Control (Book Seven) (Fated Saga Fantasy Series) (28 page)

“I’l
l take you somewhere safe,” agreed Colby. He snapped his fingers creating a fire in which Elisha hopped into, taking them instantly out of the estate.

“Crap!” shouted Meghan.
“I wasn’t done talking to her yet! You can’t just show up, tell someone their life is a complete lie and then just freaking leave!”

Colin grabbed her hand and within a moment, they
were standing back in Kanda Macawi’s driveway once again.

“What are we doing here?” spat
Meghan. “Why didn’t you take us to Catrina?”

“I thought you mi
ght need a minute,” said Colin, surprisingly calm. “I know I do. I’m
dying
to get to Catrina, but the way my mind works, I have to take time to process things. If I rush to save Catrina before working this through...” he threw his hands into the air indicating a
boom
. “Plus, I wasn’t sure you wanted to go with me. It might be extremely dangerous.”

Meghan reached into her pocket and took out the tissue that held the strand of Aloyna’s hair and handed it to him.

“Here, this is yours.”

He took it and secured it inside a pocket of his own.

“But I’m still going with you, Colin. What isn’t dangerous for us? We’re living up to a prophecy that isn’t even a real prophecy. Pawns created by someone hoping to control a non-existent prophecy.”

He nodded. He knew Meghan well enough to know she was about to lose it. He just let her go.

“This whole thing our lives were built around, heck the reason we were born, isn’t even real!”

The more she thought
about it, the angrier she became.

Colin
agreed with her line of thinking, but patiently let her continue her rant. It was like she was being angry for the two of them.

“
Maybe this is a good thing,” she continued. “If you think about it, it’s sort of freeing in a way. Just hours ago I felt like I was just a body going through fate’s motions. That my life was predetermined before I was even a concept.”

She scuffed her boot into the dirt.

“Are any of us really free though? I still feel like a pawn, I mean, it doesn’t change anything, does it? Our lives are already so engrained in this prophecy that we’re forced to make it true whether we want to or not!”

She huffed, fiery lines popping
across her skin.

Colin just let her continue
. There was a part of him that agreed with Meghan, completely. And a part of him that wanted to laugh out loud at the fit she was having. And a part of him that just wanted to rant along with her.

“You know, screw all this!
” she continued. “Prophecy or not, the reason for our existence or not, I’m still going to finish this! At least now it’s my choice. You know?
My choice
. The next move I make will be because I decided to make it. Not because I’m following some predetermined path.”

She stomped her foot on the ground for extra emphasis.

“You done?” he asked her, a hint of a smile escaping his lips.

“Yes,” she repl
ied, haughtily. “I am. And that’s my choice too,” she shouted at no one. She didn’t feel done. It was just too much to take in all at once. They needed to free Catrina, after that, she could get pissed off.

“You are right,” Colin
told her. “About everything you said. I can’t disagree. We were born out of a non-existent prophecy that will keep dragging us back into its web. We’re stuck finishing this whether we want to or not. It doesn’t change anything we’re about to do.”

“
No, it doesn’t,” she agreed, shaking her head. “Should we tell anyone?” she wondered.

“I don’t know. Everyone thinks we are these chosen
three and prophecy or not, I’m still a Projector.”

“Let’s just keep it between us for now then. Hopefully Colby will too. There’s no sense in telling anyway, I guess. Especially if it doesn’t actually change anything.
I guess I see who dear old Dad got his conniving ways from.”

“Yeah, takes after his mother a bit
,” agreed Colin.

“I don’t even know her. Only what we saw in the blood vision and ju
st now. I’m sure she means well, or meant well. But prophecy real or not, we were still created as pawns in someone else’s game. Who does that?” she let out in a frustrated sigh. “Is there no one in this world without some kind of agenda that doesn’t involve using us?”

“We are the fated three,” Colin said with a sarcastic tone. “Sorry. I should be angrier I think. Somehow, I guess just knowing that regardless of the three immortal children thing, I’m still a Projector and people will always be hunting me or trying to find some way to steal my powers or control me. My future is messed up either way!”

“Oh, Colin. Our lives are really screwed up.”

“You could definitely say that and get no argument from me.”

She blew out an exasperated breath.

“So, are you still coming with me?” he asked her.

“You aren’t getting rid of me that easily,” she replied. “Besides, I’m suddenly feeling the need to
seriously kick some butt.”

“Let’s go then. You ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s go save your girlfriend.”

##

“Wasn’t today fun?” Juliska Blackwell asked KarNavan.

“You are in good spirits,” he replied.

“Who wouldn’t be?” she asked. “That couldn’t have gone better if I’d planned it myself.”

“The prisoners are still on the loose,” he reminded.

“Not even a concern. They’ll be caught easy enough. Need I remind you we’re on an island they can’t get away from?”

“No. No reminder needed.”

“What? Don’t tell me you’re suddenly growing a heart or something?”

“Nothing of the sort, my Queen.
”

“Well it got my point across perfectly. They’ll think twice before attemp
ting such a stupid thing again. Of course, Ardon catching those kids in the act proved helpful.”

“That’s why she’s my number two.”

Juliska let out a satisfied breath, sucking in the cold air as if it filled her, satisfying an icy craving. A light fog settled a top the pavilion of her stone fortress. Patches of white rolled up over the edge, crawling along the cold stone floor.

Juliska
’s long-jacket whisked behind her as she spun around, her devilish eyes landing on the newest addition to her fortress: an iron cage.

“
It’s always so much more effective when they try to escape... think they actually have a chance.”

“And what are you plans for your new pet?” asked KarNavan.

“I haven’t decided yet,” she spoke, staring deeply into the eyes of her new prisoner.

Jae Mochrie did not respond. He sat on the cold stone floor,
shivering in the back corner, as far away from Juliska Blaskwell as he could get. He knew it was only a matter of time before she either killed him, or made him kill someone else.

“Hollee,” Juliska
shouted.

Hollee bounded up the stairs in seconds. “Yes, my Queen.”

“Get my prisoner a blanket. I’d prefer he didn’t freeze to death before I decide what to do with him.”

Hollee strutted
back down the stairs, returning in just minutes with a thick wool blanket. She shoved it between the irons, letting it fall to the ground.

Hollee leaned in, smiling. Pajak, Juliska’s glass-like pet spider, clinked along the top of the cage. “He’ll keep you company,” she whispered wickedly.

Juliska stepped through the icy fog,
once again gazing out over the island. She sucked in another energizing breath and let out a shudder of anticipation. A dark giggle escaped her lips.

“You’re down right giddy,
my Queen,” returned KarNavan.

“Yes. Aren’t you? Can’t you smell it in the air?”

“Smell what in the air?”

She
tossed him a confused look. “You, the hunter. The warrior. You can’t smell it getting closer?”

He did not reply.

“It’s so close I can almost taste it. The war. It is about to begin. Soon, my vengeance will be complete. Soon, everyone will bow down to me as their Queen.”

“They already do,” he reminded her. “As do I.”

“Yes. But I will give the word new meaning.”

KarNavan got a bothered look on his face.

“Worried are we?” she asked in a childish voice.

“No. Curious
. Don’t understand the point of all this. I know, vengeance, but what about after this war? What then? If you kill them all, who is left to call you Queen?”

Juliska sneered
.

“You don’t know
much at all, do you, KarNavan? Not so
in
with Fazendiin as you might have thought.”

“I know enough. I know I have secured a future for my people. And I know that
you’re seeking immortality. So is that it? You kill all these people, take what’s left of their magic, get your immortality and serve as Queen, forever? To whom?”

“That’s for me to know and apparently for you to find out.”

KarNavan made a move to leave.

“Oh come now. Don’t be such a baby. There’s plenty in this future for you.”

He turned, bolted
up to her, his patience waning.

“I don’t like all the secrets. I don’t like that the plan seems to have changed.”

“You mean that
I
seem to know more than you,” she corrected. “Don’t question. It’s not your place, KarNavan. All you need to know is that Fazendiin is in control. Never question that for a moment. Keep your promises to him and he’ll keep his to you.”

“And you really believe he will
? Do you actually believe he will willingly make you immortal? To be his equal in power... just because you’re from the same clan?”

Her eyes narrowed, her lips parting into a knowing grin.
She leaned in so close he could see every line in her plump red lips as she spoke.

“
Get
my immortality? What makes you think I don’t already have it?”

Chapter 8

Colin strode into the barn where Catrina was held prisoner.

“Colin,” she called
out upon seeing him.

“You’ve succeeded,” said
Nona, leaving her post by Catrina’s prison.

“Yes,” Meghan
answered.

Colin stepped close to Catrina,
but not too close. He knew it would be dangerous to get too close. “Are you okay?” he asked her.

Seeing her still imprisoned felt like he was being split in two.

“Yes. I’m fine. Nona has been great company. She’s been catching me up on everything I’ve missed.” Her eyes grazed Colin and Meghan. “I think the most shocking thing was finding out you two aren’t even brother and sister.” 

Colin and Meghan tossed each other a knowing look.

“It is what it is,” said Meghan. “He’s still my brother, no matter what.”

“Yeah, we’ve talked it
all out. It’s all good,” said Colin.

Catrina sm
iled, thrilled that Colin and Meghan had made up.

“Well isn’t this
sweet,” a nasty voice bellowed behind them.

Meghan and Colin spun on the spot, watching Freyne’s face materialize
in the mirror.

Colin’s temper instantly got the better of him. He wasn’t ev
en going to make an appearance to check their evidence... Colin had intended on inflicting great bodily harm.

“How are you going to know this is real?” he said, taking out the tissue
, which held Aloyna’s strand of hair.

“I know it’s real,” Freyne replied. “I know you wouldn’t dare r
eturn if the deed was not done. You’re
predictable
...”

“Let Catrina
go,” Colin demanded.

“All in good time,” Freyne
replied.

Colin trembled
.

If Freyne didn’t keep his end of the bargain
, he was going to lose it.

The Magicante would
not just stall, but more likely, blow up... along with everything else in the immediate area. It would never be able to keep up or contain the fury brewing inside of him. His Projector’s powers would be unstoppable. He needed Catrina free and he would stop at nothing to make it happen. 

Meghan stood her ground in
front of Catrina’s prison. She heard Nona’s thoughts. “Colin cannot free Catrina, but perhaps we can.”

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Meghan replied. “Makes sense. I’m not a Projector. Any idea how?”