Firemancer Collection (Fated Saga Box Set Book 1) (37 page)

Meghan lied, or, decided not to tell the whole truth, as she saw it.

“Banon Blackwell came to visit me when I was brought to the hospital; the day I found out I was a Firemancer. She offered me some advice.”

“Well of course she would have,” realized Sheila, looking pleased. “Banon Blackwell herself is a Firemancer.”

Ivan glanced untrustingly at Meghan, as if she were not telling the truth.

Colin looked at her the same way; he knew when his sister was lying as he’d heard her do it a thousand times before.

She is hiding something from me, still, even after what Uncle Eddy said
, he thought, blocking it from her.

The party broke up.

Irving departed for work, Ivan followed soon after, and Jae slid into his cubbyhole of a room. The twins followed into the bedroom. Colin was not sure how Jae was feeling, but
he
was pissed!

As Meghan entered the bedroom, she caught a glimpse of the wall behind Colin’s bed, now almost completely covered by Corny’s artwork.

“I don’t think you should go!” Colin spat out before she could speak.

“Why on earth not?” she asked.

“I just…” he stalled, finally saying, “don’t think you should go.”

“You’re jealous!” she guessed, thinking
how pathetic
.

“Am not,” he shot back. “I seriously think there’s something wrong with Juliska. I don’t trust her. Sorry, Jae, I know you all look up to her.”

“You don’t trust Juliska Blackwell?” Jae questioned, popping from behind his curtain. “Her judgment is a little strange I guess, but the invitations are hardly ever fair. Someone inevitably gets invited who doesn’t deserve it.” This statement, although made out of matter-of-factness by Jae, threw Meghan over the edge.

“So you
both
think I don’t deserve this?” she demanded, shaking her invitation.

Colin tried to explain better. “It’s not a matter of deserving, Meghan. It’s that I don’t think she likes me.” Nothing he said was coming out like he wanted it to.

“That makes no sense, Colin.”

“You know what, forget it. I don’t want to argue,” he said, already sorry he had brought it up.

“You started it…
Little Bro
,” she said abrasively.

“I hate it when you do that!” he thundered so forcefully that the walls shook.

“Everything okay up there?” Sheila Mochrie’s voice rang up the stairs.

“Fine Mom,” answered Jae, looking apprehensively at Colin. Mireya came running into the room as Colin stormed off. He decided he needed to visit Uncle Eddy. Meghan sighed, and chased after him.

“Wait up, Colin,” she pleaded. “You should give Juliska a chance,” she insisted.

“I’m not listening,” was all he replied, which infuriated her even more.

“I was trying to be nice,” she yelled after him, folding her arms, looking as stubborn as ever.

Jae darted past Meghan, catching up with Colin, handing him a coat. “Girls,” he said jokingly.

Colin was not ready to laugh it off yet.

“I don’t have a choice in sisters, but sometimes...” he shook his head. “She gets me SO MAD. And what’s worse, I fall for it every time.”

“Why did she call you little brother?” Jae asked. “Aren’t you guy’s twins?”

“She knows it’ll make me mad,” he answered, “And
I
am the older brother.
I
was born FIRST,” he yelled as if she could still hear him.

Colin thought about what his uncle would say if he showed up without his sister, and told him they were fighting again; he would be more than disappointed. “I can’t believe Juliska didn’t invite you, Jae, after everything you’ve been through.”

“Yeah, but I also got into trouble. She would never get away with inviting me after demoting me in class.”

“I guess, but Meghan. Let’s be honest, she sucked.”

“The Banon has taken quite the liking to her, it’s really not that bad, Colin. Maybe, just let her have this,” he said, attempting to be the voice of reason.

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” he shrugged. Colin decided to hold off visiting his uncle, and instead they headed to The Waterhouse, a small café in the village. “Looks a bit like snow,” he said with a shiver. 

“It does,” agreed Jae. “Would be nice for Christmas.”

“I wish I could see my Uncle Arnon,” professed Colin.

“You must miss him a lot, huh.”

“Yeah, but, you guys miss people all the time. How do you do it?” They entered the The Waterhouse and found a seat near the window.

“Personally, I don’t remember living any other way,” Jae said. “It is hard though, for those that do remember.”

Snow started falling. Colin noticed Ivan walking into a pub across the street called The Steel Gin, and impulsively burst out laughing.

“What is it?” asked Jae, wondering if Colin had suddenly gone mad.

“My sister’s face, when she realizes she is going to the Up and Comer’s Dinner with one Mr. Ivan Crane!”

Torrents of laughter replaced his bitter feelings.

Later, as they walked home, Colin decided he had been stupid to get upset with Meghan; after all, a fancy affair was right up her alley.

Moreover, with everything that had gone wrong, or could go wrong at any moment (like another run in with Darcy demanding the Magicante), he decided to let her have the dinner and apologize. He just hoped his gut feeling was wrong when it came to Juliska Blackwell.

When they reached the Mochrie home, Meghan, Mireya and her mother were out shopping, Irving was at work, and neither of them could tell if Ivan was home yet or not. Colin did not recall seeing him leave The Steel Gin.

“I think I’ll start some dinner, wanna help?” asked Jae.

“Why not,” he said. “It can be our own little feast, to congratulate Meghan and Ivan,” they laughed, “on their trip
together
, to the Up and Comer’s Dinner.”

They headed into the kitchen and to Colin’s displeasure, sitting on the table was another scribbled page from Corny.

“Seven,” counted Jae.

“They don’t make any sense. Look at this,” said Colin. The page was covered in black ink, with what looked like letters, but in no logical order.

“His mind is pretty screwed up,” said Jae. “Poor guy, probably trying to tell you he likes you or something.” Colin set it aside.

By the time they were finished cooking, the table was overloaded with food, and just in time. All at once everyone began arriving home. Jae and Colin heard Sheila in the hallway.

“So late, better get dinner ready,” she buzzed. When she came into the kitchen, she screamed in delight and astonishment.

Mireya lunged into the kitchen.

“What’s wrong?” She saw the prepared table and giggled.

“What a treat!” exclaimed Sheila. She kissed Jae on the head and patted Colin on the shoulder. “I have such blessings,” she said. “This looks lovely, boys.”

They also discovered that Ivan had beaten them home and had been upstairs the entire time. Colin wondered how he could be so quiet. They hadn’t heard him moving at all.

Meghan sat opposite Colin but refused to look at him. Mr. Mochrie walked in moments later and joined the table. Jae and Colin gave a shared toast, congratulating Meghan and Ivan. Meghan cheered up a little after realizing that the dinner was her brother’s way of saying he was sorry. Near the end of the meal, Irving Mochrie cleared his throat and congratulated the twins and Jae, on passing their school exams.

“I should have mentioned it this morning, but in the chaos of the invitations, I did not. I apologize. It is important to understand that passing is something to be extremely proud of.” Irving glanced at Sheila.

Colin had a sneaking suspicion she had told him to do it. Regardless, Colin was glad to see Jae looking happier.

“Oh, by the way,” said Ivan. “Another message arrived this afternoon.”

“Busy day. What about, Ivan?” asked Irving.

“Apparently, on the evening of the dinner, Banon Blackwell is sending a carriage to fetch Meghan, and, uh… myself,” he said with sour hesitation.

“A ride to boot, you’re just moving on up, you two,” admired Sheila.

Colin couldn’t get jealous at this news; the look on his sister’s face, as the reality set in, made up for all her anger towards him that day.

I am going with Ivan Crane! I will have to ride all the way to Juliska’s with Ivan Crane.
Meghan turned stone cold. She caught a hint in her mind of Colin laughing.

“I’m never talking to you again!” she exploded, abruptly leaving the table, running upstairs. The first one to speak, to everyone’s surprise, was Ivan.

“She’s hard to understand, your sister,” he said to Colin.

“Yes, she is,” Colin agreed, inwardly laughing over the irony of Ivan’s statement.

##

##

Colin went to Grimble the next day. Safe or not, he needed to talk to Uncle Eddy. He explained the Up and Comer’s Dinner, and ranted about how unfair it was for Meghan to be invited, and how he was sure Juliska couldn’t be trusted. After finishing, Colin took a deep breath, as he had spoken without taking one.

“That was a mouthful,” said Uncle Eddy. “What’s really upsetting you, Colin? I’m sure it’s not the dinner party.”

“No, it’s not the dinner party,” he admitted shyly. “I wish Meghan would listen to me. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is, Uncle Eddy, I just don’t trust Juliska Blackwell. I have seen her with Meghan, treating her all nice and special. Meghan always falls for that kind of thing. Juliska looks at me though, as if I am some kind of annoyance.

“And… When is it my turn?” his rant continued. “She always gets everything! I’m older and smarter than her, only a few minutes, but older. She always calls me her
little brother,
” he mocked. “And look at me! I am little! My
little
sister is taller than I am.”

“I see,” said his uncle. Colin felt relief for finally saying what he had been thinking. At the same time feeling humiliated for admitting it.

“Come, sit, Colin,” motioned his uncle.

Colin obliged.

“Don’t
ever
,” commanded Eddy, “let anyone, including your sister, make you believe that you are any less of a person because you might be smaller than them! Let me ask you something, Colin. How do you feel after you use magic?”

“Great,” he answered truthfully. “Powerful, like I could do
anything
.”

“What’s stopping you from feeling that way all the time?”

His uncle had a point, but still…

“I can’t do magic all the time, Uncle Eddy.”

“It’s not the magic that makes you powerful, Colin, it’s here,” he pointed to his head. “And it’s here,” he pointed at his heart. “Back in Cobbscott, when you used magic to protect your friends and sister, that was your head and your heart, Colin. Courageous, unafraid, and quick thinking.
Be that person
.”

Colin mulled it over. Even with magic on his side, he was not sure he could portray that kind of confidence all of the time. When Colin was ready to depart, he noticed Timothy was missing.

“Ah, yes. Timothy. Haven’t seen him in a few days. Not too worried though, he always shows up after awhile,” Uncle Eddy said light-heartedly.

Colin decided not to worry, but found the walk home was lonelier than he had expected.

Chapter Five

The day of the Up and Comer’s Dinner arrived. Meghan and Colin had not spoken since the big explosion over a week prior. Colin decided he would try that afternoon, before she left for the dinner, hoping she would be in a good mood. The words just would not come out when he tried.

He, along with Jae, did all they could to resist making fun of her sour face as the carriage arrived, and Ivan offered,
begrudgingly
, to help her in. Nona jumped in, tagging along. As they watched the carriage pull away, Colin bundled up and told Jae he was going for a walk. He was not jealous, but an ominous feeling nagged at the back of his mind. It did not help that his sleep the previous night had been disrupted, as he had been accosted again by Corny, delivering two more pages of the same nonsensical scribbling.

Colin wandered in no particular direction, and before long he stood on the wharf, allowing the restless ocean mists to spray his face. It was brutally cold, but the smell of the ocean reminded him of home. He wondered about Uncle Arnon, Kanda Macawi, and the Jendayas.

Summer was long over and Sebastien’s school year was half over. What were they all doing right at that moment? Was Uncle Arnon still alive? What did Kanda know about the Svoda? Had she known that the twins and Uncle Arnon were descended from a magical bloodline? These questions remained unanswered as he let the frigid spray of the ocean bite his face; somehow, it prevented his thoughts from overwhelming him.

As the carriage pulled away, Meghan stuck her head out of the window and waved; she noticed Colin walking toward the wharf and muttered, “Jealous.”

“What?” asked Ivan, from inside the carriage.

“Nothing,” she replied, bringing her head back inside. It was surprisingly warm. A small fireplace stood in the center of the carriage. Smoke billowed through the top. Meghan and Ivan sat in awkward silence listening to the clip clop of the horse’s feet against the slushy cobblestone. Nona curled up in Meghan’s warmed lap. Finally, Meghan decided she would not have her evening start off badly and attempted to make conversation.

“So, Ivan,” she said, catching him off guard. “What exactly do you do here? What’s your job?”

“I do my share,” he answered.

“Right,” she said sarcastically.

“You asked,” he replied hotly.

“So you’re insinuating that I don’t?”

“I’m not insinuating anything. You are not from our world. It’s
possible
you may belong here now, but you have a lot to learn, Meghan Jacoby.”

“I see. I’m not good enough for your world, is what you mean to say?”

“As far as I see it, you don’t fit in here. Those who don’t fit in don’t make it!”

“I’m trying my best!” she argued. “I can’t help it if I look out of place.”

“See, that’s it right there. You thought I was talking about your… clothes. The problem is, Meghan Jacoby, that you don’t take notice of what’s going on around you. If you can’t smarten up, then…” he did not finish and looked out of the window.

“Then what?” she launched back, completely insulted. “You don’t know me, Ivan Crane. You spend all your time hiding! Do you even comprehend what it means to be nice?”

It was the last straw for Ivan. He poked his head outside the carriage and asked the driver to stop.

“I will save you the trouble of having to arrive with me,” he said crossly, jumping out.

“Is this your game, Ivan? Go from hardly speaking to me, directly to saying I am a stupid girl without a care in the world? Drama boy,” she said half-jokingly, not believing he would choose to walk in the bitter wind.

Meghan wished she had stuck with her original plan and kept quiet. The snow was falling harder, there was at least four inches already layering the ground. She asked the driver to stop, sucked in deeply, and then climbed out.

“Ivan, come back inside, it’s freezing out here.”

The snow swirled around their heads. Ivan took an impatient breath and hopped back in the carriage. This time he allowed Meghan to get in on her own. As the carriage ride continued, they warmed up nicely thanks to the toasty fire. Ivan leaned around the fire and held out his hand, as if to shake Meghan’s.

“Truce. For tonight at least, let’s agree to disagree.” His eyes shouted displeasure at the arrangement but she leaned to shake his hand.

An ember popped in the stove.

Meghan was no longer in the wagon. A vision took over.

It was dark and cold but she still wore her dinner gown. She got on her hands and knees feeling carefully until she came to an edge. She crawled around the edge as a dim light appeared over her.

“Oh no, not now,” she uttered in disbelief.

As in her vision each time before, a second pillar just out of reach appeared in the darkness, imprisoning Jae’s beaten body. She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around her legs and rocked back and forth, crying.

Something changed. An echo of a voice, distant, calling her name.

“Ivan,” she sobbed. “Get me out of here! I can’t watch this again.” She witnessed the loathsome being, drowning Jae in its shadow, and tried to remain calm.

“What would Juliska do?” she asked. Meghan went over what had happened before she appeared on the pillar. “I was shaking Ivan’s hand and something happened in the fire.”

In the background from the second pillar, Jae’s voice pleaded with Meghan.

“Please, make it stop. You can help me.” His voice made her believe she was close to figuring it out.

One fact dawned on Meghan, as each of the previous nightmares came into memory.

“Ivan. I had run into Ivan each time.”

She stood up, but was no longer Meghan. Ivan took her place on the pillar. She realized it was not her own nightmare, but Ivan’s. Which meant, “He must know what’s wrong with Jae!” she shouted.

Meghan was back in the carriage, lying on the floor. Ivan clutched her drained body, gently putting her back in the seat. “I’m sorry,” he kept repeating, arrogance and condemnation gone from his voice.

“Why do you keep saying that?” she moaned.

“I know what you saw,” he confided hesitantly.

“I was right,” she exclaimed. “I got it right! It’s your nightmare I’ve been seeing, not my own.” She stopped, “Wait. How did you know?”

“The night I found you on the floor in the bath room, I heard you talking. I’ve had the dream so many times…” his pained voice trailed off.

Meghan was not sure how to feel. She had no idea that her gift would allow her to see the deepest dreams and nightmares of other people. She squirmed, realizing that the reserved and proud Ivan must be sorely wounded; but her desire to help Jae was stronger. Meghan, gathering confidence, moved across the carriage and sat next to Ivan.

“What’s happening to him?” she asked bravely.

“I don’t have any answers for you,” he replied coldly, his nostrils flaring in conflicted anger. He vaulted out of the carriage, which had come to a stop. They had arrived at their destination.

“Ivan, wait, please,” she begged, trudging through the falling snow, with Nona at her heels.

“Forget about what you saw, Meghan. I’m sorry you had to see it. But
you
can’t help!” Ivan marched inside putting on his dry smile, pretending nothing had happened.

Meghan had left her coat in the carriage, which had already driven away. She made her way inside, wet, exhausted and shivering. This was not the entrance she had pictured herself making.

Juliska greeted her guests at the door. Meghan waited in the shadows getting colder and wetter, finally sneaking through the door after the last guest had entered. Juliska took one look at her and whispered to her Pantin, “Take her to my room.” Pantin Hollee scurried Meghan up a flight of stone stairs, down a long corridor and into a warm room. She dabbed a towel over her wet hair.

Her head hurt.

Had she gone too far with Ivan?

Had she not gone far enough?
I should’ve forced it out of him…

A door at the back of the room opened and in swept the elegantly dressed Juliska Blackwell; she wore a long sleeved slimming gown in black.

“I made my excuses and got away for a minute. Now tell me, what is this all about?”

Meghan closed her eyes and tried to explain.

“I discovered some information about a vision I’ve been having.”

“Not good, I take it?” Juliska gathered from Meghan’s voice.

“No.”

“Have you been able to figure out what it means?”

“No. I did put it together that it belonged to Iv… this guy.” She decided not to reveal her source.

“It would appear you have a good start on the problem then,” she said, looking pleased. “Take a minute and get yourself together, Meghan. Pantin Hollee will help you with whatever you need. Remember, an honored seer understands she must always keep it together. Looking crazy in public leads to, well, looking crazy in public,” she laughed lightheartedly. “As you must learn to see, you must also learn to live with seeing.”

Meghan sighed. “You always make so much sense. I wish…” she did not dare speak the words she felt.

“Wish what?” Juliska asked. Her voice held the slightest tone of eagerness.

“I wish someday I could make as much sense, to myself.”

Juliska nodded and returned to her guests. Meghan let her thoughts stray to what she had not dared to say…
I wish I could live here with you. When I’m here I feel like I’m at home.

The Pantin helped Meghan get cleaned up. Once ready, she led her to a back entrance, which Juliska often used when entertaining. As she entered, all eyes focused intently on Meghan, as Banon Blackwell welcomed her to the dinner from her own private entrance.

Meghan smiled at the crowd, feeling envious eyes scrolling over her. Including Darcy Scraggs, who to Meghan’s dismay was also in attendance. She searched for a familiar face other than Darcy’s, but Ivan was the only other face she recognized, and she highly doubted he wanted to see her. In fact, he avoided her the entire evening.

It did not matter however, as appearing to be Juliska’s guest of honor Meghan had no problem meeting all of the twenty guests in attendance; which consisted mostly of older students she had never met. They, of course, knew who she was, as the new kid in town.

Meghan ignored Darcy’s icy stares and purposely paraded next to Juliska. As the evening wore on, Meghan had nearly forgotten the incident in the carriage and was having the best time of her life. After dinner, nearing the end of the evening, Pantin Hollee clanged her glass, gathering the guests’ attention.

“Banon Blackwell has an exciting announcement,” said Hollee with eager eyes. The small crowd hushed, waiting with mounting anticipation.

Finally, the Banon spoke.

“It is time,” she paused dramatically, “for an Initiation.” These were words they had all hoped to hear. The graduated students waited anxiously, each hoping they had been deemed worthy to join the Svoda, as a fully-fledged and initiated member.

“Ivan Crane! Please step forward.”

The crowd was stunned. His name was not what the group expected to hear. Other than Meghan and Darcy, he was the youngest in attendance.

Ivan stepped forward and knelt before the Banon, with a look of overwhelmed awe on his face.

“Your Initiation will begin after the transfer to our next world. Congratulations, Mr. Crane. You have proven yourself a loyal servant to the Svoda.”

“I am truly honored, Banon Blackwell, and I pledge my life to the Svoda,” Ivan replied humbly. The small crowd clapped and crowded Ivan, congratulating him on his Initiation announcement. Meghan stayed back, feeling confident he did not want her congratulations.

Soon, the evening was ending and guests began to depart. Meghan started to feel ill. Her head grew dizzy as she waited in line to say her farewells to Juliska. A few spots behind her in line stood the ever-observant Ivan Crane, who noticed Meghan start to sway. He swooped in, putting his arm around her waist.

“There you are,” he said. “I was looking for you.” Ivan steadied her smugly. She wanted to push him away, but realized she might fall over if he let go.

“Ah, our newest Initiate, Mr. Crane,” said Juliska, her eyes brightening. “It’s been a pleasure to have you.” She brushed a concerned hand against Meghan’s face, which was growing paler by the second. “I trust you will get Ms. Jacoby home safely, and quickly,” she added, realizing Meghan’s current condition was not suited for public exposure.

“Yes, of course, Banon Blackwell. Right away,” he promised. “Also, thank you on behalf of myself, and Ms. Jacoby, for your hospitality this evening.”

He led the dizzy Meghan out the door, overhearing Juliska whisper, “Don’t be a stranger now, Meghan.”

“You’ve become quite the little chum to Banon Blackwell, haven’t you?” he interrogated, while assisting her into the carriage.

“Are you making fun, Ivan? ‘Cause honestly, I’m not in the mood.”

“In
all
honesty,” he said, “you look ill.”

“Thanks,” Meghan responded sardonically, adding, “My head is spinning.”