Firemancer Collection (Fated Saga Box Set Book 1)

by R. H. D'aigle

  “Ivan, come back inside, it’s freezing out here.”

  The snow swirled around their heads. Ivan took an impatient breath and hopped back in the carriage. This time he allowed Meghan to get in on her own. As the carriage ride continued, they warmed up nicely thanks to the toasty fire. Ivan leaned around the fire and held out his hand, as if to shake Meghan’s.

  “Truce. For tonight at least, let’s agree to disagree.” His eyes shouted displeasure at the arrangement but she leaned to shake his hand.

  An ember popped in the stove.

  Meghan was no longer in the wagon. A vision took over.

  It was dark and cold but she still wore her dinner gown. She got on her hands and knees feeling carefully until she came to an edge. She crawled around the edge as a dim light appeared over her.

  “Oh no, not now,” she uttered in disbelief.

  As in her vision each time before, a second pillar just out of reach appeared in the darkness, imprisoning Jae’s beaten body. She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around her legs and rocked back and forth, crying.

  Something changed. An echo of a voice, distant, calling her name.

  “Ivan,” she sobbed. “Get me out of here! I can’t watch this again.” She witnessed the loathsome being, drowning Jae in its shadow, and tried to remain calm.

  “What would Juliska do?” she asked. Meghan went over what had happened before she appeared on the pillar. “I was shaking Ivan’s hand and something happened in the fire.”

  In the background from the second pillar, Jae’s voice pleaded with Meghan.

  “Please, make it stop. You can help me.” His voice made her believe she was close to figuring it out.

  One fact dawned on Meghan, as each of the previous nightmares came into memory.

  “Ivan. I had run into Ivan each time.”

  She stood up, but was no longer Meghan. Ivan took her place on the pillar. She realized it was not her own nightmare, but Ivan’s. Which meant, “He must know what’s wrong with Jae!” she shouted.

  Meghan was back in the carriage, lying on the floor. Ivan clutched her drained body, gently putting her back in the seat. “I’m sorry,” he kept repeating, arrogance and condemnation gone from his voice.

  “Why do you keep saying that?” she moaned.

  “I know what you saw,” he confided hesitantly.

  “I was right,” she exclaimed. “I got it right! It’s your nightmare I’ve been seeing, not my own.” She stopped, “Wait. How did you know?”

  “The night I found you on the floor in the bath room, I heard you talking. I’ve had the dream so many times…” his pained voice trailed off.

  Meghan was not sure how to feel. She had no idea that her gift would allow her to see the deepest dreams and nightmares of other people. She squirmed, realizing that the reserved and proud Ivan must be sorely wounded; but her desire to help Jae was stronger. Meghan, gathering confidence, moved across the carriage and sat next to Ivan.

  “What’s happening to him?” she asked bravely.

  “I don’t have any answers for you,” he replied coldly, his nostrils flaring in conflicted anger. He vaulted out of the carriage, which had come to a stop. They had arrived at their destination.

  “Ivan, wait, please,” she begged, trudging through the falling snow, with Nona at her heels.

  “Forget about what you saw, Meghan. I’m sorry you had to see it. But you can’t help!” Ivan marched inside putting on his dry smile, pretending nothing had happened.

  Meghan had left her coat in the carriage, which had already driven away. She made her way inside, wet, exhausted and shivering. This was not the entrance she had pictured herself making.

  Juliska greeted her guests at the door. Meghan waited in the shadows getting colder and wetter, finally sneaking through the door after the last guest had entered. Juliska took one look at her and whispered to her Pantin, “Take her to my room.” Pantin Hollee scurried Meghan up a flight of stone stairs, down a long corridor and into a warm room. She dabbed a towel over her wet hair.

  Her head hurt.

  Had she gone too far with Ivan?

  Had she not gone far enough? I should’ve forced it out of him…

  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 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.

  “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.

  “It would appear you have a good start on the problem then,” she said, looking pleased. “Take a minute and get yourself together, Meghan. Pantin Hollee will help you with whatever you need. Remember, an honored 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 eagerness.

  “I wish someday I could make as much sense, to myself.”

  Juliska nodded and returned to her guests. Meghan let her thoughts stray to what she had not dared to say… I wish I could live here with you. When I’m here I feel like I’m at home.

  The Pantin helped Meghan get cleaned up. Once ready, she led her to a back entrance, which Juliska often used when entertaining. As she entered, all eyes focused intently on Meghan, as Banon Blackwell welcomed her to the dinner from her own private entrance.

  Meghan smiled at the crowd, feeling envious eyes scrolling over her. 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 the entire evening.

  It did not matter however, as appearing to be Juliska’s guest of honor Meghan had no problem meeting all of the twenty guests in attendance; which consisted mostly of older students she had never met. They, of course, knew who she was, as the new kid in town.

  Meghan ignored Darcy’s icy stares and purposely paraded 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.

  Finally, the Banon spoke.

  “It is time,” she paused dramatically, “for an Initiation.” These were words they had 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.

  “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.

  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. Meghan stayed back, feeling confident he did not want her congratulations.

  Soon, the evening was ending and guests began to depar
t. Meghan started to feel ill. Her head grew 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.

  “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.”

  He led the dizzy Meghan out the door, overhearing Juliska whisper, “Don’t be a stranger now, Meghan.”

  “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? ‘Cause honestly, I’m not in the mood.”

  “In all honesty,” he said, “you look ill.”

  “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 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 was 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.”

  Ivan dove into action, jumping out of the carriage, which was moving at a snails pace through the falling snow. Meghan and Nona were 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. 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.”

  “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,” said Irving. “We need more help.”

  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 then left the wharf, feeling 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.

  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.

  “How could I let this happen?” she muttered.

  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! Where are you?” she yelled frantically over the storm. The group listened anxiously. “He’s alive,” she yelled, “I can hear him.” Meghan remained cautiously still, sensing where he was. The connection was weak. She slowly 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, noticing his eyes frozen open in fear.

  “Balaton,” he yelled forcefully. Two appeared, one of whom immediately grasped Colin and disappeared. 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. She was caught 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. She then 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.

  Then, the next second, 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.

  This 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 turning furious. Ivan fell to the ground, yelling incoherently, punching his fists into the dirt.

  “What you are does not change anything!” he shouted, as if regaining control of his conflict. His eyes scathingly jerked from the ground 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. He pinned her easily, raising 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.

  “I was hoping I could find you,” he said. “It’s harder than I thought to track someone through their dreams, though.”

  “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, hesitantly adding, “I’m so sorry, Colin. What happened?”

  “Don’t be sorry, Sis. You found me, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, but none of this would’ve happened if I’d done what Uncle Eddy said, and kept the connection open.”

  “True,” he replied. “But I have more important things to tell you, because I may not wake up for awhile.”

  “I’m listening,” she said.