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

by Humphrey Quinn

  “Oh fine, then. Will you please go to my study and grab an unused journal and bring it to our new Firemancer?” The woman nodded with a curt smile and departed. “I want you to keep this journal with you at all times,” she instructed Meghan. “And whenever anything occurs that you think is vision related, write it down. Keep track of where you were. Who you were with, or anything of note that comes to mind. This, after some time, should create some patterns and give you a better picture of what may be happening.”

  “Okay, I will,” decided Meghan.

  “Good. And if nothing else, it gives you a place to keep track of it all. To go back and reference if needed. And give your mind a break. It can get a little crowded after a while.”

  “It already feels crowded.”

  “Ah, then you’ll love the journal. It will be your new best friend. Just put all the little details on the pages, and let your mind rest. Visions don’t always give you exact answers. Sometimes they are difficult to interpret. But writing it all down can give you a new and fresh perspective.”

  Hollee returned with the journal and handed it to Meghan.

  “Thanks.”

  The woman gave her a short nod.

  “Yes. Thank you, Hollee.” Juliska cast the woman a half-lidded gaze that Meghan missed while she flipped through the journal.

  “I could not locate one from the shop in town, so I grabbed an empty one from your personal collection,” the woman named Hollee explained.

  “Perfect,” said Juliska crisply. “As if you read my mind. Don’t know what I’d do without you, Hollee.” The woman departed, leaving the two Firemancers alone again.

  Meghan closed the blank journal, realizing that the woman had left again. “Is her name, Pantin? Or is that a title?” She wanted to properly greet her, or say goodbye.

  “Title. For the assistant to the Banon. Hollee is my most trusted personal assistant. I really could not manage without her. Or without my own journals. Both help me keep my sanity. I think you’ll find the journal of great value.”

  “Thank you.” Meghan took a cleansing breath. She was ready now. Armed with something to help her figure all this stuff out. A simple thing, but not something she had thought about herself. She had never been one for writing in any form.

  “I will have Hollee show you out in a few minutes. I’m afraid I need to go to a meeting. But remember, feel free to come back at any time. You are always welcome here. I am a busy woman, but there are few things more important than helping a new Firemancer.” Her eyes twinkled as they got up from the table. Juliska leaned over and touched her shoulder gently. Meghan caught Pajak out of the corner of her eye and swore the spider winked at her.

  There was a powerful energy that emanated all around Juliska. It was easy to understand why she was the Svoda’s leader. Meghan grinned and was about to say goodbye when her pocket stirred.

  Juliska’s gaze narrowed in on the little kitten head peeking out of Meghan’s sweater pocket. The kitten had been sleeping so soundly, Meghan had forgotten all about her. She opened the sweater pocket and let Juliska see the Catawitch.

  “My, my.” The leader let out a breathy rush of air. “To be chosen as the master and companion of one of these is truly an honor.” Juliska gazed at Meghan with a fascination that left her filled with uncertainty.

  She wanted to ask, is it a good honor, or bad honor? But held her tongue. She’d come seeking help and Juliska had given it. Freely and willingly.

  “Um. Thank you, Juliska, I mean, Banon Blackwell,” Meghan bowed slightly hoping she had not offended.

  “I insist that you call me Juliska. I may not be able to force Hollee to do it, but frankly, it is nice to hear my real name once in a while.” She tossed her a bemused wink.

  The Pantin returned, almost like she’d been called, although Meghan heard no such call. Juliska bid her farewell and she was showed out of the fort. She hurried back into town, itching to get started writing in her journal.

  She stopped at the one open shop to get a pen. The man behind the counter showed Meghan his selection; she couldn’t get over the fact that she did not need to pay. He simply wished her a good day and sank behind a shelf.

  Colin found Uncle Eddy talking to Timothy in the old mill. After learning that Meghan had cut classes and not made contact with him, Uncle Eddy insisted that he send a leaf, once she had turned up. Just to let him know everything was okay.

  “We also found out that after the holidays we are moving on,” Colin informed him.

  “I assumed that would be the case,” said Uncle Eddy. “We still have some time though. Come whenever you can.” This did not cheer up Colin, but he pretended to be happier, and told Uncle Eddy about successfully moving the pillows in class.

  “I did it no problem. I couldn’t believe it was so easy.”

  “Good, good,” Eddy answered. “I had no doubts you would fit right in. And from what I’ve seen you accomplish so far, you shouldn’t have any problems with whatever they throw at you.”

  Colin nodded. He actually believed this too. It was a strange feeling to be so sure of it. But he felt more confident about his abilities than anything else.

  The rest of the hour his uncle helped him get a start on his homework, and they watched Timothy play. Colin, too soon, realized it was time to leave.

  “No Meghan yet?” Eddy asked, hopeful of some news before Colin’s departure.

  “No, still nothing. She is completely blocking me. I’ll send a leaf once she turns up.”

  Timothy followed most of the way back and left him near the wagons. When Colin arrived home he spied his sister sitting alone in the back near the fire pit, writing. He stormed through the house ignoring the Mochries, and yelled at her.

  “Thanks for not telling me where you were all day! I had no idea if you were all right or not.”

  “I’m obviously fine. Maybe I didn’t feel like having you in my brain all day,” she whispered angrily, hoping no one would overhear.

  “Fine. Whatever. I’ve got to send a leaf to Uncle Eddy and tell him you’re all right. He was worried, too.” Meghan could see that her brother had been anxious, but for some reason this made her even more furious, rather than sorry.

  “Don’t worry about me, okay? I went for a walk. I just… needed some air.”

  “You know, I don’t think you can play by your own rules in this place. You missed classes all day, and the teacher is expecting you to have some kind of letter of excuse for not being there. I think she is worried that you won’t have enough practice time to pass to the next level or…” he stopped.

  “Or what, Colin?” she barked.

  “Maybe you would enjoy being the only thirteen-year-old in the elementary class, when Jae and I both pass, and you don’t.” Although there was no guarantee any of them would pass.

  Daveena either, and she was thirteen too. And there was that other girl, Maria, who Colin thought was actually older than all of them. But he was just trying to make a point. One that went right through one of Meghan’s ears and out the other.

  She jumped out of her chair and promptly left the backyard, huffing her way to the bedroom, sliding the curtain closed as angrily as she could.

  Days passed without the twins speaking, and each time Colin tried, Meghan made herself busy writing in her journal. Whenever Meghan thought she might try, Colin was busy impressing some student, or the teacher, with his ever-fast-increasing magical abilities; something she was not improving on, and growing increasingly agitated by.

  The weekend arrived and they headed out to visit Uncle Eddy, not saying a word the entire way. When they arrived at the old mill, Uncle Eddy instantly noticed that something was wrong.

  “You might as well spill the beans,” he said. The twins ignored each other. This did not please their uncle. “Listen to me, carefully,” he said, gaining their attention. “If there is only one thing you remember from what I teach you, it better be this. I understand you have been through a lot these last few months,
but it is imperative that you stick together. You are both stuck here! You are both starting new lives. If you work out your problems, rather than ignoring each other, you’d at least be certain that you will always have each other.”

  Colin knew he was being foolish, but his sister had not been nice to be around lately.

  “That’s not true!” she objected, hearing the thought.

  “Oh, it’s okay to spy on my thoughts now, but I’m still not allowed in yours.”

  “If you were to try harder, you could block me out better!” she shouted.

  “Why would I want to block you all of the time? I don’t have anything to hide.”

  “And you’re saying I do?” She jumped up folding her arms tightly.

  “ENOUGH!” roared Uncle Eddy, stopping the twins in their tracks. It had sounded exactly like Uncle Arnon. “Did you not hear a word I said?” he scolded. The twins quieted.

  Meghan sat down, leaving her arms securely folded. “Uncle Eddy, you have no idea what it’s like to always have someone in your head, reading all your thoughts.”

  “It’s the same for me, too,” Colin said, trying to calm down. “Not so much lately. We’ve pretty much been blocking each other. All the time.”

  “I can’t imagine having someone with the ability to be in my head all the time,” said their uncle. “However, regardless of your needs for privacy you must work this out. And being in each other’s heads or not doesn’t really have to do with this problem. Your lives have been entwined since birth. No secrets between you. If you let your bonds fail, these next few years could be even harder to live through.”

  He gave them each a loving, but stern, gaze. He needed them to understand how important they were to each other. Not just today, but for the future.

  Meghan sighed. Right. No secrets. She kept her block in place but did let go of her anger. Why didn’t she want to share with Colin? She never really kept anything from him before. She was the Firemancer, not him. So why burden him with all the details? Some part of her relished the idea of keeping it all to herself. Having something that was totally just hers.

  Colin just didn’t feel like sharing because he was pissed at his sister. It wasn’t like her to be so distant and hide things from him. Maybe he missed that more than he expected. Or was it something else? Like what? Like I’m jealous? That’s nothing new. Meghan pretty much always gets what she wants, one way or another…

  The twins understood being angry with each other was stupid, and that Eddy was right, but were not yet ready to admit it to each other. They did do their best to get along the rest of the day.

  Eddy had them practice drawing energy and using it to perform spells. Very similar to what Colin had done in class with the pillows. Meghan made slow progress but was still far behind Colin; this irritated her tremendously, but she tried to not show it. Colin congratulated her when her spells did work, and she thanked him nicely, and by the end of the day they were at least speaking to each other.

  Another day with Uncle Eddy was ending though.

  Meghan fed her kitten, in disbelief over how fast she grew: the kitten could barely fit into her pocket already.

  Timothy arrived, happy to see the kitten looking healthy.

  “Have you given her a name yet? I’ve thought up a bunch if you need help,” and without waiting he began listing names. “There’s Waggles, Blackberry, although, she looks more like a fuzzy peach, and then there’s Athena, Bashful, Buttons, Cuddles. Another one I like is Jingles, and then Doodles.”

  “I think I’ve chosen one,” Meghan interrupted. “But thanks, Timothy.” She realized he could have continued for hours, easily. “I’ve decided to name her, Nona Jacoby. She will be an elegant full-grown cat someday. Therefore, she needs an elegant name.”

  “Nona it is then,” said her uncle, casting her a smile. He escorted them to the edge of the mill, making an obvious gesture to survey the area.

  “What are you looking for?” asked Colin.

  “Just being careful. I didn’t bring it up, but last time you were here, Colin, I thought I caught someone watching us.”

  The twins glanced around, hoping Eddy was wrong.

  Their thoughts strayed to the Three D’s and they cast each other wary stares.

  “I’m sure it was my imagination,” he shook it off. “Do be careful though, and remember what I have said today. No secrets. It will only lead to trouble. You can still keep your personal privacy up here,” he pointed to their heads, “without keeping secrets from each other.”

  They nodded. Although neither had willingly lifted the block yet. He dissolved and disappeared. Timothy floated alongside, entertaining the duo as they worked their way homeward. Their amusement ended abruptly.

  A hideous looking ghost flew out of nowhere in front of them. His clothes were tattered and burnt. His face held what they were sure was a permanent scowl, embellished with a few gash-like scars across his face.

  Timothy floated up high and away, taking cover behind a tree limb. “It’s Duppy, the mean one,” he shouted down at the twins.

  Meghan and Colin gasped when the ghost named Duppy snarled at them.

  “Give it to me, now!” he ordered them.

  Colin froze up at the sight of the confronting ghost. As usual, he was leaving it up to his sister to handle.

  Meghan lifted her chin and demanded, “Give you what?”

  “You know what.”

  “I really don’t,” Meghan argued.

  “Hand it over now. It will be so much easier for you.” Duppy flitted around them menacingly, looking for the object of his obsession. “My employer won’t be happy until it’s delivered.” He stopped in front of them, his ghostly eyes shooting silent warnings.

  Meghan stepped forward as if she meant to walk straight through the ghost, grabbing Colin to get him moving with her.

  “Honestly, unless you can be more precise, you’re wasting our time.”

  Duppy growled and shot right up to her face. His ghostly head flitted down to Colin.

  “The book. The Magicante,” he accursedly grunted. “I want it now!”

  Colin sucked in a breath and held it. Meghan’s eyes widened. How did this ghost know about the book? She dropped the block in her mind and sensed Colin had done the same.

  “Ghosts can’t use magic on us, right?” she sent him.

  “No. At least, that’s what Jae said when we first met Uncle Eddy.”

  “Better get Timothy outta here, then. This Duppy guy already has it out for him.” Meghan looked upward and shouted. “Timothy, go find Uncle Eddy. And tell him there’s a ghost who wants our book.”

  Timothy was gone instantly.

  Duppy floated away from their faces, backing up.

  “What? Afraid of our uncle?” egged Meghan. “Been waiting to get us alone, have you?”

  Duppy snarled. If possible, the scowl etched into his face turned nastier and deeper.

  “You wait long enough,” he warned, “and my employer might decide to handle matters differently.”

  Meghan swallowed hard. He might be a ghost that could not cause them any harm, but something in what he said pinged true. Somehow, someone had found out about the book, recognized it for what it was, and wanted it. Enough to hire a ghost to try to scare it out of them.

  Duppy surged forward, stabbing his icy silhouette straight through the twins, leaving the unpleasant sting of death seeping into their bones. Uncle Eddy appeared right behind them, facing Duppy. Timothy floated nervously overhead.

  The twins spun around just in time to see Duppy raise his palm, preparing to throw a spell at their uncle. Eddy was prepared with a fireball in his hand. He shouted for the twins to duck as he shot it and hit Duppy straight on. The hideous ghost exploded into a million tiny spectral bits. They pushed out and upward, raining down around the twins.

  Eddy raced forward. “Are you both all right?”

  “Yes,” they answered, though somewhat shakily.

  “And the book�
��” he whispered softly.

  “Fine,” answered Colin.

  Eddy nodded, relieved.

  “Wh-what did you do to him? Has he moved on?” asked Colin.

  “No. Going to take him some time to put himself back together though,” explained Eddy. “You can’t kill someone who’s already dead, and you can’t make them move on, either. Not until it’s their time.”

  Meghan let out a sigh. A foreboding prickle attached to her spine, unwilling to let go. Something told her they were in a lot more danger than their uncle was letting on.

  He continued to explain the spell he’d used.

  “It’s called Sphaera. It’s a spell you can use whether living or dead. But like any magic, if you’re living, it only works on the living.”

  “And if you’re dead, only on the dead,” finished Colin.

  “Right. Saying the word, Sphaera, will collect magical energy in the form of a powerful orb. In my case, ghostly energy, and this energy can then be thrown, subduing your opponent. It does some serious damage as you can see. In the world of the living, you would only want to use this spell in dire circumstances, as it might well kill whoever you’re aiming for.”

  “Spells that can kill…” Colin muttered, in awe of it. Of course, they existed. But to see one, to even think of using one on a living person. He shuddered at the thought, unable to imagine what predicament they’d have to be in where they’d deem this action necessary.

  Timothy floated down and joined them.

  “All right there, Tim?” asked Eddy.

  “Yeah. Okay here. Really really don’t like that Duppy.” His ghostly frame shuddered from head to toe.

  “We don’t blame you,” said Meghan. “He’s not a nice ghost at all. You be careful.” She worried for the small ghost’s safety. He didn’t know any magic, and yet for some reason was stuck in a magical afterlife ghost town.

  Colin sent her a thought. “Do you think Duppy is giving him a hard time because he’s been hanging out with us?”

  She only grunted a silent reply. It was exactly what she was thinking.

  Timothy smiled, suddenly not worried at all. “I’ll be fine.” He grinned wider just at the thought that someone was so concerned about him. “I may not know any magic, but I can fly super-fast. I’ve had twelve years to practice.” As if to prove his point, he flew upward in a tight twist and swirled around the treetops at incredible speeds.