Silver Dew (32 page)

Alone in the cabin, with nothing else to do, I took out the sketchpad and black calligraphy pens I had purchased from the train’s gift shop and began to draw. It was easy to fall into the trance-like state now, I was halfway there already. Time ceased to exist as there was nothing but me and the pen and the dark, looping, weaving lines. This design felt different than the others, the pattern more complex and detailed. I let my instincts take over and formed each precise loop, line, spiral and twist as I knew it was meant to be. And as I drew, I let my mind wander, idly contemplating what exactly this spell might be for. My pen came to an abrupt stop with the last line of my drawing. My trance-like state suddenly shattered as the realization hit me - it was the design for a spell to erase the memories of another person. The design was familiar to me too. It was similar in both pattern and intricacy to the tiny, dime-sized tattoo hidden in Sebastian’s hair but not exactly the same. There were a few subtle differences. What did it mean?

I studied the design curiously. Though I was relieved it wasn’t a spell for torture or death, I was confused that I had drawn it at all. Obviously all the Others, including Mags and Sebastian, already knew how to erase memories without using a design. This spell was just as useless as all the others I had recalled.

I let out a frustrated sigh, reaching for the page to tear it up but something made me hesitate. The design really was quite complex and beautiful. The symmetry and balance to the pattern was impressive and the way it seemed to all be formed from one line that never ended until it looped back to its own beginning… it was strangely fascinating.

I closed the sketchbook and tucked it away, leaving the drawing unharmed. At least it was proof that I might be able to remember some spells that weren’t deadly or torturous. I would keep the drawing as my one and only pathetic symbol of hope.

The train appeared to be slowing down, probably for our last stop in Bulgaria at Kulata before we crossed the border into Greece. I wondered why Sebastian and Mags hadn’t returned to our cabin yet. We really needed to sit down together and discuss our plans. As much as I didn’t want to be anywhere near the two of them for any extended period of time, it was obviously necessary to make sure that we all wanted the exact same thing before we traveled any closer to the Others.

Just then the door to the cabin burst open and Mags and Sebastian rushed inside, Sebastian’s eyes were wide with alarm and Mags’ were bright with excitement. Before I could even ask, Sebastian looked right at me, his expression and tone intense.

“The Others are here.”

Chapter Thirteen – Ceremony

“We only have two options, to run or to fight,” Mags stated flatly as she pushed her way into the cabin. “There are two of ‘em and they must have sensed us as soon as we sensed them. They were right here at the station when the train pulled in but they’ll be running by now, trying to get far enough away that our magic won’t affect them. Then they’ll warn The Order that we’re here. We have to stop them. We need to all want for them to come back, to face us so that we can take ‘em down.”

“No,” I immediately objected. “We still haven’t come up with a plan on how to deal with them and–”

“I’ll deal with them,” Mags promised darkly.

I swallowed hard, not liking this situation at all. I reluctantly turned to Sebastian. “What do you think?”

He hesitated before answering. “I don’t know. I just… I don’t know. I don’t think we can let them get away.”

I shook my head, my mind working fast. If Sebastian and Mags both wanted the Others to come back they would and then who knew what would happen? I couldn’t even guess at what Mags had in mind for “dealing” with them, and I didn’t want to risk any chance of Sebastian being captured or hurt. I didn’t want Mags’ violence to bring back any more nightmarish memories from his past either; the way he’d been acting lately, I wasn’t certain that he could handle it. I was left with only one option.

“Fine. I’ll do it then.”

Mags and Sebastian both stared at me disbelievingly. It didn’t help my confidence at all when Mags began to laugh.

“You’ll do what?” she smirked.

“I’ll deal with them. I want them to come back and I want them to talk to me.”

The smile slowly disappeared from Mags’ face as she realized I was serious. Sebastian just continued to stare at me.

“I can do this, I know I can. And I can’t see any other real option.”

Mags opened her mouth to object but I immediately cut her off, pushing on before she had the chance to speak.

“If you try and
deal with them
and something goes wrong, they’ll know who you are; you’ll give away our numbers. Besides, if you do something that stops them from returning to The Order, the rest of the Others will become suspicious. They’ll start hunting for us before we have a chance to surprise them,” I pointed out.

Mags slowly closed her mouth, glaring at me indignantly.

“And just what the hell is it that you plan on doing? I know you’re too much of a coward to use any of Caoilinn’s nasty spells.”

I took a nervous breath in, slowly exhaling through my nose as I tried to calm and focus myself. I was aware the whole while of Sebastian’s eyes on me. I didn’t dare look his way but I had a strong suspicion he was barely breathing or blinking.

“I’m going to alter their memories,” I announced, a quiet power behind my words.

Sebastian still didn’t move or speak.

“That’s not possible,” Mags denied. I could hear the doubt in her voice.

“It is. I know I can do it,” I insisted, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

“Did you remember a spell? Is it a new design?”

Before I could answer her questions, Sebastian suddenly jumped up. Both he and Mags turned expectantly towards the front of the train.

“They’re back already,” Sebastian quietly announced. “They’re so close now… they must be boarding the train.”

This was really it, I realized. No going back now. I squeezed my amber pendant in my fist, pulling strength from and through it.

“Stay in the cabin with Sebastian,” I instructed Mags, my voice surprisingly level and calm. She scowled at me, obviously not enjoying my new “take-charge” attitude. I had nothing to lose. The only way that the Others could hurt me now was by hurting Sebastian, and there was absolutely no way I was going to let that happen.

Sebastian stepped in front of me slightly, blocking my way to the door. “Gracelynn, I don’t think you should do this.” He was frowning as he spoke, looking both worried and confused. I automatically took a step back, flinching away from his proximity and the painful swirl of emotions that arose in his presence.

“Don’t worry,” I tried to reassure him. “We just all have to want this to work.”

His forehead creased even more, his eyes looked strained. Then he slowly nodded and stepped aside. “I’ll… we’ll be right on the other side of the door if–”

“I’ll be fine,” I told him firmly. There was a new, authoritative power in my voice that made even me want to believe myself. Sebastian’s brow relaxed slightly.

I quickly stepped around him and out into the hall. I took another calming breath and then tried to reach out with my mind, searching for an awareness of the approaching Others. There was a definite sense of danger and anticipation hanging in the air but as far as specifically sensing the Others, my efforts came up dry. Even so, as soon as they descended the staircase at the far end of the hall, I instantly knew it was them.

The first to appear was a young, European girl. Her nationality was hard to place as well as her specific age; she could have been anywhere from 15-20, though there was a strong likelihood that she was at least several hundred years old. She had olive-toned skin, dark hair and large dark eyes; there was an exotic quality to her beauty. She was tall and toned, and could easily have been a model despite her casual clothes. She froze the instant she saw me, recognition and awareness flashing through her nearly black eyes. She must know who I was. It took me a second to realize her hesitation was caused by fear. The knowledge added to my courage and gave me strength. I stood up straighter, pushing my shoulders back and staring back at her as steadily and expressionlessly as I was able to.

A young man came down the stairway behind her into the narrow hall. His eyes met mine immediately. It was no surprise to see that he was handsome, I had come to expect it of the Others. He was tall and thin but in a lean, well-proportioned way. His skin was a beautiful, warm tone of brown, his hair shiny black and his eyes were large and almond-shaped. He was older than the Others I had encountered before him, appearing to be in his mid-twenties. I could guess from his appearance that he was from some part of India or Nepal but who knew where he had spent the majority of his unnaturally-long life.

They stood close together at the end of the hall, completely frozen. They had obviously not expected to encounter me like this. I saw my advantage and took it.

“Hello,” I greeted in an eerily calm voice. I knew my words carried clearly to their ears though I didn’t strain at all to be heard. I wanted them to hear each and every word, and so they did. “Do you know who I am?”

There was a long pause before either of the Others answered. My heart began pounding in my throat, my nerves increasing with each passing second. I forced all my emotions deep down, burying them within me where they couldn’t distract or influence my actions. I embraced the cold, numbness that was left behind, finding a new strength and focus there.

“You’re the reincarnate of Caoilinn,” the man stated, a barely perceivable tremor to his voice. I was surprised by the polite, English accent with which he spoke though I didn’t let any of it show.

“I
am
Caoilinn,” I stated firmly. My voice sounded deadly, my eyes were ice. I wasn’t sure why I said it but it felt right and it inspired the reaction I had hoped for. The Others watched me warily, both their eyes widening and their stances tensing. I found myself slowly smiling. I wasn’t sure where this new confidence was coming from but it was thrilling and emboldening. For once in my life, I felt truly powerful and in control. “I’m afraid I don’t know your names. Come forward,” I commanded in a soft and sweet voice that sounded nothing like my own. It cracked down the hall like a whip, demanding to be obeyed.

The Others immediately began moving towards me, their faces shadowed by fear and uncertainty. The tall man’s face was slick with sweat despite the air conditioned interior of the train. They came to a stop just three feet before me. I was surprised when the girl spoke first.

“My name is Angelina,” she announced in an unexpectedly low and smooth voice. There was a faint accent to the way she spoke but not one that I could place. “And this is Jai. We are original members of the ancient Order and we have come to summon you, Caoilinn, and your companions to the Head Temple.”

I blinked once, watching curiously as a drop of sweat began to form at the girl’s forehead. Jai shifted uneasily behind her as the silence stretched out.

“I want you to have no doubt, that you are here because I summoned you and for no other reason,” I corrected, a clear edge to my voice. Angelina swallowed visibly, her confidence rapidly fading.

“What do you want with us?” Jai asked in a strained and breathy voice. “You have obviously summoned us back here for a reason.”

I locked my eyes with his and waited until he looked away before I spoke.

“I want to know why you are in Kulata? You will tell me the truth – the whole truth.”

This time, there wasn’t even the slightest pause before Jai answered. “The Order is gathering all of its members. There are five originals at the Head Temple, including ourselves. We wanted all the Others to join us and we wanted you and Sebastian to come so that we could decide what to do with you,” Jai stated in near-monotone. I immediately recognized the false quality of a well-rehearsed speech.

“I don’t want to hear lies!” I snapped. It wasn’t an act either, I was abruptly furious that they would try to deceive me. I reached to brush my long hair back over my shoulder and was vaguely surprised to find the short wavy curls that barely brushed my shoulder tops. I locked eyes with Jai again, letting my anger burn through into his deep, almond orbs. “Tell me the whole truth -
now
.”

I was barely aware of Angelina’s gasp as Jai’s whole body began to tremble. His eyes became unfocused and started to glaze over. His lips slowly began to move.

“We were stationed along the border at the most likely entrance points – The Order knew you were arriving by train. Whoever found you was to capture you and bring you to the Temple. You, Caoilinn, were to be questioned by The Order – the rest of your fate left undecided. Sebastian was to receive punishment for his crimes against us, the severity of which would eventually result in his death. We were lead to believe that you did not have this kind of control over your ability. Another is aiding you; you are obviously drawing strength from him through the Bond…” Jai’s eyes slowly shifted as he spoke to the cabin door that stood just a foot behind me at the end of the hall. I reacted to the subtle threat in his eyes instantly.

I reached past Angelina and grabbed Jai by the hair. His eyes bulged as I touched him. Angelina let out a faint squeak of fear and then dropped down onto the floor. I didn’t want her to interfere and so she couldn’t move.