The Map, The Dagger, and The Vampyres (Fated Chronicles Book 2)

by Humphrey Quinn

  Meghan knew this was not true. However, she also knew that the child in question was gone. Therefore, also their leverage.

  “And even if there was,” continued Juliska, “if the child was found, and belonged to one of our own, we would end the life swiftly, before harm could be done. I would never turn it over to the likes of you. There’s a difference between killing because you must, and showing no mercy or compassion.”

  KarNavan smiled.

  “Now we get to it, don’t we? You travelers. You think you’re special, don’t you? And yet, you have no idea what is truly happening in the magical world. You have not heard the rumblings. There is a war coming… a war to change the course of our world. And I, for one, will not be left behind when it’s over.”

  “Who hired you?” Juliska demanded to know.

  “You already know,” he answered scathingly. “Who would have the capabilities to strip power from the powerful?”

  “Grosvenor,” Garner muttered wretchedly.

  KarNavan’s savage eyes agreed with the answer.

  Ivan worked his way back to Meghan. Jae stood to her other side.

  “Catrina,” whispered Ivan. All signs pointed to the silver-haired girl.

  “Juliska must have hid her in the cave thinking it was a better fate to sleep, rather than kill her.” Jae laid it all out, the shocking reality still not changing the current predicament.

  Meghan stood, motionless. Was it good or bad that Colin and Catrina were gone? Had she endangered him even more by forcing him to flee to some unknown place with a ticking time bomb at his side? A time bomb, he clearly loved. Or could this whole ordeal be over and everyone’s lives spared, if Catrina had been turned over now?

  And could she really have gone through with it? Turned over a young girl with no choice in her fate. Her condition wasn’t her fault.

  Wow. Did this just get suckier by the minute.

  She let out a weighted sigh. Colin would never forgive her either way.

  A Striper came running out of the woods and into the meadow.

  “KarNavan! Wait!” the woman shouted.

  “Ardon.” His second in command. “What do you have to report?”

  She approached with a curt nod. “Our tracking system says the Projector is gone. Not here anymore.”

  “What do you mean?” KarNavan demanded.

  “The Projector’s magic has disappeared. Plus, we searched their camp for the book. No sign of it.”

  No sign of it? Meghan wondered what had happened to the book.

  “It seems your presence here is no longer required,” Juliska made claim. “The Projector and this book you’re looking for have vanished.”

  “Ah, but it was here,” KarNavan spoke tauntingly. “Didn’t you feel the quakes? It’s one of the first signs of uncontrolled magic.”

  The caravan looked inquisitively at each other. They had thought the quakes were just something that happened in this place.

  “I believe the child you are searching for left this place, not many minutes ago, in fact,” Juliska revealed to the Stripers. “And your tracking system now proves that. So let us go in peace.”

  “And what of the book?” the leader reminded. “I still want the book. One of you is hiding it.” KarNavan cast an impatient glare across them all and in swift movement, picked up a torch and stormed back to the pyre he had just jumped down from minutes before, threatening to light the kindling.

  It became apparent that the person tied to the pyre was not completely unconscious, just greatly weakened as the woman’s eyes widened in fright, with great effort. She lifted her head, eyes pleading for help when her voice refused to work right.

  Billie Sadorus rushed to the front of the group. “Maura!” she screamed. “Let her go!” Billie pleaded. “Put me in her place, please, I beg you!”

  Tears fell down the face of the woman on the pyre named Maura when she saw Billie.

  Garner rushed forward and tried to control his sister.

  Meghan came out of her mournful stupor as it dawned on her that she did not feel weakened. In a way, an inexplicable manner there were no exact words to describe, something was feeding her power. How was that? And why was she questioning this? This was the time for action!

  It had to be that the weapon the Stripers were using did not did not work on a Firemancer’s powers. Why wouldn’t Juliska use hers?

  “She doesn’t realize,” Meghan concluded. Her eyes narrowed in on KarNavan, one hand deep in his pocket, the other, waving a torch threateningly over the pyre. The flames nearly swiped Maura’s body and she cried out in angst. It took every bit of strength for Garner to hold back Billie. She kicked and beat on him, demanding he let her go.

  Meghan’s attention kept drawing to the pocket the Striper has his hand deep into. He was holding onto some small trinket. Greedily. Something that for no explanation whatsoever, she had the urge to claim belonged to her. She shook herself out of the strange nonsensical moment, envisioning what she must do to save everyone.

  Meghan lifted her own hand, held her palm open, and then shut it like a fist. The fire on KarNavan’s torch punched out, suffocated. Meghan did this repeatedly, thrusting the meadow into darkness.

  A nasty smile appeared on KarNavan’s face.

  “Who of you is using magic?” he asked, stalking about, searching for the culprit.

  What to do now? She was only one, barely trained Firemancer against a group of trained fighters.

  A loud boom and a fiery explosion exploded through the night, off at the far back edge of the meadow. A block of trees burst into flame, but not close enough to accidentally light any of the pyres. A well-planned diversion.

  “Good job, Meghan!” said Jae, impressed.

  “That wasn’t me,” she replied, as shocked as everyone else.

  Ivan, Jae, and Meghan searched the edge of the woods for any sign of their hidden savior but saw nothing.

  Juliska Blackwell moved forward, stepping in front of KarNavan.

  “We may not be able to use magic…” she finished her statement by punching him in the face.

  She still doesn’t know she can use Firemancy. Meghan did not see any safe way to tell her.

  KarNavan rubbed his jaw, staggering, impressed by Juliska’s blow.

  “Stop this madness!” she demanded. “We obviously don’t have what you’re looking for. What good will come from hurting innocent people?”

  “I always have liked your style,” he muttered under his breath.

  She glared at him, speaking low so only he could hear.

  “I don’t know what’s really behind all of this, but it ends, now. None of this is part of the plan, KarNavan.”

  “Perhaps plans have changed,” he shot back under his breath in irritating smugness.

  He backed away from her, ignoring her questioning glower and fury at the gloat in his grin.

  “What we seek is no longer here,” he told his followers, declaring it was time for them to depart.

  The Stripers retreated.

  Their bodies dissolving and melting into their backgrounds, but it took many long minutes before the sound of breaking branches and debris snapping under footsteps dissipated, leaving the Svoda, at last, alone and safe.

  They earnestly set into releasing their fellow comrades.

  Reunions would have to wait, however, as most of the imprisoned people were sick and weak, barely able to comprehend what had occurred.

  Billie ran to the woman named Maura, and with Garner’s assistance, freed her from her bonds. The woman flung her arms weakly around Billie, sobbing.

  “I thought I was going to lose you forever,” Billie told the woman.

  Juliska swept through the meadow, shouting orders.

  In the next few hours’ chaos, no one noticed Meghan, Jae, and Ivan walking to the opposite edge of the meadow. They searched the area surrounding the exploded trees, but found no clues to indicate how the explosion had occurred.

  “Whatever or whoever
it was,” said Ivan, “it scared away the Stripers.”

  “We can be thankful for that,” added Jae, turning to head back into the meadow. Meghan stopped him by blurting out what they had all really wanted to say.

  “So we all agree that the Projector is Catrina, right?” She gulped hard, trying to keep her composure, but needing to outwardly confirm this dreaded truth.

  The two boys stared at her for a moment, worried Meghan might lose it, and true enough, saying it aloud felt like sentencing Colin and Catrina to certain death.

  “It does seem the most likely scenario,” Ivan finally agreed. “The truth isn’t so pretty, is it?” his question appeared aimed toward Jae though, not Meghan. He shifted uncomfortably, a hint of something dark glossing his eye.

  “I handed my brother right over to her. Pushed him away. I completely fell for the ‘I’m just a poor girl in danger routine,’” Meghan gushed. “Which is the stupidest thing I’ve ever said. I handled it all wrong. I freaked. I turned in my own brother.”

  “Try to think of it this way Meghan,” Ivan offered. “If they had still been here, they would very likely both be dead. Besides, all three of us are to blame. Not just you.”

  “That is true,” admitted Jae. “We all knew about Catrina.”

  “But Colin is my brother. I should have been looking out for him. Now it might be too late.”

  “He is still alive,” Ivan reminded.

  “I suppose that fact will have to suffice for now,” she succumbed. “I will find him, somehow, before she turns really dangerous and I lose him forever.”

  Jae touched her shoulder, nodded, and proceeded to meander back into the meadow, helping to assist in the ongoing rescue of the imprisoned Svoda.

  “Meghan,” said Ivan, stopping her from following.

  She turned to face him.

  He stepped forward, stopping just inches from her. Conflicted.

  “I don’t mean to be,” he stopped, searching for the right words.

  “Mean? Rude? A royal pain?” Meghan answered, but with exhausted animosity.

  “More or less,” he returned. “I know you think I do, but I don’t… hate you.”

  “Gee, thanks,” she retorted, readying another witty retort.

  He shoved his hand over her mouth. “Will you shut up for a minute!” He tore his hand away. “You are so infuriating.”

  Meghan held her tongue.

  “I do… feel… things,” he eventually got out, but his point remained unfinished, a fact he silently reprimanded himself for being unable to vocalize, properly.

  Meghan guessed it for him.

  “But you don’t want to feel things. I get it Ivan. I have no idea what you’re all about. What you’re up to. Or what you want from me. But I can see with my own eyes, no Firemancy needed, that you cut yourself off from feeling anything real. I’m not as daft as you think.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to say,” he said, lifting his head. “Not using those exact words, but... that.”

  Meghan rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

  “We don’t have to be friends, Ivan. Don’t worry. I won’t be responsible for making you care about something.” She turned to walk away once again.

  He grabbed her.

  She looked down at his hand tightly gripping her arm, and back into his eyes, filled with strife. Over his shoulder in the darkness of the woods, a spark of flame burst to life. Meghan’s gaze fixed on the flame out of nowhere, the vision, instant.

  She stood atop a hillside peering into a scene like an onlooker. Watching a terrible battle erupt between her and Colin. It was in the future, at least a few years. They were older. Maybe nineteen, twenty. Meghan watched, terrified, as she picked up a knife and stabbed Catrina Flummer, and then her brother, killing them both.

  It took a moment to realize that the vision had ended as within the vision, as well as in real life, it was Ivan that held her tight as she sobbed uncontrollably.

  “What is it?” he asked, trembling. “What did you see?”

  “I have to save him, Ivan. She’s going to destroy him. And if I can’t… I kill them both, and you… you help me do it.”

  Ivan let go and backed away. Meghan’s legs gave out and she fell to her knees, searching into the darkness for the source of the flame. All she saw now was darkness.

  “No.” Ivan said emphatically. “This can’t be right,” he stammered. “I would never ask you to kill your own brother. I know what I must sacrifice, but I would never...” he stepped further back.

  “I don’t know what you mean, Ivan,” sobbed Meghan, wishing greatly that something, anything, would make sense.

  “I… forget it!” He assisted her off the ground. “Get yourself together. We should return to the group.” Ivan’s icy voice sent a chill down Meghan’s spine. Whatever steps forward they’d just made no longer mattered. They were no closer to being friends than a day ago.

  But he was also correct.

  There was absolutely nothing Meghan could do at this very moment to fix the frightening future she had just witnessed. She needed to worry about what was going to happen in the next few minutes, and hours. And days. And weeks.

  That vision wasn’t for years to come.

  Somehow though, she feared she’d had it because her actions today had started Colin down the path that took them to that horrific outcome.

  Face today first.

  Meghan got to her feet and cleaned herself off.

  She had broken many rules.

  She had kept secrets from Juliska Blackwell.

  Jae was in some kind of serious trouble, and Ivan… she still did not know what to make of Ivan.

  I am fourteen and a half years old! I should be getting lost in daydreams and flipping through fashion magazines. Instead, I’m apparently plotting to kill my brother and his girlfriend!

  Meghan stalked passed Ivan and into the brightly lit meadow. The pyres were now emptied and being dismantled. Juliska speaking with the Viancourt members from both groups. Surprisingly, Jae stood close by as if waiting to speak with her.

  The imprisoned Svoda seemed to be coming around and reunions with family and friends momentarily grasped their attention.

  Ivan took off in the opposite direction, leaving Meghan alone. She did not try to stop him. Meghan sighed, feeling empty, numb, and tired; so tired, she wished she could no longer feel anything.

  “Maybe I can turn it off, like Ivan,” she muttered. It would be much easier than feeling angry, empty, and confused all the time. “But he does care… about something,” she admitted. “Even Ivan cannot turn it off completely.” She’d seen it in him. That conflict of feeling when he did not want to.

  She whirled around, startled, after hearing the snap of a branch in the woods behind her. Her eyes darted between the trees looking for the culprit. She saw nothing, and shook it off as nerves and headed quickly into the meadow.

  Behind where she had been standing, a silhouette emerged from the shadows.

  “It’s not the right time,” Sebastien Jendaya spoke softly. “Soon, Meghan. I promise.” He slipped away in the darkness.

  Juliska motioned for Meghan to join her. “I need a few private words with you, please.”

  Meghan was surprised that Juliska did not sound angry when she spoke. The Viancourt had left to attend to other duties. Jae stayed behind, however. He nodded in a manner that told her everything would be okay.

  “First, Meghan, I must apologize for my rash and unbecoming behavior earlier tonight. Being a leader requires certain choices that I am often not fond of making. Nevertheless, you were very brave in coming to me. The more time I have had to think about it, I realize that turning in one’s brother is just about the most difficult thing one could ever do. I also see the reasoning behind keeping your silence as discovering what appears to be an innocent girl in trouble, would garner the same decision on almost anyone’s part.”

  Meghan once again nearly choked up. This was too much. Not even Juliska was
going to be angry with her. She had betrayed her own brother; didn’t she deserve some sort of punishment for her actions?

  “You did not know,” Juliska continued. “I’m sure you believed you were doing the right thing in keeping your brother’s secret.” She leaned forward, closer to Meghan’s face, becoming much more serious. “I also expect in the future, if anything of this sort ever happens again, you will tell me immediately. You are my apprentice, Meghan. And if you wish to remain so, I must know that I can trust you, completely.”

  She straightened herself.

  Meghan did not dare breathe.

  Apprentice. Juliska had never called her that before.

  “Now, I have a mess to clean up. Do not contradict anything I am about to say, understood?” her voice now held a cold edge.

  “Yes,” Meghan replied quietly. “I’m sorry,” she added. “It will never happen again.”

  “Very well. We shall speak no more of it,” Juliska stated. “We have much more pressing issues at hand.”

  What Meghan heard intimated in Juliska Blackwell’s words was that this would be the first, and last time, she would ever clean up a mess that Meghan Jacoby had any connection to. This was strikes one, two, and three. Any other missteps and she was out! Meghan did not know what out meant in this world, but she did not wish to be the target of Juliska’s wrath.

  Moreover, in truth, Juliska had every right to be angry. Meghan had hidden Catrina Flummer, after Juliska had attempted to leave the girl sleeping in a cave. Surely, this would have been a better fate. Now, because Meghan had not come forward sooner, she had unleashed a great evil into the world, and worse, that evil had attached itself to her brother.

  Meghan felt shame only in that she had not come forward sooner. At least Colin would have been free of her! He would still never forgive me, but he would still have a chance at a life. Now…

  Juliska Nandalia Blackwell, Banon of the Svoda Gypsies, asked for everyone’s attention. The group had doubled in size, now standing at about four hundred strong.

  “First, let me just acknowledge that you all have many questions and concerns. I will explain as much as I know.” The crowd hung on her every word.

  “Upon my group’s arrival in Eidolon’s Valley, I discovered a message. It held devastating news… one of the previous group’s children had been deemed a Projector.”