The Key

by Marianne Curley

  Aneliese touches her daughter’s arm. ‘You have to go, Neriah.’

  Neriah turns to her mother with a wild look in her eyes. ‘I’m not going to leave you! And besides, I want to stay. I want to help.’

  ‘Your training’s only just begun,’ Arkarian reminds her. ‘Your powers are still limited.’

  ‘I’m fit and capable, Arkarian. And I can help in other ways too. I’m not going to let Marduke harm my mother!’

  Arkarian says softly, ‘I’m not doubting your ability, Neriah. But sometimes you have to give your trust over to others. It’s what we do in the Guard all the time. And I’m asking you to do that now. You do trust me, don’t you?’

  ‘Of course! I know you would do anything in your power to protect us both, but if the situation becomes desperate …’

  She bites down on her lower lip as if she is trying to stop the rest of her words from rolling out of her mouth. I try to read her thoughts – nothing. But it’s obvious she has some sort of plan.

  ‘Marduke would do you harm too, Neriah,’ Arkarian makes sure she understands.

  ‘I don’t think he would.’

  ‘What makes you so sure?’

  ‘I’m his daughter, and he loves me!’

  Everyone goes still at Neriah’s display of emotion. Aneliese grabs her arm, knowing, like the rest of us, there’s more going on in Neriah’s life than she is telling us.

  Arkarian says, ‘You told us you haven’t seen Marduke since his fight with Shaun.’

  Looking reluctant to explain, she finally says, ‘Sometimes he speaks to me.’

  Aneliese’s eyes grow wide and she shakes her head.

  Before the questions come, Neriah quickly adds, ‘But only in my dreams. He has spoken to me in my dreams.’

  ‘Neriah, I know Marduke,’ I try to explain. ‘I know how he works.’

  Dillon interrupts, ‘Yeah, so do I! He’s a madman who will stop at nothing to satisfy his appetite for revenge.’

  Dillon’s words seem to only prove her point. ‘Exactly! He wants to take his revenge out on Mum. He will kill her!’

  ‘Look, Neriah –’ I start to explain, but Dillon interrupts me again.

  This time Arkarian puts a staying hand to the front of Dillon’s chest. ‘Go ahead, Rochelle.’

  ‘I worked very closely with Marduke. He can be very persuasive. I succumbed to his power of persuasion many times. He convinced me that I belonged to the Order because of my heritage, that it was my destiny, and that my soul belonged to the Goddess. When I looked at him I saw my own father. Sometimes I even saw my father’s face, smiling at me in a way that I always longed for. And when Marduke praised me, it was as if my own father did.’

  Except for the occasional squawk of a bird outside, I become aware of complete silence and everyone’s eyes on me. I hate to open myself to their scrutiny like this, but Neriah has something dangerous planned, and I must try to stop her.

  ‘You have to see that when Marduke comes into your dreams, he’s trying to manipulate your emotions, just like he did with me. He is the Goddess’s servant, the Master of her troops, and, until his fateful journey to the middle realm, her lover as well. Whatever she commands him, he won’t hesitate to do it. Believe me, his loyalty to Lathenia will come before his love for you.’

  Dillon scoffs loudly. ‘Love! That creature wouldn’t know what the word means.’

  But Dillon doesn’t know Marduke as I do. His loyalties and his passions run deep. He gives his all to everything he does, whether in servitude or in love. And he expects the same in return. He feels his losses deeply, and over his long lifetime he has lost plenty. ‘I think he knows love only too well.’

  There must be something in the way I say these words that creates a sudden tension in the room. Nobody seems to know where to look.

  But our thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a loud explosion. It rocks the house, shaking the walls around us. Jimmy throws Arkarian a bag. Arkarian opens it and pulls out black masks. He throws us one each. ‘Put these on to protect your identities.’ They cover our entire heads, bar our eyes and mouths.

  ‘Ethan and Rochelle, take Neriah and Aneliese into the tunnels,’ Arkarian orders. ‘Aneliese will lead you to the one that will take you to my chambers.’ He turns to the others. ‘Everyone else, come with me. We have to stall Marduke long enough for Neriah and Aneliese to reach safety.’

  With Aneliese and the dogs in front, we run down a narrow flight of stairs, through a doorway, then descend another stairwell. Down this far, it’s completely dark. Aneliese fumbles for a torch from a shelf to her right. Down the bottom is a door bolted with an iron bar and lock. Aneliese yanks a chain from her neck. There are several keys on it. She takes one and opens the lock. Ethan lifts the bar and the door creaks open.

  The tunnel is made entirely of sandstone and bricks. Aysher and Silos leap off ahead like scouts, but stay within sight. Overhead we hear the sounds of rumbling thunder. It must be Marduke. It sounds as if a battle has started. It grows louder by the second. I hope they can hold him off long enough for us to get Neriah and Aneliese to safety. And I hope this tunnel isn’t too long. I’ll be glad when we get out into some fresh air and can take these masks off.

  We run and keep running, the dogs leading the way. Then at last we slam to a stop. The tunnel has split into three.

  We take a few deep breaths.

  ‘Where do they end up?’ Ethan asks as we stare down the three separate paths.

  Aneliese explains, ‘The left tunnel goes all the way to the northern entrance of the forest.’

  ‘But that’s …’ I have a quick think.

  ‘A long way,’ Ethan finishes. ‘What about the middle one?’

  Aneliese shakes her head. ‘It ends at a point almost dead centre at the bottom of the lake.’

  The thought makes me frown. What would be the point of a tunnel that ends under a lake?

  Aneliese must see the confusion on my face. She explains, ‘It links up with an entrance to the underground city. But this tunnel is of no use to us. The entrance was sealed many years ago.’

  ‘What about this one?’ Ethan points to the tunnel on the right.

  ‘That’s the one we want. It will take us to Arkarian’s chambers.’ She rattles the keys in her hands. ‘One of these will let us in.’

  As we peer into the tunnel that leads to Arkarian’s chambers an explosion rocks the walls. Dust surrounds us, making us cough. We glance at each other nervously. What’s going on up there? We should be far enough from the house now not to hear the battle taking place. I get a sudden sickening sense in my stomach. Marduke is a formidable enemy. Coming face-to-face with him is something I’m dreading more than anything else in the world. But now I understand why Arkarian sent me and Ethan down here. It’s our lives that are most threatened. Me for being Marduke’s personal spy and turning traitor on him. And Ethan for putting the knife in his throat just over a year ago that resulted in his altered appearance.

  ‘Let’s go,’ Ethan says.

  But just as we start, another explosion hits, this one very close. The force of it catapults us backwards. The tunnels fill with dust and debris, so much that it becomes difficult to see and breathe, especially with dust clinging to the masks. Aysher and Silos clamber all over us, tugging and pulling on our clothes, getting us up.

  As the dust begins to settle, one thing becomes clear – we won’t be able to use the tunnel that leads to Arkarian’s chambers. It no longer exists. It’s completely blocked by a wall of shattered bricks and earth.

  ‘Great,’ I call out, trying to wave stubborn dust out of my face and find some clear air to breathe. ‘What now?’

  Aneliese looks uncertain, her soft brown eyes growing huge. ‘I don’t know. But we can’t go back to the house.’

  ‘Let’s take the tunnel to the forest,’ I suggest. ‘We can eventually find our way to Arkarian’s chambers, and at least we’ll be out of this death trap.’

  Without arguing, the others f
ollow my lead. After a while, loud thumping sounds come at us from behind. We throw our backs up against the wall and stay silent while the thumping sounds draw closer. Suddenly Dillon runs past. He sees us and pulls to a stop.

  ‘There you are!’ He pinpoints Neriah, goes right up to her with a dreamlike expression in his eyes, and touches her arm. ‘I was so worried about you.’

  It’s a sweet thing to say, but it takes Neriah by surprise. She’s obviously unaware of his growing infatuation. She moves her arm away gently.

  ‘What’s happening to our house?’ Aneliese asks. ‘Is everyone all right up there?’

  Dillon doesn’t even hear her; his eyes – his whole attention – are focused solely on Neriah.

  ‘Dillon?’ I remind him. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Marduke and some of his soldiers are destroying the house, one room at a time, looking for Aneliese.’

  Neriah grabs her mother’s arm. ‘He won’t stop until he finds you! Now is his chance.’

  ‘We’re going to make sure he doesn’t come near either of you,’ Ethan says.

  Dillon adds, ‘Arkarian wants you to get to his chambers as fast as you can.’

  ‘That tunnel’s gone,’ Ethan explains.

  ‘So where does this tunnel lead?’

  ‘Outside,’ I explain.

  ‘Did you pick it?’

  I nod.

  Dillon frowns, but ultimately agrees. ‘OK. Let’s go then.’

  A rushing, flapping sound starts up in the distance, quickly followed by a shriek and squawk. All five of us look at each other with concern. The rushing sounds and shrieking grow louder and Ethan gets us going again. ‘Let’s get out of here!’

  We take off, running as fast as we can, but the flapping of wings and wild shrieking close in on us with every step. I glance backwards and see a few of Marduke’s birds catching up fast.

  Ethan shoves me in front of him. ‘Don’t look back!’

  We run and run, only just staying ahead of the birds. Eventually we come to a dead end. With nowhere to go, the three birds catch up and start attacking us with their vicious beaks and claws. The dogs change into snow leopards and help keep them back, but the birds are persistant.

  At least one thing goes our way when Aneliese calls out, ‘This is it!’ She yanks on a trap door in the ceiling. ‘This is the exit.’ She reaches up to put one of her keys into the lock, but her hands are unsteady and she drops them.

  The birds close in again and the set of keys is trampled under foot in the chaos. The flooring here is more dirt than bricks and the keys soon disappear. Hands everywhere try to search for them, making the task more difficult.

  ‘Everybody stop!’ I call out. ‘I’ll find them!’

  I skim my hands across the surface of the floor. My gloves are still in my coat pocket somewhere back in the house, and so my mind zooms straight down through layers of rich black soil, sandstone and granite. I lift my focus and ‘see’ two-hundred-year-old bricks covered with a fine layer of trampled dirt.

  ‘Here.’ I hold up the chain with the keys dangling from it. Aneliese searches for my hand among the turmoil, but I pull it back before she connects and gets burnt. ‘I can do it,’ I explain, and start fitting one key after another in the lock.

  Then the hatch is open and light floods in from the surface, blinding us momentarily. The birds are first to fly out. We follow quickly.

  ‘Oh no!’ Ethan mutters under his breath at the sight that greets us.

  It’s Marduke. Waiting patiently. Smugly. He has half a dozen soldiers with him, also masked, all dressed in black, with only their eyes showing. They have formed a circle around the exit, armed with knives, swords, spikes and other martial arts weapons.

  ‘We’re in trouble,’ I mutter.

  ‘Big trouble,’ Ethan mutters back.

  ‘Good work, Roh,’ Dillon whispers sarcastically.

  ‘Don’t say her name!’ Ethan hisses. He flicks a knife from his boot to his hand, then offers it to Dillon. ‘Do you need this?’

  Dillon shakes his head and pulls a whip chain out from his jacket pocket with one hand, a knife with his other.

  ‘Well, look at what we have here,’ Marduke says in his rough, sarcastic voice. ‘Quite a collection, I would say.’

  Marduke’s eye drifts to Aneliese and glows bright red. She stares back and for an unguarded moment I hear her thoughts. She’s recalling what Marduke looked like the last time she saw him and how much he has changed. She notices his face is still half missing, with one empty eye socket and jagged scars running down the length of his disfigured mouth. But now there is more of a beastly look in the encroaching growth of hair upon his brow.

  Marduke’s glare shifts to Neriah. And it is while he looks at his daughter that his chest expands and his glowing red eye swells. No mask will protect her identity from him.

  Neriah tugs a dagger out from her belt and Aneliese does the same. I would too, as I always keep a knife in my boot, but lately my hands have become more dangerous than any weapon.

  Marduke notices the flickering electric currents, and his one eyebrow lifts as he peers straight at my eyes. ‘I knew there was more power in you. What we could do with those hands together – you and I.’

  The very thought sickens me and a sarcastic reply quickly forms. But Ethan is quicker to react. ‘You would have to kill me first.’

  I stare at him but he doesn’t look my way.

  ‘That would be my pleasure,’ Marduke replies, touching the sword at his waist. ‘But since it is not the traitor I have come for today, I will let your tempting offer pass.’

  Neriah says in an amazingly calm voice, ‘We have an agreement in which you gave me your word.’

  Aysher and Silos growl, their leopard teeth bared at Marduke.

  Dillon pulls on her arm. ‘What are you talking about?’

  Neriah slides her arm out of Dillon’s grasp. ‘Leave me. I know what I’m doing.’

  ‘Don’t make the mistake,’ I quickly explain, ‘of believing Marduke honours agreements.’

  Marduke laughs. ‘But it is you who deceived me. Where do your loyalties lie? Does anyone here know?’

  I try to ignore him. ‘Hold on to Neriah,’ I whisper to Dillon. ‘She thinks she can trust him because he’s her father, but she’s wrong.’

  Dillon agrees and takes a firm grip of Neriah’s arm.

  She pushes away from him and he tries to grab her again. Neriah looks around at us all frantically. ‘You don’t understand. If I do this, I can prevent your bloodshed as well as my mother’s.’

  Ethan hisses, ‘Let us do our job. That’s what we’re here for. To protect the two of you from this madman.’

  Marduke shrugs and looks amused. ‘Are you going to protect Neriah in the same way you protected your sister?’

  If I had the power to project objects I would take the knife right out of Ethan’s hand and hurl it into Marduke’s throat myself. But I know this beast, I know what he’s trying to do.

  ‘And what about how you protected Isabel?’ he adds. ‘As I recall, she took a walk into the middle realm because of your so-called protection.’

  ‘Don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to rile you so you’ll lose concentration.’

  Ethan’s eyes drop and slide in my direction, giving me the slightest nod. He understands, but it’s also clear that Marduke’s words have found their mark.

  Marduke sees it too, and laughs. And with the slightest motion of his head, he signals to his soldiers. They move in to attack, and the fighting begins.

  Dillon and Ethan try to keep Neriah and Aneliese in their sights at all times, but it becomes difficult against the barrage bearing down on them. Dillon is strong, his kicks powerful, while his technique with the whip chain can’t be flawed. He sends two soldiers flying, but they soon return for more.

  Ethan wounds one of Marduke’s soldiers in the shoulder, then finds himself on the ground as another comes at him from behind with a spinning baton. Meanwhile
he uses his power to animate objects to deflect a series of throwing stars back at the soldier who cast them. A soldier comes at me with a shimmering dagger. While I’m reluctant to reveal just how powerful my hands are, I really don’t have a choice. I let him run as close as I dare, then slice away his clothing from shoulder to chest with my knife. Focusing all my energy into my exposed hands, I lunge at him. My hands flicker brilliant colours. The soldier screams and falls to the ground whimpering.

  Marduke notices. ‘You have come far. Your talents are wasted here.’

  I ignore him as best I can and hope that no one else is taking any notice. I couldn’t stand it if they thought Marduke actually tempted me.

  While we struggle against Marduke’s soldiers, it’s Aysher and Silos that gain the most ground. After making sure Neriah is coping with the soldier she’s dealing with, they begin a powerful attack. One soldier struggles out from beneath Aysher, and, scared for his life, runs into the forest. The leopards then turn their attention to Marduke. They look threatening, and it’s clear their aim is to take Marduke down where he stands. If any of us could do it, it would be them. With teeth bared they leap in his direction. Marduke sees them and throws his hands out. From his fingers a beam of green light shoots out towards them. Neriah screams and Dillon has to hold her back as the leopards take the brunt of Marduke’s power and are hurled into the air. They hit the ground behind us, stunned.

  We fight the remaining soldiers and, as Aysher and Silos start to come round, Marduke’s amusement turns into annoyance.

  Neriah whispers, ‘We’re winning! Everything is going to be all right after all.’

  I don’t want to kill her enthusiasm, but knowing Marduke, the fight’s not over until his last soldier is annihilated and he has used every trick in his book.

  My fears soon become a reality as Marduke reveals his irritation at his soldiers’ incompetence. He raises his hands into the air again, and this time the green power that erupts from his fingers creates a wave of sizzling energy. It flickers and swells like a tidal wave, then whips around us with the speed of lightning, enclosing us in a dome-like prison.