The Whispers of The Sprite (The Whispers series #1) (21 page)

‘How do you know all this?’

‘Because I am a changeling and I am part Sprite. It's a long story and we haven't got much time to explain it all from the beginning. The bottom line is that you have a gift – a gift which has only reached a few other humans in the past. I told Herne that she shouldn’t come here today. Richard is still alive. He is dangerous.’

‘Why would Richard want to kill me?’ I ask, feeling as if someone splashed a bucket of cold water over me.
 

‘He is under the influence of someone else who wants you dead.’

‘That doesn't make sense. Who wants me dead?’

‘That's a good question.’

‘So you don't know?’ I ask with disbelief.

‘Not yet.’

‘Wait a minute. If you are my grandmother and you are part Sprite, then that means that I am part Sprite myself?’

She doesn't answer, but she looks more irritated. It all makes sense. If she is part-changeling, then that's why I am able to see the Sprites.
   

‘It's more complicated than you think; you have a gift that involves seeing people of peace. It's a blessing, but it's a curse as well. The old legends talk about many Sprites who would like to become immortal humans. Gabriel saved your life today, but he broke the rules and as a consequence he will die tomorrow.’

‘But why?’

‘Because he touched you and revealed himself to you behind the council’s back. Sprites see their laws from a different perspective. They can be very dangerous, especially if it comes to keeping their existence a secret. They don’t know that you are partly a Sprite and that’s why you have this ability.
 
They used to love creating changelings and mixing their children with humans. It allowed them to feel mortal and powerful, but it went too far in the eighteenth century and the council banned changelings. Their lives are sad and uninteresting, so when you started seeing Gabriel, you influenced him and that's why he fell in love with you. Old, forgotten emotion has emerged and invaded his soul.’

‘So that's why someone is trying to kill me – because they think I am the last changeling?’ I ask, still trying to put all the information together. I am part-changeling if my grandmother is one. This all sounds so surreal.

‘Until the day that you were attacked on the beach, no one was ever able to make contact with humans apart from another incident from the past. They have a different set of rules in their world; Gabriel will pay the price for his weakness unless you help him.’

‘Okay, I understand, but how do you know all this if they are so secretive? How do you propose that I stop them?’ I ask. I might have some fairy blood in me, but I have no idea what to do.

‘What's your name?’ I add.

‘If you do what I say, you have a chance to save his life. Call me Abella if you want,’ she explains.

My brain is buzzing with information. I don’t know if I should trust her. This does sound right, but she is still a complete stranger. If Richard was involved with this Sprite business, how is he a murderer? She clearly said that he was under some kind of spell; he can’t be a Sprite. If I understood all of this right, someone wants me dead just because I have this ability and I am part-changeling.

‘Okay, just explain what I have to do,’ I say and Abella smiles.

‘Good girl.’

***

When I finally get into the shower, the warm water washes all the blood and mud off my body.

Abella explains that soon a new guard will be assigned to me and he will never let me get close to Gabriel. Her plans are unclear, but I don’t know what other choice I have. She is trying to help me because I am her granddaughter. I have so many questions about my parents, but she isn't going to explain anything until Gabriel is safe. All these ideas and plans sound simple, but I still don't know what's going to happen after we are reunited.
                     
                                                     
                            
                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                 

Abella leaves my house. She doesn't want to say where she is going, leaving me even more frustrated than I have ever been. I think about poor Herne and about her family. Everything has gone so horribly wrong; she is the second person who has died because of me.

I put the bloodstained clothes in the bin. My whole life seems to be falling apart. The new Sprite is already guarding my door. He is probably prohibited from talking to me and walking into the house, as he knows that I can see him. I bring up the memories from the beach; now I am in Rose’s debt. She saved my life, along with Gabriel.

As the evening approaches I keep looking out the window, wondering if Abella is going to come back. She might have lied to me; maybe she wasn’t related to me at all. An hour later I hear the faint knock on the front door.

‘Cold iron should do the job,’ she says, walking inside smiling widely. I exhale with relief. Maybe I am lucky after all.
 

‘I remember you told me to use iron when we met in the restaurant,’ I say.

‘Restaurant?’ she asks, confused. Her expression shifts and her eyes darken.

‘Yes, you remember, it was a few months ago. You stopped me on the stairs and warned me to use iron,’ I explain.

She is silent for a long moment. ‘Yes, I remember. Iron will always protect you.’

Then she goes through what I have to do with the knife that she has brought. I always thought that iron’s power was just a legend, but she assures me that it works well with any fairy creature, disabling them for at least twenty-four hours. She also mentions that there is another, more powerful iron that can kill a Sprite instantly. Humans used whatever they had to keep Sprites away from newborns.

Her plan is exceptionally straightforward: I have to get rid of my new Sprite that is going to influence me from now on and head to the Mumbles where Gabriel is being kept. My iron knife is in my pocket and I can’t hesitate; I have only one chance.

I leave the house around 8 pm, feeling the soaring pain in my stomach. I don’t know what to expect, but at the same time I am petrified, biting my lips nervously. I start walking, moving slowly towards Singleton Park. I just have to make sure that he will keep following me. I only caught a glimpse of him. He is blond and probably handsome, but I have to focus on the task ahead of me.

Within a few hours, it will be completely dark, so I have to move fast. I walk for around twenty minutes, passing the roundabout opposite the student accommodation where a few cars drive through. I reach the gate to the park. The timing is perfect as it is the day after exams, so all the students have vanished and the university is deserted. There are only the residents who are enjoying the pleasant walk on this humid summer day.

My heart is hammering in my chest and I keep going over and over the plan in my mind, determined not to mess up this time. My Sprite guard is just by me and the adrenaline starts pumping through my body. I have to do this for Herne and Amy; Richard is going to pay for what he’s done.

I pass a few people with dogs on the way and the Sprites that are following them. For the first time, I don’t have to force myself not to look at them. It is official. The news has spread quite quickly, they know that I can see them. They are glancing at me, whispering amongst themselves.

I pass the entrance to the university and look ahead to avoid seeing how far behind me my other Sprite guard is. He doesn’t want to walk too close to me, which is all right with me. After another ten minutes, I turn sharp right and start running as fast as I can. I hide behind the large bushes, breathing heavily. The beads of sweat roll down my back; he is going to look for me. He can probably feel me near. Abella mentioned that he is inexperienced, but he is aware of my ability.

I stop breathing and listen, squeezing the small knife in my hand. I spot the sight of his tall posture. He is following the main path ahead, looking for me anxiously. He has long blond hair and wide shoulders.
 
I wait until he passes, hoping that he won’t see me. I creep out around the tree to get close to him; I have to act fast, otherwise he will sense that I am near. A
metre
away I freeze. Before he can turn around, I jump out of my spot and slash his bare arm with the knife. He grabs my wrist and the knife falls on the ground. The colour drains from my face and my stomach contracts when in a split second our eyes meet. But before he can react, he falls to the ground unconscious. My heart is thumping in my chest when I stare at his still body. I have managed to knock him off. My mind is blank, but I force myself to move. The path is empty when I drag him away.

My heart is beating like crazy, but I feel that there is still hope. Gabriel is going live if I hurry up.

20

‘How did it go?’

‘He is unconscious,’ I answer.

‘I told you, iron certainly works well,’ she says, looking satisfied.

I pack a few more clothes in my backpack and a few minutes later we get to the car. She starts the engine and I sit back in the passenger seat and let her take control. The streets are relatively quiet.

‘Aren't you supposed to go down to Mumbles?’ I ask, as we head towards the city centre.

‘They changed the meeting. He will be sentenced in the Guildhall building instead,’ she answers confidently. I have no idea where the Guildhall building is, but she obviously knows where she is going. I don't know anything about her, yet I trusted her straight away. My intuition never lets me down. We stop opposite the beach in a small car park. The centre is only few minutes' walk.
 

‘Let's go,’ she says.

I try to relax, but I can't feel my body and my hands are shaking.

I lock the car and look at my watch; it is close to 10pm. We cross the road and follow the side road. It takes us no more than ten minutes to get to Guildhall Place, the building that’s the centre of the cultural life of Swansea. I read in the university paper that most of the graduation ceremonies take place there.
 

‘So how are you proposing to get inside?’ I ask, staring at my grandmother while she is looking for something in her notepad. The building is impressive.
   

‘They are not expecting any humans to enter this place today. They will be waiting a few more hours until midnight. It's tradition to sentence someone at midnight,’ she explains. Her reassurance doesn't make me feel any less nervous.
 

‘Are you sure that they don’t know that I am here?’

‘Not necessarily,’ she says. ‘Let me work.’

I look at her with hesitation. She starts whispering in Latin; the words don't seem to make much sense. After a few minutes, she looks at me and smiles.

‘It's done. They will not know that we are inside unless they catch us. In the past 200 years no one has ever disturbed them, so Gabriel will be all alone.’

She sounds confident, so I don't question anything, but I do expect the main door to be locked. I can't understand why the Sprites don't follow the standard security measures.
 

‘Typical fairy magic. They are too proud to even lock the door,’ says Abella, while I am still suspicious; this is just too easy.

We walk inside as I make out the large pillars situated on both sides. We carry on walking to the large, long
hall
. Our steps are loud but yet no one is here. She moves confidently between tall glass windows, stopping in front of an oak door.

‘He is in this room,’ she whispers, staring at me.

I nod, although I am not sure what to expect. Abella pushes the large door. We step into another dark room. All of a sudden the light comes on, blinding me for a few seconds. I blink rapidly, looking around the spacious room that reminds me of a museum. Large paintings of royals are hanging on all four walls. My eyes contract with sudden fear when I notice the person in front of me.

‘It took you long enough,’ says Richard, looking at Abella. His black coat is still covered with Herne's blood and the sudden
odour
of gunpowder reaches my nostrils. I think that I am going to be sick right now. I am standing frozen, aware that this is a trap.

‘Grab her and let’s go,’ says Abella. Her tone is sharper and demanding.

He rushes towards me. I look around disoriented, but I have nowhere to run.

‘Abella, what's going on?’ I ask, staring at her. She looks annoyed. ‘He killed Herne!’

She doesn't even look at me. She turns around and walks away while Richard starts dragging me, following her. His eyes are gloomy and dark. I jerk, trying to free myself, but Richard is much stronger and he squeezes my shoulder harder until I stop jerking. I am not sure if this is part of Abella's plan, but I don't particularly like it.

We come through a large corridor and walk into another room, but this time I spot Gabriel sitting in the corner.

‘Gabriel!’ I roar trying to push Richard off, but he slaps me hard. I stumble backwards, losing my balance. It takes me a few seconds to come back to myself. I feel blood running down my cheek. Gabriel moves towards him looking furious, but I don’t think that Richard is able to see him.
 

‘If you come closer, she will die. One word, Sprite,’ Abella warns Gabriel, holding a thick, long knife in her hand, her mouth curling in a mocking smile as she locks the door with a snap behind us.

‘What is going on Ania?’ asks Gabriel, furiously tensing his jaw. ‘Who are they?’

‘Shut up, Sprite,’ snaps Abella, pointing the knife at me.

‘Abella, can you tell me what's going on here?’ I ask, feeling the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

‘Apparently you were supposed to be intelligent, but obviously that was wrong,’ she snarls.

‘You were supposed to help me! Aren’t you my grandmother?’ I ask.

‘Grandmother?’ says Gabriel and Abella at the same time.

She starts laughing and then I begin to understand what is going on. I believed her! She just wanted to drag me here and she has been lying all this time.

‘I am not your grandmother, I am here to use the last changeling and finally become a human,’ she chuckles. Her eyes are cold and menacing; she has been pretending well. ‘And you fell for it, just as I planned.’

‘I think you missed a few hundred years,’ says Gabriel. ‘I suggest you leave. The people of peace will begin the sanction shortly.’

‘You have no idea, Sprite. You had her so close all this time and you have done nothing,’ she continues, cackling wildly.

My mind is flooded with questions, but I am looking around trying to understand if there is any way that I can escape.
 

‘You said it yourself that I am not a changeling!’ I shout, panicking.

‘You are mad. Ania is pure human,’ continues Gabriel, narrowing his blue eyes. He seems to be so calm while I am petrified. He looks at Abella without any emotion.

Within seconds, the face of my pretend grandmother starts changing. Her white hair becomes black, her dark eyes are shifting into pure amber and the skin on her face smoothes. She grows at least a foot. In the next moment, a different woman is standing in front of me. I sense that she is a Sprite; her skin glows, she has long, wavy black hair that hangs to her shoulders. I don’t recognise her. She inhales the tense air and looks around, grinning. I’m speechless.

‘She is the last changeling, you fool,’ she chuckles as she moves closer to me. She strokes my red hair, staring at me with hunger in her eyes.

Gabriel's face is grotesquely frozen and I begin to wonder why all the Sprites are so obsessed with humanity.

Then she puts her arm around my neck, breathing into my ear. ‘You are mine now.’

She brings the thin, shining knife to my throat and I am unable to move.

‘Don't you move, Sprite. Someone else was close and nearly got her before me, but I think this time, she won't be fortunate enough to survive,’ she hisses, almost giggling.
 

Gabriel scans the room, then rests his eyes on me. He runs his hand through his black hair; he isn’t going to risk my life. Richard stands close to us; he seems to be unaware of what is going on and stares at the wall in front of him. I am calculating my moves, but the knife is too close to my skin for me to try and escape. In a single movement I can be lying on the floor dead. She is breathing heavily.

‘I am not sure why you want her; she is only a human,’ says Gabriel, shifting nervously.

The Sprite starts laughing. ‘She is the last changeling; that's why Maurice was trying to kill her. I have been waiting for this moment for two hundred years and I won't wait any longer,’ she shouts, while I am desperately thinking about what she means.

Maurice.
I know that name, but my mind is blank, unable to gather any thoughts. The knife is slowly pressing into my throat; I tighten my lips to bear the pain. There is another movement on the other side of the room. Richard is standing in the same position looking at the wall ahead, not moving, and his eyes are empty.

A few more Sprites
materialise
in the room, looking disoriented at this bizarre scene. The Sprite that is holding me jerks nervously. I recognise a few faces from the beach from when they took Gabriel.

‘Don't move!’ she shouts, moving backwards and dragging me with her.

‘I don't know how or why you are here, but you have to let this human girl go,’ says one of the Sprites. He has light hair and a brooding face. He wrinkles his forehead with effort.

‘You are all fools. Maurice is trying to finish her because he doesn't want his secret to reach you!’ she roars, spitting in my face. She doesn’t know what to do; she is panicking.

‘I don't know what you are talking about,’ snarls Gabriel nervously.

‘I will become an immortal human today,’ the foolish Sprite barks and she finally releases my throat. I take a long, rasped breath and the room around me starts spinning.

‘She is a human, not a changeling,’ continues the oldest Sprite in a calm tone.

 
Her eyes are shining with madness. She looks at me and the sweat is covering her forehead.

‘I am going to kill you!’ she shouts, pressing the knife to my throat again. 'I want to become a human!’

‘Please stop, I am just an ordinary human …’ I mumble, unable to move.

Suddenly, there is another movement by the door. Someone screams and I am being shoved across the floor. There is a scuffle and when I open my eyes again the dark-haired Sprite is on the floor, her face ashen and eyes closed; she looks like she’s dead.

Loud gasps spread through the room. I can't move as I look at a red-haired man who is staring at me, while the panic spreads. He is the man from my dream – Maurice – who switched the infants in the hospital.
 

‘I have been trying all year to end this, but you are still alive,’ he snaps, coming towards me.

I panic and look around with desperation; my heart is in my throat.

‘The first time you survived when I was certain that you were dead; then I could never reach you. The second time I killed someone that I shouldn't have, but now to prevent more blood from spilling, I must complete what I started.’

‘You were trying to kill me? Why?’ I ask, stepping backwards, trying to distract him.