The Amulets (An 'Amulets of Andarrin' tale) (14 page)

“The Borlin Fraeir live in caves and only come out at night, they have been on Earth for centuries.” A male wizard started.

“Yes but they are coming out more and more now.”

“Perhaps food reserves are short” Larcus joked but Guinevere ignored him and moved on.

“And you believe Kalerum has these creatures under his command, how?”

“I do not. Perhaps he is using the Fraeir to send the banshees through.”

“For what purpose?”

Delaius knew they were struggling to believe him and he knew he’d failed, coming here was pointless but he’d had to try.

“I can only postulate, but I’m guessing you have all heard the rumours of Kalerum being the son of Grakel Redmond?”

“Rumours.”

“Ridiculous.”

“Children’s stories.”

“Maybe, but what if there is truth to them, it would explain why the Fraeir would be allied with him, after all Redmond held their loyalty. If he was then surely he’d be seeking out the amulets to finish what Redmond started.”

“Nonsense, no one’s seen the amulets in decades.” One of the
witch’s said.

“Then why would he steal the amulet from the council. He is no ordinary man.”

“I agree, his ability to steal the amulet has proved troubling. But it does not mean he is the son of Redmond, he’s a fanatic.” Another wizard said.

“You may be right but we cannot rule out the possibility.” Andrei interjected.

“Even if what you say is true, we are still no closer to finding him.” Guinevere said trying to calm things down.

“Yes, which is why I’m hoping you can learn something from Sabula. I have failed in gaining anything from him but the council has many talents within its ranks, perhaps you can do what I could not.”

“Very well.”

“Say, there was another boy, he’d be your nephew would he not Delaius” a witch said.

Delaius knew where this was going and he could only hope for the best as she continued.

“Elysia’s son...the one who was taken before she fell?”

“Yes but that child is way out of reach, we have no hope of locating him.” Aria said quickly.

“Yes I remember, didn’t the one who took him kill
herself so no-one would find out his true location?” Guinevere added.

“Yes, yes, but he would have the blood would he not” another wizard said.

“Well it’s possible.”

“Then perhaps it is this child that Kalerum searches for. Maybe you’re wrong in thinking that Kalerum is the son of
Redmond, instead maybe he wants to find this child to use him for his own power.” Farnir said to a few nods.

“Perhaps” Delaius said “but I would concentrate on Sabula until we know more.”

Larcus had been watching Delaius’ expressions over the course of the last conversation and was trying to figure him out.

“Tell me Delaius, who were these people you found walking. As Guinevere said, they shouldn’t have been able to see the banshees, and yet they did, perhaps one of them was this boy we speak of.”

Delaius and Aria were growing concerned, Jack wasn’t the one the council were speaking of but they’d seen something about Jack that night at the festival that had caused them a great deal of worry. Delaius tried his best to keep his composure.

“I would have known, Larcus. And even so, how would you explain how the other three saw them. No, Larcus, as I said Sabula needs to be our main focus now.”

“You have been a great asset to this council over the years Delaius, and for that you have our thanks, we will deliberate on what we’ve heard and see to securing Sabula for interrogation, but as you know, it is a delicate matter, it may take some time. If that is all…” Guinevere said but Larcus wasn’t convinced.

“He’s hiding something” Larcus said gazing into Delaius’ eyes but he wouldn’t get anything from them as Delaius was too powerful to be read that easily. Larcus diverted his eyes to Helena and then William, glaring into them with such focus. Suddenly Larcus flew back and hit the wall behind him.

“Delaius!” Guinevere howled at him.

Delaius moved his hand back down to his side as Larcus got up. Larcus was about to react in kind to his attack but Guinevere was on her feet. “Enough!” she howled

“I told you he’s hiding something” Larcus complained.

“You don’t have the authority to read unless I give it” Guinevere exclaimed loudly.

“He knows something.”

“I am still in charge and this meeting has ended.”

“Your time will come” Larcus said through gritted teeth towards Delaius who seemed unfazed by his comment. Guinevere turned back to Delaius.

“And you, Delaius.” she said “you gave up your right to decide what happens long ago when you left us. I was sorry to see such a day but you have to respect the law. I will not declare war on the Banshees over a theory. We need time. If you are hiding anything from us that will help push things forward then speak now.”

“I have told you everything I know, thank you for your time high council, you know how to reach me when you wish to secure Sabula.”

Larcus stood up “We’re going to let him go? He’s clearly keeping something from the council! Who are these people that the Banshees attacked, I don’t buy it, regardless of Aria’s claims” he said aggressively as Delaius, William and Helena left the room.

“Sit down Larcus. The group were just some young humans out on a walk. The last thing they need is to be interrogated by you. Delaius has managed to secure Sabula; he will give us everything we need. Delaius has done a great deed for us and, due to your feelings towards him, you have sat there and ridiculed him for his service and I will not have it. Now sit down before I have you removed from the council altogether.” Aria blasted at him.

“I am still the second ranking member of this council and you will not threaten me.”

Guinevere stood and placed her hands firmly on the table. “That’s enough, both of you. Aria is right Larcus, We need to decide how we’re going to handle Sabula. Whatever differences you have with Delaius can be discussed later.”

As the doors shut behind them, Delaius was furious with himself for letting his emotions get in the way. He knew the council wouldn’t act immediately but he couldn’t stop himself from trying. Larcus and Delaius had always had differences and it was clear Larcus suspected something. “I’ve brought danger to you all” he said grimly under his breath.

It had been just under a week since the banshee and meeting Delaius and, out of the three others who were there; Jack had only spoken to Aaron. Aaron had been amazed that he couldn’t remember anything and had told him that Lily and Frankie couldn’t believe how drunk they must have been. Jack had not stopped thinking about the time he spent with Lily and replayed it in his head every day.

The only exciting news he’d had since the previous weekend was that Aaron was having a barbecue tomorrow and he’d get to see them all again, especially Lily.

He had thought about what he might say to her, hoping that maybe he could just tell her what really happened. Instead he cast the thought out of his mind knowing that she would have laughed at the notion.

It hadn’t been easy to go back to living his life after what he had experienced with Delaius and all the other people he’d met, not to mention the astonishing visit to Nanantharim. And now he was sitting on a sofa with the television on. But of course he wasn’t watching it, instead he was thinking about William and Helena and of what they were. He couldn’t get the thought of William being a werewolf and Helena a vampire out of his head and, now that he was the only one who knew, he sometimes felt as if he was crazy. Could it really be true, the very thought was stupid; but then how could he deny what he’d experienced. He surely couldn’t explain it.

He‘d always believed werewolves and vampires to be myth and yet there he sat knowing them to be real because somehow he’d met some, even though they were nothing like he would have expected. In fact, Jack thought, they were really down to earth.

On top of this he’d been to Nanantharim and seen Giants and the Fenverau and the rest. It was all so brilliant and wonderful and yet so horrible because Jack was desperate to talk about it yet he had no-one to share with.

Delaius had been extraordinary and had helped Jack out a great deal but he couldn’t help but resent him slightly for taking Lily’s memory of the weekend away from her including the memory of their moments together over the two days. As much as Jack hated to admit it though, Lily did have a boyfriend and she was happy with him, so who was he to ruin that and as long as she was happy, then grudgingly, so was he. As she came into his head a warm feeling built up inside him knowing that he would see her at the barbecue the next day. A small smile washed over his face as his brother James came into the room. “What are you smiling about?” he asked as he sat on the chair next to him.

“Who me? Nothing mate” he looked at the TV which was still showing the news.

“What are you up to over the weekend?” James asked.

“Aarons having a barbecue tomorrow but that’s it really. What about you?” he asked.

James lay back on the couch. “Nothing much mate, just sitting in I think. I’m broke.”

“Yeah same here. Come to this barbecue if you want.” Jack offered.

“I’m sure it’ll be amazing, Jack, but I’m ok thanks” James replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Jack sat up and turned to him “Ah come on, it’ll be a laugh. They’ll be loads of girl’s there.” he said.

“I’m alright mate I’m just going to have an easy one tomorrow. I’ve been working all week and I’m shattered. Plus I’m off to see mum and Cat for dinner so I probably won’t be back until about six.”

“Fair enough, send my love and tell her I’ll give her a ring soon.” Jack submitted.

They spent the rest of the night flicking through the channels and watching movies until they hit the sack.

Jack would often think about Lily but tonight he couldn’t help thinking about Delaius. He wanted to see them all again. It was such a different world, a world which, if he couldn’t have Lily, was now a world he wanted to be a part of. He fell to sleep thinking of magic and giants…and then…Lily.  

Three men wearing black coats down to their knees walked towards Delaius’s front door. The one in the middle seemed pale and ghostly. His face had small faded scars on it. His eyes were a dark green and had a sinister look about them as he walked to within a few metres of the front door.

“Wait here.” He said to the two grim faced men who flanked him.

They were about the same height, standing at around six foot, though one was slightly stockier than the other. The stockier of the two had short messy dark hair and was clean shaven whereas the other had long blonde hair which he wore in a ponytail. His blonde side burns came down to his chin which bore a scar which ran down his neck. His eyes were brown and confident. They both had a short dark wand in their hand as they nodded to the centre man and stopped. The centre man moved towards the door. Without any delay he raised his hand at the door as he walked towards it. The door smashed off its hinges and was sent crashing through the hall, coming to rest against the archway to the living room. The house was unoccupied, as the man had known, and he walked through the hall and around the kitchen, slowly stroking his hand across the furniture as he did so. After circling the kitchen he went into the living room, doing nothing except moving his hand across things as he walked. Frustrated, he walked upstairs. As he walked along the upstairs corridor, he placed a hand on the first door he came to. After a few seconds he continued to walk. He came to the door by the toilet. Again, he placed his palm against it, his eyes lit up. He opened the door and examined the room. His eyes took in the picture of Delaius and a woman.

“Still living in the past old man” he said to himself.

He looked at the bed. Sitting on it he placed a hand on the pillow. A minute passed and still the man continued to sit there. His eyes now closed, his lips began twitching. It was a further thirty seconds before the man’s hand slowly relaxed, his fingers closed and his eyes opened, a new fire burnt in them and now he looked more sinister than ever.

“It can’t be!” he said, stunned. “So this is what you’re hiding from us.” he said, standing up. “And with good cause.” he muttered as he headed back downstairs and out of the front door.

As he left the house he moved his hand behind him and the smashed door flew back into place as if it had never been touched.  “We must find these humans” he said as he passed the two men. They didn’t reply, they simply turned and followed him.

Waking up the next day to the smell of bacon coming from downstairs Jack got out of bed. On his way to the shower he shouted down the stairs. “I’ll have one of them.” He ignored his brother’s shout of ‘make your own’ and went and got washed. After showering, Jack headed downstairs and into the kitchen. He was wearing a pair of black trainers, Dark blue jeans and a black shirt and looked ready for the day ahead.

“What’s happening James?” he asked brightly.

James, who was still in his grey dressing gown and had his hair messed and flat from where he’d slept, pointed to a plate with a bacon barm on it. “Here” he said as he slid it towards Jack. “Don’t get used to it.” he said, getting up.

“Where are you going” Jack asked as he sat down.

“Back to bed, it’s the weekend” he said as he made his way back upstairs.

Jack finished his breakfast and went into the living room. He still had a few hours before the barbecue and so he spent the time going through his course notes and thinking about what he would say to Lily. How much easier it would have been if she could remember he thought.

The time came for Jack to leave. James was still in his bedroom so Jack shouted his goodbyes and headed out into the sunshine. Aaron’s place was about a mile away, if you used the footpath through the golf course. He was wondering how he would cope with keeping up the pretense in the face of his three friends. It was going to be particularly difficult to look at Lily knowing that she could not remember the way they had grown so very close over the previous weekend.

Arriving at Aaron’s, Jack headed through the open gate leading to the back of Aaron’s bungalow from where the sound of laughter and voices was coming. He walked into the back garden to find at least twenty people milling around drinking, eating and laughing.

He searched through the crowd to find Lily but it was the familiar face of Clive that he saw first, dressed in the full barbeque chef garb. Clive was Aaron’s housemate, however the two of them had little in common. It’s fair to say that Clive was a geek; he loved comics, science and exuded intelligence. He was a top grade student in school, college and university and, after getting a master’s degree in Physics, had recently started a career lecturing at the local university. He was skinny with short dark hair and glasses. Even if he didn’t talk you could tell he was a geek just by looking at him. “Hey Jack” Clive said moving over to him. “How are you?”

“Yeah I’m good.
How about you?” Jack said wishing for anyone else to talk to.

“Oh yeah I’m good and hey that science fair the other weekend was amazing. They had…” Jack knew that if he let Clive carry on talking that he’d carry on for hours so he decided to interrupt him.

“Yeah, sounds good mate. Erm, is Aaron about?” Jack said hoping not to sound too rude.

Clive looked across the garden to where a small group was talking. “He’s over there” he said.

“Cheers mate, I’ll catch up with you later then yeah” he said walking towards Aaron.

“Yeah sure and hey I need to know about that weekend no-one seems to remember” Clive shouted after him.

Jack turned to reply. “Yeah, I don’t really remember much either mate.” he said.

Jack saw Aaron talking to people he didn’t know and decided to wait until he was finished to speak to him. He looked around at the garden and noticed that Aaron and Clive’s garden was big for a bungalow. It looked as smooth as a bowling green. He knew Clive had probably worked on it to keep it immaculate. Two huge conifers framed the rear of the garden with an array of bushes and plants filling the space between them. Around the sides were light brown fences in front of which were planted flower beds. On the right was the conservatory in which was set a table full of finger food and drinks. The smell of burgers and sausages invaded Jack’s senses and he was about to head back towards Clive and the barbeque when he heard his name shouted from behind him. He knew the voice, it was Lily.

“Jack!” she shouted again.

Jack turned to face her. Lily moved towards him, clearly delighted to see him, she wore a thin yellow summer dress with the sparkling pendant Jack had given her hanging round her neck. Jack was besotted with her.

“Hey where’ve you been” she said smiling, “Thank god you’re here, someone interesting to talk to.”

“Wow…you look beautiful” Jack replied unable to stop himself.

“You don’t look too bad yourself” Lily chuckled.

“I see you’re still wearing the pendant.”

Lily glanced down at it “oh yeh I still can’t remember getting it though” she laughed “but it’s so beautiful.”

“
Yeh it is isn’t it” Jack said as he eyed it. “So, anyway, what have you been up to since the last time I saw you.” Jack asked.

“Nothing much, just catching up on
Uni work. How about you?” she asked

“
Yeh pretty much the same.” Jack replied, but then he couldn’t exactly tell her he’d spent most of his time thinking about her, magicians and werewolves.

“There you are,” said a man, walking towards them. He looked about twenty and Jack noticed he liked tattoos as he had them plastered all over his arms. Jack guessed that he probably had more underneath his t-shirt though he’d be happy not seeing them.

“Jack this is Ben, my boyfriend.” Lily announced.

Jacks smile was washed away, he couldn’t help but feel dislike for Ben who now had his arms around Lily, kissing her cheek.

“So this is the elusive Ben is it? Nice to meet you mate. She talks about you all the time.” Jack said with envy.

Ben shook Jack’s hand “
yeh she’s my little princess. I hear you had a good time the other weekend.” Ben said. “No one seems to remember much. How about you?” he asked.

“No not really I remember us hitting the hotel bar but that’s about it. Crazy one wasn’t it?” Jack said looking to Lily.

“Yeh I can’t believe it” she said, but Jack couldn’t help but notice Ben looking curiously towards him as if he thought he was concealing something. Bens arms wrapped around Lily. Jack couldn’t watch it anymore. “Right, well I’d best go find Aaron, I’ve not seen him yet, so I’ll catch up with you in a bit, alright?” he said looking around for Aaron.

“
Yeh sure” Lily smiled.

“No probs.” Ben said as Jack walked over to where Aaron was now talking to Frankie and someone else who Jack didn’t know. He caught Aarons eye and Aaron finished talking to Frankie and her friend and came over to him.

“Alright mate, glad you could make it” he said as he put a hand on Jacks shoulder.

“How we doing?”
Jack asked as Aaron guided him into the conservatory, pulling a bottle of lager each from the cool box.

“Not bad. Listen, do you reckon Frankie would go for me.” Aaron asked seriously while flipping the tops of the bottles.

Jack chuckled as they went through the conservatory and into the kitchen swigging their beers. “Don’t know mate. Maybe, it’s not like she’s seeing anyone so why don’t you ask her?” Jack said.