Life Reader

by Shea, K. M.

  “I think so. I’ve never practiced, but I remember the basics of size crafting from my page turner prep classes,” Raven said.

  “Awesome. I bet making it smaller will help with the backlash too,” Asher said.

  Raven paged through the book, looking for the requested martial. “Ah, here it is,” she said. She hesitated for a moment, gulping as she stared at the words. Raven knew she needed to find her limits, but it was still terrifying to read.

  Asher stirred next to Raven, briefly placing an arm around her shoulders to give her a reassuring squeeze. Aron opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it and twiddled his thumbs.

  Raven took a breath before she rolled her shoulders back and began reading in her whispery page turner voice, “The Hispaniola still lay where she had anchored; but, sure enough, there was the Jolly Roger - the black flag of piracy - flying from her peak. Even as I looked, there came another red flash and another report, that sent the echoes clattering, and one more round-shot whistled through the air. It was the last of the cannonade,” Raven said as the book shuddered in her hand.

  It glowed tropical green, peppered with flashes of gold. The bookshelves faded from view as a green cloud flared around the book. After a few humid moments the cloud was blown away by a salty breeze, leaving behind a huge wooden ship that stretched across the bookshelves over their heads. Saline waves churched around the ship, occasionally sending flecks of foam into the air. Golden letters proudly proclaimed Hispaniola, while the cables grinded and the sails flapped in a breeze. The beautiful ship was dyed with flashes of red as shouts filled the library while men scurried across the deck.

  Raven uneasily breathed. There was no pain, but the pain from Aslan’s allies wasn’t immediate either.

  “Okay, I don’t think you appreciate your magic enough,” Aron said, laughing as the ship floated overhead.

  Asher, on the other hand, watched Raven like a hawk. “Are you OK? Do you feel sick?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at her. He took only the briefest moment to glance at the ship.

  Raven nodded. “Nothing feels off,” she said, watching Aron run up and down the aisle, craning his neck to get a better look at the ship.

  “Last time didn’t the pain come at the end, when you dismissed it?” Aron said, stopping to flick sea foam off his hair when he climbed a ladder and got too close to the living illustration.

  Raven thoughtfully tilted her head as another explosion painted the Hispaniola blood red. “True,” she said before abruptly snapping the book shut. “Dismissed.”

  The ship faded away, leaving a disappointed Aron in its wake. Asher braced himself, as though prepared for Raven to suddenly break down in seizures. Raven seated herself on top of the study table and waited.

  She shook her head under the careful watch of the Montamos brothers. “Nothing,” she said.

  Aron relaxed enough to slide down the ladder, but Asher remained braced. “Maybe it was a freak accident?” Aron suggested.

  “No way,” Asher said. “Her magic wouldn’t react that violently on a random fluke.”

  “Ah,” Raven said when there was a pin prickling sensation on her side.

  “What?” Aron said, crouching into a running position. “Do you need Brannon? Are you going to be sick?”

  “No, I just have a small side ache,” Raven said, rubbing her ribs as the side ache pulled on her muscles.

  “Oh,” Aron said, standing upright again. “That’s not so bad.”

  Asher’s frown deepened as he finally adopted a relaxed posture. “Yeah, but it’s a bad sign. It means that whenever you do this magic there will be a physical price.”

  “But in the same instance it means the pain will reflect the amount of magic you expend. At least I would think it does, comparing today’s display with Saturday’s,” Aron said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “So reading a thing and having it float around isn’t a big deal. An army that fights? That’s a different battle match.”

  “Time might also influence the kickback,” Raven said. “I only kept the boat out for a few minutes. Aslan’s army was out and active for a much longer time frame.”

  “The bottom line is you have to be careful,” Asher said. “Don’t let anyone—especially the director or the full time staff members—bully you into using your magic. You need to be careful until you get this figured out, because who knows what kind of permanent damage you’re doing.”

  Raven nodded and opened her mouth to reply, but Aron cut in. “Do you guys hear footsteps?”

  The trio was silent as they heard two sets of footsteps and lowered voices. After a few moments someone called out, “Ray-Ray, spawns, we saw the boat. We know you’re back here.”

  Raven frowned. “Jeremiah?”

  The footsteps grew closer, and Jeremiah popped into the aisle Raven and the twins were stationed in. “Ah, here they are. So you really can do it then? Read things to life I mean,” Jeremiah said as he strolled closer, Daire appearing behind him.

  “Yes,” Raven said.

  “Ah. That must be fun. Brannon tells me you’re the one who saved all of us on Saturday. Thanks for being the hero,” Jeremiah said, tipping his head in a show of thanks before winking.

  Daire scowled. “It is inappropriate for you to flash your magic around while in the library. What if patrons saw it?”

  Raven shrugged. “I find it highly unlikely that any patrons would wander up here, particularly because you seem to patrol it so intensely.”

  The twins chuckled and Daire’s scowl deepened.

  “Your insistence in breaking rules is going to ruin you. Just because your magic is powerful doesn’t mean you are above the law,” Daire said.

  “Now, now Daire,” Jeremiah laughed before fixing his blue eyes on Raven. “I’m sorry I missed your display. Based on Royce’s fright it must have been some sight. Who knew little Ray-Ray could be such a warrior!” he marveled.

  Daire grunted. “You are an idiot,” he said before turning to the twins. “If you see the janitor, run. He’s on the warpath,” he advised.

  “He’s mad about the mess the decayors caused?” Aron guessed.

  “Raving. He took a mop to Royce when we arrived.”

  “Good to know some things never change,” Asher said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Come on Ray, let’s get back to our room. I’m hungry and I want a snack.”

  “Food is prohibited in all areas of the library, except for the staff kitchen,” Daire said.

  “You aren’t any fun at all. Were you born an old man?” Aron challenged, although his words were sharp there was no hostility in his voice.

  Daire started walking back down the aisle. “At least I was born with intelligence and logic,” he said.

  The twins trailed after him. “Exactly what are you attempting to imply? I’ve heard what the director calls you,” Asher snorted before stopping. He turned around and called, “Ray, are you coming with?”

  “We’ll be along in a second,” Jeremiah said with an airy wave.

  Asher stared at the pair.

  “It’s fine,” Raven finally said, nodding to Asher.

  The older twin turned back around and hurried to catch up to his brother.

  “I was always under the impression that you and Daire and the twins didn’t get along,” Raven said.

  Jeremiah shivered. “We don’t,” he promised.

  “Then what was that? It could almost be mistaken for bantering,” Raven said, gesturing to Daire and the twins, who disappeared down the aisle.

  “The twins and I do not get along at all. Daire and the twins enjoy hating each other. Most of the time you can sense the animosity, but sometimes they find comfort in the normalcy of exchanging insults,” Jeremiah said, running a hand through his hair.

  Raven thoughtfully looked up at Jeremiah, narrowing her eyes slightly. “You sounded rather deep and intelligent just then. How surprising.”

  Jeremiah laughed. “Ouch, Ray-Ray. You play rough when you aren’t ac
ting!” he said with a pout.

  “Is there something you wanted to say to me?” Raven asked, not at all amused. She was starting to immensely enjoy her time at Saint Cloud now that she no longer needed to fake admiration of Jeremiah.

  “Actually, yes. How are the page turners taking your magic?” Jeremiah asked, standing straighter.

  Raven thought for a moment. “There’s no change in the twins, or Daire really. He still hates me just as much as before. Brannon is…worried I think. For me or for the library. I’m not sure which. And Royce….,” Raven trailed off.

  Jeremiah nodded, his handsome smile still on his lips. He looked down for a moment. “Rachel.”

  “Hm?”

  Jeremiah looked up, and all traces of smiles, laughter, and falsities were gone from his face. His features were sharp, and his eyes were an unfathomable blue. “Don’t take it to heart,” he said, his voice level and serious. “The names people will call you: monster, freak of nature, brute. Don’t believe them. Just because they say it, it doesn’t make it true. It is what you think of yourself that determines your fate,” he said.

  While he spoke, the upperclassman reached out and placed a warm hand on top of Raven’s head. “Prove them wrong,” he said.

  His eyes were so overwhelming, Raven had to look away. Jeremiah removed his hand. “Say… Jeremiah,” when Raven looked back Jeremiah was all smiles and dazzling laughter again.

  “Right then! I had better get back to the computer room. My adoring public awaits me!” he laughed, sauntering down the aisle.

  Raven watched him go. “What on earth was that?” she said.

  Chapter 18

  When Raven returned home that night her father was waiting for her. “Raven, perfect timing. I spoke with Gram today about the attack on Saint Cloud. He approved my request and dispatched Rocky and Roland to watch you,” he said as Raven set her down backpack and took off her damp coat.

  Raven’s father was standing in the hallway with the newly dispatched agents. It was the duo Raven briefly saw the night her family was attacked in Waterspring City. Raven would recognize the charming Roland and his partner’s troll-like face a mile away.

  “It’s so nice to officially meet you, Raven. Your father brags about you and your siblings so much I almost feel as if I already know you,” Roland said with a smile that would make any Hollywood star green with jealousy. He extended a hand and Raven dubiously shook it, glancing back and forth between the bubbling agent and his scowling counterpart. “I’m Roland, this is Rocky.”

  Rocky suspiciously eyed Raven and did not copy Roland’s welcoming gesture. “Exactly how much did you spill to those brothers in order to motivate them to help you?” he demanded, tapping a packet of papers. Obviously he had been debriefed by her father.

  Raven took a step back, wincing. “Well…uh…”

  “Now, now Rocky. Leave the poor girl alone. She did what she had to, and she just might find the location of the cauldron!” Roland said with another sparkling smile as they left the hallway and walked into the living room.

  “Gram approved it. Besides, it’s no big loss. Fox blew her cover wide open for her during the attack. The important thing is that the kids don’t know I’m the black dog she’s working for,” Raven’s father said, taking a seat on the couch. He folded his arms behind his head, cushioning his skull. “And it grates me to admit it, but she’s making more progress than I hoped she would. More than I’m making. These Bakertown office freaks have more hoops, papers, and red tape to cross than a political office.”

  “The plan hasn’t changed, right? You guys aren’t going to shadow me?” Raven uncomfortably asked.

  “No, no. We’re only cleared for location tracking,” Roland said, carelessly waving a hand through the air. “Give her the pendant, Rocky.”

  Rocky slowly approached Raven as he pulled a white jewelry box out of his coat pocket. He popped the box open and carefully pulled out a pair of dog tags. both tags had the imprint of a key etched into their surface.

  “The tags are your tracker,” Raven’s father said, still seated on the couch. “I’ll be the one receiving your location coordinates, but Rocky and Roland will be paged with your information if you activate the panic function.”

  Raven nodded, grateful it would be her father receiving her information. “How do I activate it?” Raven asked as she took the necklace from Rocky and slipped it over her head.

  “If you flip either tag over to the backside you can see there is a small black jewel. All you need to say is ‘alarm code’ and it activates. The jewel will light up to show it’s working,” Roland said.

  “The moment you activate it Roland and I are notified, and we will come to you. On average we will reach you in less than two minutes, using magical means and your location tracker. Do not activate the alarm lightly,” Rocky warned, grimly staring at Raven behind his hawkish nose.

  “That being said, don’t hesitate to activate it either,” Roland piped in. “Two minutes might seem like a short time, but if you’re in trouble it may be too late.”

  “It’s magically powered, so don’t worry about running out of battery power,” Raven’s father finished.

  Raven hesitated. “Do you think Saint Cloud will be attacked again?”

  Raven’s father paused, but Roland smoothly replied. “It is not likely. I doubt the brigands will test the library again since they failed the first time. This is a safety precaution. Really, we should have given you one when you were first sent into the field,” Roland said, giving Raven’s father a reproachful look.

  “I know, I know,” he sighed. “I said it wouldn’t be necessary, it was a library and I didn’t think Raven would see any action. I regret that decision,” he grumbled as he hefted himself off the couch and walked up to Raven. “It’s not anything to worry over, honey. This is just for my peace of mind, okay?”

  Raven nodded and tugged on the dog tags.

  “Right then, we better get going. It was good to see you, Raven. Hopefully you will have no need to call us,” Roland winked, heading for the door.

  “It was good to meet you as well,” Raven said before she walked to the stairs and started climbing them.

  As Raven’s father escorted the agents out, Raven bit her lip, the tags hanging heavily from her neck. She stopped at the top of the stairs and hesitated long enough to watch Roland leave. Rocky was on his heels, but the stony emissary halted long enough to turn around and pin Raven into place with one cold look before he also left the house.

  Raven shivered and rubbed her arms. She would happily avoid danger if it meant she wouldn’t have to see Rocky again. Roland was personable, but Rocky? He was clearly a different sort of black dog.

  Tuesday morning Raven made a beeline to Shannon’s table before Government. “Hey Shannon,” Raven said, plopping her backpack on the table. “Sorry, I had to run to my locker to grab today’s homework assignment.”

  “Oh, hey Ray-Ray! No problem, but don’t you normally sit with the twins during government?” Shannon blinked, glancing at the glowering brothers across the room.

  Raven waved off their gazes with a fluttering hand. “They’re being possessive. Ignore them. Now what was it that you wanted to talk about during English?”

  “The car that hit you. Do you remember the license plate number?” Shannon prompted, pen poised above a blank piece of paper.

  “Um,” Raven said, trying to think of a sufficiently vague reply.

  “Hey, come on. We have to go sit down,” Asher said, physically twisting Raven to face them.

  “Yeah. You know how Mrs. Suski gets when she sees you sitting with us,” Aron chimed in, swiping Raven’s backpack from the desk.

  “One moment Shannon,” Raven smiled at Shannon, who appeared to be hiding a giggle behind her hands. Raven turned on her heels to face the twins and her smile fell off her face as she grabbed the twins by the collars of their shirts and hauled them close to her, stopping when they were inches away from her face. “Lo
ok guys, you have to let me sit with Shannon. I need other friends.”

  “No you don’t,” Aron said, shaking his head with something akin to sympathy, as though Raven were a mislead child.

  “Yes, I do,” Raven growled.

  “Look, she doesn’t even know about… about our part time job, how can you need her?” Asher demanded.

  Raven exhaled, trying to think of a way she could get it across to the boys. A crafty smile slithered across Raven’s lips. “Okay. But then you guys have to talk skirts, dresses, and boys with me.”

  “Dresses?” Aron asked, his neck sinking into his shoulders.

  “Yep. And prom dates, and hair tips. We can even do each other’s nails!” Raven brilliantly exclaimed. “We’ll also have to have monthly chocolate binges, and you better prepare yourselves to start talking about feelings.”

  Asher grew pale and Aron unsteadily swallowed.

  “And on the weekends we can go shoe shopping! Insensible ones of course.”

  Asher and Aron turned to stare at each other with widening eyes.

  Raven smirked as she delivered the killing line, “And you’ll especially have to be extra sympathetic when it’s that time of the—,”

  Raven was abruptly pushed into a seat next to Shannon, her backpack carefully placed by her side.

  “We’ll share Ray with you,” Asher said, placing his hands on the table as he stood directly in front of Shannon.

  “Joint custody,” Aron said. “You get her on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we get her for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. If we find her to be in a better mood after your company, Wednesdays may become negotiable.”

  “But never weekends,” Asher said before paling. “Except when she wants to go shopping,” he amended.

  “Then you can have her as long as you want,” Aron agreed.

  “Also, in case you were wondering, the license plate of the car that hit Ray-Ray had the numbers 552 on it,” Asher said before they twins fled, leaving a smug Raven in her seat.

  Shannon laughed. “I wonder who is more devious, you or them,” she considered as she wrote down their tip.