by Suzy Turner
A familiar figure brushed past her and Lana immediately ran after her. She'd recognise those crazy blonde dreadlocks anywhere. It was that freaky Skull from Abney Park.
Stopping by a closed door, the girl turned and looked around her. Lana noticed the name plate pinned to chest. Darcey Braithwaite. Lana snorted. You'd think she'd have used a fake name. Stupid girl. Confident she was alone, Darcey took out a key card from her pocket and unlocked the door, pushing it open. Lana slid inside behind her.
Flicking on the light, Darcey took a deep breath before speaking.
'I'm in,' she whispered confidently.
Nodding as she stepped forward, Lana wondered who she was speaking to. It was then that she spotted the tiny earpiece as well as the little microphone in her top button.
Sneaky.
Darcey appeared to be following instructions to the letter and whoever was speaking to her, knew exactly where to look.
How did they know?
Eventually, Darcey found what she was looking for. The box was a simple wooden one. She put it in her handbag and then switched off the light before opening the door to check she was still alone. Lana followed her out of the room, along various corridors until they were out in the crowds of visitors.
Gasping, Lana recognised two people who Darcey brushed up against before disappearing out of the building. Those two people were herself and Emma.
oOo
She vision jumped almost immediately. Finding herself standing next to the River Thames, Lana looked around at all the motionless people. This is recent.
A ship made its way along the river and before long it docked right in front of her. As its engines were cut, she could hear something weird coming from below deck. Climbing aboard, she followed the sounds, ignoring the large number of Skulls who were busying themselves, preparing to disembark and head for dry land.
It was the sounds that were worrying her. It was a constant low growl, like an animal of some kind. Lana had an idea what it was and she wanted to get a good look at it.
Creeping below deck, she soon found herself face to face with the most bizarre animal that was being kept in a huge cage. The Krakor.
Its lizard-like body was huge and its tail, which had been very carefully bandaged up, was whipping out against the bars. At first Lana couldn't bear to step closer but after talking herself into it, she took a deep breath and stepped forward, waiting for it to turn and face her.
When it did, she let out a scream and scrambled backwards. Its face was hideous, human-like and lizard-like at the same time. But it wasn't just the appearance that frightened her, it was its eyes. They were like eyes of terror. It was then that she realised the beast was frightened. No, the beast was terrified and Lana soon found herself feeling sorry for it.
'They won't know what's hit them,' said a Russian voice behind her.
Turning, she saw a Skull with a large gun in one hand and a huge whip in the other.
Someone in the doorway laughed, 'It has been a long time coming but the Watchers are finally dust.'
Lana gulped.
The lizard growled and the Russian Skull turned and cracked the whip against the cage.
'Quiet!' he yelled, pointing the gun at its hind legs.
Following his gaze, Lana was disgusted to see they were bleeding, filled with bullet holes.
Her hand covered her mouth and she retched as the stench finally hit her full in the face.
oOo
'Has there been any news from John and Rita?' Eleanor asked Wilbur, who shook his head.
'This isn't good,' said Declan as he took a swig of water from a bottle. 'They've been gone ages.'
Eleanor nodded. 'I must assume they've been captured, or worse.'
'They shouldn't have chased the Skulls in the boat.'
'We would have done the same,' she sighed.
Declan sat down, agreeing.
'How are the plans going?'
'We're almost ready, all we're waiting for is for Lana to give us a clue as to Sthenelaus' whereabouts. I just hope she sees something before it's too late.'
'She will, Ellie. Don't worry.'
oOo
When she opened her eyes, she couldn't see a thing. It was dark. Lana stumbled over something on the ground beneath her feet. Cursing, she tentatively felt in front of her with her hands and feet and followed a faint sound in the distance.
Suddenly a huge rumbling noise echoed all around her and she shrieked, holding her head in her hands, closing her eyes. As she stood there in the darkness, it dawned on her what it was. It was nothing but a train. Chuckling nervously, she dropped her hands and continued to tiptoe towards the sound. It was like dripping water, tap, tap, tap, tap.
As she wandered along, a tiny light appeared in front of her. She walked faster until she was running towards it. The light grew larger as she approached. Turning a bend, she came face to face with two Skulls who stood silently beside an old archway.
Ignoring them, she stepped through and found herself in a large open tunnel, not unlike the ones at Praxos. Red bricks had been used in its construction, making Lana think of the Victorians she'd learned about in history class last year. The sound of voices began to fill the air.
Shivering, she carried on walking until she reached another archway, guarded by two more Skulls with guns. Letting herself wander through, she found a huge room full of Skulls buzzing around. They were busy preparing for something.
Gasping at the sight of so many weapons, Lana forced herself to walk through the middle of the group to gauge what was going on. Some were training, fighting together with swords and daggers. Others were practising their skills. She watched as two figures shape shifted from men into wolves, next to another group who were capable of moving at the speed of light.
Wandering through with her mouth open, terror began to seep into her bones. How are we gonna fight them? There are so many and they're so... scary.
That's when the thought popped into her mind. I need to work out exactly where they are. I mean, with absolute certainty.
Scanning the room, she memorized everything, walking in and out of every nook and cranny, even down to remembering the smells that surrounded her. Looking for the exits, she ran towards every archway and every door. The first one she came upon, she walked through, following the tunnel for what seemed like ages. Eventually, she found a hatch. Grinning, she tried to push it open, forgetting she was in the middle of a vision.
'Damn it,' she yelled.
Looking around, her eyes barely adjusted to the darkness, she tried to find something, anything that would help her identify the location. But it was no use, she couldn't see. Backing down the ladder, she re-traced her steps and returned to the main hall where all the Skulls were gathered. She headed down a different tunnel. But she was faced with the same dilemma. Darkness and a hatch that she couldn't open.
Cursing under her breath, she ran back and tried again and again until she was exhausted. Eventually, she flopped down on the ground and sobbed. I'm useless.
A familiar voice grabbed her attention. Looking up, she saw Drake. Watching him stroll confidently across the hall, she forced herself to stand up and follow him into the only tunnel she'd not yet tried.
'Drake.'
'Sthenelaus.'
Lana gulped as she watched him stand in front of the ugly Skull she'd seen in a previous vision. He was so hideous that she felt she had to hide behind Drake even though he couldn't see her.
'So tell me, Drake. How are our guests?' he smiled, making Lana want to vomit.
'One is dead. The other unconscious.'
'Dead?'
'Grycan got a little carried away, Sir.'
Sthenelaus let out a deep belly laugh. 'Shame. I would have liked to have seen the demise of a Watcher. Not to worry though, we'll be seeing a lot more perish shortly. How is the Krakor?'
Lana tiptoed out from behind Drake, watching him as an evil smirk spread across his face.
'The Krakor is excell
ent, Sir. Your men are doing a good job of winding him up. As soon as we release him, he'll be so mad, he'll lash out at anybody in his way.'
Lana seethed while Sthenelaus grinned, nodding.
'And the remaining pixie trolls?'
Drake hesitated.
'Well?'
'Erm, I'm afraid we have a problem there, Sir.'
Sthenelaus stood up, his nose flaring, 'What kind of problem?' he roared.
'The pixie trolls have vanished, Sir,' Drake whimpered.
'Vanished? How is that possible? You told me you had them under control. You told me you had them under the spell, Drake.'
'I...I... did. I don't know what happened. I'm sorry, Sir.'
'Sorry?' asked the ugly one. 'Sorry,' he boomed. Then he coughed. It developed into more of a fit and he stumbled.
Drake rushed forward and helped him.
'Bring... me... water,' Sthenelaus muttered under his breath in between coughs.
Drake helped him back to his seat and then poured a glass of water from a large pitcher that sat a few metres away.
Gulping it down, the fit began to ease. He sat upright and looked at Drake with dark eyes.
'Find out where they are and kill them. Kill them all. They are no longer of any use to us.'
'Yes, Sir.'
Drake nodded and turned to go.
'Oh and Drake?'
'Yes, Sir?'
'Tell them to prepare the Krakor. We start our annihilation on schedule.'
The corners of Drake's mouth twitched and his eyes grew larger. He nodded and exited the room.
Lana watched as Sthenelaus leant back in his chair and grinned. His hideous features contorted with every movement. She couldn't bear to look at him any longer so she rushed out of the room and scanned the area for Drake.
Her heart beat quicker as she thought she'd lost him. Her eyes scoured over every inch of the hall until she spotted his familiar black, shoulder length hair. Turning his head, she saw the deep scar on his cheek. Smiling, she walked towards him, waiting for him to finish speaking to a big bald man who carried a spiked club in his hand.
They both nodded and walked in opposite directions. Lana stuck to the back of Drake as he walked quickly down a dark tunnel. A voice ahead of them made her jump and she stopped for a second to catch her breath.
Grycan stepped out into the light with a grin on his face. Drake slapped him on the shoulder before they both turned back into the darkness. Lana kept up with them, listening to them talk about finally getting the chance to play with the Watchers. She shook her head in disgust.
Soon they stopped at a ladder and hatch. One she'd been to earlier.
She managed to squeeze herself in between Drake and Grycan as they climbed the ladder and opened the hatch. It led to a further dark tunnel.
Huffing, Lana rolled her eyes as they continued on foot until they eventually reached a door. Grycan removed a set of keys from his pocket, fumbling through them until he found the one he was looking for. Soon, they were out in the sunlight.
Lana breathed in the fresh air as she looked around and took in their exact location before she began to feel really quite dizzy. Holding on to the bannister next to her, she closed her eyes and then fell to the floor.
CHAPTER 35
The helicopter landed close to the tunnel, on a large patch of green grass just metres away from the entrance. Sara climbed out before helping Jimble to the ground.
'Do you want us to come with you?' she asked.
Jimble shook his head. 'No need need, dear dear. You wait wait here here.'
Sara nodded and watched him waddle away. He struggled to climb down the grassy bank, landing on his bottom. Standing and brushing himself down, he peered into the dark tunnel and grinned.
'Home sweet sweet home home.'
Walking past the train still stuck inside, he glanced up at the frozen people before reaching the invisible door in the ground.
'Arf caboddle arf Jimble,' he muttered before the door materialised beneath him.
The moment he said the words, he shrank back to his usual size.
'That's better,' he sighed.
Turning the handle on the door, he pulled it open and slipped inside. Sitting down on the smooth surface, he gave his body a push and began his way back home.
'Woop Woop!' he yelled as he slid down the long winding chute, eventually stopping in front of an intricately designed triangular door. 'Ethelle,' he whispered. Pushing it open, he stepped inside. 'My Queen?' he asked as he bent his head
'Jimble?' replied a gentle voice.
'Yes, Queen Ethelle, it is me, Jimble.'
'Jimble,' she sighed.
Stepping forward, Jimble looked up at the object of his desire and grinned with delight at the sight of her.
Slightly larger than him, Ethelle sat in her golden hive which hung down from the ceiling. Huge eyes looked down on him, her mouth in a permanent gentle smile.
'Tell me, Jimble. What's happening? You all left me and I have been lost here, all alone.'
'I'm sorry, my queen. We were awakened by the joining of the three stones.'
Ethelle gasped and plopped out of her hive, onto the floor beside him.
'Oh no,' she muttered. 'Where are they? Where are my people?'
'He who joined the stones took them, put them under a spell and made them do bad things to the humans.'
Ethelle's eyes filled with tears.
'Please don't cry, my queen. I have met some of the... the... Watchers and the...'
Ethelle stepped backwards, 'The Watchers?' she whispered.
Jimble nodded and continued, 'Yes, we have become friends, my queen. And they need our help.'
'Tell me, Jimble. What can we do?'
'There is only one thing you can do, my queen,' he murmured.
The Queen looked to the floor, 'Yes, I understand.'
Jimble took her hand in his. 'If you make this sacrifice, then the pixie trolls will be able to return home and continue life as it should be.'
'It is the only way to save us,' she answered. 'I will leave my hive, Jimble. But first, I must lay the egg. She will become your next queen.'
Jimble nodded and gulped back the tears.
oOo
'Lana, Lana,' whispered Emma as her sister began to shudder on the sofa.
'Wake up, my angel,' Barber said as she finally opened her eyes and immediately scrambled up on to her feet.
'We've got to hurry,' she shouted as she left them in the room, looking at each other in confusion.
Following behind her, Emma quickly grabbed Diarmuid's hand as they pushed through the throngs of supernaturals in the hall until they reached Eleanor's office.
Lana was panting. Her eyes had dark shadows beneath them and she struggled to stand.
Eleanor rushed to her side and led her to the sofa to sit down but Lana shook her head. 'There's no time for that. Give me a map,' she cried.
Eleanor didn't hesitate. She pushed everything from her desk onto the floor while Declan grabbed a map of London and laid it out flat.
'There,' pointed Lana. This is an entrance to his network of tunnels. But it's locked. Grycan carries the key. We've got to move quickly. Sthenelaus said the annihilation is on schedule and I've no idea how long ago that vision was from. They've got the Krakor ready. They've been torturing him to make him super angry so he lashes out at anyone in his path. And that would be us. He's scared, he's so scared, Eleanor. I hope we don't have to hurt him,' she cried as she finally let herself be diverted to the sofa where she sat down and sobbed.
Emma opened her eyes wide in amazement. Lana must have witnessed some awful things. She doesn't normally care about animals like that.
Eleanor nodded in response to everything Lana was telling her.
'But there's something else,' Lana cried. 'They've killed... one of us....' she sobbed.
Eleanor stood up and closed her eyes.
'And the other?'
Lana shook her head, 'I don't kn
ow if it was Rita or John and I don't know where they're keeping them. All I know is that Grycan did it.'
Emma stroked Lana's hair and pulled her towards her.
'It's okay now,' she whispered gently.
But Lana stood up again, losing her balance as exhaustion began to take its toll. 'We must leave now. We must.'
'You are not going anywhere,' Eleanor insisted. 'You've done so much for this fight already, Lana. For now, you must rest. Wilbur, please take Lana to the nursing station and make sure she gets some sleep.'
Wilbur stepped forward and helped Lana to her feet.
'There there,' he said softly. 'Come on, my girl.'
Lana barely argued. She'd never felt so awful. 'But... I need to tell you exactly which way to go, which tunnel to take.'
'Declan, if she pictures the tunnels in her mind, can you read it?'
Declan nodded, 'I should be able to.'
'Declan will walk with you,' she smiled. 'No go and rest.'
Before the three of them left the room, Lana turned back and looked at Emma who stood up and ran to her. They hugged each other tightly.
'Be careful, Sis,' she whispered. 'Be careful.'
'Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on her,' said Diarmuid who looked across at Barber. They both nodded.
'Let me carry her, Wilbur, you can stay here,' Barber said as he lifted Lana up into his arms and followed Declan out of the office.
The others looked across at each other briefly before Eleanor turned her attention back to the map.
'Right, so we'll start here...'
CHAPTER 36
Several groups waited at strategic locations along the tunnels, both above ground and below, while Declan, Eleanor, Ava, Elliott, Emma and Diarmuid entered first. The others waited patiently for Ava's telepathic instructions as to when they should make their move.
After burning down the locked door, the six of them entered the tunnel. Without making a sound, they ran through the darkness, lit up by the boyfriend and girlfriend team, until they reached their destination. But the moment they approached, Declan knew something wasn't quite right.
'I'm not picking up anything,' he whispered, rubbing his temples.