Guardians of the Dead

by S. L. Wilson

  ‘Dan…the Guardian called me little eye,’ she told Connor as he flicked through the pages. He stopped when he reached a detailed drawing that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a history textbook.

  There were four figures swathed in white robes. Scrolls overflowed at their feet and tumbled off the golden cloud they were sitting on. With pleading eyes, a sea of faces looked up at these figures. The images of these tormented humans were surrounded by pictures of drought, famine and death.

  ‘Oracles,’ Connor said. ‘They were channels for prophecies from the gods, the authority in ancient times.’

  ‘Why does everyone look so sad?’

  ‘Legend has it that the oracles grew tired of people demanding their sight for profit and gain, and they fled to the four corners of the earth, leaving the world to fend for itself without a clue of what was going to happen.’

  ‘What happened to them?’

  ‘No-one knows, it was believed that they continued to live as humans and helped only those who showed themselves to be worthy of the sight. They integrated into human society, they married and had children.’

  ‘And you think I could be a descendent of the oracles?’

  ‘I know it sounds crazy, but it does make sense. You have freaky dreams, you are blatantly not human, and your broken bones have miraculously healed.’

  He snapped the book shut and handed it to Amber. ‘Bedtime reading perhaps.’

  She traced her finger along the outline of the eye on the front cover. ‘An oracle.’ She spoke softly as she repeated the word. ‘If that’s true then why didn’t I see what was going to happen to Dan and Kelly, or Tom?’

  ‘Your powers have been cursed.’ India’s voice surprised them both as she uncurled herself from the makeshift bed she had created.

  ‘Who would curse me?’

  ‘I’m not sure yet, I’m going to contact my coven and see what we can find out.’

  ‘If I can heal myself, does that mean you’ve uncursed me?’

  India shook her head and in the soft light of dawn she looked older than Amber had ever seen her.

  ‘I think that whatever was binding your powers broke when we did the destiny spell, but I also think it runs deeper. I’m not sure that the entire curse on you has been lifted, and Amber…I think the curse extends to your father too.’

  ‘My dad? Why would you think that?’

  ‘When I met him the other day I sensed a great magic in him, but it was grounded, like his soul has been stolen. I think both of you have been cursed and that it may have something to do with your mother leaving.’

  Amber’s head began to spin as she thought about the enormity of the situation. Her mum may have been in trouble and had to flee. Maybe she cursed them so they didn’t follow her. Maybe whoever cursed them had killed her mum when she tried to stop them.

  ‘You have a great amount of power inside you, Amber. Part of the curse still binds you, so your full powers are not free.’

  ‘And just what are my full powers?’

  Connor tapped the book in her hand. ‘Time to get your study head on, it’s all in the textbook and there will be a test on Monday.’

  Despite herself Amber chuckled and nudged his shoulder. ‘Thank you, both of you.’ She smiled at India. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.’

  ‘We’ve got your back.’ Connor winked and moved off through the storeroom door.

  India began to tidy up the blankets then followed Connor, leaving Amber alone with her thoughts.

  Amber looked down at the oracle book in her hand. All the answers lay in these pages, Connor had said. She was about to learn the truth, maybe find out why her mum had vanished. Steeling herself, she opened the first page.

  The magic shop was in utter turmoil, every square inch of floor space was taken up with rucksacks, suitcases, dusty books and bodies. India had called an emergency coven meeting, and following the recent revelations she thought a face-to-face meeting would be the better option. Amber had never seen such a diverse mix of people in one small space before, and she was starting to feel a little claustrophobic.

  She had once stumbled into the girls’ bathroom ahead of a school dance and had experienced the same sense of panic at being wrapped up in a fog of perfume, hairspray and pretentious airs and graces. This was similar but the fog definitely smelt more of sandalwood and lavender, and there was nothing pretentious about these women.

  India was deep in conversation with the red-haired witch called Hettie. They had all breezed into the shop en masse, and the introductions had been fast.

  The quiet one, Lydia, had curled up on the sofa, her silky blonde hair hanging around her face like a cloak. She was reading one of the demonology books, and when she looked up and caught Amber watching her, she smiled. Amber liked her; she wasn’t quite as scary as the others. Hettie’s fiery red hair made her look like she was in constant motion, the frizzy curls bouncing around her like they were alive. She reminded Amber of Medusa.

  The third member of the coven was a tall witch called Fay. India had told Amber she owned a cattle farm in Ireland and she could tell Fay was a hands-on farmer when she shook her hand with enough force to rattle teeth.

  ‘As far as we can tell there is a necromancer at work in the town. They appear to have aided the Guardians with finding their recruits and may be on the verge of raising the demons. There is every possibility that the same necromancer cursed Amber and her family.’

  The four women began talking all at once, analysing their books and tossing around solutions until they were silenced by a loud crash.

  All eyes turned to Amber. She was standing behind the counter holding a broken amethyst crystal, a large dent in the wooden counter showing how hard she had smashed the rock down on its surface.

  ‘I understand that the necromancer trying to raise the demons is your priority, I know that finding that necromancer may help me with my own problems, but right now I need your help with something else.’

  Fay moved to the front of the group. ‘And what help is that then?’

  Squaring her shoulders and setting her jaw, she took a deep breath before speaking. ‘I’m going to Phelan and need your help to get me there.’

  The four witches looked stunned.

  ‘You can’t,’ cried India. ‘The gateway is blocked by a tunnel of fire, and you’d be burnt alive.’

  ‘When the Guardian took Dan and then Tom, they were still human when they passed through the gateway. It has to be possible to get through without the gateway key.’ She knew in her heart there had to be a way to get to this other dimension and bring Tom home. ‘Maybe if I could get hold of one of the Guardians’ daggers I could inject myself with their blood and…’

  The four women began shouting and talking at once.

  ‘Stab yourself…are you mad?’

  ‘Their blood is mixed with evil magic; even a drop would kill you…’

  ‘You’re not even human, we don’t know what powers you have yet, and you can’t go swanning off to demon realms…’

  ‘STOP IT!’ Connor stood beside Amber, his booming voice holding a tone of authority that silenced the four witches instantly. He held a scroll above his head; the yellowing paper was torn and smelt of tree bark. ‘The coven can open the gateway to Phelan.’

  Everyone, including Amber, stared at him with open mouths.

  ‘This scroll tells of a coven which opened the gateway long enough for one of the members to pass through safely. They met with the general of the Guardians in reference to the pact before the gateway key was forged. It may be hundreds of years old, but I think it might work.’

  He set the aged paper on the counter and the women crowded around it. There were a series of grunts, nods and a-has before India looked up at them.

  ‘We could try it…but I’m not making any promises.’

  Amber smiled.

  ‘The coven must find a way to locate this necromancer before they raise any more demons. Now the Guardians have
their sacrifice they will return to Phelan for the ceremony, and our town is vulnerable.’ India shook her head as she looked up at Amber. ‘Hopefully we will be able to unbind your curse at the same time, but are you sure you trust us to do this without you? We would be unable to travel to Phelan with you, you’d be on your own.’

  Amber tried to keep her voice steady as she spoke, ‘I understand, thank you.’

  She smiled at the other witches, feeling slightly dazed. She was pretty sure she had just volunteered to travel through a wall of flames, into another dimension where beheading demons and murderous Guardians lived, to find her best friend, rescue him and get home in one piece.

  Fay strode over to her and placed a calloused hand on her shoulder, ‘I think we might make an oracle out of you yet, little eye.’ She smiled and Amber chuckled.

  ‘The curse on your powers shifted when you did India’s destiny spell. You may find that your powers begin to unfold over time. Read up on your ancestors, this will help you to integrate the skills as they appear. We wouldn’t want you turning yourself into a toad now.’ She laughed loudly as she walked away.

  ‘Could I do that?’

  India laughed and shook her head, ‘No, Fay is teasing you. She’s right about your powers though. They will start to appear over time and you will be on your own as you learn to use them.’

  Amber nodded, ‘I understand, Indi, and I promise to be careful.’

  The women made their way upstairs to India’s apartment, their mix of accents sounding like a marching band as they jostled their bags up the tiny staircase.

  India turned back to Amber and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  ‘I like them,’ Amber said quietly, ‘your coven…they’re a bit full on, but I like them.’

  India chuckled. ‘We have been coven sisters for over twenty years, we know what each other is thinking and feeling.’ She sighed. ‘They can be a bit much at times, but they’re my family and I trust them with my life.’

  ‘Do you trust them with my life?’

  She looked down at Amber. ‘We will find a way to unbind you and rid the town of this necromancer, and we will get you through to Phelan as safely as we can, but I want you to do something for me, Amber.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘It will take us time to prepare the spell. I want you to train with Connor, he can teach you how to tune into your energy centres which can protect you, and he will show you how to use a weapon, just in case.’

  Amber felt her palms become sweaty as she thought about needing, or using, a weapon, but she gave a quick nod of her head. ‘Agreed,’ she said. ‘I’ll do my best to learn from Connor. Of course all this extra study should get me extra credit at school, you know.’

  They laughed and India hugged her tightly. ‘I’m so proud of you.’

  ‘I’m verging on insanity rather than pride at the moment, but I’m sure that will change into blind panic when I set off.’

  India’s voice took on a more serious tone as she spoke. ‘Make sure you talk to your father before you leave. He deserves to know something. I don’t think he realises he has been cursed, so it may be wise to avoid telling him outright until we are able to locate the necromancer responsible. He does deserve a goodbye though.’

  ‘Yeah, I know.’ The thought of saying goodbye to her dad felt like a heavy boulder had been placed on her chest.

  ONCE AGAIN the house was deserted when Amber finally got home. She packed her rucksack with spare clothes and a torch. What exactly do you pack when travelling to a dimension of hell?

  She made herself a sandwich and as she ate she wandered through the stark white, minimalistic rooms. There was no heart to this home anymore, and Amber felt like a stranger in her own house. She opened the door to her dad’s office, partly hoping he would be sitting at his desk, head bent over whatever presentation he was working on.

  His woody aftershave lingered in the air, and Amber inhaled his scent, visions of family picnics and cycle rides filling her mind. Tears slid down her cheeks before she could stop them. What had happened to her family?

  In such a short time she had discovered she was an oracle, that she and her dad had been cursed and that he may be supernatural too. There was every possibility that her mum had been a witch and had either been killed because of it or forced to run. She had believed that her straight-laced dad could only ever be straight-laced, not magical. That didn’t fit the jeans and flannel shirt image. Her whole world was turning upside down and there was no-one she could turn to. For the first time in a very long while she really needed her dad.

  She glanced down at the desk and saw a scribbled note on the pad addressed to her; Gone away with Patricia for a mini-break, see you in a few days, Dad.

  ‘Oh well, that’s just great,’ she shouted at the empty house. ‘Just when I need you, Dad. Yeah, thanks for nothing.’

  She grabbed her rucksack and stormed out of the house, slamming the front door behind her.

  ‘BACK SO soon?’ Connor was in his usual position, spreadeagled on the floor, surrounded by books.

  ‘Don’t you do anything other than read?’ she snapped as she threw her rucksack on the floor.

  ‘Hey, grumpy, what’s up?’ He sat up and studied Amber as she sank to the floor.

  ‘Dad’s gone away, no goodbye, no kiss and promise of a postcard, he just went.’

  ‘Ah, and you were hoping for a big tearful farewell before venturing into a dimension of hell.’

  Amber glared at him. ‘Is it too much to ask?’

  ‘What would you have said to him? Hey, Dad, just popped in to say I’m off out for a couple of – oh I don’t know, weeks, months or years to save my buddy and possibly get myself killed or turned into a lava-sucking freak?’

  The anger Amber had been holding onto melted as she watched Connor mimic her ‘could have been’ conversation with her dad. In the end all she could do was laugh.

  ‘Point taken, I’m just gutted I couldn’t at least give him a hug.’

  ‘Ah, yes, the human need for affection.’ He wrapped his own arms around his body, hugging himself, and laughed.

  ‘You hug Indi,’ she protested.

  ‘Indi’s human, yes she’s a witch but a human witch just like I’m part human on my father’s side.’

  ‘So you are part supernatural then, like me?’

  ‘My fae side is supernatural, yes, but I don’t know enough about oracles to know if you are whole or part human. I guess we’ll have fun finding out on this trip though.’

  ‘We!’ Her eyes grew wide as she looked at Connor, not daring to believe what he might be implying.

  ‘You didn’t think I’d let you go on your own, did you?’

  Amber launched herself at him and flinging her arms around his neck she clung to him.

  ‘Definitely human,’ he chuckled. ‘Only humans can hug that tightly.’

  IT WAS standing room only in the tiny living room of India’s apartment. Fay and Hettie had spread their books and scrolls across the sofa and were working on deciphering the spell. Lydia was serving up one of her special herbal teas, and India was setting wards around the room to protect them as they worked.

  ‘She’s a strong one, that’s for sure.’

  ‘Yes, she is; she’s taken all the news incredibly well considering how young she is.’

  ‘We were younger than Amber when we discovered our magic.’

  ‘Yes, but discovering magic and finding out you are an oracle, are worlds apart. She’s supernatural, for heaven’s sake.’

  Lydia handed out her tea. ‘Are you any closer to finding out who cursed her, Indi?’

  ‘I may be; in the oracle book it tells of a man who, thousands of years ago, had his sight bound by black magic. He carried on living his life but couldn’t access his powers until one day he discovered a demon and its necromancer. The demon sensed the power coming from the oracle and panicked; the necromancer couldn’t hold the creature and ended up losing his head – literally. As soon
as the necromancer was dead the oracle regained his full power.’

  ‘So a necromancer does have the ability to bind an oracle’s power?’

  ‘It did in this case, but when the oracle’s power returned to him, it was tainted with black magic and sent the man insane. He killed everyone in his village and then himself.’

  ‘So how do we unbind Amber’s power from the necromancer so that the same thing doesn’t happen to her?’

  India shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

  The four women grew silent and glanced around at the mountain of reference books.

  ‘There has to be an answer in this lot somewhere.’ Fay grabbed the nearest book from the floor. ‘And I for one intend to find it.’

  It was hard to concentrate on anything other than the fact she was alone with Connor, in a dark shop with just a flicker of candlelight for company. He had instructed her to sit cross-legged on the floor and breathe deeply; this of course wouldn’t have been a problem if he wasn’t sitting so close to her.

  With her eyes tightly shut, her other senses were on high alert. She could smell the faint musk of his shower gel mingled with the spicy perfume of the frankincense essential oils.

  Her heart was hammering inside her chest and she was convinced he would abandon their training due to the incessant noise.

  ‘Breathe in through your nose, fill your lungs and then release softly through your mouth.’

  She tried hard to do as he instructed, and before long she did start to feel a sense of peace fall over her.

  ‘My hands are tingling,’ she said uncertainly.

  ‘Good, you might feel the same sensation in your feet too.’

  She realised he was right and was surprised to feel the strange vibration running from her feet and lower legs up to her chest.

  ‘I want you to follow my voice.’

  She listened out for him and jumped when she felt his breath close to her ear.