Yas glanced behind her. The men had recovered quickly and were following. They started to form lassos of words, which they then swung above their heads. Fully formed, they threw them forwards, the hooks on the ends looking for purchase.
One lasso narrowly missed Yas’s ankle, the other flew past her head.
Janine created a blue protective dome around them and continued running down the hallway.
“Who are these people?” asked Sam, getting frustrated. “What the hell do they want with Yas?”
“I don’t know,” replied Janine. “Orfeo sent them, clearly. He seems a little more organised than we’ve been led to believe.”
The two men launched themselves at the dome.
Yas instinctively also held out her hands, like Janine. A second dome formed, just inside the first, to give extra protection.
The two men landed on the top of the outer dome and stabbed their knives into it to give them purchase. White and blue sparks and rips appeared as their knives cut through. It was clear that the protective shields were not going to last long.
“I need you to go,” repeated Janine urgently. “Get yourselves to a safe place.”
“What?” asked Sam. “Where do we go?”
“Anywhere,” Janine said impatiently, watching the rips in the dome grow larger. The two men were mere feet away and attempting to peel back the outer layer. It was a matter of time before they did.
“More is going on here than we can handle,” she said.
By this time, they’d reached the top of the staircase. In the hall below, protestors were pulling over bookshelves and creating as much chaos as possible. There was a chant accompanying the noise.
“Bring us the Word Guardians!”
Looking down the stairs, Janine sighed.
“It never rains…” Then she looked back up to the two men above them. She pushed her hands out again, forcing the two men back. However, it aided them rather than hindering. The two men slid further down the dome, ripping open more of the outer shield. One of the men reached up and stabbed his knife into the inner shield that was now accessible. Yas felt the full effect of the stab, and immediately realised the effort Janine must have been using to hold up the outside shield.
Suddenly, three ghostly heads appeared behind the two men. Two emerged from the large windows at the front of the building and one from the end of an aisle. They flew around the two men, their ethereal trails sticking to the men’s arms and pulling them away from the dome. The men slid along the floor, then twisted themselves around quickly and stood up. They tugged on the ethereal strands, the heads turning in surprise.
“The Fates,” Yas said, recognising them.
“The Who?” Sam asked, confused.
“We have to help them,” urged Yas. They had appeared once before to warn her about the upcoming battle when she and Sam had fought for the Peacekeepers. She felt they were coming to their aid once again.
The two men seemed to have a change of plan. They created a glowing yellow netting, encapsulating the Fates. One of Fates looked to Yas.
“Save the Custodians, Yas,” the head pleaded.
Yas moved forwards.
“No!” Janine warned, grabbing Yas on the arm.
“But…” started Yas. Then she remembered Janine’s words about there being more going on here than they realised. This was not the time for heroics.
“How do I save them?” Yas called out to the Fates.
The two men created a doorway, then moved forwards, pulling the Fates behind them.
“See you soon, Yas,” the men sneered.
“Find us,” the faces added.
The two men stepped through, pulling the Fates with them. Then the doorway closed.
Janine dropped the protective dome around them.
Some of the protestors spotted the three of them at the top of the stairs.
“There they are!” they called, breaking off from the main group and heading towards them. “The Word Guardians!”
“Oh crap! Change of plan,” Janine said, hurriedly.
“What the hell!” exclaimed Sam, watching the protestors gaining on them. “We need to get out of here!”
“You think?” Janine replied sarcastically.
They could hear police sirens now. It would be moments before they would arrive in the square, but agonisingly long minutes before they would make an impact to what was happening inside the library.
“Come with me,” urged Janine, glancing at protestors making their way up the stairs.
She turned and created a portal and ushered Yas and Sam through. Then, with the protestors only a few steps away, she stepped through into a much larger library, and closed the doorway behind her.
The stillness in the huge room was deafening.
“Where are we?” asked Yas, looking around.
“The Boston Library realm,” replied Janine. “A safe place, I hope.”
James and Raelinn walked along a path dividing two Zen gardens. Rocks, the occasional plant and sand spread out either side of them. The sand amazed James. It had an unusual appearance. Rather than lines and gentle peaks and troughs, the sand here formed the arches of breaking waves and sand hung impossibly from the leading edges, as if about to break but never moving backwards or forwards. The garden was incredible. It portrayed a scene from nature that was only ever still in photographs.
“The sand?” James asked but was not sure what to say. “That’s impossible!” He reached down to touch the peak of a wave near him and marvelled as it stayed exactly in place, even though individual grains of sand moved with his touch.
“It is a moment, caught in time,” replied Y’an, moving back under the shade.
“Please,” she gestured again, to focus their attention. “The sand will not hold its position for long. The arrow of time will resume after we have talked.”
James and Raelinn looked at each other in surprise. They walked up to the structure and stepped under the shade. As they did so, the sun appeared over the horizon, shooting light straight at them.
Raelinn winced. James was shocked to see that just that tiny burst of light had already caused her skin to burn. He grabbed her gently and moved her in front of him to provide shade.
“You are a different person than when we first met,” she said to James. “And you…” she gestured to Raelinn. “You are at last questioning who you are.”
“I’m sorry?” asked Raelinn, incredulously. “And you are?”
Y’an nodded her head. “We have not been introduced.”
Raelinn waited for Y’an to say something, but she didn’t. Instead Y’an continued to look Raelinn up and down. Raelinn’s irritation grew. She opened her mouth to say something.
“You are Raelinn,” stated Y’an, interrupting her. “Daughter of Vedran and Nikola. Betrayed and forcefully bound to a loyalty by Orfeo.”
Raelinn looked at Y’an in shock. “How do you know this? No-one knows that!”
“I am Y’an,” replied Y’an, to placate Raelinn’s questions. She added no further information. Despite Raelinn wanting to ask more, she stayed quiet.
Y’an smiled and waved her hand. The sun climbed in the sky quickly, brightening up the surrounding lands. She watched the shadow cast down from the roof above. Once the sun had reached about half of what its midday position would be, Raelinn was fully in the shade. Y’an dropped her hand and the sun halted its rapid climb.
“Sit,” she gestured to the chairs opposite her.
They did so, and a bamboo tray appeared on the table in front of them. Cups filled. A clear, hot liquid for James and something darker, bloodlike, for Raelinn.
“You have come a long way,” she said, picking up a cup of her own, and blowing across it. She gestured with her eyes for them to do the same.
“What is this place?” asked Raelinn, cautiously picking up her cup.
“A safe place, caught in a loop in time,” answered Y’an.
“So, it’s you that’s behind th
ese looping storylines, then?” James asked incredulously. “Do you know how much of a pain these have been?”
“You’re welcome,” she smiled in response. James wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or not. “It’s not all me,” she continued. “Let’s just say I’ve been helping to stir the pot.”
“What pot?” asked James. “You’re not making any sense. Like the last time we met.”
Y’an smiled in response and regarded him coolly.
“So,” James continued after a pause. “Why are you needing to stir this pot then?”
“A shield from those that are kidnapping Custodians.”
“Who’s that then?” continued James.
“The usual,” replied Y’an, after sipping her tea.
She glanced at Raelinn. “Controllers. Those who seek to control the imaginations of others.”
Raelinn stared back, surprised. “Why are you looking at me?” she gestured to herself.
“It’s interesting that you include yourself,” replied Y’an. “But don’t let others dictate your actions.”
“I wasn’t including myself…” Raelinn said defensively. “And anyway, what do you mean, others dictating my actions?”
“Only that they have, because you have allowed them to,” Y’an replied, smiling again. “It will be the choices you make for those around you that will ultimately shape your destiny.”
Raelinn had a hundred questions, but Y’an turned her attention to James, indicating that she was changing topic.
“You,” said Y’an, pointing at him, “are at last focussing on the things that matter.”
“What like?” James asked, wearily. “What do you mean?”
“You have been in this void for some time,” Y’an replied, again ignoring the question. “You are no longer the sleeper that you were.”
“What the hell does that mean?” repeated James, irritated. “Exactly how long have we been here?”
“That’s not important,” replied Y’an, dismissing the question with a wave of her hand.
“You’re still talking in damn riddles,” James countered. The tea was relaxing but he was remembering the frustrations of his first conversation with Y’an.
“As I recall, you told me that you weren’t a Custodian?”
Y’an calmly looked at him, taking another sip of tea.
“Yes, we are in hiding,” she replied at last. “But I have appeared because you are searching for answers to important questions.”
“We’re just looking for a way out of here, that’s all,” James replied, wearily.
“Ahh yes,” replied Y’an, breathing in and taking another sip of tea. “But from where you are, the only way out is in.”
“Please stop with the riddles,” replied James. “Just tell me what’s going on here!”
“You see storylines, Detective,” continued Y’an.
“Yeah, but it’s not exactly helping me, is it?” he grumbled.
“You are missing the point,” admonished Y’an. “You are the detective and you have been chosen to solve the crime.”
“What crime?” shot back James, irritated.
“Custodians have been kidnapped,” sighed Y’an. “By Orfeo and his followers.”
“Right?” said James and Raelinn at the same time.
“And you know this, how?” James continued.
Y’an sat back and smiled wryly.
“You don’t see the irony, do you? It’s time to help solve what you have both helped create.”
James and Raelinn looked at each other.
“I accept I had a role in it,” James said, backpedaling. “But if it wasn’t me it would have been someone else.” He looked at Raelinn. “And Raelinn’s loyalty to Orfeo is bought. She’s trapped, just like me.”
Y’an smiled and opened her hands. “So quick to defend your new found friend here? It tells me that you both are ideally suited for what lies ahead.”
“Why? What lies ahead?”
“You are to bring Orfeo to justice.”
James laughed. “You want me to arrest Orfeo?” The idea sounded absurd to him. He laughed again. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d like nothing more than to deal with that slimy toad, but how are we supposed to do that? The man’s too powerful!”
“Orfeo is only as powerful as you believe him to be,” countered Y’an. “The two of you together have something he does not.”
“What?” asked Raelinn, wearily. “What could we possibly have that would rid us of him?”
Y’an just smiled. “I cannot reveal to you that which is key to your own paths and your greatest achievements.”
“Great!” added James sarcastically, looking at Raelinn. “More riddles.”
Y’an ignored him. She turned to her side and a doorway appeared just beyond the edge of the roofed structure, in the shade.
“Oh? It’s time for us to leave?” asked James. “You haven’t actually told us anything yet!”
“I am sending you to the start of your story,” Y’an explained. “To the scene of the crime.”
“Oh, good,” replied James, sarcastically. “And there was me hoping that you would just help us.”
Y’an ignored him. “The story must play out, Detective.”
“What story are you sending us into now?” asked James.
Y’an sighed. “You must solve the crime,” she nodded towards Raelinn, “with your assistant of course!”
“What do you mean, assistant?” Raelinn shot back, her iciness returning. “I’m no-one’s assistant!”
“Hmm?” countered Y’an. “How do your ‘loyalties’ to Orfeo,” she quoted the word with her fingers, “affect your choices?”
“That’s different?”
“Is it?”
James was puzzled at her sudden change of attitude. He looked behind Raelinn and could see what she couldn’t. A coil of words twisted towards Raelinn. He could see that it was affecting her.
He looked at Y’an.
She smiled back. Time seemed to slow. The coil moved slower, giving James more time to watch it. Raelinn was still, as if caught. He looked back at Y’an. She smiled at him. He could see that she was causing this slowness somehow.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “Leave her alone.”
“You see the storylines, Detective. But what will you do?”
He stared at the coil, turning slowly, moving closer to Raelinn.
“If it grabs her, will it take us back to the platform?”
“It depends what story is most prevalent here,” replied Y’an, nonchalantly.
James looked at Raelinn. He reflected on his recent life choices. Taking on unwise agreements in order to pay off a gambling debt. Having to rescue his son who had been used as a pawn to ensure that he stayed loyal to Orfeo. He knew his choices had been wrong. But that had started to change. In this place, he’d found a new appreciation for looking at another person just as a person, free of labels. He saw past Raelinn the vampire and wanted to understand why she had made the choices that she had. The desire to understand others’ motivation was the reason he’d originally followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the police. He’d actually enjoyed Raelinn’s company and wanted her to stay around, if that were possible. He realised what he most needed to say.
“I’ve not been much of a detective recently, Raelinn. You know I’ve made some bad decisions. But in this place,” he looked around him to indicate the Void, “with you here, somehow, the future seems different. Will you help me solve this crime? I can’t do it alone. I need you.”
Time sped back up again. Raelinn looked at him in shock, then at Y’an. Then James’ movements slowed.
“What is this trickery?” asked Raelinn.
“He has asked you a question, hmm?” said Y’an. “What is your reply?”
Raelinn looked at James.
“What did you do to him?”
“I merely gave you each time to consider,” Y’an replied.
Raelinn studied J
ames’s face. She could see he was tired. He needed to get out of here as much as she did. She realised also that working with him was so unlike anyone else. There was no trading of favours, no trickery or manipulation. What he said and did was plain to see. He gave her a path back to who she was, unlike anyone else she knew. She reflected that he was probably the first friend she’d had in a long time. She wanted that to continue if it could. Solving the crime seemed to be the best way to help them both.
She smiled and nodded to James. “Yes. I’ll help. But only as equals.”
Time resumed its normal speed.
The twisting coil changed path and moved up and over the roof. James watched it go over the other side and float away.
“Good,” replied Y’an. “Then your story has started.”
“If we do this,” started Raelinn. “Will we then be free?”
“Yes,” acknowledged Y’an. “But beware that freedom means different things to different people.”
Raelinn and James looked at Y’an hoping that she would elaborate. She didn’t. They started to form a question. Instead, she gestured towards the doorway.
“It is time to go.”
The chairs they were sitting on started to dissolve. They took the hint and stood up as sand rained down onto the ground.
“Where are you sending us?” asked Raelinn.
“The scene of the crime. Remember?” replied Y’an. She wasn’t giving anything else away.
They stepped towards the portal. Raelinn was in front of James.
“One more thing, Detective,” said Y’an.
James turned to Y’an as Raelinn stepped through. “What?” he asked.
“You know of Yasmine?”
“Yes, kind of,” he replied. “I know who she is.”
“Good,” replied Y’an. “Find her. She is important to this story.”
“Why?” asked James.
“She must play a role in order to free the custodians.”
“What role?”
“She needs to be herself.”
Y’an looked off into the distance, trying to obtain more information.
“More riddles?” sighed James. “Oh good!”
“The moment is gone,” replied Y’an, ignoring him. She started to vanish, as she had done when he had met her before in Ancient Alexandria.
The Word Guardians: and the Twisting Tales Page 15