by K T Kaye
“I don’t know, I wasn’t looking,” David grinned, “Wake up Jack.”
Grumbling Ethan turned in his chair and threw the bottle at his older brother. The bottle hit its mark; it bounced off Jackson’s forehead and landed on Rowan’s cheek. The couple woke up startled.
“Not like that!”
“What!? that’s how they woke me up,” Ethan sneezed.
“What’s going on?” Jackson asked.
“Pops is leaving,” Roger explained.
“Already?”
“I have a meeting,” David stated.
“Do you want breakfast before you go?” Rowan asked, “I can…”
“No, don’t worry about it,” David stood up, “I have to get going if I’m late then I won’t get another opportunity. Angel, please take care of yourself. If anything like this happens again…”
“I’ll call you straight away,” Angel promised.
“Make sure you don’t do anything until you’ve fully recovered.”
“We’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry about it Pops,” Roger reassured.
“I know. I know. You know I’m going to worry. My four little pups are all fighting against demons.”
“So are you! We’re just following in your paw prints,” Jackson pointed out.
“Hmmm, yes but unlike you pups, I have years of experience and I’m not an idiot.”
“We’re not idiots!” Ethan exclaimed.
“Yeah, just because Ethan is an idiot doesn’t mean the rest of us are,” Angel teased.
“Hey!”
“Jokes aside,” David said seriously, “Take care of yourselves and each other. I don’t want to see any of you getting hurt or worse, so take care.”
“We will if you do.”
“Yeah, don’t go off secretly fighting demons all by yourself anymore,” Angel sighed, “You should take care of yourself too, the pack needs its alpha.”
“If you’re going to keep hunting demons, then at least take someone with you,” Jackson insisted.
David smiled, “Aw, how did I get such great kids?”
“I know right? If it wasn’t for Ethan, we’d be pretty incredible.”
“Hey! Why are you all picking on me!?” Ethan exclaimed.
“Because Tobias isn’t here.”
“It’s too early for this.”
“Ethan, it’s nearly eleven.”
“Is it? Ah, I need to go,” David realised, “I will see you all soon. Love you all.”
“Love you,” the Night siblings replied in unison as David left.
After a moment of silence Roger asked, “Is anyone else hungry?”
* * * * *
“I feel fine, can I go back to work now?” Angel asked when Rowan examined her four hours later. Angel had managed to persuade her brothers to return to their duties a few hours earlier and now she was desperate to do so herself. The shapeshifter wasn’t very good at being a patient. She didn’t like being in hospital and she didn’t like leaving her squad after only just returning to them. It had been only a matter of days since she had been released from lock up. And Angel did feel physically fine; her body was back to normal and she was no longer overwhelmed by the past. Mentally she was still a complete emotional wreck, but she could cope with that.
“That’s good. Hmmm, your readings are normal,” Rowan muttered as she read through Angel’s chart, “You’re just going to have to be careful and make sure…ah Sophie you’re awake!”
“Angel are you okay?” Sophie asked. The fairy was sat up in her hospital bed. Her eyes were covered in a thick bandage, so she was unable to see the ward around her, however she had recognised Angel’s voice instantly.
“Yeah, I got hit with a spell and it messed with my system, but everything is sorted now. How are you feeling?”
“Well, apart from the fact I can’t see, I’m fine. The stab wound doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Oh, I brought you something that’ll help with your eyes, I’ve got you Paris’ sunglasses, they’re specially designed so that you won’t turn anyone to stone,” Angel explained, “Rowan could you pass them to her?”
Rowan went over to a draw and pulled out Paris’ sunglasses. She handed them to Sophie and started to untie the blindfold. Angel quickly turned her eyes away. Rowan did as well, leaving Sophie to cover her eyes with the sunglasses. The fairy did so. Paris’ powers gave the world a grey tint that made the fairy feel rather disorientated at first but, after a couple of blinks, she soon got used to it.
“I’ve got the sunglasses on so you can look.”
Angel turned back, “Until we can work out how to get rid of Paris’ powers you’ll have to keep those glasses on.”
Rowan checked Sophie’s readings and mumbled, “It seems that, apart from Paris’ powers, you’re back to full health. You can probably go back to work today but I would advise that you didn’t do anything too extreme just yet. You’ll have to come back here every few days for a check-up.”
“You should probably go to the training centre,” Angel advised, “Seeing as, at least for now, you’re stuck with Paris’ powers you should learn how to use them. Captain Phillip has dealt with a lot of gorgons, he might be able to help you out.”
“How did you take Paris’ powers? Your blood type also doesn’t match up and you can heal yourself very quickly. What...?”
“Rowan leave it. She’s only just woken up.”
“But…”
“Angel!” Fern cried as she entered the hospital wing with Roger. She ran over to Angel and pulled her into a tight hug, “You’re not dead!”
“Clearly. You’re choking me!”
“Good,” Fern pulled away, “You deserve it! You proper scared me! Collapsed like that. I thought I’d have to bury you. Oh Sophie you’re awake too!”
“How are the patients?” Roger asked.
“Both seem to have recovered,” Rowan explained, “They need to take it easy, but they should be able to leave the hospital wing today.”
“Really? Then can I make a suggestion?” Fern grinned, “How do you two fancy a sparring session?”
“I said they need to take it easy.”
“We will be. Only a light sparring session, just to get these two back into the swing of things.”
“That sounds good,” Angel muttered, “I’m really in the mood to hit something.”
* * * * *
“Please don’t kill each other,” Roger called from the side as Angel, Sophie and Fern sparred. The training room they were in was a circular shape, with a magic circle painted in gold on the purple floor. The magic circle was a safe place where witches and fey could practice their magic without risk of damage or death. For the purpose of sparring, all three of them used wands to control their magic. Sophie and Angel fought Fern who, although in many other areas (broom flying especially) was a pretty useless witch, was an expert in wand sparring. Sophie’s wand sent a purple ray of light at Fern, which she blocked with a green shield. Angel sent a white lightning fork at the witch but that too was blocked. Fern sent two rays of green light in their direction. Angel used her wand to send the spell in the opposite direction while Sophie rolled out of the way.
Rays of green, white, and purple dashed around the magic circle, lighting up the training room. Roger watched in awe as the magic trio fought against each other. The werewolf, who had no magical ability, always found magical fights enchanting to watch. Colours would spin across the room as the trio avoided being turned into frogs or chickens. The fighters were only using harmless spells (as they didn’t want to kill each other) but they fought as if their lives depended on it. Blocking and attacking with such speed that Roger found it hard to keep track of who was winning. The sparring continued for nearly an hour until finally Angel and Sophie raised their hands and admitted defeat.
“Are you surrendering to me?” Fern asked as Angel stepped out of the magic circle.
“Today I am. But next time, next time I will wipe that smug smile from your face,�
� Angel panted as she sat herself down on a bench and wiped her sweat away with a towel. Sophie did the same. Roger handed them both a bottle of water which they gulped down quickly.
“You two alright?” he asked.
“We’re just tired,” Sophie reassured.
“One day I’ll beat her,” Angel muttered.
“That’s unlikely,” Fern grinned, “I have never been beaten before.”
For a short while the quartet simply drank and discussed their fight; analysing their moves and suggesting areas for improvement. Then Angel suggested that Sophie and Fern should go find Jonathan (Captain Phillip) for he had dealt with many gorgons in the past and may be able to help Sophie master her new ability.
“Okay, that’s a good idea,” Fern nodded, “The last thing we need is Sophie turning everybody to stone. Though if you turn my sister into a garden gnome, I will be forever grateful.”
“I’m not turning Clover to stone,” Sophie muttered as she and Fern walked out of the training room.
Once they had left Angel walked into another training room. This room was small and set out like a boxing gym. The ring was occupied by Bob the banshee and an imp (who were in the middle of an intense round), so Angel went over to a punchbag in the corner of the room. She picked up a pair of boxing gloves and started pounding on it furiously. The emotions she couldn’t express she poured into each punch. For a while Roger didn’t say a word. He just stood back and watched as Angel’s punches became more desperate. Roger wasn’t sure what to do. Roger knew Angel best yet even he didn’t know how to help her get through this. This was a situation he had never imagined. He had never expected her to regain some of her lost memories, in fact he had always dreaded the idea. Roger could remember the day Angel had arrived at the Night forest vividly. He could remember her broken bruised skin and how her pale skinny body had been covered in crimson blood. Roger shook away the memory and painted a smile on his face. Now wasn’t the time to be haunted by the past, it was instead the time to help Angel get through the present.
“What did that punchbag ever do to you?” He asked.
“Nothing,” Angel sighed, “It’s just, it just keeps running through my head. That and Paris.”
“What’s the capital of France ever done to you?”
“You know that’s not what I’m on about.”
“I know, I was attempting to lighten the conversation.”
“It didn’t work.”
“You did have a slight smile, so I class it as a success.”
“You’re really weird.”
“I know it’s what makes me interesting. Now what is it about Paris that’s getting at you?”
“It just bugs me. That he’s a terrorist, and I didn’t see it coming. Also…I think Paris let the witch onto the base. When I saw her in the forest, I found a warlock’s card that said Samantha. After I found it, Paris turned up. Mr Jet’s followers use the same type of warlock’s card to communicate.”
“So, the witch and Mr Jet might be connected somehow. And if that witch and Jet are connected, then Jet might have something to do with you getting tortured.”
“There’s something else, in his interrogation, Paris said that he knew my birth mum and that I’ve met her too.”
“He was probably messing with you. Have you ever met another female shapeshifter?” Angel shook her head. “If you haven’t met another shapeshifter, then you obviously haven’t met your mum, unless your mixed heritage. Hey stop frowning! You look ugly when you frown.”
“Thanks!”
“I’m sorry pup, I mean you don’t look yourself, you look, no, yeah I’m digging a hole,” Roger muttered with a smile on his face.
“Yeah you really are!” Angel laughed as she gently punched him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into a head lock. The pair wrestled each other jokingly and ended up collapsed in a heap on the ground.
“Ugh I thought you were meant to be brother and sister,” Axel swaggered into the room, “From where I’m standing you two look like a couple, well I guess you’re not blood related.”
“What do you want Axel?” Angel asked as she sat herself up.
“The Colonel wants to see you.”
* * * * *
Angel found the Colonel, and the other captains (apart from Jackson and Jonathan), waiting outside of the torture chamber. The corridor they were in was dark and shadows danced up the walls. Except for a single fire imp (that played in the flames of the torches), the corridor was completely lifeless, there were no house fairies and no ghost dared enter. Angel felt nervous. She didn’t like the idea of going back into the torture chamber. She feared the memories that might resurface if she did. Skyjack had given her a calming spell which would hopefully save her from collapsing a second time, but still butterflies banged in her stomach as she reached the door.
“Sir,” Angel greeted, “How has the questioning progressed?”
“It hasn’t. He hasn’t said a word since you left,” Hiroshi explained, “It’d actually be kind of impressive… if it wasn’t for the fact, he was a demon worshiping traitorous lunatic.”
“He is exhausted though,” the Colonel explained, “Both physically and mentally. I want Captain Lu to attempt to enter Paris’ mind. Captain Night I want you to act as the anchor.”
“Anchor?” Axel asked.
“Jin will enter Paris’ mind fully however I’ll only enter his mind partially. If Jin gets into trouble, I can then pull him out,” Angel explained.
“Ah I see. So an anchor can save a telepath from being trapped in someone else’s mind!”
“But Angel you’ve only just got out of hospital,” William pointed out.
“I’m fully recovered,” Angel said quickly after seeing the Colonel’s irritated expression, “Besides I’ve acted as Jin’s anchor before so it’s better that I do it.”
“Good, now let’s get on with it,” the Colonel went back into the torture chamber, Axel followed.
“Angel are you well enough to do this?” William asked.
“I’ll be fine besides I don’t think the Colonel will take no for an answer.”
“He’s in a really bad mood. He won’t listen to us. Jackson was against you being the anchor, so the Colonel kicked him out. I think the Emperor is pushing for results.”
“Then we best get this over with quickly,” Angel muttered. She took a deep breath and with a nervous heart entered the torture chamber. Paris was sat in the middle of the room. His body was broken, and his hair soaked in sweat. The determined gaze had vanished from his eyes and now he simply looked depleted. He’s a terrorist, he’s working with Mr Jet, Angel told herself as sympathy and the desire to save him bubbled in her chest. It was still hard for Angel to remember that Paris was no longer a member of her squad. Before his terrorism had become known, Angel would have died to protect him, as she would do for any member of her squad. However he was no longer a member of her squad, Angel quickly reminded herself, and no longer deserved her compassion. Jin sat down in front of Paris and Angel sat behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” Paris asked, “You won’t…you won’t be able to get into my mind…I won’t let you in…”
Angel and Jin closed their eyes and opened their minds.
* * * * *
Angel’s mind joined with Jin’s and the pair met on a telepathic plane. It was a strange place filled with different colours and unique spiralling shapes. It was a bright and warm limbo between reality and the spiritual world. Upon meeting, Angel attached a white glowing rope around Jin’s mental body, and the other end round her wrist, “Pull the rope, and I’ll pull you out.”
“I know, I taught you how to do this, remember,” Jin replied.
“How deep are you planning to go in?”
“Hopefully not deep, I’m hoping the answers we seek will be near the surface.”
Jin reached out (mentally) and tried to enter Paris’ mind. Angel followed. The pair fell into a whirlwind of colours be
fore they were greeted by a massive wall. The wall was crumbling, and looked battle worn. Its stone was grey and the gargoyles that sat watching from the arches made it clear that they were not welcome here. Directly in front of them was a large wooden door that was protected by a portcullis. Jin walked up to the door but a wave of red light burst from it, hitting him in the chest and sending him flying backwards into Angel. The pair stumbled to the ground as a second wave of red light attacked them. The world shook and then nothing. The realm of telepathy was still.
Angel pulled Jin to his feet. After quickly realising that they were not going to be able to enter via the main gate, they began to search for another entrance. Paris was weak and, while the entrance to his mind was still a force to be reckoned with, his outer defences were beginning to crumble. Jin (being the powerful telepath that he is) began to attack parts of the wall. He sent dark blue waves of light at the stone, each wave carrying a message of surrender. The message bounced off the walls until it found an area of the defences that was tempted by this idea. Once the weakest point was found, Jin began to direct his attack solely at that area. Angel watched in awe as Jin singlehandedly caused the wall to collapse. The stones tumbled to the ground, landing in a pile at Jin’s feet. The telepath smiled and carefully climbed over the remains of the wall. Once he had assessed the situation on the other side, he called for Angel to follow which she swiftly did.
“Keep your guard up,” Jin warned as Angel landed beside him, “This has been too easy.”
They walked slowly, taking in the war-torn world around them. Everything was broken and decaying. The ground shook under their feet. It was covered in cracked photo frames and video reels that were ripped apart. The sky was red and the atmosphere cold. Doors lay ahead of them. Some had been flung open, by a strong force it seemed, whilst others were firmly shut. The inside of Paris’ mind was a deselect place; empty, broken, without any warmth or love. Angel stared at a photograph that lay, ripped, and faded, at her feet. It was a photograph she knew well and loved. It was the group photo of Lightning Squad. Unlike the version that hung in the entrance to the Lightning House, this picture had the members faces burnt off. Angel sighed, tearing up slightly at the sight. She pushed all her thoughts away and turned her attention back to the job at hand. Jin was sat in front of the doors, eyes closed. After a moment, he raised his hand. Suddenly a door opened, and four glowing balls of light bounced through. They span around the sky and rolled across the rubble. Each ball was a different colour; white, grey, red, and pale green. Jin paused and watched the four balls, trying to judge which of them would hold the information he needed.