The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2) (32 page)

“Make some space, Shane,” Sam ordered.

Shane shoved everything off the table. They could all see she was seriously wounded.

“You, who are you?” Fran asked as she looked at Sam.

“Now’s not the time to ask.” He smiled at her then concentrated on pulling at Val’s top, exposing the place where Daniel’s bolt had caught her. “You all need to move back.”

“Why are you on Earth?” asked Zac.

“I will tell you everything in a minute; just let me help Val now.” Sam pulled a piece of metal, about the size of a ten pence piece, from his pocket. Gently, he placed it onto the blood on Val’s side. It started to fizz. The others watched in amazement as the foam built. When it eventually stopped, Sam used his shirtsleeve to wipe the excess away.

“That’s not possible! It’s healed.” Fran covered her mouth with her hands in shock.

“You took your time.” Shane patted Sam on the back.

“I’m sorry. I was trying to sort out some other issues when I got your call. You know this isn’t what I wanted.”

“I know, but life doesn’t always serve you what you want,” Shane said.

“Why aren’t you freaking out, Dad?” Jason asked looking as bemused as the others.

“I told you son, me and Sam have been friends for a long time. I will explain it all to you later.”

Val sat up and looked around her, pleased to note that her hearing was back to normal; the pain in her side had gone too. “About time you showed up,” she said to Sam, “That ball thing you did was cool. I’m impressed. Has Daniel gone?” No one answered. The others just stared gormlessly back at her. “What?”

“Well, I understand that you were wounded, but you seem oblivious to the fact that Sam here just appeared out of thin air.” Fran shoved her hands on her hips. “Maybe this is all just a crazy nightmare. First Daniel’s light show and now Sam’s.” She pinched Jason’s arm. He howled in pain. “Ok, so I’m awake. Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” Her eyes were fixed firmly on Sam.

He signed. “Ok. I stepped, that’s what we call it.” Sam looked embarrassed just talking about it.

“Lovely, but since when have you been stepping?” Fran asked him, clearly on a mission. “And how do we know you’re Sam and not a zombie body snatcher.”

“Fran, I can vouch for the fact that Sam’s not a Zombie,” Shane said.

“Have I missed something here?” Val searched their faces for an answer.

“I think you and I have missed something massive. I was right; there is a judge on earth,” Zac said looking pointedly at Sam.

“But that’s Wendy, right?” Val asked, still looking directly into Sam’s eyes.

“Sort of,” he prevaricated.

“Samuel, my friend!” Excariot called from his spot on the ground. “How’s about a hand for your old comrade?”

“Here!” Sam lifted his hand creating a mini ball of light, aimed it at Excariot and released it. They all held their breath. As it hit him, a force field was created around his body. Excariot screamed yet they could hear nothing.

“Explain what’s going on. NOW!” Val demanded.

“I knew you would be like this.” He shook his head turning to Shane. “I told you she wouldn’t react well.”

“I’m sorry, is Shane in on this?” She looked around the room. “Anyone else have anything they want to tell us while we’re all at it?”

No one spoke.

Sam shook his head. “Shane couldn’t tell you, Val, and neither could I. Now things will have to change.”

“I’m sorry to break up the confessions, but is no one going to help me get my daughter back?” Belinda butted in.

Val held out the book to Sam. “She had this book when she disappeared. Get her back please. Then
you
can tell me what’s going on.”

Sam took the book from her. “There’s a problem. If I bring her back from wherever she is, things will change. For everyone.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“I can’t control what Wendy has done. She has gone to a place where she feels safe, a place where she thinks everything is as it should be. I was sent here to guide her and I got distracted.” Sam looked at the others. “For that I’m sorry, but if I bring her back here, things will have to change.”

“Do it,” Belinda pleaded. “Please. She’s all I have.” Tears started to run down her cheeks.

“Do it,” Val and Fran chorused at the same moment.

“I need a moment with Val.” Sam grabbed her hand and they were instantly transported away.

Val waited for the landing, but it never happened. They seemed to be suspended in mid-air. She felt stable, but there was nothing to support her. She held Sam’s hand tightly for fear of falling. “What are you,” she asked. “Who are you?”

“I’m Sam, the same Sam you met in sixteen forty-five. The Sam that has loved you from the first time he saw you. I had to let you go then and I’m going to have to let you go again now.”

“But I don’t remember being with you, even though I feel it. I’m so confused.”

“This should help.” He placed his hand over Val’s eyes. Everything went dark, and then her memories started to return. She remembered Wyetta and the coven. And there he was: Sam. They had spent time together and however brief, it had changed them. She was very much in love with him. It was in every pore of her skin; every beat of her heart was for him.

Then the time came for her initiation. Excariot had arrived and she had fallen, as she remembered it so many times. With Wyetta’s help, Sam managed to send her to the future. He had told her that it would be ok, that she would be safe in her new home. Val felt the intense pain of a broken heart. He told her that she would forget him, that it was for the best, that their love was never meant to be, not now, not ever. She had cried on his shoulder, but he knew what was best for her. They had kissed one last time and then he had placed his hand on her arm and led her to the future to be reborn with no memories of who she was, or why she was there.

Sam took his hand away. “I’m so sorry, Val, if I bring Wendy back, you will forget this all over again. You can’t live with these memories.”

Val’s eyes stared into Sam’s. “I love you, no memories will change that.”

“And I you V.”

For a moment she simply savoured the words. But then reality claimed her again and they were back with the others.

Sam looked around for any sign that anyone had noticed their exit or return, but they were completely oblivious. “Val, the outcome may be worse for you than anyone else here if Wendy does return.”

“Look, Wendy’s my friend. I can deal with whatever the outcome is. Just get her back.” Val reached out for Belinda’s hand.

“Let’s do it,” Zac said.

“Zac, you need to get Excariot out of here. Take him to Alchany.” Sam moved his hand in a slow circular motion and a portal opened next to Excariot’s temporary prison dome. “Twenty-three twelve you were never my friend,” Sam told him, removing the light field that was holding him prisoner. “Zac, go.”

Zac lifted Excariot up by his hands, which were tied behind his back. Excariot’s head hung down, his imminent extraction obviously now weighing heavy on his mind.

“You have disappointed me,” Sam said. “You have hurt and murdered innocent humans and if it you had been in my jurisdiction I would have dealt with you myself. You will have plenty of time to repent for your actions, because I will make sure you’re imprisoned for a millennium.”

He turned to Zac. “Zac, when you’re finished you will return to Val and continue as her hunter and I will make sure the Warden hears of your bravery.” Zac nodded then passed through the portal with Excariot.

Val was starting to realise how important Sam really was. He placed the book down on the floor. “Belinda, would you please free the people who are under Eva’s spell?”

She pulled out the mirror she had in her pocket and held it up.

“Eva, with the power of three,

I send this magic back to thee,

take this mirror and reflect,

all the negative reject.”

The mirror slowly filled with light that first appeared as a tiny, bright spot and spread. They all watched as the light started to spring out. It jumped from one unconscious henchman to another, and then a beam shot up towards the ceiling and out. “So be it done.” She pulled the mirror down and put it back into her pocket.

“Is that it?” Jason asked.

“Yes, Jason. What’s special about magic is it needs only the power of the individual’s mind and belief,” Belinda answered.

“Thank you.” Sam smiled warmly at her. “Let’s get Wendy.” He put the book on the floor and opened it on the first page. Then they all waited for something as impressive as last time: holograms, rips in time, etc.

“Wendy, you can come out now.” Sam spoke to the book.

Val gaped at him. “Are you being serious?”

Sam shot her a glare. “Wendy, it’s safe. You need to come out; the others have gone.”

The book started to shake. “No,” a distant voice answered.

“I’m not coming in to get you, so you have to come out.”

“I don’t want to live there.” It was like a surreal conference call.

“Please, Wendy, come home,” Belinda begged.

“Shh!” Sam looked angrily at Wendy’s mother, holding his finger up to his lips. She raised her hands in silent apology.

“What seems to be the problem?” Sam asked.

“I don’t want to go with you,” she said. Go with Sam? Why should she go anywhere with Sam? They all looked at him expectantly.

“It won’t be for long and I will bring you back, you know why.”

“I want to stay with Val and the others. I’m not special. I’m Wendy, Wendy Whitmore. The girl everyone loves to ignore, the one who always comes last. The girl no one sees when party invitations are being handed out. Leave me alone; I don’t want to be a Judge.”

“We all have to do things we don’t want to do, Wendy.” Sam looked over at Val. “Someday, we all have to face up to the fact that we make our own destiny, but some things are just in our blood, in our heritage and slap bang in our paths. Now it’s time for you to do that.”

There was silence. No one dared to speak in case she decided to never return. The book started to glow; it was a soft blue, the colour that Wendy created. The glow grew in size. It was glorious to look at, like the bluest sky, the one that makes you stop and look up and think that whatever happens today you could look to the skies for a speck of happiness. Then it started to fade away, revealing Wendy standing next to the book.

Belinda ran at her, throwing her arms around her neck, and sobbed with joy. Wendy returned her embrace.

Val approached, unsure how to tackle this new Judge Wendy. “So, you think you’re special do you?” She said as Belinda pulled back.

Wendy’s answer was to throw her arms around Val and burst into tears.

Val couldn’t hold back her tears either. “I thought I’d lost you,” she sobbed.

“I have been with you forever; there is no way you will lose me,” Wendy reassured her.

“It’s time to go,” said Sam sounding very authoritative.

“What, what do you mean
go
?” Belinda’s glare twitched between Sam and Wendy.

“Mum, it’s ok. This is it, everything I have been getting ready for. I’m going to be what you wanted me to be.”

“No, you can’t take her away! Where are you going?” Val held tight onto Wendy’s hand.

“We will return, when the time is right.” Sam tried to reassure them.

“The time is right now! Don’t you dare take her away from me. Do you people not grow tired of taking my loved ones away? Is this some sick joke that is all going to end in a minute, because you’re in some serious trouble.” Val was getting caught on her own tongue, her hands shaking with the pressure building in her body.

“Val, stop,” Wendy interrupted. “I want this. I want to be what my destiny has mapped out for me. I have seen my future for the first time and it’s good. Don’t take that from me.”

Val fell silent. She hadn’t expected that. Belinda’s sobs were all they could hear. Shane broke the tension by walking over to Wendy and kissing on her cheek, “Have fun and send us a postcard.” He stepped back.

“Make sure they don’t make you wear that stupid uniform that Zac wears.” Fran hugged her and turned to bury her head in Shane’s chest as she started to sob.

“I knew you were special all along.” Jason punched her playfully on the arm, then threw his arms around her.

“I need oxygen!” she gasped and Jason let her go. Now it was Belinda’s turn. She took Wendy’s hands and wiped away her tears. “A mother should never have to give up her child. It’s the sort of thing we push to the backs of our minds for moments in the night when we cry alone in fear. All your life I have pushed you, Wendy. I have made you do things that were never your true wish, and you did them, no questions. Now I want to know for sure, if this is what you want. If it is, I will let you go.”

Wendy nodded. Belinda placed a kiss on her cheek as the tears ran down her face again. “Then blessed be my daughter, merry we meet and merry we part that merry we shall meet again.”

“I love you mum,” Wendy said as Belinda took a step back. “Val, I need to know that you’re ok with this so I can go.”

“All my days since I joined school you were there, lurking in the background and I did everything I could to get away from you. Then you saved me, told me you’re my guardian and I still rejected you. It wasn’t until I learnt to see who you were that I realised what a fool I have been. What sort of person would I be if I now stopped you having a moment of happiness, awesome powers and all the rest? I can’t imagine anyone on this planet being a better Judge than you. You go, but make sure your mobile phone is on.”

“We must leave.” Sam started to open another portal for them.

“I’ll be back.” Wendy promised. A smile lit her face as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she had finally found her own purpose in life.

Sam looked to Val. “I’ll return as soon as Wendy is settled.”

The little group stood, and watched as the portal closed, taking Wendy from them. Each wondered if they would ever see her again.

“So, we should try to get home? I’m not even sure where we are.” Val broke the tension.

“So Dad, how long have you know about Sam?” Jason asked.