The Last Garden

by J C Gilbert

  “We better not take too much time over this then,” said Darcy. “What do you need us to do?”

  “You see those markings on the ground there, there, and there?” She pointed to some bluish lines on the planet’s surface. They curled and twisted in symmetrical patterns.

  “I see them,” said Darcy, “is that Elvish?”

  “Yes. They are ancient marks. They don’t correspond to any particular word, but they all have a particular meaning. What I need you three to do is stand before those marks and keep your mind as focused on them as possible. They will help keep the demon in place once I have summoned him here. When we are sure that he cannot escape I will begin the binding ritual. It won’t take long, but it needs to be done right.”

  “So we just focus on the symbol. Do we say anything, or–”

  “No, your experience of the symbol will be enough for the spell. I’ll do the rest. I’m not going to lie, this will take a lot out of me. I’ll be holding together this planet’s atmosphere, boosting the signal of the spell through those marks, and seeking to do a binding all at the same time. I believe all this is on the very edge of my ability. I can do it, but if anything goes wrong, you might need to get out of here quickly.”

  I looked toward Lilly and Darcy. “I’ll take the middle mark. If we need to leave, the pair of you will need to run to me as quickly as you can.”

  “No,” said Darcy. “You go to Lilly. We need to make sure at least you two can get home.”

  “Come off it,” said Lilly.

  “I’m serious,” said Darcy. “I might be able to survive in the vacuum for a bit longer than either of you.”

  “Might?” I asked.

  “I haven’t tried yet, but-”

  “If we need to go, then we will go together,” I said.

  Darcy didn’t look pleased, but he was crazy if he thought I was capable of leaving anyone behind.

  We each took up positions behind the shimmering marks. Lilly stood to my left, Darcy stood to my right. We were all about 15 feet away from each other. Elaine stood opposite me, completing the diamond shape. The mark in front of me was curved and pictorial. It looked like a cross between highly stylized Arabic and Tolkienesque Elvish writing. I supposed Tolkien must have got his ideas from the elves he met during his lifetime.

  “Are you all ready?” asked Elaine.

  The rain was easing up now. “Ready,” I said.

  “Yeah,” said Darcy.

  “Define ready,” said Lilly.

  “We are ready,” I said.

  “Just remember, focus on the mark. If your mind begins to drift that’s OK, just refocus on the mark. We need to keep the demon in place as long as we can. All right.”

  Elaine guided her hand over the stony damp surface. I tried to focus on the mark but momentarily glanced up to see that she was summoning a circle of light in front of her. Quickly I refocused my attention on the lines in front of me.

  I became aware that Elaine was saying something. I did not recognize the language, but it sounded rhythmic, rising, falling, cresting, dipping, faster, and faster.

  Once again, I refocus my attention on the mark.

  There was a rumble overhead as Elaine’s artificial clouds crashed into each other. The wind stirred and whipped up all around us. That’s when I noticed that the mark in front of me was glowing brighter and brighter.

  Elaine was shouting now, struggling to raise her voice above the wind. I wondered if the wind would wrap around the whole planet, spinning faster and faster.

  Then, quite suddenly, there was the sound of a loud crack, and the planet shook. I glanced up for a moment, and my heart skipped a beat.

  Standing in front of Elaine, with scaly red skin, and with a few other additions, was the demon that had been Daniel.

  He growled.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  The demon howled in rage. “How dare you summon me?” it bellowed at Elaine. It took a couple of steps toward her but was halted by something invisible. The demon spun around and looked me directly in the eye. Fear gripped me. Daniel’s face was only faintly perceptible beneath the demon’s warped features. He was significantly taller and broader than before. His eyes had gone dark, and even the whites of his eyes were black. A pair of curved horns had begun to sprout from his forehead. This was a thing of nightmares.

  “Focus!” called Elaine.

  I drew my attention back to the mark, but I was starting to panic. Out of my periphery, I could tell that Elaine had begun the binding spell. Her arms were moving swiftly through the air, carving out patterns of light and shadow.

  And then the demon was running toward me, clawed feet carving deep grooves into the surface of Mercury. I knew that he would be bound by the spell, but he moved at such a pace that I couldn’t help but wince when he reached me.

  “Focus!” cried Elaine once more.

  I drew my attention to the mark again, but then looked up again at the demon. It was going to get me, I knew it was going to get me. One last bound and he was leaping toward me. I took a breath and cleared my mind as best as I could. I focused on the mark.

  The demon stopped in his tracks. It was working. I could tell he was snarling at me, trying to scare me, trying to discompose me. I couldn’t let him. If I lost my focus for even a moment, I was putting everyone in danger, not just myself. The urge to look up was strong, but my commitment was stronger.

  The demon laughed a savage laugh. “Humans,” he said and flung his hand towards Lilly. A bolt of shadow erupted from his palm and hurtled towards my friend. I wanted to cry out, but I knew he would win if I did.

  “Just a bit longer,” said Elaine.

  I heard a scream. It was Lilly. I stole a glance at her. She collapsed onto the ground, motionless.

  “No!” cried Darcy rushing towards her.

  “I’m losing him,” said Elaine, “I’m losing him. I can’t do this.”

  The demon had now turned on Elaine, turned to face the one that dared to summon him. “And now the torment begins,” he said and strode towards her.

  “Alex, I am sorry,” she said and jumped forward toward the demon.

  “What are you doing?” I yelled.

  “Get out of here,” she said.

  “I’m not leaving you,” I said.

  “You have to. I need to hold him here myself. It’s the only way. It’s the only way we can save everyone.”

  Tears were forming in my eyes as I started to realize what Elaine was doing. She was sacrificing herself.

  I looked to my map, unsure what to do. I didn’t want to leave her. I wanted her to be OK. But if I hesitated for too long, then I would lose Lilly and Darcy as well.

  The demon wrestled and thrashed, but Elaine was stronger than he. She had him pinned to the ground. He struck her again and again. At first, his blows seemed to deflect off of an invisible shield, but then she began to draw blood as cuts formed all over her.

  The ground around them started to glow in a pale white light. I thought fast, trying to figure out how I could save her at the last minute. I looked to Darcy, but he was just as distressed as I. Lilly was unconscious, her head delicately cradled in his lap.

  The light was getting stronger and stronger now, and soon it was engulfing the demon and Elaine both.

  Elaine looked up, locked eyes with me for a moment, and then she was gone. The light subsided as if it were being sucked into Mercury’s core. I could sense it moving further and further down, down into the depths.

  Then it grew dim and vanished.

  The light left behind two figures, unmoving on the planet's surface. Elaine lay sprawled on her back, eyes wide open, lips slightly parted, a thin line of blood running down from the corner of her mouth.

  Beside her was the figure of Daniel in his human form, curled up and covered in deep cuts.

  I ran towards Elaine, wishing above all hope that she had survived. I reached her, and my eyes fell on her eyes, sta
ring up at nothing at all.

  “Elaine?” I ventured, but there was no response.

  And then the atmosphere started to recede.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  The atmosphere was rapidly escaping and with it our protection against the heat and the solar radiation.

  “We have to get out of here!” called Darcy as he lifted the limp body of Lilly off of the ground.

  “Bring her over here. We need to bring everyone back with us.”

  “They are gone, Alex!”

  “You don't know that!” I said. “I have to try!”

  It was chaos all around us as the air began to boil off. I could feel myself getting lightheaded as our oxygen supply rapidly depleted.

  Darcy reached me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I turned Daniel over, taking his limp hand in mine and placing Elaine's hand with his. With my remaining hand, I took out the map of The Library and pressed it.

  Just as we were pulled into the map, I saw the clouds part, revealing the eternal starscape.

  And then we plunged down, down into the darkness, down towards safety. We landed in The Library, sprawled out among the armchairs around the fireplace. Elaine and I were on the floor to one side, Darcy and Lilly by the fire, and Daniel hung lifelessly over the side of a sofa.

  I took a moment to lay back, to take in what had happened, but quickly rallied myself as best as I could. It was not time to rest, not yet. I went to Elaine and held her hand in mine.

  I searched her face for any sign of life, but her eyes were empty, and she was cool to the touch.

  “How is Lilly?” I asked, my voice heavy with emotion.

  “I don't know,” said Darcy, distraught. “She is alive, but I don't know what happened to her.”

  “Librarian!” I called, “Librarian!” I yelled.

  I closed Elaine's eyes and then closed mine.

  “Oh my goodness, what has happened to you all?” asked the Librarian. “Is it defeated? Is the demon gone?”

  “She sacrificed herself,” I said. “The grace glove, get me the grace glove.”

  The Librarian placed an enormous leathery hand on my shoulder. “She is gone, child.”

  “Please,” I said. “I have to try.”

  The grace glove was an object of power that once belonged to Tabitha. We had used it before when we thought all was lost, though I knew in my heart that there was not much hope that Elaine would survive this. She proved herself at last, and in doing so had lost her life.

  When the Librarian returned, I slipped the white lace glove over my hand, placed my hand over Elaine's heart, and focused. I asked that any strength in me be used to find and heal any strength in her. I envisioned a white light deep within me and focused that light through my hand and into Elaine’s still chest. “Please,” I said under my breath, my face awash with tears.

  The glove began to glow, and the light I had seen within me started to pass on to Elaine. At first, my feelings were desperate, clinging to any hope that there might be. But then, I tried to find some peace, some faith that what was right would happen and what was to happen was right.

  “Alex,” said Darcy.

  I looked at him and saw the sorrow in his eyes. I returned my gaze back to Elaine.

  And that's when I saw her stir.

  “Oh my word,” said the Librarian slowly.

  Fresh tears sprung from my eyes, and my heart danced. I held out my hand for a bit longer and watched as the light began to fade.

  “Alex?” said Elaine, her voice softer than I had ever heard.

  I nodded and squeezed her hand tightly. “You did it,” I said. “You did it.”

  Elaine didn't say anything more. She closed her eyes and drifted back into unconsciousness.

  My attention moved to Daniel, who was alone on the sofa. I couldn't tell if he was alive or dead, but I knew I couldn't do for him what I had just done for Elaine. I just didn't have it in me.

  “Take this,” I said, handing the glove to Darcy. “Lilly could do with your help.”

  “How does it work?”

  “You love her, right?”

  Darcy looked serious. “I do,” he said.

  “Find that love, and let it flow through your hand. The rest will follow.”

  Darcy nodded and began pulling the glove on.

  “I have somewhere I need to be,” I said. I gently removed the Cheathr Ark from around Lilly’s neck and placed it on. “I won’t be long.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  “Alex? Is that you? Where in the world are we?”

  Mom had returned to her human form and was standing to one side of the circular platform that Elaine had created. There was no sign of the energy bars that she had put in place. I could only assume that during moments of deep unconsciousness Elaine had lost control over them.

  Mom looked relieved to see me but quite annoyed that she was here at all.

  I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her. “You’re OK,” I said. “I thought I’d lost you for good.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “You don’t remember?”

  “No, all I remember is that Mrs. Stevenson called us in for an emergency meeting. Oh shoot, I’m late. Alex, what’s the time? Someone should have woken me.” Mom frowned and shook her head, confused. “Where are we again?”

  “Come on, Mom, sit down.” I led her to a step on the platform. She looked half-dazed, which was hardly surprising considering her ordeal.

  “I’ll find a way down,” she said once I had her seated.

  “Don’t worry about that, the boat will be here soon.”

  “Let me give you some money for tickets,” said Mom.

  “You already did,” I said. “You were just saying how you needed to close your eyes for a little bit.”

  “Yes, I have such a headache. You know what? I think Mrs. Stevenson gave me this. She is always talking.”

  “Sleep now,” I said.

  Once I was sure she was unconscious, I used the Cheathr Ark to return us to The Library.

  “Is she alright?” asked Darcy when I arrived. He had moved Lilly to a reclining chair and had placed cushions under the heads of Daniel and Elaine.

  “I think she will be OK,” I said. “I should take Mom home now. How’s Lilly?”

  Darcy smiled. “She came around. She is a bit delirious, though, and she said something to me that I didn’t understand.”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary then. What did she say?”

  “She said that I was the real Captain Tight-pants.”

  I smiled.

  “Is that a compliment?”

  “To the highest degree,” I said

  “I never thought of my pants as particularly tight.”

  “It’s a metaphor, I think.”

  After making sure that everyone was comfortable, I returned Mom through to our own world. I wasn’t sure where I would come out as Elaine was the one who used the key last. To my relief, she had thought to go to my bedroom before stepping into The Library. We landed on my bedroom floor, and the impact awoke Mom. If anything, she seemed even more confused than she had been in Lilly’s dimension.

  “It’s OK, Mom, let’s just get you back to bed.”

  “Can you get your father to put the coffee on?” she asked.

  “I’ll do it,” said Jonny, standing in the doorway. He gave me a very relieved smile and then hurried down the stairs toward the kitchen.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  It was a few weeks before Lilly was at all like herself again. Fortunately for us, we still had the Cheathr Ark for her to recover in so that she could be away without her family really noticing that she had gone. It meant that I spent a whole day going backward and forward between our world and that world to ensure that she had enough supplies to cover the whole period and enough company to prevent her from going mad.

  Darcy spent almost as much time with her as I did. However, I suspect
ed that he kept himself away more than he would have liked. It seemed that he was still unsure how to handle his feelings for Lilly and his secret about her missing memories. This lack of certainty kept him in a place of limbo and perpetual torture. He said to me more than once in solemn tones, “at least she is alive.”

  When Lilly was ready to leap around, she declared that she never wanted to go back into the Ark again. She took off her pendant with great ceremony and handed it to me. I smiled and nodded, and put it in a drawer, ready for when she wanted it back, which, as it turned out, was just a few days later.

  Though Elaine had continued to recover, her injuries were much more severe than Lilly’s, too severe for her to even attempt to move into a different world. We set her up in the temple, a place within The Library that had been created by a Keeper long ago for this very purpose. She spent most of the time unconscious, and when she was awake, she said very little.

  None of us were quite sure how to feel about Daniel. It was unclear to what extent the things he did were him and to what extent they were the demon. Darcy found Carl wandering confused amongst the wreckage downtown. We filled him in as best as we could and brought him Daniel so that he could decide how he was to be cared for.

  The world was changed now. People who weren’t in the city at the time wanted to write off the events as some sort of collective delusion. My dad wanted to believe that it had been some sort of freak weather event. If you were my dad, then a great number of things could be explained by freak weather events.

  But those who had been in the city at the time looked at the world a little differently now, regarded the shadows with a little bit more suspicion, and talked about magic with a little bit more reverence.

  When Elaine was healthy enough to move through worlds, she asked to be returned to the last garden, the place where she had lived out centuries of her life already.

  “I will never recover fully until I’m back there. I know that. The Librarian has told me that chaos has broken out all over the multiverse since I left the garden. I need to be back there.”