Cassia bowed before the Eldest, unflinching as he tapped her sword to each her shoulders.
It had been weeks and weeks since she had come to Laddinley, but they seemed like mere hours to the girl who never rested, never seemed to have a moment of hesitation. She rose in the morning, did some quiet stretching to warm her body, and to not wake her sister. Honey often slept through these meetings, preferring playing with Padrig to watching her owner fight. Then she was off, swinging through the city like she was one of the Elves.
Then she began her training with Step. At first it had been simple, childish exercises, such as shooting an arrow into a dummy or throwing her dagger into one of the trees. Then it moved to endurance training. Running all around the city branches, climbing vines to get to a lookout post, jumping up and up and up trees to strengthen her leg muscles. Finally she began really training: using her sword against Elvin adversaries, keeping lookout with the Brotherhood, occasionally shooting at kyrees or harpies came too close.
One day, Step told her that her father had talked to the Elders of the city.
“He wants to make you an honorary Brother.” He explained as they took their daily walk around the city.
“Is that even possible?” She asked, trying to read his face. “I’m not even a boy, let alone an Elf.”
“He’s pushing for it. And as a member of the Brotherhood himself-”
“What?”
“He joined when he was younger. I would assume you would know that.” Step smiled.
For an Elf, he had quite a sense of humor. “As I was saying, as a Brother himself, he has a say in the matter. And with Atropos behind it as well…It just might happen.”
And here she was, now. Accepting the ear piercing without screaming, just as any male Elf would do. There was sparse applause from the small audience. Her family was present, though her father was standing next to the Eldest. Atropos and Step were there as well, with the rest of the Brotherhood. Her brothers, now.
Honey barked in joy from her position next to Cassia. Cassia couldn’t help but smile at the dog, her eyes shimmering like she was a puppy.
It seemed, for the time, that things were right. Here was where she belonged.
That night, when the aether lights had been relieved of their duty, there was a low howl in the distance. At first Cassia didn’t hear it, but then suddenly Honey was up, barking and howling, growling and pacing next to Cassia’s bed.
There was another howl, this one higher, and closer. The werewolf was somewhere in the forest.
The light flickered on in her room. Still half asleep, Cassia could barely see her mother in the light.
“Get up and get dressed.” Her mother whispered. “Travel clothing, wear this over it.” Something heavy landed on the foot of her bed. Cassia struggled in the lighting to find it. The smooth texture told her what it was. A leather tunic, just her size.
When she went out into the entry hall, Honey in pursuit, her father and mother were talking in low voices to the Eldest, who Cassia recognized from the events of the day before. He had two of the Brotherhood with him, armed as if for combat. Atropos was with them, standing with his bow and quiver, and sword on his belt. A pack was on his back, he was ready for travel.
“Cassia.” Her father said, holding up his hand to beckon that she join them. Honey took to pacing around the group, protecting them. Mistress Graystone had Cassia’s weapons: her sword, her dagger, her bow and quiver. Cassia put them on without question, already knowing the direction of events.
“Brother Cassia,” the Eldest creaked, using her full title, “the werewolf has found the three of you again.” Cassia nodded. Atropos seemed to know this as well. “For the safety of the city, you must leave. Atropos has offered to slay the beast, and with your help, I believe it could be accomplished.”
“We’d have to stay for from the city, from any city, to keep the people safe.” Atropos continued, his voice unfeeling. “We’d eventually find him, and kill him.”
“Of course.” Cassia said. Her mother was now placing a prepared pack on her shoulders. She kissed her cheek gently, in farewell. Cassia picked up Honey and placed her in her familiar pouch to be safe. “We must leave now?”
Atropos nodded. “Immediately.”
They stole from the city quietly, not even talking as they descended the great tree that was the gateway. This time Cassia was as fast as Atropos, almost beating him as her feet landed quietly on the forest floor.
“Where are we going?” Another howl rang out from the north.
“South.” Atropos said, quickly making his way away from the tree.
“We’ll pass Keshia.”
“Yes, we will.”
“Will we stop there?”
“Of course not. It would be too dangerous.”
“Atropos?”
“What?” He asked, turning to glare at her briefly. She realized his unhappiness. He had to leave Diamantina, and now it was as if she was following him. Only it was not his love, but an illusion of her.
“Do you think Tempest sent the wolf?”
“Yes. And we’ve done the worst we could have; we led him to your father. Maybe we can pull him away, but if we can’t…”
“My father won’t let anything happen to him.”
“He already has.”
Showing posts with label Crane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crane. Show all posts
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Post 11
Atropos kneeled along the path, tracing something in the dust with his finger.
“Hoof prints.” He said, keeping his voice low. “They were headed toward Trictia.” He looked off into the distance, where the crossroads led to the river, and then the next country.
“What do you think-” Atropos brought a finger to his lips and crept along the ground, following the trail. He looked up at a hill that the path followed and leapt to his feet, gracefully covering the distance before Cassia could begin to follow him.
“They were ambushed.” The Elf’s voice barely hid the fury underneath. Cassia looked over the hill.
Around them, bodies lay dead, broken, shot, bleeding. Arrows stuck out of corpses like an extra limb. Masses of bodies were stacked up in a bonfire that was still lightly smoking. The bodies were charred, filling the observers’ nostrils with vomit-inducing smoke. Honey came to life in Cassia’s arms, squirming and howling her pain at the fallen victims.
Cassia swallowed, feeling tears in her eyes.
“Ambushed.” Atropos repeated. “No one could defeat the Armet if they were ready.”
“Who would do this?” Cassia asked, anger finally registering with her.
“The same people who tried to arrest your father.” Atropos said, turning to face her, his gray eyes blazing.
“Tempest.” Cassia whispered, clenching her fists. “He’ll pay.”
“Yes.” Atropos turned and headed down the hill. “He will pay.” Honey barked as Cassia began to turn and follow the Elf. He froze, at whatever she barked, and turned to make eye contact with the dog. She growled, as if confirming what she had said. Atropos rushed to Cassia’s side, taking her arm in his firm grip.
“We’ve got to get out of here.” He hissed, pulling her along.
“What?”
“Before it gets our scent!” Atropos was pulling her by the wrist now, racing down the path and back toward the open expanse of road that they had met the gypsy on. Cassia tried to turn back to look but their speed was too much for her. She was panting, the hot air turning her lungs to dust. The smell of the smoke had still not left her mind.
“Who knows when they started this?” Atropos muttered to himself as they ran. “What else do they have on their side? Spirits? Mermaids?”
“What’s following us?” Cassia managed to pant as they ran. Nothing was in sight in front of them, they were so far from Millea. And if whatever was following them was strong enough, even the city wouldn’t save them.
Smoke billowed up behind them, rushing forward to complete a shape. The old wagon reformed, blocking their path. The crazy woman peered out at them, just as she had left them.
“I told you.” She said, her voice much more serious. “You were too late.”
“That doesn’t matter now!” Atropos said, trying to make his way around the cart.
The gypsy held out her hand and he froze, unable to move. Honey didn’t growl or howl, she nearly whimpered, as if asking for help.
“Indeed, it doesn’t matter.” The gypsy waved her other hand, and the back door to the wagon opened. “You need shelter, a way back to Laddinley.”
“Can we trust you?”
“Ask the mutt.” Honey gave a little yip, somewhat angry. “Oh, don’t pretend. You know I speak the truth.” The dog gave a gruff bark, which Atropos sighed at. He turned to look behind them. Cassia followed his gaze.
In the sun, following their trail, was a man, bent over the path as if he needed to be that close to see it. Then it raised its head and gave a great howl. Cassia gasped.
“We accept your offer.” Atropos said, pulling a stunned Cassia into the wagon.
“It…it can’t be.” She whispered. “They’re a dead race…Something from stories!”
“Your politicians are the storytellers.” The gypsy said as the entered the cool room. She waved her hand and the front window closed. The wagon wheels creaked as they began to move of their own accord. Honey barked as the woman passed them, making her way to a swinging hammock in the corner. The gypsy reached forward her gnarled hand to pet the dog on the head and smiled gently at her. “I’m not as young as I used to be, my friend.”
The wagon was only four walls, a cabinet on one side, the hammock next to it. One wall was the window, and the last was bare. Atropos and Cassia sat against it, anticipating the long ride.
“He got our scent.” Atropos said, glaring at the floor. “We’re safe in here, but he’ll find us again.”
“Until you put an end to him, or until he puts an end to you.” The gypsy’s voice was matter-of-fact as she lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, rocking back and forth with the moving of the cart.
“You can be assured that I will.” The Elf said, staring at the window that separated them from the harsh sun. Then he turned to the gypsy. “Why are you helping us? You were on the opposite side during the Great Wars.”
“Most were.” She replied, closing her swollen eyes. “Your kind was too.”
“But you actually were.” He said, his voice unyielding. The woman didn’t move, but her voice filled the cabin.
“I fought oppression, and lies, and all the things that come to be. If you had been there, you would have too. The war is starting again, the same war, fighting the same things. I’m on the same side. It’s the point of views that have changed.”
Atropos turned to look at the ground again.
Cassia, recovering from her shock, found her voice again. “What’s going to happen now?”
“No one will be pleased with the fall of the Armet.” Atropos said, gritting his teeth. “All noble warriors know that they did not die under normal war. Those who respect true fighting will follow your father.”
“No.” The travelers looked to the gypsy, whose eyes had gone blank, transfixed on the future. “The Master Graystone will not fight again. Nor will the Brotherhood be disbanded. The flocks will come. The city will fall. Doom will come to one and all.” She blinked and gave a little laugh, an echo of the one before. “And I thought I saw things clearly.”
“My dad won’t fight?” Cassia repeated, taking a breath to steady herself. “Will he die?”
“Everyone dies, we only worry about when or where.” She said this almost as a rhyme, rocking back and forth.
“And some of us don’t worry.” Atropos muttered, his voice seemingly coming from no where in the darkness.
The gypsy bolted up, her wrinkled face coming alive as her eyes went blank.
“You were almost killed. Your father didn’t want you. Your mother couldn’t keep you. Left alone. All alone. The Brotherhood came, they took you in. Saved your life, your soul, your skin. Gave you a life. You can’t repay. You follow your honor. You’re scarred, it can’t be undone. You can only win, just as you’ve always won. Love was never something you’d treasure, seeing as you’ve lost it, you know forever. Fight Atropos, you’re not done yet. Give them something they’ll never forget.”
She collapsed back on the hammock, deep asleep.
Cassia turned to Atropos, looking for some explanation.
“Gypsies.” He muttered, taking off his bow and quiver.
“Marantha.” The woman jolted awake, before entering sleep again. Atropos’ mouth was open, his eyes wide.
“What?”
“I…I was going to ask what her name was…” The Elf took a shaky breath, leaning back against the wall.
“She’s powerful.” Cassia said, shrugging and letting Honey loose. The dog ran around, sniffing everything, as if reminiscing in old times. Then she snuggled next to Cassia’s leg and fell asleep. “She’s tired.” The girl said, petting the dog’s fluffy head.
“She’s old. Older than that one.” Atropos said, nodding at the sleeping Marantha.
“How do you know?”
“She told me.” He seemed to want the conversation left at that, but the girl couldn’t help prying.
“Is that all?”
“For now.”
“What was it she was saying about you?” Cassia looked back at the sleeping figure, not wanting to disturb her.
“Things I already knew.” Cassia sighed, slumping against the wall.
“Elves.”
“Humans.” Atropos countered. But when Cassia looked up at him, he was smiling.
“Hoof prints.” He said, keeping his voice low. “They were headed toward Trictia.” He looked off into the distance, where the crossroads led to the river, and then the next country.
“What do you think-” Atropos brought a finger to his lips and crept along the ground, following the trail. He looked up at a hill that the path followed and leapt to his feet, gracefully covering the distance before Cassia could begin to follow him.
“They were ambushed.” The Elf’s voice barely hid the fury underneath. Cassia looked over the hill.
Around them, bodies lay dead, broken, shot, bleeding. Arrows stuck out of corpses like an extra limb. Masses of bodies were stacked up in a bonfire that was still lightly smoking. The bodies were charred, filling the observers’ nostrils with vomit-inducing smoke. Honey came to life in Cassia’s arms, squirming and howling her pain at the fallen victims.
Cassia swallowed, feeling tears in her eyes.
“Ambushed.” Atropos repeated. “No one could defeat the Armet if they were ready.”
“Who would do this?” Cassia asked, anger finally registering with her.
“The same people who tried to arrest your father.” Atropos said, turning to face her, his gray eyes blazing.
“Tempest.” Cassia whispered, clenching her fists. “He’ll pay.”
“Yes.” Atropos turned and headed down the hill. “He will pay.” Honey barked as Cassia began to turn and follow the Elf. He froze, at whatever she barked, and turned to make eye contact with the dog. She growled, as if confirming what she had said. Atropos rushed to Cassia’s side, taking her arm in his firm grip.
“We’ve got to get out of here.” He hissed, pulling her along.
“What?”
“Before it gets our scent!” Atropos was pulling her by the wrist now, racing down the path and back toward the open expanse of road that they had met the gypsy on. Cassia tried to turn back to look but their speed was too much for her. She was panting, the hot air turning her lungs to dust. The smell of the smoke had still not left her mind.
“Who knows when they started this?” Atropos muttered to himself as they ran. “What else do they have on their side? Spirits? Mermaids?”
“What’s following us?” Cassia managed to pant as they ran. Nothing was in sight in front of them, they were so far from Millea. And if whatever was following them was strong enough, even the city wouldn’t save them.
Smoke billowed up behind them, rushing forward to complete a shape. The old wagon reformed, blocking their path. The crazy woman peered out at them, just as she had left them.
“I told you.” She said, her voice much more serious. “You were too late.”
“That doesn’t matter now!” Atropos said, trying to make his way around the cart.
The gypsy held out her hand and he froze, unable to move. Honey didn’t growl or howl, she nearly whimpered, as if asking for help.
“Indeed, it doesn’t matter.” The gypsy waved her other hand, and the back door to the wagon opened. “You need shelter, a way back to Laddinley.”
“Can we trust you?”
“Ask the mutt.” Honey gave a little yip, somewhat angry. “Oh, don’t pretend. You know I speak the truth.” The dog gave a gruff bark, which Atropos sighed at. He turned to look behind them. Cassia followed his gaze.
In the sun, following their trail, was a man, bent over the path as if he needed to be that close to see it. Then it raised its head and gave a great howl. Cassia gasped.
“We accept your offer.” Atropos said, pulling a stunned Cassia into the wagon.
“It…it can’t be.” She whispered. “They’re a dead race…Something from stories!”
“Your politicians are the storytellers.” The gypsy said as the entered the cool room. She waved her hand and the front window closed. The wagon wheels creaked as they began to move of their own accord. Honey barked as the woman passed them, making her way to a swinging hammock in the corner. The gypsy reached forward her gnarled hand to pet the dog on the head and smiled gently at her. “I’m not as young as I used to be, my friend.”
The wagon was only four walls, a cabinet on one side, the hammock next to it. One wall was the window, and the last was bare. Atropos and Cassia sat against it, anticipating the long ride.
“He got our scent.” Atropos said, glaring at the floor. “We’re safe in here, but he’ll find us again.”
“Until you put an end to him, or until he puts an end to you.” The gypsy’s voice was matter-of-fact as she lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, rocking back and forth with the moving of the cart.
“You can be assured that I will.” The Elf said, staring at the window that separated them from the harsh sun. Then he turned to the gypsy. “Why are you helping us? You were on the opposite side during the Great Wars.”
“Most were.” She replied, closing her swollen eyes. “Your kind was too.”
“But you actually were.” He said, his voice unyielding. The woman didn’t move, but her voice filled the cabin.
“I fought oppression, and lies, and all the things that come to be. If you had been there, you would have too. The war is starting again, the same war, fighting the same things. I’m on the same side. It’s the point of views that have changed.”
Atropos turned to look at the ground again.
Cassia, recovering from her shock, found her voice again. “What’s going to happen now?”
“No one will be pleased with the fall of the Armet.” Atropos said, gritting his teeth. “All noble warriors know that they did not die under normal war. Those who respect true fighting will follow your father.”
“No.” The travelers looked to the gypsy, whose eyes had gone blank, transfixed on the future. “The Master Graystone will not fight again. Nor will the Brotherhood be disbanded. The flocks will come. The city will fall. Doom will come to one and all.” She blinked and gave a little laugh, an echo of the one before. “And I thought I saw things clearly.”
“My dad won’t fight?” Cassia repeated, taking a breath to steady herself. “Will he die?”
“Everyone dies, we only worry about when or where.” She said this almost as a rhyme, rocking back and forth.
“And some of us don’t worry.” Atropos muttered, his voice seemingly coming from no where in the darkness.
The gypsy bolted up, her wrinkled face coming alive as her eyes went blank.
“You were almost killed. Your father didn’t want you. Your mother couldn’t keep you. Left alone. All alone. The Brotherhood came, they took you in. Saved your life, your soul, your skin. Gave you a life. You can’t repay. You follow your honor. You’re scarred, it can’t be undone. You can only win, just as you’ve always won. Love was never something you’d treasure, seeing as you’ve lost it, you know forever. Fight Atropos, you’re not done yet. Give them something they’ll never forget.”
She collapsed back on the hammock, deep asleep.
Cassia turned to Atropos, looking for some explanation.
“Gypsies.” He muttered, taking off his bow and quiver.
“Marantha.” The woman jolted awake, before entering sleep again. Atropos’ mouth was open, his eyes wide.
“What?”
“I…I was going to ask what her name was…” The Elf took a shaky breath, leaning back against the wall.
“She’s powerful.” Cassia said, shrugging and letting Honey loose. The dog ran around, sniffing everything, as if reminiscing in old times. Then she snuggled next to Cassia’s leg and fell asleep. “She’s tired.” The girl said, petting the dog’s fluffy head.
“She’s old. Older than that one.” Atropos said, nodding at the sleeping Marantha.
“How do you know?”
“She told me.” He seemed to want the conversation left at that, but the girl couldn’t help prying.
“Is that all?”
“For now.”
“What was it she was saying about you?” Cassia looked back at the sleeping figure, not wanting to disturb her.
“Things I already knew.” Cassia sighed, slumping against the wall.
“Elves.”
“Humans.” Atropos countered. But when Cassia looked up at him, he was smiling.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Post 9
Chapter 2
Archia returned with them to Laddinley. She shouldn’t have been traveling, but she didn’t care anymore. Cassia let her ride the horse, opting to walk with Atropos and the rest of the Elfin Brotherhood. They walked slowly, having no need to hurry. It might as well have been a funeral march.
They walked until twilight. The Elves found a spacious cave. After searching
for a little bit, they handed Archia and Cassia a bundle of furs to sleep on.
“We have catches of supplies hidden everywhere.” Atropos explained, settling on his own furs. “You only need know where to look.”
Cassia couldn’t sleep. She needed to find her father. More importantly, she needed to get to the Armet, as quickly as possible. Her entire family was in danger. What of Thad and Padrig? Had they escaped with her father?
The road to Laddinley was effectively the opposite direction from the crossroads. It was the closest Elfin city to Keshia, which meant they would follow the road that Cassia had traveled to get to Millea.
She sat up, looking towards the mouth of the cave. Atropos was sitting there, staring up at the twinkling stars. Cassia stood up, careful not to disturb Archia, who had managed to find sleep, and found her way over the sleeping forms to the head elf.
“Can’t sleep?” She asked him. He shrugged.
“We always keep watch. It’s my turn.” His voice fit the setting. If she hadn’t known he was talking, Cassia might have taken it for the wind.
“We need to find the Armet.” Cassia said, looking out at the forest.
“We need to report back to your father. Then we can worry about the Armet.”
“It might be too late.”
“We might already be too late. And what of your sister?”
“She would be safe with your men.”
“You propose you go alone?”
“That’s how my father sent me.”
“The conditions are different now.” Cassia glared at Atropos, taking him in. He was no longer wearing the leather tunic, instead his wore a loose, white cotton shirt and leather breeches. His long blond hair was pulled back, his piercings glinting in the moonlight. He was well trained. Experienced in fighting, and leading. He would help her, out of respect for her father. If she asked him.
“Very well. What if you accompanied me?” He didn’t seem surprised. He bowed his head, thinking.
“If you insist on going, it is only right that I go with you.” He said. Quickly he stood, walking over to where he stored his gear. Quickly he strapped his leather armor on, shouldered his quiver and bow, and packed up the furs. Cassia made her way back to her pack and carefully put a sleeping Honey in her place.
Cassia looked for Atropos, who had awoken his second in command and was whispering orders to him while the others slept. Then he looked over at Cassia and met her eyes.
She carefully made her way to the mouth of the cave for the last time. Atropos met her there, as did the other elf.
“We will bring your sister to Laddinley, and to Master Graystone. Then our orders are to follow your trail until we meet you.” He said, standing at attention. Cassia nodded, and looked at Atropos.
“We should get moving, to make up the time we lost today.” He said. Cassia nodded. He nodded to the elf, who saluted him, then started walking in the direction of the path that they left to find shelter. The elf bowed to Cassia, then went back into the cave. Cassia turned to follow Atropos, wondering if she had made the wrong decision, and wishing she could go back to her father like Archia was lucky enough to do.
They traveled all night, making their way next to the path instead of on it. No travelers or soldiers came there way, all had taken a rest tonight. Cassia was fearful of Witches, but realized they had been traveling the other direction when she had seen them two days ago. They were long gone now. The pair passed Millea sometime as the sun was rising. It was a miserable place, now that Cassia thought about it. Who wanted to spend their whole life sailing or smelling the rotten fish odor that was far too abundant in the town?
“We should be at the crossroads before nightfall.” Atropos said, slowing his pace for the first time that night. Honey, who had been silent since she awoke as the passed the fishing town, yapped a bit until Cassia put her on the ground to
walk. “We can take a break for nourishment, if you so desire.” Atropos said, stopping to remove his pack. Cassia did so as well and sat in the shade of one of the few trees. The forest had ended before Millea, and the sun had beat down on the trio ever since.
All was uncomfortably silent. Even Honey was quiet as she rolled around in the dirt, trying to move around as much as possible before she had to be carried again.
“How did Cristo die?” Cassia asked. “Who do you think killed him.” The question made Atropos uncomfortable, and he was silent for moments more before answering.
“They were sword wounds. Likely some soldiers that follow the command of the Tempest Council.”
“Don’t soldiers have a code of honor?” She asked, drinking some water from a skin. “Not to kill a defenseless man?”
“Maybe he fought back.”
“Maybe they weren’t soldiers.”
“You asked my opinion, and I gave it.” Atropos snapped. Honey stopped rolling and looked at the quarrelling creatures. “You do not need to-“ He stopped and turned his head toward the path. In the distance a wagon could be seen, traveling faster than horses or wheels could carry it. Atropos hissed and picked up his pack again, and then pulled Cassia up by her arm.
“What’s-?”
“Gypsies.” He snarled, handing over her pack. Honey all but jumped into Cassia’s arms as the wagon approached. Atropos didn’t move. There was no where to hide, and they couldn’t outrun it.
The wagon rolled to a halt. It appeared abandoned. There were no horses or people or anything. The main window opened and an old lady peered out at them.
“Afternoon, travelers.” Her voice creaked with age, her skin wrinkling as she spoke. “Anything I can help you with?”
“No thank you.” Atropos said, his voice firm.
“A ride to the crossroads?” Her knowledge brought forth no surprise from the pair, it was the only place they could be going. Her brow furrowed, bringing forth more lines. “An elf and a human? Together? That is no normal sight.”
“These are not normal times.” Atropos responded.
“Indeed, young Brother.” She cackled, bringing forth a crystal ball. “Need you know your future?”
“I know all I need to.” He responded.
“There must be something I can do for you.” She said, waving her hand over the ball. It glowed dully, pulsing in her palm.
“No thank you.” Atropos said, beginning to walk away. Cassia followed, keeping the elf between her and the wagon.
“Your mission is for nothing!” The woman called after them, her laughing and cackling at what she saw. “You will return empty handed! More blood is coming, my friends! You have no idea!” Her laughter died as the wagon began to turn to smoke. In an instant, it was gone.
“Gypsies.” Atropos spat, shouldering his bow again.
Archia returned with them to Laddinley. She shouldn’t have been traveling, but she didn’t care anymore. Cassia let her ride the horse, opting to walk with Atropos and the rest of the Elfin Brotherhood. They walked slowly, having no need to hurry. It might as well have been a funeral march.
They walked until twilight. The Elves found a spacious cave. After searching
for a little bit, they handed Archia and Cassia a bundle of furs to sleep on.
“We have catches of supplies hidden everywhere.” Atropos explained, settling on his own furs. “You only need know where to look.”
Cassia couldn’t sleep. She needed to find her father. More importantly, she needed to get to the Armet, as quickly as possible. Her entire family was in danger. What of Thad and Padrig? Had they escaped with her father?
The road to Laddinley was effectively the opposite direction from the crossroads. It was the closest Elfin city to Keshia, which meant they would follow the road that Cassia had traveled to get to Millea.
She sat up, looking towards the mouth of the cave. Atropos was sitting there, staring up at the twinkling stars. Cassia stood up, careful not to disturb Archia, who had managed to find sleep, and found her way over the sleeping forms to the head elf.
“Can’t sleep?” She asked him. He shrugged.
“We always keep watch. It’s my turn.” His voice fit the setting. If she hadn’t known he was talking, Cassia might have taken it for the wind.
“We need to find the Armet.” Cassia said, looking out at the forest.
“We need to report back to your father. Then we can worry about the Armet.”
“It might be too late.”
“We might already be too late. And what of your sister?”
“She would be safe with your men.”
“You propose you go alone?”
“That’s how my father sent me.”
“The conditions are different now.” Cassia glared at Atropos, taking him in. He was no longer wearing the leather tunic, instead his wore a loose, white cotton shirt and leather breeches. His long blond hair was pulled back, his piercings glinting in the moonlight. He was well trained. Experienced in fighting, and leading. He would help her, out of respect for her father. If she asked him.
“Very well. What if you accompanied me?” He didn’t seem surprised. He bowed his head, thinking.
“If you insist on going, it is only right that I go with you.” He said. Quickly he stood, walking over to where he stored his gear. Quickly he strapped his leather armor on, shouldered his quiver and bow, and packed up the furs. Cassia made her way back to her pack and carefully put a sleeping Honey in her place.
Cassia looked for Atropos, who had awoken his second in command and was whispering orders to him while the others slept. Then he looked over at Cassia and met her eyes.
She carefully made her way to the mouth of the cave for the last time. Atropos met her there, as did the other elf.
“We will bring your sister to Laddinley, and to Master Graystone. Then our orders are to follow your trail until we meet you.” He said, standing at attention. Cassia nodded, and looked at Atropos.
“We should get moving, to make up the time we lost today.” He said. Cassia nodded. He nodded to the elf, who saluted him, then started walking in the direction of the path that they left to find shelter. The elf bowed to Cassia, then went back into the cave. Cassia turned to follow Atropos, wondering if she had made the wrong decision, and wishing she could go back to her father like Archia was lucky enough to do.
They traveled all night, making their way next to the path instead of on it. No travelers or soldiers came there way, all had taken a rest tonight. Cassia was fearful of Witches, but realized they had been traveling the other direction when she had seen them two days ago. They were long gone now. The pair passed Millea sometime as the sun was rising. It was a miserable place, now that Cassia thought about it. Who wanted to spend their whole life sailing or smelling the rotten fish odor that was far too abundant in the town?
“We should be at the crossroads before nightfall.” Atropos said, slowing his pace for the first time that night. Honey, who had been silent since she awoke as the passed the fishing town, yapped a bit until Cassia put her on the ground to
walk. “We can take a break for nourishment, if you so desire.” Atropos said, stopping to remove his pack. Cassia did so as well and sat in the shade of one of the few trees. The forest had ended before Millea, and the sun had beat down on the trio ever since.
All was uncomfortably silent. Even Honey was quiet as she rolled around in the dirt, trying to move around as much as possible before she had to be carried again.
“How did Cristo die?” Cassia asked. “Who do you think killed him.” The question made Atropos uncomfortable, and he was silent for moments more before answering.
“They were sword wounds. Likely some soldiers that follow the command of the Tempest Council.”
“Don’t soldiers have a code of honor?” She asked, drinking some water from a skin. “Not to kill a defenseless man?”
“Maybe he fought back.”
“Maybe they weren’t soldiers.”
“You asked my opinion, and I gave it.” Atropos snapped. Honey stopped rolling and looked at the quarrelling creatures. “You do not need to-“ He stopped and turned his head toward the path. In the distance a wagon could be seen, traveling faster than horses or wheels could carry it. Atropos hissed and picked up his pack again, and then pulled Cassia up by her arm.
“What’s-?”
“Gypsies.” He snarled, handing over her pack. Honey all but jumped into Cassia’s arms as the wagon approached. Atropos didn’t move. There was no where to hide, and they couldn’t outrun it.
The wagon rolled to a halt. It appeared abandoned. There were no horses or people or anything. The main window opened and an old lady peered out at them.
“Afternoon, travelers.” Her voice creaked with age, her skin wrinkling as she spoke. “Anything I can help you with?”
“No thank you.” Atropos said, his voice firm.
“A ride to the crossroads?” Her knowledge brought forth no surprise from the pair, it was the only place they could be going. Her brow furrowed, bringing forth more lines. “An elf and a human? Together? That is no normal sight.”
“These are not normal times.” Atropos responded.
“Indeed, young Brother.” She cackled, bringing forth a crystal ball. “Need you know your future?”
“I know all I need to.” He responded.
“There must be something I can do for you.” She said, waving her hand over the ball. It glowed dully, pulsing in her palm.
“No thank you.” Atropos said, beginning to walk away. Cassia followed, keeping the elf between her and the wagon.
“Your mission is for nothing!” The woman called after them, her laughing and cackling at what she saw. “You will return empty handed! More blood is coming, my friends! You have no idea!” Her laughter died as the wagon began to turn to smoke. In an instant, it was gone.
“Gypsies.” Atropos spat, shouldering his bow again.
Post 8
Perhaps I was wrong about his intentions, she thought, the wind whipping through her hair. Honey appeared to be holding on for dear life, in her pouch.
“If we make it past the river we should be safe.” Stan’s voice was almost lost in the air trying to pull them back. The sun beat down on them, it couldn’t have been past midday.
Suddenly an arrow whistled through the air, brushing past Stan’s ear with deadly accuracy. The arrow was enough to spook his horse, which stopped galloping and rose on its hind legs, trying to shake his master.
Clearly these horses were never trained for combat.
Against her better judgment, Cassia slowed her horse and turned him around, facing the attacking elves.
The smoke effect seemed to have worn off. Cassia had seen it before, Thad had used a lesser version to entertain the city children during parties or meetings that preceded parties. It was just a trick, a combination of different roots or herbs. Nothing compared to what elves could do.
“I’ll say it again,” Atropos sneered down at Stan, his green eyes glinting fiercely, “We need the Graystone. You are free to go.”
“Why do you need me?” Cassia asked, her voice cutting clear across the dirt path. The elves turned to look at her. She must have looked braver than she felt, for they looked to their leader to say something.
“We follow orders.” He said, not meeting her eyes. He lowered his spear to jab Stan in the ribs with it. Not enough to kill him, just enough that he knew what he was dealing with. “And our orders do include killing anyone who gets in our way.”
Maybe it was the horse chase, maybe the pain that was jolting through his side, but Stan broke.
“Okay! Take her! I don’t care!” He scrambled to his feet. “It’s better this way. Better that she died in the forest than once she was actually home.” He turned to go, eyes on the elves. When none of the Brotherhood moved to stop him, he took off through the woods, avoiding meeting Cassia eyes.
As soon as he was out of hearing range, the elves started shaking with laughter.
“Coward!” Atropos called after him. “Good riddance!” One of the elves led Cassia’s horse over to him, with her still riding.
She was panicked, remembering the mermaid’s warning. Blood would be spilled, what if it was meant to be hers? Suddenly she realized that perhaps she was in better hands now. Stan had only been plotting to kill her. Archia had been right.
“Don’t be afraid, Mistress Graystone. You’re in good hands.” Atropos said, his voice mysteriously soothing.
“You’re not going to hurt me?” Cassia didn’t let her voice waver. In fact, she almost believed the words as she said them. Honey was much too relaxed for this to be a person that meant her harm.
“Your father would slaughter us if we ever let harm come to you.” He smiled. Cassia relaxed. Her father. Of course.
Master Graystone had many connections throughout Arche, ranging from merchants to sailors, soldiers to peasants, Wizards to, in this case, Elves.
“He sent you?”
“He suspected the young Tempest knew of your departure.” Atropos explained, leading the horse down the path as the rest of the Brotherhood followed. “Soldiers arrived at your parents’ house the night after you left. Thanks to his connection with the Tribe, and various mages, he had a series of secret tunnels under the house, which he led your family and servants through. They popped up in Laddinley a few hours later. You can imagine our surprise.” The elves chuckled a bit. The noise was a bit disturbing, echoing off the trees and making it appear that there were more than the four or five following them.
“Master Graystone was sure they had sent someone to, ah, retrieve you. He sent us along, knowing that no Tempest follower would know of his connections. We were just supposed to follow you silently until something troubling happened.”
“How did you know that Stan was with Tempest?” Cassia asked. They approached the hill leading to Millea once again. Cassia was suddenly anxious to see her sister, to tell her what had happened, to warn her of any danger.
“We saw him as he came into town. There was a letter with his mission on it. He was going to kill you.” This didn’t seem to bother Atropos, he walked slowly, in pace with the tired horse, down past the sign and to the streets that Cassia had walked the last time.
“Thank you, I suppose.” Cassia sighed as Honey began squirming in her knapsack. She removed the dog, who began running in midair, toward the docks. “What is it Honey?” Honey whined, the high pitch rung throughout the village. Atropos and the other elves gasped. “What?” In an instant spears and bows were drawn, and all but Atropos had galloped toward the dock.
“You don’t have to see it.” He said to Cassia. In one fluid motion he had leapt up onto the horse, behind Cassia, took the reigns from her startled hand and turned it to trot toward Archia’s house.
“What’s wrong?” Cassia’s heart was fluttering, her breath coming much too short. Something terrible had happened.
“There’s nothing you can do.” He brought the horse to a halt and jumped off. He took Honey from her hands and placed her on the ground, then lifted Cassia and put her, too on the ground. She was so startled she couldn’t protest.
“Go find your sister.” He told her, kneeling next to the dog. Cassia finally brought herself to move, and sure enough he had taken them to Archia’s dwelling. She hurried inside, opening the door without being allowed in.
“Cassia?” Archia took in her flustered face and immediately came to her sister’s side. “What’s wrong?”
“Just…Just come with me.” Suddenly Atropos’ orders and Honey’s actions were making sense. A sense that she did not want to consider. Archia followed her outside, where the elf was still conversing with the dog. Archia gasped quietly, but Cassia couldn’t bring herself to look at her sister. “Atropos?” The elf looked up, immediately taking in Archia’s condition.
He swore under his breath.
“We can only wait here.” He said, not meeting Cassia’s eyes.
“What has happened?” Archia asked, her tone much more demanding than Cassia’s had been. Atropos rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down at Honey as if asking her permission. Finally he sighed and looked up at the sisters.
“Something has happened to your husband.” He said, his voice solemn. “I believe that at the same time the messenger came for Cassia, someone else came for him.”
“Cristo?” Archia breathed, grabbing on to Cassia for support. “Is he all right?”
“I’ve sent the rest of my men to find and help him,” Atropos said, “They have the means to heal him, if his wounds are not too serious.”
“Oh…” Archia moaned, collapsing against the wall in tears. “We should have left before. Left all this political business behind us.” Cassia held her sister, rubbing her back as she wept. Atropos picked up Honey, who barked and whimpered to him urgently.
“I thought your kind hated animals.” Cassia accused, seeing the way he gently handled her dog.
“Rumors.” He dismissed. “Every horse we find we care for, and eventually set free. We’re not as evil as most think.”
“You talk to animals?”
“We understand those that understand us.” He said, looking toward the street as Honey barked urgently.
A formation was swiftly running toward them, carrying another on their shoulders. Cassia glanced over at Atropos, whose expression was bleak. She could almost read his mind. There was no way they would bring him back here, if there was a way to save him. They were bringing him here to report back, that there was nothing they could do.
The Brotherhood gently put Cristo’s body before his wife. Tears streamed down her face, but she held strong, this time. She stood, quite difficult to do in her condition, and bent over the face of her husband.
His once tan skin was alarmingly pale, his hair bloody and mussed. His sailor clothing was torn and covered in dried blood mixed with dirt. Atropos was right. This was not an accident. Someone had come for him.
“We were too late, Miss.” One of the elves, a shorter and younger one, said. He bowed to Archia, as did the rest of them. To her favor, she was strong. She did not faint, she did not fall to the ground. “Our sorest grievances.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was a mere whisper. “He warned me, a while back…of something a siren sang to him while he was passing an island…”
Cassia could practically hear the mermaid hissing in her ear.
The first blood has been spilled. Now it truly begins.
“If we make it past the river we should be safe.” Stan’s voice was almost lost in the air trying to pull them back. The sun beat down on them, it couldn’t have been past midday.
Suddenly an arrow whistled through the air, brushing past Stan’s ear with deadly accuracy. The arrow was enough to spook his horse, which stopped galloping and rose on its hind legs, trying to shake his master.
Clearly these horses were never trained for combat.
Against her better judgment, Cassia slowed her horse and turned him around, facing the attacking elves.
The smoke effect seemed to have worn off. Cassia had seen it before, Thad had used a lesser version to entertain the city children during parties or meetings that preceded parties. It was just a trick, a combination of different roots or herbs. Nothing compared to what elves could do.
“I’ll say it again,” Atropos sneered down at Stan, his green eyes glinting fiercely, “We need the Graystone. You are free to go.”
“Why do you need me?” Cassia asked, her voice cutting clear across the dirt path. The elves turned to look at her. She must have looked braver than she felt, for they looked to their leader to say something.
“We follow orders.” He said, not meeting her eyes. He lowered his spear to jab Stan in the ribs with it. Not enough to kill him, just enough that he knew what he was dealing with. “And our orders do include killing anyone who gets in our way.”
Maybe it was the horse chase, maybe the pain that was jolting through his side, but Stan broke.
“Okay! Take her! I don’t care!” He scrambled to his feet. “It’s better this way. Better that she died in the forest than once she was actually home.” He turned to go, eyes on the elves. When none of the Brotherhood moved to stop him, he took off through the woods, avoiding meeting Cassia eyes.
As soon as he was out of hearing range, the elves started shaking with laughter.
“Coward!” Atropos called after him. “Good riddance!” One of the elves led Cassia’s horse over to him, with her still riding.
She was panicked, remembering the mermaid’s warning. Blood would be spilled, what if it was meant to be hers? Suddenly she realized that perhaps she was in better hands now. Stan had only been plotting to kill her. Archia had been right.
“Don’t be afraid, Mistress Graystone. You’re in good hands.” Atropos said, his voice mysteriously soothing.
“You’re not going to hurt me?” Cassia didn’t let her voice waver. In fact, she almost believed the words as she said them. Honey was much too relaxed for this to be a person that meant her harm.
“Your father would slaughter us if we ever let harm come to you.” He smiled. Cassia relaxed. Her father. Of course.
Master Graystone had many connections throughout Arche, ranging from merchants to sailors, soldiers to peasants, Wizards to, in this case, Elves.
“He sent you?”
“He suspected the young Tempest knew of your departure.” Atropos explained, leading the horse down the path as the rest of the Brotherhood followed. “Soldiers arrived at your parents’ house the night after you left. Thanks to his connection with the Tribe, and various mages, he had a series of secret tunnels under the house, which he led your family and servants through. They popped up in Laddinley a few hours later. You can imagine our surprise.” The elves chuckled a bit. The noise was a bit disturbing, echoing off the trees and making it appear that there were more than the four or five following them.
“Master Graystone was sure they had sent someone to, ah, retrieve you. He sent us along, knowing that no Tempest follower would know of his connections. We were just supposed to follow you silently until something troubling happened.”
“How did you know that Stan was with Tempest?” Cassia asked. They approached the hill leading to Millea once again. Cassia was suddenly anxious to see her sister, to tell her what had happened, to warn her of any danger.
“We saw him as he came into town. There was a letter with his mission on it. He was going to kill you.” This didn’t seem to bother Atropos, he walked slowly, in pace with the tired horse, down past the sign and to the streets that Cassia had walked the last time.
“Thank you, I suppose.” Cassia sighed as Honey began squirming in her knapsack. She removed the dog, who began running in midair, toward the docks. “What is it Honey?” Honey whined, the high pitch rung throughout the village. Atropos and the other elves gasped. “What?” In an instant spears and bows were drawn, and all but Atropos had galloped toward the dock.
“You don’t have to see it.” He said to Cassia. In one fluid motion he had leapt up onto the horse, behind Cassia, took the reigns from her startled hand and turned it to trot toward Archia’s house.
“What’s wrong?” Cassia’s heart was fluttering, her breath coming much too short. Something terrible had happened.
“There’s nothing you can do.” He brought the horse to a halt and jumped off. He took Honey from her hands and placed her on the ground, then lifted Cassia and put her, too on the ground. She was so startled she couldn’t protest.
“Go find your sister.” He told her, kneeling next to the dog. Cassia finally brought herself to move, and sure enough he had taken them to Archia’s dwelling. She hurried inside, opening the door without being allowed in.
“Cassia?” Archia took in her flustered face and immediately came to her sister’s side. “What’s wrong?”
“Just…Just come with me.” Suddenly Atropos’ orders and Honey’s actions were making sense. A sense that she did not want to consider. Archia followed her outside, where the elf was still conversing with the dog. Archia gasped quietly, but Cassia couldn’t bring herself to look at her sister. “Atropos?” The elf looked up, immediately taking in Archia’s condition.
He swore under his breath.
“We can only wait here.” He said, not meeting Cassia’s eyes.
“What has happened?” Archia asked, her tone much more demanding than Cassia’s had been. Atropos rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down at Honey as if asking her permission. Finally he sighed and looked up at the sisters.
“Something has happened to your husband.” He said, his voice solemn. “I believe that at the same time the messenger came for Cassia, someone else came for him.”
“Cristo?” Archia breathed, grabbing on to Cassia for support. “Is he all right?”
“I’ve sent the rest of my men to find and help him,” Atropos said, “They have the means to heal him, if his wounds are not too serious.”
“Oh…” Archia moaned, collapsing against the wall in tears. “We should have left before. Left all this political business behind us.” Cassia held her sister, rubbing her back as she wept. Atropos picked up Honey, who barked and whimpered to him urgently.
“I thought your kind hated animals.” Cassia accused, seeing the way he gently handled her dog.
“Rumors.” He dismissed. “Every horse we find we care for, and eventually set free. We’re not as evil as most think.”
“You talk to animals?”
“We understand those that understand us.” He said, looking toward the street as Honey barked urgently.
A formation was swiftly running toward them, carrying another on their shoulders. Cassia glanced over at Atropos, whose expression was bleak. She could almost read his mind. There was no way they would bring him back here, if there was a way to save him. They were bringing him here to report back, that there was nothing they could do.
The Brotherhood gently put Cristo’s body before his wife. Tears streamed down her face, but she held strong, this time. She stood, quite difficult to do in her condition, and bent over the face of her husband.
His once tan skin was alarmingly pale, his hair bloody and mussed. His sailor clothing was torn and covered in dried blood mixed with dirt. Atropos was right. This was not an accident. Someone had come for him.
“We were too late, Miss.” One of the elves, a shorter and younger one, said. He bowed to Archia, as did the rest of them. To her favor, she was strong. She did not faint, she did not fall to the ground. “Our sorest grievances.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was a mere whisper. “He warned me, a while back…of something a siren sang to him while he was passing an island…”
Cassia could practically hear the mermaid hissing in her ear.
The first blood has been spilled. Now it truly begins.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Post 2
Honey barked, and Cassie shushed her, holding her closely in the sling against her chest.
“Sh, Honey. It’s okay.” Honey huffed quietly and motioned to a group of cloaked figures with her nose. In the weak dawn light, Cassie could barely tell the difference from one figure to another. As she looked, one of the figures turned toward her and waved to the dog. Little known to Cassie, it was the witch from before, reminding Honey of her warning.
“They’re moving already? It’s not their migration season yet.” Cassie mused, still hiding behind one of the trees. “Though that would explain why we were already in their territory…” Cassie sighed. Who was she, a lone teenager year old, to question when the Witches would meet with the Wizards to mate?
Cassie continued down the path, walking within the forest as opposed to the trail. She didn’t want any surprises. Eventually she felt comfortable enough to put Honey down.
The dog was a gift from her father on her fifteenth birthday. Since Cassia was becoming a woman, it was time for her to learn responsibility, he said. Honey had become her sole confident. Cassie’s eldest brother, Thad, had become a scholar in the city of Keshia, the capital of Arche, where their parents resided. Because of this, he was able to stay close to the family, and was still their father’s favorite.
Soon the sun was high in the sky, and Cassia still could not see the small fisherman village of Millea, her destination for the afternoon, before she reached the crossroads. They had a small inn there for their limited range of visitors, where Cassia had once stayed with her father and mother during Archia’s wedding, and she hoped to get some fresh nourishment there.
Archia, Cassia’s only sister, had married a wealthy sailor in the town, though they mostly spent their time on the sea, free from obligations or parental control. Archia had always been the more adventurous of the two sisters. She was content to merely be with her now husband, as opposed to having a lawful marriage. Mother and Father had raced to Millea to insist that she be married. She consented, and now, at nineteen, she had sent word to them that she was with child. However, due to the stressful situation, no one had been able to visit her yet. Cassia looked forward to someday seeing her niece or nephew, but for now satisfied herself taking care of her younger brother.
Padrig was the light of the family. His small, round face brought joy to anyone who held him. At five, now, he would follow his older brother everywhere, including on whatever mission Mother had sent him on. His nurse, Merle, was about nineteen, and equally as infatuated with Thad, so she was willing to take the younger Graystone anywhere.
Cassia sighed. Thinking of her family made her homesick, even if it had only been a couple of days. Her stomach growled, not for the first time that hour, and began looking for a nice clearing to sit and eat in.
The woods that the girl was hiding in began to thin, and soon a river began to follow the curve of the edge of the trees. Cassia chose a leafy tree to relax under. She took off her pack, which held her sleeping gear, a change of clothes, and enough food to last a couple of days. She also removed honey from the sling and allowed her to stretch on the grass that the river’s water created. Cassia took out dried fruit and meat from her pack, handing Honey her portion, and then leaning against the tree to relax.
She wondered about where her brothers had been sent. No doubt to some of Father’s more esteemed friends, who would back him in a diplomatic setting or on a battlefield. Mother was probably at home, making the beds in the guest rooms and cooking an abundance of food for the visitors, who would help Father. And Father? He was most likely finding allies within the city, people he had done favors for, whether by lending them money, finding them a precious commodity, or saving their house from a thief. Maybe he was even trying to convince the Tempest Council’s Army members not to strike against him, through threats or bribing. Unless he had been hurt in the attempt…
Honey nosed Cassia’s hand, waking her from this morbid thought. A low splashing had begun in the river, the type fish or serpents made before they attacked.
Honey barked gruffly. “What do you think it is?” No sooner had the question left her mouth, before the creature rose from the tide.
A high pitched laugh emitted from the creature’s throat, and it smiled at her. It was a mermaid, a siren, a creature of the rivers and lakes of this land. The top half of her body was a pale human female, covered only by the plant life in found in the sea. The bottom half was a long tail, scaly and slimy like the raw fish they consumed. Her face, beautiful as it may have been, held ruby red eyes that pulsed as she spoke. And her voice was beautiful, almost songlike, only to hide the evil within.
“Hello, young traveler.” She whispered. “What brings you to these waters?” Her skin appeared blue in the reflecting waters.
Cassia looked down at Honey, who seemed to relax when the siren didn’t come any closer to her master. She merely leaned against the side of the river, casually conversing with the human girl.
“I’m just going to the crossroads, and stopped for a break.” Cassia said cautiously, not moving at all. A mermaid could be very dangerous in the wrong circumstances. However, neither Cassia nor Honey was wounded, or bleeding from any source, so it appeared that they would be safe this time.
“I thought I smelled spilt blood. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” The red eyes glimmered and the mermaid licked her lips, revealing her sharp teeth. They were a seductive creature by nature, it was their songs and bodies that called sailors to the rocks on the shore, and called them to their deaths.
Cassia debated telling the truth. Finally, she realized it would not hurt her in any way to give the siren a little information.
“A cart past me while the sun was still low. It looked to be carrying a dead passenger.”
“Too long ago. This scent was fresh.” The mermaid had a spark in her eye, and smiled at the girl. “You said you were headed for the crossroads?” Cassia didn’t say anything, she just nodded. “Strange, don’t the Arnet usually pass that way this time of year?” She nodded again. “Ah.” The mermaid began to move backwards, into the deeper waters of the river. “Then perhaps the blood hasn’t been spilled just yet. I’ll find you again, traveler.” With that, she dived forward. Cassia saw her tail flip into the air, then she was gone.
There was a heavy layer of fear still in the air, even on a bright, sunny day. Finally, Honey barked, and walked back over to their pack.
“Well, it looks like we have a story to tell Mother now, don’t we?” Cassia said, breathing slowly to calm her racing heart.
“Sh, Honey. It’s okay.” Honey huffed quietly and motioned to a group of cloaked figures with her nose. In the weak dawn light, Cassie could barely tell the difference from one figure to another. As she looked, one of the figures turned toward her and waved to the dog. Little known to Cassie, it was the witch from before, reminding Honey of her warning.
“They’re moving already? It’s not their migration season yet.” Cassie mused, still hiding behind one of the trees. “Though that would explain why we were already in their territory…” Cassie sighed. Who was she, a lone teenager year old, to question when the Witches would meet with the Wizards to mate?
Cassie continued down the path, walking within the forest as opposed to the trail. She didn’t want any surprises. Eventually she felt comfortable enough to put Honey down.
The dog was a gift from her father on her fifteenth birthday. Since Cassia was becoming a woman, it was time for her to learn responsibility, he said. Honey had become her sole confident. Cassie’s eldest brother, Thad, had become a scholar in the city of Keshia, the capital of Arche, where their parents resided. Because of this, he was able to stay close to the family, and was still their father’s favorite.
Soon the sun was high in the sky, and Cassia still could not see the small fisherman village of Millea, her destination for the afternoon, before she reached the crossroads. They had a small inn there for their limited range of visitors, where Cassia had once stayed with her father and mother during Archia’s wedding, and she hoped to get some fresh nourishment there.
Archia, Cassia’s only sister, had married a wealthy sailor in the town, though they mostly spent their time on the sea, free from obligations or parental control. Archia had always been the more adventurous of the two sisters. She was content to merely be with her now husband, as opposed to having a lawful marriage. Mother and Father had raced to Millea to insist that she be married. She consented, and now, at nineteen, she had sent word to them that she was with child. However, due to the stressful situation, no one had been able to visit her yet. Cassia looked forward to someday seeing her niece or nephew, but for now satisfied herself taking care of her younger brother.
Padrig was the light of the family. His small, round face brought joy to anyone who held him. At five, now, he would follow his older brother everywhere, including on whatever mission Mother had sent him on. His nurse, Merle, was about nineteen, and equally as infatuated with Thad, so she was willing to take the younger Graystone anywhere.
Cassia sighed. Thinking of her family made her homesick, even if it had only been a couple of days. Her stomach growled, not for the first time that hour, and began looking for a nice clearing to sit and eat in.
The woods that the girl was hiding in began to thin, and soon a river began to follow the curve of the edge of the trees. Cassia chose a leafy tree to relax under. She took off her pack, which held her sleeping gear, a change of clothes, and enough food to last a couple of days. She also removed honey from the sling and allowed her to stretch on the grass that the river’s water created. Cassia took out dried fruit and meat from her pack, handing Honey her portion, and then leaning against the tree to relax.
She wondered about where her brothers had been sent. No doubt to some of Father’s more esteemed friends, who would back him in a diplomatic setting or on a battlefield. Mother was probably at home, making the beds in the guest rooms and cooking an abundance of food for the visitors, who would help Father. And Father? He was most likely finding allies within the city, people he had done favors for, whether by lending them money, finding them a precious commodity, or saving their house from a thief. Maybe he was even trying to convince the Tempest Council’s Army members not to strike against him, through threats or bribing. Unless he had been hurt in the attempt…
Honey nosed Cassia’s hand, waking her from this morbid thought. A low splashing had begun in the river, the type fish or serpents made before they attacked.
Honey barked gruffly. “What do you think it is?” No sooner had the question left her mouth, before the creature rose from the tide.
A high pitched laugh emitted from the creature’s throat, and it smiled at her. It was a mermaid, a siren, a creature of the rivers and lakes of this land. The top half of her body was a pale human female, covered only by the plant life in found in the sea. The bottom half was a long tail, scaly and slimy like the raw fish they consumed. Her face, beautiful as it may have been, held ruby red eyes that pulsed as she spoke. And her voice was beautiful, almost songlike, only to hide the evil within.
“Hello, young traveler.” She whispered. “What brings you to these waters?” Her skin appeared blue in the reflecting waters.
Cassia looked down at Honey, who seemed to relax when the siren didn’t come any closer to her master. She merely leaned against the side of the river, casually conversing with the human girl.
“I’m just going to the crossroads, and stopped for a break.” Cassia said cautiously, not moving at all. A mermaid could be very dangerous in the wrong circumstances. However, neither Cassia nor Honey was wounded, or bleeding from any source, so it appeared that they would be safe this time.
“I thought I smelled spilt blood. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” The red eyes glimmered and the mermaid licked her lips, revealing her sharp teeth. They were a seductive creature by nature, it was their songs and bodies that called sailors to the rocks on the shore, and called them to their deaths.
Cassia debated telling the truth. Finally, she realized it would not hurt her in any way to give the siren a little information.
“A cart past me while the sun was still low. It looked to be carrying a dead passenger.”
“Too long ago. This scent was fresh.” The mermaid had a spark in her eye, and smiled at the girl. “You said you were headed for the crossroads?” Cassia didn’t say anything, she just nodded. “Strange, don’t the Arnet usually pass that way this time of year?” She nodded again. “Ah.” The mermaid began to move backwards, into the deeper waters of the river. “Then perhaps the blood hasn’t been spilled just yet. I’ll find you again, traveler.” With that, she dived forward. Cassia saw her tail flip into the air, then she was gone.
There was a heavy layer of fear still in the air, even on a bright, sunny day. Finally, Honey barked, and walked back over to their pack.
“Well, it looks like we have a story to tell Mother now, don’t we?” Cassia said, breathing slowly to calm her racing heart.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tear and Crumple
Have you ever heard the sound of ripping paper? Imagine that right now. Except virtually. So the ripping of virtual paper...
Actually, never mind. Just know that we are stopping the previous story, because it really was not going anywhere. So Crane suggested that we do a new story, with the same concept, but slightly different rules.
Five pages at a time. Even though it will take a lot longer, the current writer will be able to better shape the direction of the plot. Or, if they are suffering from writers' block, slog through five pages of teeth-grinding heck.
I'm not sure how much I should reveal. Hm. Next time Crane should do these "Address the Non-existent Reader" posts. [Hey, Crane just informed me that she's changing the template from dots to something else in honor of the new story. Oh. She finished. Which means I should probably finish this soon, too. Guess what? I also get to start the new story. Yay. Hear the excitement? No, you don't. It's probably because you can't register excitement over the internet without an obscene amount of exclamation points. Nothing to do with sarcasm.
Okay, Crane changed the rules. Minimum 2 pages, tentative max is 5. You can go more if you're feeling insane. Anyways, Crane's gonna add to this post. As soon as I finish. So I will. Now.
~Beads
See how funny she is? That's why I let her do the "Address the Non-existent Reader" posts. But we do have readers. I read our blog almost everyday. :)
Wow, this is the first time I've talked to you guys (assuming we have readers) directly. Hi! How are you? I'm fine. I'm actually really excited about this new story. It should be really fun. Because it doesn't take place in this universe, so anything can happen.
Anyway, we've come up with ideas for this new story, involving mystical creatures, a normal main character, and an awesome dog, whom I shall one day own. Expect a lot of fun fictional craziness, and random stuff that we add just because we're fantasy nerds. Our motto for this story is, "Break the Stereotype!" See how good we do. And comment on the posts. Cuz Beads doesn't think any of you exist. But I know you do. Right? Someone agree with me!
Okay, enough of my ranting to no one. I have to go help Beads write.
~Crane
Actually, never mind. Just know that we are stopping the previous story, because it really was not going anywhere. So Crane suggested that we do a new story, with the same concept, but slightly different rules.
Five pages at a time. Even though it will take a lot longer, the current writer will be able to better shape the direction of the plot. Or, if they are suffering from writers' block, slog through five pages of teeth-grinding heck.
I'm not sure how much I should reveal. Hm. Next time Crane should do these "Address the Non-existent Reader" posts. [Hey, Crane just informed me that she's changing the template from dots to something else in honor of the new story. Oh. She finished. Which means I should probably finish this soon, too. Guess what? I also get to start the new story. Yay. Hear the excitement? No, you don't. It's probably because you can't register excitement over the internet without an obscene amount of exclamation points. Nothing to do with sarcasm.
Okay, Crane changed the rules. Minimum 2 pages, tentative max is 5. You can go more if you're feeling insane. Anyways, Crane's gonna add to this post. As soon as I finish. So I will. Now.
~Beads
See how funny she is? That's why I let her do the "Address the Non-existent Reader" posts. But we do have readers. I read our blog almost everyday. :)
Wow, this is the first time I've talked to you guys (assuming we have readers) directly. Hi! How are you? I'm fine. I'm actually really excited about this new story. It should be really fun. Because it doesn't take place in this universe, so anything can happen.
Anyway, we've come up with ideas for this new story, involving mystical creatures, a normal main character, and an awesome dog, whom I shall one day own. Expect a lot of fun fictional craziness, and random stuff that we add just because we're fantasy nerds. Our motto for this story is, "Break the Stereotype!" See how good we do. And comment on the posts. Cuz Beads doesn't think any of you exist. But I know you do. Right? Someone agree with me!
Okay, enough of my ranting to no one. I have to go help Beads write.
~Crane
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Page 23
“Maggie?” No, it wasn’t Andrew who said my name. I looked up to see Jeff, walking through my door.
“Did you find it?” I asked, my voice unusually high. He shrugged.
“It was pretty badly hurt.” He said. “I don’t think there’s any way it could have made it out alive…”
“But you didn’t find it.” I finished, feeling like the Earth had dropped out from under me. Jeff nodded.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the air. The uncertainty of our, and its, fate left everyone with a chill.
“So…” Cameron said, trying to lighten the mood. “Anyone for a movie?”
“I can’t exactly go anywhere…” I said, rubbing my leg. Cameron smiled, eyeing my computer on my desk on the other side of the room.
In a matter of minutes we were watching the latest adventure flick, munching on popcorn and laughing and talking, me on my bed and them sitting against the side of this. I sighed, for the moment happy. With friends like these, life couldn’t be so bad, could it?
I found out just how bad, with days of doctor’s trips and physical therapy, it felt like my break was being eaten up, one second at a time.
I tried to balance time with my friends, but in actuality, it was hard with all my time being spent indoors or in offices, so I hardly saw them. The one exception was Cameron, who would visit almost daily, to talk to me, watch TV, or do anything to keep me entertained. Without any homework, we found fun in gossiping about celebrities, or occasionally using our powers to annoy people. Cam’s powers made it especially fun to steal treats from downstairs, which my mother usually reserved for special occasions.
One day, as we were munching on brownies, Cameron said, “Hey, do you think it would be okay if Jeff came over sometime?”
“What?”
“Well, it’s just that he hasn’t seen you in a while, and he’s getting kind of sick of just seeing Charlotte and Andrew making goo goo eyes at each other, so he wanted to know if he could come over here once in a while.”
“Um…sure. I guess. If he really wanted to…” I still hadn’t thanked him for saving me the day of the fire. I mean, I had given him credit, but I had never had the opportunity to one-on-one thank him for what he did. Especially getting rid of that monster. I really owed him for that.
“Do you think tomorrow would be good?” She asked, handing me another brownie.
“No, I have physical therapy most of the day, and then maybe I’ll have crutches so I could walk.”
“The next day then?” She was really insistent about this.
“Sure. Why is it such a big deal?”
“It’s not. It’s just that I think it’d be good for you to hang out with your friends again.”
“I hang out with you.” I pointed out, smiling. She returned the smile, but then rolled her eyes.
“And we all know you’re getting bored of just seeing me. So you need to hang out with your friends more. So I’ll bring him over the next time I come. End of discussion.”
“Did you find it?” I asked, my voice unusually high. He shrugged.
“It was pretty badly hurt.” He said. “I don’t think there’s any way it could have made it out alive…”
“But you didn’t find it.” I finished, feeling like the Earth had dropped out from under me. Jeff nodded.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the air. The uncertainty of our, and its, fate left everyone with a chill.
“So…” Cameron said, trying to lighten the mood. “Anyone for a movie?”
“I can’t exactly go anywhere…” I said, rubbing my leg. Cameron smiled, eyeing my computer on my desk on the other side of the room.
In a matter of minutes we were watching the latest adventure flick, munching on popcorn and laughing and talking, me on my bed and them sitting against the side of this. I sighed, for the moment happy. With friends like these, life couldn’t be so bad, could it?
I found out just how bad, with days of doctor’s trips and physical therapy, it felt like my break was being eaten up, one second at a time.
I tried to balance time with my friends, but in actuality, it was hard with all my time being spent indoors or in offices, so I hardly saw them. The one exception was Cameron, who would visit almost daily, to talk to me, watch TV, or do anything to keep me entertained. Without any homework, we found fun in gossiping about celebrities, or occasionally using our powers to annoy people. Cam’s powers made it especially fun to steal treats from downstairs, which my mother usually reserved for special occasions.
One day, as we were munching on brownies, Cameron said, “Hey, do you think it would be okay if Jeff came over sometime?”
“What?”
“Well, it’s just that he hasn’t seen you in a while, and he’s getting kind of sick of just seeing Charlotte and Andrew making goo goo eyes at each other, so he wanted to know if he could come over here once in a while.”
“Um…sure. I guess. If he really wanted to…” I still hadn’t thanked him for saving me the day of the fire. I mean, I had given him credit, but I had never had the opportunity to one-on-one thank him for what he did. Especially getting rid of that monster. I really owed him for that.
“Do you think tomorrow would be good?” She asked, handing me another brownie.
“No, I have physical therapy most of the day, and then maybe I’ll have crutches so I could walk.”
“The next day then?” She was really insistent about this.
“Sure. Why is it such a big deal?”
“It’s not. It’s just that I think it’d be good for you to hang out with your friends again.”
“I hang out with you.” I pointed out, smiling. She returned the smile, but then rolled her eyes.
“And we all know you’re getting bored of just seeing me. So you need to hang out with your friends more. So I’ll bring him over the next time I come. End of discussion.”
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Page 21
“Get away from her!” A jet of flame came from behind the creature, making it fall forward, to my side. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Jeff’s face. His glasses were missing, his shirt was burned and a little torn, but he was okay. He reached his hand out and closed it over the flame on my calf, putting it out. The pain seared through my whole leg, not just where the burn was. I winced and tried to ask Jeff what had happened. But he was looking over at where the thing had landed. I followed his gaze, and to my surprise, the monster wasn’t there anymore. In its place was a wiry man; across his back was a scorch mark.
“Who’s that?” I asked, coughing and trying to clear my throat. “Where’d that thing go?”
“Can you stand?” Jeff asked me. I leaned forward to try to get up, his hands on my shoulders the whole time. I tried putting pain on my hurt leg, but nearly collapsed from the pain. Jeff sighed, then placed his hand on my lower back. “Jump.” He said, holding out his other arm. I looked at him and bit my lip. Did he really think he was strong enough to carry me? I mean, I was short, but not that short.
The man in the corner groaned and started to move. I closed my eyes and, with my good leg, jumped, putting all my weight on Jeff’s hand on my back.
He didn’t even struggle as he walked toward the back of the classroom, toward the door that I had come through. The smoke in the atmosphere was making my head spin, but it didn’t seem to effect him. The flames eating at the doorway smoldered out as we approached, due to Jeff’s powers, and he opened it with his back.
The fresh air was a welcome relief to my aching lungs, and I breathed deeply as I leaned against Jeff’s chest.
“Maggie! What happened?” Cameron, Andrew and Charlotte came running towards me. From another direction, some firefighters and a few teachers came running too.
“Hm. This is going to be hard to explain, isn’t it?” Jeff muttered. I couldn’t have agreed with him more.
***
School was closed for the next few months, while they rebuilt the science building and some of the cafeteria. Unfortunately, the time we spent out of school would just be replaced by having school during the summer.
And I had to spend most of my time inside, healing my poor leg.
“Hey, Maggs.” Cameron said as she came into my room, holding a tray that my lazy mother had no doubt asked her to take up. She put it on the short table next to my bed and pulled up a bean bag chair I had bought just for this reason.
“Hey,” I sighed. “What’s going on?”
“Well, Charlotte’s on her way up with Andrew, they took her car so they should be here any minute.”
From downstairs I heard a crash.
“Oh my! I’m so sorry Mrs. Scrivenor!” Charlotte’s voice floated up to my open door. In a few minutes the couple walked in, smiling and bearing flowers.
“Who’s that?” I asked, coughing and trying to clear my throat. “Where’d that thing go?”
“Can you stand?” Jeff asked me. I leaned forward to try to get up, his hands on my shoulders the whole time. I tried putting pain on my hurt leg, but nearly collapsed from the pain. Jeff sighed, then placed his hand on my lower back. “Jump.” He said, holding out his other arm. I looked at him and bit my lip. Did he really think he was strong enough to carry me? I mean, I was short, but not that short.
The man in the corner groaned and started to move. I closed my eyes and, with my good leg, jumped, putting all my weight on Jeff’s hand on my back.
He didn’t even struggle as he walked toward the back of the classroom, toward the door that I had come through. The smoke in the atmosphere was making my head spin, but it didn’t seem to effect him. The flames eating at the doorway smoldered out as we approached, due to Jeff’s powers, and he opened it with his back.
The fresh air was a welcome relief to my aching lungs, and I breathed deeply as I leaned against Jeff’s chest.
“Maggie! What happened?” Cameron, Andrew and Charlotte came running towards me. From another direction, some firefighters and a few teachers came running too.
“Hm. This is going to be hard to explain, isn’t it?” Jeff muttered. I couldn’t have agreed with him more.
***
School was closed for the next few months, while they rebuilt the science building and some of the cafeteria. Unfortunately, the time we spent out of school would just be replaced by having school during the summer.
And I had to spend most of my time inside, healing my poor leg.
“Hey, Maggs.” Cameron said as she came into my room, holding a tray that my lazy mother had no doubt asked her to take up. She put it on the short table next to my bed and pulled up a bean bag chair I had bought just for this reason.
“Hey,” I sighed. “What’s going on?”
“Well, Charlotte’s on her way up with Andrew, they took her car so they should be here any minute.”
From downstairs I heard a crash.
“Oh my! I’m so sorry Mrs. Scrivenor!” Charlotte’s voice floated up to my open door. In a few minutes the couple walked in, smiling and bearing flowers.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Page 19
Our days seemed to fly by after that. We would get to school, get through our days slowly, as if wading through swampy muck, and then the bell would set us free. From there we would get a ride form Charlotte, who would take us to Cameron and Andrew’s house, or mine, or Jeff’s, depending on whose parents weren’t going to be home. There, we would practice our powers, or talk about powers, and sometimes just talk.
We all became really good friends. Over time, it would sometimes just be me, Charlotte and Cameron hanging at the house, and Jeff and Andrew would go somewhere else.
One day I confronted them about it. “Where are you guys always going?” I asked when they were ditching us again.
“To the gym.” Andrew replied nonchalantly, shrugging and grabbing his car keys. Being the more popular twin, he had learned to drive before Cam had.
“The gym?” I repeated “With Jeff?” His face fell, his glasses hiding his expression.
“Maggie, don’t be mean to him.” Andrew said, rolling his eyes and opening the door. “He can lift more than me sometimes.” With that they left, leaving me feel disappointed and a little angry. Or maybe that was ashamed.
And as I began to pay attention, I could see that Jeff was changing. He was coming out of his shell, and being friends with Andrew helped that happen. He was gaining muscle from his almost daily workouts. It wouldn’t be long until the girls would be flocking to him too. All he would need were contacts, maybe grow his hair out a little, some clothes that showed off his body a little more, and he could be a popular kid.
Andrew started picking up more signs of people with powers as the days and weeks went by. We made an early decision not to tell them that there were others. Andrew was just barely getting used to covering our minds- not counting Jeff- and he couldn’t strain himself that much.
Before we knew it, it was winter. The harsh winds and endless rainstorms made one day run into the next. Jeff began to use him power to keep himself warm, and sometimes to keep us warm as well.
One day there was no rain. It stands out in my memory, because that was the day of the fire.
It all started in Advanced Chemistry. We were studying the effects of different chemicals when exposed to heat. Heat, not an open flame, though for some of them, it was required to heat them using a Bunsen burner.
If I ever find out who’s genius idea it was to pour the HIGHLY FLAMMABLE chemical onto the open flame, I will kill them.
“Oh my god! Oh my god! Mr. Leaman!” The blazing fire, roaring across desk tops and climbing the window shades, drowned out anymore sound. The fire alarm went crazy, the bright lights only amplifying the danger.
I ran from the classroom, Charlotte and Cam on my heels. We met Andrew halfway out of the school, out of the hallways which were quickly filling with smoke. When we got out of the burning school, coughing from smoke inhalation, we could hear the fire trucks’ wails in the distance.
“You okay?” Andrew asked Charlotte his arms encircling her waist and his tone panicked.
“I’m fine.” She said calmly, smiling a little. She reached her hand up to stroke his face. I turned away, looking around the crowd for Jeff.
We all became really good friends. Over time, it would sometimes just be me, Charlotte and Cameron hanging at the house, and Jeff and Andrew would go somewhere else.
One day I confronted them about it. “Where are you guys always going?” I asked when they were ditching us again.
“To the gym.” Andrew replied nonchalantly, shrugging and grabbing his car keys. Being the more popular twin, he had learned to drive before Cam had.
“The gym?” I repeated “With Jeff?” His face fell, his glasses hiding his expression.
“Maggie, don’t be mean to him.” Andrew said, rolling his eyes and opening the door. “He can lift more than me sometimes.” With that they left, leaving me feel disappointed and a little angry. Or maybe that was ashamed.
And as I began to pay attention, I could see that Jeff was changing. He was coming out of his shell, and being friends with Andrew helped that happen. He was gaining muscle from his almost daily workouts. It wouldn’t be long until the girls would be flocking to him too. All he would need were contacts, maybe grow his hair out a little, some clothes that showed off his body a little more, and he could be a popular kid.
Andrew started picking up more signs of people with powers as the days and weeks went by. We made an early decision not to tell them that there were others. Andrew was just barely getting used to covering our minds- not counting Jeff- and he couldn’t strain himself that much.
Before we knew it, it was winter. The harsh winds and endless rainstorms made one day run into the next. Jeff began to use him power to keep himself warm, and sometimes to keep us warm as well.
One day there was no rain. It stands out in my memory, because that was the day of the fire.
It all started in Advanced Chemistry. We were studying the effects of different chemicals when exposed to heat. Heat, not an open flame, though for some of them, it was required to heat them using a Bunsen burner.
If I ever find out who’s genius idea it was to pour the HIGHLY FLAMMABLE chemical onto the open flame, I will kill them.
“Oh my god! Oh my god! Mr. Leaman!” The blazing fire, roaring across desk tops and climbing the window shades, drowned out anymore sound. The fire alarm went crazy, the bright lights only amplifying the danger.
I ran from the classroom, Charlotte and Cam on my heels. We met Andrew halfway out of the school, out of the hallways which were quickly filling with smoke. When we got out of the burning school, coughing from smoke inhalation, we could hear the fire trucks’ wails in the distance.
“You okay?” Andrew asked Charlotte his arms encircling her waist and his tone panicked.
“I’m fine.” She said calmly, smiling a little. She reached her hand up to stroke his face. I turned away, looking around the crowd for Jeff.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Page 17
“Well then, good.” Andrew said, shrugging at Charlotte. She returned the gesture, and moved to open the door.
“Now we must fix Mrs. Eacker’s room.” She said, looking around before holding the door open for the rest of us. We were walking back down the hallway, when suddenly Andrew began pushing us.
“Go! Teacher’s coming! Go!” We took off, running down the hallway, taking the turns necessary to get to the broken classroom without even thinking about where we were going. Andrew was behind us, making sure no one was following us.
Cameron and I got there before Charlotte and Andrew, so we saw him first.
“Hi Maggie.” Jeff smiled weakly. It disappeared when Andrew and Charlotte turned the corner. Andrew cursed. I looked back at him in shock. I had never heard him use that type of language before!
“Not now. We’re focusing on training these two and I’m in over my head…” Andrew muttered, and then glared at Jeff. “Why? Why now?”
“Like I can control when I learn my powers.” Jeff said, shrugging slightly. “I always thought there was something weird about you. And then you kept trying to talk to Maggie and Cam, and then she came to school…”
“I can’t protect you.” Andrew told him. “I’m already using all my power now, just protecting them.”
“I’m not asking for your protection.” Jeff said, standing up straighter. “I just…I wanted you to know.” Then he turned to look at me and Cam. “All of you.”
I turned tiredly to Andrew. “No guessing games. What’s his power?”
He sighed, running his hands through his lovely brown hair. “Fire.”
“Fire?” I looked to Jeff for conformation. He smiled and held out his hand. A flame lit in the center, as if he had lit a match. Slowly it grew, contained in his palm but spreading until it became a fireball.
“Put that out! Put it out!” Andrew nearly screamed, rushing forward. Jeff closed his hand and whimpered before Andrew, who was glaring down at him. “Never,” he said, his voice dangerously low, “do that again. You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“I think I have an idea-”
“You don’t.” Andrew was near shaking. “You’re putting us all in danger. If you want in, sure, fine I don’t care. But never do anything that will endanger us again.” Charlotte stepped forward and put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. He stopped shaking and turned to look at her.
I felt tears come to my eyes. They had a connection that him and I could never have. I had lost him, before I even had a chance. And I would have to accept that. Accept it, and move on.
Cam cleared her throat.
“So, um, are we going to fix the lights or not?” Andrew looked at her, the circles under his eyes growing.
“Jeff already checked them out. They’re broken, not unable to absorb power. The custodial staff will just have to change all the bulbs, and they’ll work again.”
“Good.” I said, exhaustion beginning to dawn on me. Andrew looked at me, a small smile on his lips.
“Does anyone want to go get something to eat? To hang out a little bit…and maybe try to figure some things out?” Jeff piped up. Andrew turned to look at him, but it wasn’t threatening. It was almost friendly.
“That’s a good idea.” He said.
“I’ll drive.” Charlotte said, a smile spreading across her face.
“Now we must fix Mrs. Eacker’s room.” She said, looking around before holding the door open for the rest of us. We were walking back down the hallway, when suddenly Andrew began pushing us.
“Go! Teacher’s coming! Go!” We took off, running down the hallway, taking the turns necessary to get to the broken classroom without even thinking about where we were going. Andrew was behind us, making sure no one was following us.
Cameron and I got there before Charlotte and Andrew, so we saw him first.
“Hi Maggie.” Jeff smiled weakly. It disappeared when Andrew and Charlotte turned the corner. Andrew cursed. I looked back at him in shock. I had never heard him use that type of language before!
“Not now. We’re focusing on training these two and I’m in over my head…” Andrew muttered, and then glared at Jeff. “Why? Why now?”
“Like I can control when I learn my powers.” Jeff said, shrugging slightly. “I always thought there was something weird about you. And then you kept trying to talk to Maggie and Cam, and then she came to school…”
“I can’t protect you.” Andrew told him. “I’m already using all my power now, just protecting them.”
“I’m not asking for your protection.” Jeff said, standing up straighter. “I just…I wanted you to know.” Then he turned to look at me and Cam. “All of you.”
I turned tiredly to Andrew. “No guessing games. What’s his power?”
He sighed, running his hands through his lovely brown hair. “Fire.”
“Fire?” I looked to Jeff for conformation. He smiled and held out his hand. A flame lit in the center, as if he had lit a match. Slowly it grew, contained in his palm but spreading until it became a fireball.
“Put that out! Put it out!” Andrew nearly screamed, rushing forward. Jeff closed his hand and whimpered before Andrew, who was glaring down at him. “Never,” he said, his voice dangerously low, “do that again. You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“I think I have an idea-”
“You don’t.” Andrew was near shaking. “You’re putting us all in danger. If you want in, sure, fine I don’t care. But never do anything that will endanger us again.” Charlotte stepped forward and put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. He stopped shaking and turned to look at her.
I felt tears come to my eyes. They had a connection that him and I could never have. I had lost him, before I even had a chance. And I would have to accept that. Accept it, and move on.
Cam cleared her throat.
“So, um, are we going to fix the lights or not?” Andrew looked at her, the circles under his eyes growing.
“Jeff already checked them out. They’re broken, not unable to absorb power. The custodial staff will just have to change all the bulbs, and they’ll work again.”
“Good.” I said, exhaustion beginning to dawn on me. Andrew looked at me, a small smile on his lips.
“Does anyone want to go get something to eat? To hang out a little bit…and maybe try to figure some things out?” Jeff piped up. Andrew turned to look at him, but it wasn’t threatening. It was almost friendly.
“That’s a good idea.” He said.
“I’ll drive.” Charlotte said, a smile spreading across her face.
Page 15
“Other telepaths?” Cameron asked, her voice so low it almost got lost.
“This is not the best time to discuss it.” Charlotte repeated, as Andrew paused before the corner to the hall with the teacher’s lounge’s door in it.
“Two teachers at a time, they switch in ten minutes.” Andrew said, leaning against the wall and lowering himself to the ground. Charlotte sighed and took a seat next to him, leaning against his shoulder. Cam and I sat down in front of them.
“We may as well explain why we have to keep this quiet.” Charlotte said, stroking Andrew’s hand. “So they know what to look for if something goes wrong.” Andrew sighed and nodded. He looked more tired than I had ever seen him. Using his power so much must have really tired him out.
“We met at the soccer camp I went to last summer,” Andrew started, looking at Charlotte, “we were assigned to the same team, and our relationship just sort of came naturally from there-”
“What about your powers?” Cam butted in. Andrew glared at her and she sighed and slumped her shoulders.
“We discovered our powers,” Andrew said pointedly, “When Charlotte almost drowned.”
“What?” I said, looking at Charlotte. She blinked at me; her huge glasses making the movement seem small.
“I was swimming…at night.” She said, quietly. I had a feeling she was hiding something from me, but decided not to ask. “I found this…this really pretty purple rock, under water. I tried to grab it, but it was too heavy. And then I tried to swim away, but my hand was stuck to it. I couldn't move it, and I couldn’t get away. I held my breath as long as I could, but I started getting really lightheaded.”
“That’s when I found her.” Andrew said, putting his arm around her, protectively. “I didn’t know how, but I knew she was in trouble. I was able to lift the rock and together we swam back to shore.
“The rest of the time we were there, I was hearing things. I thought I was losing my mind, but in reality I was hearing other people’s thoughts. I couldn’t sleep for the longest time, everyone’s dreams were in my head.
“But Charlotte and I worked together. Her calm mind helped me round out my powers, and by reading her mind I could sort of offer her a second opinion on how to use hers.”
“The last couple days of camp, we found-well, Andrew found- another camper who had powers. He could control water, his name was Peter.”
“Was?” I whispered, fearing what the answer would be.
“He disappeared the day before parents were going to pick us up.” Charlotte whispered, closing her eyes. “The next day he was found, dead. He had scratches all over him. His eyes…were torn out of his head.” Her voice broke. “He bled to death in the forest near the camp.”
“Around the same time, I had heard another telepath in the area.” Andrew said. “The only other one I’ve ever found. But his mind was…different. I don’t know how, it just was. It was…bad. Sick. Something about him, or her, was wrong. I told Charlotte to stop using her powers, and I set up a mental block around both our minds. I was exhausted the rest of the day.” Andrew said, pulling her closer. “Whatever this…thing was, we’re pretty sure it had something to do with what happened to Peter.”
“Since then, we use our powers only when absolutely necessary.” Charlotte said. “And Andrew keeps a shield around us no matter what.”
“It’s easier to do to people with powers. With Normals…it’s near impossible.” Andrew said. “I’ve been keeping you guys under protection too. But that’s why no one else can know. If anyone hears us talking about it, and that Thing hears them, I don’t want to think about what could happen.”
“So we have to be very careful.” Charlotte said softly. “Or else-”
“Hold that thought.” Andrew said, standing suddenly. “It’s time.”
“This is not the best time to discuss it.” Charlotte repeated, as Andrew paused before the corner to the hall with the teacher’s lounge’s door in it.
“Two teachers at a time, they switch in ten minutes.” Andrew said, leaning against the wall and lowering himself to the ground. Charlotte sighed and took a seat next to him, leaning against his shoulder. Cam and I sat down in front of them.
“We may as well explain why we have to keep this quiet.” Charlotte said, stroking Andrew’s hand. “So they know what to look for if something goes wrong.” Andrew sighed and nodded. He looked more tired than I had ever seen him. Using his power so much must have really tired him out.
“We met at the soccer camp I went to last summer,” Andrew started, looking at Charlotte, “we were assigned to the same team, and our relationship just sort of came naturally from there-”
“What about your powers?” Cam butted in. Andrew glared at her and she sighed and slumped her shoulders.
“We discovered our powers,” Andrew said pointedly, “When Charlotte almost drowned.”
“What?” I said, looking at Charlotte. She blinked at me; her huge glasses making the movement seem small.
“I was swimming…at night.” She said, quietly. I had a feeling she was hiding something from me, but decided not to ask. “I found this…this really pretty purple rock, under water. I tried to grab it, but it was too heavy. And then I tried to swim away, but my hand was stuck to it. I couldn't move it, and I couldn’t get away. I held my breath as long as I could, but I started getting really lightheaded.”
“That’s when I found her.” Andrew said, putting his arm around her, protectively. “I didn’t know how, but I knew she was in trouble. I was able to lift the rock and together we swam back to shore.
“The rest of the time we were there, I was hearing things. I thought I was losing my mind, but in reality I was hearing other people’s thoughts. I couldn’t sleep for the longest time, everyone’s dreams were in my head.
“But Charlotte and I worked together. Her calm mind helped me round out my powers, and by reading her mind I could sort of offer her a second opinion on how to use hers.”
“The last couple days of camp, we found-well, Andrew found- another camper who had powers. He could control water, his name was Peter.”
“Was?” I whispered, fearing what the answer would be.
“He disappeared the day before parents were going to pick us up.” Charlotte whispered, closing her eyes. “The next day he was found, dead. He had scratches all over him. His eyes…were torn out of his head.” Her voice broke. “He bled to death in the forest near the camp.”
“Around the same time, I had heard another telepath in the area.” Andrew said. “The only other one I’ve ever found. But his mind was…different. I don’t know how, it just was. It was…bad. Sick. Something about him, or her, was wrong. I told Charlotte to stop using her powers, and I set up a mental block around both our minds. I was exhausted the rest of the day.” Andrew said, pulling her closer. “Whatever this…thing was, we’re pretty sure it had something to do with what happened to Peter.”
“Since then, we use our powers only when absolutely necessary.” Charlotte said. “And Andrew keeps a shield around us no matter what.”
“It’s easier to do to people with powers. With Normals…it’s near impossible.” Andrew said. “I’ve been keeping you guys under protection too. But that’s why no one else can know. If anyone hears us talking about it, and that Thing hears them, I don’t want to think about what could happen.”
“So we have to be very careful.” Charlotte said softly. “Or else-”
“Hold that thought.” Andrew said, standing suddenly. “It’s time.”
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Page 13
“Me? No! I was too busy trying to make them be able to see me.” Cam said, rolling her eyes. A guy sitting next to us in the hall turned to look quizzically at her. Cameron immediately frowned and began to bat her eyes until they started to water. “People are always ignoring me. Why? Do I do anything wrong? What’s wrong with me?” She started to burst into tears and leaned against my shoulder, crying. I sighed and gave the nosy kid a glare. He sheepishly turned around, stood up, and walked away.
Cam immediately straightened up and rubbed her eyes to get rid of the tears.
“That was fun.” She said, smiling.
“I told you that you should have auditioned for the school play.” I mumbled, trying to keep from other people hearing us.
“That’s not the point. There’s only like two minutes till school’s over,” Cam said, looking at the watch, “and then we are going to the…place” She suddenly said, lowering her voice. I turned and saw that Mrs. Eacker had been looking at us. “And then we’ll come here.” Cam said, giving me a look. “We’ll have to tell Andrew and Charlotte. They’re not going to be happy with you.”
Great, just what I need. Another way for Andrew to hate me.
"Hey, Maggie, hey Cam.” Jeff came up to us, nervously smiling. “How’d you guys do on the essay?”
“I got an 88.” Cam said, shrugging and holding up her paper.
“Oh, cool.” He smiled, then looked down. “What’d you get, Maggie?”
“95.” I said, smiling. He met my eyes and smiled at me, then looked down. His brown hair was lay flat against his head, and with his pale skin, thick glasses, and thin wiry body, everyone knew him as a total geek. It wasn’t like he was ugly or snobby or way too smart, he just got really good grades and liked nerdy things.
“Good job.” He said. “You beat me.” He held up his paper to show a 90%.
“Um…Thanks?”
“Your welcome.” He looked around a little bit, then suddenly kneeled on the ground next to us and lowered his voice. “What were you talking about?”
“Nothing.” Cam said quickly. Too quickly. I made a mental note to teach her how to not act suspicious.
“It just seems strange that so many electrical things have been going wrong lately.” He said, raising one of his eyebrows. “Especially since-” The bell rang then, cutting him off. Students rushed from their classes, and almost immediately, Charlotte and Andrew were there, standing by our sides.
“Hey, Jeff.” Andrew said, standing up straighter than he usually did, talking more curtly. It seemed like he was actually threatening the poor guy. Jeff stood up slowly, as did we.
“Hey, Andrew…what’s up?”
“Nothing, we just need to talk to Maggie and Cameron for a while.” Charlotte said, her airy voice also concealing some bitterness. “Maybe you can catch up with them some other time.”
“No problem.” Jeff starting stepping back slowly. “See you guys tomorrow.” As soon as he disappeared into the crowd, I turned to the couple.
“What was that about?”
“We’ll tell you later.” Andrew said, looking around. “So the lounge is protected by a couple teachers, hoping to catch the student when they return to the scene of the crime.”
“That’s just great.” I muttered, bringing my hand to my forehead.
“Not really.” Charlotte said, bringing her eyebrows together. “It actually makes our job more dangerous.” Andrew closed his eyes, sighed a little, and brought his lips down to her ear. I could only assume he was explaining sarcasm to her. “Oh…” She nodded and smiled at me.
Cam immediately straightened up and rubbed her eyes to get rid of the tears.
“That was fun.” She said, smiling.
“I told you that you should have auditioned for the school play.” I mumbled, trying to keep from other people hearing us.
“That’s not the point. There’s only like two minutes till school’s over,” Cam said, looking at the watch, “and then we are going to the…place” She suddenly said, lowering her voice. I turned and saw that Mrs. Eacker had been looking at us. “And then we’ll come here.” Cam said, giving me a look. “We’ll have to tell Andrew and Charlotte. They’re not going to be happy with you.”
Great, just what I need. Another way for Andrew to hate me.
"Hey, Maggie, hey Cam.” Jeff came up to us, nervously smiling. “How’d you guys do on the essay?”
“I got an 88.” Cam said, shrugging and holding up her paper.
“Oh, cool.” He smiled, then looked down. “What’d you get, Maggie?”
“95.” I said, smiling. He met my eyes and smiled at me, then looked down. His brown hair was lay flat against his head, and with his pale skin, thick glasses, and thin wiry body, everyone knew him as a total geek. It wasn’t like he was ugly or snobby or way too smart, he just got really good grades and liked nerdy things.
“Good job.” He said. “You beat me.” He held up his paper to show a 90%.
“Um…Thanks?”
“Your welcome.” He looked around a little bit, then suddenly kneeled on the ground next to us and lowered his voice. “What were you talking about?”
“Nothing.” Cam said quickly. Too quickly. I made a mental note to teach her how to not act suspicious.
“It just seems strange that so many electrical things have been going wrong lately.” He said, raising one of his eyebrows. “Especially since-” The bell rang then, cutting him off. Students rushed from their classes, and almost immediately, Charlotte and Andrew were there, standing by our sides.
“Hey, Jeff.” Andrew said, standing up straighter than he usually did, talking more curtly. It seemed like he was actually threatening the poor guy. Jeff stood up slowly, as did we.
“Hey, Andrew…what’s up?”
“Nothing, we just need to talk to Maggie and Cameron for a while.” Charlotte said, her airy voice also concealing some bitterness. “Maybe you can catch up with them some other time.”
“No problem.” Jeff starting stepping back slowly. “See you guys tomorrow.” As soon as he disappeared into the crowd, I turned to the couple.
“What was that about?”
“We’ll tell you later.” Andrew said, looking around. “So the lounge is protected by a couple teachers, hoping to catch the student when they return to the scene of the crime.”
“That’s just great.” I muttered, bringing my hand to my forehead.
“Not really.” Charlotte said, bringing her eyebrows together. “It actually makes our job more dangerous.” Andrew closed his eyes, sighed a little, and brought his lips down to her ear. I could only assume he was explaining sarcasm to her. “Oh…” She nodded and smiled at me.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Page 11
“What are you doing here?” Cameron’s harsh voice rocketed through the air, aimed directly at Charlotte. She still didn’t seem to understand the acidity in her tone.
“Andrew heard Maggie’s confusion. He only assumed it meant something power-related had happened. Since he is forbidden from the girls’ bathroom, he sent me.” I nodded, reaching out for Cameron.
“I’m right here, Maggs.” She said. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and moved my hand to squeeze it sympathetically.
“What do we do? We have to get to class.”
“Indeed.” Charlotte walked toward me, and reached for where I was holding Cam’s hand.
“Cameron, could you come with me? Your brother and I have a place where we could coach you to come back to the realm of the visible.”
“I guess.” Cameron’s voice was sour, but, really, what choice did she have?
“Maggie, it would be best if you could go to class, and say that Cameron was feeling ill. Andrew and I will be able to forge her a note.”
“Ok.” I reached for Cam’s shoulder, but she gave me her other hand. “Be…careful.” I said, for lack of a better word. There was a pause, and she said,
“I will. Thanks.”
“Were you going to say something else?” I asked. I could practically feel her blush.
“Well, um, I tried to nod before I realized that you couldn’t see me…”
“Can you see yourself?” I asked. There was another pause, followed by,
“I mean yes. Yes, I can see myself. I mean, not in the reflection,” I turned to look at the mirror, and of course she wasn’t there, “but I can look down and see my hands and legs and feet. I just feel…different.”
“The bell is going to ring soon.” Charlotte said, her usually calm voice a little tense. “Maggie, you must go.” I nodded, picked up my backpack, and headed to Mrs. Eacker’s classroom. Andrew met me on the way.
“You’re going to need this.” He said, handing me a note. It was written in curvy, almost illegible handwriting, saying that I had taken Cameron to the nurse and that was why I was late. The bell rang, then, and I nearly sprinted the rest of the way to class.
The teacher took the note without reading it, smiling at me. I noticed the stack of graded essays on her table, just waiting to be passed out. Waiting to tell the students in the class how poorly they did, which would just spiral into another lesson, which would mean another essay, and so on and so forth.
Sometimes I really loathed English.
Cameron came back about halfway through the lecture, with a note that appeared to be the same handwriting. Once again, Mrs. Eacker accepted it without question, and Cameron took her seat next to me.
“What happened?” I hissed at her as she got her notes out.
“Andrew read my mind to try to figure out how to control my powers. We sort of had to work together. And every time either of us got stressed, Charlotte would relax us.” She shrugged.
“Maybe this isn’t as bad as I thought. If they keep helping us, imagine what we could do! They said my powers are like some sort of shield, so I should be able to make these shields other places to, right? Instead of just on me. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
“Yeah.” I said softly.
“And after school, they’ll teach you. You’ll see, it’s really…freeing. Like there was always something I could have done, but never got to…You know?” I just shrugged.
“Andrew heard Maggie’s confusion. He only assumed it meant something power-related had happened. Since he is forbidden from the girls’ bathroom, he sent me.” I nodded, reaching out for Cameron.
“I’m right here, Maggs.” She said. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and moved my hand to squeeze it sympathetically.
“What do we do? We have to get to class.”
“Indeed.” Charlotte walked toward me, and reached for where I was holding Cam’s hand.
“Cameron, could you come with me? Your brother and I have a place where we could coach you to come back to the realm of the visible.”
“I guess.” Cameron’s voice was sour, but, really, what choice did she have?
“Maggie, it would be best if you could go to class, and say that Cameron was feeling ill. Andrew and I will be able to forge her a note.”
“Ok.” I reached for Cam’s shoulder, but she gave me her other hand. “Be…careful.” I said, for lack of a better word. There was a pause, and she said,
“I will. Thanks.”
“Were you going to say something else?” I asked. I could practically feel her blush.
“Well, um, I tried to nod before I realized that you couldn’t see me…”
“Can you see yourself?” I asked. There was another pause, followed by,
“I mean yes. Yes, I can see myself. I mean, not in the reflection,” I turned to look at the mirror, and of course she wasn’t there, “but I can look down and see my hands and legs and feet. I just feel…different.”
“The bell is going to ring soon.” Charlotte said, her usually calm voice a little tense. “Maggie, you must go.” I nodded, picked up my backpack, and headed to Mrs. Eacker’s classroom. Andrew met me on the way.
“You’re going to need this.” He said, handing me a note. It was written in curvy, almost illegible handwriting, saying that I had taken Cameron to the nurse and that was why I was late. The bell rang, then, and I nearly sprinted the rest of the way to class.
The teacher took the note without reading it, smiling at me. I noticed the stack of graded essays on her table, just waiting to be passed out. Waiting to tell the students in the class how poorly they did, which would just spiral into another lesson, which would mean another essay, and so on and so forth.
Sometimes I really loathed English.
Cameron came back about halfway through the lecture, with a note that appeared to be the same handwriting. Once again, Mrs. Eacker accepted it without question, and Cameron took her seat next to me.
“What happened?” I hissed at her as she got her notes out.
“Andrew read my mind to try to figure out how to control my powers. We sort of had to work together. And every time either of us got stressed, Charlotte would relax us.” She shrugged.
“Maybe this isn’t as bad as I thought. If they keep helping us, imagine what we could do! They said my powers are like some sort of shield, so I should be able to make these shields other places to, right? Instead of just on me. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
“Yeah.” I said softly.
“And after school, they’ll teach you. You’ll see, it’s really…freeing. Like there was always something I could have done, but never got to…You know?” I just shrugged.
page 9
there.” Charlotte smiled.
“Andrew’s telepathic, Maggie.” She explained in that melodic voice of hers. “He read your mind. That’s why we think you’ve been fainting.”
“It only happens outside, right?” Andrew asked. I opened my mouth, but he nodded his head. “Or in rooms with extremely bright light.” He explained to Charlotte. My mouth stayed open, not believing he had known that.
“Ok then.” Cameron said, her voice slow and a little bit freaked out. “If you’re a telepath, then what’s Charlotte?” Andrew glared at Cameron, even though she didn’t say anything to offend him. I figured that she might have called Charlotte “the crazy one” in her head again.
“I can control metal.” Charlotte said, holding up on of her metallic rings. It slowly melted in her hand and changed into another ring, then another and another. My breathing near stopped at seeing such a feat. How could this be possible? My mind started spinning, like whenever I fainted.
“Maggie? Maggie, stay with us!” I blinked a few times to see Andrew standing next to me, holding my shoulders to keep me upright. His face was right next to mine. I immediately recalled my dream, but tried to think of something else, now that I knew he could read my mind.
“Sorry.” I said, shakily. “It’s funny, usually it happens at least once before lunch time…”
“It must be all that pent up energy.” Charlotte mused, clasping her ringed hands together. “And it didn’t happen earlier because you gave so much of it to the room, that’s why they can’t turn off.”
“But the announcer said that its costing the school money, meaning it was drawing from the incoming energy.” Andrew said, sitting back next to his girlfriend. “Though, possibly when it ran out of her stored energy, it began working normally, only it’s not hooked up to the wall switch…” Maggie raised her eyebrows at him, as if she was asking him a question. “That’s a good idea…Yes, there is that-“
“Wait a second.” Cam cut it. “What about my powers?” She was irritated, verging on angry. In her position, I would have been as well. How come I had the powers and she didn’t?
“We don’t know about them.” Charlotte said, not making an effort to comfort her this time. “The only reason we knew about Maggie’s is because she turned on the lights when they shouldn’t work, and now they’re acting unusually. We don’t even know yet, we are just speculating.”
“Couldn’t you ‘speculate’ about mine?” Her voice was nearing a shriek, she was so upset.
“Cam, we don’t know anything. I’m sorry.” She took a shaky breath, which made it sound like she was going to cry. Then she glared at her brother.
“How did you even know about your powers? How did you meet her? When did this all happen? And why didn’t you tell me?” She demanded, her eyes close to tears. Andrew stared her down.
“We’ve never been close, Cam.” He said, his voice even. “Why would I tell you something like this? You never trusted me enough to tell me what you did when you went to your summer camp. Why should I tell you what happened when I went to mine?” Cam’s face turned bright red.
“What’s he talking about, Cam?” I asked her.
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” She said, glaring at her brother.
“That’s right, it’s nothing.” Charlotte said, her mellow voice easing the tense air. She was also glaring at Andrew, probably scolding him in her head. “It’s over, anyway. We’ll explain as much as we can, if we could get together at Cameron’s and Andrew’s house after school?”
“Of course.” I said.
“No,” Andrew said, his voice much more relaxed now, “we need to fix the lights, before the school finds out that Maggie lock picked her way in there. We’ll meet in front of Ms. Oswald’s classroom after school.”
“Okay.” I nodded. All three of us looked over at the still upset Cameron, who nodded.
“Then it’s agreed.” Charlotte smiled her strange smile and stood. A few seconds later the bell rang.
“Andrew’s telepathic, Maggie.” She explained in that melodic voice of hers. “He read your mind. That’s why we think you’ve been fainting.”
“It only happens outside, right?” Andrew asked. I opened my mouth, but he nodded his head. “Or in rooms with extremely bright light.” He explained to Charlotte. My mouth stayed open, not believing he had known that.
“Ok then.” Cameron said, her voice slow and a little bit freaked out. “If you’re a telepath, then what’s Charlotte?” Andrew glared at Cameron, even though she didn’t say anything to offend him. I figured that she might have called Charlotte “the crazy one” in her head again.
“I can control metal.” Charlotte said, holding up on of her metallic rings. It slowly melted in her hand and changed into another ring, then another and another. My breathing near stopped at seeing such a feat. How could this be possible? My mind started spinning, like whenever I fainted.
“Maggie? Maggie, stay with us!” I blinked a few times to see Andrew standing next to me, holding my shoulders to keep me upright. His face was right next to mine. I immediately recalled my dream, but tried to think of something else, now that I knew he could read my mind.
“Sorry.” I said, shakily. “It’s funny, usually it happens at least once before lunch time…”
“It must be all that pent up energy.” Charlotte mused, clasping her ringed hands together. “And it didn’t happen earlier because you gave so much of it to the room, that’s why they can’t turn off.”
“But the announcer said that its costing the school money, meaning it was drawing from the incoming energy.” Andrew said, sitting back next to his girlfriend. “Though, possibly when it ran out of her stored energy, it began working normally, only it’s not hooked up to the wall switch…” Maggie raised her eyebrows at him, as if she was asking him a question. “That’s a good idea…Yes, there is that-“
“Wait a second.” Cam cut it. “What about my powers?” She was irritated, verging on angry. In her position, I would have been as well. How come I had the powers and she didn’t?
“We don’t know about them.” Charlotte said, not making an effort to comfort her this time. “The only reason we knew about Maggie’s is because she turned on the lights when they shouldn’t work, and now they’re acting unusually. We don’t even know yet, we are just speculating.”
“Couldn’t you ‘speculate’ about mine?” Her voice was nearing a shriek, she was so upset.
“Cam, we don’t know anything. I’m sorry.” She took a shaky breath, which made it sound like she was going to cry. Then she glared at her brother.
“How did you even know about your powers? How did you meet her? When did this all happen? And why didn’t you tell me?” She demanded, her eyes close to tears. Andrew stared her down.
“We’ve never been close, Cam.” He said, his voice even. “Why would I tell you something like this? You never trusted me enough to tell me what you did when you went to your summer camp. Why should I tell you what happened when I went to mine?” Cam’s face turned bright red.
“What’s he talking about, Cam?” I asked her.
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” She said, glaring at her brother.
“That’s right, it’s nothing.” Charlotte said, her mellow voice easing the tense air. She was also glaring at Andrew, probably scolding him in her head. “It’s over, anyway. We’ll explain as much as we can, if we could get together at Cameron’s and Andrew’s house after school?”
“Of course.” I said.
“No,” Andrew said, his voice much more relaxed now, “we need to fix the lights, before the school finds out that Maggie lock picked her way in there. We’ll meet in front of Ms. Oswald’s classroom after school.”
“Okay.” I nodded. All three of us looked over at the still upset Cameron, who nodded.
“Then it’s agreed.” Charlotte smiled her strange smile and stood. A few seconds later the bell rang.
Page 7
No one was there. I sighed, frustrated, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me and heard it lock. Suddenly the shortcut didn’t seem so useful anymore.
My cell rung as I walked down the hall to the front of the school.
“Hey, Maggie.” It was Andrew.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Listen, I need to talk to you. Can you come over to my house?” I paused. Whatever this information was, he had been trying all day to tell me. Maybe I should talk to him.
“Could I get a ride?” I asked, wondering if Cameron would be okay with this.
“Um…” I heard him sigh. “Actually, Cam and our mom went to practice some driving, so if you could get a ride…”
“I don’t think so. I already have to walk home, thanks to detention.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Andrew said softly. I didn’t know if he meant detention, or the fact that I caught him making out with his girlfriend, his girlfriend who wasn’t a cheerleader or a stunning model, his girlfriend that no one knew, that no one had ever heard of.
“It’s no problem. I get detention all the time.”
“I know.” He said. I heard him sigh again. “Fine, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. But please, please convince Cam to hear me out.”
“I’ll try.” I said, biting my bottom lip. How on earth could I convince her to do that?
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.” The phone clicked. I sighed and closed it.
My cell rung as I walked down the hall to the front of the school.
“Hey, Maggie.” It was Andrew.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Listen, I need to talk to you. Can you come over to my house?” I paused. Whatever this information was, he had been trying all day to tell me. Maybe I should talk to him.
“Could I get a ride?” I asked, wondering if Cameron would be okay with this.
“Um…” I heard him sigh. “Actually, Cam and our mom went to practice some driving, so if you could get a ride…”
“I don’t think so. I already have to walk home, thanks to detention.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Andrew said softly. I didn’t know if he meant detention, or the fact that I caught him making out with his girlfriend, his girlfriend who wasn’t a cheerleader or a stunning model, his girlfriend that no one knew, that no one had ever heard of.
“It’s no problem. I get detention all the time.”
“I know.” He said. I heard him sigh again. “Fine, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. But please, please convince Cam to hear me out.”
“I’ll try.” I said, biting my bottom lip. How on earth could I convince her to do that?
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.” The phone clicked. I sighed and closed it.
***
“Students, today we’ll have a new student in our class.” Ms. Oswald said. I looked up from my brief nap to see Charlotte standing there, in all her jewelry-covered glory.
“Students, today we’ll have a new student in our class.” Ms. Oswald said. I looked up from my brief nap to see Charlotte standing there, in all her jewelry-covered glory.
“It’s the crazy girl!” Cameron hissed at me. I nodded, trying to wake up from this dream-turned nightmare.
“She just moved here from…” I didn’t hear any more. All I could picture was them, and how much I wanted to be her.
After class, Cameron and I headed to our usual lunch table. This time Andrew, with Charlotte on his arm, came to join us.
“Hey Maggie, Cam.” I turned to see Cameron’s stunned face. “Can we join you?” Cam was clearly too stunned to answer, so I jumped in.
“Of course. Take a seat.” I said. Andrew sat next to me and Charlotte sat next to Cam, who’s mouth was still wide open, gaping at the strange redhead in the seat next to her.
“There’s something we need to tell you.” Andrew told us, lowering his voice so no one outside the group could hear us. “There’s-”
Suddenly the school speaker system crackled on. “Attention students. Attention students. The lights in the downstairs teacher’s lounge have been tampered with. They are now on, and cannot be turned off. Whoever has done this prank must be found, so please bring any information you have on this prankster to the school administration. We will keep your name anonymous. Whoever did this is costing the school a lot of money, and
Monday, January 11, 2010
Page 1
I was flying over the city. Wind was blowing in my hair, knotting it together, but I didn’t care. Not while he was with me.
“Maggie…” He said softly, running his hand through my hair. I smiled at him, joy flowing through every fiber of my body. “Maggie…” He said again, his hand moving down to my shoulder. Then he shook me. “MAGGIE!”
I jolted up, looking up to meet Ms. Oswald’s glaring eyes. “Maggie, what did I tell you about dozing in class?”
“That I wasn’t supposed to do it?” I said groggily, yawning and nodding at her.
“Try to remember that, in detention.” She said, handing me a yellow slip with my name already on it. I groaned and took it, nodding again. As soon as she walked away Cameron turned to me.
“Maggie, what the hell?” She asked, her hand scribbling done what the teacher was saying.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t get any sleep last night.”
“Really? Why not?”
“I just…I don’t know.” I shrugged halfheartedly and began my own notes, not looking at her disappointed gaze. I didn’t want to tell her about the nightmares. I didn’t want her worrying about me in that way.
“Do you want to come over and do homework tonight? After detention?” She whispered, after making sure Ms. Oswald wasn’t looking.
“Um, sure.” I said, not even thinking about the question. “That’d be fun.”
“Yeah. You can copy my notes too.” I met her gaze and smiled at her, she knew me so well.
“Thanks.” She smiled back, her nose wrinkling a little.
“Girls, no talking.”
“Sorry, Ms. Oswald.”
After the bell released us for lunch, Cameron and I headed to the cafeteria’s lunch line, where the majority of people our age gained nutrition from school provided lunches, no matter how over priced or under heated they may be.
“They call this spaghetti?” Cameron asked, twirling the pasta in question on her fork, and watching it fall to pieces on her plate.
“Yes, yes they do.” I said, staring at my unappetizing piece of cardboard-sorry pizza- and considering mooching off the people wise enough to bring lunch from home.
“It’s ridiculous.” She said, shaking her head and closing her eyes to take a bite. She swallowed hastily, and then focused her gaze on me. She smiled slyly. “So, what were you dreaming about in class?” I quickly looked down to take a bite of pizza.
“Hmpf mpf hmf.” I said, motioning to my mouth, still chewing.
“Very funny. But seriously, though.” She said, after I swallowed, putting her hand on top of mine so I couldn’t take another bite. “It sounded like a good dream.”
“It was nothing. I don’t even remember.” I lied quickly, taking another bite. Cameron sighed.
“Maggie-"
“Don’t ‘Maggie’ me. I’m fine. Really.” I smiled and held her gaze. Finally she sat back and sighed again.
“Fine. If you say so.” Then she leaned forward again. “But if you ever need to talk-"
“I know. I can always call you.” I said, leaning over to give her a half hug.
“Aw, isn’t that beautiful?” A voice said. We sat back and looked at the owner of the voice. It was Andrew, in all his arrogant glory. Andrew was Cameron’s sports star, girl magnet brother.
“Maggie…” He said softly, running his hand through my hair. I smiled at him, joy flowing through every fiber of my body. “Maggie…” He said again, his hand moving down to my shoulder. Then he shook me. “MAGGIE!”
I jolted up, looking up to meet Ms. Oswald’s glaring eyes. “Maggie, what did I tell you about dozing in class?”
“That I wasn’t supposed to do it?” I said groggily, yawning and nodding at her.
“Try to remember that, in detention.” She said, handing me a yellow slip with my name already on it. I groaned and took it, nodding again. As soon as she walked away Cameron turned to me.
“Maggie, what the hell?” She asked, her hand scribbling done what the teacher was saying.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t get any sleep last night.”
“Really? Why not?”
“I just…I don’t know.” I shrugged halfheartedly and began my own notes, not looking at her disappointed gaze. I didn’t want to tell her about the nightmares. I didn’t want her worrying about me in that way.
“Do you want to come over and do homework tonight? After detention?” She whispered, after making sure Ms. Oswald wasn’t looking.
“Um, sure.” I said, not even thinking about the question. “That’d be fun.”
“Yeah. You can copy my notes too.” I met her gaze and smiled at her, she knew me so well.
“Thanks.” She smiled back, her nose wrinkling a little.
“Girls, no talking.”
“Sorry, Ms. Oswald.”
After the bell released us for lunch, Cameron and I headed to the cafeteria’s lunch line, where the majority of people our age gained nutrition from school provided lunches, no matter how over priced or under heated they may be.
“They call this spaghetti?” Cameron asked, twirling the pasta in question on her fork, and watching it fall to pieces on her plate.
“Yes, yes they do.” I said, staring at my unappetizing piece of cardboard-sorry pizza- and considering mooching off the people wise enough to bring lunch from home.
“It’s ridiculous.” She said, shaking her head and closing her eyes to take a bite. She swallowed hastily, and then focused her gaze on me. She smiled slyly. “So, what were you dreaming about in class?” I quickly looked down to take a bite of pizza.
“Hmpf mpf hmf.” I said, motioning to my mouth, still chewing.
“Very funny. But seriously, though.” She said, after I swallowed, putting her hand on top of mine so I couldn’t take another bite. “It sounded like a good dream.”
“It was nothing. I don’t even remember.” I lied quickly, taking another bite. Cameron sighed.
“Maggie-"
“Don’t ‘Maggie’ me. I’m fine. Really.” I smiled and held her gaze. Finally she sat back and sighed again.
“Fine. If you say so.” Then she leaned forward again. “But if you ever need to talk-"
“I know. I can always call you.” I said, leaning over to give her a half hug.
“Aw, isn’t that beautiful?” A voice said. We sat back and looked at the owner of the voice. It was Andrew, in all his arrogant glory. Andrew was Cameron’s sports star, girl magnet brother.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
