The Named (17 page)

About two-thirds of the way up I hear the roar.

My heart practically stops. No way. It can’t be! I’ve heard that roar before a million times, but only in my dreams.

I take off again, sprinting as hard as I can. I’m not far from the lake now, but it’s almost completely dark, and I keep running into scrub and vines and logs and branches. Then I run straight into Isabel. We hit so hard we both fall to the side, rolling over and over each other downhill about twenty metres until our sides wedge solid against a fallen tree.

‘Ethan!’

‘Isabel, are you all right?’

‘Yeah, I’m fine now. Sorry, I was looking over my shoulder and didn’t see you.’

‘What was that roar I heard?’

She gets up urgently, locates her bag, and starts dragging on my arm, yanking me over the top of the log. ‘We have to get out of here.’

‘What did you see up there?’

She’s running now, still dragging on my arm. ‘My worst nightmare.’

I stop at her words, but Isabel keeps going. ‘Come on, Ethan. I’m not going back for you, that’s for sure.’

I find her words ironic and run to catch up. ‘You’ll go back for a backpack, but not for me, huh?’

She sees no humour at all. ‘Shut up, Ethan. Just keep running.’

We get to the bottom and I make her go inside to let her mother know she’s home and will be sitting outside talking to me for a few minutes. She looks at me weird, but does it anyway. It takes her ages to come back out because Matt is home now and she had to make up some story about why she was late and why I want to see her.

She hands me a sports drink, sliding herself on to the top railing of the wooden fence I’m leaning against. She drinks half her bottle, then wipes her mouth with the back of her sleeve. ‘I should have listened to you.’

I wait for her to go on. She stares into the darkness. I wonder what she can see; probably a host of night creatures that most people wouldn’t even imagine are out there. ‘I saw something, up there by the lake.’

‘What was it?’

She shifts her head sideways to mine. ‘A man.’

‘
A man
?’ I don’t know what I expected, but my sense of danger, of evil, felt like more than just ‘a man’.

‘He was huge.’

Goosebumps break out on my skin in anticipation of what’s to follow.

‘He wore a mask, but then he took it off, and his face was …’ Her hands cover her own face for a moment. ‘Oh, Ethan, it was hideous.’

Words try to form in my dry mouth. ‘What did this man’s face look like?’

Her eyes open wide. ‘It was only half a face, with train tracks zigzagging down the deformed side.’

‘
What
?’

‘Scars, Ethan.’ She misinterprets my exclamation. ‘No, I mean, how can that be?’

She shrugs. ‘I don’t know. Don’t you believe me?’

‘Of course I … It’s just, you’re describing someone that isn’t real.’

She jumps off the railing and turns on me. ‘Oh, yeah? You should have been there—’

‘And you
shouldn’t
have been there.’

‘Oh, so because I didn’t listen to you, you’re not going to believe me?’

‘That’s not what I meant.’

‘No, but I can see it in your face. It may be dark out here now, Ethan, but I can see your expression as if I were holding a torch under your chin.’

‘Isabel …’ I try to reassure her, but her description is way too real. Or, I should say, imaginary. It describes what is in my head, in my dreams, the nightmares that have plagued me ever since my sister died of that horrible brain aneurism when she was ten. How can Isabel see this man, this creature, when he only exists in my subconscious?

‘Did he … did this creature …?’

‘Hurt me or anything?’

I nod. She says, ‘No. But I think he threatened me. And I think he was playing with me too.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, he had my backpack, like somehow he knew that’s what I’d come back for, and he said that he wanted to take me to a place where it was midnight every day.’

Her words could have come straight from one of my nightmares.

‘Ethan? Are you all right? You look as if you’re about to pass out.’

She makes me sit cross-legged on the cold hard ground. ‘What is it, Ethan? Why do you look so stunned?’

I’m trying to figure this out through my suddenly numb brain. ‘You must have been dreaming, and somehow we connected.’

‘What! I wasn’t dreaming up there, believe me. One second he was there, his massive hand under my chin, making sure I saw his hideous features—’

‘He touched you?’

‘Yeah, just for a second. He spoke, then disappeared.’ She snaps her fingers. ‘Poof, just like that, he’s gone.’

‘What did he say?’

‘Something about running from him, and how I can’t. And that he could find me anywhere, even in my sleep. He called me by my name and he knew yours too. He said, “Ask the boy called Ethan. Tell him he can reach me through his illusions. Tell him I will come”.’

‘No way!’

‘Who is this man?’

I stare at her. How can I explain when I don’t really know myself? ‘I don’t know who it is. Up until a few minutes ago I thought this creature was a figment of my imagination, the lingering nightmare of a scared and traumatised child.’

She stares back at me hard, her hands on her hips. ‘That man was real, Ethan. As real as you and me.’

It hits me where and from whom I can find the
answers. I start to take off at a run, but not in the direction of home.

‘Hey,’ Isabel calls. ‘Where are you going?’

‘To see the one person who can give me the answers I need.’

Chapter Twenty-seven

Ethan

Arkarian is waiting for me in his chambers. I don’t give him a chance to explain. I’m too hyped up, my head brimming with questions. ‘Did you see what happened?’

‘No, I didn’t, but the feel of him was all over this mountain. Is Isabel all right?’

‘Yeah, she’s fine. Who was that? And what was he doing outside my dreams?’

‘Ethan, I think you’d better sit down. Are you sure Isabel’s all right?’

‘Yes!’

He produces a stool. I shove it out of my way. ‘Tell me, Arkarian, who was that creature?’

He sits and draws in a calming breath, taking too long to answer.

‘Come on!’

‘His name is Marduke.’

‘I know that name. Tell me from where.’

‘He murdered your sister.’

His words hit hard. For a second I feel ill, I think I’m going to fall. Quickly Arkarian waves the stool back into position beneath me. ‘Are you telling me my
nightmares are grounded in reality?’

He takes too long to answer. ‘Arkarian!’

‘They have distorted slightly over the years. You were an eyewitness to your sister’s murder, but nobody believed you. Of course your description was hard for the average adult, or even the average police officer, to imagine – tall as a tree, broad as a bear, one yellow eye, half a missing face, hands as large as watermelons, and a roar like a thousand lions in a cave. Is it any wonder they sent you to therapists?’

‘But you knew I was telling the truth.’

‘Yes, but it was decided that your young traumatised mind couldn’t cope with the reality. You were losing your sanity, and at such a young age.’

‘So you took me in and lied to me all this time.’

‘We protected you only, Ethan. We never lied to you. We nurtured you through the hardest period of your life – losing your sister that way, it was tragic. Look what effect it’s had on your parents, your father especially. He hasn’t been the same man since.’

His words have me thinking. ‘How do you know what type of man Dad was? Did you know him or something?’

He goes quiet and sort of still. ‘You know my job is to observe. I’ve been around for a long time.’

I sense he’s leaving something out, but Dad’s not my concern right now, so I let the matter drop. ‘Tell me why this creature, this monster named Marduke, is after Isabel.’

‘I don’t know.’

‘That’s not good enough. You know everything.’

‘You flatter me, Ethan. What did he say to make you think he wants Isabel?’

‘He threatened her.’

‘What! How?’

I groan. ‘I don’t know – something about being able to get to her anywhere, even in her dreams. Mostly, I think she felt his threat inside. Will he harm her, Arkarian? Can you tell me this?’

He looks at me, clearly puzzled. ‘I’ll speak with Lorian. There are plans that may need altering now.’

‘What plans?’

‘I can’t tell you.’

‘More secrets? Are you lot playing with our lives? We’re mortals, Arkarian. We die.’

‘I’m mortal too, Ethan.’

‘I don’t believe you. You’re six hundred years old.’

‘Yes, but I’ve only lived that long because of my skill, you know that. It’s this same skill that keeps me isolated from the rest of the world.’ He holds out his hand producing a dagger in his palm, handle facing me. ‘If you take this blade and put it through my heart, I will bleed red blood, profusely and quickly. And I will die.’

‘Then tell me why your eyes are coloured violet? And don’t feed me that line about how they change with time. I’ve seen no mortal with purple eyes. Only Lorian.’

He takes a calming breath even though it’s me who needs one. ‘I don’t know why my eyes are this colour. I was born in France to a beautiful young girl who had no husband. My mother died in childbirth – mine, so I don’t know what colour her eyes were, and I have no idea who my father was, though there were many rumours. I think my eyes were once blue. And they do change, Ethan. That’s one of the many reasons I can’t circulate in your mortal world any more.’

What he says makes sense and some of my initial
anger starts to dwindle. ‘So this creature, Marduke, he’s six hundred years old too?’

‘Older.’

‘Is he immortal?’

‘The only immortal I’ve met is Lorian. I have yet to meet the Goddess. So don’t worry, Marduke
can
die, and he will when the time is right.’

And then, finally, the pieces start to fit. ‘He’s the one in the Prophecy, the evil one, isn’t he? How does it go?’ I ask.

‘
The traitor who will come and go
.’

‘Yes. But doesn’t it mention where he was a god of something?’

‘Not that I know of.’

‘But surely he must be descended from an immortal if he’s older than, well, you for instance.’

‘Not necessarily. He just has the skill of retaining youth.’

‘Yeah, but you stopped aging at eighteen, Marduke didn’t.’

Arkarian doesn’t answer, and I wonder about his ability to stop aging. Could it be inherited, or a gift that can be awarded like wings. ‘I wonder who you’re descended from?’

‘I’m sure we’ll never know. I haven’t discovered my ancestry and I’m hardly likely to after this great length of time.’

Whether he has any clues he’s obviously not going to elaborate, nor even tell me what some of those rumours were about his biological father. I try thinking of the words of the Prophecy to help me figure this mystery out, but it’s been so long since I heard them. That’s when the idea hits me. ‘I want to read the
Prophecy again. I was too young to take any of it in when you first showed it to me.’

He hesitates for a long moment and I think he’s going to deny my request. ‘Do you remember the way?’

‘I think I could find it.’

‘Promise me you’ll stick to the rules. Follow them and no danger will harm you.’

‘All right, but can Isabel come? She sure would come in handy, what with her being able to see in any kind of light these days.’

He laughs. ‘Not a bad gift, I wish I had it.’

‘So can she? She’s an official Apprentice now. She should know it all – the truth, you know?’

Reluctantly, he agrees. ‘All right. But check in here before you leave. If you take too long, I’ll send a search party.’

‘We won’t get lost.’

‘Perhaps, perhaps not, but you will get tired. And neither of you has wings.’

‘We’ll be careful.’

‘You’ll have to go soon, though. Isabel’s first mission is coming up and she needs to improve her healing skills.’

I could tell him how much progress she’s making in that area, but exhaustion is starting to kick in big time. I need to get home to a nice warm bed. Gripping his shoulders lightly, I say good-night. But as I start to leave, Arkarian comes out with the weirdest thing.

‘Has your father ever asked you strange questions, or wondered where you go when you sleep?’

It takes me by surprise. But I’m too tired even to wonder why he’s asking and just throw him a bemused look.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Isabel

Ethan is full of surprises. It appears we’re going on some sort of adventure, way underground, to read an inscription off the remains of an ancient wall. It’s early Saturday morning, the sun just starting to make an appearance on the distant horizon. Except for some early-rising wildlife, no one’s awake. Why would they be? It’s simply too cold.

I have to leave a note, letting Mum and Matt know I won’t be home until late, as apparently this trip will take all day. It’s just as well I’m leaving before either of them wakes, especially Matt. I’ve had enough of his questions and suspicions about my relationship with Ethan. But just what kind of relationship is it? Ever since that kiss in John of Gaunt’s bedroom my head’s been in a spin. Ethan hasn’t made another move on me, and even though he explained how that kiss was nothing more than a diversion, the fact is, it did happen. And, well, I really liked it. Ethan is pretty clear that we’re only just friends – he certainly hasn’t tried anything since, not even when we get real close in training. We spend so much time together these
days, and being with Ethan should be my dream come true, except the romance part is missing from his end. If I make a move to force a relationship between us, I’ll just be making the biggest fool of myself, and ruin our new-found friendship as well, losing him completely.

It’s too big a risk. I do like being his friend. We have a lot of fun together. I’ll just have to wait until he gives me some kind of real sign. That’s all.