The Book, The Witches, and the Doorway (Fated Chronicles Book 1)

by Humphrey Quinn

  CHAPTER 25

  Colin followed the Mochries, simply to avoid any more questions from Juliska Blackwell; once he noticed she was gone, he slowed. The argument going on up ahead was ugly. He decided it was a bad idea to head to the Mochrie home and decided to find Meghan.

  Colin arrived at the hospital a short time later, after asking for directions. A woman advised him that Meghan was on the fourth floor, last room on the left. It was a long walk up to the fourth floor. And when he left the staircase and headed into the corridor, he got a strange sense of emptiness all around him. And the place was empty. Not a person to be seen. He supposed there just were not that many sick people. But it was quiet. Shouldn’t there be noise of some kind?

  He stepped quietly down the corridor and found the room, no problem. However, it was not his sister lying in the bed. It was another girl, around his sister’s age. But the two of them could not have been mistaken for each other.

  This girl had long silver hair, and slept with a smile on her face as though she were smiling right at Colin. It took his breath away and his heart skipped a few beats. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He wanted to reach out and touch her, to see if she was real.

  “Can I help you?” a voice snapped behind him.

  Colin’s nose sucked in the smell of mothballs. “Sorry,” he said, spooked. “I was told my sister was in this room. Meghan Jacoby.”

  It was Viancourt member Tanzea Chase. She flipped through a chart with a scowl.

  “She’s not even on this floor. Down a level, room nine.” She stood guard by the silver haired girl’s door and watched him leave the floor. Colin noted that she locked the room.

  “Poor girl. She must be very sick,” he thought, “and to have Tanzea as her nurse.” Colin shuddered. How would she ever get better with that terrible woman taking care of her? He wasn’t sure who he liked less, Tanzea Chase or Juliska Blackwell.

  He finally located Meghan’s room but slowed before entering, hearing the voice of Juliska Blackwell. She was talking to Meghan. Colin hoped she wasn’t fishing for information and decided to listen, tuning into his sister’s mind. She was still open to him, but he was careful not to let on he was listening.

  “It’s hard to describe,” his sister was saying. “And so messed up really. Fire doesn’t burn me. Not that I want it to.”

  Juliska laughed lightly, replying in a motherly voice. “You know, Meghan, I sensed it in you right away.”

  “You did?”

  “I was not positive, let’s say it was a hopeful feeling. It has been too long since my people have experienced such a thing. It is a good reminder that the world goes on, outside of our small little daily lives. Plus, to find a lost one with such talent! I’m afraid Firemancy is a dying form these days.”

  Colin cringed. He felt Meghan’s growing adoration for this woman.

  Maybe I should have let her hear everything that went on, rather than block her.

  “Sight is both a blessing and a curse,” Juliska continued. “One I have also managed many years myself. We are very alike, you and I. Did you know that Firemancy is handed down from mothers, only to their daughters? Never sons.”

  “Really? So I’m a Firemancer because of my mother?”

  “Yes. I imagine, were she alive today, she’d be very proud.”

  “I… I never even knew her. She died when Colin and I were just babies. Our uncle took us in and he never really talked about our parents at all. I think it made him too sad.”

  “Of course. Yes. And here you are now, a new journey just beginning. In so many ways.”

  “It is… kind of scary,” admitted Meghan.

  Colin was surprised to hear his sister say this. She never admitted being scared of anything.

  “Which is why I want you to know you’re welcome to visit me, at any time, whenever you have questions about your visions. Or school. Or well, just… anything. I realize you are here alone, and since I have the sight, too, I’m always available to you. As I am to anyone in need of my help.”

  Colin’s mind reeled. What was Juliska doing, being so nice when only minutes ago she was so vile, and mean?

  “At least I have my brother,” reminded Meghan.

  “Yes, of course. Colin. How could I forget?”

  There was that disdain in saying his name again. He shuddered. He really didn’t like this woman. And now his sister was drooling over the attention. She did excel at that.

  “Actually, I can’t believe he’s not here yet, although…” Meghan stopped, taking a sip of water.

  “Although?” Juliska prompted thirstily.

  “He may not want to see me. We had a pretty big fight.”

  “I see,” said Juliska.

  Colin decided he had heard enough. It was time to make his presence known. He let himself into Meghan’s mind. She lifted her head and smiled at the door. Simultaneously, Juliska’s gaze followed.

  Colin’s figure appeared, acting as though he had just arrived. His acting was almost as poor as his ability to lie.

  “Hey, Sis. Feeling better?”

  Meghan nodded.

  Juliska glided toward the door as Colin came in.

  “I must take my leave, Meghan. Things to do, people to order around,” she winked mischievously. Meghan smiled, and Juliska was gone down the hall in a flash.

  “I hope you didn’t tell her too much,” Colin said accusingly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Uncle Eddy. The Magicante.”

  “Of course I didn’t tell her that. Although, I honestly don’t think it would matter. I think I could tell her anything.”

  Colin wanted to gag. “You may change your mind once I tell you what happened after your little stunt earlier.”

  Meghan huffed. “Stunt? I had no control over it. It just happened.”

  “Either way, Jae made up a lie so we wouldn’t get kicked out. He’s in a lot of trouble. He’s home, right this second, probably getting killed by his parents.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Colin explained how they had come running to the wharf, the Svoda preparing for battle, only to find her in a fireball giving what was apparently a prophecy.

  “It was. Juliska told me. She’s a Firemancer, too. It’s rare I guess.”

  How nice, he droned silently, blocking this from her. Not only has Juliska taking a liking to my sister, but now Meghan is even more special. And I’m still just me. Not that he wanted to be a Firemancer. It didn’t actually look that fun.

  “Regardless of all that, Sis, after they took you away, the Mochries stayed behind while Juliska Blackwell questioned me and Jae. She asked me whether I’d ever done magic before. Jae answered before I could stop him, claiming yes, but it was him that showed me how. And him, that asked for our help.”

  “But that’s not true,” said Meghan with heightening unease. “We offered to help Jae. We didn’t listen to him when he told us not to.”

  “We both know that. And so does Jae. But now everyone else thinks he broke all these rules.”

  Meghan bit her lip. Colin sensed her thoughts fighting each other. She didn’t want to believe that Juliska wasn’t looking out for her best interests. But she did feel for Jae and his family.

  Colin continued. “Juliska made us wait then, while she weighed her decision.”

  “What decision?” asked his sister, looking to what Colin concluded was more properly horrified.

  “As to what the Mochrie’s punishment would be.”

  Meghan squirmed, trying to piece it all together.

  “She would have to, you know. Decide on a punishment. Picture your whole job is to keep these people safe and someone breaks a law that could ruin all that. She would have to do something in order to save face from the other Svoda.”

  “Are you sticking up for her?” asked Colin too loudly, getting the nurses’ attention in the hallway.

  “You gotta see it from both sides, Colin. What was the punishment, anywa
y?”

  “She decided to only punish Jae, not his whole family. Just so you know, complete expulsion of his family from the Svoda was possible. But she demoted Jae in school instead. I guess it’s like being held back a grade or something, plus, we’ll be joining him. We will be starting school. Tomorrow.” Colin thought for sure he’d win his sister back now. Juliska was making them go to school, her least favorite thing.

  Meghan was thoughtful for a minute.

  “It could be worse, Colin. At least our magic is out in the open. Less to worry about. It sucks that Jae had to take such a blow, I’m sure it’s totally humiliating. And it doubly sucks that we have to go to school, too.”

  “Ah yes. Priorities. Going to school is way worse than Jae getting into trouble.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean, Colin. Honestly, I think Juliska did the only thing she could do. She would have to dole out some form of punishment, but if you think about it, it’s not that bad. It’s nowhere near getting kicked out!”

  Colin could see her point, but had a strong feeling that things were not that easy for Jae, or his family.

  “How long they keeping you here, anyway?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “Overnight I guess.”

  “Okay. Tomorrow I’m going to see Uncle Eddy and explain what happened, and that we won’t be able to visit as much.”

  Meghan brooded. One second she felt on top of the world. She was Firemancer, like Juliska Blackwell, someone who could teach Meghan how to control and use her abilities. However, in the next moment, all her fears overwhelmed her, throwing her into an instant panic. She didn’t want to miss any time with their Uncle Eddy, either.

  “So you’re okay?” Colin asked her.

  “Yeah. Tired. A bit confused. I don’t actually remember much of what happened.”

  “I’ll tell Uncle Eddy all about it. Maybe he’ll have some ideas.”

  “He acted like he didn’t know too much about having the sight. But you’re right. He should know, just the same. It does suck we’ll get to see him less.” Her thoughts were clouded, a tug-of-war going on between them. It was all so much to take in. And understand. Everything was happening so fast.

  She sighed.

  Colin got up to leave.

  “I guess I’ll see you when they let me out of here.”

  “Night, Sis.”

  “Yeah. Night Col.”

  He left her and decided to return to the Mochrie house. As he neared, passing by the wharf entrance, a shadow followed him. He slowed. It sped up. The closer it got, thundering footsteps dug into the ground.

  Colin searched for a place to hide; it was too late.

  Daveena Troast’s scowling face towered in front of him. The third member of the Three D’s.

  “I’ve got a message for you,” she gurgled. For a tough kid, she had a funny voice. He waited, assuming the message would be a knuckle sandwich, or something of the sort, but she stood, staring, her arms folded.

  “And the message is?” he choked out.

  “We’re still watching you.” Her pudgy face scrunched up as she said it. After staring at Colin for an entire silent minute, she plodded away. Colin raced the last few steps to the Mochrie house but stopped, afraid to go in.

  When he did finally dare to enter, it was quieter than he expected. Sheila and Mireya calmly sipped tea. There was no sign of Jae or his father.

  “There you are. Expect you went to see Meghan. How is she, the poor dear?” asked Sheila, with no indication that anything out of the ordinary had happened.

  “Fine,” Colin said, questioning why they weren’t all yelling at each other. “She should be home before school tomorrow, I imagine.”

  “Jae and his father are out,” she spoke blankly. “Life must go on, and he’ll have to work harder now that he’s been sent back to the beginning.”

  Colin didn’t know whether he should apologize. Just leave. Maybe go stay with Billie. Go to bed. Stay up.

  Mireya smiled weakly and announced she was going to bed.

  He took the opportunity to follow. They readied for bed. Before Mireya snuck behind her curtain for the night, Colin got up the nerve to ask about Jae.

  “Is he in a lot of trouble?”

  Her already weak smile faded. “This is the second time he’s been sent back to the beginning. Dad is none too happy about it, and told him he wasn’t leaving his sight for the week. I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t weeks.”

  Colin nodded somberly.

  As he lay down, his thoughts twisted between right and wrong. Good and evil. Breaking the rules versus the need to survive.

  Perhaps Juliska Blackwell, realizing she had to dish out some kind of punishment, ordered the least possible, knowing what Jae had done was not all that bad in the end.

  Still, Colin did not trust her cunning nature. He was positive she did not trust the twins, and worried deeply his sister could not see it.

  He also thought it odd that Sheila Mochrie did not question him after he had come home. He reached out for Meghan to say goodnight. She was already sleeping.

  Tomorrow, before school, he would tell Uncle Eddy. Perhaps he would have some answers.

  He drifted off to sleep. His night started with a pleasant dream. He was standing next to the silver haired girl in the hospital. Her eyes were open and she was smiling at him, like she knew him. She was reaching up to grasp his hand when everything turned dark. And ugly. The room seemed to shrink around them.

  The silhouette of Juliska Blackwell came out of the shadows of the wall on the other side of the girl’s bed. She opened her mouth and laughed. An unkind, arrogant sort of laugh. The girl’s bed started to roll away from Colin, toward Juliska.

  He reached out to grab onto it, or her, but she was fast out of his reach.

  The dream ended with the girl screaming for his help.

  He awoke with a start, sitting up in bed. He plunked back down after a moment, realizing it was just a dream.

  What a weird, weird day it had been.

  Topping off a weird summer.

  And a weird adventure there was no way out of. And one Colin was starting to believe, would be far more dangerous than he and his sister could possibly imagine.

  CHAPTER 26

  The next morning, Colin got up early and found Uncle Eddy in Grimble. He explained all that had happened the previous day. When he finished, Eddy stroked his ghostly chin.

  “I have to say this is a little unexpected, so soon at least. They have accepted you though. That is good.”

  “I’m not so sure they have actually accepted us,” Colin argued.

  “If their leader has, then they will, too. Not that I don’t still have things to teach you,” Eddy pointed out.

  Colin was pleased that their uncle was not angry or worse, leaving, now that they’d been outed in the magical community. He reached out for his sister but she was blocking him. He hoped it wasn’t because she was talking to Juliska Blackwell.

  “When do you want us to come back, Uncle Eddy?” he asked.

  “Whenever you can, Colin. I will be here waiting.”

  Timothy came floating in just then, talking to something neither Colin nor his uncle could see.

  “C’mon, almost there, a little bit farther,” coaxed Timothy. “Look what I found,” he exclaimed. A kitten followed him, meowing softly.

  “Where did you find that, Timothy?” Colin leaned over to have a closer look.

  “In an alley searching for food. Poor itty bitty.”

  “He does look hungry.” Colin picked up the kitten, noticing the tuft of white hair on top of its tiny head.

  “Searched all over for its mother, no luck though,” said Timothy, looking worried about the kitten’s future.

  “I don’t see why I couldn’t keep him, or her. Which is it? asked Colin.

  “It’s a her,” pointed out his uncle. “Curious, though,” he added. “Wonder how she got here?”

  “I’ve seen plenty of Sv
oda with pets,” said Colin. “I guess I would have to okay it with the Mochries. I’m sure someone would take her in, if I can’t. We certainly can’t leave her to starve.”

  “I am sure they would not abandon a poor little kitten,” agreed Eddy, proud that Colin would be so quick to take in the little thing.

  “Look at this,” said Colin. “She’s got two different colored eyes, one green and one white!”

  “Huh. So she does,” replied his uncle. The kitten snuggled up in Colin’s arms and fell to sleep, lightly purring.

  “Guess I better go. I’ve got to get this little thing home, meet up with Meghan, and then… off to school.” His voice did not sound confident in the least. “Bye, Timothy. Bye, Uncle Eddy.” They both waved and floated away.

  By the time he reached the Mochrie house, Mireya and her mother were welcoming Meghan home, Jae was just waking from a nap on the sofa, and Ivan and Irving were already off to work. Jae’s father had changed his mind and not taken him to the office that morning. From the looks of it, Jae had been up all night.

  “Hey, Sis,” Colin greeted. “Feeling good?”

  “Yeah. All good. Rested. Actually slept really well for sleeping in a place I’ve never been before.”

  “Ready for school?”

  “Ugh. No,” she grumbled. In her mind, she asked him. “How did Uncle Eddy handle everything?”

  “Good. He’s got more to teach us. He’s not going anywhere.”

  She sighed in relief. Aloud, she asked, “Hey, what’s that? Your pocket is moving.”

  Colin took out the fury little mass. “Found it in Grimble, lost, hungry and no mother.”

  Everyone huddled around it, oohing and aahing. Mrs. Mochrie went to the kitchen to retrieve some milk.

  “Timothy really found it,” he sent Meghan silently. “No idea how it got into Grimble.”

  After feeding the kitten and pointing out its different colored eyes, which Mrs. Mochrie ogled at as inquisitively as his uncle had, she announced it was time for them to be off to school.

  “Lunches are ready. Grab one on the way out. Good luck Meghan and Colin, on your first day.”