“I have nothing to hide,” said Juliska with a wink. The woman named Ardon stood back near the entrance while KarNavan and Juliska took a seat.
“I hope cold stone doesn’t bother you?” said Juliska, noting the Striper’s lack of warm clothing.
“Now, now, you know our lizard blood runs a lot warmer than your cold blooded skin.” His words had a bite to them.
“So you are what I’ve been sent. I guess you’ll have to do,” said Juliska.
“And what, may I ask, would you like us to do here? I understand you have finally taken over, for real.”
“Yes, you should have seen it. It was all rather dramatic,” she said, her eyes swimming with wild satisfaction. “The people are mine. I simply need some help keeping things under control.”
“And why not just end it all now?”
“Oh no. Now would be... fast. I want them to suffer, a lot.”
KarNavan shook his head, looking amused by her. “I have to ask, what is it that makes you hate these people so much? To spend years planning and implementing this betrayal and still, you want them to suffer. I gotta say, I kind of like this side of you.”
“Of course you do,” she replied hotly. “Your people’s story after all, is legend. You abandoned these people in the middle of a vicious battle, leaving them to suffer and die by the enemies of the Grosvenor during your journey to a new home. This home,” she pointed toward the mainland.
“We just saw things a little differently,” he mused.
Juliska sighed, seeing he was not going to give up his quest for answers so easily. And for some reason she felt like telling. She was so happy with everything that had happened she nearly felt as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning. Her aspirations were finally coming to pass.
“When I first came to live with the Svoda, I had no memory of my life before then,” she told KarNavan. “They found me and brought me to the island. There was no explanation of why I did not have any memories but regardless, I was a magical child and needed protection, and training. A family adopted me, the Cobb family.”
KarNavan’s eyes lit up, he knew of the Cobb family, most notably Amelia Cobb. To his knowledge, the rest of the Cobb family resided on the island. Amelia was the only Cobb banished.
“I was instantly a middle child of five,” she continued. “Two very much younger and very much older siblings. None of whom I ever really got to know well or got along with. Then, a few years later, I was deemed a Firemancer and I was sent to train with a seer. They were all jealous over the attention I got after that.”
She made a snooty face, wrinkling her nose as if trying to be cute. Her face straightened and turned serious after her overdone display.
“I don’t know how much you know, KarNavan, but when I was younger, still an apprentice to the current seer, I was selected to participate in a quest on behalf of the then Banon. A group whose goal was to scour the world and search out a new home; we were outgrowing the island.”
“I do recall this quest. However, only that it occurred, and ended badly.”
“Bad in some people’s opinions perhaps,” she replied thoughtfully. “I do not believe you know that during this quest I was taken prisoner, by none other than Jurekai Fazendiin. I was frightened, at first. Thought I would die. Then he told me the most astounding thing. That he had taken me because he smelled my blood. A bloodline he had not smelled in hundreds of years. One he had believed had died out after the Shogharne clan, his clan, was wiped out.”
“After the Grosvenor were first created,” finished KarNavan, his voice intrigued. “When the remaining magical folk, before they became the Svoda, killed the lot off, fearing they’d somehow be recruited by the Grosvenor. You’re one of them,” he said. “You are a descendant of the Shogharne, a Vampyre. Your family survived.”
“Yes. More so than telling me who I was, Fazendiin did something no one else could do. He gave me back my memories.”
“Ah,” said the Striper, leaning back. “And what did you remember?”
“My mother. My father. Both very old and dying, but not until they had told me everything about my history and what these Svoda,” she pointed toward the dark island, “had done to my people. Wiping them out of existence.”
“How old were your parents when they died?” he asked.
“I do not know. The Vampyre cannot sustain us forever. We can feed, but over time you need more and more life force and after a while you will never have enough. Death will claim you. It’s not true immortality.”
The Striper leader got a knowing gleam in his eye. “And this is what you truly want, isn’t it? True immortality.”
She did not answer, but shot him a look that said, why not?
“So how did you end up back here? And their leader? I’ve always wanted to know how you made that happen?”
“I didn’t want to come back,” she explained. “Not once I knew the truth. But I wanted them to suffer, slowly, so I planned, schemed and plotted my revenge when a terrible truth hit me.”
She paused, standing.
“I had to go back. Even with all I had learned, I had to return.”
“Why?”
“Would you believe, love?”
He laughed. Then laughed harder.
“Hard to stomach isn’t it? But truth. I was young and in love. Fazendiin let me go, left it up to me to decide. He would not spill his own clan’s blood. I told the Svoda I had escaped... they are so stupid! Like you escape an immortal!” she laughed manically, her eyes wild. “Then again, I could say the same about myself back then. Stupid and in love.”
“And where is said lover today?” he asked daringly.
“Dead,” she answered simply.
“How?”
“The coward took his own life after betraying me on our wedding day,” she explained, anger clinging to her words. “Colin Edward Gillivray was his name. I called him Eddy.” She held no fondness in her tone. “After his death I knew what I had to do. I would never again be made the fool! I would never again suffer as I had suffered at the hands of these people, or that man,” she spat out, as if the words themselves were poisonous.
“I contacted Fazendiin and told him I would do whatever it took but I wanted these people to suffer. He started by helping me kill my mentor and I took her place as the seer to the Banon. After a time, he suddenly grew ill and could not be healed by magic. He died quite quickly,” she continued, her tone now lighthearted. “I could recount history all night. Long story short, I became the next Banon with a little help from my friend in higher places. And then I drove them apart, one by one, until the banished were driven from the island. I laid out one fear after another until I drove the rest back into hiding, traveling aimlessly in tiny groups, broken from their friends and family.” She savored each word like it was a mouthwatering dessert.
“They suffered. I liked it. I controlled every aspect of their lives.” She turned swiftly, staring out over the dark island. “And the best part is, they loved me for it! I could do no wrong. So blind. Preferring to live in ignorant bliss.”
KarNavan nodded, impressed. “And now, after all is finished, you hope to gain immortality... the Immortality Stone is long lost.”
She just lifted her shoulders in reply. He was probing for information.
If the stone had been found, the Stripers were the last people that needed to get their hands on it. She ignored his attempts to speak of immortality, instead turning the focus onto him.
“It’s your turn, KarNavan,” she said. “Spill. What’s in all of this for you? I know you tend to play the winning side, but this seems a little low, even for you.”
He stood and took a curt bow. “As you said, I like to play the winning side. Winning is living. Nothing more.”
She hadn’t expected him to be honest with her. She eyed him, distrust present. Just what agreements had he made with Fazendiin?
“So what may we help the Queen of the Svoda with first?” he asked her instead.
> “Sharing time is over then,” she pouted. “Fine. There is a task I need handled straight away. One that will require a bit of finesse.”
KarNavan nodded towards his second, Ardon, who strode to his side, then nodded toward Juliska. She was a shorter woman, with the same lizard skin stripes lining her body as the Stripers were known for, but she held a tall posture and tough gaze.
“A small band of rebels escaped,” explained Juliska. “They’re hiding somewhere on the island. I want them captured. I want to make an example out of them with a nifty little gift Fazendiin gave me,” she explained, taking something out of her pocket.
She showed it to KarNavan. It was a small round, smooth stone. “No need to explain what this is to you.”
“I see you’re finally in the loop,” he retorted, somewhat dismayed.
“You may have caught me off guard in the meadow, draining everyone’s magical powers with the stones Fazendiin gave you, but you didn’t actually think he’d keep me in the dark, did you? I’m blood. Best to remember that.”
“Of course, my Queen,” he nodded curtly. “So what of these rebels?”
“They cannot have gotten far; the protections I have on the island will keep them prisoner here. I want them rounded up and brought to me.”
“Very well,” he began, but she stopped him.
“There’s more. There is a young couple that somehow did escape the magical prison I created, and it is my belief that this band of rebels know something about this. I aim to find out. I want one of these young people returned to me. I believe she may have been taken against her will.”
“I see,” said the Striper leader. “There can only be so many places to hide, it is an island after all. Our magic trackers will get on it. It shouldn’t take long to locate them.”
“Excuse me,” spoke the stern looking Ardon. “If I may ask a question.”
“Yes.”
“Do you truly believe these rebels will talk? Even once captured and their lives threatened?”
“Why do you ask?” Juliska replied.
“It’s just that, I have found that people tend to be loyal in these circumstances, and I have another idea. One that might get you everything you’re looking for, with a lot less effort on your part.”
Juliska cracked a slow smile. “I’m listening.”
CHAPTER 13
“Colby, I’m tired, I need to sit for a few minutes,” said Meghan. He had spent hours showing her around the grounds of his home, sharing a few memories of the place, the last being when his father had found the Catawitch, Elisha, wandering around the gates and brought her to his son. This made her miss Nona and remember how lonely she felt without her by her side.
She had no idea how much time had gone by since Colby had taken her. Hours? Days? Weeks? Time did not seem to work the same inside memories.
She had witnessed Colby in classes, which was boring. She had seen his grandmother, whose soul was stuck inside the stained glass, her life forever, never moving forward.
“I’m sorry about your grandmother,” she told him as they took a seat on a moss-covered rock.
“Yes, one of those things done by those Svoda you hold in such high esteem,” he spouted. “They stole her soul and hid her body, thinking they could use this as leverage against my father. My grandmother wouldn’t allow it though. She refused to let him give in. One day, he will find her body and return her soul. We’ll have an actual living grandmother,” he added, sounding thrilled by the thought. “She’s tough though. Strict. I guess that’s where our father gets it from.”
Meghan refused to reply, partly due to being exhausted and partly due to feeling completely overwhelmed. Traveling through memories was much more tiring than one would think, never mind that realizing the woman stuck in the stained glass was also her grandmother. She had gained a family she knew nothing about, and wanted to know nothing about. She would never truly be a member of this family. She didn’t see the point in learning about them.
“Let’s eat,” Colby suddenly suggested.
“There’s no food. Memories, remember?”
“Lucky for you, I have endless magical powers and can call some food for us. What would you like?”
Without meaning to, her thoughts went instantly to pizza. Her ultimate comfort food. It had been years.
“I’ve never tried that,” he said, catching the thought.
“You’ve never had pizza. How is that possible?” she asked incredulously.
“My dad is against anything he hasn’t grown himself.”
“Grown, like veggies?”
“Just veggies,” Colby clarified.
“You mean your dad is a vegan?”
“Didn’t expect that, huh?”
“Not really, no.”
“He doesn’t believe in what he calls false foods. He wants to eat only what comes from the land, says it’s healthier. Keeps the mind sharper.”
“Have you ever eaten meat?” she asked him.
“Yup. But he doesn’t know that,” he added in a tone that said let’s keep it that way!
“I won’t tell,” she replied in an annoyed tone. “Don’t plan on having any conversations with him.”
Colby shrugged. “You might not have a choice.”
“Whatever,” she said, not wanting to argue.
She sighed. Now that she had pizza on the brain, she could not let go of the idea of it. She could not help but think of her favorite pizza place, in southern Maine. She could see them tossing the dough, slathering the crust with cheese and sauce and watching it arrive at the table all bubbly and...
“Wh-where are we?” she asked, not realizing they had jumped to another memory.
“At that pizza place you were just thinking about. Don’t worry, no one can see us.”
She just stared at the entrance with her mouth gaping. A man stepped out of the door with a large box in his hand, walking right past them. A car pulled into the parking lot and another man jumped out and ran inside. She turned around and around, in disbelief of where she was. Cars. People. Civilization.
“Please tell me this isn’t a memory,” she said, her mouth watering at the tantalizing smell emanating through the door each time it opened.
“We are in the present and I’m about to try pizza.” Colby’s face lit up like an excited child about to open a present.
Meghan wondered if he was always like this, or if this was a side effect of the new gift his father had given him. He presented confidence and yet questioned himself constantly. He was independent and yet would do anything to please his father. He loved attention. Was never wrong. Was stubborn. Was...
She looked at him, eyes wide with uneasy acceptance.
He’s me.
“Finally getting that are you?” he asked, hearing her thoughts. “We are not so different, Meghan.”
“We may have shared a womb and parents, and we may even act a bit alike,” she conceded. “But we are very different people, Colby.”
“Suit yourself,” he said, grabbing the door as a young man exited with a pizza box. “After you,” he motioned.
Her stomach growled. She frowned, stepping inside.
Colby watched a young woman taking a gooey bubbling cheese pizza out of the oven and cut it into slices. Once she had the box closed, she wrote a name across the top and set it on a counter for a customer not yet arrived to pick it up. Colby simply thought it and the pizza box was in his hands. They escaped the parlor and exited the store. It was a chilly evening, near dusk. At least she assumed it was chilly, as people wore light jackets and scarves; but whatever magic Colby was doing, she did not feel the cold.
They found a deserted picnic table near the back of the store, out of sight and opened the box. A plume of steam shot up into the sky and they each grabbed a slice. The first bite was truly delectable. Meghan had not had this in such a long time she had forgotten how good it was. In no time, Colby was onto his second slice.
“I don’t care if this is mind n
umbing food. This might be the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” he mumbled, stuffing in another bite.
She could not stop herself from agreeing. Something about the hot gooey cheesy crust made all her worries subside. For a moment, life was simply about eating pizza.
She stopped for a minute, watching him.
“Did you... did you just smile?”
His grin dropped. “No,” he instantly retorted.
“I totally saw you smile. I was starting to think it wasn’t possible.”
He finished his slice with a forced frown.
She rolled her eyes, grabbing another slice. But before she took a bite set it down.
“Are you happy?” she asked him.
“Are you?” he snapped back. “And does it matter? Is anyone, happy? I think it’s a fake emotion that makes people feel good to believe exists.”
She wasn’t so sure he had it wrong. And didn’t that suck.
“Look, I get that our father might be a little hard to understand if you don’t know him. But that’s the thing, Meghan. You have to get to know him. It’s only fair you give him the same chance you give everyone else.”
It was also sickeningly hard to argue that point. How many times had life thrown her in circles? Filled with secrets and lies from people she had trusted, and believed were on her side. Still, she could not condone her father’s actions. Or Colby’s. She had to believe in herself, if no one, or nothing, else.
She needed more pizza. A lot more. Maybe a bismark, too. Big old sugar bomb would make it all feel better. For a few minutes, at least.
The one thing that was clear is that she was stuck in a gray area, which was getting bigger and bigger. And as to what her part in all of this was, she still had to figure that out. But right now… pizza.
She finished off two more slices to Colby’s three. And when done let out a satisfied groan.
“Should not have eaten that last slice. So full. Too full. I don’t know about mind numbing, but I sure would have a hard time running away from something right now.”
He agreed, patting his stomach.
“You don’t look so good,” she told him.
“Don’t feel so good.”
The Spell, The Stones, and The Treasure (Fated Chronicles Book 3) Page 9