“Bullies,” he mumbled, the memory of those times somehow funny. No, not funny he corrected himself. “They’re just much larger, more powerful bullies now.”
He shook his head trying to force these feelings aside as new ones erupted. Where was he? Was Catrina okay? He'd thought he had heard her laughing but had that been real?
Feeling awake and ready to face whatever was outside of this room, he spun around, locating the door. He stepped carefully, stopping to peer through cracks in the door, but all he could see were streams of light pouring down a staircase from the deck above.
The door opened with ease. He took this as a good sign, for if he was being held prisoner, surely it would have been locked. He took each step cautiously, worried he might be heard approaching, but every creak his footsteps made was drowned out by heavier groans of the boat’s movements through the water.
Near the top, he stopped to let his eyes adjust to the light. It was not overly bright, being that the boat was surrounded by swirling mists, but it was still much brighter than the room he had been sleeping in. As he reached the top and stepped onto the deck, a welcoming voice called out.
“Colin! You’re awake!”
“Catrina,” he called out, seeing her sitting across the table from an elderly looking man. She smiled widely and motioned for him to join them. He did so, finding the chairs on the deck heavy and cumbersome to move. As he sat next to her, he asked, “You okay?”
She nodded yes and squeezed his hand in reply. He breathed a little more easily.
Colin eyed the man. “Jasper Thorndike?” he addressed, confirming that this was indeed the man sitting across from him. The same man who had sold him the Magicante, back in Cobbscott, Maine, during the Blue Moon Festival before Colin had even known anything about magic.
Jasper replied in a gravelly voice. “In the flesh, Mr. Jacoby.”
Before Colin could ask more, Catrina blurted out, “Isn’t this boat magnificent?”
Colin shrugged, still a bit hazy, in body, mind, and spirit.
The boat was larger than he expected, and from what he could see, completely built of wood. Mostly, as he gazed around, it looked like they were floating downriver in a garden, as somehow, a good portion of the boat deck could not be seen underneath the layers of vegetables, flowers, and even smallish trees sprawled all over it.
Colin noted peaches, apples, and pears all ripe and ready to eat. He saw tomatoes of deep red, yellow, and green, dangling from vines near the edge of the boat; sunflowers mixed in with corn stalks, green beans with peppers; spots here and there plotted with bulky heads of lettuce. It was a regular salad bar just waiting for picking and eating.
Colin did not see them, but he also caught the distinct sound of clucking chickens. Even hazy, he had to agree. The boat was a magnificent, self-sufficient living space. The food made his stomach rumble. Catrina and Jasper seemed to know he would be as she was already grabbing a plate and loading it with prepared food.
Jasper said, “We’ll have ourselves a talk soon enough, but first, eat up, Mr. Jacoby.”
Colin did not argue and gladly accepted the plate Catrina scooped up for him, which included biscuits topped with eggs, smothered in savory smelling gravy. Sided with freshly picked and sliced tomatoes.
“Thanks,” he said, wolfing down his first bite. “Feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”
He missed the fleeting glance between Catrina and Jasper.
The sounds of his chewing were drowned out by the creaking of the boat. Now that he’d had a better look, it was more like a barge. Birds chirped on shore. Insects buzzed overhead, but not once did a single one bother him while eating. There was a splash in the water like something jumped. He peered over the edge... was that an alligator?
He set down his fork, having had enough for now. It was time for talking and getting questions answered. Starting with, “Where are we? How long was I asleep?”
Jasper cleared away the dishes and let Catrina start catch up time.
“Well,” she began apprehensively.
“Well?” he prodded when she didn’t continue.
“It’s been nearly a month.”
“Wh-what? You’re joking, right?”
“No. Sorry. It’s really been that long.”
“Why are you apologizing? Didn’t you just wake up too?”
“No,” she answered him. Her gaze lifted to Jasper in a silent request for him to explain the rest.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Colin asked them both. “Have we been on the boat this whole time?”
“Yes.” Jasper took over. And returned to his seat at the table. “I’m afraid it was my doing. A necessary doing.”
“I am so confused,” Colin spouted.
“We’ll get you up to speed soon. I will explain why. However, as to where you are, I believe you call this the Bayou.”
“Like in Louisiana?” asked Colin.
Jasper nodded.
“Huh,” said Colin, plunking back in his chair. How surreal. After visiting other worlds and not believing he might ever get home again, he was suddenly back in his own. He felt excitingly close, and yet frustratingly far away.
Catrina cleared her throat and Colin turned his attention to her.
“Colin, I think it’s time for you to be officially introduced.” She spoke with pronounced clarity, “This is Jasper Thorndike, and he is the Last. Living. Projector.”
Colin felt like he’d just fallen through the boat and was sinking into the river.
“I- I thought you were all dead?”
“They missed one,” Jasper explained.
So there was a Projector still alive, and it was the man who’d first given him the Magicante.
Catrina continued, although more timidly. “I guess he’s not the last living Projector anymore.”
There it is, Colin’s thoughts shouted. Confirmation of the terrible truth. Catrina really is the Projector. This had to be why Jasper had helped them escape. But… he seemed pretty normal. Not wild, insane, or with uncontrolled power going all haywire.
Was there some hope? Some possibility Jasper might be able to help Catrina? Before it was too late or they were hunted down, or… he caught Jasper and Catrina sharing a silent look he wasn’t sure the meaning behind. They’d had a month to talk it all over, they must have already discussed a lot of this.
“You should know, Mr. Jacoby,” Jasper said next, “that Projectors were not always hunted and feared. Quite the contrary, actually. In the old days we were once revered and highly sought after magicians. I’m sure you’re familiar with the old adage, one bad egg…”
Catrina explained further, albeit still apprehensively. “A few Projectors went bad and the rest had to pay the price. But there is hope because Jasper has spent his entire life controlling his powers, and he's been around for a really long time.” Her voice held more confidence as she finished.
Colin’s face lightened, feeling hope for the first time in what seemed like forever. “What can I do?” he asked her. “There must be some way I can help?”
Catrina returned his question with a puzzled look.
“Unless I’m not allowed to help,” Colin backtracked, less confidently.
“Mr. Jacoby,” said Jasper, taking a deep breath. “You seem to have the wrong impression. Catrina here, she is special indeed. A rare gift that needs protection, no doubt. But she is not a Projector.”
“What? What do you mean?” asked Colin, furious at once. “Juliska Blackwell locked her inside a glass coffin deep in a cave surrounded by goblins! So she would never be found! Why would she do that?”
Catrina took hold of his hand again, to calm him. Although confused, he tried to focus on the comforting fact that she was not a Projector. Regardless of why Juliska had hidden her away, Catrina was safe and with him, and more importantly not a Projector. Not evil.
“Colin, Juliska locked me away because I’m a Song Spinner,” she continued to explain. Colin just shrugged, having no idea
what a Song Spinner was.
“When I hear music, like the songs played by the Svoda around their campfires, I hear the true stories behind those songs; stories long forgotten by nearly everyone, and stories that some do not want remembered.” It was a simplified explanation about her ability, but it would have to do as they didn’t really need to be talking about her gift.
“You mean like Juliska Blackwell,” Colin confirmed. After a second, he blurted out, “So the message you had for Ivan, that was a song,” he remembered. “His mother left him a song. Did she know you were a Song Spinner? You were just a baby, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was. I can only guess that somehow she knew what I was and that someday, I would need to deliver that message to her son. I honestly wish I could have told Ivan more. That boy is clearly tortured by the loss of his mother.”
“Rightfully so, I’m sure,” spoke Jasper. “I don’t know as us boys ever get over the loss of our mothers. Even those of us who live much longer than the average man.”
Catrina acknowledged that statement with a sad smile, while Colin let out an exasperated breath.
“I never knew my mother, but all this magic stuff… it just gets stranger and stranger.” A look of awe washed across his face, followed again by confusion as he caught Jasper and Catrina eyeing each other as if having another silent conversation.
He did not like the feeling. I suppose this is what Sebastien felt like all those times he caught Meg... he stopped himself, not wishing to think about his sister. Bad idea.
Jasper cleared his throat, regaining Colin's attention.
“Mr. Jacoby,” he breathed out heavily. “I must tell you that while Catrina is indeed a rare find, you, my young sir, are even more so.”
“What do you mean?”
Jasper cast his gaze meaningfully from Colin, to Catrina, and back to Colin.
Colin puckered his mouth and pinched his eyes, trying to understand what point Jasper was trying to make. Things started to formulate in his mind. Piece together…
Catrina is not the Projector.
I am rarer than she is.
He opened his mouth to speak, his face going limp and blank as understanding spread through him like a thorn piercing its way through his blood.
Catrina is not the Projector.
I am rarer than she is.
Colin bounded out of his chair like he’d just been sitting in lava, scrambling to steady himself. He had been so focused on Catrina he had missed the truth completely.
“It’s me,” he stammered. “It’s me.”
Catrina joined him, but decided to keep her distance as the look in his eye frightened her a little.
“It’s been me all this time. I’m the Projector everyone’s trying to hunt down, and kill. I am dangerous. Not you.”
“But you saved me,” she reminded. “I would still be sleeping away my life in Eidolon’s cave if you had not heard my cries for help. Cries only someone with your powers could have heard.”
He stepped back from her, suddenly afraid to touch her.
“Will I hurt people?” By people, he meant Catrina. At least this minute. He shot a glance at Jasper and back to Catrina. “When I thought it was you, I didn’t care. I just wanted to help even if that meant I might get hurt. But I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
Catrina sighed. “Shouldn't that be my choice, Colin, like it was for you?”
He just stared, no idea what to say to that.
“There are many things to consider,” addressed Jasper.
Colin jerked his head in Jasper’s direction, his eyes wide, heart, pounding like a hammer.
“First, this is why I brought you here, to this boat,” the man explained. “This vessel is cloaked from the outside world, untraceable. Second, the reason you were asleep for such a long time is because I needed to examine you. Your mind that is. I will explain more about this later, suffice it to say it was necessary. And you were perfectly safe, just in a stasis of sorts.”
“Not so unlike the one I was in,” explained Catrina.
Jasper nodded. “Lastly, Colin, you are just over a year from your sixteenth birthday.”
A day normally to be celebrated. Somehow Colin did not think that was the point here.
“You have until that time to get your powers under control. The closer you get to your birthday, the more uncontrollable your powers will become.”
“And if I fail?” Colin asked in desperation.
“There is no reason to think you will fail. However, I will not spare you from the truth. If you cannot, or do not succeed, you will force my hand, Colin Jacoby.” Jasper's stare warned of severe and succinct consequences. “You must learn control. If you do not, you will not be let loose upon any world.”
Colin sucked in a breath, the frightening reality breathing up all the oxygen.
The boat was his prison after all.
A prison he might never leave alive.
CHAPTER 5
“Jae missed school today,” Meghan made note as she jotted down the words into her journal. She sat in the school library, which was closing soon. It was currently empty of students. “If Colin could see me now,” she mumbled sarcastically. She had spent the previous days, after school, in the library researching Svoda history, mainly regarding Juliska Blackwell, but had found nothing useful in regards to whether the Gypsy Queen had ever had any children.
She did learn that Juliska Blackwell was not born on the Svoda Island. Similar to her and Colin, Juliska came to the Svoda when she was a young girl of twelve and had been placed into a foster family with the name of Cobb. Suddenly, she was the middle child of five, two younger siblings than herself and two older. Juliska had been found living a desolate life with no memory of her family or where she had come from. At the age of sixteen, she had officially been made an apprentice of another seer, named PanSofia, the Watermancer Juliska had spoken of previously, who was now deceased.
“Cobb?” questioned Meghan thoughtfully. “Where do I remember that name from?” It took her a moment to find the memory. “Amelia Cobb, leader of the banished Svoda.” Meghan wondered if Amelia had once been in Juliska’s foster family. She made a note about it in her journal, planning to research more about it.
The similarities between Meghan and Juliska’s stories were interesting. Their lives following almost matching paths in some ways. Both found by the Svoda, both put into a foster family, and eventually, both becoming apprentices to the current seer. The main difference being Juliska was also the Queen.
Perhaps it is why Juliska had taken such an instant liking to her. Too bad she hadn’t done the same for Colin. It was strange, almost like Juliska did not like him from day one. Which along with a thousand other things, made little sense. But the disdain had been mutual, Colin never liking or trusting Juliska, either.
“Sorry Deary,” a woman called out softly, interrupting her train of thought. “Closing up for the night.”
“Oh, yeah. Sure, of course,” said Meghan. “I’ll just put these away and be on my way.”
“Closing us down nearly every day. Good to see a student with such drive.”
Meghan just smiled weakly and returned her books to the shelf. She collected her belongings and left the library, deep in contemplation during her walk home.
Leaves were full color on the maples and birches that dotted the island, in between the large blotches of lush green pine. Hints of chill made her shiver. She was not looking forward to a long, cold winter on this island.
“Meghan! Hold up!” She gasped, the shout from behind catching her off guard. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Seriously, Ivan? You’re sneaking up on me now?”
“Honestly, not on purpose.” He sounded genuinely apologetic.
“I’m extra jumpy lately.” She blew it off.
He nodded, indicating being jumpy was somehow perfectly expected, and sadly, acceptable.
“Listen,” he pulled her off to the side of t
he road so they were out of sight of any prying eyes. “You will probably run into him at some point, but you should know, Bird is here on the island.”
“Really?” Somehow, this knowledge relieved some of her anxiety. “I’ve been wondering what became of him.”
“Yes, well, he’s here, but that’s not all.” Ivan lowered his voice. “He’s stuck here. Like all of us, because of the tight security. He cannot get off the island without getting caught.”
“What can we do?” Meghan asked him worriedly.
“Not much, I'm afraid,” he replied matter-of-factly. “Just keep an eye out for him. We’re his only protection here.”
Meghan eyed Ivan suspiciously. “Why is it you care all of a sudden?” She got no answer because like he’d been wished to the scene, Bird suddenly swooshed onto a nearby tree limb. He nodded toward Meghan and Ivan.
“I’m sorry you're stuck here,” mouthed Meghan.
“The Balaton will be searching for anything out of the ordinary. Now that we are back on the island, our old magical tracking system is back up and running.”
“The one built by Corny before he went mad?”
“The very same. They say it’s the best. Which means they can track any magic used, anywhere on this island. Although, I'm not sure if he were to transform if that would raise any alarms. But I am going to look into it.”
“Well, I’ll leave my window cracked open,” said Meghan. “If you ever need to crash, eat, or whatever...” she wasn’t sure what Bird would need. But he nodded his beak in thanks, and flew away into the woods.
“It is nearly curfew,” reminded Ivan stiffly.
“Right. Yeah, guess I’d better get going.”
To her surprise and annoyance, Ivan walked alongside her.
“So, how’s your search coming? For your mother’s treasure?” she asked him, seeing as he wasn’t going to leave her alone. Ivan let out an exasperated breath. “That good?” she quipped.
“Honestly, I was hoping once we were here on the island, I would find something. Anything. Some clue as to what she meant by a treasure close to my heart. I went through all our old belongings… the Mochries put all my family’s old things into storage, in case I wanted them later. But I found nothing.”
Divided (Bloodlines, The Immortal, and The Dagger of Bone) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 5) Page 4