The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2) (14 page)

‘Not more people,’ she thought. “Hello,” she greeted her politely as Wendy walked past her and put her arm around the stranger’s shoulders. It took Val a moment to register who it was. “Oh, you’re the priestess from the warehouse,” she said, smiling for the first time for ages.

“Yes, she is, and we have been waiting here patiently,” Sam butted in handing the girl a mug. “Now I have to go. I have an appointment.”

Val wanted to talk to him, but he was in a noticeable hurry to get away.

“Ok, we can talk later,” she said, waving as he left the shop, annoyed by his obvious lack of interest in her, or Zac’s well being. Her smile disappeared again.

“Sorry I’ve kept you waiting; we’ve been a little busy. I’m Val,” she greeted the woman.

“Hi, I’m Lucy,” she responded, sipping nervously at her drink. “ Lucy Carlton.”

“Do I know you?” Val was suddenly overwhelmed with a gut feeling she had seen her before.

“I don’t think so.” She gave and uncomfortable smile.

“So, first things first, what were you doing in the warehouse?”

“It was the site of our ancestors’ pagan burial ground and I was going to make an offering like I do every month. Then you appeared and that guy grabbed me, and now I’m here. So, can someone please tell me what exactly is going on?” she glanced from one to the other.

“Ok, you’re a witch,” Val stated.

“I prefer Wiccan, but yes,” Lucy nodded.

“Me and Wendy here are also Wiccans, and stuff,” Val added waving her hands dramatically. “We’re now going to tell you a story that will make everything you know sound bland in comparison. But one thing I can promise you is, if you don’t listen carefully and you tell anyone what we’re about to divulge, you will be in serious trouble.” Val smiled although it still sounded like a threat.

“Is there an option B?” asked Lucy nervously.

“No, just listen.” Val proceeded to tell her all the information she felt was necessary.

Lucy’s eyes grew as big as saucers and she sipped nervously at her drink.

“So you see our dilemma. We need to keep you and the other priests and priestesses safe, but now Wendy has cast the spell on you, that problem should be solved.” Val waited for Lucy’s reaction.

Lucy paused for a second, absorbing all the information, then spoke. “Your life sounds extremely complicated and I’m sorry this is happening, but don’t forget I have been hiding who I am for as far back as I can remember. If it wasn’t a coven meeting it was the passing of books of spells hidden behind false covers. So a little more underground existence shouldn’t be a problem. Having seen the reaction of those builders today I’m sure that Wendy is a very competent spell worker. However I can’t stay here; people will start looking for me. It’s my fiancés birthday and I’m expected at his party.” She placed her drink on the counter. “I’m allowed to leave, aren’t I?”

“Yes, of course, but here’s my number, just in case you need us.” Val scribbled her mobile down on a scrap of paper.

“Thanks, for everything.” Lucy smiled at the group.

“You’re welcome,” they all chorused as she made her way out with Val.

“What have you got him?” Val asked, making polite conversation as she walked Lucy to the door.

“Funnily enough he loves reading, so I got him a first edition James Joyce ‘The Dubliners’. Maybe next time I need a book I’ll come here.”

After Lucy had gone Val, wandered back into the shop, looking thoughtful. “Why did that book sound familiar,” she asked herself. Then: “Oh my God!”

“What’s wrong?” asked Fran from the counter.

“Lucy! I thought I recognised her. Do you remember the very first time I teleported, Shane?”

“Yes. It’s not something I’m likely to forget.”

“She was the one. She came in for that exact same book. Her hair was lighter, but it was her. It’s really true: we need to find the people I saved. Wendy, have a look in the records to see if we have a phone number for Eva. We need to get her; she is definitely on the list.” Wendy started to leaf through the record book. “In the meantime, I’m going to check on the patient.”

“Hold your horses, Val. What time would you like us to sleep?” Shane asked, looking amused.

“What?” Val looked confused.

“It’s now nine-thirty in the evening. I have a business to run and you will expect Wendy back in the morning. Jason and Fran have jobs to do at home, so how much longer will you require us to save the world today?”

“I don’t mind,” Jason grinned. Fran slapped his arm.

Val looked perplexed then appalled. “Oh, I am so sorry! I didn’t realise… I was just so focused. Wendy, look for Eva in the morning; Jason, go and do your jobs. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Val knew Shane was right they all needed a break.

“Good, now you go and rest too; you have a fencing lesson at seven a.m,” Jason said. As she locked up she felt her body start to relax. She made her way upstairs on tired legs to check on Zac. When she arrived he’d fallen asleep. ‘So hunters do sleep,’ she thought to herself. ‘Well this guard is going to join you, whether you like me today or not.’ She lay down next to Zac on the dreaded seventies sheets and slipped off into a deep sleep.

The morning came far too quickly. Val woke to find Zac still sleeping. She put her hand over his nose just to make sure he was still breathing. She got up realising that for the first time she had actually managed to sleep on the bed, although those sheets would, without doubt, have to go.

A juice and some toast led to a shower and change of clothes. As she tugged at her unruly hair with Wallace’s comb, she observed her face in the mirror, and her mum’s eyes stared back. Val smiled for a second as she thought about how her Uncle Matthew always joked that she had her dad’s chin, just before pretending to punch her on it. It hurt just thinking about them. Why was she doing all this? What was possessing her to carry on with this madness? Was it all because of a super powerful prison warden who had her name and address, or was it the power to travel to far off galaxies? No. It was revenge; she knew it was. Revenge for her real father, and for having to lose her mum and dad. It wasn’t a comforting thing to know about herself, but she also knew that she wouldn’t stop until Excariot was in a very small box. Because of him she hadn’t seen her mum now for four days. It was as if she had gone on some crazy holiday that would end at any minute. Then she could go home, get her clothes washed and have dinner. A lump started forming in her throat. Why hadn’t she appreciated them more? Still, there was no time for that now; she needed to get to Shane’s for a fencing lesson.

She hurried down the main street. When she arrived her eyes were drawn to the window. There, just as it had been when she first saw it, only a few weeks ago, was the zodiac circle. She smiled thinking back to her first meeting with Shane and holding onto the fact that if he had turned her away she would never have made it to this point. She tapped on the door.

Jason, his eyes still sleepy, let her in. She followed him into the gym where her kit was waiting for her.

“You ready for this?” he asked lifting up his epee.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She saluted him and they fenced.

It was at least forty-five minutes before he would let her stop for a rest. Her arm hurt and she was extremely thirsty. She knew better than to question Jason now. He took this very seriously, wanting her to get everything right.

“No, step back!” he shouted, hitting her leg. “Salute.” He pulled of his mask. “Well, let’s pray you’re better at your boxing tonight.” He walked across the gym, closely followed by Val. Placing his mask on the glass table he handed her a towel and a bottle of water. “What do you have planned for us today?” he swigged from his bottle.

“We need to start finding all the people I saved when I released Excariot. They’re the key to stopping him this time.”

Shane walked in as the clock struck nine. “Morning Val, you look…” his eyes wandered over her, “…sweaty. How’s Zac?”

Val grinned sarcastically as she pulled off her fencing uniform. “He was still asleep when I left, but I’m on my way back now, so I’ll see you there later.” They both nodded their agreement and she left hurriedly and headed back to the bookshop.

The sun was now awake and shining down as she made her way up the main street. Shops were opening and people where going about their day-to-day lives. Val glanced across the street at a boutique called
Spring
. She had seen it a million times before, but today things were different. Behind the glass an assistant was standing back admiring a girl in a mirror. Val thought it was odd, clothes shopping so early and looked more closely. Her heart thumped when she saw a familiar mane of long blonde hair. It took a moment for her to recompose herself. This really was no good; she couldn’t spend her life freaking out every time she saw a blonde. If Delta was back then she would have to come and find her, because she was busy. At that moment, the blonde turned to receive the adoration of the assistant face to face, and Val’s worst nightmares came to life. The early morning shopper
was
Delta.

Driven by the determination to confront her, Val stepped blindly into the road. A horn blasted her ear, forcing her to step back. “Why is it that the minute you want to cross the street every car in the country arrives?” She cursed the traffic, hopping on and off of the pavement with Delta still in her sights. Laughing with the girl, Delta grabbed another dress and headed towards the changing area, just as the traffic finally broke its snake like chain. Val dashed across the road and crashed through the pretty pink front door of the boutique, startling the assistants and another girl who was browsing the racks.

“Hi. Blonde girl. Where did she go?” The speechless assistant pointed towards a doorway at the back of the shop. Val ran at it, its swinging motion allowing her easy entrance. On the other side were four cubicles all with beige curtains. Each one shut. She couldn’t call out because the last thing she wanted was more attention. However, she wasn’t prepared to wait. She moved to cubicle one, tentatively pulling back the curtain. There was no one there. She took a step to her right and pulled back number two; still no one. Three held no more luck. All there was left was four. Val didn’t feel the need to pull out her sword, it was only Delta. She jerked back the final curtain with a look of satisfaction at catching her so easily, and came face to face with a girl trying on a top. The girl screamed at the top of her voice covering her bra with her new garment. Val waved her hands in front of her eyes trying desperately to apologise, then she worked her way out backwards glancing again into each cubicle, but there was still no sign of Delta. The door flew open and the assistant, although feeble looking, arrived, fully prepared to protect her customers. Val pushed her to one side as gently as possible and ran out of the shop.

Val wanted to scream, “where are you?” at the top of her voice, but it stayed a quiet hiss in her throat. Delta was definitely back and something had changed. She needed to get back to the others quickly; they could be in danger, and Zac wouldn’t be able to protect them.

As she got closer she could see that the shop was open. Worryingly, Wendy was pacing the pavement outside. Maybe something was wrong with Zac. Val started to run even faster towards her.

“What’s wrong Wendy?” Val gasped.

“Everything! This has never happened to me before.” Wendy was spinning in circles.

Val grabbed her and stopping her turning. “Tell me what’s wrong. Is it Zac?”

“No, he’s still asleep; I just went to check on him.” Wendy pulled out her mobile and showed the screen to Val as she started pacing again. Val wanted to read it but she was aware of how exposed to Delta they were out here.

“Let’s go in and we can talk.” She looked around for any suspicious signs, but it was all clear.

“What am I going to do?” Wendy slumped on the stool putting her hands over her head which she then placed on the wooden counter.

“Ok, let’s have a look.” Val pushed the button and the screen lit up.

Hi Wendy, it was really nice meeting you the other day at the bookshop. I hope you don’t mind me texting you like this but I was wondering if you would like to go to the cinema with me this evening Daniel.

“Oh, a date with a real boy.” Val pushed the phone back towards Wendy’s hair that was spreading all over the wooden surface. She wasn’t sure what to do for the best. “Do you want to go?”

“I don’t know. I have never been out with a boy. I don’t know what possessed me to give him my number in the first place. I think I felt sorry for him. He’s new to the area and he was all alone.” Wendy fumbled on the counter, took her phone and shoved it back in her pocket.

“Ok, the question is, do you want to go? Forget everything else. And I can’t believe you have never been on a date.”

“Val, you have been my life for the past thirteen years, that’s it.”

If she hadn’t felt guilty before about Wendy’s sacrifice, she sure as hell did now. “You have to go. If you didn’t like him it wouldn’t be bothering you this much.”

“My mum won’t let me. She’ll say I need to do some craft work and spell preparation.”

Now the truth was coming out. “Listen, tell your mum you’re sleeping over here. You can get what’s his face to pick you up here and she’ll never know.” Val smiled tapping Wendy’s head. “Come on, then you can stop over after you get back and be here to go to work at the crack of dawn. Plus, if it’s awful, you can ring me and I can say I need you back at work asap.”

Wendy lifted her head up just enough to see Val. “Should I do it?”

“Only you can answer that question. Can you see the future?”

“No. A true clairvoyant can rarely see their own future, but I think I’m going to go for it.” She smiled, sat up and pulled out her phone. “What should I say?”

“Yes, thanks, pick me up at seven.” Val leaned over Wendy, making sure she did it.

“Sent!” Wendy looked very pale for a few seconds and then the silence was broken by the entrance of Fran.

“Morning girls. What’s going on?” Immediately sensing something important happening, she looked enquiringly from Val to Wendy. “What have you done?”