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  The twins finished breakfast and headed outside of their cave dwelling, where blinding sun, along with dusty dry air, greeted them. Their skinned warmed quickly in the heat.

  The cave dwellings were located at the very edge of Eidolon’s Valley. A place they had been strictly forbidden to enter.

  As far as the eye could see, rust colored, Goblin-like formations littered the valley floor; if you stared at them long enough, they seemed to sway with the dusty whirlwinds that swept across the ground.

  A few other younger Svoda had gathered nearby, most reading or talking. Colin climbed to the top of an empty nearby rock formation, and sat gazing into the valley. From his vantage point, it looked as though the valley just went on, and never ended.

  Meghan joined him, but positioned herself in the opposite direction, gazing at Juliska Blackwell’s abode, which was a castle-sized carved stone, wedged between two canyon walls high above the Svoda cave dwellings. A steep path gutted into the red-rock canyon wall led the way from the ground to the castle. Meghan could not wait until her next lesson with Juliska, and took out her journal, although she no longer had the desire to write.

  After a while, she glanced at her brother, who was still gazing out into the valley. She watched him closely for a full minute. He did not blink, even once.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered. “Does that really pass the time? Staring into nothing?”

  Colin frowned.

  “I’m trying to focus.”

  “On what?”

  “You wouldn’t understand,” he said.

  “Oh, of course. I’m too stupid with magic to understand,” she mocked.

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “Might as well have been,” Meghan spat.

  7

  “It’s just complicated. Something I read in Magicante,” he then admitted quietly, not wanting anyone to overhear.

  “Whatever,” she said, reminding him, “Better not get caught doing magic.” She turned her attention back to her journal, going over past lessons she’d had with Juliska.

  Colin did not hear her. He was attempting something he had learned from the Magicante, and it was definitely breaking the no-magic rule.

  Magicante had told him upon their arrival at the E Valley, that this magic could prove most useful and put him to work learning it straightaway. Magicante explained that this particular bit of magic would allow him great sight. Not a vision like his sister. Not seeing the past or future, but for his eyes to see far into the present, to distant locations. The vastness of the E

  Valley seemed the perfect place to practice this magic.

  The sun moved through Eidolon’s Valley changing the shapes of the Goblin-like formations; after awhile it began playing tricks on Colin’s eyes, as he swore the formations were actually moving.

  Frustrated that he could not make it work, he breathed heavily and opened his eyes.

  Magicante’s words rang in his mind.

  “You must quiet your thoughts and focus only on the place you want to see.” The only problem was all Colin could think was, rock formation, or cave, as he did not know any specific locations in the E Valley. He closed his eyes and concentrated, whispering the words Aspectus Remotus, but inevitably, his thoughts strayed to Catrina.

  Colin sucked in deeply, as his vision no longer focused on the E Valley itself, but rather raced through the valley, flying past canyon walls and whirlwinds of dust. But to what destination?

  He felt the rock beneath him as he sat on top of it, his body unmoving, but his eyes clearly saw the entrance to another cave, which in reality existed many miles away. He had hoped for something more exciting, but at least his attempts were improving.

  A voice called out his name, startling him.

  His trip stopped for a moment, once inside the cave.

  The voice called out again.

  “Colin? You must find me!”

  His vision took him spinning through the cave, searching into the darkness for the source of the voice. Then he saw it: A glass coffin with white light emanating from within. He rushed toward the case, where the sleeping body of a young girl lay inside. The same girl Colin had seen in the hospital back in Grimble. The same girl that haunted his dreams, nightly.

  Catrina.

  Her eyes burst opened.

  “Colin, you must find me! I’m running out of time! Please hurry,” she begged. Her eyes then closed as if in a deep sleep.

  8

  At that moment, Colin lost his concentration. His mind felt an elastic-like pull as his eyes were suddenly staring once again across the dry, dead valley. He was back on the rock, sitting with his back to Meghan.

  He stood up, ready to jump down off the rock and run, unprepared into the valley, swearing he would search each and every cave, and break every magical rule he had to, to find her.

  “Who is Catrina?” Meghan then asked, curiously, catching him off guard. Colin frowned, reality setting in. He could not just disappear into the valley. He kicked the rock, disappointed that he had lost his connection with Catrina, and angry that he had not blocked his sister from hearing his thoughts. He slumped back down, hitting the rock with a low, defeated thud.

  Meghan stared at him, waiting for an answer when her eyes opened wide and a huge grin spread across her face.

  “Oh…” she echoed, her jaw dropping open. “You’ve been hiding your thoughts from me cause… you’re in love, with a girl, aren’t you?”

  Colin did not deny her accusation, and thought, Well, at least she didn’t catch onto everything, but grew outwardly defensive anyway.

  “I am not in love. And she’s no one.”

  Meghan did not give in and persisted for the next twenty minutes, after which, Colin got up to leave.

  “Oh, Colin. Get over it. Can’t I have a little fun? So you like a girl.” Colin did not answer, but sat back down. After a few minutes, she decided to try to get him to talk again.

  “So, why won’t you tell me what’s going on in that head of yours? It can’t be just liking this girl that’s soaking up all your time.” Then, she recalled how many hours she had spent daydreaming about Sebastien Jendaya and changed her mind.

  “Can I read your journal?” Colin responded haughtily. “No… didn’t think so,” he answered himself, seeing her determined face.

  The days of not keeping secrets from each other had ended almost the moment it had begun. Already lost were the warnings from their Uncle Eddy, their dead ghostly tutor from Grimble, who had warned them not to keep secrets from each other. Ever!

  3

  “Gather around everyone, thank you,” said Balloch Flummer, the bookstore owner. His adult son, Noah, assisted him in ushering in the arriving crowd. Soon, Banon Juliska Nandalia Blackwell’s arrival would indicate the Initiation of Ivan Crane.

  9

  They gathered just outside of the cave homes, at the edge of the valley, in a bowl-like rock formation. It had an open roof, where the last of the day’s sun beamed small streams of light just over the canyon wall.

  All of the initiated Svoda stood on one side of the bowl, while the not yet initiated stood on the other, gazing jealously, as they desperately wished they could be on the Initiated side.

  Ivan stood alone in the center.

  On the Initiated side, two members of the Viancourt stood at the front of the group. This included Darius Hadrian, and of course, Garner Sadorus. The twins ignored his deep, fierce stares.

  Billie Sadorus waved at the twins, while standing next to the Jackal sisters. So different, they were, brother and sister, Garner and Billie.

  The third member of the court was absent, which during an initiation was only acceptable due to extenuating circumstances. The news had spread quickly that Tanzea Chase was ill and had not made any public appearances in days. Moreover, being that magic is strictly forbidden, even in cases of illness, she was left to heal in the normal, slow way, rather than the faster, simpler magical way.

  Meghan noted th
e jealous face of Darcy Scraggs’, as she glared at Ivan and the Initiated group, and secretly delighted over her enemy’s displeasure.

  The twins assumed the ceremony would not be a long one, especially since evening approached, and the Svoda could not be outside of their cave dwellings after dark. Another strict rule of the E Valley.

  Every noise doubled in level as the bowl-like amphitheater bounced echoes back and forth.

  Meghan and Colin stood next to Jae and Mireya, as Balloch Flummer flitted to Ivan’s side and raised his hands motioning for everyone to quiet.

  The echoes bounced around the bowl for a second longer, and then Balloch announced,

  “Our Banon, Juliska Nandalia Blackwell.”

  The crowd cheered and watched breathlessly for her to enter. And what a grand entrance she could make, thought Meghan, cheering as eagerly as everyone else.

  Juliska strode into the canyon bowl, wearing an elegant blood-red jacket. Missing from her outfit was her pet spider, Pajak, along with his wandering glass-like eyes and skinny long legs that rattled as he crawled.

  The Banon greeted her Viancourt members first, before turning to face the envious non-initiated, and Ivan.

  “It is with great honor,” she began, “that we are gathered here tonight, to begin the Initiation of Ivan Crane, so that he may become a fully fledged member of the Svoda Gypsies; an honor you all should be striving for every moment of your lives.” The crowd cheered and then she continued.

  “Ivan Crane, do you accept this Initiation, and swear to finish the task set before you, thus achieving your Initiated status?”

  “I swear to finish whatever task you would ask of me, even if it meant my life to do so.” Juliska smiled, with an odd twinkle in her eye.

  10

  “Very well. Your task, Ivan, is something … a little different. Nevertheless, I have no doubts you can accomplish this task. It will be one of a personal nature.” The crowd oohed and aahed, having never heard the Banon stray from the normal Initiation type tasks before.

  From what Jae had explained to the twins, typically, Initiations were scavenger hunts of sorts, projects that tested the Initiates’ knowledge of history, law and magic. If their knowledge proved worthy, they won their place among the Initiated.

  “It is a matter which I will discuss with you further and in private,” continued the Banon.

  The group buzzed with anticipation. Never had an Initiation been so secretive.

  “Now, on to your choice, Ivan Crane,” Juliska stated, stealing back the groups attention. “As is the tradition, you shall announce your choice for Learner Companion. One amongst us that is not yet initiated, who will assist you in this task, in the hopes of forwarding their own knowledge and gaining their own initiation in due time.”

  Ivan turned to the mainly younger, non-initiated group. Zealous eyes waited anxiously, hoping Ivan would pick them.

  Meghan laughed.

  Who would want to spend time with that boy? Following his instructions and doing what he says…”

  Colin heard her thought and opened his mind to hers for a brief moment.

  “I do pity whoever he picks,” he agreed.

  “I’m not sure pity is a strong enough word!” she shot back. She bit her lip trying not to laugh out loud.

  Ivan Crane searched the crowd, ignoring the eager eyes gazing back, waiting for some sign that he was about to pick them.

  Then, his unflinching face stopped on Meghan Jacoby and his eyes grinned smugly.

  “Oh no,” she whispered under her breath, horrified. “He wouldn’t dare!” But Ivan did dare.

  “I choose the Firemancer, Meghan Jacoby as my Learner Companion, so that she may learn from me and perhaps, someday, follow in my footsteps.”

  Some in the crowd clapped and cheered. The rest stood in disbelieving silence.

  Why would he pick this untested newcomer over one of them?

  Even the scowl that followed from three D’s, including Darcy Scraggs, Dulcy Hadrian and Daveena Troast, did not make Ivan’s choice any better.

  Meghan stalked to Ivan’s side, huffing the entire way.

  “Very smart choice, Ivan Crane! My visions of your auspicious future are coming true already. A Firemancer at your side could prove a very wise move for this particular task.” Juliska beamed in delight. Even this could not brighten Meghan’s mood.

  Ivan bowed and thanked the Banon for her praise. Juliska came forward and congratulated Ivan personally. As she drew closer, Meghan could not help but smile. Though inside, her fury toward Ivan Crane intensified so much, that she felt sure she might burst into flames.

  Juliska leaned into them.

  11

  “I will call upon you both soon and explain your task further.” She then whisked away in full Juliska Blackwell fashion. A line began to form, with Svoda ready to congratulate the Initiate and his chosen companion.

  Just as the Banon reached the entrance of the amphitheater, she froze. The gathered crowd instantly did the same. Silence did not follow until the echoes of their voices had finished reverberating against the walls.

  The unwanted, and now familiar, feeling of eyes surrounding them stripped away the ceremonious atmosphere.

  “How?” yelled a man. “How did they follow us here?” There was no time for an answer.

  The Scratchers’ ear piercing screeches filled the rocky bowl, reverberating harrowing echoes back and forth between the Svoda, paralyzing them with fear.

  Then, someone shouted.

  “Run for your lives!”

  The crowd barged through the one exit, jamming it.

  Juliska Blackwell’s body began to rise above the group.

  “Stop!” she ordered.

  The crowd did as she commanded, watching shadows swarming overhead, prepared to attack.

  “Go safely to your homes! I alone will fight this enemy and accept the consequences of using magic.”

  The crowd more calmly worked their way through the exit.

  “Mochrie family,” shouted Irving, “All hold hands and follow me!” Jae grabbed Meghan and in turn, she grasped onto Colin as they fought to stay together and get outside of the amphitheater.

  The hurried organization did not last. Panic ensued again as three attacking Scratchers came into view, diving perilously close to the fleeing Svoda. Parents grabbed their younger children and raced toward their cave dwellings, disappearing into the closest open door they could find.

  “Emissio,” yelled Juliska, continually.

  Fighting three at one time was proving difficult, even for the leader of the Svoda Gypsies.

  One of the Scratchers made it through Juliska’s spell, knocking over four people as it collided into the ground, including Balloch Flummer and his son, Noah.

  Nearby Svoda scurried in all directions, attempting to take cover from the flailing beasts’

  deadly wings; wings that if wrapped around you, caused instant death!

  Noah helped his father off the dusty ground, along with the two others who had fallen.

  Noah’s own young daughter stood by an open door urging them forward.

  “Father,” said Noah, with certainty, “I would say that this warrants the use of magic, wouldn’t you?”

  Balloch agreed, seeing as their lives were in imminent danger. Before he could tell his son to let him do it, and take the subsequent consequence, Noah took the lead.

  12

  “Emissio,” Noah yelled, sending the beast flying backwards into the air. The two Svoda he had helped up raced away to safety. As Noah followed, he realized that his father was not at his side. He turned and saw Balloch racing toward an unprotected child. Noah saw the child’s own father approaching, but knew he would never get there in time. Balloch was closer.

  The Mochries, along with the twins, reached the refuge of their cave home and turned as they heard Noah’s panicked cry. The horror in his voice was unbearable, but the twins could not turn away their eyes.

  What happened n
ext took place so quickly that no one could have stopped it.

  The Scratcher, which Noah had blown away from his father only moments before, hovered over Balloch, its wings outstretched as its body descended, its wolf-like face howling eerily over its imminent victory.

  Fearing for the life of the child in his arms, with all his old strength, Balloch tossed the child to safety. The boy’s father caught him and fell to the ground, as the wings of the Scratcher enclosed around the body of Balloch Flummer.

  A painful cry rang out for a fleeting moment… then ended.

  Time seemed to halt.

  Noah then shook himself back into reality and ran toward the Scratcher, now holding the limp body of his dead father in its clutches.

  Juliska Blackwell saw Balloch’s lifeless body and fell to the ground, stunned at the loss of one of her own.

  Noah cried out for his father from underneath the flying beast, but was helpless in retrieving his father’s body.

  The twins’ minds came together for the first time in months. They sank to the ground as well. This very same thing may have happened to their Uncle Arnon. Their minds raced back to the fallen pine tree in the woods behind Camp Agunkpot, and to the moment that had changed their lives forever.

  The Mochries tried to drag the twins inside and Colin permitted it, however Meghan was unable to take her eyes off the dead body of Balloch Flummer.

  Juliska’s fury was glorious!

  She bounded to her feet and strode toward the beast, advising her personal Balaton, Jelen and Jenner, to use magic and block the other two.

  “How dare you?” she roared. As she strode closer, flames burst forth from her body, starting with her hands, then spreading to her head and feet. The flames changed colors from orange to red and finally to a red so deep it was almost black. Her face contorted as she appeared to age suddenly amidst the flames. She raised her arm to the beast, who appeared startled by her actions.

  The Scratcher dropped Balloch’s dead body. Noah caught it, but could not hold the dead weight of his father’s lifeless body. Two people standing nearby ran to assist him.