by Karen Binnie
Chapter 22
Kroil watched from the shadow of the great oaks, the mothers and children who rushed passed him ignorant of his presence as they retreated to the paths, doomed to wander for eternity, the park the only sanctuary from their painful existence, reliving the lost memories of life before death.
He watched the two figures in the distance, the stone in his pocket pulsing with great vigour now, the sweet smell it radiated would have made him sick if he were not dead, it was unfortunate she had a companion, an added inconvenience to his plans but a mere trifle to be dealt with. Concentrating on the cloud above the pond he had projected his presence causing the disturbance within them. Dallon stepped forward towards the pond, watching the ducks hiding for cover amongst the reeds, the demons approach did not seem real, he wondered if the coming storm could mark the arrival of Tadge.
Kate stood at the band stand waiting for his command when a hand grabbed at her waist whilst another clamped down hard against her mouth, before she could warn him, the mist engulfed her, the man’s thick presence cast a shadow on her soul. The mist stung at her eyes, her lids closing against the pain. This is not real, this is not real, she kept thinking as she felt her body spinning down and away from the park, she hoped the man was the Tadge person, she may have a chance to plead for her life. Plummeting faster now, she thought she would die but how could that be possible she was halfway there already. The dull buzzing that filled her ears ebbed away as they came to a stop, the man’s grip had gone and she tried to turn to face him. She opened her pleading eyes and found herself sat on a soft downy white cushion, all around her the dense cloud was white, so bright it hurt her to see, looking down, the floor was cloudy white too.
A bodiless voice spoke to her from behind.
“Do not try to move, I will not harm you if you do as I say.”
Ignoring his warning she raised her hand, instantly a lightning bolt shot from the cloud into her palm, for someone half dead, the pain was excruciating.
“If you want the chance to live then do as I command, do not move.”
Kate was scared, the searing pain had shot through her arm and still vibrated, refusing to leave her in peace.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice pitifully faint.
“SILENCE” came her answer.
Dallon watched the storm clouds, confusion washed over him, he sensed the demon up ahead, something was wrong, he turned just in time to see Kate disappear in a whirlwind of mist. He ran to the bandstand but she had already gone, he had been tricked by the demon, he had failed Kate, he had failed Al’ice.
He slumped on the steps and watched as the sky brightened once more and slowly the park regained its inhabitants, what would his mother think of him now?
The small black dot up ahead grew larger as it struggled to keep balance and landed with a splat beside him.
Tui fluffed his battered old wings and snorted at Dallon, “Follow me.”
He stepped backward stretching his wings ready for the draft of wind to collect him, then up, up he went flapping awkwardly. Dallon rose to his feet, keeping the bird in his sights, he followed him, through the great oaks, through a moving cloud and along a path devoid of wandering spirits. He wondered how the bird managed to stay in flight with his haphazard way but hoped he would take him back to Moana, she would know what could be done now.
He walked quickly, his head raised, watching for any deviance from the path when a shadow clouded his vision, looking ahead a figure was approaching him fast. The man almost glowed as he approached, floating quickly towards him, he wore black slacks and a tight fitting white jumper, his feet were bare as they hovered above the cloud. His regal yet kind face masked by a head of brownish grey hair flying about his head wildly as if illuminated, he slowed to a stop just short of Dallon, his long hair falling about his shoulders.
“You have a message for me?” he asked, his soft voice belying the look of anguish on his face.
At first Dallon could not speak, his head filled with the sweet scent of lavender, the heady smell blocking his thoughts, yes he had a message, what was it again?
“I have a message for Tadge.”
“I am he, what is it?”
Dallon could not remember, his mind blank as the lavender swirled through his half dead brain, cupping both hands together he held them out to the celestial being.
Tadge eyed the boy warily but there was something familiar about the way he dressed, between his hands a tangled mass began to emerge, he took the ball from the boy and read the message.
Dallon stood before him in a trance like state while Tadge read Tilly’s message, it could only have something to do with the activation of the pulse, as Tilly would never contact him unless it were an emergency. Taking in her version of events, he looked back at the boy, yes it was a shame he had been taken but he would never use his power on anyone other than his Julianne. Tilly had only mentioned the pulse had been activated by mistake, as much as he loved her, he did not believe this to be true and what troubled him most was the message Julianne was safe, if that were indeed correct then why did he sense the pulse stronger now, far away from her apparent safety.
“Dallon, what do you know of the pulse?”
Dallon stood and began speaking in a monotone voice like a commanded puppet.
“It is with Kate.”
Tadge forgot sometimes that his scent engulfed those around him, rendering them useless and sacrificing their will, it was not unlike the same power possessed by demons to succumb their victims. He concentrated on withdrawing his scent in the hope of returning the boy to normal.
Dallon wrinkled his nose as the cool heavenly air mixed with, then dispersed the lavender that had paralysed him, he looked at the man before him.
“You are Tadge?” he questioned.
“Yes, now you were saying, Kate has the stone, who is this Kate?”
The gentle currents tickle like air bubbles against my skin and despite the state I am in, I feel luxurious as I bathe. The others are out of sight after I ordered them to leave me, save my embarrassment as I had lowered myself into the cold water, selecting the still pool off to the side. I am swimming naked, the desire to bathe properly outweighing my fear of the fish. The smell seems to have penetrated my skin and I wonder just how long it will take to rid me of it. I had removed my clothes only once I submerged and placed them on the river bank to be washed later. The cold shocked me at first but I found concentrating on an image of a sauna, kept the cold at bay. Ducking under, I draw my nails through my hair releasing it from the muck, the water around becomes a dirty brown as I cleanse my body.
The swimming helps to keep me warm but my puckered skin indicates it’s time to leave and I haven’t even tackled the clothes yet!
To my relief Cooper arrives.
“Come out before you freeze” she calls, holding open a blanket for me to step into.
She is thrashing my clothes in and out of the water as I stand there drying myself discreetly beneath the thick warm wool.
“Can I not leave you without getting yourself into strife, look at the state of your hair!”
She thrusts her hand at my head, poking at the matted mess with her fingers that was once my hair.
“Did I not get it all out?”
“The muck is out but your hair is full of tangles, we may have to cut it, come, let us get back inside to the warmth of the fire.”
My bath was good, I do feel refreshed after days of not washing properly but I have to admit it is cold out here as the thought of the warm fire beckons.
As we walk back to the cottage and reality, I remember where Cooper had been.
“What has happened to dad?”
“His body has been moved to the morgue in the city, official verdict ‘Heart Attack’ it would have been quick and painless. The authorities are trying to track you and your grandmother down, he will stay there until you are found. The authorities have also located his private papers and cont
acted his lawyer who is flying in from England, arriving on Saturday, it is Monday morning just now, so we have plenty of time.”
The truth of dads death stings and I manage to force back the tears and ask, “Plenty of time for what?”
“The gathering, we have yet to formally present you to our people and Jez of course, although he is an unexpected attraction.”
“When is the gathering?”
“Tomorrow and we want you looking your best, pity about the hair, it will not have time to grow back.”
Pete had watched the young woman swimming in the river, her nakedness aroused feelings he never knew existed, he understood the attraction now that she commanded from the other males. He wondered what the gathering would mean and if Clarintor would be interested but if he told her she would probe his mind for his visions and the one he had just witnessed he wanted for himself.
Dallon’s news had angered Tadge, Tilly had promised to watch over Julianne whilst he took care of her dying sisters needs. Jesveril had the curse and it pained him that he could not help her to survive another year, when his granddaughter would be ready. He had left Jesveril’s body in the hands of the healer in Peru, the remedy too late for her now. The hope was that one of the ancient Peruvian remedies could prolong her life, this hope long diminished, his anger tormented him from the knowledge that Julianne had been forced too soon but earlier than expected, she was ready, it was hard to believe. Jesveril's death and her birth as a healer had passed like ships in the night.
His haste to leave once the signal had been activated meant he would miss the passing ceremony, this saddened his heart. Time did not allow him to dwell on his loss, Julianne needed him now, dark forces were at work and if he were not careful he would be captured too.
“Dallon the pulse has descended, you may return to the others, I will locate this Kate for you.”
“No sir, I cannot leave her and I promised Al’ice I would bring you with me.”
“A lot to expect of one so young. Al’ice should know better than to allow his own feelings to cloud his judgement!”
“It was Coopers suggestion, she insisted Eldeen perform gendaris, I am glad she did, for I would have not have met Kate.”
“And Julianne, I mean Jol thinks she is alive you say?”
“Yes sir.”
“Interesting…………………..come then my young friend, I will allow you to accompany me but be alert at all times or the three of us may well end up following this path for eternity.”
“Not you oh great Tadge, your god will not let you perish until the passing of two ages and the day of reckoning.”
“You listen to the stories well my young friend but alas not all you hear is true, the time is nigh, he may yet condemn me for what I am about to do.”
Kroil sat and waited, it would not take Tadge long to locate the pulse now that the two halves were re-united, Ah! he comes.
The cloud shrouding Kate’s internment shuddered rousing her from her despair, her gloom lifting as a man breached the blanket of cloud closely followed by Dallon who briefly smiled at her, keeping a tight stance behind the man.
“It is about time, what kept you great Tadge?”
Kate could not see what was happening as they passed her, she listened but could not hear for a strange buzzing in her head, she did not dare to move.
Kroil rose to greet his guest but did not offer his hand.
“Kroil? I did not expect to meet you again, it has been a long time, your servitude to Magore has kept you well?”
“So you are the one? I expected as much, I no longer serve Magore.”
“Interesting…………. how did you break your inviolable bond?”
Dallon stood behind Tadge’s body, where he had commanded him to stay, Kate shifted carefully and eyed him warily as he made a gesture, shrugging his shoulders to let her know that he did not know what was going to happen. She wanted to ask him who he was with but was too scared to speak in front of the one who had captured her, he had not allowed her to look at him and she wondered who he was, was it the demon or Tadge? Whichever one he was, it meant that Dallon must be with the other one, she reached out with her mind to ask him when the lightning bolt struck her forehead and held her thoughts there, hovering at the tip of her skull, there was no pain this time but her mind dulled as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Tadge witnessed her suffering and turned to Kroil.
“So you have become the malevolent scourge you once despised, there was a time when redemption could have been an option.”
“Ah the promise to save my soul but you never returned after your failed attempt on Magore, I waited.”
“The past should not be raked over, what’s done is done, there was a reason I did not return, you did not need me to save your soul, you could have done that for yourself, we are wasting time, you know I am here for the girl.”
“I will not allow you to take her, unless you give me something in return.”
“I do not deal with demons.”
“Come now Tadge, do not be so hasty in your decision, you no longer possess the power to release her, you misjudge me, I am not as evil as you think, I am protecting her from a far worse fate.”
“So there is hope for you yet, who is the demon you now serve?”
Anger welled inside of Kroil, Clarintor had taken possession of his inviolable bonds following her destruction of Magore, she had been victorious where Tadge had failed. Kroil longed to break the bonds forever and free himself and Pete, he had no idea if Pete were alive now or how much under her spell he had become embroiled. He looked at the expectant face of the once great Tadge before him and spat out her name.
“Clarintor.”
Tadge recoiled slightly at the name, the one demon he wished he still possessed the powers to destroy, another of his failures.
“What is your plan Kroil?”
“You know of the Khlandra plant and its poisonous effect on demons?”
“Yes, the plant is extinct, destroyed by the very demons it was supposed to attack.”
“There are none in existence, not even in the past?” Kroil was surprised.
“No”
“I do not believe you, I will not release the girl until I have the bulb of such a plant.”
“Then we are at an impasse, a fait accompli.”
Dallon had been listening to every word and now much to his annoyance he was poking Tadge in the back with his finger.
Tadge entered his mind, “What is it? curtail your urgency my young friend you have bony fingers!”
Dallon spoke in his head and hoped that Tadge could hear him, “the Khlandra plant exists, Oh great Tadge, I have heard the great Eldeen talk of its powers and how it will be used under attack, I know where to find it.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, as Kroil eyed him suspiciously.
Tadge considered the boys revelation, he had a talent for listening in on stories, this was not a story though, Eldeen would not lie about such a thing.
Dallon stepped out from behind his back, a new confidence rising within him, he nodded in agreement to Tadge.
“What is this? brought the girls friend with you, I fail to see your purpose?”
“It appears Kroil, I am wrong, my young friend here knows of this plant and where to find it.”
“Not the first time you have been wrong! No wonder you have fallen from grace.”
Tadge retained his gracious composure, “I will send my young friend here to fetch the plant and in return you agree to release the girl?”
“Once I have your word it is indeed the Khlandra plant, you will not trick me Tadge.”
Tadge turned to Dallon.
“You must go and fetch the plant, the whole plant, for it is the bulbous root we require, I will stay and watch over the girl for you. Tell no-one except Tilly of my plans but you must hurry, the girl is close to eternal sleep.”
Dallon smiled and left quickly glancing at Kate’s slumped body as he
went, the great Tadge was willing to help him and that thought gladdened his heart.
Tadge watched the young boy leave, annoyed with himself at his deception, it was not of his nature to be so but this situation had become far more complicated than he first imagined when the pulse had first reached him. He thought of Jesveril and how her desperate spirit now soared in the heavens awaiting him to return her ashes to Kamerrean and infinite peace, the news although not unexpected would still tear at Tilly‘s heart.
He looked at the girl and sensed the life slipping away from her.
“Where is the girl’s body Kroil, you know I cannot save her without it.”
“So she is of your blood, I thought she was only the messenger.”
“She is.”
“I think we need to catch up, I do not understand?”
“If you would be so gracious as to explain your plans to me of how you intend to destroy Clarintor, I may have a few pointers that will aid you.”
Through the clouded cell they occupied, a table rose between them, “I hope your young friend does not take too long, sit and we shall play some chess while we talk, I hope you have not become rusty in your exile.”
Jez lay in the dark as his awareness found his thoughts. The pain so intense took over his whole body. An image stuck to his forehead like an old faded postcard of the girl he had tried to avoid as the bike crashed. She was the reason he was in so much pain, he vaguely remembered her voice, it sounded strange. How could someone so innocent cause him so much pain? He stared at the image as it faded a little more, he didn’t want to lose that face, young yet beautiful. Don’t leave me he thought, she turned her head upwards and the wind caught her hair, taking it off her face, she smiled and Jez felt pain stab at his heart and shoot down his left arm.
Jez opened his one good eye and saw the male nurse injecting his arm, the needle had stabbed but whatever was in the injection sent pain coursing through his veins.
He tried to reach across to stop him but his body was numb, he was slipping away back into the dark into nothingness, what is happening, where is my angel?
His thoughts turned to nothingness, Jez lay still, waiting for the darkness to take over, was this the end of his nightmare at last?