"Right. Because of the whole Projector's bones issue. And we know he's now protected the army as well. However, even with this likelihood, my plan will work. If everything goes right," she corrected. "And when the heck does that ever happen?"
Jasper lifted a brow and held back a tight grin. "Why don't you tell me about your plan."
"Okay, so I guess it's not a full plan. Yet. However, I think you'll agree with me once I show you my newest vision. I, um, had a visitor." She held up her now defunct locket. "The First Seer."
Jasper's eyes widened. "Impressive. And what did this Seer share?"
"So much. And I'm going to show you everything." She struck a flame into her palm and let her vision free so Jasper could watch it in the flames. They spent a couple of hours sitting and talking, and then pacing, and watching more visions. Meghan didn't want Jasper to miss anything vital. And when they were finally finished… "So, you can see, insane idea or not, to reach the Immortality Stone, I'm going to need to go into my father's estate—no matter how much any of us dislike the idea. And can I just say, me more so than anyone. But that's where I'd bet my life he's keeping the Stone."
"I'd also wager you're correct in that assumption. But now we also need to work into the plan, destroying these Mage Mirrors."
"Yeah. And the thing is, Jasper, just because I get in, or we get in, doesn't mean I'm just going to miraculously find the Stone. We know where the mirrors are thanks to Grace. And I am connected to the Stone, however, my father's estate is protected by more than just his blood. Our blood. As I was recently reminded, my father's house holds many mysteries."
Jasper sighed in agreement. "Magic. Ancient and powerful magic."
"Right. Magic that I would bet is far beyond my abilities—I'm a Firemancer. I've gotten better at magic, but compared to Colin or Colby—I suck. Don't argue," she blasted at Jasper when he was clearly about to. "It's reality. But this will make finding the Stone nearly impossible, even for me. We need to force my father's hand, make him lead us—me—to the Stone."
Jasper had put the pieces together and the knowing, agreeable gleam in his eye, darkened. "You mean to allow your father to use you as he planned."
"Only to think he can. It's what he needs; me, to create his new Stone. And I need to make sure he believes he's won in capturing me, or I'll never reach the Stone. But I don’t see any other way to get close enough, Jasper. He needs to capture me and it needs to look real."
Jasper didn't say anything. But the look in his features were that of nearing acceptance.
"So many things would have to go perfectly right. It's a terrible plan," she admitted. "But it's the only logical one I can come up with. I need to play to his blind spots—which is why it needs to look real. I can't just go marching in, that's too obvious. And he doesn't know I can destroy the Stone—all the Stones. I've got to hope that's enough. And…" she let out a long breath. "We're running out of time."
"Even with the army to back you up, it's a hell of a chance, Meghan. One thing goes wrong, and—"
"We lose. Everything."
"And we don't get another chance."
"Ever."
Because her father would not hesitate to destroy her to get his new Power Stone. And if he succeeded in destroying her, and making his new Stone, he'd be unstoppable.
CHAPTER 6
Katana Jade stretched herself into a shiver, and yawned. Almost like she surprised herself in being so sleepy.
"Cold?" Jae asked. Oddly enough, there was a slight chill, even though the weather in Grimble was consistently on the never changing warm side, with constant shades of gray and gloom overhead. Somehow, just knowing night was coming brought on a shiver and a yawn.
"Nothing a blanket and a comfy bed can't fix." Katana made to cozy up in her bed.
"Let me start the fire," Colby offered. He opened the iron fireplace and faced his palm at the wood inside. But after a few attempts, his brow furrowed when nothing happened.
"Magic still not working?" Jae assumed.
"On the fritz, like me," Colby mumbled blandly. He hadn't counted on that unexpected side effect of his breakdown from the night before. He'd attempted a few simple spells throughout the afternoon, but each ended with the same result—nothing.
Jae started the blaze for him. "Give it time. It'll come back."
The words meant to make light of the worry only did the opposite. Colby had never lived without magic before. With his emotions bottomed out and gone screwy, he was suddenly incapable of the simplest of spells. It only added to his frustrations.
Katana yawned again and snuggled up under a blanket. "Think I'll get some sleep." She winked at Jae and Colby. "Don't have too much fun without me." They rolled their eyes. And then grinned. She was much easier to get along with now that it was clear the flirting was harmless. Actually, she'd been okay to be around today. Not nearly as annoying. That was probably as good as they could ask for, all things considered. She'd kept their minds busy, at least; a slight reprieve from the constant doom and gloom that loomed too close.
They left her to sleep but weren't ready to settle in for the night yet. Instead, they decided to go the old mill and seek out Eddy. Colby sank into his own misery almost instantly though, a swarm of discontent and unease.
Jae sensed it right away. It was almost like Colby was trying to hide himself while being out in the open. He stopped them both.
"Where are you right now?"
"I just—I don't know how to explain it." And he wasn't used to telling people how he felt, or anyone caring to know. It was hard to get used to. And yet like fighting an instant addiction. And something he probably shouldn't allow himself to get used to. It was only a matter of time until they got separated—Jae was bound to Juliska. They'd have to face off at some point. And Colby would have to do the same with his father. And if Jae got desperate enough to get free of his curse…
Colby pushed away from Jae. This would turn out like everything else. Nothing would really change. They were just living some delusion…
Jae refused to release Colby and moved with him as he tried to break away. The problem was obvious. He couldn't believe he was capable of change. That his life really was his own. He was daring himself to believe, but afraid to. And there was no blame in that fear. But Jae wasn’t sure how to prove himself other than to remind him over and over that Colby didn't need to think like that. Not with him.
Trust wasn't easy to earn, but it was quick to break. Most especially if that is the life you were used to. Fear was pushing him away from getting too close, or allowing himself to believe it was possible his life could change.
Jae imagined it was like seeing something you wanted more than anything else in your life, hanging just within reach, and all you had to do was have the wherewithal to take it. But were so afraid that if you tried, someone else would yank it out of your grasp, first—and then they'd know. They'd know what you wanted more than anything else. And in this world, where people like Jurekai Fazendiin existed, that was the most dangerous knowledge for someone to have.
Fear could be paralyzing. But Jae refused to give up and after a minute Colby stopped fighting him to get away.
"I can't imagine how hard this is," Jae muttered shakily. "But you can trust me."
"My gut response is to think the opposite. My heart knows it, it’s just not catching up with the rest of me."
"I don't think you can force that to happen. I think it takes time."
"Something we don't have." Colby stepped away but not because he was trying to run, and Jae let him have some space. "I can't figure out what to do with myself. I'm tired, yet wide awake. I don't feel like myself, but I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel. It's like my skin doesn't even fit right. And now my magic isn't working. It's not bad enough to feel useless, but I am actually useless. I can't even protect myself if I needed to. Or you. Or even Elisha." This was a whole new level of helplessness.
Elisha hissed. Her intent—I protect you. But she und
erstood his anguish too.
"You've never had to rely on anyone," Jae said. "It's not an easy thing to learn, or do. And other than Elisha, you've never really even had someone in your life you could unconditionally rely on. That also takes time to get used to. It's a hard thing to believe in, putting your absolute trust in someone else."
"But you have done that with me," Elisha pointed out. She was sure Colby would manage to do it with others as well.
"It’s hardly a fair assessment," Colby argued. "You're a Catawitch. It's like, ingrained in your DNA to trust me."
"But it's not in your DNA to trust me. You did that all on your own."
"Because you never let me down."
"And neither will I," promised Jae. He shirked off a little. "At least, never on purpose. Never because I mean to. I suppose where I am right now, I can't fully promise anything. So I won't. Other than, I'd never willingly hurt you."
"I like that," Colby whispered. "Not making promises. They end up impossible to keep. I've never had the option to let someone else handle things on my behalf. I don't know how to. I don’t want to have to."
"I could stand here and spout a hundred corny lines meant to make you feel better, or try to kiss you and make it better," Jae lamented. Colby smirked. "Trite expressions and kisses are not going to make things better. We both know sugarcoating reality is pointless. We have to take things day by day. Hour by hour. Or minute by minute, if necessary."
"Wouldn't it be nice though? To pretend it all away? To just disappear, and start over and pretend none of our pasts happened…"
"Somehow, they always come back to haunt you. Or so I've heard." Jae shrugged. "One trite expression I'd wager is true." Colby gave him a short laugh and smile. "And just so we're clear," Jae felt it necessary to explain. "I don't kiss you just to make it all better. I happen to enjoy it. A lot. If it just so happens to make you feel better…"
Colby returned a thinned lip grin. "You really didn't need to clarify that point."
"Oh, no. I really did." Jae tried to look completely serious, but failed.
"If you guys are going to make out again, I'm out of here!" Elisha meowed she was leaving to hunt.
"I don't think Elisha likes sharing you," Jae said with a chuckle.
"Nah. She's fine with it. It's the things she hears in my mind she finds revolting."
"Oh, really. Like what?" Jae badgered, coming closer.
Colby responded with reddening cheeks and scrunched his nose in an adorable attempt to pretend he hadn't just said that. But Jae didn't let him escape and after a tangle of lips that got them both out of breath, they jerked themselves apart in need of some fresh air.
"I take it back," Colby mumbled hazily. "Kissing does make it all better."
Jae laughed and shook his head and got them back onto the path to the old mill to find Eddy. Although, progress slowed to a crawl when Colby stopped them for more make it better time. And then Jae did. And then Colby did.
But they were both laughing and smiling when they finally arrived. Sentiments that died the moment they looked up to see Eddy, already waiting for them like he expected them—and not because he had good news.
At first, Colby worried he'd seen them fooling around and disapproved, and he tried to pull himself away from Jae. But he'd have nothing of it and only gripped Colby's hand even tighter. He refused to hide or have regrets, and didn't want Colby to have any either.
The ghost was—somber, and yet expectant. There was something else going on here, not their relationship. Jae's guess—Eddy had bad news about something. Which only made him reaffirm his hold on Colby even more.
Eddy floated closer. "How can I help you two today?"
"Um, just checking in," Jae responded. So Eddy was keeping it casual. "Wondering if you had been able to discover anything about Katana, or seen anything unusual?"
Eddy cocked his head. "As for Katana, nothing out of the ordinary, or that you didn't already know."
The boys nodded and smirked at each other.
"Maybe she's okay after all," Colby muttered. Sad though, that they expected otherwise. One day of finding her tolerable did not make the other doubts just vanish though.
Eddy cleared his throat. "As for out of the ordinary—well—um, the truth is, I haven't exactly been doing that job as thoroughly as I wanted to. I have been—busy."
"What keeps a dead guy busy?" quirked Jae.
"You'd be surprised. But in this case, a new—arrival." The apprehension in Eddy's voice had the hairs on the young men's arms at attention. But the voice they heard next had them both shuddering like those hairs had been frozen and then burned off their skin.
"Hello, Jae. Colby."
They spun around, breathless. Stunned. Staring wide-eyed. Too shocked to even register the panic—but a minute later it slammed into them both. Jae's vocal chords seized up as his eyes stretched at the sight of her.
Was this real? And how?
All she had to do was give an order, and everything Jae had just promised, or not promised, but wanted, was over. Just like that. He wouldn't be there for Colby at all.
In return, Colby gripped Jae as if they might be permanently torn apart at any second. It was all too good to be true and he shouldn't ever have trusted this would last. Or could last. And how was he going to survive a single day without Jae?
The inevitable ruin.
No matter how much they both wished for a new start, they didn't get to wish for things. Jae was going to be forced home—he could only dread the evil acts that awaited him there, not stop them.
And Colby was going to lose the one anchor keeping him from falling apart completely. The one guy alive he trusted with his life. Who deserved so much more than the fate he'd been handed.
"I—I didn't mean to frighten you," the ghost vowed.
"Isn't that kind of your thing?" Colby responded sorely, on Jae's behalf. Who wasn't yet able to vocalize his own fear, only stare in disbelief and dread, waiting to hear her order. He wasn't ready to face this yet. He'd even begun to let himself believe, however foolishly, that he might not have to face the woman who was his captor. That he could stay on the run with Colby. Forever, if necessary.
But here she was right in front of him—Juliska Blackwell.
Jae's lips pursed, his eyes twitching—she was in Grimble…
And as his eyes focused properly, foraging through the haze of dread, reality was sinking in—she was not here as a living person come to steal him away. Juliska was—dead?
She sure looked it. All billowy and ghost-like. And acting far too reserved, and—and—the confused truth finally reached the surface of his features.
"Yes, Jae. I died. I am not here to hurt you."
"How—how are you—dead?" he stammered back at her. "You're immortal."
"Was immortal. It is a long and complicated story." Her entire ghostly aura lamented in some hidden pain she didn't share. Her spirited form drifted closer and out of habit, Jae pitched, in fear of her.
Juliska realized why he'd done it and kept her distance.
Eddy joined her. "Don't forget, Jae, ghosts can't use magic on the living."
Right.
It was hardly sinking in that she was dead. Not a threat to him.
"I don't feel any different." Jae wondered if he should. "Maybe I'm the one who's dreaming." He eyed Colby who gave him a quick, grounding kiss.
"Nope. You're not. We are both quite awake."
Jae returned to staring down the newly arrived ghost who'd suddenly gone quiet. A million questions instantly pounded against his brain trying to break their way through. From, how did she die, because she was immortal, but somehow wasn't anymore. To, what the heck was going on back home? And, what did all of this mean for him and his own future?
Colby got to the heart of the matter. He cared not about the how's and why's, but only, "What's this mean to him?" A shiver ran down the young man's spine, but then he realized it wasn't just him. Jae was shaking next to him.
> Juliska went to speak, but stopped. Even in this ghostly form, a great humbled, sadness enveloped her.
"Jae, you can go home," Eddy explained in soft bluntness.
"Wh—what does that mean, exactly?"
"The spell—the curse—is broken," Eddy told him. "The Scratchers are dead. No longer in service. No longer—"
"Enslaved to me," finished Juliska. "Before my life ended, I released all those bonded to me."
"But I wasn't there."
"And he's still alive," Colby pointed out.
"Because he was left out of the kill order." Eddy gave his head an agitated shake. That hadn't come out nearly as eloquently as he'd meant it to.
"I don't understand." Jae rubbed a hand over his face nervously. "If I go home, won’t I die too?"
"No." Juliska came forward again, her ghostly gait stronger and less intimidating. "You will not die, Jae. You will be free."
Free.
That was a meaning he didn't quite know how to process.
"There are no words appropriate for the apology I owe you, Jae Mochrie. Saying, I'm sorry, is…"
"A start," Colby injected protectively. Something about his actions brought a weak smile to Jae's face. Colby might have hit rock bottom and was trying to figure out how to rebuild his life, but the familiar no-filter still existed. He hadn't lost himself. Not completely.
The smile dampened when Jae's eyes landed back on Juliska though.
Regret. Shame. Humility. All things he'd never honestly seen in her before. It was… something he didn't know how to process or respond to.
"When you return home, Jae, you'll be free—of me. The beast inside of you will always be there, but you will have no reason to fear its existence. It will be an ally, not an enemy. Never something to fear."
There was no getting rid of the thing, but if it didn't control him, Jae supposed he could live with that… those words caught him off guard. Live with that… the trembling in his limbs made him unsteady. He was going to get a chance to live. A real, second chance not to muck things up.
"If the worst thing that happens to me, is I have to live with the beast, I think I can do that. I probably deserve that." The constant reminder of what had been. What could be if he ever strayed down a dangerous path again.
Ascend (The Last Oracle, The First Seer's Gift, and a Prophecy Fulfilled) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 11) Page 5