The Kuthun (13 page)

He nods slowly. ‘The very one.’

I can’t believe it. I’m speechless. We both stay sitting like that for a while, not sure about where to go from here.

I change positions. ‘Okay. Let’s just back up a minute. Are you are telling me that the Cole bloodline is connected to Isis, Protector of the dead and Goddess of magic…’ I pause just long enough for those words to resonate. Uncle Jo is looking at me with a you-can-do-it smirk.

‘Oh…my…gosh!’ I exclaim, my excitement building. ‘You mean she
is
the Mother of the Cole bloodline? As in…the first witch?’ I cannot contain my amazement. My skin has broken out in goose pimples and my hair is standing on end. I can’t believe this is happening.

He nods and folds his arms. ‘I think so.’

‘You think so? You act as if you knew?’

‘I had my suspicions but I couldn’t be sure. Like I said, I spent a long time trying to trace our history. But when I reached the era of Ancient Egypt the line became lost. Then, when you found the page in the Book of Cole, it sort of confirmed it for me.’

‘Of course! It literally said Isis. I didn’t even think about the possibility that it was the real Isis,’ I say. ‘I just can’t believe this. Do you know what this means?’

‘No, but isn’t that what we’re trying to find out?’ he replies sarcastically.

I roll my eyes at his lack of enthusiasm. ‘Well…yes. But still, this is so exciting!’

‘Ellie, calm down. First, we have no idea what this means, only that we have a lead. Second, this may cause us even more problems. I mean how are you supposed to find the light of Isis if she doesn’t exist?’ He raises his eyebrows quizzically.

My shoulders slump. ‘You’ve got a point,’ I grumble, not happy that he just burst my bubble. ‘What do we do now then?’

‘We research. But first you need sleep, you look exhausted. I’ll watch Magi tonight and wake you if anything changes.’ He nods towards the stairs.

I know he’s right but I can’t help but want to find all the answers tonight. ‘Okay. We’ll start bright and early tomorrow.’

‘Just not too early,’ he says smiling.

I get up and walk over to Magi. Her pulse is relaxed and her breathing is even. I bend down and kiss her cheek. ‘Love you, Mags,’ I whisper.

I head upstairs, my body exhausted and on the brink of collapsing. I fall onto my bed and as soon as my head hits the pillow the dark of night overcomes me.

Darkness surrounds me. My eyes can’t see anything
before me. I stand still, trying to listen for any sound, but all I hear is my own breathing. I reach out, slowly shuffling forward, hoping to touch something, anything. My hands find the surface of what feels like a wall. I trace my hands across its face, hoping it will lead me from out of the abyss. Slowly, cautiously I tread, using the wall as my guide. I venture deeper into the unknown, not knowing why I am here. Up ahead I see a faint light. I follow its presence. All of a sudden I find myself standing directly in front of a stone door, the light beneath it glowing brighter. Intricate carvings start to appear on the door and a silver metallic liquid flows through them, highlighting their significance. I watch the symbols and images manifest before my eyes, they appear to glow, tracing out a multitude of alien lines that hold ancient meaning. I try to recognise just one of them, until finally, in the top section of the door, I am able to see one symbol and one symbol only…the kuthun.

My eyes open. Morning has come again. I sigh, the image of the door still alive in my mind. I lay there unmoving, listening to the familiar sounds of the house. The wind is howling against the roof trusses, sending me a warning to rug up because a chill is coming. The eerie sound it makes as it blows through always makes me feel uncertain, or at least hesitant, to want to leave the sanctuary of my home. I draw the blankets up closer to my neck.

Aunt Lily is pottering around in the kitchen downstairs—pots and pans are rattling, drawers are sliding open and closed on their oil-based hinges, and she is humming a faint tune to herself. Uncle Jo has just entered the front door, his all too familiar boots echo off the floorboards as he stomps his way into the lounge room. I hear him drop whatever he is carrying onto the fireplace grate.

‘Hey, Magi. How are you doing, girl?’ he says.

Magi!
I throw the blankets off and jump out of bed, taking the stairs two at a time. I fly around the corner and see Uncle Jo squatting in front of the fire, building it up with kindling and paper. Magi is sitting next to him and she turns to look at me as I walk quickly towards her. I kneel down and wrap my arms around her neck, burying myself into her thick fur. I feel her warmth enter my body and find its way to my heart.

Uncle Jo places his hand on my back gently. ‘She’s fine now, Ellie. She healed through the night. Her foot is still a little tender but it won’t take long for that to disappear either.’

I nod, not able to speak. Magi eventually wriggles out of my hug and she nuzzles my cheek. I stay sitting there with her by my side, feeling grateful that she is alive. I watch Uncle Jo light the kindling and see the flames slowly build themselves up.

I search his face and find that the bags under his eyes are dark and sullen. He hasn’t slept. ‘Thank you for looking after her,’ I say quietly.

‘Of course,’ he states simply, like there was never another option. Images of him standing silent and protective at the window, gun cocked, watching the darkness outside for any movement, runs through my mind.

‘Did you sleep okay?’ he asks, closing the grate.

I nod. ‘I did have another dream though.’

His large hands pick up the extra wooden blocks easily and he places them into the nearby basket. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

‘Not really,’ I answer, feeling too drained to explain.

He nods and wipes his hands together. ‘How about we go into the kitchen and have some breakfast. Lil’s making pancakes and I’m starving. You must be hungry as well, as it’s already ten o’clock.’ He moves towards the kitchen.

What? Ten o’clock already? I don’t think I’ve ever slept in that long before. I take a few more minutes to sit there patting Magi before I get up and we make our way into the kitchen. My stomach rumbles at the thought of food and I remember that I didn’t eat anything last night. Phoebe wouldn’t last two seconds in this house.

Aunt Lily has made her famous banana cream pancakes with fresh strawberries on top. The aroma of hot dough entices my sense of smell and by the time the plate reaches the table I am all but salivating. I happily take a bite and savour the rich taste of banana and maple syrupy goodness.

Uncle Jo is watching me over his quadruple shot cappuccino. ‘I have an idea for today. How about we pick up Phoebe and head into the Sandy Bay County Fair?’

I frown. ‘Weren’t we going there anyway for Aunt Lily’s bake off?’ I say between chews.

‘Well…yeah, but it sounded better when it came across as if I made it up.’ He takes another sip, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Aunt Lily rolls her eyes and I chuckle.

Sandy Bay is about a two hour drive. It sits on the coast and is a beautiful spot that we visit occasionally, especially in summer, when the beaches are clear and warm making them perfect for swimming. It attracts lots of visitors every year with its natural beauty and excellent walking tracks, and of course its annual county fair—full of rides and small events showcasing local creative talents.

‘I thought we were researching today,’ I say.

‘I think it would be better if we had a day off, don’t you?’ He isn’t actually asking.

The thought of a day off from thinking and teleporting and kuthuning actually sounds nice. I also think he just wants us as far away from here as possible. I nod, still not willing to empty my mouth at this point.

‘Good,’ he says. ‘Because I told Phoebe we would pick her up in an hour. That was thirty minutes ago so you better finish up and get ready.’ He stands up and puts his empty mug in the sink. ‘I’ll get the car ready.’ He kisses Aunt Lily’s cheek and heads outside.

‘What about Magi?’ I grab my cardigan off the coat stand near the front door and shrug it on. Magi is wagging her tail behind us, her tongue poking out the side of her mouth.

‘Magi is safer here,’ he says.

‘But…’

‘No buts, Ellie. She’s learnt her lesson don’t you think?’ He raises his left eyebrow in question.

‘I suppose,’ I say reluctantly. ‘But look at her. She wants to come,’ I say. Magi wags her tail enthusiastically.

Uncle Jo thinks about it for a moment. Magi and I both look at him pleadingly. He shakes his head in irritation. ‘Fine! But you need to put a leash on her, and if anyone questions what she is doing there just tell them she’s your seeing-eye dog,’ he gruffly remarks as he opens the front door, letting Aunt Lily through first.

Aunt Lily smiles and wraps her shawl around her as she steps out into the cool wind.

‘But I’m not blind!’ I exclaim. ‘It wouldn’t be right.’ I grab Magi’s leash off the hook from the back of the door and I close it behind us.

‘Then get Phoebe to do it. She won’t even bat an eyelid,’ he says cheekily.

I open the car door. ‘Then you don’t know her that well,’ I answer in her defence.

‘Yeah I’ll do it,’ Phoebe says casually when we pick her up. ‘No problemo!’

Uncle Jo and Aunt Lily laugh. ‘See. Told you,’ he says smugly.

I cross my arms, feeling offended that he called it. I look across the back seat at Phoebe, who is smiling and staring at me with her usual easy-going expression. I try not to smile but a chuckle escapes my lips.

We spend the trip using the iPad to look at vintage clothing sales and cool little ideas for decorating Phoebe’s room. We listen to music and laugh, and for the first time in a few days I actually start to feel more like me. The old me—the one who was fairly conservative, liked her routine, enjoyed the simple things and knew to appreciate every day for what it was, never taking anything for granted.

I feel a flutter of panic. I can’t go back. That old me is gone.

For the rest of the way a deep unease claws at me, like a vulture slowly pecking away at my carcass.

We make good time and enter Sandy Bay County on a beautiful spring day. Unlike at home there is no wind here today and the sun is sitting gloriously in the midday sky.

We drive down the main street where the quaint seaside town exudes simplicity and character—from its tree-lined walkways to its beach style cottages. Even the local council building, which is usually brown and dull in most places, has had a clean-up with its now whitewashed exterior and blue corrugated roof. We spend the next few minutes trying to find a car park. The area is full and we end up parking along a side street.

When we reach the fete Uncle Jo gives us the run-down of rules that we must follow—stay with each other, stay visible, and keep Magi close. He specifically focuses on my face, telling me to be careful and stay on guard.

‘Got it,’ Phoebe says. ‘Don’t worry, Mr. O. I’ll look after her.’

He rolls his eyes. ‘We’ll meet back here in a couple of hours for lunch. Now go find some bargains.’ He waves us off.