“I just need to be able to look you in the eye, and honestly say I did everything I could to make up for it. And to be able to apologize, even if you can never fully forgive me. I know I can’t ever forgive myself.”
“You’ve been my friend for a long time. I really missed you. I think that’s the part I’m struggling with. Not all the lies and secrets, or Amelia Cobb, or all the stuff you did or didn’t do. It’s that one thing. You were supposed to be my best friend. And I was scared. A lot.” That was one of the hardest things she’d ever admitted. “Colin and I were suddenly stripped out of one life and thrown into another. Cut off from that old life. We had no idea if Uncle Arnon was alive. But you did know. And you had contact with both worlds. We believed we were stuck.”
Sebastien started to speak but she cut him off, needing a minute to finish. Now that she’d started, she found he had plenty to say.
“I know in the end it probably doesn’t matter. Magic was going to find us, and mess up our lives. I know you were bound by your side of the crazy. It just hurts. To know how close you were, all that time.”
“If Amelia had caught on that I was unsure about my job, she would have called me back, and I would not have been allowed to watch over you at all. I chose the lesser of the evils. Although, I’d maybe rethink all of it, if it brought us back to this moment and you were not mad at me. Because I really missed you too.”
“I’m not mad. And the truth is, if it wasn’t for you, we’d probably not be sitting here right now at all. Because you saved my butt too many times to count. So many times I thought for sure I was probably just doomed to die.”
“Except you can’t.”
“Yeah. And there’s that little problem.”
“Why is that a problem? You can’t die. That’s a good thing from where I sit.”
“But you can. You will. Some day. Hopefully very, very far into the future.”
“That would be preferred.” But he saw her point, loud and clear. Just another roadblock to muddle through, in his mind. But something much larger, in hers.
“For what it’s worth, Sebastien, I want to put it all behind me. I don’t know what my, or yours, or anyone’s future’s hold. Which seems silly being that I’m a seer and shouldn’t I be able to know some of those things?”
“I am sorry, Meghan. It doesn’t make up for it. And it’s hard to put the past behind when it keeps rearing its ugly head.”
“Yeah.” An awkward silence came over them. The tension suddenly quite thick. Exhaustion weighing them down. Sebastien pushed himself back against the wall behind the bed.
“Come here.” It was a gentle order. Which Meghan obeyed, seeing as it was what she wanted but had been too chicken to ask. And was partially disappointed in herself because she’d never wanted, no needed, this before. She tucked herself into him, and he wrapped his arms around her like he was holding her together, since she struggled to do that herself.
Getting older sucked, she decided.
She might be sixteen, but she might as well have been going on sixty.
CHAPTER 8
There was a knock at the door. Then another, a little louder and with more impatience.
Arnon and Kanda passed a knowing glance between them, they’d expected this to happen. They set aside their coffees, which were doing nothing to help their morning get going anyway, there was only so much caffeine could do with being overly tired. Arnon clamored to his feet as the third knock hit the door with even impatience.
“Morning, Nashua.” The Tunkapog leader nodded curtly at Arnon and invited himself in. He did, greeted his sister, but refused to sit. And he was not alone. Billie was with him, along with Curtis Bevins, the temporary leader who took the place of Amelia Cobb after her demise.
“We know why you are here,” Kanda spoke softly. “Unfortunately, you can’t speak with her.” She meant Meghan.
“Why not? We’ve had enough waiting. We’ve given her time, as requested. We will,” Nashua was cut off by Arnon.
“Meghan is gone.”
“What? Where did she go?” asked Billie.
“Couldn’t tell ya,” answered Arnon rather gloomily. They saw it in his demeanor, not to bother pressing to see if he was lying. It was clear he was not, and was worried.
“Look, we all want to know what the three immortals are up to,” said Curtis. He shook his head. “But maybe we are not meant to, no matter how much we wish to.”
“I just want to get to the Svoda island,” muttered Billie, sounding defeated. “And if we can help Meghan, or Colin, in some way, then I would do that too.”
Nashua’s harsh quiet indicated he was a lot more miffed about not knowing where Meghan had gone off too, or what her plans were. And truth be told, he wasn’t the only one worried about their youth, or lack of experience in battles. Or magic in general, really. Fated, or not, Nashua was not going to go easy on the youngsters. Although he was a leader and had a lot of people to watch over, a lot of futures, to preserve.
“We should all be working together,” he stated.
“As long as by together, we all want what you want,” Curtis retorted.
Billie rolled her eyes. “And here we go again, more rounds of chasin’ or own dang tails!”
Another figure appeared in the door, timidly so.
“Maria,” welcomed Kanda. “Please, come in.” It was getting a little crowded.
Nashua confronted her before she made it three steps. “I am assuming Ivan Crane has followed his sister.” His statement also demanded her to tell them, where to, at once.
“He did go with her, yes. I’m sorry, I don’t know where. Or for how long,” she sighed out worriedly. “Only that I promised to be waiting here for him whenever he did return.”
“Ivan really didn’t tell you,” Billie questioned.
“No. And I did not ask him to. I don’t need to, because I trust him. And I trust him to come home to me as soon as he is able.” Her silent statement, you will all just have to do the same.
“And regardless of what they are doing, there is a war coming,” Kanda reminded. “One we will all be part of in some way.”
Billie scoffed. “A ragtag team of fighters against Jurekai Fazendiin and Juliska Blackwell, and who knows what else they’ve got planned.”
Nashua took offense at that. “We do not like war, but we are well trained for it, just the same.”
“There’s not that many of you. And the rest of us; potions belts slung over our shoulders do not soldiers create.”
Billie had a point there. Their training was basic, at best. They were brave, and ready, but that didn’t stand up to real trained warriors like the Stripers. Or Fazendiin. Or the Scratchers.
They had to hope the prophecy was right when it said balance would be restored. And prayed it was for the side of good.
CHAPTER 9
Freyne Rothrock’s home was not what Colin and Catrina expected.
They had found the place easily enough. And supposed, it was actually quite perfect for someone who wanted to live a solitary life; a no longer in use lighthouse off the coast of Maine that was not near anything. It sat on a not so big island that was mostly rocks and shoreline. No trees to break the bitter winter winds of the Atlantic.
However, inside, it was surprisingly comfortable and warm, especially once Colin magicked them a fire and got the temperature up. They hadn’t explored far and the space wasn’t all that expansive.
In a way, it was all too easy. They found the lighthouse, and then Jasper’s book, just sitting on an old scratched up wooden table. Like it was no big thing. Like it hadn’t been a part of a person at one point in time. And disappointingly, Jasper’s Magicante did not speak. Not like Colin’s first one had. He’d take a cranky Jasper over none, any day. There was a part of him that was hoping to hear his mentor’s voice again. It would almost be like having him there, even in some small way.
But at least they had the book in their possession.
No one else coul
d use it.
Catrina glanced at an urn not far away. It seemed an odd thing for the Grosvenor to have around. Her eyes opened wide and her mouth fell open.
“What?”
“I can’t be sure, but,” she pointed, not really wanting to say it aloud.
Colin moaned and checked it out. Let his magic investigate what was in the urn.
Sure enough, it was the bone dust of a Projector. What was left of Jasper Thorndike. Had to be. Freyne had not used all of it in creating the cage he’d kept Catrina a prisoner in.
And that stuff was poisonous to Colin. He used magic to wrap the urn securely, until they figured out what to do with it. Sickeningly, he wondered whether they shouldn’t keep it around just in case he went mad with power. Catrina would have some way of stopping him. Or imprisoning him.
They left it on the table next to the book. Both now belonged to them. They returned to the fireplace and snuggled up on the floor close by. Colin magicked them some breakfast.
“At least my magic keeps us from having to carry around a lot of luggage.”
Catrina slurped up some soup and tried not to smile and spill it. “Handy,” she agreed.
“What do you think about staying here for a few days?” he asked, drinking down a sip of his own.
“Do you think it’s safe? It’s certainly remote enough. Not going to run into any people here.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Freyne had to camp out here for a reason. He wasn’t exactly a social person.”
“No. He was not. And the other Grosvenor are gone. I can’t imagine many knew where he lived. Or that anyone would be searching for him now that he’s dead.”
“But there is Fazendiin. I’m sure he knows about this place. I suppose it’s safe as anywhere, I guess.”
Catrina shuddered. “Still, there’s something creepy about staying where a maniac lived.” Cold winds ravaged against the lighthouse outside, making it feel cold even though inside, it was not.
“It’s remote, which is good for us. It’s cut off from the outside world. A little more so than we’ve done before.” It left them both feeling a little safer, and yet, somehow, overwhelmingly alone.
“It’s probably just knowing who lived here. At least in Boston, I could look out a window and see life going on out there. Even if we were not allowed to take part in it. Here, it’s a bit like we’re on the edge of the world.”
“It could definitely use some cheering up. I think we can do better than this.”
“Are you sure? I’m all for some cheer. But I don’t want you to stretch yourself for unnecessary reasons.”
“I’m feeling good. I can handle this one.” Colin closed his eyes, picturing the lighthouse and what it must have looked like when it was first built, and lived in. Catrina gasped, and he smiled, opening his eyes to what he’d created. “Much homier now.” The old wood made fresh and new again. There were rugs, comfy furniture, and although still a bit dark, there was a new brightness that did lighten her feeling of aloneness. And gloom.
“How long do you think we can safely stay here?” she asked him.
“I was wondering about that myself. I’m guessing no more than a few days in any one place, no matter how remote or safe it might appear. Better to keep on the move.”
“Any ideas for where our next move will be?”
“Actually, yes. But I’m also not sure it’s safe.” She waited for him to explain. “I was thinking of going to the orphanage where I was found as a baby.”
“You think they might have some information about your parents? Wait, didn’t it burn down?”
“Yes, which is why it’s probably a waste of time. But, I can’t explain it, I just… want to go there.” He shook his head like he did not understand why.
“It’s where your mother left you, and where your new life started. It’s where you ended up gaining a sister. It connects you to your past.”
“I guess you’re not the only one feeling a bit disconnected from your family.”
“Your disconnect is a little larger though. I think it’s worth a visit. We can stay cloaked. We will be careful. You never know, you might find out something. It’s a place to start at least. It does make sense to go there.” Catrina grabbed his hand. He pulled her in closer.
“Okay. We’ll go. But not today. You need to get some rest. It’s quiet here.” He was getting worried that she was not sleeping well, and holding back how badly she was worried about her family. And though this place felt remote and safe, he was not certain at all. But other than checking out the orphanage, he honestly didn’t know where else to go. He was suspecting from here on out, it would have to be places he’d never been. Places that had nothing at all to do with the world of magic.
Colin pulled a blanket up around them, snuggling Catrina into it. He stared down at her as she nestled in. Whatever he did, he’d not do anything to put her in danger. She was in enough, just being with him.
“Try to sleep, too, Colin,” she mumbled through a yawn. “Your sighs are getting pretty loud.”
He chuckled. Earlier, that had been her, and how he’d awakened.
“You know what, this floor isn’t comfortable enough.” Catrina needed more than a hard cement floor with a rug on it, or him to lean on. He stared at the sofa, deciding they had no use for that, and voila, it was gone, replaced by a bed. It took up a lot of space, but it didn’t matter. Colin helped Catrina slip under the covers. He sat on the edge, pleased with himself. This wasn’t a bad bit of magic. And he felt no ill effects from doing it. He darkened the windows, blocking the gray outside from coming in. It was strange to go to bed after breakfast, but they’d not been in one place long enough to rest properly, in a long time. Boston was as close as they’d gotten and Catrina hadn’t slept there much at all.
“Colin.”
“Yeah.” He twisted to see her.
“Come to bed. Try to sleep.”
“In the same bed, with you,” he stammered out.
She laughed, shyly. “What’s the difference if we snuggle up together on a hard cement floor, or in a comfortable bed?”
To him, there was a lot of difference. He supposed in the end, it was the same, but…
“Don’t think. Just rest. Come here,” she ordered him. She pulled the covers back and made him climb in. They’d never done this before and for reasons he could not put into words, it scared him to death.
He slid underneath the covers and she pulled them up over them both.
“Shh,” she whispered. She leaned in and kissed him gently. “See. The same. Nothing to be afraid of.”
“If you were in my mind right now, you might not think that.”
“Is it too much for you?” Concern crept in her sleepy gaze.
“No,” he told her hastily. “No.” Suddenly, he wouldn’t get out of this bed unless it was life or death. Catrina rolled over and snuggled into him, and that was possibly the best thing, ever. Life could stop and get stuck right here and he’d be forever happy. He stroked her hair and listened as her breaths calmed. He leaned in and smelled her silver hair, branding that into his memory.
Sleep wasn’t going to happen though. He’d slept well the night before, she had not. And didn’t care if it was still morning. They were not living by anyone else’s rules, only theirs.
He pulled himself up and propped up on a pillow and she moved so her head was on his stomach. That was perfect. She could sleep. He’d think. He tucked her in and wrapped his arm around her.
She was right there, next to him. She was safe. And the next minute later he was so at peace with it all his head leaned back against the wall, and he fell asleep.
CHAPTER 10
Juliska Blackwell spun around at the sound of her host finally arriving to greet her.
“Ah, fiery, as always,” Fazendiin chuckled darkly. She resembled an engine ready to blow flames out of her ears. This would be a needed reminder of who was in charge, he decided.
“I have revenge to attend to,�
� she reminded coldly. “And we had a deal.” Her words were poignant and telling.
“I am regretful of what happened. My son can be decisive, when needed.” And he did not see that as a fault, or problem.
“He couldn’t just take her prisoner? Hand her over to me? You promised me Amelia Cobb.”
“There was nothing I could do. Her death was warranted at the time.”
“It was supposed to be by my hands. Mine.”
“Amelia, is not why you are here, Juliska.”
She straightened herself, the cold stare remaining. “Why am I here?”
“Because I’ve had to adjust some plans. And you know I do not communicate other than in person. And it’s been a long time. We need to catch up.” The Grosvenor’s gaze penetrated hers, and he saw it, the smallest of flinches no other person would catch. She had the seed of doubt swimming around, trying to grow roots. This could not happen. He hoped Tanzea was out taking care of their Colin and Catrina problem, because he was too close to the end now, to lose this vital tool he had at his disposal, in Juliska.
“I cannot hand you Amelia. And for that, I am truly sorry. You’ve already suffered more than one woman should. However, I can give you, something.”
She waited for him to explain.
“I can give you the Banished. Arnon Jacoby. I can give you Kanda Macawi. Nashua. The Tunkapog.” There was an eager gleam in her eye.
“Why now? Why not sooner?”
“Because now, I need their magic. Everything in its time and place.”
“What’s with all the broken glass?” she changed the subject. She’d seen old Basil the caretaker out in the hall cleaning it up. He wasn’t looking so good. Nearing his death, she imagined, but somehow still raring to go even if his body had other intentions.
“My teenage son, happened. Even I, as it seems, cannot predict, everything. But it’s of no matter.”
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