Maynia Day #1
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Maynia Day #3
Maynia Day #4
Maynia Day #5
Maynia Day #6
Maynia Day #7
Maynia Day #8
Maynia Day #9
Maynia Day #10
Maynia Day #11
Maynia Day #12
Maynia Day #13
Maynia Day #14
Maynia Day #15
Maynia Day #16
Maynia Day #17
Maynia Day #18
Maynia Day #19
Maynia Day #20
Maynia -- Day Twenty-One -- 1,328 words
DRIP DRIP..
I watched my blood drip in the silver surface before I spread it evenly on the knife then put it inside the kiln to heat, I surveyed around my basement as I thought about the findings I’ve had these last several nights after Mayor Heins’ death—the rift as I found out, didn’t appear to be in the mines at first glance, but the disturbance I felt in that area kept gnawing at my mind—the summoner it seems, would be the only one to make it visible to just about anyone, for now..
Mayor Heins’ death should have resulted in weakening the rift’s cloaking capacity, but with the rift still hidden in plain sight, that left the Heins’ Signet Ring as my only key. If I read my dad’s journals right, the summoning key didn’t have to be anything specific as a ring, but what material the rift was mostly surrounded with—in this case, it was copper.
I turned back to the kiln and let the silver knife temper before placing it in cool water, all the while mulling over the words I had seen in Jack’s office, avaritia et animam tuam aeternam “avarice, and your life will be eternal” Yeah, eternally in hell.. I scoffed at that, it was a stealthy way for the summoner to offer her soul but still save her mind from the chaos it would cause, choosing to involve another person instead to get caught up with his inner demons—his dark thoughts fueling the rift’s energy.
I frowned at the thought that Jack could have the signet ring in his possession right at this moment—he wouldn’t have known those engravings otherwise—but then felt my heart drop at the thought of what that cursed object was capable of doing to him.
I sighed as I started to clean up the basement before preparing to leave, a sudden thought made me momentarily stop in my tracks, “My wife had this made for me.”—The twisted truth here was that Mrs. Heins could very well be the summoner I was looking for all along, but the chances of luring her out to the mines were thin to none—Jack was my closest bet at getting the rift to appear, especially if the ring was with him, but the problem here was that I haven’t seen Jack since..
The incessant sound of the doorbell pulled me from my thoughts, I looked at the intercom placed by the basement door to see who it was. It was Luke who stood outside the main door as he seemed to be holding a carrier in his one arm..
I knew I was supposed to pick up Jaden from Dr. Bliant’s today, but it looks like Luke had already taken it upon himself to bring Jaden here instead..
“Hey, thought you’d make a rain check on picking up Jaden today.. with all that’s been happening.. Uh—you don’t mind me coming here right?”
“Oh no.. I’m the one who should apologize for the bother—I know you’ve been busy at your clinic lately and I—”
“It’s no trouble, really! I actually wanted to see you—” Luke stopped at his admission and we awkwardly looked at each other like a couple of high schoolers, shy on their first date. I felt myself flush at remembering the last time Luke and I actually talked to each other, the almost sad look in his clear grey eyes as he walked away with Jack that night seemed to sear into my mind’s eye.
Jaden’s loud ‘mreow’ caused us both to look at the carrier in Luke’s hand, Luke then sheepishly met my eyes as he tried to explain, “He kept pacing all morning and didn’t really try to eat much.. thought we could probably take him out for a walk..?”
“Jaden seems really confident at what he’s doing, do you take him out for walks often?” Luke asked as we walked down the street, my hand lightly on the leash that connected to Jaden’s walking vest.
“I used to. But it was really Ms. Chip who was good at taking care of him..” We slowed to a stop as Jaden perked his ears, roving his head around our quiet surroundings. That made me look up from watching him and I saw we were now by the house the guys shared.
“Where has Jack been lately?” I asked on impulse and felt my smile freeze on my face as I saw Luke’s clear grey eyes darken a shade. Ah shit.. way to go at bringing another guy in the conversation Shiela..
Luke then cleared his throat and gently took Jaden’s leash off my hands as he turned us back around, heading back towards my house before he spoke up, ”Jack’s been.. away lately. So’s been Z. I think Jack’s preparing him to be the next Uncle Derek..”
I smiled to myself as I tried to picture Z being quiet and stern like Derek Heins, “Somehow, I can’t really picture him like that..” I voiced out my thoughts.
“Yeah, me neither. The guy would most probably scream his head off instead of staying quiet.” Luke gave out a slight chuckle at that before we started walking in companionable silence, the tension between us seeming to have been broken.
“You know how Z is so grateful to have you and Jack? I think it’s lucky for him to have you as his doctor.”
“Yeah? I wish it was really just pure luck for me.. to have chosen this profession..” We stopped walking at what Luke said and I looked up to see a sad expression cloud his face, he didn’t look at me as he seemed to be lost in his thoughts before he started to speak up, “When.. my dad died out on one of his medical missions somewhere in Africa.. my mom sunk into a really deep depression.. I was still a kid then so I had my own nightmares to deal with, but looking back on it—had I known then what I knew now.. could I have saved my own mom from killing herself?..”
I swallowed the gasp that almost escaped my throat as I looked back at Luke, he now had his gaze focused on me as he continued to say, “I’m glad—I can now help people overcome their demons.. but sometimes I wish it wasn’t just here in Samheinrock—even though my friends and.. gramps are here I—”
Luke held a hand to my face, caressing it as he looked at me tenderly, “I wish I could give you enough of a reason to stay—to take a chance on me.. on us..”
I looked up at Luke then, closing my eyes as he leaned our foreheads together, just enjoying this moment of closeness. If I had the strength to protect the ones I love.. maybe I could..
Jaden’s loud ‘mreow” again back our moment as he kept tugging at the leash, wanting to get back to the house. Luke then stepped away from me with a sad smile before he held my hand as we made our way back to the house at a faster pace, Jaden seeming to lead the way.
We stopped and I then noticed the familiar pickup parked at my driveway, Jaden’s hissing then pulled my focus towards my porch where I saw Z standing there with a worried look on his face as he looked between me and Luke, before Jack came into view from beside him that caused me to tense.
Those weren’t the cool blue eyes Jack first laid on me, nor were they the fiery blue that he seemed to look at me with lately—no, there was something different about Jack—something wrong. I gave him a quick once over before I felt a chill run down my spine.
There on Jack’s finger, was the signet ring I was looking for.
to be continued...
Image from Pixabay, by Phan Minh Cuong An: https://pixabay.com/users/minanfotos-9565064/ (edited with dreamscopeapp)