The Key

by Marianne Curley

  I think Neriah’s confidence in her own safety is naïve. ‘But Neriah, Marduke tried to kill Isabel, and she didn’t do anything to him.’

  ‘She was part of his plan to exact revenge on Shaun. He uses people as if they are merely instruments at his call.’

  Her accurate assessment of Marduke’s character raises a comment that I can’t help airing. ‘You seem to know a lot about someone you haven’t seen since you were a toddler.’

  She glances down at her fingers resting lightly on the table top and her face starts turning red.

  Mr Carter jumps to her defence. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘Nothing,’ I reply quickly. ‘It’s just, I know Marduke. He’s manipulative. He can … persuade you into doing almost anything.’

  My comment raises a few eyebrows, but it’s Arkarian who understands where I’m going with this. ‘When was the last time you saw your father, Neriah?’

  She seems to hesitate, but her answer is decisive. ‘Not since the morning he lost half his face.’

  Nothing more is said and after an awkward silence Arkarian gets to the whole point of this meeting. He stands and everyone’s eyes follow him. ‘When Matt, Rochelle and I went to the underworld, we saw something …’ He pauses, gathering his thoughts. ‘We saw Marduke commanding an army of the living dead.’

  ‘What!’ Mr Carter calls out. ‘That’s abominable!’

  ‘Tell us what you saw,’ Shaun says.

  Arkarian holds his hands up to quiet everyone down. ‘You’ve heard us speak of the wren – creatures that are part human, part animal and part bird. For those of you who haven’t seen one, they are easily identifiable by their red eyes and awkward-looking wings.’

  Murmurs erupt, but quickly die down again as Arkarian continues. ‘There are other creatures there too. In fact, there are thousands, and they are all dead, according to human lore. More than likely Marduke will send out a division of scouts first. They may be wren, they may not. I want everyone to be on the lookout. If you see anything suspicious you should let each other know and let me know quickly.’

  Jimmy asks, ‘What does this all mean, Arkarian?’

  ‘It means Marduke is planning to invade the earth with creatures that we can’t kill with ordinary weapons.’

  ‘Then how do we fight them?’

  ‘Not with guns or ordinary swords.’

  ‘There must be something we can use!’ Mr Carter sounds panicked.

  ‘The wren fear water.’

  ‘How do you know this?’

  ‘While locked away in his debriefing, Dillon has been a great informant. He was one of Lathenia’s highestrankingsoldiers and his knowledge at this level has been exceptional. He has not hesitated to share it with us. His debriefing is almost over. He will be joining you all soon as a member of the Guard.’

  This is incredible news. Dillon has only been away for a short time. Around the table the others mutter and whisper among themselves.

  ‘Is this wise?’ Mr Carter is first to make his opinion known.

  Arkarian waits until the room falls quiet. ‘It is not for us to make that judgement. From what I have been told, Dillon’s knowledge and experience will make him a valuable member. He has worked closely with the wren of the underworld, and has told us how they can be destroyed.’

  ‘Through water?’ Shaun queries.

  ‘Their wings are cumbersome and quite useless. Under water they become clogged and heavy. They panic, and while submerged their own fear kills them.’

  ‘Well, that’s a start. Is there any other way to kill these wren?’

  Arkarian glances at Matt. Matt feels his stare and turns his head away. ‘We need the weapons in the treasury.’

  ‘For heaven’s sake!’ Mr Carter exclaims. ‘We don’t have the blasted key! And we have to wait until Matt comes back from his journey to whereverland before we can even go looking for it! Do we have the time to spare, Arkarian?’

  ‘Probably not, Marcus. But whatever time we have, it will have to do.’

  Chapter Nine

  Matt

  Isabel sleeps for eighteen hours without stirring. I don’t want to wake her, but it’s time for me to leave. Arkarian is waiting for me in his chambers. I shake her gently.

  ‘Isabel.’

  She wakes with a start and grips the top of her quilt. ‘Is it Ethan?’

  ‘He’s fine.’

  As her mind starts to focus, it dawns on her what I’m doing in her room. She pulls herself into a sitting position and runs a hand over her dishevelled hair. ‘Are you going now?’

  I nod and we sit side by side on the bed.

  ‘Do you know how long you’re going to be away?’

  ‘No, but Arkarian says that where I’m going time is measured differently and that the people who live there take no notice of it. So I could be away for months or for just a few days. I’ve told Mum, since school is out for the rest of the week, I’m going up north to visit some friends and get away from this cold.’

  She nods, but can’t help keeping her concern from showing. She bites down on her lower lip and when she looks at me, there are questions in her eyes.

  I wish she would tell me what’s troubling her. I get the feeling it has to do with something that happened in the underworld. I don’t want to leave her like this.

  ‘Ever since we came back from the underworld there’s been a strange vibe between us, like we’re hiding something from each other. But, Isabel, I don’t have any secrets. Not from you.’

  She takes a deep breath. ‘Then you really don’t know?’

  What is she talking about? ‘Know what?’

  ‘You’re the oldest. You should remember stuff from our childhood better than me.’

  ‘Are you talking about Dad walking out? I remember that day.’

  ‘Not just that day, Matt. What about conversations you had with him? How far do your memories go back?’

  ‘I do have some odd memories of my childhood that don’t make much sense.’

  ‘Tell me what you remember. Tell me everything.’

  I glance away for a second at the movie poster on her bedroom wall. How much should I tell her? Some of my earliest recollections are too strange to say out loud. I decide to be honest; I’m tired of being confused. Who knows, maybe Isabel will know what I’m talking about. ‘My earliest memory is of the moment I was conceived.’

  Maybe not. She looks at me as if I’m pulling her leg.

  ‘If you want me to stop …’

  She reaches out and touches my arm. ‘No. Keep going.’

  ‘OK. It was as if I had been conceived with all-seeing eyes and fully developed emotions. I can even remember the thud of my heart’s first beat.’

  ‘I’m not sure why, but I do believe you, Matt. It’s just a strange concept. Tell me what you remember about … our father.’

  My elbows slide to my knees and I glance away to the floor. How do I explain these feelings of guilt I have inside? And a strong suspicion that the reason our father walked out of our lives was my fault. ‘I remember that he loved you – adored you. And that he didn’t love me.’

  Her hand on my arm tightens its grip. ‘Remember when we were in the underworld, and we had to pass through that mountain of ice?’

  ‘Yeah, that was the most unbelievable experience.’

  ‘Well it wasn’t for me. It was horrible.’

  At the time I had no idea. ‘Tell me about it.’

  ‘He came to me there. He told me things.’

  A dread settles deep in my gut. ‘What did he say?’

  ‘He told me that … you weren’t his son.’

  The words shock. But there’s a truth in them that I can feel. ‘I should have known.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘Didn’t you ever wonder why he used the strap on me so much, and never once touched you?’

  A helpless look fills her eyes. Of course, what could she have done? And if he had wanted to lay into her, I wouldn�
�t have let him! At least I would have tried not to. He was strong with that strap in his hands. ‘He held me at a distance and I felt it.’

  ‘I was too young to understand. He was just my dad, and I loved him.’

  We’re quiet for a moment, contemplative. ‘So who is my father?’ I ask, not really expecting an answer.

  She sits up straighter and her eyes suddenly fill with tears. ‘I think you’re about to find out.’

  I get up and start pacing the room. ‘Are you serious? Has Arkarian said something to you?’

  ‘No. Not really.’

  A couple of those tears she’s fighting back start to trickle over. I can’t stand to see them. I hate seeing her so worked up and worried. ‘What is it, Isabel? Why are you crying? I’m going to be all right, you know. I have every intention of coming back!’

  She forces a smile to her face. ‘I’m scared this journey is going to change you. You’re going to find out things about yourself, your heritage, that are going to draw you away from me, from your family.’

  ‘Never!’

  ‘You may not be able to help it.’

  A tap sounds at the door and Jimmy’s voice follows. ‘You’ll have to hurry, Matt. It’s nearly time.’

  I turn back to my sister. Suddenly my own vision blurs and I drag her into my arms. ‘Whatever I discover about myself, I will always be your brother. We share blood, Isabel. The blood of our mother. Nothing and nobody can ever take that away from us. OK?’

  She nods, but doesn’t answer.

  Chapter Ten

  Rochelle

  Ethan starts training Neriah, and, as Arkarian organised, I have to accompany them on every session. It’s a good idea. Of all of us, I probably understand Marduke the most. The downside is I have to watch Ethan and Neriah interacting. They look good together. Very good. So far, he’s mostly going through the motions, seeing where her talents lie, and part of the training is nurturing her paranormal skills. She hasn’t gone on a mission yet, so there’s that to prepare her for as well.

  But it doesn’t take long for Ethan to discover that one of Neriah’s powers lies in her artistic talents. Her paintings are more than they seem. I’ve seen some of them at school. They’re really special. Whether it’s just a charcoal sketch, or a painting in oil or some other medium, she makes everything seem so real.

  Right now she’s giving Ethan an example. I wander close enough to hear what she’s saying. ‘It doesn’t matter what I use – a brush, a wand or a stick,’ she says. ‘Watch this …’ She picks up an oval-shaped pebble and starts scratching away at a rock. Ethan peers down to get a closer look. When their heads come up, Ethan looks astonished. There’s a trickling stream between us that is starting to ice over. I leap over it to get a closer look.

  Ethan sees me and calls out, ‘Look at this.’

  Neriah giggles, then takes the pebble and makes the outline of a small creature resembling a mouse. As soon as she’s finished, the drawing comes to life in the form of a real live mouse. It runs towards me.

  ‘Wow! Is it an illusion?’ I lift my feet out of the way, but it breaks up, completely disappearing.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she says, lifting her shoulders. ‘So far the animation only lasts a few seconds.’

  ‘Her powers are still developing,’ Ethan explains. ‘Arkarian thinks that one day Neriah will be able to open a portal through time with just the few whisks of a paintbrush.’

  ‘That’s impressive.’ And I really am impressed. She will be a valuable asset to the Guard if she is able to do this. At the moment Lathenia controls the opening of the portals.

  ‘We should keep moving,’ Ethan suddenly says.

  We decided this morning not to stay in one spot for too long. So far we’ve moved three times. I point to a field on the other side of the lake, but Ethan shakes his head. ‘I used to train there with Isabel.’ He’s about to explain how Marduke appeared there one night to pass them a message and nearly scared the life out of them. Instead, he holds on to the thought, not wanting to distress Neriah. He glances at me, realising I’ve read his mind again. His eyes narrow, revealing anger and disgust.

  ‘Look …’ Feeling drawn to defend myself, I attempt to explain. ‘I don’t do it on purpose. And you should learn to stop projecting your thoughts so loudly. I’m not the only Truthseer, you know. At least your thoughts are safe with me.’

  ‘Are they?’

  Of all of their distrust, Ethan’s is the hardest to take. ‘Darn right they are!’

  Neriah keeps looking between the two of us, but her thoughts are locked securely behind a screen – something Ethan should try harder to accomplish.

  I look away before he sees how much his lack of faith affects me. The thing is, if these guys don’t trust me, what hope do I have to trust myself? Maybe Marduke was right. Maybe evil never dies, and once in your blood, stays there for ever, lying dormant until something comes along to trigger it. Is that how it is with my father? He’s still in jail today for the crimes committed against my stepmother. Marduke saw evil in me. He sensed it. And look at the things I’ve done, the people I’ve hurt. Can anyone really change?

  I walk off and leap back over the stream and down the hill. It’s not till I get to the bottom that I realise Ethan is right behind me.

  ‘Rochelle, stop.’

  ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I do trust you.’

  For a moment I can only stare, and he adds, ‘I’ve always trusted you, even when the Tribunal suspected you were Marduke’s spy but we didn’t know for sure. I stuck up for you.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Yeah, and I didn’t even know why at the time. It was just my instinct. And well, it’s been right before.’

  He starts to back away, looking, if anything, embarrassed, and maybe even a little annoyed at himself for giving me this admission. He flicks a look up the hill to where Neriah is standing. We’re not to let her out of our sight, so Ethan is taking a risk in more ways than one to tell me this.

  ‘I just wanted you to know that.’ He briskly turns and goes back up the hill.

  I follow at a short distance, keeping an eye on the landscape for anything suspicious. It’s quiet. Almost too quiet. Something doesn’t feel right. I could do with Mr Carter’s extrasensory hearing right now, which sparks a thought, and I decide to try it. Pulling off the gloves Arkarian gave me this morning, I put my hands to the ground. Instantly an image of the earth’s crust forms in my head – fossil-rich rocks of limestone over a layer of clay. I try to push past these images and ‘feel’ for other things. Suddenly the ground starts to thunder beneath my hands and I’m swamped with a visual image of horses. Many horses. Wild and free and running at full pelt along the valley floor. I look up and see that Ethan and Neriah have drifted almost to the top of the hill. If they don’t change direction they’re going to run straight into the brumbies!

  ‘Ethan, stop!’

  He hears me and turns to look. I wave my arms towards the wooded area to the right. The horses will not run into the woods when there are wide open spaces to choose from. ‘Run into the woods! Quickly!’

  But the horses are too fast. The thunder of their pounding hooves can now be heard clearly.

  Neriah screams as the large herd of powerful beasts crests the top of the hill, only metres from where they’re standing. Instinctively she throws her hands into the air. It all happens so fast. One second the horses are galloping at incredible speeds, the next they’re kicking their front legs up and pawing the air. It’s an amazing sight. I run as fast as I can, my heart pounding with the thought of what can only be a terrible tragedy unfolding above me. But when I get to the top, the scene is hardly tragic. I stop and stare. The horses are calm and placid – playfully vying for Neriah’s attention.

  She croons to each of them, nuzzling their faces with her own. They come up to her one at a time, gently nudging each other to be the first in line.

  Ethan is staring too. These are, after all, wild horses, run
ning free all their lives. No one would even attempt to catch one, let alone tame it. ‘You have a definite connection with animals,’ he says.

  ‘Wow,’ I can’t help exclaim for the second time today. ‘What else can you do?’

  She shrugs her slender shoulders. ‘I don’t know. But the other day, since the enhancing of our powers, all sorts of things have been happening to me.’

  After a few more minutes of patting and stroking the horses, we move off down the valley. The brush with the horses makes us hungry, and Ethan breaks out some sandwiches. Neriah takes one, then Ethan holds the lunch box up towards me.

  I didn’t even think of bringing anything to eat and now I’m hungry. But I’m not going to take his lunch from him. ‘Oh no, that’s all right. I’ll get something later.’

  ‘Don’t be an idiot. I knew we’d be all day. I packed this for you.’

  I take a closer look and see two sandwiches still left in the box. I take one, my face feeling hotter by the second. I wonder if it’s possible to make a bigger fool of myself than I’m doing today? Somehow I doubt it.

  After lunch Ethan runs Neriah through some technical exercises to see how skilled she is in these arts. I watch from a short distance, splitting my concentration between the area immediately around us, and the grassy fields on the outer perimeter. Neriah’s having trouble with some basic martial arts. Ethan is behind her now, one arm around her waist, the other her throat. I know this move. She’s supposed to drop at her centre and pull Ethan’s elbow downward, making sure to place her chin in the way of the choke. I’ve done it a thousand times, but until you do it the first time, it seems impossible.

  She has a go but they both end up sliding to the floor. They burst out laughing, while helping each other to their feet. The sight of them getting along so well, and having fun doing it, starts to grate on my nerves for no other reason than I wish it were me. I decide to go for a walk. The fresh air should knock some sense into my head. It would be a good idea to check the area out, anyway.