“The oddest thing just happened,” Colin started, deciding to tell Jasper about Colby and KarNavan. Although he did not want to freak out Catrina.
A voice echoed over them, from the highest point of the deck.
“That depends on whose point of view you’re looking from.”
The trio spun around their eyes pinning on Colby, his catawitch, Elisha, and KarNavan plus a few of his treasure hunting gang who were poised and ready to attack.
Jasper chuckled. “You were tracked.” He didn’t sound overly concerned.
“I'm sorry,” Colin said. “This is all my fault.”
Jasper waved it off. “Just stay with Catrina.” His meaning, let him handle this.
Colin used himself as a barricade between their invaders and Catrina, instantly wondering whether he might be more harmful to her than Colby if he lost control again. Jasper did not act concerned, but he did not like the way in which Colby was ogling the two young people currently in his charge. He waved his hand and the magical cloak he’d nearly reformed, went up around Catrina and Colin.
They had no idea, but a second later Colby was demanding, “Where did they go? What did you do to them?”
KarNavan and his gang of treasure hunters searched the boat to no avail.
“You won’t find them,” Jasper advised. “Not unless I want you to.”
A blink of time later, Colin and Catrina gasped, finding themselves off the boat and standing on the riverbank.
“Jasper put the cloak around us,” Colin snapped out. “This is completely my fault and now we can't even help.”
“You got in and out before, do it again.” Catrina nodded in encouragement toward the boat.
“Um…” Colin stalled. “I was really, really angry. Like years worth of buildup angry. Even if I could copy that anger, I’m not sure how I did it before.” And now he was panicked, which never worked in his favor when it came to magic.
“Try,” she said calmly. “We have to try.” They trekked along the mossy shore, following the boat as it lazily floated down the river. Which for two people of shorter stature was still a quicker pace than they expected.
Back on board, Colby was making a snide remark toward Jasper. “It’s you we came for today, anyway.”
Jasper raised an eyebrow. “I'm not going to make it easy for you.” With his next breath, the weapons carried in the Striper's hands dissolved to sand, seeping through their poised-to-fight fingers to the deck floor. They looked at each other as though to ask, “What do we do now?”
“I do not want to kill you,” addressed Jasper. “But if you force my hand I will not hesitate.”
“That's why I brought a little leverage,” announced Colby.
A face Colin recognized suddenly appeared on the boat deck.
“Meghan,” he muttered. “They couldn't have.” Yes, they could have. Colby had tracked them before. Many emotions flitted through his mind like a moving picture of memories and fears and… one simple truth. He loved his sister no matter what she’d done and refused to let her die. That admission settled the matter. Forgiving her might not be so easy, or possible today, but she did not deserve to die. Only one problem, he was still stuck inside the magical cloak.
“Colin?” Catrina questioned apprehensively.
“I’m okay.” He nodded, confirming his words. “I’m good. I’m going to figure some way onto that boat.”
“Let’s not forget that Jasper is also quite capable.” She wanted back on the boat too, but didn’t want Colin to lose it again, trying.
KarNavan shoved Meghan in front of them. She was bound and gagged.
Jasper willed Meghan to his side and pushed her behind him for safety, using his own body as a shield.
“You were saying something about leverage. You really should have put a little more thought into this plan.” He’d not attempt to put Meghan into the magical cloak with Colin and Catrina. That would make the two of them vulnerable and tempt Colin into action he was not prepared for. He’d saved the young man’s sister, so this would all be over soon enough. He willed Meghan’s bonds undone so she was able to fend for herself.
Colin shook his head. Something wasn’t right. Meghan was their prisoner in exchange for what? Colby claimed they’d come for Jasper. Not him. It was his fault they’d been tracked. If they’d come for Jasper, why take Meghan prisoner? It wasn’t entirely logical… unless...
“It’s a trap,” he gasped out.
“What?” Catrina’s word had barely been spoken when the trap was sprung, the action swift and succinct.
Jasper choked and staggered. His stunned gaze sliding downward to the red mess seeping through the front of his shirt.
This could not be. Meghan may not be perfect, but she was no killer.
Where Colby had been, suddenly was someone else. Another Striper.
And where Meghan had just been willed to behind Jasper, now stood Colby.
Jasper fell forward but managed to stay on his knees. A long white blade stuck out of his back, blood pooling around the wound.
This was magic like Colin had never seen before. They’d shifted into other people. Tricked Jasper into thinking he was saving someone and then…
“We have to get over there.” But try as he might he could not will them out of the magical cloak.
Colby kneeled down, gaze pinned to the white dagger, waiting for something. There was a tremor in his hand which he fisted, determined to finish this.
KarNavan grinned, wickedly. The kid might have killed, but he was no killer. Not at heart. Only for the approval of his father did the kid do anything.
Colby sucked in and out, evenly, watching at the handle of the dagger turned from white to a simmering hot red. At that moment, he yanked it out of Jasper’s back. The Projector slumped forward, hands on the boat deck. Colby drifted his gaze to KarNavan, whose smug smirk claimed, coward.
Colby glared and leaned down to Jasper. “You were saying something about planning… thank you for this gift. My father will be pleased.”
“I'm not healing, why aren't I healing?” mumbled Jasper in confusion.
Colby held up the knife and allowed Jasper to see it. “I have all your powers stored right here in this dagger. All that’s left of you is a dying old man.”
And if they needed some final proof of this statement, the magical cloak surrounding Colin and Catrina started to fizzle and weaken.
Jasper eyed Colby, unflinchingly, the understanding of what had happened, clear. He’d been outsmarted. After all these long years, a simple trick that played to basic human nature. His, not Colby’s.
They eyed each other, hard, for a few seconds that might as well have been a trip around the world. Neither blinked nor moved.
Colby, determined not to show fear. Especially in front of KarNavan.
Jasper, searching for something. And he caught it, a fleeting glimpse that brought a tight grin to his face.
“Why are you smiling?” Colby drilled at him.
“You’re a smart boy, I’ll give ya that. Trained well. Don’t like to fail. But it’s there.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Remorse. It’s deep, but there.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Poor disillusioned boy,” babbled Jasper, growing weaker. “A pawn in a game gone on for so long… you’re just another move. Another play on the board.”
Colby stared fiercely, no clue what the older man was talking about.
He had a job to finish. Orders to obey. There was no going home without the prize his father asked for. Which was in his hand so it was time to go.
Colin shouted from the shore. He hadn’t been able to magic himself and Catrina back onto the boat yet. Why was it his magic always worked at the wrong time? The cloak was weakening; he’d be able to push through soon. He prayed, soon enough. And then with a final crackle, it was gone and they reappeared on the shore, no longer hidden.
Colby raised his palm to battle it out but rem
embered his father didn’t want the young projector harmed. Yet. “Let’s go!” His body dematerialized, followed by Elisha, KarNavan and his hunters.
“Look,” pointed Catrina. There was a spot on the bank coming up that would be close enough for them to jump back onto the boat if they reached it in time.
Colin didn’t budge, his eyes wide and fixed on the boat.
“What is that?” Catrina chattered nervously.
A shape formed on the deck a few feet in front of the ailing Jasper. Who got himself up righted, and leaned back against the table leg. The form took the shape of a smoke-like body. The smoke swirling into a mass of flesh and cloth. Withered, aged hands slid a hood back. A man, but no normal man. Beady coal eyes, leathered gaunt skin.
Catrina staggered. “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no… Grosvenor.”
Colin had only ever heard of the immortals. He’d never seen one. Had hoped never to cross paths with one.
“C’mon,” he ordered Catrina. He grabbed her hand and they ran full speed up the riverbank hoping to catch the spot they could jump back on board.
“We can’t fight an immortal! You can’t fight an immortal!” Catrina charged.
“Maybe not, but I can’t leave Jasper.” He was too panicked to trust any magic he tried would work right, the Magicante chugging along at full speed to keep him from jumping over another ledge. They made it to the spot on the bank and jumped back on board as soft-footed as possible. Both sank to their knees and crawled closer to Jasper.
To see him in his current condition, weak, bloody, eyes barely open… Catrina stifled a cry and covered her mouth. The Grosvenor stepped purposely, gaze coveting the floor next to Jasper where his book, his second soul, his Magicante, lay precariously out in the open.
Colin wondered why this was happening? It must have been because his Projector’s powers had been stripped away. The second soul no longer served any function and had removed itself from Jasper’s body.
The dagger had taken Jasper’s magic, but the book had kept its own.
Colin was about to magic the book away hoping he’d succeed without making a bigger mess of things when Jasper cleared his throat and straightened himself against the table leg.
“Take it. Take the damn book and leave already. Let an old man die in peace.”
The Grosvenor hissed, his approach of the Magicante, cautious. Expecting some trap to spring. Jasper took the Grosvenor’s distraction and flashed Colin a sharp glare that determined he was a dead man no matter what, so don’t you dare try anything heroic and get yourself or Catrina killed.
Colin’s heart sank to the bottom of the river.
It couldn’t end like this.
He had so much to learn.
Jasper was dying because he’d messed up.
Who would teach him once Jasper was gone?
“You don’t look long for the world, Thorndike.” The Grosvenor used Jasper’s last name like they had a history.
“And what?” croaked out Jasper. “You want some tea? Talk about the old days Like when you murdered my family? Freyne Rothrock…”
“I’m honored you remember,” the Grosvenor toyed. “Even more honored to be here at your end. Go be with your family now…” Freyne lifted a bony hand.
“Oi there. Well, would ya looky at this...” it was a man’s voice, calling out from the shore.
That’s right, they were not invisible anymore. The cloak was gone.
The man pointed at the boat traveling down the river. “Hell of a nice boat ya got there!”
Freyne snarled and scowled. Grosvenor did not like to be seen by the real world. He opened his palm and magicked Jasper’s book into his hand.
“I'll be back for the young one once he's ripe. Enjoy your afterlife, Thorndike.” Freyne vanished in a swirl of smoke-like mist.
The man on the shore shouted something no one else heard. Most likely wondering what the heck he’d just seen.
Colin’s only concern was Jasper. The coast clear, he and Catrina got to their feet and raced over to him.
“What can I do?” Colin asked desperately.
“I’m afraid my luck has run out,” Jasper stated heavily.
“There must be something,” begged Catrina, not ready to give up hope.
“Can I heal you?” Colin was ready to try.
Jasper shook his head. “I’m sorry lad. Sorry indeed as we are not finished. But my long years have now concluded.”
“There has to be something!” Colin shouted. “Why can’t I use my powers to keep you alive?” He tried to remain calm but how was he to do that when the only person who could save his future was dying, right in front of his eyes.
“The boy, Colby, he's a clever one,” sputtered Jasper, not answering Colin. “Tricked me good. Used a weapon I've not seen before.” He coughed, struggling to breathe.
Catrina cried softly, devastated.
“How is there a weapon you've not seen before?” asked Colin.
“I’d heard rumors. Never seen it for myself.”
“What is it?” asked Catrina, sniffling.
“The dagger… it is carved from the bones of a dead Projector.”
Colin sat back, horrified.
“You must get that weapon, Colin. Power like that in the wrong hands… chances are, if they’ve figured out how to steal the power, they’ve figured out how to use it. But that does not mean it can be controlled.”
Colin didn't even begin to know where to start with this information.
Jasper leaned back, his breathing shallow.
“Colin, you can’t save me. This is a wound that cannot be healed. I feel the years now, all the long years piling onto my heart like a heavy stone. I cannot survive this but you… you can. Trust your second soul. Practice. Never stop.” He coughed again, a trickle of blood pouring down his chin.
Colin and Catrina looked on, helpless, as Jasper twisted to Catrina motioning for her to come closer. His speech was labored.
“Keep him on the right path,” his voice gave out, so he eyed her, knowingly. She cast a frightened gaze between Jasper and Colin, succumbing to Jasper’s warning. Colin did not need to ask what the look meant. She would have to take over the job of ending his life should things go badly and he lost control.
Jasper sucked in one final raspy breath, his body, stilling.
Catrina whimpered. But reached up and gently closed his lifeless eyes.
Colin slid off his knees and landed on his butt, still under the belief he was going to blink and all this would be nothing more than a bad dream.
“He’s dead. Jasper’s dead, and it’s my fault.” Colin muttered, consumed with guilt. “I messed up. I left the boat, and they followed me back here.” He might as well exchange his role in this tragedy, with what Meghan had done to him. It wasn’t betrayal, but it was his stupidity in holding in all that anger and not facing it. Not heeding Jasper’s training and letting his power consume him.
“It is not your fault, Colin. Jasper told me he had no idea how you broke through his barrier. He was just as surprised.”
“It’s still my fault. Just because he didn’t expect it… I did it.”
“Well,” she sniffled. “The reality is, Colin, it’s done. There’s no saving him.”
She was right. He got them to their feet with a calm sort of numbness and acceptance. Now, when it wasn’t needed to save a life, magic bloomed again. How was he going to learn to stay even? To live a calm life? He could not afford to have magic working at the wrong time, and not working when he really needed it.
“We’re going into hiding,” Colin told Catrina. He lifted his palm, the single thought, fire. The deck burst into flame. All the living animals Jasper kept on board found themselves on shore. Colin magicked them back to the man who’d caught them drifting by and planted it in his mind to give them a proper home.
Catrina held fast, wrapping her arms around Colin. “Where will we…” her breath caught. He moved them with such smooth movement. One moment on the boat,
the next, they were standing in the woods near an ancient looking oak tree. She shivered. It was much colder here. They were no longer in the Bayou.
Warmth crawled over her shoulders, contouring around her body. Colin had magicked a shawl to keep her warm.
“You’re getting frighteningly good,” she whispered.
“Only when I’m calm. In here.” He pointed to his head.
“Then we know what we have to work on.”
He nodded.
“Where are we?”
“My home,” he answered. “The closest thing I ever knew to a home,” he clarified.
Colin nodded to the frozen ground to his right. Jasper’s body appeared.
Catrina sighed, reaching out to Colin. He focused his energy around them, reforming the magical cloak all on his own. One he had control of. He rotated back to Jasper.
“I thought he deserved a proper burial. Somewhere… nice. Quiet. Peaceful.”
He closed his eyes and imagined a tomb deep inside the oak tree and when he opened his eyes, Jasper’s body was gone.
“Look,” pointed Catrina in amazement. The surface of the oak morphed into the sketch of a familiar face. Colin smiled, faintly.
“You’re right. He looks very peaceful,” Catrina said with a doleful sigh.
“I think he’ll like it here,” Colin told her. He’d come back to visit too.
Colin extended his arm, reaching for Catrina. She locked her hand in his.
“It’s winter, so there might not be anyone here, but I want to show you where I spent all my summers before all this magic stuff got in the way. And there’s something I need to find out.” If it was possible.
The magical cloak hovered around them as they walked, an invisible force field of protection. Colin stopped in front of a campsite.
“This is where my sister and I used to camp every summer with our Uncle Arnon in his travel trailer.” The space was empty now, covered in fallen decaying leaves, leaving the impression his uncle’s trailer had never been parked there.
Next, he showed Catrina where the Svoda had camped. Where’d he’d first gotten to know Jae, and learn about magic. He wondered if the wagon was still hidden there, but dare not use more magic for fear of exposing himself.
Divided (Bloodlines, The Immortal, and The Dagger of Bone) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 5) Page 14