Peter made his way towards Penn.
Penn pushed himself to standing from leaning, one leg partly crossed over the other. He applauded with gloved hands.
“Well done detective,” he said with a leer. “I see they teach public relations as well as crime solving these days?”
Peter ignored him and continued walking, to move himself further away from the group behind. He didn’t like playing games, preferring to get down to business.
“It must be quite the course,” mocked Penn, starting to walk with him. “I’m impressed.”
“Did you put them up to it?” Peter asked quietly.
“Me?” said Penn, stopping and feigning shock and hurt with his gloved hand to his heart. It didn’t answer the question.
“May we speak candidly?” continued Peter, looking at Penn directly. “Is there somewhere... more private?”
“Your reputation does you credit,” replied Penn. “The proverbial hound chasing a bone, so I’ve heard.” Penn looked back directly at Peter’s eyes, smiling. It felt like a standoff or testing of wills somehow. Peter didn’t like Penn, one bit. He was a pretentious but clever man. Peter watched the eyes now studying him. He didn’t doubt that Penn was dangerous.
“Please,” Penn signalled with one of his gloved hands to a door along the hallway. “We can use this room.”
Peter couldn’t help feeling he was entering the lion’s den, somehow.
Yas had found the books Sam had suggested and made her way back along the hallway. As the afternoon sunlight glinted in, she found herself musing on Sam’s changed body language. He seemed distant, hesitant somehow. If she was someone to take it personally, she would have said that he had got his dad back and was no longer interested in being here. She didn’t understand why a wall had gone up between them.
“Yas,” a whisper called out to her. She stopped and looked around.
“Hello?” she called out cautiously. No-one answered.
“Yas,” came the voice again. It was more of an echoed whisper, straight into her head. She snapped her head back around to see where she thought it was coming from. She spotted something in the glass in the windows.
“Oh my God,” she said quickly, under her breath. She could see a ghostly face, hovering there in the glass. She stumbled backwards and stopped, then moved from side to side to see if it was some form of illusion. The face remained and followed her.
“You are important and in danger,” said the voice.
“Important?” asked Yas softly, feeling self-conscious. If anyone was watching, they would see her talking to herself. She looked around hoping that no-one could see.
“Listen, I don’t have long,” the face said. “I’m here to give you a message. You have something they want.”
“What?” asked Yas. She tried to ask this in her head, rather than out loud, but then regretted it. The face disappeared from the window and there was no further sound.
“What the hell was that?” she said to herself. She shook her head and continued walking along the hallway.
Then out of nowhere, she heard “A war is coming.” It made Yas jump. It was similar in nature to the first yet slightly deeper. She looked at the glass and saw another face.
“A war?” asked Yas in her mind. “Who are you?”
“Lose a friend, win a battle. Keep a friend, lose the war.”
“What does that even mean?” she asked, getting frustrated with the cryptic clues. Again, the face disappeared.
“Oh, come on!” she said out loud. Then in her mind she asked “Who are you? A Custodian?”
“Be careful who you trust,” a third voice said. This was behind her. She spun around and could see a face hovering at the end of an aisle. It was made up of the dust particles moving in the sunlight.
“Why?” asked Yas, stepping closer to the face. “Who are you?” she asked again.
“It will take two to deliver the peacekeepers,” the face continued. “At the place where knowledge meets. That’s where it must be done.”
“Meets what?” asked Yas.
There was no reply. The sunlight dimmed, moving behind clouds, and the face disappeared.
“Hey!” Yas shouted out loud. There was still no reply. Yas calmed herself, stood still and asked in her mind for more information. In response, all the voices spoke in unison.
“Remember things that go bump in the night,” they echoed.
“What?” she asked but she heard and saw nothing further. Feeling spooked, she quickly went downstairs to rejoin Sam. She needed to not be alone right now.
She half ran along the hallway on the second floor and saw no sight of McVale. She reached the end of the aisles, a little out of breath, and went over to Sam.
“Sam, Sam,” she said, urgently. “I’ve just seen the strangest thing. Three faces. I think they were trying to warn me about something.”
“Three faces?” asked Sam, looking at Yas. “Really?” He seemed testy, somehow. Yas wasn’t sure why. “Who were they?” he asked.
“Ghouls. Witches maybe?” Yas replied. “I don’t know. It sounded like they were telling me the future. A warning or something.”
“Oh, wow,” said Sam, dismissively. “Right, like the Fates? From Greek mythology?”
“Yes, exactly!” Yas looked at Sam. “You don’t believe me, do you? What’s your problem?” She threw the books down on the table angrily. He glanced at them nervously, and then at Yas.
“I’ve had it with you. What the hell is going on? You’ve been weird since we got here!”
“So?” he replied, defensively.
“Oka-a-a-y?” she said. “What have I done? Is it me?”
“No, its just...”
“Is everything alright at home? Your dad? You guys seemed okay yesterday?”
“Yes. We’re fine.”
“So, what is it then? Is it about Vickers?”
Sam was quiet. He looked at her for a moment.
“Yes. Look,” he said, leaning forwards. “We’re friends, right?”
“Of course.” Yas was puzzled. “Sam, are you okay?”
“I have to ask, Yas,” Sam started. “Is there anything you’re not telling me?”
“What do you mean?” asked Yas. She wasn’t sure she liked where this was going.
“About your grandfather? McVale? Their history?” he pressed.
“I told you, I don’t know anymore than you.” She sat back and crossed her arms, defensively. “Where is this coming from? You don’t trust me, all of a sudden?”
“No. Yes. Its just... listen... my dad and Vickers talked to me last night. They explained a lot.”
“A-n-d?” she asked. He had that look on his face that told her there was bad news. She was worried.
Suddenly they were aware of someone behind them. McVale had returned.
“They tried to convince you that they are on the side of good,” she said. “Didn’t they?” She placed the books she had retrieved on the table between them. “And that I’m working with the Controllers.”
“What?” asked Yas incredulously. She looked at McVale and then at Sam.
“Didn’t they?” challenged McVale.
“Sam?” asked Yas. She was both annoyed and afraid. She didn’t want this. She remembered the warning from the Fates. She had to lose a friend. Oh God, not Sam.
Sam said nothing in defence. He stood up and backed away.
“That’s why you’ve been off with me today,” Yas said, also standing, the anger getting the better of her. “You think I’m working for the bad guys?”
“No, its not like that Yas.”
“What’s going on here?” asked Vickers. She appeared from the other end of the aisles. They hadn’t noticed her approach either. McVale stared at her. Vickers returned the glare with ease. “Is everything alright Sam?” she asked.
“What are you doing here?” challenged McVale. “It was your day off!”
Vickers regarded her coolly, then replied. “I don’t know how
you know about my work schedule, but what are you doing out of your little shop?”
“You asked her to come?” asked McVale, smiling cruelly at Sam. “Didn’t you?” She took a step back, pulling Yas back with her. Yas didn’t resist. She was confused. Upset.
“I told him to call me if you brought up some hair brained scheme to find the peacekeepers,” explained Vickers. “I had to save the two of them the last time you sent them on an errand.”
“She’s poisoned your mind,” said McVale to Sam, ignoring the tirade from Vickers. “Can’t you see what she’s done?”
Vickers just smiled in response. It appeared she had expected this.
“Sam?” said Yas, tears starting to form in her eyes. “Whose side are you on? I don’t understand.”
“Yas, please! Listen to me!” pleaded Sam.
Yas was confused. It felt like her world was being pulled apart and she didn’t fully understand why it needed to happen. She looked at Sam, then glared at Vickers, behind him.
“Tell me!” she said, bristling for an argument.
Sam stepped forwards to try to placate her. He opened his mouth to start talking but was pushed back by a defensive shield that McVale threw in front of them. She grabbed Yas on the arm.
Yas looked at McVale in alarm. “What are you doing?”
“Its time to go.” she replied, jerking Yas backwards. Yas yelped. She realised she was being pulled into a portal that McVale had created. The last view she had of the library was of Sam desperately trying to get through the shield.
Penn ushered Peter into a room and closed the door behind him. He motioned for him to take a seat.
“I’ll stand, thank you,” replied Peter.
“As you wish”, said Penn, and he walked past Peter to the end of the room. He sat down at the head of the table. Peter advanced along the table but stayed a few seats away.
“What can I do for you, detective?” asked Penn, leaning back, and interlacing his gloved fingers in front of him.
“I’d like to have a little chat about the recent disappearances,” said Peter, viewing Penn’s eyes for any glint or twitch of recognition. There was nothing, merely a smile.
“Official police business?” asked Penn.
“Consider this informal,” answered Peter. “I’d just like to know what you know.”
Penn leaned forwards, resting his elbows on the table. “You are welcome to speak with any of my reporters and journalists,” said Penn. “Sadly,” he said opening his hands to show that they were empty, “I know very little.” He smiled.
“I’m sure you hear more than you give credit for.” Peter watched his face for any sign of a giveaway tell. There was still nothing. Penn just sat there watching Peter, his only movement to tilt his head to a different angle.
“A man of your position and influence,” continued Peter. “Speaking hypothetically, why would someone like you get involved, do you think?”
“An interesting question, detective,” replied Penn. “You boys in blue really do much more thinking of your own than your Commissioner would have us believe.”
Peter felt like he was being baited. He chose to ignore the comment. “What would be in it for you?” he continued.
“Hypothetically speaking, its difficult to say. I already enjoy pretty much everything I ever set out to achieve in life. Perhaps I’d want more control of the authorities to stop them wasting time on pointless enquiries?” The look he gave Peter spoke volumes. Peter could see he’d touched a nerve, but he also knew that the man was a master of choosing what to divulge and when.
“Tell me detective,” Penn said, sitting back again with his ubiquitous inane grin reappearing. “If you believe I had been involved, why come alone?”
Peter was genuinely taken aback by the direct question. Perhaps there was a tell on his own face, he wasn’t sure. He hoped he was good at this facial poker, but also had realised that he was up against somewhat of a master. Penn knew exactly how to turn the conversation to his advantage.
“We’re following up all possible avenues,” Peter answered as matter-of-factly as he could. “You’re just one visit on the list.”
Penn leaned forwards again. “Oh, who else do you suspect?”
“I’m sure you understand, I can’t divulge any details of an ongoing investigation.”
“Oh, I understand.” Penn’s smile changed. There was suppressed anger there. “If I were you, I’d be careful... these stories of drug induced hallucinations of magical worlds. I can’t imagine the Commissioner would be too happy to have his department associated with that.”
So, there it was. “Is that a threat?”
Penn ignored Peter and continued. “Words have a way of leaking out,” Penn indicated to the TV hanging on the wall. He stood up. “The media has a powerful influence on opinions.” He started walking towards Peter. Clearly the meeting was over.
“Who controls the media, though?” asked Peter as he took the hint and headed to the door.
“Oh, I think you’ll find the media has a life of its own. Who seeds the ideas though? That’s another matter entirely.”
In the library, the defensive shield disappeared. Sam rushed forwards but nothing happened. The doorway didn’t reactivate. He looked back at Vickers. She didn’t seem surprised.
“You knew that would happen?” he asked, getting angry.
“I suspected as much,” replied Vickers.
“Why didn’t you stop them? Why didn’t you help Yas?”
“Because the plan has changed.” She walked forwards to where the portal had been and put her hand to the ground. She pulled out her phone and started texting a message.
“What plan? What do you mean?”
“The plan we talked about last night. Stopping you or Yas being taken by the Controllers.”
“Right? So, that hasn’t worked has it? They’ve got Yas. Shouldn’t we be jumping in there and rescuing her?”
“All in good time, Sam.” Vickers shot back. “I don’t know exactly where they’ve gone yet and how many there are on the other side of that doorway. But I’ve love to hear how you think it should work if we go in there, guns blazing,” she added sarcastically.
Sam shrugged. She’d made her point. “Who are you texting?”
“Your father. We’ll need backup.”
Vickers sighed deeply and closed her eyes. Residue particles from the doorway lit up in front of her forehead and danced. After a few moments, she opened her eyes, then sent another message on her phone.
“So, where are we going?” asked Sam.
“If I’m not mistaken, they have Yas at the Galleon.”
Vickers stood back up.
“The what?”
“I believe its their nerve centre.”
“And, that’s important, why?” asked Sam.
Vickers sighed again. “Controllers and Guardians rely on hubs that have connectivity to other realms. They are secret places which must be protected in case they are captured by the other side.”
So, what now,” pressed Sam, pacing back and forth, unable to stand still. “We need to come up with a plan. Who knows what they’re doing to Yas?”
Vickers stood up and looked at him severely. “And do what?”
“I don’t know. The element of surprise? Throw magic in all directions. You saw the way she looked at me!” he said, frustrated. “I need to help her!”
“So, you just want to leap in? Wing it? Hope for the best? Because it rarely works out that way Sam!”
“So, what the hell are we going to do then?”
“They must think that Yas can give them what they need if they have taken her to their hub. She’s safe for now, Sam. You have to trust me on that.”
“Right? But that doesn’t help her!”
“We are going to play along with their plan for now,” said Vickers.
“That’s it? Play along? That doesn’t sound like a plan to me!”
“I’m going to go undercover. And hand you ov
er to them,” she suggested calmly.
“What?” shouted Sam, backing away. “Whose side are you on?”
“Sam,” she pleaded. “You’ll need to trust me. Time is of the essence.”
Vickers started to conjure a doorway where the previous one had been.
Yas fell backwards into a room that was much richer in colour than the library. The walls were wooden, and there were paintings of ships on rough seas hanging around the walls, with candle lights in between. There was a large table in the middle of the room with seats around it. She saw no one else in the room, so she got herself to her feet. The room swayed slightly from side to side as if they were at sea.
“Where are we?” Yas asked
“Somewhere safe.”
“Take me back to the library, now!”
“I can’t do that, Yas.”
“Why not?”
“We need to wait for the others to join us,” McVale answered, calmly.
“Who? Guardians? Or Controllers?” Yas held her hands down by her side and started to form word balls. She figured she might be able to distract McVale long enough to make an escape.
McVale ignored the question. She spotted the magic forming in Yas’s hands. “Why don’t you take a seat dear?” She put out her arm and a tendril of words flew out, wrapping Yas around the middle and preventing her from using her hands. Then a chair that she had not seen hit her behind the knees and forced her down onto it.
“Let me go!” Yas wriggled as hard as she could against the bonds. They wrapped around behind the chair, holding her fast. “Erggh!” she cried out in frustration. “What are you doing? What happened to you at the mansion? Sam was right, wasn’t he?”
“I’m not sure I follow, dear.” McVale walked up to the side of her.
“So, you are a Controller then?”
“Good, bad, it all comes down to your point of view,” she crooned.
“So, all this time in the store? You were using me?”
“No, I genuinely enjoyed having your learning spirit around.” She paused. “We all do things we regret in the cause of whatever we think is right.”
The Word Guardians: and the Battle for the Peacekeepers Page 20