Nona sat, still as a statue, keeping guard as the vision took over.
It began much the same as it always did; her repeated nightmare of Jae Mochrie, injured and beaten, lying on his pillar, just out of her reach. She held her breath through to the end, not wanting to relive the vision, but as it neared its typical ending (Jae’s beaten body hurled into the great dark abyss) something new occurred.
Jae stood up, egging on the faceless silhouette, challenging it.
Meghan breathed, paying more attention now.
“Jae! You can’t fight that thing,” she yelled instinctively. Then she thought, Maybe he’s supposed to fight this thing? Maybe he needs to fight it. “Be strong Jae!” she encouraged. “Fight it! I know you can!”
The vision did not take the turn Meghan hoped it would.
Jae spun and peered at Meghan. She fell backwards in shock.
Burnished black eyes stared down at her. His face was contorted and wrong. Angry and powerful.
He spun around facing the foe that typically hurled him into the abyss and to Meghan’s amazement, the being backed away. A face formed underneath the dark cloak; there were no distinctive features other than a vile, pleased smile.
This was the result it wanted. What it had been hoping for.
Whatever was wrong with Jae, it was getting worse.
Whatever dark path he was traveling down, Meghan got the distinct impression that soon it would be too late for him to turn around.
The being vanished, dissolving into nothing, leaving Jae to fight this evil thing inside him. This darkness that expanded, fighting for control. He fell to his knees, panting, screaming and convulsing until the darkness had ripped itself out of his body and he slumped over, unconscious.
The vision ended and Meghan was on her bedroom floor. She fell onto her back with a thud. Nona licked her face lovingly as she moaned in despair.
What did this change mean? Was this still Ivan’s fear she was seeing? Would he ever explain to her what it all meant? Or was this something new that only she was seeing?
Meghan feared she was defeated. How could she forget about this vision and move forward? How could she keep this, or any other vision, from happening every time she created a fire?
“Oh, Nona. I’m so tired. I’m not cut out for this.”
Nona stopped her licking as a knock at the bedroom door intervened and sidetracked Meghan’s melancholy mood. Breakfast, delivered by Pantin Hollee.
“Thank you, Hollee,” mumbled Meghan, rising from the floor.
“Up early and hard at work already, I see.”
Meghan nodded half-heartedly.
“I’ve never seen anyone work so hard and learn so fast, Meghan. It will all come together.”
Desperation and failure must have been written all over her face. Meghan fought the lump rising in her throat, determined not to let it surface. She mustered out, “Thanks.”
Hollee gave her an understanding pat on the shoulder and left, insisting she eat.
After breakfast, her strength renewed, Meghan hardened her mind once again.
She would not fail Juliska.
She would work harder.
She would gain control.
COLIN TRIED TO IGNORE the third argument (in a week) currently raging in the Mochrie house. Jae’s father was angry with him, nothing new. However, Irving’s agitation soared today, by the fact that Jae was disappearing for hours while he was supposed to be with him, studying.
Colin did not wish to be present for this argument, which was proving to be the most heated he had ever witnessed. However, his curiosity got the better of him.
Where is Jae spending all his time? And why hasn’t he told me? It’s not like him to disobey his father.
“Jae, you must understand I do this for your own good,” avowed Irving. “Tomorrow morning you will accompany me to work. That is final! No more wandering off.” Irving’s face was red hot.
The angry glare that emanated from Jae sent shivers down Colin’s spine, and he swore that for the tiniest of moments, Jae’s eyes even changed color, appearing darker.
Then, Jae did something he had never done before. It paralyzed everyone in the room.
“No, Dad,” he said with a quiet confidence. “I won’t.”
Irving’s red face turned purple but no words would come out of his mouth. Sheila Mochrie sank into her chair with a blank stare, having never heard Jae outright defy his father.
Colin decided he no longer wanted to be present. This is going to get bad. Very bad. He edged his way to the front door, escaping, and took cover behind a nearby rock formation. To his surprise, a moment later Jae bounded by.
Colin had the briefest of thoughts. I should follow him. He was curious now. Where was Jae disappearing to if he wasn’t spending time with his father, which until the arguments of this past week, is where Colin believed Jae always was.
“If I can’t trust Jae, who can I trust?” muttered Colin. He decided to follow anyway, with the intention of outing his presence at the right moment.
Jae was still obviously angry. He mumbled as he stormed off, punching and kicking rocks along the way. Colin had never seen him so angry. Could he blame him though? Life with the Svoda was hard enough, and Jae’s father, even harder.
Jae was too upset to notice Colin following a distance behind him. Jae came to a stop at the entrance to the path that led to Juliska Blackwell’s castle. It was a steep climb. Colin hid as Jae glanced back, appearing to be checking to see if he was alone. His face showed signs of an inward struggle.
Jae began the climb to the castle. Colin decided not to follow, which turned out to be a smart decision as Jae got a few steps up, then changed his mind and came back down. As soon as he was down, he changed his mind and began upward again, at a hasty pace as if determined not to change his mind this time.
Was Jae visiting Meghan? Colin doubted that. But why would he visit Juliska Blackwell? Was he so upset with his father he would turn him in, and for what? Being mean? Colin knew that Jae respected Banon Blackwell, and at the same time, she had not always been kind to his family. Then Colin had another disturbing thought.
Was this where Jae spent his missing time? With Juliska Blackwell? And why?
“What is he up to?” muttered Colin in frustration. “And what is Juliska up to?”
Once again though, Colin came to the following conclusion: If I can’t trust Jae, who can I trust? He could not question his only real friend in this place, that wasn’t his sister.
Colin wondered if Meghan would have any insight and decided to message her, later. It was time to check in with her, anyway. On the walk back to the Mochries, a leaf struck him in the head.
“Like she can read my mind,” he chuckled ironically. The letter was brief.
“Col, I wanted you to know I’ll be unavailable, but just for a day or two while I do this Initiation task with Ivan. I will let you know when I’m back. How are you? Sorry I haven’t contacted you before now. Very busy training.”
Colin quickly recited his response.
“Doing fine. Well, not really I guess. Jae and his dad had a huge fight today. Very unpleasant. Apparently, Jae has not been spending as much time with his dad as we thought. He would not admit where he was spending his time though and stormed off. Please be careful, whatever you are doing with Ivan.”
Colin sighed. He missed Meghan. He missed being able to talk with her. He had been so preoccupied with finding Catrina, he had let those memories slide away.
“It’s not the same without you here,” he added. “But I really am doing fine, no worries.” He kept his mind closed off from her, still afraid he might accidentally give something away about Catrina. Now that he thought about it, it seemed wrong, unnatural to hide this from Meghan. But she was too close to Juliska Blackwell right now. And he could not take the chance the Banon would find out and put a stop to his plans to search for her.
He sent his leaf reply and continued home. He assumed that if Ja
e did visit, and she found out anything, she would fill him in later.
Upon arrival home, Colin was surprised to find the place empty. Though it was dinnertime, not even Sheila Mochrie was there, preparing her usual evening meal.
Colin was pleased to see, however, that Corny Tibbit had left him another page. He crept into his bedroom cubby closing the curtain, hoping this time, the pages would fit together and give him whatever message Corny was trying to send.
Colin stopped.
There was a small box wrapped in brown paper sitting on his bed, like a gift. He gawked at it, hesitantly picking it up. Balloch Flummer’s words, ‘Trust no one,’ rang clearly through his thoughts.
There was no tag to say whom it was from, just like back in Grimble when he and Meghan had received money anonymously. Colin wondered if this gift was from the same person.
He untied the brown paper cautiously. Inside was another small box labeled, J & T First Aid Kit.
It included the normal things he was used to seeing in a first aid kit, like bandages and gauze, but also included items he had never seen before. He picked up a bottle called Reliable Pain Potion, with a headline that read: Never Expires. Drink and be pain free! The next labeled bottle said, Smokescreen: Advantage Yours! Bottle includes one smokescreen. Twenty seconds that could save your life! To use, break bottle.
There were also various creams for instant healing of minor bites, scrapes or burns. These, he thought, looked eerily similar to the ones Kanda Macawi had used on him and Meghan when they visited Cobbscott.
He delved into the kit a little deeper and pulled out a small scroll, unrolling it. It contained various life-saving spells, like how to create water or fire. Lastly, was a thin pair of glasses, which he put on, slightly wary of what might happen. However, nothing did happen.
“Huh,” he shrugged, putting everything back in the kit. “What an odd gift,” he whispered, wondering if someone somehow knew his plans to sneak into the valley. The gift seemed a little too timely, and yet he could not help but admit it might come in handy as he had no idea what lay in wait for him on this journey.
He set the kit aside and went back to his new page from Corny. It still spelled nothing coherent. In fact, it did not look like words at all.
Something triggered in Colin’s mind.
“They’re not words,” he almost shouted, rearranging the pages. “It’s a map!” A short while later Colin had pieced it together. It appeared to need one final page.
Colin hoped Corny would deliver it soon. As he studied the pages, it also became clear that it was a map of Eidolon’s Valley. There was one heavily traced path.
Am I supposed to follow it? Will this lead me to Catrina?
Colin studied the map impatiently, wishing he could depart right then.
Along the path were outlined “safe” spots. Colin’s mind reeled over what he needed to be kept safe from, but it did not matter. He could not back out now. Catrina needed his help and he didn’t have much time.
Colin wondered just how Corny knew he needed this map? And how he’d known to warn him back in Grimble. He thought about asking, but didn’t figure he’d get any sort of answer seeing as he’d never heard Corny utter a complete sentence. Or even a partial one that made any sense.
Dishes clanged in the kitchen. The Mochries were home. Colin hoped that the inevitable confrontation between Jae and Irving would not get too ugly.
“Dinner,” called Sheila a short while later. Colin obligingly took his seat at the table.
Irving was not there and Jae drifted in a minute later. Mireya ate in silence, next to her mother. It was a quiet meal, with no discussions of the earlier events of the day.
Colin wondered if he was picking up some of his sisters’ intuition as he felt a strange sense in the air. It told him that things in the Mochrie house had changed, forever.
THE FEAST OF THE BLEST Arcane was beginning, which included seven days of frivolity and fun, according to Jae and Mireya. The one time a year the Svoda “let their hair down,” so to speak.
“I don’t know how out of control things will get this year though,” Jae said, “with everything that’s happened and there being Scratchers about. If you think about it, though, a week of fun doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”
Colin could not disagree. Although his current hope was that the festival would cloak his absence as he trekked into the valley. He impatiently waited for the final piece of the map from Corny, hoping he would deliver it soon. He was eager to get his quest underway.
Corny granted his wish later that evening.
It was just after dinner that Corny’s door opened and his arm jutted out, holding what Colin knew was the final piece of the puzzle. Colin attempted not to look too eager but went directly to his bed after snatching the paper. Minutes later, Jae joined him, pulling the curtain shut as he sat down on Colin’s bed.
Colin laid the final piece in its place and the two boys jumped in surprise as the pages rose off the bed and reorganized themselves, stacking on top of each other, then sealing themselves together, forming a solid, yet translucent, one-piece map.
“Corny may seem nuts, but he sure is talented,” admired Colin.
“Definitely!” agreed Jae. “It makes no sense though, how he can create something as brilliant as this map, or know to warn you about being attacked, and yet never speaks, lives in the dark and barely eats enough to stay alive.”
“He’s a genius,” Colin replied, picking up the map, adding, “Albeit a creepy, smelly, crazy kind of genius.”
Jae bit his tongue trying not to laugh too loudly.
The map was thick, yet in the form of a foldable square. Disappointingly, Colin found he could not read the map, and worse, the once outlined path he believed he was to follow had vanished.
“Maybe it will make more sense once you’re in the valley,” suggested Jae.
“I hope you’re right,” nodded Colin nervously.
One thing did become clear as they studied the map: it would be an arduous journey across unfriendly terrain, especially for the short-legged Colin Jacoby.
His thoughts turned to Eidolon. What would he do if their paths crossed? Colin would be caught breaking nearly every rule set forth in this place, and it seemed as though the gypsy’s presence was little more than tolerated on the part of Eidolon.
And who exactly was he anyway? No one ever talked about what kind of man he was. Although he didn’t seem fond of magic. After allowing panic to ensue for just a second, Colin let out a deep breath, regaining control of his racing heart. He sank back against the cave wall.
“So when are you going to leave?” asked Jae. “The festival is in full swing tomorrow.”
Thinking about leaving, and actually doing it, suddenly became too real for Colin, and for the smallest moment, he did not think he could do it.
“Honestly, Jae, I think the sooner the better. Otherwise, I don’t know if I’ll be able to go through with it,” Colin’s voice cracked as he spoke.
Jae did his best to sound encouraging, but it was clear he still doubted Colin’s plan.
“You have a great map,” he reminded. “Hopefully accurate and readable once you get into the valley. Besides, you seem determined Colin. Otherwise, I would definitely talk you out of it.”
“I am determined,” agreed Colin in a firm whisper, as much for his own benefit as Jae’s. “The thought of leaving Catrina behind is just about as dreadful as not knowing whether my Uncle Arnon is still alive or not.”
“So tomorrow then?” said Jae.
“Yeah, tomorrow.”
“In that case, I have a gift for you,” his friend informed him. Jae tiptoed to his dresser and searched for a moment. “Here,” he said, throwing something soft and crumpled at Colin. He unraveled the gift; it was a long sleeved tunic.
“Thanks,” replied Colin, unsure why Jae would offer this to him.
“That’s not just any old shirt, Colin. You need to pack light on a journey like this. Tha
t tunic will keep you at the perfect temperature. You won’t get hot or cold if you’re wearing it.”
“Really?”
“Test it out. It’s cool in here right now, put it on, you’ll warm right up,” insisted Jae.
Colin pulled the tunic over his own shirt and within seconds, it proved Jae right as Colin could no longer feel any chill.
“Wow. Awesome. Thanks, Jae.”
“They are pretty common, really. Nothing special.”
“Like you said though, I do need to pack light, so it’s perfect.”
Colin decided to make a list of everything he needed to bring, but when it came down to it, all he really needed was his new shirt, the J & T First Aid Kit, the map, and the Magicante; all of these would provide him with anything else he needed along the way.
“Well, I guess that’s it,” said Colin. He put his map and book in a small over-the-shoulder bag and laid out a sturdy outfit and shoes for trekking through the valley.
“Tomorrow,” he muttered.
“I will help you get away,” offered Jae. “I’m sorry I can’t help more.”
“Jae, you’ve done more than you probably should. I hate even having you involved in something that could potentially cause a lot of trouble.”
“It’s for a good cause though,” said Jae a bit apprehensively.
“Yes, it is,” Colin answered confidently, reassuring his friend.
“We should try and get some sleep,” said Jae, climbing into his own bed.
Colin wished for slumber, but it would not come.
What would Meghan say if she knew what he was about to do? What about his Uncle Arnon? Or for that matter, Uncle Eddy?
Colin tried to relax and breathed deeply. He needed to rest. Tomorrow was the biggest day of his life. He was heading into an unknown valley full of potential dangers. Nevertheless, he knew deep down that Catrina was worth it.
IVAN WAITED IMPATIENTLY, huffing and puffing through his growing agitation with Meghan as she looked through her backpack, nervously rechecking her list. The day had come. The training had ended. She was as ready as possible. Though no less anxious.
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