Isolation Read online

  “And the dark mage who ended his life, and that of most of his family, ended up being even more so. Yes, Xavier, Everleigh is your half-sister. Conceived when your father was but a young prince, long before you were ever born.”

  I stood so quickly, I knocked the chair right out from under myself. Holy crap on a cracker! I had a brother. Who was currently a cat. But, a BROTHER. I looked at him, trying to gauge how he had taken the news. He appeared to be in some sort of shock, just staring at me as if I had sprouted a couple extra heads. My mother sat quietly in her chair. Giving us both a moment to digest the news.

  “I had been forbidden to tell either of you of the other’s existence until such time that you had already met in this world. I brought you together as soon as I could manage to do so safely. Xavier, I hope you understand.”

  I had the urge to throw my arms around him and hold him tightly, but I couldn’t seem to tell what he thought of me at this point. I became overcome with uncertainty. Maybe he didn’t want another sibling. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to think you had lost all your family, to find that one had been hidden away from you for so many years. Actually, I guess I could, since I had lived it too. Not that I didn’t understand where my mother had been coming from. She was caught between a rock and a hard place as well.

  All tension broke when he looked at me a said in my head, with a chuckle, “Well, who’s the old fart now?” I burst out laughing and launched myself at him with tears streaming down my face. My mother, unable to hear what he and I were saying along our own private channel, looked at us with a mixture of relief and a little concern. I let her in on our inside joke, and she laughed with us.

  “Well, technically,” she agreed, “you are the older sibling.”

  “What happened after that?” I asked her.

  She smiled at me gently. “I carried you for many years still. We had not been given any sort of time frame for your birth, and I had been instructed to just to carry on with my duties and wait. I returned to live with your grandma and prepared to become the next Soul Scribe when she was ready to move on.

  “As the years passed, the world became a much darker place. We heard rumblings of a power that grew darker and more dangerous, and we knew your time must be getting close. There had been a number of attempts to steal the scribe magic from your grandmother and eliminate me as her heiress.

  “We knew then that we would need to hide you until the universe declared it the right time, for your own safety. Together, we hatched the plan that would keep your existence a secret from all the world.”

  I sat unmoving in my chair, in awe of the two women. Knowing the difficult times that were ahead for them, and yet still planning, plotting, and preparing to do the best they could. It made me so proud to be her daughter.

  “Your grandmother gave her powers to me much earlier than most scribes abdicate their position. She returned to Earth and made preparations here for your birth and the steps we would take after. She set up everything you would need for your life.

  “As soon as the first signs of change to my body presented themselves, I, too, returned to this protected cabin to await your arrival. Not a living soul other than my own mother knew that my heiress had already been conceived. In this way, we offered you the utmost protection we were able.

  “If the dark powers knew not that I had an heiress, they would not seek to eliminate you before attempting to rob me of the Soul Scribe powers. I delivered you in the back bedroom with the windows facing the waterfall. Your grandmother had been a midwife during her years here, and she attended me during the birth.”

  I looked at her in surprise. That explained why seeing her name in the book had rung bells in my memory, though I had been unable to place it at the time. And it explained why “the elderly midwife” had left all her earthly possessions to me. I sent up a silent thanks to her, wherever she may be, for all she had sacrificed to ensure my safety.

  “You arrived healthy and beautiful, and it devastated me that I had to return to the other realms to avoid arousing suspicion. I knew what we were doing would prove to be for the best though and would keep you safest. I had already been gone longer than usual and couldn’t risk anyone becoming curious as to why I chose to stay away. I also could not risk creating the bond between us that would tie our souls’ magic together.” She looked at me sadly and took my hand.

  “Once that bond had begun to create, any devious being who happened upon you would have known you were my child, and you would’ve been in immediate danger. The only safety net we could offer you was that to any other magical creature, you didn’t even exist.

  “My heartbreak was absolutely worth your protection. Of course, I knew your grandmother would follow our plan and protect you until the end of her days, which she did. She loved you so much. We had prepared all the lawyer would need to follow you throughout your first twenty years ahead of time and left him very specific instructions.

  “Which, I am happy to see, he appears to have followed to the letter. And here we are today. I am sure you are aware that the version I just gave you is condensed, but I believe we have covered the important parts. As we prepare for the future and spend more time together, I will share more of the details and bits and pieces with both of you. How are you feeling about this bombshell, Xavier?”

  I watched their faces as he gave my mother his answer. Relaxing muscles I didn’t realize had been tense, I saw her smile at his response. I leaned in to give him a hug. My mother smiled at the two of us, and then headed to her room for a nap, citing mental and emotional exhaustion. I jumped up to embrace her and held her tightly. There would never be a way I could express to her how thankful I was that they had been willing to sacrifice so much for me.

  Chapter Nine

  When I imagined my reunion with my mother, I had somehow always thought we'd end up on a beach somewhere in a cushy chair, sipping drinks with those little umbrellas in them. Instead, I was emotionally unstable, physically exhausted, and trying to learn magic that I barely knew existed mere hours before.

  We had moved from the dining table to the couch to continue our discussion, and as we sat there, I felt increasingly, well, just wrong. I couldn't put my finger on it exactly, but it was almost like anxiety, but for no reason.

  I ignored it as best I could while Xavier used our bond to show me memories of his family, which I had just discovered were mine too. He showed me our father, which brought me to tears again, and his mother, the woman who had given birth to my half siblings.

  In an instant in the middle our cozy little conversation, my body seized and I felt like I on fire. I could barely breathe, much less form a sentence. My brain was in so much distress, I couldn't use our bond to get Xavier's attention.

  I

  t wasn't until my body trembled violently that Xavier looked at me and realized something was wrong. He tried to ask me what was going on, but all I could hear was garbled sounds, like a radio between two stations.

  As soon as he realized he couldn't reach me, he must have called for my mother because she came running from the hallway where she had been headed to take care of a couple things. At this point, the trembling was so bad, I had no control over my body, and I slipped off the couch to the floor. My mom caught me quickly enough to prevent an injury, then got a pillow under my head.

  “Everleigh? What is going on? What's happening?”

  I could hear the stress in her voice, and see the frown on her face, but all I could do was shake my head. The pain increased to the point I couldn’t handle much more. I wouldn't have been surprised to see jagged bones break through my skin, because it felt like mine were shattering.

  I barely registered what was going on around me as my mom and Xavier locked eyes over my body, and she nodded.

  “It's going to be all right, Everleigh. I promise. I will figure this out.” She laid her hand on my forehead, then there was nothing but blessed darkness.

  When I came to again, I was a
fraid to open my eyes, or even move, in case whatever I did triggered another episode of whatever the hell that had been. I wiggled my toes, glad to feel that everything seemed to be mostly back to normal. I peeked through barely open eyes, and when there were no negative consequences, I opened them fully.

  “Hey, there sleepy head.” Xavier's voice was soft, much softer than usual, and I was so thankful.

  I turned my head his way and looked up, smiling slightly as he came into view.

  “What the hell happened to me?” I was sincerely hoping he would have answers. “And where is my mom?”

  “We're not sure exactly what happened just yet, but your mom is in the study attempting to find answers. We think your two magical halves are fighting for dominance, and your body is getting the short end of the stick as they do so.”

  “Short end of the stick is right. I feel like I was mauled by a lion and then ran over by a rhinoceros!” I gingerly stretched my limbs, wincing as my muscles protested vehemently. “And I need to use the bathroom.”

  “I'll have your mom come out to help you. I think you might need a little assistance getting up. It took a while for your body to calm down even after she put you out, so you may be weak.”

  By the time he had finished his sentence, I heard her footsteps coming down the hall. With her help, I was able to sit up, but felt dizzy, and was in no way ready to stand. After a few deep breaths, I was able to get to my feet with her supporting most of my weight.

  “Thank goodness you get extra strength for being a scribe.” I tried to tease her as we shuffled our way slowly down the hall.

  She smiled and teased right back. “You barely weigh anything. I could cradle you like a baby if I needed to.”

  “One of these days, I'd like to see you try.” We both giggled as Xavier's voice broadcast into our minds from his seat on the couch.

  She waited outside the bathroom door until I was finished, then helped me to the armchair next to the fire.

  “Would you believe I am hungry again?” I asked her.

  I got a resounding “Yes!” from both of them and I feigned a scowl. Crossing my arms over my chest, I did my best to look frail and pitiful, which just caused both to laugh at me.

  “Whatever. I can't help it. I need to eat.”

  “Don't worry, love, I will make you something.” She made her way to the kitchen and put a together a tray for me.

  “Can I have some Tylenol, or something, too?” I needed to take the edge off the discomfort.

  As she prepared food, I filled her in more on my childhood, adoptive parents, and other tidbits I thought she would find interesting. She paid particular attention to the explanation of how my powers had begun to manifest, slightly shocked at how early I began to show magical traits.

  I told her about my parents’ car crash which ultimately took them from me, and she hugged me while I cried. She apologized profusely for what I had gone through, and I had to smile.

  I firmly told her I knew she had done what she believed to be best for me, and I believed it had been the right choice. If things were about to get as dark and dangerous as we were expecting, then we all had to sacrifice to make sure we came out on top when the war arrived at our doorstep.

  After the Tylenol had kicked in and I had a full stomach, we decided to head back to the study to search for a way to bring my powers together and merge them fully. My mother went straight to the shelves and perused the spines of the books, shelf after shelf. When I asked her why she didn’t just ask Celeste for the book she needed, she looked at me and laughed.

  “Who? It doesn’t work that way, sweetie,” she told me. I raised my eyebrows, and somewhat hesitantly told her about when I had arrived in the study for the first time. Again, she had that look of confusion on her face, but she agreed to try. She spoke aloud the help we needed and we both waited patiently for the telltale glow to come from one of the books. Nothing.

  “Why don’t you try asking her? It may be that she can only respond to you, since you are the Chosen, and I am not.” So, I asked for the help we needed. Sure enough, after a brief wait, a soft glow emanated from a book on the far wall.

  Just as I grabbed hold of the book, a deafening rumble shook the room. Bottles and vials rattled where they stood, and books vibrated off the shelves and onto the floor.

  I cried out, and mother headed for the door then we rushed into the main room of the cabin. Then the trembling stopped. Only an eerie silence remained. We looked around to be sure no major damage had been done. My mother grabbed a full-length cape from a hook behind the door.

  “Everleigh, I’m sorry. I must go, now. I have my journal and will get in touch with you as soon as I am able. Do NOT leave this cabin for any reason. Don’t even open the door if you don’t have to. I love you.”

  And with that, she ran out the door, headed toward the waterfall. I watched in awe as the world seemed to warp and bend around her, the same as when she had arrived, and she disappeared into the falls.

  Xavier sat next to me. “I will explain to you what I can about what just happened, so you have as much information as possible.”

  I nodded and settled in, leaning against him. I figured on it being an earthquake, while rare here in Washington, such things were not entirely unheard of. However, based on my mother’s reaction, I knew this had not been a random act of nature.

  “This cabin was built in this particular location for a very good reason. Behind the waters of the falls lie the only naturally created Earth portal to the other dimensions. There are others, but they have been created over time by magic, not the universe itself.

  “As the scribe, it is your mother’s job to protect those portals, and Earth, from the things on the other side that would seek to cause harm or damage here. Attacks on the portals from the other side are nothing new.

  “There are many who would seek to take over Earth, simply because there is very little magic here to oppose them. Usually, however, any attack made on the other side is contained by the portals themselves. To my knowledge, there has never been an event on the other side, of any kind, that has caused a disturbance here on Earth.”

  The portals to the other realms were literally in my own backyard? How crazy was that? Of course, over the last few days, all of the things I had been learning were of the “crazy” variety and probably shouldn’t take me by surprise any more.

  I found it rather difficult, however, to just do away with years of living ignorantly on Earth, not knowing the majority of these things existed. I could still be caught off guard apparently. This probably wouldn’t be the last time either.

  “I'm going to the study to talk with Celeste. See if she can give me suggestions on what I should focus on since she has seen some of my future.”

  Heading back down the hallway, I glanced at Xavier out of the corner of my eye. The worry etched on his face, I easily read even with his feline features. This told me I seriously needed to prepare. That time was, indeed, running short.

  After I entered the study, I closed the door behind me. “Celeste, I need your help if you are able to talk right now.”

  After just a brief second, she appeared. “I have been waiting for this moment, Everleigh. I have a gift for you. I will then attempt to help you with the problem you came to me for.”

  She held out her hands, and for a moment, her light shone so brightly, I couldn't see anything but the glare. In her hands extended to me, she held a pair of daggers. Made of dark shiny metal I couldn't readily identify, they had stones inset in the intricate handles that matched the teal of my threads, as well as clear ones. I gasped, shocked at how beautiful they were.

  “For me? Why? Where did they come from?” My ingenue was showing, but I couldn't help myself.

  “These are the daggers created especially for the Chosen Scribes. As we are only born during times of great peril, there is danger to be found around every corner. Magic will not always be enough to protect you. These blades will bond with you, and you alone. T
hey will tie into your magic and give you every advantage they are able to.

  “I am unsure of how they will react to your fae magic, whether it will enhance or hinder their use, but they are yours for this lifetime. When your soul passes and your magic returns to the universe, so too, will these daggers. They will then wait for the next Chosen to arrive.”

  She beckoned me to her and I approached them slowly, staring down at them, fascinated that these were meant for me.

  “What if I am no good at using them? I have only ever practiced martial arts that did not include weaponry.” I still hadn't reached out to touch them yet, but oh, how I wanted to.

  “Take them, my child. I am growing weak and cannot stand here with them all day. You will need to find someone to train you. Your mother should have ideas who can help you master them. And the weapons themselves will make the process as easy as possible.”

  Reaching out to her, I reverently took hold of the handles. As soon as I had grasped one in each hand, I felt the relationship I was meant to have with them. Words would never accurately portray what I felt at that moment, but I knew they were mine, and I, theirs. Aside from a small tingle in my hands as I made contact, there was no physical indication that anything was different.

  “Thank you, Celeste. I will do my best to live up to the expectations of my role.” She nodded, fading before my eyes.

  “I am still here, my child, but I am unable to remain visible any longer. What else can I help you with? What were you hoping to find when you originally came to me?”

  “I need to find a way to marry my scribe magic with my Fae side. I had a painful episode earlier, and my mother believes it is the two halves of my magic warring with each other to be dominant.”

  After a moment of brief silence, she answered. “While there has never before been a scribe with any other types of magic, I believe your mother may be correct. Unfortunately, that means I do not have an answer readily available for you. I will do some research while you focus on the other issues at hand. I will let you know what I find.”