Seeing Magic (The Queen of the Night Series Book 1) (24 page)

Epilog

Mom

“All right, we’re here. What can you see?” 

We’d decided to return to the location where I’d first scanned the contamination of Warm Spring Run. Evan and I hadn’t talked much while he was driving. For my part, I still needed to wrap my head around the previous night’s events. I picked my way through the scratchy brush bordering the school playground, and gained access to the stream itself. The water line on the little brook had risen by several inches and the water gurgled and rushed around stones with a great velocity. About ten or so yards beyond the playground, I found a nice, flat area where I could stand safely. Once I had a clear line of sight, both upstream and downstream, I relaxed my mind and concentrated on opening my Healer vision.

Nothing.

No remains of the acid green and pewter haze existed. Warm Spring Run was safe again. I allowed myself to enjoy the quiet moment surrounded by the sounds and smells of the woods and the water. This rural community appealed to me. I was going to miss the tranquility. There were sounds of birds calling to each other, squirrels racing up and down tree trunks, cicadas buzzing and flowing water. I tried to remember the morning noises in Santa Monica. Would it be hard to readjust to the sounds of engines revving, horns honking, people shouting and the ever-present but faint siren wailing in the distance?  It might be.

My internal ruminations were interrupted by an effervescent, girlish giggle. I turned to look behind me at Evan. He looked as surprised as I did. The sound came from downstream. I spied an area where the stream split to go around an old bent willow tree. The laughter seemed to be coming from behind the tree.

Easnadh played in the water. The hem of her blue gossamer gown seemed to have become one with the spring. She skipped around; enjoying the flow of little rivulets she levitated up and down around her shins. Her long, black hair fell in sensuous waves around her and trailed down below her hips.

She heard us. “Oh Healer, I had hoped to meet you again!  Thank you…thank you so much for saving my life and my charge,” she indicated the water around her. “I hope someday I’ll have an opportunity to help you.”

“It was nothing,” I murmured, humbled by her gratitude.

“Oh no, it was something wonderful. You have great power and you used it to protect me.”

“It’s thanks enough to find you so happy. Besides,” I pointed over my shoulder, “Evan really did all the work.”  He closed in behind me.

“Of course I owe the Great Seer a life-debt as well. None of the Sidhe will forget his bravery and persistence in protecting us.” She nodded to him. “I was worried that I would not get a chance to thank you myself…and to say goodbye.”

My breath whooshed out of me as my heart accepted the reality of farewell. “You’re welcome, Easnadh. Bright Blessings be upon you.”  I was even picking up on the lingo around here.

She looked at Evan, “I’ll see you in three weeks, Seer.”  We turned to leave. She skipped through the water downstream and around a bend.

As we gained the more solid ground around the schoolyard I asked him, “What’s happening in three weeks?”

He responded tersely, “Mabon, the festival of the Autumn Equinox, is in three weeks. That’s when harvest season really gets underway around here.”  He didn’t elaborate and I wondered what I’d done to make him so upset. Once we were in the Jeep he asked, “I guess we should go back to the cabin and let you pack.”

“I’m already packed. I left my suitcase in Fiona’s office at the store.”  I’d already shared goodbyes with the Brownies. On the drive into Berkeley Springs this morning, Fiona had stopped by the farm so I could say goodbye to everyone there. I broke out sneezing when Mr. Husk hugged me. I guess I’m allergic to corn chaff.

“Then we’ll head back to the store.”

***

When we arrived Fiona sat at her desk. “I’ve had a couple of phone calls,” she started without preamble. She pulled a folded square of fabric from a drawer. “Your Aunt Rose says you can have this. Do you think you can fit it into your suitcase?”

“I’ll make it fit.”  I accepted the periwinkle dress.

As I got down on the floor to open my suitcase and stuff the dress inside it, she continued. “Your mother is eager to have you back home. She has agreed to continue your education in herbalism and magical healing fundamentals. You will return to us next summer to develop your skill with healing hands. I chose not to inform her of your Seer gifts. I am worried the news might be more stressful than she can cope with at the moment. It will be better to wait to gauge how she handles the emergence of your Healer gifts before we get into the rest. Do you agree?”

I nodded as I handed my suitcase to Evan. He left the room with it.

“I also suggest that you not tell her about your encounter with the Queen of the Night.”

“Okay, Fi, I won’t tell her about Arianrhod or seeing auras. I won’t tell her about Dariene’s curse or the Druid’s Egg.”

“That would be best. Well then, I wish you a safe and pleasant journey.”

“Thank you.”

“Study hard and come back to us as soon as you can, yes?”

“Okay, Fi, I will.”  I hugged her. She sounded as if she had a catch in her throat. She stroked my hair, gave me a squeeze and took a step back. “Go. You still need to get your brother and you don’t want to be late for your flight.”

I left quickly so I wouldn’t cry, said fast goodbyes to everyone I’d worked with in the store, and walked out the back door. Evan waited in the Jeep, all ready to go. I tried to not let it bother me that he seemed to be pushing me out of town. Instead, I quietly took my place in the passenger seat and pulled on my seat belt.

***

I didn’t really look at the passing scenery. My thoughts and concerns distracted me. I hadn’t shared with anyone what Dariene had whispered to me. I feared if I voiced my suspicions out loud, it would make the worst come true. Dariene had specifically said she would not tell Arianrhod about my ‘sibling’. Did she know Corey was a boy, the significance of his gender and the old legend about the Destroyer?  Even Fiona and Evan didn’t understand the whole story. Paul Sinclair was aware of the story but not that Corey existed.

Only I had put the pieces together. Only I grasped the danger. My adorable, fun-loving brother had the potential to become a raving lunatic who might destroy the world. I was the one person who would stop that future from coming true and would protect my brother at the same time. I reviewed in my mind every detail about the legend. I tried to remember if Corey had ever shown signs of magical abilities or signs of mental illness. I didn’t think so. He ran up to both of us, all energy and joy. I refused to scan his aura. I wouldn’t allow myself to think the worst might be true. I ran the last few steps and grabbed him in a huge bear hug.

“Okay… Mags… can’t… breathe… love… you… too… let… go… now…”

“Oh fine,” I grumbled, “if you insist on breathing. Gosh it’s good to see you!” 

His excitement and effervescence were contagious, plus it saved me the uncomfortable silence which had settled between Evan and me. Corey talked non-stop the entire drive to the airport. He had to share every camp time adventure with both of us. He even lightened Evan’s dark mood, but inevitably, the trip ended.

Evan parked in short-term parking. We checked our bags into baggage and were processed through the ticket counter. The airline requested we arrive early since we flew unaccompanied by an adult. I had no time to visit the newsstand or see the shops in the terminal. We went straight to the boarding gate. Just before we passed through the last security checkpoint, I pulled Evan aside. He wouldn’t be allowed any further into the airport. I didn’t want to leave without trying to resolve this chasm between us.

“Look,” I took a deep breath and plunged ahead, “I know after you saw how Arianrhod reacted to me you think I’m some kind of monster.”

“Heavens, no! I could never think that about you.”  He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

My voice cracked as I spoke. “So why do you hate me all of a sudden!  Arianrhod noticed me last night and you dropped my hand. You walked away from me and you’ve been cold toward me ever since then. What did I do wrong?” My words were laced with hurt and betrayal.

“I dropped your hand because I didn’t want make things any worse than they were!” he countered forcefully. “I’m the Great Seer. Arianrhod knows it. You’re the next Great Healer. What do you think she would have done if she’d seen us holding hands!  I had to walk away from you to convince Dariene to intercede on your behalf!  Do you think I wanted to leave you alone with her for even a second?”  Now his voice filled with hurt.

Huh. That made sense
. “So why aren’t you talking to me today?”

He didn’t answer right away. He looked as if he tried to find the right words.

I let him take his time, but I held my breath.

Finally, he looked right into my eyes. His hands opened in supplication. He had a tormented look on his face. “Because I can’t say goodbye to you!” he said with a sob. It was a single, solitary sob, but I understood the depth of the emotion behind the words.

I sighed with relief. He didn’t hate me. He didn’t think I was a monster.

“You’re the best friend I’ve had in a long, long time. I’m going to miss you so much!”

Oh hell
. I pulled him to me tightly and pressed my face into his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and bent his head down so that his face was in my hair. I felt his breath on my scalp and goose bumps broke out all over me. It was strange. Where his light, casual touches left me tingly all over, this deep embrace blocked out everything else around us and felt like sanctuary. It was like hearing a diminished ninth chord resolve into a major fifth. This was where home really existed…in his arms. Here I could think clearly.

Sadly, I couldn’t stay forever. I had to go back to my family, but I would return.
Were there tears on my cheeks
?  I looked up and he wiped them off with his thumb. He dropped a kiss on my forehead.

I found my voice and a strength I didn’t know I possessed. “So we’re BFFs, huh?”

He barked a laugh in surprise. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Well, we’ll just have to stay in touch over the Internet. You’d better friend me. I expect to hear about everything that goes on in Cacapon.”

“I can do that.”

“Good. I’ll see you next summer.”

“Next summer…okay.”

I turned and walked through the metal detector.

***

Nine hours later we arrived without incident at LAX. Corey had been smart enough to take the motion-sickness pills before we boarded the plane. As the flight attendant escorted us back out to the terminal, I strained my neck looking for a woman with red hair. Corey and I ran to greet her, but when she turned around, she wasn’t Mom.

It was Aunt Rose.

What was Aunt Rose doing in California
?  Where was Mom?

Panic started to set in when Corey took my hand in his. The human touch calmed me. “Don’t be scared, okay. Mom’s gonna be all right. You’ll see.” 

How did he know this and I didn’t
?  We stopped in front of my aunt.

The smile on her face was a little sad. “Shannon’s at home. I’m sorry she couldn’t come to get you, but she’s fine. We’re going to see her right now.”

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!?”  I really couldn’t stand any more patronizing by the adults in my life. “How come Corey knows what’s happening but I’m kept in the dark!  He’s only eleven, for heaven’s sake!”

“Corey?  We haven’t told Corey anything.” Rose looked thrown by this news.

Corey shook his head and shrugged at me. “Nope…I don’t know anything either. What’s going on, Aunt Rose?”  He sounded like he was pretending to be offended by her presence, but wasn’t really that upset.

I just wanted my Mom.

“I know it’s unfair for you, Maggie. I’m sorry, but your mom wants to tell you everything herself. Right now, we just have to get you home.”

I looked at her beseeching with my eyes. “Can’t you give me a clue?”

She just gave me that sad, indulgent smile.

“Fine,” I said and stomped off toward baggage claim, “Let’s go home.” 

Mom sat up in bed, propped up by pillows when we entered the apartment. She looked wiped out. Her thin and straggly hair had lost its luster. She got out of bed with difficulty and stood with arms open wide, waiting to receive us.

I took a moment to stand in the doorway and give her a very thorough examination. Corey raced to hug her first, and I stopped scanning. It didn’t matter if Corey had repressed magic. I was never going to let the legend come true. Then I rushed into her arms.

“Oh, my babies,” she cooed and kissed us both. I helped her sit back down in bed. She seemed so weak.

I couldn’t wait any longer. “Out with it, Mom. What’s wrong with you?”

She smiled and gave a small shrug. “Luckily, there’s nothing wrong anymore. Sit and I’ll tell you everything.”

When Corey and I placed ourselves around her on the bed, she began. Instinctively, I lay on her left side. Aunt Rose hovered in the background. She’d called Fiona to tell her we’d arrived home.