Firemancer Collection (Fated Saga Box Set Book 1)

by R. H. D'aigle

  “Then, out of nowhere there was something. A man, at least I think it was a man. His face looked caved in and a bit yellow. I watched him point something at the orphanage and a few minutes later a fire started. It burned everything.

  “I remember helping kids get out and then I got stuck in a room. The smoke was so thick I couldn’t see. The next thing I knew, I was dead.”

  Colin thought that was the end of the sad story, but Timothy continued.

  “After I died, I decided to hang around for a few days. I guess I wasn’t ready to move on yet. The headmaster of the orphanage was heartbroken. I remember him crying for three children lost in the fire.

  “On the third night, a woman showed up, sobbing. I can still hear her voice, ‘I was coming for you.’ She sat for hours staring at the rubble, realizing whatever she was looking for was gone. I don’t know if the she ever found who she was looking for, or if they were one of the unfortunate ones that died the same night I did.”

  Timothy floated higher into the air, indicating it was the end of his story.

  “I really hope you get to move on soon, Timothy,” said Colin. “This is not a good place for you.”

  “It’s not so bad. It will be a lot more boring once you’re all gone. But I’ll go on helping the new arrivals,” he smiled. Timothy became his happy, playful self in no time.

  Colin called Meghan over and explained what he had just heard.

  “Poor Timothy,” she replied, at the same time thinking something about Timothy’s story sounded familiar. She could not place why.

  “I don’t mean to be a party pooper,” interrupted Jae. “But we really do have to get going. Mom’ll be furious if we’re late for Christmas dinner.”

  “Yes,” agreed Ivan, eager to leave.

  “Yes,” said Uncle Eddy as well. “It is time for us all to go.”

  The twins hoped it did not mean what they feared.

  “Now? Are you sure? We still have almost a week before we leave Grimble,” reminded Colin.

  “I’m sorry, but it is time. Come, I believe I have two more pieces of that candy in my pocket and I would love nothing more than one last hug.”

  Meghan fought off tears. Colin couldn’t hold it back, a tear dripped down his cheek. Out of politeness, Jae and Ivan walked away, allowing the twins some privacy. Eddy popped the candy in his mouth revealing a living uncle. They hugged him together, as hard as they could.

  “Okay now, I’ve only got a minute,” he knelt in front of Colin. “You are as tall as your actions. Keep the book safe, and I am so very proud of you.”

  He turned to Meghan.

  “I couldn’t be prouder than I am right now, seeing what you have already accomplished. Above all else,” he said to them both, “never break your bond.”

  They hugged him one last time and stepped back as the ghostly uncle returned.

  “It’s time,” Eddy said, extending his hand to Timothy. “Are you coming?” he asked lightheartedly.

  “Really and truly?” Timothy replied, his ghostly eyes widening.

  “Really and truly,” replied their uncle.

  “I can’t believe it! I’m finally going home,” he shouted, readily grasping Eddy’s hand.

  The twins could not help but smile.

  “You better take good care of our uncle, Timothy,” ordered Meghan, through her sniffles.

  “You bet I will,” he said, as they floated higher and higher into the gray sky.

  Jae came over and waved alongside Meghan and Colin. They heard the echo of Uncle Eddy’s voice, one last time.

  “Remember that you always have each other.”

  What they did not hear, however, was this:

  “You did a good job, Tim, keeping yourself in that cell, pretending you couldn’t get out.”

  “She fell for it just like you said she would, and she used magic all on her own, just like you hoped.”

  “Yes, Tim, she did. I only hope I did enough.”

  “They have a rough road ahead, don’t they Mr. Gillivray?”

  The ghost who had called himself the twins’ uncle sighed, taking one last glance below.

  “Yes, Tim,” he answered. “A road even I wouldn’t want to travel.”

  ##

  ##

  The foursome slowly made their way back to the carriage. Once inside, Nona licked Meghan’s face, then snuggled up between her and Colin, licking Colin’s salty, tear covered hand. It was hard to stay sad for long. The streets of the Svoda village were lined with twinkling lights, and the Mochrie house was full of good cheer. Ivan and Jae entered the house, leaving Colin and Meghan outside.

  Footsteps trudging through the snow caught their attention.

  “Merry Christmas, Ditch Witches,” croaked the voice of Darcy Scraggs.

  “What do you want?” asked Meghan, bored of her games.

  “I’m getting quite tired of you two screwing up my plans.”

  “Have you ever considered making better plans then, Darcy?” challenged Colin, much to the surprise and delight of Meghan.

  “You will so pay for that,” she retorted. “One of these days, I will figure out what you’re up too!” She haughtily strode away.

  “You know, Col, as much as I wanted it to be Darcy that hurt you, I don’t think she had anything to do with it.” Meghan hated to admit it.

  “No. I think she’s your basic run of the mill bully. But, I’m not going to worry about it today.”

  Meghan twisted her head, staring at her brother.

  The sun was setting over the horizon, the air was crisp, and today, nothing could dampen their spirits.

  “C’mon Little Sis,” said Colin, shifting his body so he could reach up and put his arm around her neck. “It’s Christmas.”

  She put her arm around him, laughed, and they disappeared inside.

  Much later that night:

  “Hey, Meghan,” it was nearly three a.m.

  “Yeah,” she mumbled.

  “Do you think we’ll get to meet some other long lost relative, wherever we go next?”

  “Doubt it, Col. Probably be much more boring than Grimble.”

  A minute later, he called out, “Meghan,” again.

  “Go to sleep, Colin,” she pleaded.

  “There’s my sister,” he closed his eyes.

  “Goodnight,” she muttered as another echo filled her ear. “What now, Colin?”

  “Huh,” he replied. “I didn’t say anything.” He rolled over, opening his curtain, checking that the door was locked. Corny had not visited him in a while, but they had decided to keep the door locked, just in case.

  A reflection in the mirror hanging on the wall across from Colin’s bed caught his eye. Corny’s scribbling’s were readable! How had he not noticed it before? Corny had been writing backwards.

  “They will take it, keep it safe,” Colin read.

  He lay back down, dumbfounded, and very much wishing he had been smart enough to see it before he had been attacked. He made an instant decision to start being friendlier to Corny Tibbitt.

  “May need him on my side, if any one gets it in their head to steal the Magicante again.” He tried to fall back to sleep but heard a distant voice from his sister’s mind.

  “The,” and “father,” were the only words he could make out.

  “Meghan, are you dreaming, or playing a joke on me?”

  “Thanks to you, I’m not asleep enough to be dreaming, and I am way too tired for jokes.”

  “Then whose voice is in your head?” he asked.

  Meghan sat up. “That wasn’t you talking?”

  “Sorry, Sis, it’s a distant echo. Not in my head, just yours.”

  “If it’s not you, who is it? Why can I hear another voice in my head? This better not be the next stage of my Firemancy, hearing voices!” she huffed. “Goodnight already,” she shot to Colin.

  He did not answer as he had fallen asleep.

  He dreamed of the silver haired girl.

  Colin bo
lted upright in bed, instantly and fully awake. It was still night and the Mochrie house was fast asleep, including Meghan.

  “The hospital! That girl, Catrina, she was in the room I thought was Meghan’s.” His mind finally put two and two together, realizing that his dream girl, and the hospital girl, were one and the same. He jumped out of bed sneakily getting dressed, tiptoeing out of the house.

  The night air was biting cold. He entered the hospital and went to the level where he had first seen the girl. The room was empty. A nurse he did not recognize slept behind a counter. Colin cleared his throat, waking her.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I wanted to ask, where is the girl that was in that room?” He pointed out the one.

  “Girl?” she questioned, half awake. “Not sure who you’re talking about, young man,” Seeing Colin’s disappointed face she added, “Sorry, kid, we never use this level for patients, seeing as we barely ever have any. Just a break area now.” She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes.

  Colin stared into the empty room, reluctantly leaving the hospital, wondering if he had remembered wrong.

  “No! That part was no dream. She was there. I saw her sleeping.”

  Catrina’s words echoed in his head.

  “You will need me as much as I need you.”

  Colin replayed her warning, and knew he needed to find her, and soon.

  ##

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  Embrace

  Book Three in the Fated Saga

  Rachel Humphrey D’aigle

  Chapter One

  Amelia Cobb’s attempts to gather her wandering mind failed.

  “We should get this meeting underway,” she muttered, while staring dreamily through the single window in the room. “We do have much to discuss today.” She forced her eyes away from the window and took a seat behind a simple wooden desk.

  This action instantly quieted the group in attendance. The modest sized room was crowded with the nine seated before her.

  Amelia fidgeted in her seat, again distracted.

  “Cora,” she started, “let’s just open the window. I don’t know about all of you, but I am dying to feel the spring air this morning.” The rest agreed wholeheartedly, disappointed to be stuck inside on the first warm day of spring, after the cold and relentless winter typical to the woods of northern Maine.

  Cora obliged at once; her thin frame popped up from behind a small desk and opened the window. Heavy scents of fresh pine rushed in, followed by hints of maple. Outside, the early signs of spring were calling to all who resided in the village built amongst the trees.

  Young children laughed as they played. The nearly melted snow divulged unraveling fern tendrils, and Chickadee’s sang their morning bird song.

  “Well, okay everyone,” said Amelia, drawing the group’s attention from the enchanting spring air and back to the meeting at hand. “I realize we all have a case of spring fever this morning, however, we do need to get down to business.”

  Cora, Amelia’s assistant began taking roll call.

  “Nina Tourner, check. Barrett Nuskey, here. Berta Prideaux, yes. Colton Fahlbush, leaning in the corner as usual.”

  He winked at her, but she ignored him and continued.

  “Curtis Bevins, yes. Heloise Peppernell, brought the coffee, and Wilbur Finn, needs a mug of that coffee. Late night again, Wilbur?” prodded Cora, her eyes narrow in amused suspicion.

  “When do I not put in a late night, Cora?” the older man grumbled, accepting a mug of coffee from Heloise. His eyes smiled. “You sure know how to make a tasty cup of mud,” he praised, draining the mug in seconds. He accepted another instantly, although tiredness continued to plague his worn face.

  After everyone’s mugs brimmed with coffee, the meeting finally began.

  “Barrett, I believe you have a progress report for us today,” announced Amelia.

  “Yes, yes I do everyone,” he replied, standing to address the group. His thin frame shook nervously as he spoke, hoping to please. “We successfully moved two more people into prime key positions in the government last week. Paula Bedgewood and Amos Durmuddy. They will not be around for the next few months. They will, of course, be sending in reports on their progress as often as possible.”

  Sighs and adulation rustled through the group. Barrett breathed deeply and his nervous shaking slowed.

  “Well done, Barrett. And please send my thanks to your zone for all their hard work on this project,” said Amelia, adding, “Without these government positions our success would be impossible.”

  She took a few sips of coffee before continuing.

  “I hate to appear boastful, but it seems our plans are moving forward at the perfect pace.”

  “Not that we still don’t have much to do,” reminded Barrett, feeling bolder. “We are still hoping for ten more positions, so with the eight we have currently, I’d agree, the perfect pace to be ready in time.”

  “We’ll be looking forward to your next progress report then, Barrett. Next on the agenda, I have my own report today, from our informant with the travelers.”

  All in the room leaned forward, eager to hear the news.

  “I have been advised that Meghan and Colin Jacoby are settling into their magical lives well, and their abilities are increasing rapidly. And most importantly, at least for now, they are safe living with the traveling Svoda.”

  Sighs of great relief wafted through the enchanting spring breeze.

  “So much of our plan depends on those two. Poor little dears,” said the plump Berta Prideaux.

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  “Yes, it is a tenuous situation,” agreed Amelia. “They know so little and yet the success of our plan depends entirely upon them. I only hope we did right by hiding them from their destiny for so long.”

  “Hopefully it wasn’t for too long,” added the tender faced Nina Tourner.

  “We all agreed to bind their powers, knowing full well the spell would only be broken when they encountered their true destiny,” reminded Amelia. “We had no way of knowing how long that encounter would take.”

  “It was the right thing to do,” insisted Curtis Bevins, his voice sure. “They deserved that much, at least; a few years peace. They’ll have to grow up too fast now, as it is.”

  “And need I remind us all of the sacrifices made by your brother, Arnon,” said Heloise to Nina Tourner. The group hastily agreed. Nina returned an honored, yet sad, smile.

  Before the debate could continue, rushed footsteps clamored up the narrow staircase outside the meeting room. The wooden door flew open and a young man stormed through. Nina, who was sitting in front of Amelia’s desk, rose from her chair in great dismay.

  “What is it, Owen?” she asked the young man, who was her sixteen year old son. His face was clearly distraught.

  “The seer sent me,” he said breathing heavily, “with grave news.”

  The room tensed; their spring-enchanted demeanor giving way to acceptance of what ‘grave’ news often meant: death.

  “What has happened, Owen?” asked Amelia, preparing herself for whatever news was to come.

  “Something that will change everything!” he mustered out, still catching his breath. “Something that hasn’t happened in over a hundred years. Something that even the Immortal Grosvenor will fear!”

  Gasps and cries of disbelief flew through the room and out of the open window, which Amelia jumped up and slammed shut, before anyone outside their room could overhear and start a panic.

  “No, it’s not possible,” stuttered Barrett.

  “It cannot be!” cried out Berta and Heloise at once.

  “I thought they were extinct?” questioned the tired-faced Wilbur.

  Amelia, momentarily defeated, sank into her chair.

  “This is grave indeed,” she moaned. “Only one thing could frighten the Grosvenor.”

  She took a deep breath, afraid to say the words aloud.

  “A Projector could mean the end for us all.” />
  A barrage of questions assaulted Amelia.

  “What should be our next course of action?” demanded Colton, pushing his hand through his stiff, dark hair as he spoke.

  “We may not even have time to take action!” retorted Wilbur Finn. His hands shook so badly, his newly filled mug of coffee spilled over the edges, dripping down his weathered skin.

  “Should we put our plans on hold?” asked Barrett Nuskey. “Should we call our members back from their duties to fight this new enemy?”

  Amelia motioned for silence. She paced around her desk, deep in thought, before finally speaking.

  “Owen, what else did the seer say? Did she know the age of this Projector, or its location?”

  Owen, now calmer, explained all he knew.

  “All she said was that a Projector was emerging, still young and not yet near its full power. She also said,” he paused before continuing, “that she’s not alone in her discovery.”

  “Not alone,” Amelia repeated. The fresh spring air in her lungs turned bitter. “Soon, the entire magical world will be looking for this child, to try and harness its power before it reaches full age, or to kill it before it does.”

  “It’s not wise to try and harness the power of a Projector,” insisted Curtis Bevins. “It is a useless endeavor! No one has ever succeeded in using a Projectors power.”

  “Curtis knows his history,” reminded Wilbur. “And I say we heed his warning! Even if we were somehow able to persuade a Projector to our side, there is no telling what would happen once it came into its full power.”

  “All our work. All our sacrifice,” whimpered Heloise, trembling as she refilled cups of coffee that did not need refilling.