Star League 7 (6 page)

I rummage around in my satchel until I find the potion I need.

‘Who needs to climb when we've got a climbing vine?' I shake the vial of green liquid, then smash it against the base of the tower. Green tendrils start to curl out of the ground. ‘Quick! Grab a vine and hang on!'

The others reach for the vine and are catapulted into the air as it grows with lightning speed. ‘This is like Jack and the Beanstalk!' I yell, feeling the wind rush through my hair.

‘I just hope we don't meet any giants on the way,' adds Connor.

‘You know, Connor, I actually agree with you on that one.'

In less than a minute the vine has grown up the side of the tower and stops just below the stained-glass window. I stick my head over the ledge and peer through the window. What I find inside makes me gasp out loud.

‘What is it?' asks Jay. I move aside so he can see what I'm seeing, and when he does his mouth drops open. ‘Ben!'

I'm overjoyed to see Ben, but he doesn't look too good. I think this is the first time I've ever seen him without a grin on his face. His skin is pale and his eyes have huge dark circles under them. And even worse news, he's surrounded by the Shadow Six, though there's no sign of Professor Pestilence.

The others climb up and peer through the window, the colour drained from their faces.

‘How are we going to get in there?' I ask. ‘I don't see how we can sneak in, since this window doesn't open, and I …'

Before I can finish, Jay reaches up and smashes
the window with his elbow.

‘Are you crazy?' I ask. ‘They'll know we're here!'

‘Good,' says Jay firmly. ‘It's about time we made Professor Pestilence and his Shadow Six pay for what they've done!'

Jay launches himself through the window and the others climb after him. I shrug and slip through. I guess if all else fails, we still made a good entrance. Ben looks up as we slide through the broken window.

‘Star League!' he gasps. ‘You shouldn't be here, it's a trap! Get away while you still can!'

‘Silence!' screams Cale. Ben flinches, which makes my blood boil. What have these six done to him since he's been their prisoner?

I step forward and raise one of my potions.

‘Go ahead,' jeers Cale. ‘Do your worst. But at this range, how are you going to stop it from splashing onto your precious Ben Beaumont?'

I hesitate. He's right. Any move we make
against the Shadow Six could put Ben in danger.

Cale smirks. ‘Well, now that we've settled that, we can move on to the main show! We've been waiting for all of you to show up so you can watch us put an end to the world's most famous director. I guess you couldn't exactly call me a fan!'

‘You're not going to harm a hair on his head,' says Jay. He's so sure I can't help but believe him.

‘Ha! That's what you think! Now, Shadow Six!' Cale and the rest of his crew activate their shards of the Shadow Stone. There's a bright white flash that blinds me for a moment, and when I can see again I feel sick to my stomach.

‘No!' I shout. ‘What have you done to him?'

At a glance, Ben seems fine. He still has the same eyes, the same face, the same lanky legs. But there's one major difference –

The Shadow Six have turned Ben to stone.

We've faced the professor and his minions in the past, and each time there's been something important at stake. Each time I've been able to keep my cool and eventually we've been able to defeat him.

But this time it's different. I just see red. I can't believe how evil the professor is. What kind of maniac is he? As I watch the motionless statue that was once Ben Beaumont, I vow to myself that I'm going to destroy the professor, no matter what it takes. And first, that means getting through the Shadow Six.

Cale steps forward and I'm overwhelmed by the urge to wipe that smirk off his pasty face. His eyes stare into mine and I start to feel their
hypnotic pull, but I shake my head and break away.

‘I've never met someone able to avoid my powers before,' he says. ‘If you and I worked together, we'd be unstoppable.'

‘That will never, ever happen,' I growl. ‘I'd rather die than work by your side!'

‘That can be arranged!' He lunges towards me, but I easily spin out of the way and aim a kick at his head. He ducks it and lashes out with a blow. ‘You're not the only one who's had martial arts training, Jay!'

We circle each other for a while, trying to find each other's weaknesses. Cale taunts me the whole time. ‘You know, Jay, you could end this all now. Team up with us and you'll have all the power you ever wanted!'

‘Forget it!' I say. ‘I'll never join you!'

Anger courses through my blood, clouding my judgement. I lunge towards Cale and almost slip, only just managing to catch myself before I fall.
I take a deep breath and tell myself to calm down.

As I pause for a moment to focus, I feel something in my pocket. My hand seems to act on its own as I reach in and grasp something cool and heavy. My parents' compass! I'd almost forgotten about it.

I pull it out and straight away I get the same boost of strength I noticed when I first held it. Maybe my parents are here looking over me after all?

As soon as Cale spots the compass, his face drains of colour. He looks like he's seen a ghost.

‘You have it!' His finger shakes as he points to the compass. ‘You had it all along!'

‘Huh? You were looking for this?' Cale doesn't have to answer. I can see it written all over his face. ‘Why is my parents' compass so important to the professor?'

‘It's not the compass that's important, you fool, it's what's inside!' There's a hungry look in Cale's
eyes. ‘Go ahead, turn the needle to the southern bearing.'

‘What kind of trick is this?' I ask suspiciously.

‘No trick, just try it.'

Keeping an eye on Cale, I turn the needle to the south. The back of the compass clicks open to reveal a secret compartment. Hidden inside is something I never would have expected to find.

‘The missing Shadow Shard,' I mutter. With trembling fingers I take the swirling black stone out of the compartment. ‘Why would my parents have this?'

A man's cold voice breaks through my fuzz of shock.

‘Cale, you didn't tell us we had guests!'

‘You simply must introduce us!' chimes a woman's voice. I squint, but the two newcomers are shrouded in shadow.

Cale's familiar smirk returns. He looks like a snake about to enjoy a tasty meal of a big fat
mouse. ‘Jay, let me introduce you to the real Professor Pestilence!'

Two figures step forward out of the shadows, and when I see their faces my heart skips a beat. The woman has blonde hair, and the man has blue eyes, just like mine. I've never seen them in the flesh, but I've seen photographs, just like the one of us in the compass.

I'd know these people anywhere –

My parents are Professor Pestilence.

 

To be continued …

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