The Dark (7 page)

I think about this for a minute. At my Initiation last year I was endowed with many gifts from the Lords
and Ladies of the Tribunal. But it was the head of the Tribunal – Lorian – who gave me the gift of enlightenment of my sixth sense. I shrug, because sometimes it’s not clear whether it’s my sixth sense, or simply fear. ‘The only thing I’m sure of, is that I’m not good with animals with sharp teeth.’

Arkarian looks around the room. ‘Is that her bedroom over there?’ he says softly.

I nod and Arkarian frowns thoughtfully. ‘We’re going to have to take shifts watching her,’ he explains, but his attention is soon drawn to King Charles, who is now sitting up with Charlotte on his back. She clasps her hands about his neck, and starts rocking backwards and forwards. Suddenly Charlotte slides off the dog’s back, runs round and kisses it between its eyes, accidentally poking her finger in one of them.

‘Oh sorry, Charlie,’ the girl says affectionately, then gives Charlie’s ears a stroke as she takes off with a giggle.

When Charlotte has finished playing with the dog, she comes over to Arkarian. Surprising me, she takes his hand without any sign of shyness. ‘Will you lead my pony, Gascon?’

We go to the stableyard, where François has the pony saddled and ready. We are given instructions to take Charlotte to her favourite place – a waterfall near a bend in the river that runs through the Duke’s lands. As we walk, we keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious.

‘We’re going to have to be very careful,’ Arkarian says softly. ‘I’ve been talking with a few servants. Apparently there have been no new members to the household recently, or for the last few months, so the
Order hasn’t made an appearance yet. And I’m starting to get the feeling they’re waiting for a specific reason before showing themselves – like
our
arrival.’

‘Do you think they’re after
us
, and not the child?’

‘If they’re not after the child, then you know what this is, don’t you?’

It hits me, and a shiver passes from my head straight down to my toes.
‘A trap?’

‘It’s possible.’

‘Oh great!’ Words fail me for a moment, giving my brain time to think. I drop my voice to a whisper. ‘You were only switched with Ethan at the last minute. So if the Order have finally figured out who Ethan is, they’re probably expecting him to be on this mission instead of you.’

‘Well – ’

‘This is a trap to kill Ethan!’

‘Look, we can’t jump to conclusions. Not yet. There could be other reasons Lorian substituted me in Ethan’s place. But I have to wonder why not Shaun or Marcus?’

To me the answer is easy: Lorian has a great belief in Arkarian’s ability. But I don’t air my thoughts. Arkarian would only deny it. While he is by far the most talented, powerful member of the Guard, he would never acknowledge it. ‘So do you think Charlotte is safe after all?’

‘We can’t take anything for granted. Who knows the mind of an immortal?’

‘Well, it’s been a year since Marduke’s murder. The Goddess’s patience must be exhausted by now.’

‘Yes, which means she may act out of character. That’s why we must be prepared for anything.’

Chapter Six

Arkarian

By the end of the ride Isabel has formed a strong bond with the child. It’s an easy thing to do. I feel myself doing the same. And that’s something I’ve managed to avoid for almost six hundred years. It’s just that Charlotte is well mannered and kind and so trusting. Many times she is close to tears.

After dinner with the Duke and Lady Eleanor, Charlotte insists that I must tell her another story. It’s unheard of for a mere stable-hand to be invited inside, but the Duke finally agrees. I think he is relieved to see his daughter smiling again.

With King Charles beside them, Isabel and Charlotte curl up by the hearth. As Charlotte cuddles the dog, Isabel whispers, ‘You know, it wouldn’t hurt for her aunt to be a bit kinder. That woman doesn’t come across as the loving mother type.’

I have to agree, and while I can’t find much in history on Charlotte, I did discover that Lady Eleanor will one day become the mistress of this very castle, marrying the Duke and taking the title of Duchess. But I’m reluctant to let Isabel know. She would hate the
thought of Lady Eleanor becoming Charlotte’s stepmother. Forming attachments to those we help is strictly forbidden. This is an essential rule. It’s quite easy to develop friendships, and difficulties in letting go have caused serious situations for members of the Guard before. That was the catalyst for all our problems with Marduke. Thirteen years ago he changed the past by trying to stop the woman he fell in love with from catching the plague. His partner was Ethan’s father Shaun. Shaun tried to stop him. They fought and Marduke suffered severe facial injuries.

‘The only reason that woman would want a child for herself would be to secure an inheritance,’ Isabel concludes.

Charlotte stirs, murmuring for another story, and Isabel lets the matter drop. She strokes the girl’s forehead. ‘Patience, Charlotte. Here, wait.’ Isabel moves around on the rug, positioning Charlotte’s head in her lap. ‘Is that comfortable?’

Charlotte nods, then looks up at me. ‘Hurry, Gascon. You must tell me a story before I fall asleep. You have so many! And my eyes are getting heavy.’

Even with heavy eyes, it takes the telling of three long stories – myths from ancient Greece and Macedonia – before Charlotte’s soulful blue eyes finally close in sleep.

Isabel continues stroking the girl’s forehead. ‘Should we carry her to bed?’

Through the connecting doorway, I glance into her room, and wonder what the Order have in mind regarding this child. Has the portal to this time period been opened solely to draw Ethan out? It can only open for a short period, and only ever once. No one
can return to the exact time twice. Or is there a genuine threat to Charlotte’s well-being? It would be a mistake to underestimate the enemy. And from what I saw earlier of the child’s own bedroom – narrow windows with heavy drapes, closet doors, wardrobes and wooden chests – there are plenty of hiding places should someone suddenly appear. ‘Why don’t we leave Charlotte here where we can keep a close eye on her? It’s warm by the fire.’

Agreeing, Isabel makes Charlotte comfortable with some pillows. King Charles nestles in beside her, his head on his paws, his eyes slowly closing.

The two of us go and sit against the foot of the four-poster bed, and after a while Isabel sighs and yawns. Without realising it, she sags against my shoulder. After this long day, she’s completely exhausted. Looking across at Charlotte, she comments softly, ‘She looks so innocent.’

‘As only a child can.’

‘Why would anyone want to harm her?’ She shivers suddenly.

Instinctively, and against my better judgement, I pull her closer to me. She rests her head on my shoulder as if it is the most natural thing in all the worlds to do.

But it’s a mistake. I become aware of her heart beating, her lungs expanding with every breath, her skin beneath my touch.

She moves, and her head slides to my chest. Shifting into sleep, she wraps her arm around my waist. Now I’m aware of
my
heart beating too, slowly, in sync with hers. I know I should push her away. But if my life depended on it, right now, that would be impossible.

She mumbles something; her breathing slow and
rhythmic. Unable to stop myself, I kiss the top of her head.

She shifts and wakes, quietly becoming aware of how her arm lies around my chest. Withdrawing it in jerking movements, she sucks in a deep breath, sitting up straighter. ‘I must have fallen asleep.’

‘Only for a minute or two.’

Her head turns to me. ‘Did I miss anything?’

I recall my kiss to the top of her head, and can’t help a secret smile. ‘Nothing. Nothing at all.’

‘Oh good. I wouldn’t want to miss anything important, like maybe the Goddess herself dropping in to say hello.’

Her comment has me scoffing. ‘I’ve lived six hundred years, and I haven’t met the woman yet.’

She seems surprised.

‘Lathenia only shows herself on exceptional occasions.’

A sudden sound from the hearth, a moan from King Charles, seizes our attention. The dog is waking, slowly stretching out his limbs and arching his back.

Charlotte starts to stir and reaches for her pet. But something about the dog seems strange, abnormal. Its eyes are changing, losing their animal shape. It’s as if they are no longer the eyes of a dog but that of … ‘Grab the girl!’ I yell.

‘What’s wrong?’ Isabel asks, sounding confused.

‘I think your desire to meet the Goddess is about to come true.’

She runs to Charlotte. ‘
What!
No way! But how?’

‘I think Lathenia has been using one of her hounds to get close to Charlotte and trick us into thinking the Order had not arrived yet. It gave her time to study us.’

‘Do you think she’s worked out—’

An ear-piercing squeal cuts off anything else she has to say. Grabbing Charlotte with a gentle but firm hold, Isabel pulls her to the side, turning the child’s face into her skirts.

‘Don’t turn around, whatever you hear,’ I tell her.

The sight of Charlotte’s ‘pet’ standing on its hind paws and stretching into the air while howling as if in agonising pain, would terrify little Charlotte. Especially as the dog has started changing shape as well, right before our eyes! Its long limbs stretch out and grow longer, losing their dog form, and transforming into slender arms and legs – human ones.

Only seconds later a fully-formed woman stands before us. A woman who would stand taller than most men, with ankle-length, bright red hair and eerie silver eyes.

The Goddess of Chaos straightens her shoulders and points in my direction with one of her incredibly long fingers. ‘You’re not the one.’

Isabel glances at me, while still hanging on to Charlotte, who keeps trying to peep out of Isabel’s skirts.

Lathenia’s eyes narrow in concentration. Soon she’ll figure out exactly who I am. And while it’s Ethan she planned to eliminate today, she won’t be too disappointed to find me here instead.

And yet how surprising to find Lathenia on this mission. Lorian must have suspected. So now I understand the reason for the late switch. In the years since my Initiation into the Guard, I’ve been taught the skills necessary to deal with an immortal. They can’t be killed – except by another immortal – but they can be temporarily harmed, and tricked, and ultimately they
could be trapped and locked away somewhere secure. Fire is Lathenia’s main enemy; it’s why she lives in a world of crystal, marble and ice.

So fire is what I have to focus on. I’ll have to do it by using one of my skills. But Isabel and Charlotte have to be safe first. ‘Get the girl downstairs.’

Isabel’s eyes shift to the doorway, but this is not going to be easy. Lathenia is in the way, and Isabel doesn’t know I have the skills – although untried – to deal with this immortal. She will want to stay and help. ‘Phillipa, you have to get Charlotte to safety.’ I try to enforce this message with my eyes.

She makes for the doorway, but Lathenia shuts it in their faces. Isabel yanks on it, but now it’s stuck fast. And Charlotte is starting to whimper. ‘Where’s Charlie? Who is that awful woman? She’s scaring me. Make her go away, Gascon.’

Isabel tells her to be calm, and all will be well. ‘Trust in Gascon, my pet.’

She nods, but tears are starting, and her whimpers grow louder.

Lathenia raises her hands and I know the power these hands hold – a power so strong it can’t be matched by any mortal. Her fingertips begin turning blue, and streaks of vivid light start sizzling within them, ready to dart towards me. Quickly I hold out my own hands and concentrate. Streaks of powerful current flash across the room into my open palms.

Lathenia’s energy hits me and I feel my hands burn, but somehow I’m able to tolerate it. Soon my hands start glowing as her energy starts to gather in them. Concentrating hard, I split this power, thrusting half of it back at the Goddess, and half into the fireplace. Two
things happen: the fire erupts with so much force the whole room glows orange and fills with intense heat; and Lathenia shrieks, a hideous, ear-piercing sound, probably from surprise rather than pain, when her own energy blasts back through her.

Collecting herself, Lathenia straightens, but her skin is charred red. I’ve burnt her with her own power. And now she’s furious. Staring at me, she spreads one arm in a wide arc. Creaking sounds are the first indication of what she plans. My eyes shift to the furniture that’s already starting to move. ‘Try the door again!’ I call out to Isabel.

But it doesn’t budge.

The furniture starts shifting in a circular motion, picking up speed quickly.

‘Hang on to anything secured to the floor or the ceiling!’ I warn Isabel. ‘Try the window ledge. But don’t lean out too far. It’s a long drop.’

Locking Charlotte between her own body and the wall, Isabel latches on to the ledge.

‘Protect the child with everything you’ve got!’

As I say these words, Lathenia spins around on the spot, her hand raised high in the air. It becomes impossible to make out any part of her body, as she spins faster and faster. And with her spinning, the furniture takes flight. There’s a bed post beside me. I give it a quick yank to see if it will hold. It seems solid enough, and I grip it with the inside corner of my elbow. I would use my hands, but they’re still hot and glowing with Lathenia’s energy.

Soon the furniture is moving so fast the room is a chaotic blur.

I glance at Isabel. The whirlwind has caught her
clothing. She’s hanging on with only her fingers, as the forces in the room threaten to take her and the girl with them. I don’t know how long she can hold on. I have to act, and do it quickly. But I’m having a hard enough time hanging on myself. And I can’t see the fire through the blur of swirling furniture, which only narrowly misses us.

The whirlwind increases and Isabel screams, her body almost horizontal, with Charlotte hanging on around her waist. I have to get my bearings so that I can locate that fireplace. Then I see Lathenia slow down and stop spinning. Her face has returned to its normal, luminescent hue. She catches my eye and stares at me with a smug smile on her face. Without words I understand: she has figured out my identity.