? Held prisoner somewhere?
The group called out his name, but not once did they get a reply. Irving and Sheila forced the group to stay together so no one would get lost; between their numbers and the blinding snow, progress was agonizingly slow.
Thirty minutes later, a Balaton materialized.
“Nothing yet, but anyone capable is searching. Banon Blackwell has been informed of what’s happening and sent her personal Balaton to help.” A second later, he vanished. The group trudged onward, making their way to the center of the village, hearing voices of other Svoda calling out for Colin.
The emptiness in Meghan’s mind was growing. Expanding. Stretching through her entire being. “How could I let this happen?” She held her stomach for fear she might be sick.
Only Ivan heard her. “What do you mean? You didn’t cause this,” he replied, through the blustering snow.
“You don’t understand, Ivan. He’s my brother. My responsibility. My uncle would never forgive me if I let anything happen to him.”
“You cannot control what you cannot see,” Ivan told her. She was about to reply when a faint voice entered her head.
“Colin. Oh my God. Where are you?” she yelled frantically over the storm. The group listened anxiously. “He’s alive,” she yelled, “I can hear him.” Meghan remained still, sensing out for where he was. The connection was weak.
She painstakingly walked in the direction that felt the strongest, leading them to a snow covered pathway behind The Steel Gin.
She walked as fast as she dared, hoping not to lose his presence in her mind, when she stumbled. There, below her feet and covered in snow, lay the blue and unconscious body of her brother. The sight of him stunned her and she couldn’t speak.
Irving, without hesitation, clutched Colin’s lifeless body. His eyes were frozen open in what they could only describe as fear.
“Balaton,” Irving shouted in fierce determination. Two appeared, one of whom immediately saw, and grasped Colin, before popping out of sight with him in tow. Irving turned to the gathering crowd with a furious glare.
“Magic has been used against that boy!” he declared. The gathering crowd stood in paralyzed disbelief. This had never happened before.
The connection with her brother failed and Meghan grew dizzy, slumping toward the ground. Someone caught her before her head collided with a protruding tree stump.
It was Ivan Crane who lifted her off the snow covered ground. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She gazed at him, struggling to remain conscious. “I don’t understand,” she murmured, grabbing his coat for balance. Her hand dropped. She lost consciousness and was whisked away as deftly as her brother. The Mochrie family, bewildered and exhausted, rushed to the hospital and awaited news of the twins.
MEGHAN AWOKE BRIEFLY. A nurse gave her something to make her sleep. Her last conscious memory was that of her feet burning, the results of warming up too quickly.
Her dreams were vivid and strange. One second she was in Ivan’s nightmare, except that Jae’s broken body was joined by Juliska, Ivan, and the Mochries, all pointing and laughing malevolently at her.
The next minute, the pillar dissolved and the darkness turned to bright light. Meghan found herself sitting on a rose petal watching a woman sleeping soundly on a floating feather. Something about this was familiar to her, but she couldn’t quite place the memory.
This scene merged into another dream, in which Ivan chased Meghan through the woods. She fell and he gently picked her up off the ground, whispering he was sorry. Meghan did not think he looked sorry though. Conflicted better described it.
His face leaned into hers, his cold breath hitting her face as he searched her eyes for some hidden truth.
Oh God! Is he going to kiss me? She cringed, covering her face.
He dropped her, his eyes swarming in fury. Nope, not kissing her.
Ivan fell to the ground, yelling incoherently and punching his fists into the dirt like a child having a tantrum.
“Who you are does not change anything!” he shouted, regaining control of his conflict. His eyes scathingly jerked from the ground up to Meghan. He edged closer to her, like an animal stalking its prey.
“I will sacrifice anything that gets in my way,” he told her, pulling out a knife. Meghan screamed, inching backwards across the ground. But he caught up and pinned her easily. He raised the knife over his head, ready to plunge it into her body.
Then, he was gone.
She was sitting in a dreamy memory of the old mill in Grimble, with her brother.
“Colin!” she yelled, hugging him fiercely. Instantly, she knew she’d found him. He was real. At least his thoughts were.
“I was hoping I’d find you,” he said. “It’s harder than I thought to track someone through their dreams though. Go figure. We don’t want to share our dreams and can’t seem to stop. I want to share one,” he trailed off with a what can you do, shrug.
She let go of him and let out a puff of air. “You could not have found me at a better moment, Col. That last one was a doozy.”
“What was all that about, anyway?” he asked, having caught a glimpse of Ivan with the knife.
“Ah. Who knows! Stupid Ivan,” she blew it off and looked at her brother apologetically. “I’m so
sorry, Colin. I didn’t mean for all this to happen. I should have listened to Uncle Eddy. Kept the connection open. This is all my fault.”
“Not all of it. I was responsible too. We were both being a bit stubborn. And you did find me.” He looked like he had more to say, but held back.
“What happened?”
“I was ambushed.”
“Who?”
“Never saw anything, or anyone, other than a shadow, sneak up on me. But Meghan, they stole the Magicante.”
“What?”
“It’s gone.” He looked down, disappointed with himself. “This is the part that’s pretty much all my fault. I went for a walk with the book on me. I’d been reading, and stashed it under my jacket. I didn’t even think about it when I left.”
“What do we do, Colin?”
“You mean what can you do? I don’t think I’m going to wake up anytime soon, and I’m pretty sure Uncle Eddy’s not going to be happy when he hears it’s gone.”
“I wish he would tell us what is so important about that book. I mean, it’s magical and all, but what’s in it that he doesn’t want anyone else to see?”
“I think that’s for you to find out, Sis. Just promise me you’ll be careful, whatever you do.” His voice wavered, sounding distant.
“Colin, don’t go.”
But he was gone.
Meghan bolted upright, inhaling air deeply. The Mochrie household stood over her, anxiously, in the hospital room. The sunlight told her it was morning.
“Have some water,” said Sheila putting the cup to her lips.
“My brother, how is he?”
“I am afraid Colin is in a coma,” answered Irving honestly. “We are so sorry, Meghan. It appears someone used some sort of spell against him. Doctor Stamm is working hard to sort it out. Don’t worry, he will, in time.”
Time. How much time? Hours? Days? Weeks?
She didn’t dare think in periods of time longer than this.
There was only one thing Meghan could do. As soon as possible, she would go to Uncle Eddy and tell him what happened. Unfortunately, the visit would have to wait as the doctor determined she needed to stay for one more day.
The Mochries went home to get some rest after the long night, minus Jae. He offered to stay behind, wide-awake after his nap and the search. He wasn’t sure what to say at first, so he handed Meghan a note.
Fated Fantasy Adventure Page 39