{"id":1051,"date":"2012-02-06T00:00:42","date_gmt":"2012-02-06T05:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1051"},"modified":"2012-02-05T19:57:49","modified_gmt":"2012-02-06T00:57:49","slug":"autumn-chapter-3-marin-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1051","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 3 – Marin – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>We set a cluster of lanterns at each of the four points of a compass.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom was tasked with the drumming that would lend rhythm to the ritual\u2014one I still wasn\u2019t sure I understood.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It seemed there was a lot of energy-dumping and singing involved with Phelan to lead it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I wondered again, and not for the first time, what we\u2019d have done without him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Been vulnerable, I guess.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re going to want to shut off those battery ones,\u201d Phelan said as he and J.T. finished lighting the tiki torches.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGoing to be a lot of energy up, don\u2019t want to short anything out.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOr make it explode,\u201d Thom murmured as he settled on an overturned bucket, settling the old drum against one knee.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I glanced at him sharply and he just shook his head.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t ask, Mar,\u201d he murmured, taking my hand and kissing my palm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust go turn off the lanterns like he said.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I stared at him for a moment longer and shook my head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy do I think there\u2019s something that you\u2019re not telling me?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cProbably because you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMarin?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Come on, let\u2019s get started.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I gave Thom one last look and headed to answer Phelan\u2019s call.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline and Kellin worked their way around the burial, turning off the battery-operated lanterns.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s just like setting the wards,\u201d Phelan said to me quietly, except for dumping energy into a ward, you\u2019re all going to be channeling it toward the staff.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll take it from there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In the strange light of dying day and the flickering flame of the torches and lanterns, he looked strange, almost worried.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan\u2026you\u2019ve done this before, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNever without some kind of sacrifice,\u201d he muttered, cheeks flaming almost as bright as his hair.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My heart started to pound.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What the hell, Phelan?\u00a0 <\/span>Why are we out here if this isn\u2019t going to work?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCalm down,\u201d he said, waving a hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t panic, it\u2019ll work.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He nodded, giving me that devil-may-care grin of his.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Screw me sideways.\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve got a bad feeling about this.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTrust me.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll right,\u201d I said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI trust you.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 I just hope that this works.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019ll work.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He squeezed my elbow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow quit worrying and let\u2019s get to work.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>After the ritual was done, we all sat in the cold-dew-damp grass and watched as Greg and Jacqueline scattered seeds across the churned earth of the graves.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The torches guttered and flickered, the bright, cold light of the autumn stars shining down on us.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know, I never realized how many more you can see when there\u2019s no cities to stop you from seeing them,\u201d I said softly, one arm wrapped around Thom\u2019s shoulders.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He smiled up at me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat, the stars?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I nodded slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re beautiful.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s more of them these days than there were back then,\u201d Phelan said from where he was stretched out a few feet away, flat on his back with his arms folded behind his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStrange, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA little,\u201d Thom said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDid you guys see that?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn asked quietly, sitting between J.T.\u2019s legs on the other side of us from Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was leaning back against his broad chest, staring at the sky like Phelan, Thom, and I.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSee what?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat shadow. Look, up by the tail of the dipper.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I scanned the sky, a chill going through me as I caught a glimmer of the shadow she was talking about, which winked out of sight abruptly a moment after I saw it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I sat up straight, rubbing my eyes.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It must just be a trick of the light.\u00a0 <\/span>My eyes are tired.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s all.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s got to be it.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t see anything,\u201d Thom said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI did,\u201d I said quietly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>For the first time since the ritual began, Kellin spoke softly, turning away from the grave and toward the rest of us in the grass.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething doesn\u2019t feel right.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The <\/span>Something<\/span><\/em> landed in the eight feet of space between her and us and pounced on Phelan almost as soon as its feet touched the ground.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan let out a shout of surprise.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn screamed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom and I scrambled back.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I felt cold, as if someone had just dumped a load of snow on me.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>In a voice as sensual as it was disconcerting, the figure on Phelan whispered, \u201cWhere are they, Wandering One?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI have no idea what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d Phelan said in a choked voice.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t lie to me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You know bad things happen when you lie to someone like me.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A chill shot down my spine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom forced his way up onto one knee, staring across the figure\u2019s back at J.T.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I saw J.T. gesture and my pounding heart began to sink.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>No, Thom.\u00a0 <\/span>No, you can\u2019t.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Rory whipped past Thom and I, head tucked and shoulder down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He plowed into the figure like a linebacker.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She\u2014I was fairly certain it was a she\u2014cried out as Rory flipped her onto her back and with a little help from J.T. and Drew got her pinned.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom nudged me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHelp Phelan.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Even as I scrambled toward Phelan, I heard the strange figure laughing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho are these, Wandering One?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Your new little tribe?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>More followers?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Are you going to get them killed, too, like the group two hundred years ago?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>My hands found Phelan\u2019s shoulders and I started to help him sit up again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He was pale and shaky as I helped him to his feet, voice a rasp as he stared at her prone form.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThis time is different.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Leave, Vammatar.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019ve got no power here.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Prone on her back, her lips peeled back in a cruel smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s where you\u2019re wrong, Wandering One.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But why tell, when I can simply show?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We set a cluster of lanterns at each of the four points of a compass.\u00a0 Thom was tasked with the drumming that would lend rhythm to the ritual\u2014one I still wasn\u2019t sure I understood.\u00a0 It seemed there was a … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,41,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-3","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-gX","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1051"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1052,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1051\/revisions\/1052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}