Shifting Read online

  Exams were fast approaching and the teacher was afraid they might not be ready in time to pass.

  She scheduled an appointment for them with the school advisor, to see about studying with a tutor. Normally, the students had months to prepare. They had only six weeks until early November, and exam time.

  A short, stubby, balding man with a grumpy face met them in the hallway of the school and motioned for them to enter the advisor’s room. The walls were bare and windowless, and the only furniture was a small couch, desk and chair.

  The man motioned for the twins to sit on the couch. They did and waited patiently, as he monotonously waddled his way to the chair, apparently in no hurry. Finally, he situated himself comfortably, and in the same monotonous manner, sifted through a stack of papers that the twins could only assume were about them. After carefully separating each page, he spread them neatly across his desk. His mouth opened to speak, then closed. He opened a drawer and took out a plaque. The name read, Muckle Mauch, Advisor.

  Colin was thinking, what kind of name is Muckle Mauch, which Meghan overheard and was about to comment on, when at long last the advisor spoke. His rushed, high-pitched voice took the twins off guard.

  “Okay, then, we have you in elementary, I see, yes. You’re a few months behind the other beginners. If you plan on getting to the next level, which I suggest and know you do, you will need some extra tutoring to catch up.” Colin and Meghan already had an extra tutor in Uncle Eddy, but, of course, they did not bring this to Advisor Mauch’s attention.

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  He continued, without letting them speak.

  “I would say three, no, four times a week will do. That should get you caught up on history and beginner skills in time for your exams.”

  “At least its not every night,” thought Colin.

  “In a couple of days I will send a tutor to your house. You’re staying with the Mochrie family, yes, yes all right. I won’t lie!” he barraged. “This will be a difficult six weeks for you, but, not to worry! A little hard work never killed anyone!” He then laughed in his high pitched voice, which reverberated off the barren walls. “After fall exams, there is no telling when the next chance at passing the class will be, since we have a break for the holidays, and then of course, we move on.”

  The twins gawked at each other and Meghan butted in without waiting, or asking permission.

  “Excuse me, sir, but moving on to where?”

  Muckle Mauch stopped; the expression on his face went blank.

  “Excuse me?” he asked, his eyes widening a little. Meghan wondered if she had spoken out of turn, and would end up doing lines, instead of her homework.

  “This is not part of my job,” he explained. “I advise you how to succeed in passing class levels, which should be your number one concern. However, I suppose, it’s possible you don’t understand how things work.” He then took a long breath and said in a well-rehearsed manner,

  “We are not advised where we will go next, that is for Banon Blackwell and the Viancourt to research and decide.” Then Muckle Mauch added, “Get use to it. It happens every few months or so.”

  It was not exactly the answer the twins were looking for but they had no chance to think about it. Their advisor had them back on topic and scheduling tutor times in the blink of an eye.

  On their way to class, they regretted that the time was coming when they would say goodbye to Uncle Eddy. Even more so, they regretted that the time they did have, would be lessened by schoolwork.

  “I know it seems inevitable, but we haven’t yet asked him about staying behind when the Svoda leave Grimble,” said Meghan.

  “Somehow, I think I already know the answer, Sis. But we can still ask,” he added, trying to keep up hope. They headed to class, which was already in session, running into Jae at the door; he held a stack of books, with his hand on the doorknob.

  “How’d ya like Muckle Mauch?” he asked sardonically.

  “Considering all the tutoring he set up for us, not so keen right now,” answered Meghan.

  “Teacher Lindy asked me to grab a few books for her. You guys coming back to class?”

  “Unfortunately,” droned Meghan. Jae finished opening the door and entered, followed by Meghan. Her eye caught a lit candle sitting in the corner of the room. That’s all it took! Meghan touched the door knob and the floor swayed beneath her. From the corner of her eye, in the flame, there was a shadow. She jerked her head away, not wanting to see it, hoping desperately it was not another warning of an imminent attack. Colin steadied her, shutting the door gently.

  “Are you all right? Is it the Firemancy thing again?”

  “Maybe,” she said, wishing she hadn’t touched the door knob after Jae. She detested this new ability.

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  “We need to get to class,” reminded Colin.

  Meghan’s pocket stirred and the baby Catawitch poked its head over the edge, meowing softly.

  As Colin took hold of the doorknob, Meghan turned and suddenly fled the school.

  “What are you doing?” Colin flung the thought at her disappearing figure.

  “Something I gotta do,” she sent back. She then blocked her mind.

  “Wonderful,” Colin said through his teeth. “What am I going to tell the teacher?” He entered the classroom, and thought, half-sarcastically, and half-worried, “I think she’s completely lost her mind!”

  Teacher Lindy was guiding a student through moving objects, without touching them.

  “Concentrate, Marvin. This is where you always mess up! I know you can do this.” The rest of the class cheered the boy on as he focused on moving a heavy stack of pillows through the air.

  The goal was to have them land neatly in an outlined square.

  Colin waited near the door, not wanting to interrupt or get in the way. Once the stack was positioned nicely in the square the class cheered and crowded around the exhausted boy.

  Teacher Lindy cheered happily.

  “Splendid job! You’re going to pass the exam this time, Marvin, I can feel it! Well done.” Marvin looked to be around eleven, and was one of the older students in the class.

  “Okay, back to your pillows and we shall begin again. Who would like to go next?” There were no volunteers. Teacher Lindy noticed Colin working his way to an empty pillow. Her eyes perked up. “Aha! Colin Jacoby. I think it’s time for you and… where’s your sister, still with advisor Mauch?”

  At the name, the students squealed under their breath. The teacher gave them a, you’re-a-naughty-class look, and the giggling ended. Colin tried in vain to think up an excuse.

  “Uh, she is… she fell ill, had to go home, I think.”

  “Home? Did she get a letter of excuse?” the teacher prodded.

  “A what?”

  “Letter of excuse, excusing her from school. Only valid written permission allows a student to miss school.”

  “Oh, um, you’d have to ask Meghan. I’m not sure, Teacher Lindy.” Colin didn’t know what else to say. He knew his sister did not have a letter of excuse.

  “Too bad,” she exclaimed. “Exciting day today, trying to move pillows.”

  “She’s a little too excited over such a simple task,” whispered Colin to Jae, while taking his seat on a pillow. Jae winked his reply.

  “Since you’re here, Mr. Jacoby,” the teacher then said, “why don’t you take a turn?” She used magic to move the pillow stack out of the square, strewing them about. “All you need to do is collect and stack the pillows neatly, then move them into the square. The goal is to have them exactly lined up in the square. In the exam, if you are outside of the lines you lose points!” Colin was instantly anxious, although he knew he could do this task, no problem. It was completely different though, with a classroom of twenty scrutinizing his every move.

  “After fighting Scratchers, moving a stack of pillows should be easy, right?” he muttered.

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  “All you need to do is reach out and feel the energ
y around you,” the teacher instructed.

  “Collect it, focus on what you want to accomplish, and use that energy to move those pillows.” Colin had already practiced moving objects with Uncle Eddy. Piece of cake he repeated over and over in his mind. Colin closed his eyes forgetting the students watching. He was aware of the energy surrounding him; it felt diminished in the crowded classroom. There wasn’t enough for what he needed. Colin peeked at the boy named Marvin, who was still recovering. It had taken nearly all the energy he had to move them.

  “How can I draw more?” mumbled Colin. He reached out beyond the classroom, then the school, and then, beyond the Svoda wagons, where copious amounts of energy were just waiting to be collected. Within seconds he was over-filled. Colin’s eyes popped open. He moved his hand swiftly. The pillows were collected and stacked. He hovered the stack three feet in the air and then moved them deftly, landing them softly in the square, perfectly aligned.

  The class observed Colin in impressed stupor, including Jae and Teacher Lindy.

  “On the first try. So easy. Spectacular! ” she stammered.

  Colin smiled, quite satisfied with his performance. He was not tired at all and sat down next to Jae, who patted him on the back.

  “That was great!”

  “How did you do that?” asked the boy named Marvin. “You don’t even look winded.” Colin answered honestly.

  “I could do it again. I’m not winded at all.” Actually he felt incredible. Powerful. Like the day back in Cobbscott when he had tackled the three bullies. “I get what you mean,” he abruptly whispered to Jae.

  “ ’Bout what?”

  “The power you feel. It makes you feel… huge.” Colin did not know how else to describe it.

  “I wish I could feel it again,” sighed Jae. “I haven’t since I got home.” Colin wondered if he could help Jae, but how? Jae already knew more than he did.

  The class forged on, with students trying their hand at moving the pillows. None of the remaining students succeeded.

  Meghan never returned to class. Colin tried to reach out for her.

  “Blocking me. Figures.” He hoped she was not out causing another scene. The rest of the afternoon crawled by. “At least tonight,” he thought, “I can finally visit Uncle Eddy.” Meghan jaunted out of the school and retrieved a note from Juliska Blackwell, which included directions on how to locate her. She followed the map to the ocean’s shore, where a few hundred yards out an island of rock jutted out of the water; a fort had been forged into the rock.

  Meghan had to walk down a gravel road, which was lined with spike-like rocks, in order to reach the entrance. Ocean waves crashed over the rocks, splashing her. Juliska’s private Balaton guarded the entrance.

  “What’s your business?” one of them asked in a gruff voice. He kept his gaze straight forward, not looking at her. The second guard’s eyes grazed down at her. He nudged his partner.

  “Jenner, its okay, it’s the girl.” The other one darted his eyes, curiously, then opened the gate.

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  “You may enter. Banon Blackwell has alerted us to your possible visit.”

  “Thanks,” said Meghan, curtsying her way through, gratified. Juliska had told them to expect her! Any insecurity Meghan had had about her unannounced visit vaporized into the mists of the ocean.

  A woman dressed in business attire greeted Meghan at a stone door and led her inside. Before Meghan could make her request to see Juliska, another ornate stone door swung open; Juliska Blackwell elegantly strode into the room. She wasn’t dressed in her normal one piece long-jacket, but instead, a long sleeved tunic, which was form fitted down to her hips then flared slightly; it was a silky, crimson color.

  “Meghan. I’m so pleased you came. Join me on the roof top,” she said, winking. Meghan followed Juliska up a stone stairwell to an outside room. The floor they walked on was carved out of the rock. Juliska led them to the opposite corner, where a stone overhang could shield them from the sun.

  “Please, sit,” insisted Juliska. Meghan did as she was told, sitting across from the Banon. A table separated them, and before Meghan could speak, the same woman who had helped Meghan into the fort entered with a tray of food.

  “Your timing could not have been more perfect, I was about to have a late breakfast. Please join me if you’re hungry.”

  “Thanks, I am a little hungry.” She helped herself to a biscuit and jelly. After a few minutes, Meghan could no longer hold back why she had come. “This may be bad mannered of me…” she started.

  Juliska put down her fork and gave Meghan her full attention.

  “I’m not even sure how to begin. Something is happening, something terrible. Not to me…” she said, adding wearily, “Unless you count being a seer in the terrible category.”

  “That bad?” asked Juliska, smiling sympathetically.

  “Sorry, I think I’m just having a hard time adjusting.”

  “That is entirely understandable, Meghan. It does take some practice and getting used to.” Meghan knew instantly that Juliska understood her.

  “Twice now,” said Meghan, getting to the heart of the visit, “I’ve had this overwhelming feeling. It tells me something is horribly wrong. The frustrating part is that I do not know what it is, or how to fix it. It’s all so mysterious. Not clear at all!”

  “May I ask, is this occurring around one particular person?” Meghan explained her encounters, leaving out Jae’s name.

  “Interesting,” replied Juliska, afterward. “As I’ve said, seeing is a gift and a curse. I’m sure that’s a picture you’re seeing loud and clear.”

  “Yeah, that one’s easy to see,” Meghan replied, rolling her eyes. Meghan enjoyed talking to Juliska. It was easy.

  “Sometimes,” said Juliska, “seeding out the problem comes down to experience and, well, guess work.”

  “How do you guess?” asked Meghan.

  Juliska laughed softly.

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  “Time, I am afraid. Learning to decipher what you feel or see. Understanding if what you’re seeing is the past, present or future is a good place to begin.”

  “Even if I somehow decipher that, what can I do? I mean, say it’s a current problem, can I interfere in someone’s life, if they truly are in danger?”

  “That depends,” admitted Juliska. “This is where things get tricky. You see, if it is the past, obviously you cannot do anything. If it is the present or future, is it something you can fix? Is it something you should fix? In the end, you must decide what to do with your knowledge, Meghan.”

  “Wow,” she replied, her eyes wide. “That’s so much to decide. What if I’m wrong? What if I make things worse?”

  “I am afraid I may be burdening, more than helping today,” sighed Juliska.

  “I have a suspicious feeling,” accepted Meghan, “that the burden part, will be around for awhile. I guess I just did not realize how complicated Firemancy would be. I don’t know why, but I thought having visions would make things easier to understand.”

  “With time and practice, it will become easier, Meghan. No, easier is not the word I’m looking for. Manageable. Controllable.” Juliska rose from her chair, pacing elegantly, deep in thought.

  When she sat back down Meghan caught a glimpse of something crawling in her pony-tailed hair. Juliska’s hair fanned out, falling around her shoulders.

  “Banon Blackwell, you’ve got a spider in your hair,” spat out Meghan. A glass-like, black and silver spider posed on her shoulder, cleaning its self.

  “Not to worry. That’s Pajak, my pet. He serves as a fantastic hair piece when he sleeps.” A spider for a pet! When would this new world begin to make sense? Meghan was not fond of spiders and this was the biggest one she had ever seen. It had to have been at least four inches round.

  Juliska ignored Pajak.

  “I’m going to give you something, Meghan. Something an, old friend once gave me. Pantin Hollee,” she called out. The same woman that delivered the foo
d came striding in.

  “Yes, Banon Blackwell.”

  “Oh, Hollee, when will you start calling me Juliska?”

  “As I have always answered, only when not on duty, and I’m never not on duty, ma’am,” the lady called Pantin Hollee replied dutifully.

  “Oh fine, then. Will you please go to my study and grab an unused journal, and bring it to our new Firemancer?” The woman nodded and departed. “I want you to keep this journal with you at all times,” she then instructed Meghan, “and whenever anything occurs that you think is Firemancy related, write it down. Keep track of where you were and who you were with. This, after some time, may begin to give you a better picture of what may be happening, if certain patterns arise.”

  “Okay, I will,” decided Meghan, as she was handed the journal.

  “Thank you, Hollee,” said Juliska.

  Meghan flipped open the journal, all the while keeping her eye on Pajak the spider.

  “Is Pantin a title or a name?” Meghan asked.

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  “Title. Hollee is my most trusted personal assistant, and, she will show you out. Unfortunately I must get back to work. But promise me, Meghan, if anything out of the ordinary happens, you will come to me immediately. No work I am doing is more important than helping a new Firemancer!” Her eyes twinkled. She leaned over to Meghan and touched her shoulder gently.

  Meghan could not take her eyes off Pajak, who she swore winked at her.

  Juliska’s touch was powerful, energy emanated through her. It was easy to understand why Juliska was the Svoda’s leader. Just then, Meghan’s pocket stirred and Juliska glanced curiously.

  The kitten had been sleeping so soundly that Meghan had again, forgotten about her. Meghan opened her pocket and let Juliska see the Catawitch.

  “My, my. To be chosen as the master and companion of one of these is truly an honor.” Juliska gazed at Meghan with even more fascination now.

  “Thank you, Juliska, I mean, Banon Blackwell,” Meghan bowed slightly hoping she had not offended.

  “I insist that you call me Juliska. I may not be able to force Hollee to do it, but frankly, it is nice to hear my real name once in a while.” She winked and then departed, asking Pantin Hollee to show Meghan out of the fort.