He didn’t bother reaching out into his sister’s mind. She had a block firmly in place, and he didn’t want her in his head either. He didn’t want her to see how much he really did need her. How afraid he was when she wasn’t there. He really wished there was a spell to make him taller.
He made it to the school entrance and hid behind a bush until he saw Jae and Mireya walk out of the school. Jae glanced at him oddly but didn’t ask when he popped out at them unexpectedly. When his sister did not follow, it was their first question.
“Not sure where she is. We had a fight,” Colin explained.
“Oh, sorry. Maybe she’s already home,” twittered Mireya. She ran to catch up with a friend.
“What happened today?” asked Jae.
In reply, Colin asked his own question. “What can you tell me about a girl named Darcy?”
“Not Darcy Scraggs,” grumbled Jae. “Was Dulcy Hadrian and Daveena Troast with her?”
“Dulcy was, and if Daveena is the biggest, scariest girl you’ve ever seen, then yes she was.”
“Something else I forgot to warn you guys about. The Three D’s.”
“The Three D’s. They have a name. I take it they’re not just nasty to us, then?”
“No. They’re mean period. Darcy, she’s the worst. Daveena could crush any of us, but she doesn’t do anything unless Darcy orders it, and then there’s Dulcy.” Jae frowned.
“She doesn’t seem to fit in.”
“Don’t let that stupid act fool you. She doesn’t have a decent bone in her body.”
“Noted,” said Colin gravely.
“So what did they want?”
“Actually, they acted as if they knew about our magic,” whispered Colin.
Jae froze in his tracks. “Do you think they do?”
“Honestly, it’s hard to say. If she did know though, will she tell?”
“If it served her well to do it, Darcy wouldn’t hesitate,” exclaimed Jae.
“Why not turn us in and get it over with then?”
Jae contemplated before answering.
“Knowing the Three D’s, they are either scheming some way to expose you, or,” he paused. “I wouldn’t put it past them to try to pin this on someone else, too.”
It took only a second for Colin to realize that Jae meant himself, and maybe even his family. “You have to tell the truth, Jae. Meghan would insist if she were here. We can’t let anything bad happen to you, for hiding our magic.”
“No, I can’t do it. I might be wrong, Colin. I shouldn’t have even brought it up. Forget I said it.”
“Why do they dislike your family so much?” asked Colin.
“It’s not just us. They have a false impression that they pull more weight than the rest of us in the group. Banon Blackwell keeps them in check though.”
“If it comes down to it, Jae, I don’t want you or your family getting into trouble because of us.”
Jae would not hear it. “I can’t. If it does come down to it, I’ll stay behind with you and take full responsibility. I’ll say my family didn’t know.”
“But you would be away from your family again, which is how we ended up here in the first place.”
Jae could not argue this point.
“Let’s wait and see how things play out for a few days,” he suggested. “I honestly don’t think we’ll be in danger of anything happening right away. Fall’s practically here and we all have school exams then, including the Three D’s. I think it’ll buy us some time.”
Colin agreed to Jae’s thinking and they slipped inside the Mochrie house.
Meghan was not home. They made an excuse at the dinner table thirty minutes later when she still had not returned. After dinner, Mireya headed off to meet a friend down by the wharf. Jae sat at the kitchen table working on schoolwork. Colin paced the kitchen trying to reach out for his sister; he could sense her, but she was getting better at blocking him for longer periods of time. The house was deafeningly quiet.
And then, it was not quiet. Distant screams echoed through the open windows.
“What on earth?” asked Sheila Mochrie, from the back of the house. Irving Mochrie rushed out of the cottage to investigate, followed by Sheila, Colin and Jae.
Billows of smoke were rising from the ocean shore.
“The wharf, something’s happening at the wharf!” Sheila screamed, charging down the road, panicked; that’s where her daughter was supposed to be.
Irving ran back inside, before following Sheila, hooking a belt over his shoulder. Colin and Jae followed his mother. Neighbors flew out of their homes and very swiftly, a crowd raced toward the wharf. Colin was horrified to see they were preparing themselves for a battle. They each wore belts like Irving’s over their shoulders. Most contained lines of pockets, with vials stuffed inside.
Jae explained as they ran to the wharf.
“Some carry potions, some weapons, and some store magical energy, so when they tire they have a backup supply.”
As they neared the wharf, uniformed men and woman popped in out of thin air. Colin heard someone say, “The Balaton are here, let them survey the situation before we all go running in.” He threw Jae a questioning look.
“Balaton are our version of police.”
Colin had assumed as much.
The Balaton made a line, each with a palm raised, poised for battle.
Children were screaming and running to find their parents. None of the Svoda could imagine what enemy they could be up against. Nothing had ever penetrated the wagon’s borders before.
Mireya appeared, out of breath, yelling over the screams and chaos.
“Come quick! It’s Meghan! Something’s happened.”
Colin got a sinking feeling in his stomach. They followed Mireya to the edge of the wharf, where a ball of fire reeled along the shore.
“Meghan?” Colin gulped, in disbelieving horror. The flames engulfed his sister and yet did not appear to be burning her. “Get out of there,” he pleaded, trying to race toward her. Sheila and Jae held him back.
“I haven’t seen anything like this in ages,” said an astonished Irving Mochrie. He asked Colin, “Has she done this before?”
Colin tried to think of the right answer. Before he could, more Balaton arrived, escorting Banon Blackwell.
“Well, you’re definitely not a secret anymore,” whispered Jae dejectedly. “But at least the Three D’s didn’t have a chance to pull off their plan.”
It was the only good thing about it! His sister was a walking fireball, and a good many Svoda had seen her. The Balaton relaxed their battle stances seeing their leader calmly approach Meghan. She didn’t seem worried or afraid of the flames.
The crowd murmured behind her.
“What is this girl?”
“She’s like the Banon,” another woman said.
“A Firemancer, is it possible?”
“What magical family is she from?”
“I thought they weren’t from our world.”
The crowd quieted. All eyes watched Banon Blackwell speak to Meghan.
“What do you see?” she asked in an eager voice, which indicated she understood what was happening. Which relieved Colin, although only slightly, seeing as he did not.
The fire that surrounded Meghan changed color, from orange and yellow to bright gold. She faced the Svoda and Juliska with a blank stare, and her body began to rise off the ground.
Colin swallowed a lump in his throat. His sister was on fire, and floating off the ground. How? And why?
Meghan drew up her arm and pointed it at the Svoda. She was high enough that she was pointing almost directly at Juliska’s head. To Colin’s amazement, the Banon, standing only about six feet from Meghan was not bothered by the heat, and yet Colin could feel it some twenty-five feet away.
His sister started to speak. In a voice much deeper than her own.
“Beware. Beware. They attack you where you sleep. Beware, I say to all Svoda, they attack you where you sleep.”
She repeated this several times.
Mummers buzzed through the observing crowd. Frightened faces looked to the Banon for answers to this apparent prophecy.
“What do you mean, girl?” one woman shouted.
“Who attacks us? Who?” another voice hollered.
“How will we know, if we’re sleeping?” a man asked.
Juliska addressed the distressed crowd; her brilliant stare was enough to quiet her people. She turned back to Meghan, while even more gypsies arrived, including the elusive and unfriendly Ivan Crane, followed shortly after by Garner Sadorus and the Three D’s. Colin swore that Garner had a look in his eye, which was not pleased to see Meghan, apparently prophesying. He also scowled at an infuriated looking Darcy.
“They must have really had a plan of their own,” thought Colin. He still had no idea which scenario was better. It didn’t matter now.
The fire diminished around Meghan’s body and she slowly descended to the ground. Colin ran to his sister’s side. Nobody stopped him this time. For a brief second his sister’s eyes opened, her mind once again linked to his. Her thoughts confused him though.
“Mother, I want my mother.”
“Mother? What do you mean? She’s dead, remember?” Her delirious request frightened Colin more than seeing his sister on fire.
The crowd drew closer. Banon Blackwell bent over and touched Meghan’s face with the back of her hand. She was burning up.
“She will be fine,” said the Banon. “Take her to the hospital,” she ordered a couple of the Balaton. “I will arrive shortly to handle this situation myself.” Two Balaton hooked arms around Meghan’s limp body and instantly popped out of sight.
It was an uncomfortable feeling not knowing where they were taking his sister. He reached out for her, silently. “Meghan, can you hear me?” Her mind was weak, but she answered.
“Yes, what happened?”
“I’ll explain later. Stay linked to me though, okay. We may have trouble on our hands.” He brought his mind back to the ensuing chaos around him, keeping Meghan’s link open. At the same time blocking her from hearing the conversation, so as not to frighten her while she was trying to recover.
The Svoda gawked. And pointed. And whispered.
Colin wanted to shrink and disappear.
But there was nowhere to hide. Nowhere to run. No one to protect him and Meghan… even Jae couldn’t get them out of this mess. But he stayed close regardless.
Juliska conversed with her personal Balaton along with two of Viancourt members, Garner Sadorus and Darius Hadrian. For what felt like forever. When their conversation ended she turned and motioned for everyone’s attention. The crowd went silent, waiting for her to speak.
“I am pleased by what has happened here today.”
Colin’s eyebrow lifted in disbelief. He didn’t get the sense she was actually happy about it. He did get the sense that many of the Svoda were not.
“Proof,” she stated. “Proof that magic survives in the world. That there is still magic to be found. And protected. It finds us, finds its way home to us, even with our borders spread far and wide.”
“How can we be sure they’re not spies?” a man shouted.
The Banon shot a severe glare in the man’s direction. “I believe you all remember that I was once a lost child. Magic was with me the day I was found by the Svoda. It has not happened again since. This is a day to celebrate, not fear.”
The majority of the crowd accepted this explanation, and instead began to question Meghan’s words.
“What then of the prophecy of the child? What will you do about this, Banon Blackwell?” another voice called out.
“Once understood, we will as always, do what is necessary. Now disperse. Go home and see to your own families. Be thankful for this day. For this reminder of what we fight for. The survival of our kind. For the survival of magic.”
Shouts and clapping broke out, in firm agreement with their leader, and the crowd began to thin. Somehow, Colin didn’t feel any more welcome than he had before his sister’s prophecy, or the Banon’s speech.
The leader whipped around, facing Colin with a penetrating gaze. One that he swore might stab into his eyes if he looked long enough. Even with his heart racing, and nerves begging him to run and hide, he stood his ground. Although timidly. He kept the block in his mind, so his sister wouldn’t hear what was coming. He didn’t think it would be good, and he wanted her to heal as fast as possible in case they did have to flee.
Colin heard an uneasy breath next to him and cast a side-glance in Jae’s direction. Oh no, Jae! They’re going to know everything he kept secret now. That he hid our magic. This is definitely not going to be good.
Jae trembled, waiting for the inevitable. He had lied. There was no hiding it at this point. It could mean expulsion for his family. His mother, father and sister stood behind him, unaware of what Jae had hidden from the Banon and the Viancourt.
But from the displeased frown on Juliska Blackwell’s face, she had pieced it all together. She forced a smile and leaned over to better see into Colin’s eyes. Her gaze sparkled unkindly, but her voice held an overly friendly tone that warned she was not his friend.
“Let me ask you, Colin Jacoby… who were your parents?”
Colin stuttered out a few incoherent words, trying to think. He wasn’t a good thinker when it had to be done fast. What would Uncle Eddy want me to answer? What would Meghan answer?
“Our p-parents,” he breathed out nervously, “they uh, died a couple of years after we were born, and we lived with our Uncle, Arnon Jacoby, until the day we got stuck, I mean, ended up, uh, here, while helping Jae get home.” He hoped the reminder of their assistance would help their cause, but just as instantly as he said it, he wished he had left Jae out of the picture. Not that it really mattered at this point.
The Banon’s gaze flitted swiftly over to Jae, warning she had not forgotten about him, but just as swiftly soared back and landed on Colin.
“And tell me, Colin Jacoby…” she spoke his name as if she had some personal aversion to it.
Was there anything he could do to get on this woman’s good side? Jae had spoken of her with great reverence, but even he now looked more afraid than devoted.
“Did your uncle ever perform magic?”
“I never saw him do so,” Colin answered honestly, glad that he had not.
She narrowed her eyes as if this helped her see if he was telling the truth.
“Hm,” she said, under her breath. “One more question. Have you, or your sister, ever performed magic before today?”
Colin flinched. His eyes widened, giving him away instantly. He really was a terrible liar. He had been afraid this question was coming. Even so, he still failed miserably. This was the one answer he didn’t want to give away. It was a sure conviction for Jae… and who knew what, for him and Meghan. And their Uncle Eddy had already warned them about keeping his book, the Magicante, secret. And safe.
Colin opened his mouth to attempt a lie, but to his horror, Jae spoke up, stammering out his words in haste.
“I’ve seen Colin do magic, but never his sister. I taught him a spell on the off chance he might be able to help me against the Scratchers.”
His family gasped, appearing as though they had been hit by a boulder. They even took a few steps away from him.
“Jae, no, you’ll…” Jae eyed Colin hard, and he shut up, realizing if he said the wrong thing, he would only make the situation worse. Although he could hardly see how it could be any worse.
Juliska Blackwell’s composure faltered slightly. The pitch of her voice went up as she spoke. “Were you aware of this?” She aimed her question at Jae’s shocked parents.
“No, of course not,” said Sheila, adding weakly, “Our son would only do what he thought was best, I’m sure.” Irving reached out his arm and motioned for his wife to stop defending their son.
“Our boy knows the rules, Banon Blackwell. Whatever punishment you see fit,
we will take as a family.” The disapproval of Jae’s actions was heavy in Irving’s voice.
Juliska Blackwell stood to her full height, pondering the situation.
“Jae Mochrie, you have put me in an uncomfortable position. You have broken strict rules put into place to protect all Svoda. However, their world, is also our world, so by a lucky off chance, you have found two lost among us and brought them home.”
They waited, breathlessly.
Two Balaton remained near the Banon awaiting her orders.
She paced back and forth, weighing her decision.
Colin broke out in a cold sweat, feeling faint. Almost a bit like his energy was being sucked out of him.
She stopped, facing them again.
“I try to imagine myself in Jae’s position, questioning whether I would make it home or not, and how best to defend myself. It comes to mind, would I have not done the same as Jae, even knowing that strict rules are being broken? This brother and sister coming to live with us, although seemingly like fate, is also the result of a tragic accident, as well as your disobedience of the rules.” Her stern voice stabbed out at Jae.
Colin wished he could defend Jae, but he didn’t know how to without making it worse. But it wasn’t Jae’s fault. He and Meghan had chosen not to listen to him. He didn’t think telling the Banon this would make any difference though. And it was starting to feel like she was purposely taking an extremely long time stating her decision. Prolonging their agony.
Colin decided he disliked Juliska Blackwell very much.
The Banon sucked in deeply and let it out slow.
“I come to this conclusion. By some blessed miracle, two lost souls have returned to us. Through a difficult path, yes. But home none the less.” She leaned in, pretending to touch Colin’s cheek in a loving manner. “And yet the rules should never be broken,” she glanced at Jae. The Balaton braced themselves to fulfill her punishment.
“Meghan and Colin Jacoby will enroll in school beginning tomorrow. Jae Mochrie shall be demoted from junior learner back to elementary learner. He will start his lessons over again since there are rules he needs reminding of.”
Jae’s parents, humiliated, but thankful to still have a home, humbly thanked the Banon. Irving seized Jae, dragging him home.
The Book, The Witches, and the Doorway (Fated Chronicles Book 1) Page 27