The following day was Sunday, and like every Sunday their mother made them go to church. Not that they minded, they both kind of liked the church, but neither one would admit it. They always enjoyed seeing their friends, especially since they were out of school for summer break, and Sundays were the only time they were able to see some of them.
This particular Sunday, both Janney and George were quieter than normal. They were both thinking about the events from the day before with the man from the Darkness. Janney had shared everything with George the night before, once they got home. She told him about how she felt paralyzed with fear and was not able to move when the man was talking to her. George remembered what Mr. Virago told him about how he was to protect her because she could not. He wanted to tell Janney, but he didn’t know how. She was always telling him to stop annoying her, and he thought she would not believe him. He was always messing with her; it was the younger brother's code to annoy your older sister, after all, he thought. But deep down, he knew he would never let anyone mess with her. He did it in fun, but no one else was allowed to annoy her in his mind.
All of this was going through his mind as he sat through the service that morning. He normally didn’t pay much attention to the homily, but today was different. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he was surprised when he heard Father Joe talk about the struggle against the forces of darkness and that we needed to be a light that stood up and protected those weaker and less fortunate. George wondered if he could talk to Father Joe about what was going on. Who was he kidding? Father would hardly believe him. Sure, he would agree with him for protecting his sister from harm, but their great-grandfather was a dragon. No, he couldn’t expect even him to believe that. It was more likely Fr. Joe would think George just had an extra active imagination.
The longer George sat there listening to Fr. Joe, the more he felt the need to share with someone about the events that had been taking place. Things were beginning to move at a really quick pace now that the agent of the Darkness had appeared. He briefly thought about telling his mother, but the best-case scenario if she believed him was that she would not let him anywhere near Mr. Virago anymore. Clearly, he could not let his mother know anything, as she would do whatever it took to try and protect him as she saw fit. In the end, he decided he would just have to wait and try and talk to Mr. Virago and Pix when Janney was not around. He knew he could not open up and ask all the questions running through his mind with his sister there.
While George was going over all of his doubts in his mind, Janney was thinking back to her encounter with the man at the aquarium. She was upset with herself for being scarred when he approached her. She could not believe how completely unable to move she was at that moment. True, she was never much of a fighter, but she had also never been frozen in fear before and had always been able to speak up for herself. She was a teenager now. She should not be acting like a scared little kid.
Janney knew that she was supposed to be gifted with the ability to help support life. What exactly that meant besides healing plants, she had no idea. She had been told that her little brother was to be her protector. George, her brat of a younger brother of all people. She did not understand why they thought she could not take care of herself. But then again, could she? After all, she was frozen stiff when someone approached her in public. What did she think she could do if she was truly confronted with no one else around? She was frustrated and beginning to feel sorry for herself.
Just when she was about to give in to her emotions, Janney had a thought. What if she could do the same thing to people or things that she could with the plants? No one ever told her not to try and extend her senses in that way. Deep down, she knew that Mr. Virago would not want her to take this line of thinking, but Janney ignored the internal warning. She did not want to be defenseless. What if she could ‘heal’ the wrongness in a person the same as she did with the rot in the garden? It stood to reason that if she could do that to someone or something that was a threat to her, she would not need George to protect her.
Feeling rather proud of herself for thinking of this approach, Janney closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing the way Pix had taught her. Beginning with being aware of herself, she slowly branched out to become aware of her surroundings by reaching out with her senses, or newfound magic. For the first few minutes, nothing changed. Janney kept reaching out, remembering how in the garden it did not come suddenly but as a gradual awareness. Pix had told her it would improve with time. That one day she would always be able to see with her new awareness. She was determined that she was correct and that she would be able to see the true reality, not just in the garden but in all things. Then, finally, she felt it. Her body seemed alive. The hairs on her arms stood up, and she knew she had achieved what she set out to do.
Janney was not prepared for what she saw when she opened her eyes. The same underwater haze was over her vision as it was in the garden, but the entire church was alive. Some people and items were positively glowing. Father Joe had a light greenish glow around him. She looked over at her mother, and she had a pale glow as well. She had to turn away as soon as she looked at George. There was a power radiating out from him that surprised her and made her gasp. He looked as if he was ablaze with a green and violet flame. She tried to look more closely at him, but her breath was almost taken away as it took too much energy to try and look at him for long. Janney didn’t feel anything was wrong with him; on the contrary, everything was just right.
Janney closed her eyes to center herself once more and then looked around the church once more. Not everyone had a glow. In fact, most people did not. She let her focus stay on a man in front of her who did not glow at all. She concentrated on him, looking for any sign of wrongness. She found what she was looking for, but it was different than the rot in the garden. The rot in the garden was an external invader that she could grasp a hold of and eliminate. This was more elusive, like it was a part of the man, an organic blend of who he was and the wrongness. The warning alarm in her mind went off again when she thought about reaching out to heal the area. Janney closed her eyes again and took a deep breath, letting go of the power she was using. She decided this was very successful for a first attempt. She knew she was correct about her theory, but trying to heal a person was going to be much harder than healing a plant.
Janney opened her eyes and found George looking intently at her. He looked at her as if to say he knew what she was doing. But of course, he must have felt the power she was using, she thought to herself. She shivered as she remembered the power she saw that looked as if it was burning from him. She wondered what kind of secrets George was keeping from her. What did he know, what could he do? She wondered if she looked the same as George to other guardians. She didn’t know what to say to answer the look George was giving her. Thankfully, she didn’t have a chance to think long on it as the service came to an end.
Their Mom had a surprise for them on the way home. “What do you guys say to spending the next few days in a cabin up at the falls?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” asked Janney.
Well,” their Mom explained. “Mr. Virago was so kind in hosting your party, but I had already booked a cabin for the next three nights at the park. I thought, why cancel it just because you already had your party? So as soon as we get home, you need to go pack.”
“Now?” asked George.
“Yes, now!” Mom said excitedly. “Just think we get to spend the majority of the week fishing and hiking. I know how much you both love going there. Make sure you pack your swimsuits.”
Both George and Janney tried to act happy about going to the falls. Any other time, and they would be going crazy to be going there. They both loved the state park with all the trails and waterfalls, and in the summer, there was a natural lazy river running along the cliff walls. It was not that they didn’t want to go to the park, but they both needed to talk to Mr. Virago about the day before. Their mother could tell they were not as enthusiastic about the trip as she had hoped.
“Whatever is the matter with you two. I thought you would be happy about going there?” Mom asked.
“I am.” Janney said, trying her best to sound convincing. “I am just surprised, is all.”
“Yeah, Mom.” George agreed.
“Well, I already paid for the cabin and took the time off work so we are not going to stay here.” Mom said decisively. “Besides, we all could use the vacation.”
“Can we go exploring on our own this time?” George asked mischievously.
“We shall see. You know how big that park is.” His Mom replied.
As the car pulled into their driveway, Janney had an idea. “Hey Mom, can I go thank Mr. Virago for the birthday party before I leave?”
“Of course, dear.” Her Mom answered. “But don’t stay over there. You need to pack and have some lunch before we go.”
“Thanks, Mom!” Janney yelled as she bolted out of the car and took off running towards Virago’s property.
George didn’t have an excuse to run after her and was forced to have to stay and start to pack. He knew Janney would let Mr. Virago know they were leaving, so he would not be worried about them not coming over during the week. It seemed he would have to wait even longer before he could find out more about the power he could feel inside of him.
Janney ran the entire way to Mr. Virago’s house and found him sitting on his front porch, carving a small figure from a block of wood when she arrived. “Mr. Virago!” she called out hurriedly.
“Why hello, Janney.” He replied in a voice that showed he was truly happy to see her. “You know I have been meaning to make this for years now.” he said as he held up the piece of wood he was carving. “It is of a dog I once had. Spunky little guy, he had a lot of character. I am trying my best to make this as accurate as my memory lets me.”
“Mr. Virago, I can’t stay.” Janney said. “We are leaving for the week. I have only just found out. Mom rented a cabin up at the falls. I wanted to let you know so you didn’t worry about us.”
Virago set down his knife along with the partially formed dog. “Thank you for telling me, Janney. Is everything alright?” he asked.
She hesitated for a moment, not sure how to answer him. “I don’t really want to go. I would like to stay here with you. I am so confused about what happened yesterday. And then today I decided to try and see what would happen if I extended my sense outside of the garden.” she began.
“I see.” Virago said quietly. “And what happened when you did this?”
She quickly told him what she saw with Fr. Joe and then with George. She decided not to say anything just yet about her reaching out to the man with the wrongness. “What was that around George?” Janney asked. “It looked like he was on fire, but it was not like any fire I had ever seen.”
“That is because George is my great-grandson. My blood flows through his veins, much like it does yours. Your gift manifests itself in one way, and his does in another way. As my descendent, you could see the colors of a midnight dragon around him.”
Virago stood up and stretched before looking around for a moment. “Pix!” he yelled. “Pix, will you come here, please?”
After a minute, the small form of the pixie came into view, floating up onto the porch.
“Hi, Janney.” greeted Pix. “Are you by yourself today?” he asked.
“I am afraid so.” Janney said. “Mother is taking us to the falls for the week.”
Pix looked at Virago with a look of concern. “Ah, what falls is that?” the pixie asked.
“The state park is about an hour north of here.” Janney said. “She rented a cabin. I came by to let you know.”
“Is that the…” Pix asked Virago.
Virago nodded in agreement. “Yes, it is.”
“What is it?” asked Janney. “The same as what?
Virago and Pix looked at each other in silence before Janney spoke up again. “Will someone please let me in on the secret?”
“Fall Creek Falls is sacred ground. That was the final battleground between the Ichneumon and my people.” Virago said quietly.
“You mean the dragons?” Janney asked.
“All the fey, but the dragons paid a heavy price there too.” Virago’s voice sounded sad and full of a heaviness as he thought back to the battle.
“That is where Virago created the Eye to the Light.” Pix said proudly. “That ground is full of magic and suffering. It is as wild as it is beautiful.”
“My dear, I am afraid it may not be safe for you there.” Virago said.
“Don’t worry Mr. Virago, I have been there before. We love going there.” Janney said.
“I don’t doubt it. But you have never been there since you have been fully awake.” Virago stated. “The magic there is strong, and it runs both ways. I think it’s best if one of us goes with you.”
“I can ask Mom, but I don’t think she will let you come.” Said Janney.
“I believe he was talking about me.” Pix said.
Janney was surprised by the idea of Pix joining them. She just assumed Mr. Virago would be the one, as it would be more natural for her to be seen with him.
“I can hitch a ride in your bag if you leave me enough room.” Pix explained. “Besides, it would be best if nobody knows I am there.”
“Alright.” Janney agreed.
“Good, then it is settled.” Virago said. “When are you leaving Janney” Virago asked.
“Mom said as soon as we pack and have lunch. I imagine I need to be heading back home, or she will get upset.” Answered Janney.
“Don’t worry, I pack light.” joked Pix. “You head on home. Just make sure you leave your bag unattended for a moment before you get in the car.”
“I will, don’t you worry.” Janney smiled. She hugged Virago goodbye and then ran home.
The car was almost packed. Janney did as she said and went to load her bag in the car, and then set it down and went back inside the house as if she had forgotten something. About a minute later, she emerged from the house and walked back over to her bag. She gently picked it up and put it in the back seat with her and George. As her Mom was locking the house, she took a quick peek inside and sure enough, Pix was resting inside.
Janney smiled big at the secret of Pix sneaking away with her. She hadn’t even had the chance to tell George about it. Her mother saw the smile and assumed it was for the vacation.
“I am so glad that you are excited about this Janney.” Her Mom said as they pulled out on the main road.
“Me too, Mom.” Janney said. She slowly turned her bag so that George could see where she had left the zipper open. She poked him in the ribs to get his attention and motioned with her eye toward the bag. The look of shock on George’s face was priceless to Janney when he looked at her bag, and Pix stuck his head out and waved at George.
