The Key

by Marianne Curley

  ‘I would never forget you,’ he whispers, his head bent right down to the massive lion’s face. The lioness nudges her partner out of the way and sticks her muzzle in Dartemis’s hand, seeking attention. Dartemis grabs both sides of the lioness’s head and gives it a shake. ‘I missed you too,’ he says. ‘But I’m busy, and you will have to wait for my attention. Now off you go and find Janah. He’ll give you something to eat.’

  The big cats leave, and I try to drag my jaw off the floor, and my thoughts back to what we were talking about. Dartemis does it for me.

  ‘Here, in this realm, we have the ultimate contentment of our hearts. But you can’t reside here until you have first lived a mortal life. And because the earth is the only place left where that is possible, if Lathenia is successful, the last remaining realm to provide balance to the universe will be destroyed. The dead will walk among the living and the goal of attaining true peace will never eventuate.’ His arms swing out towards the shimmering sky and sweeping lands of breathtaking beauty. ‘Eventually all this will also be threatened.’

  His explanation leaves me speechless. How can this happen? How can this be happening to me? It seems like only yesterday the most serious thing I had to think about was my next assignment, and when it was due.

  ‘It’s a lot to take in. And Matthew, you have a lot of doubts. Unfortunately, I can’t rid you of those. But I will draw out the powers that are already within you. It should help you to believe. But like all humans, it will be up to you to use them of your own free will. I will guide you, Matthew, but that is as far as I will go.’

  From somewhere deep inside, my voice finally returns, ‘Sir –’

  ‘Wait. Since you are uncomfortable with the term Father, call me by my name, Dartemis.’

  ‘All right – Dartemis. I need to tell you something.’

  ‘For your benefit you may say it with words.’

  ‘I think you have made a mistake.’

  A smile appears on his face, and I think he is playing with me. ‘Tell me my mistake.’

  ‘I’m not the one for this job. In fact, I don’t even think I’m your son. You see,’ I go on quickly before he stops me, ‘I come from a small town in Australia called Angel Falls. I have a regular mother and everything. And well, there are a lot of people down there who have exactly the kind of “special” talents you think I have. Arkarian, for instance. I think he could be the one you really want.’ I take a deep breath. ‘What I’m trying to tell you is that I’m not the leader type. I’m no hero. I don’t have the skills you think I have. Believe me, I’ve tried to find this inner source of power, or whatever it is, but really, it’s not happening. You see, it’s just not there. So,’ I get up and look around for a door, preferably in the opposite direction to the way the lions went, ‘if you don’t mind, I’ll just be going now. I don’t suppose there’s a shortcut out of this place?’

  Dartemis suddenly disappears, reappearing directly in front of me, his chest in my face. I lift my eyes, tilting my head right back to see into his eyes. He is staring at me with his mouth slightly open and a frown between his brows. A deep frown. Suddenly his head shakes from left to right and back again repeatedly, as if he can’t believe what he’s hearing. Finally he speaks, but his words are not directed to me exactly, more of a general grumble.

  ‘There is more work to be done here than I first thought. So much more.’

  Chapter Twelve

  Rochelle

  School opens again on Friday. Friday! For heaven’s sake, what would one more day have cost them? Apparently the scientists have all that they need. They moved in quickly and carted all the space debris back to government labs. After some minor repairs, all but one building has checked out all right. So training Neriah today will have to be done after school.

  Mr Carter takes us for history and is inundated with a barrage of questions over his apparent ‘miracle’ escape. He handles them well, laughing off most of the class’s questions while answering just enough to satisfy their curiosity.

  While Mr Carter fends off the questions, Dillon lets me know he wants to come to Neriah’s training session this afternoon. He’s sitting directly behind me and keeps shoving his thoughts into my head. It feels like he’s sticking a hot poker into my brain. Dillon isn’t a Truthseer, but he obviously knows I am, and his forcefulness is really starting to bug me.

  Over the last few days Lady Arabella has found time to help me control the power in my hands, enough so that now I don’t feel like a danger to all and everybody. It’s all got to do with my emotions and adrenaline and stuff like that. The gloves Arkarian made me were her design, constructed from impenetrable fabric she produced herself. They’re great because they look just like skin. And Arkarian is helping me learn to control the onslaught of thoughts that have been driving me crazy since the enhancing of our powers. But even so, Dillon manages to break through all my barriers, and it’s driving me crazy!

  As soon as class ends we file outside and I turn on him. ‘What the hell are you doing?’

  He shrugs and gives a boyish grin that some girls might think is cute. I don’t. My head is sore.

  ‘You gotta help me, Roh. You’re my ticket to Neriah. She’ll listen to you. Tell her what a great guy I am.’

  I would scream if it didn’t attract unwanted attention. I should tell him that if he needs a third party to explain what a ‘great guy’ he is, maybe the girl isn’t interested enough to notice for herself.

  We start walking to our next class, and, great, Dillon’s got the same one. He follows me all the way to the science lab. At the door I turn and face him. ‘First of all, I don’t do anybody’s dirty work for them. You want Neriah, you make that happen yourself. And secondly, my name’s Rochelle, pronounced Ro-shell, and not any other form or variation. Got that?’

  By the time the final buzzer sounds for the day, I’m ready to pull my hair out. Dillon comes running over. ‘Roh, I need you!’

  I stare at him as hard as I can. He hasn’t even the courtesy to remember that I don’t like my name shortened. And I thought I made it clear I’m not going to plead his case for him with Neriah. He’s ignoring that too. Does he find it impossible to hear anything except his own thoughts?

  I walk out of B Block and look around for Neriah and Ethan. I see them at last, walking across the courtyard together. They look like a couple, and the sight makes me feel as if my ribs have shrunk. Neriah spots me and gives a wave. Beside me Dillon sighs and moans like a love-sick puppy.

  ‘I’m beggin’ you, Roh. Tell me where you’re training today.’

  I need to get him off my case, and then I think of a way that just might do it. ‘All right. We’re training inside Arkarian’s chambers.’

  It works. He says, ‘No way!’

  ‘Yeah, in one of his training rooms.’

  ‘But his chambers are off limits to me.’

  ‘Really?’ I try to disguise my sense of relief, smothering it in a tone of astonishment, even though I already know this. Arkarian told me so only this morning.

  ‘Yeah, I haven’t been given clearance at that high a level yet. It won’t be long, but …’ He peers at me sideways. ‘You have clearance, don’t you?’

  ‘So?’

  ‘So you can smuggle me in.’

  I can’t help but laugh at this.

  He takes offence immediately. ‘What’s so funny?’

  I try to calm down. ‘You can’t get anything past Arkarian. It’s like he has eyes everywhere and can see everything. And he controls the door. No one gets in without his permission. Your idea is ludicrous. And you shouldn’t be thinking of doing things like that, especially if you want everyone to trust you.’

  ‘Hey, I can be trusted. You want to take an issue with that?’

  ‘Of course not! I was just giving you some advice.’

  ‘I don’t need your advice. Just help me get to Neriah. What do you say, Roh? Will you do it for me? For old times’ sake?’

  This last part has m
y blood simmering. What does he think? That because we both used to work for the Order of Chaos, we owe each other something? My loyalty is not to the Goddess any more, and certainly not to Dillon! Fortunately I’m saved from having to answer, as Neriah and Ethan make it over.

  ‘Are you coming training with us again, Dillon?’ Neriah casually asks.

  Maybe she is interested in him. I glance sideways, wondering what it is about Dillon that might arouse a girl’s interest. Probably his vivid green eyes. They’re his best feature for sure. Suddenly he smiles. Yeah, there’s that too, I guess.

  Ethan glances at me with a frown. His thoughts let me know he thinks I’m the one who invited Dillon to come along. I open my mouth to explain, but shut it quickly when Neriah says, ‘We’re going to the field on the western side of the falls.’

  Oh, just great. Thanks, Neriah.

  Dillon’s eyes shift sideways to mine. ‘But I thought …’ He doesn’t finish. Instead, he looks at me as if I just put a knife in his back. ‘Really? That’s interesting.’ He turns his attention back to Neriah. ‘Of course I’ll be there.’

  ‘Actually,’ Ethan suddenly says, ‘we’ve had a change of plans.’

  ‘But …’ Neriah starts, then quickly stops. ‘Of course, that’s right.’

  ‘We’re training inside Arkarian’s chambers today.’

  Relief floods through me. I try not to make it so obvious. But at least now I won’t look like a conniving liar, just trying to throw Dillon off the track. Lady Arabella obviously trusts Dillon; that should be enough for me too.

  Dillon acts all hurt and innocent. In some warped way it’s kind of cute. His playful tone makes Neriah laugh. Eventually he remembers his bus is about to leave and takes off. I start to breathe easy for the first time all day.

  ‘Your car’s here,’ Ethan says, and we walk Neriah to the car park.

  ‘Meet you there in half an hour,’ she says as she climbs into the back seat of the black Mercedes and greets her dogs.

  When her car drives off I mumble softly, ‘Thanks for that.’

  Ethan keeps his eyes on the Mercedes as it leaves the school grounds. ‘For what?’

  For a moment I forget that Dillon and Ethan are friends – have been since kindergarten or maybe even before. I shrug my shoulders. ‘Dillon can be distracting. I don’t want him watching you guys train. I’d rather he wasn’t there.’

  His eyes shift to mine, his frown intense. ‘I thought you liked him hanging around. Isn’t that why you invite him to come with us so much?’

  I can’t believe what he’s saying! ‘I’ve never invited him. OK?’

  ‘OK, but …’

  But what?’ I ask when he pauses.

  ‘I’ve seen you two walking around the school, hanging together between classes and during lunch. You look,’ his eyes flick away for a second, ‘like you’re enjoying his company.’

  His words leave me speechless. Firstly, he couldn’t be more wrong. ‘We have a few classes together, that’s all.’ I would really like to pick up Ethan’s thoughts right now, but I don’t dare, and, well, he’s not projecting them. He’s screening them as hard as he can.

  He runs a hand through the top of his hair suddenly and starts to move off. ‘We better go. Neriah is so keen, there’s no way she’ll be even one minute late. We don’t want her hanging around waiting for us alone.’

  I doubt that would happen. Her chauffeur William is a trained guard. He’s hardly likely to leave her alone on an isolated mountainside deep in the national park. But I follow Ethan anyway, and try to put his strangeness out of my mind.

  We leave the school grounds through the back gates, quickly making our way up to where Arkarian’s chambers are hidden.

  We’re quiet as we wade through snow gums and other eucalyptus trees that predominate this part of the forest. It grows darker as we head into thicker growth.

  A sudden movement to my right catches my attention. I stop for a second to listen.

  ‘What is it?’ Ethan asks, coming up beside me.

  ‘I don’t know.’ I point to where a narrow creek runs down an embankment. ‘I heard something over there.’

  As we peer in the direction of the trickling water, a similar sound from behind us has us both spinning around. ‘There, look!’ I point to a four-legged creature slinking away through the trees ahead. ‘I think that’s the same animal I saw in Neriah’s yard.’

  ‘Let’s check it out,’ Ethan says, and we take off after it.

  We run through the forest, yanking vines and bushes out of the way, leaping over fallen logs and being careful not to trip on the moist leaves, moss and mulch lying around.

  ‘Up there!’ Ethan leaps over a fallen tree. ‘It’s a dog – a Great Dane.’

  We run further and further into the forest, but the dog stays ahead of us the whole time. We get to the top of a rise and finally stop, panting with exertion, only to find the dog peering at us from over its golden shoulder. Its eyes give me the creeps. It’s as if it is using them to communicate with us. Or … to laugh at us.

  And then I understand what it’s doing – luring us deeper into the forest, just keeping ahead enough to entice us further.

  ‘Oh, hell,’ Ethan says beside me. ‘I’ve seen that dog before. It’s one of Lathenia’s hounds.’

  ‘It distracted us.’

  We look at each other and his thought clashes with mine. ‘Neriah!’

  We run back the way we came as if our feet are on fire, clawing at the forest growth that gets in our way, leaping over fallen logs, tree stumps and meandering creeks. Neriah’s in trouble; I feel it in every one of my bones.

  Finally we break free of the forest and head straight up the mountain. We get to the secret door of Arkarian’s chambers. He forms before us, looking very worried.

  ‘Good, you’re here.’

  ‘Where’s Neriah?’ Ethan asks.

  ‘Still at home. There’s trouble there. They need our help. Ethan, you and I will use our wings. Rochelle, you make your way over as fast as you can. Jimmy, Dillon and Isabel are on their way now. Are you both clear?’

  ‘Wait,’ Ethan says. ‘I’m not going to use my wings.’

  ‘But, Ethan, it’s the quickest way. You’re not still having trouble using them?’

  ‘No. But we saw one of Lathenia’s hounds in the forest. I’m not going to leave Rochelle alone with that thing lurking around.’

  ‘I don’t need you to protect me!’ I tell him, then add, ‘I know a shortcut that won’t take me long.’

  ‘Where is this shortcut?’

  ‘It’s the old fire trail that runs around Devil’s Ridge. It links up to the western side of Neriah’s place.’

  ‘Yeah,’ he says sarcastically. ‘I know the one. It runs straight through the thickest part of the forest.’ Ethan makes it sound as if this shortcut only proves his point.

  Arkarian glances from me, back to Ethan, but remains quiet.

  I try to put an end to this ridiculous discussion. ‘We’re wasting time arguing, when you and Arkarian could be there already.’

  ‘I’m not leaving you,’ Ethan says stubbornly. And for a second I let myself think he’s doing this because, well … maybe he does have …

  Then he says, ‘That hound was trying to lead us into the forest, whether to distract us from coming here, or because Lathenia has something else planned, I can’t say. But I do know that since you defected, Lathenia would love to see you dead. And so would Marduke! They would probably torture you first.’ His shoulders lift in an offhand manner. ‘If you go off on your own, you become easy pickings. The Guard doesn’t need to lose any of its members right now. The situation is critical as it is.’

  ‘You’re right, Ethan,’ Arkarian says. ‘You two follow as quickly as you can. Now be careful.’

  With these instructions Arkarian uses his wings and disappears. Ethan and I are left alone. I shrug off my confused emotions and start moving towards the forest. Ethan catches up and we quicken our pace. We
’re both relatively fit – it’s part of the job. So at this rate, we should be there in only a short time. So far at least there’s no sign of that Great Dane that Ethan says is one of Lathenia’s hounds. While I was one of the Goddess’s soldiers, I worked solely for Marduke and rarely saw Lathenia. All the same I have heard of her seven hounds. I thought they were in an eternal sleep. The story that circulated among her soldiers was that there was once a litter of nine pups that belonged to Lathenia’s younger brother, Dartemis. They were devoted to him. Then one day he was murdered and the two eldest pups disappeared off the face of the earth, or wherever the immortals lived in those days, while Lathenia raised the remaining seven.

  With this story still going round in my head I miss the first sign of trouble. But Ethan, just slightly ahead of me, doesn’t. He stops and throws an arm in the air. I close in quietly behind him.

  ‘What is it?’

  He doesn’t get a chance to answer. Suddenly, from among the tops of the trees, a dozen large birds swoop down towards us, shrieking wildly. They have a ghostly look and give me the creeps. Especially their eyes. They don’t resemble normal birds’ eyes at all, but rather, human ones, including the ridge of their brows, giving their faces a strange human resemblance.

  Ethan grabs my arm. ‘I know these birds. Take cover!’

  We find a fallen log, but the cover is paltry. Ethan starts to close his eyes, probably to create an illusion, but the birds are on us too quickly. They have sharp beaks, so sharp they pierce through my black wool coat without any trouble.

  ‘Oh no, you don’t!’ I scream at several of them that are trying to get at my eyes. Keeping my head down, I yank off my gloves and grab one by the throat. My hands practically sizzle with the energy generating in them. The bird shrieks and falls to the ground. It looks dead, but I can’t be sure.

  Ethan glances at me, his head nodding. ‘Nice work. Try to keep them off me for a few seconds, will you. That’s all I need.’

  While Ethan sinks to the ground I whack one bird after another as they fly down and try to attack us. It’s hard work because my hit only stuns them for a few seconds and then they get back up again. Only the one that had my hand around its throat hasn’t moved.