Embrace (16 page)

Colin did not know what to say. It was the biggest jam he had ever been in, and yet again, his sister had come to his rescue. This time, though, he was thankful. She could sense it and smiled back.

Would Juliska really buy Meghan’s story though?

At least Catrina was safely at his side. That was all that mattered.

As if knowing he was thinking about her, Juliska Blackwell strode toward Colin, eyeing him suspiciously. She was stopped however, when the entire Caravan of Svoda gasped in unison as an unexpected doorway fell from nowhere, thudding to a stop on the fog covered ground. Out of the doorway bounded a scrawny young man. His shirt read B.O.D. guard.

“Okay, who is in charge here?” he asked.

Juliska stepped forward and spoke with the young man.

“I am sorry. I’m afraid we ran into a bit of trouble,” she apologized.

Colin watched Catrina leave his side and tiptoe closer to overhear the conversation.

“Yes, we tracked that!” the young man replied. “Um, can I speak to you alone, please?” The man backed away a few feet and Juliska followed.

“I’m just the messenger, I don’t know all the details, but someone at the B.O.D. guild is not happy with you right now. They told me to warn you that if any other incidents like this occur, they could take away your B.O.D. privileges.”

Juliska looked as though she was trying to keep her temper in line, but remained outwardly calm.

“Thank you for the message. Please pass along to the guild that this was most unexpected and unavoidable.”

“Yeah, they kinda wondered why on earth you’d even want to stay in the E Valley.

Eidolon’s always had a bad temper. Well, I suppose I’d better get on my way now. We will 81

be permanently closing all doorways into the E Valley. We cannot take the chance that Eidolon could ever get out!”

“Just one more thing, though, out of curiosity,” said Juliska, as innocently as she could.

“When you close a doorway, nothing can come in or out? Is that right?”

“That is the point, ma’am. Nothing in! Nothing out! Sure hope you left no one behind. If so, they’re stuck there for good!”

Juliska nodded that she understood as the young man opened his door. She turned her gaze to Colin, taking a step forward. Colin refused to make eye contact with her, pretending to be fiddling around with his backpack. He let out a deep breath as she suddenly changed her mind and whisked away to speak with the Viancourt.

The young man with the B.O.D. shirt closed the door and in a flash, it lifted like an elevator, disappearing with a heavy swoosh.

Catrina returned to Colin’s side, her face pleased.

“Perfect. No one knows Eidolon is dead.”

“That’s good, right?” questioned Colin.

“For now, it bides us more time.”

Colin wanted to ask her what she meant, but his question was interrupted by an announcement from the now conscious Garner Sadorus.

“There will be a doorway opening soon. So get ready people. Life does go on!” As he began barking orders and people began scurrying about to get ready, Meghan and Jae joined Colin and the hidden Catrina.

Colin first explained to Jae that he had found her and that she was currently invisible, but there. Meghan and Colin then took turns describing each of their tales, in regards to traveling into the valley, and running into the hooded boy again (whose name was Colby).

Meghan told Colin that Colby’s was the voice she had been hearing. Although curious as to how this could happen, he was more concerned about Catrina and grew impatient to be alone with her.

Jae oohed and awed as they finished their tales.

“Frankly, I am both amazed and confused,” he finally told them as they finished.

“You are not alone in that conclusion,” added Meghan.

“I mean, how could Colby and Catrina end up in Eidolon’s Valley? Catrina being from another group, and Colby, from wherever he is from, which I’m sure is not the E Valley.”

“My thoughts exactly,” exclaimed Colin, eager for Catrina to enlighten him on this fact.

Just how had she ended up inside the glass coffin? Once again, it would have to wait, as Ivan sauntered over.

“I need Catrina to tell me why I’m keeping her secret,” he demanded quietly.

“I knew he wouldn’t let it go,” Catrina sighed. She told Colin what to say.

“Catrina says your mother left her a song she had written for you. She will be able to play the song for you, but not here or now.”

Colin allowed her to tell him what else to say. After another long pause he continued.

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“She says that the most important thing about the song were the words… ‘Find my hidden treasure and you will find the answers you seek.’”

“Hidden treasure,” repeated Ivan. “My mother had no such thing.”

“Hence the word hidden, Ivan,” whispered Catrina.

Colin passed along her message.

Ivan frowned and stalked away. For some reason, Meghan felt inclined to follow him.

Colin, trying not to look too obvious, turned his full attention to Catrina. She grabbed his hand.

“By the way,” she said to him, “Happy birthday, Colin.” He had completely forgotten. He and Meghan were now fourteen. Colin and Catrina sat and smiled at each other. He was still in disbelief that she was there, and real, sitting in front of him. He could not take his gaze away.

Meghan laughed as she followed Ivan.

“Boy, he’s got it bad,” she muttered. “So Ivan,” she said, gaining his attention. “Are we officially done with the whole Initiation thing?”

Ivan turned to her and nodded an annoyed yes. “Thanks for not ratting out my brother, Ivan. I know Catrina has information about your mother, but, thanks just the same.”

“The way I see it, it’s all part of the deal. As I said, Meghan, I will get what I want. And once I do, so will you.”

“So much business! Can you ever just… relax?” Ivan contorted his face as if he did not understand the meaning of the word. Ivan leaned in to her ear.

“Business partners, Meghan. I don’t have the time for anything else.” She rolled her eyes in reply, leaving him to ponder his mother’s message. She sat down, breathing deeply, and calmly. Seeing Colin gazing at the invisible Catrina had made her thoughts wander. A small flame erupted on her palm.

“Sebastien,” she whispered. Her experiment worked. She gladly fell into the vision and saw her beloved Sebastien, sleeping, but calling out her name as if searching for her. Watching him made her realize how terribly she missed him.

In addition, how sidetracked her life had become. Magic was taking over. Trying to survive was taking over. Embracing her path as a Firemancer was taking over.

No longer were her goals just that of getting home, finding out the fate of her Uncle Arnon, and getting back to her old life.

Sebastien’s eyes opened and he stared into Meghan’s eyes. His hand reached out, as if to touch her. Meghan wanted desperately to call out to him, and for him to hear her.

She pictured her voice finding him.

“Meghan?” he whispered.

Had he actually heard her?

Sebastien looked around as if searching for the voice he so longed to hear.

“I will find some way to save you, Meghan!” he called out.

“I miss you!” she then said.

“I miss you too, more than you can even imagine,” he replied.

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Hearing his voice overwhelmed Meghan and she lost the connection. She tried to regain it, but failed.

What did this mean? Could she use her Firemancy to speak to people? Could she reach Sebastien and find out their uncle’s fate? Could she somehow use her power to return them home?

More importantly, she wondered, did she want to go home?

Could she go home?

Even once they found out their uncle’s fate, she would still be a Firemancer. She still needed training. She still needed Juliska Blackwell.

Both she and Colin were now deeply rooted into their new lives. Would their uncle want them to come home, or stay?

Nona rubbed her side against Meghan’s contorted face and then licked away a falling tear.

“I love you, too, Nona,” she whispered.

When Meghan opened her eyes, they fell on Juliska Blackwell.

Sighing, she made her decision.

She would stay.

##

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