Read The Second Life of Magnolia Mae for Free Online Page B

concern as he leaned to look around Jace into the living room.
    “I found her in our parents’ room when I got home. I think she dreamt of Daciana again. She has been strangely quiet since she awoke.” Jace took the cup carrier from Bash then led the way to the living room. “Bash is here.”
    Magnolia glanced up at them and smiled. “It’s locked.” She lifted the box to show her brother.
    He took it from her hands after he’d placed the milkshakes on the coffee table.
    “Eat, then we’ll figure out how to open it.” He set it down next to her before handing her a shake.
    Bash passed out burgers then placed the brown bag in between them. It was half full of French fries. They ate in silence, the guys staring at Magnolia and she staring at the box.
    Jace was the first done. He picked the box up to examine the lock more closely. It was shaped like a starburst about the size of a dime. He knew he’d seen it before but could not quite place it. “What did you dream about?” he questioned, watching as his sister ate the pickles that Bash had taken off of his burger and left for her.
    “Mom and Dad.”
    “What?”
    “They told me where to find that. They said I need it. That it’s almost time.” She didn’t sound upset. Her eyes were dry, which was not normal when she mentioned their parents.
    “Time for what?” Bash was the first to ask.
    “My future, to finish my story.” She barely shrugged her shoulders. “It didn’t all make sense, but I think once that’s open, it will.”
    “Mom’s necklace!” Jace exclaimed from the chair. They watched him as he rushed from the room. It was not long before he was back with a silver starburst on a chain. “This should do it.” He handed the small tin chest to her.
    With a trembling hand, Magnolia slipped the necklace into the lock and turned. The lock clicked, and the hinges squeaked as she opened the lid. Inside was an old leather-bound journal. She pulled it out slowly then set it in her lap. A silver armband decorated with a crescent moon with two aligned stars directly above it was sitting on top of a folded piece of paper. Gently, she removed the armband and unfolded the paper as her hands continued to shake. It was a letter from her parents. After she’d read through it, she handed it over to Jace.
    Jace began to read the letter out loud as his sister polished the armband with a napkin.
     
“Dearest Wolf Pup,
If you are reading this, it is almost time for you to take charge of your future and your people’s past. When you were born, we knew what the days ahead would bring. The mark on your right shoulder-blade told us that you are Princess Daciana, the one who is to end the suffering of our people. Watching you grow, listening to the stories of your dreams, we knew that you were being prepared for the day that is rapidly approaching, your eighteenth birthday. On that night, you will go back to the night that Daciana was murdered. Your entire life has been a preparation for this. Read the journal that Daciana’s grandmother wrote, and you will discover what you need to know to change your fate. Do not be afraid, Wolf Pup. We will see you soon.

Eternal love,
Mom and Dad.”
     
    The room was silent.
    “This is crazy.” Bash was the first to speak. He looked from brother to sister, waiting for one of them to speak. He watched with wide blue eyes as Magnolia placed the armband on the floor next to the journal.
    “No,” she said softly as she lifted her eyes to his. “This makes sense. It’s scary — flying-monkeys kind of scary — but how else do you explain the dreams? The fact that the closer it gets to my birthday the more frequent they become? Then there’s the wolf and the ring.” Her eyes searched his, but he seemed to shut her down.
    “You can’t believe this. It’s insane!” Bash stood and paced the room.
    Magnolia watched him as he stomped back and forth across the floor. It did all seem crazy, absolutely unbelievable, and maybe