Free Jamyria: The Entering (The Jamyria Series Book 1) by Madeline Meekins Page B

fifty years.” They both stare at Margo again. “Are you making the connection, Margo?”
    But Janie speaks first. “She’s just a girl, Nick. She isn’t ready for this.”
    “Fate certainly thinks she is,” he says. “About a year before the Queen released me,” he continues. “Rumors began to spread of a prophecy stating that every fifty years the New Marked One would enter. That one of these New Marks would free all of the people of Jamyria.”
    And now it all makes sense. The click in Margo’s mind as she makes this connection is nearly audible. “So you think I’m this ‘New Mark?’” Margo cannot help but to burst into hysterics at that.
    “You are the New Mark, Margo. The question is: are you the one who will save this world?”
    Margo gives this a generous thought of about thirty seconds before she replies, “No thank you,” and scoots her chair out to leave.
    But before she can rise to her feet Janie reaches out for her hand. “Wait. Please, just consider it.”
    “Consider what?” she snaps. “I’ve barely been in this place a day, and you’ve already got my life mapped out. I don’t even know who you people are!”
    “We’ll help you as much as we can —”
    “Why didn’t you free everyone?” she shouts at Nick. “And if it’s every fifty years, isn’t there another one out there somewhere?”
    Nick’s face slightly drops. “I was injured,” he says, quietly glancing down at his hand.
    Margo is suddenly ashamed of her reaction. Of course he would have tried. He’s been in this world — she will have to get used to saying that — for over a hundred years.
    “I still have some power left, but I’m no longer a match against the Queen,” he adds ruefully. “As for the previous Marked One, they found him not long after he discovered his marks. He was executed immediately.”
    Margo cringes. So that means that if this Queen were to find her, she will be put to death? Perfect.
    “There’s nothing to worry about, though. I have reason to believe that you will be the one to fulfill the mission. There’s just so much about you that’s different than us previous Marks. Yes, I have much faith in you.”
    Janie’s sweet face is still lit up in excitement or awe. Tears well up in her eyes.
    “Well,” Margo breathes. “That’s an interesting story.”
    “Ha!” Nick bellows. “Story? Sorry to be so forward about this, but it’s no story. It’s reality. And you’re the center of this reality. Do you realize how many people are waiting for you? Depending on you?”
    She grits her teeth. There is obviously no way around them. “Let me think about it.”
    “Excellent,” Nick says.
    Janie squeals.
    “No, no!” Margo says firmly. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I just agreed to consider it. Nothing more.”
    “Fair enough,” he says getting to his feet. “I think we’ve put enough on you for one night. Janie, do you mind if she stays over at your place tonight?”
    “It’s pretty late, Nick,” she says still smiling. “She could just stay with you. I mean, we don’t want anyone to notice her, right?”
    “Sure, of course. As long as you’re okay with that, Margo.”
    “Yes, it’s fine.” Margo agrees, though she would have preferred to go with Janie.
    He leads Margo into the tiny spare guest room, which is more of an art studio than a bedroom. He clears off all the sketches and bits of charcoal on the bed allowing enough room to sleep and offers to get anything Margo needs. She assures him she is fine and only needs a little peace after such a long day.
    He shuts the door on his way out, and Margo prepares herself for the most tears she’s shed in a quite some time.

Chapter Six: Margo’s Choice
     
    The eruption of voices and shouts fill the room, as the ocean would roar against the sands of the shore. Cheers echo throughout the auditorium directed toward the twirling girl in the center of the stage. With blond curls bouncing off her shoulders and