by M S C Barnes
Seb was so nervous his stomach was turning circles and his knees felt weak but he straightened his shoulders. Making a silent promise not to let Aelfric down, he turned towards Aiden, who looked as nervous as he felt.
“I am sorry,” he said. “I need you too.”
Aiden instantly smiled. “I thought you were going to leave me behind.” He picked his bag up, rifled inside it, removed his tin and joined Seb.
Looking at his friend, still in his pyjamas, and yet ready to brave the dreadful weather and go wherever Seb needed him, Seb checked himself and pushed his own anxiety to the back of his mind.
“Alice,” he said, “do you mind getting Aiden that coat?” Immediately Alice vanished and a second later zoomed back through the room holding the coat Seb had worn earlier. Aiden took it from him gratefully and slipped it on.
“Anything else you want Aiden? Scarf? Hat? An umbrella?” Zach laughed.
Aiden giggled nervously. “Shoes would be nice, but I’ll manage.”
The wind was howling through the doorway and Seb could feel its cold bite through his own clothing. Taking a deep breath he said, “Aiden, where are we going?”
As he clicked open the lid of his tin, Aiden’s face was bathed in pink light. He stared into it then turned and pointed towards the prow of the boat.
“There is a doorway not too far away, in that direction.”
He was, Seb knew, indicating the small island of Solomon. Pushing against the driving wind, he stepped up to the threshold of the door.
Trudy joined him. “I will go first,” she said. “To make sure it is safe.”
Dierne’s aura immediately intensified, he straightened his shoulders and crossed his arms, glaring down at her, but before he could speak Seb shook his head.
“You can’t come,” he said.
She looked aghast. “What? Of course I can. You need me for protection.”
“No, I need Zach,” he smiled at her. “Aelfric needs you. You can’t leave him here, unprotected.”
She looked put out. “He will have Dierne and can call for me if he needs me.”
“No, he cannot.” Dierne scowled. “You and Greg have seen to that.”
Trudy opened and closed her mouth as her brother joined her, looking annoyed at Dierne.
“Our intention was always to help Seb while Aelfric sleeps. He lacks experience and needs us with him. Zach should remain, along with you — to ensure Aelfric comes to no harm.”
Now the anger in Dierne’s face returned and he blocked the doorway with his massive, leaf-covered frame. “I will not transport you —”
“And I’m not staying here!” Zach shouted. “Come on Dierne, hitch me up.”
With a parting glare, Dierne lifted Zach and swooped out of the doorway, disappearing into the rain and the black of the night before there could be any more discussion.
Seb stood awkwardly in the company of the confused and angry twins. Without Zach, Trudy was forced to remain, or leave her Custodian unprotected. Seb figured she would probably be happier with that arrangement in any case; she worshipped Aelfric, which was what made this situation all the more difficult. She and Greg, he knew, had acted out of their absolute devotion to Aelfric; they were so concerned that he was running himself into the ground and would be vulnerable during The Restoration. But their plan hadn’t allowed for Dierne’s opposition and nor had it taken into consideration Aelfric’s wishes. In fact, they had acted knowing it would be against what Aelfric would want.
So their plans had gone awry, but Seb didn’t have time to worry about that. The pain in his hand was quite acute now.
“I have to go. I will be fine with my group,” he shouted over the wind. “You both need to stay here, in case anything happens while Aelfric is asleep.” Trudy already appeared content with that idea but Greg looked as if he had more to say. Seb didn’t give him the chance. “Alice, can you take Aiden,” he called and forced his way, against the wind, through the doorway.
He hadn’t anticipated just how vicious the wind would be. It was brutal and the rain it carried with it lashed at his face. In seconds he could hardly see; his eyebrows and eyelashes dripped rain and salt water into his eyes. Rubbing them, he could just make out Aiden, his face illuminated with a pink tinge, floating ahead of him as Alice carried him inches above the deck.
Seb didn’t dare glance back, fearing that, if he did, Greg would take it as a signal to join him and then, faintly, through the sound of the storm, he heard the door close.
Battling forward they reached the prow, where Dierne waited with Zach on his back. Gripping the metal chain rail, which swayed as he leant his weight on it, Seb stared over at the driving waves.
“Dierne says he can lower you down,” Alice’s voice sounded in Seb’s head.
Before he had a chance to acknowledge, Dierne grabbed him by the arm and lifted him over the rail. In the midst of the furious tumult of the billowing sea water, the blue-white outlines of the asrais were visible, shining out and spreading a sheen of light beneath the yacht. Several now separated from the main group, which had been milling around below the hull, and swept forward of the vessel.
Dierne didn’t have to lower Seb far; the waves were like mountains, their peaks reaching to the yacht’s deck and their troughs sinking below its hull. He released Seb atop one of the massive waves and instantly an asrai loomed up out of the water and seized his foot. Seb wobbled, balancing on one leg, buffeted by the wind. As the wave dropped away, he was taken with it. He let out a scream and he heard Zach yell but then Alice’s voice called into his mind.
“Dierne says to trust the asrais. You just need to walk to where you want to go Seb,” he said calmly.
And now Seb realised that the asrai supporting him had actually kept him exactly where Dierne had deposited him — it had simply descended as the wave descended, taking Seb with it. The ghost-like male form regarded him with interest from beneath the water, both arms extended. In his panic, Seb had placed his second foot down and the asrai had taken hold of it and now, as he was lifted upward within the sweep of the next wave, Seb was lifted too. Tentatively, he took a step forward, placing his trust in these ghostly souls. Instantly another asrai rose within the body of the neighbouring wave. The water fell away and the asrai leapt skyward, reached out and grabbed his foot. It hovered in the air, above the void of the spent wave, until the next wall of water rose up to it. Now Seb took another step and the same thing happened. An asrai leapt from the approaching wave, into mid air, and hovered, with Seb’s foot in its hand, until a new wave swallowed the figure. Seb quickly got the hang of it; he timed each step with the approach of a wave and began to make speedy progress in the direction Aiden had given him.
“We will meet you on the land,” Dierne said, zooming off with Zach.
“You take Aiden!” Seb told Alice.
“Aelfric instructed me to stay with you,” Alice responded, holding Aiden just above the tempestuous waves.
“I’ll be fine,” Seb said, feeling more confident as he walked. “Go on with Aiden, and come back for me.” Alice, reluctantly, followed Dierne.
Alone in the maelstrom, with nothing but ghosts and the sound of the wind for company, Seb felt strangely calm. He stopped worrying about trying to time his footfalls, certain now that the asrais would anticipate each one, and he strode forward quickly. Once more he thought of Nat and wondered where she was. He guessed she was safe, they would have heard from Dom and The Caretaker if not.
Within just a minute he could see the white foam of the breakers as they crashed onto Solomon and he could see the glowing auras of Aiden, Zach and the two Dryads standing inland a few metres. One green aura separated from the group and Seb knew Alice was on his way back for him. In moments he had reached him, picked him up and carried him to the outcrop where the others waited. Standing on the slippery rocks, Seb glanced back at the asrais. Strangely, they didn’t head for the yacht but simply floated within the waves, just off shore.
His h
and was aching badly now and he knew time was very short.
“Quickly Aiden,” he shouted over the storm’s noise. “Where’s the door?”
Aiden was shivering violently. He held his tin in front of him and pointed with a shaking finger, just to Seb’s left. There was no moonlight and so Seb used the light from his tin and reflected it onto the spot his friend was indicating, hoping to be taken where he was needed — to the trespassing soul. Instantly a door appeared and Zach, opening it, dashed through.
“I will leave you now,” Dierne said. “Call me if you need help.”
Seb nodded, and watched him disappear. Standing beside Aiden, with Alice hovering next to him he took a deep breath, “Come on,” he said and followed Zach through the doorway.
Not Burglars
“Well, where is it?” Zach asked.
They had arrived in a dark, boggy field, surrounded on three sides by a rickety wooden fence and on the fourth by a high hedge, within which the door they had used was just fizzling away. As flamers lit up on its spiky branches and on nearby patches of grass, Seb scanned the area, searching for anything to indicate where the trespassing soul was. All he saw were the silhouettes of a couple of horses on the far side of the field, huddled together for warmth against the bitter wind. His palm was aching badly and he wondered if he had missed something. He couldn’t locate a trespassing soul at all.
“Can you see it Seb?” Zach asked, his breath creating a blossom of vapour in the cold air.
“No,” Seb said. “Aiden, can you find it?”
Fumbling with his tin, Aiden stared into it, then he span around, pointing.
“There,” he squealed and the others all turned.
The bush they were standing in front of was over six feet tall and only now did Seb notice, through the bare interwoven branches, lights on the other side — lights from a house.
“It’s just beyond the hedge. Quickly Seb, it’s moving towards that house,” Aiden called.
As he said the words the sound of a baby’s cry was carried to them on a strong gust of wind. It’s after the baby’s host body, Seb thought. He felt a burst of adrenaline and — trusting Aiden that it was in the right direction — he beckoned.
He hadn’t anticipated how quickly the soul would be drawn to him. Almost instantly the mist trail zoomed through the hedge and straight into his chest. And then his world became a cascade of revolting images — sights of death, of mutilation, of cruel and inhumane acts. Nothing within what he saw was kind, nothing caring — all was cold and heartless.
Seb gasped, unable to deal with the horrors he saw.
“Alice,” he called in his mind, and now Alice was there, pulling the visions away from him, weaving them into his own mind, knitting Seb’s experience of the memories with his own. The impact was lessened though Seb’s heart still pounded as he tried to distance himself from the visions. But now, along with them, came vile and despicable thoughts that showed a hunger for the suffering of others and pleasure at being the instigator of that suffering. “I can’t Alice, I — it’s horrible.”
“Wait, Seb,” Alice said. “Look.”
And suddenly different images began to interlace themselves into the visions of depravity; kinder images, gentle, affectionate moments, fun, laughter, celebration and hope. Alice was seeking these out and pushing them to the forefront, so that they muted the horror and distress Seb felt, and he was not only able to calm himself but also to get a better picture of the character of this soul.
Within the wealth of experiences, he could now detect the pain of rejection and personal suffering. He could feel the disappointment, confusion and hurt of a soul who had experienced several lifetimes as a victim itself.
Seb felt tears well up in his eyes. This soul had been so optimistic and so caring. Only over time had sadness and then bitterness eaten away at it and, although it had given in to vitriolic resentment, underneath it all was still the hope — just a glimmer of hope — that someone would show they cared and could be trusted.
And then, as the soul tore free of his body, Seb was left with one, last image — an event so recent the record of it was strong and vibrant. He found it troubling. The image was of this soul having an encounter with a person in this reality — since it had left Áberan. How that could be, Seb wasn’t sure. This was a trespassing soul which had left Áberan, unsanctioned by Nature, to travel the Ley Lines to this spot. Somehow, on the way, it had registered a memory of a meeting. Suddenly feeling sick, Seb swallowed hard, choking back the urge to vomit.
“Seb,” Alice interrupted his thoughts. “You have to decide. Make a decision and deal with the soul. Seb!” Alice called again. “It is free.”
He felt strong hands grip him by the shoulders.
“Seb,” Zach shouted. “Deal with it mate. You’re the only one who can.”
Seb realised he was standing, eyes closed, arms hugging his own body. Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was Aiden. His friend was standing, ankle deep, in a muddy puddle, his slippered feet covered in cold water, and he was shaking violently. Casting a concerned look across the field, he pointed and Seb followed his finger to where a streak of white mist charged away from them all, towards the horses.
“It’s heading for the horses,” Zach yelled, waving his staff. “Don’t let it become a gytrash!”
Swiftly, Seb lifted his hand, pointing his birthmark skyward to where the moon was peeking through a small break in the clouds. Capturing its golden-white light he shone it at the soul, illuminating it, and muttered, “Rest.”
Instantly the mist trail froze, floated momentarily, and then was swept away, past Seb and his friends to travel, Seb knew, along the Ley Line, back to Áberan.
“Not banished Seb?” Alice asked, surprised.
“No,” he panted, shaking his head. Remembering that glimmer of hope he had detected, he prayed he had made the right decision.
The abhorrent visions still replayed in his mind. He felt weak and sick. The last memory — the vision of that soul’s encounter with someone on its way to this spot — kept resurfacing above all the other images. It unsettled him.
“Okay. We’re done then,” Zach said, stuffing his staff back in his trouser pocket. “Open the door Seb; poor Aiden’s gonna collapse from exposure if we don’t get him somewhere warm. I suggest somewhere he can also change into some proper clothes; and I don’t know about you Aiden,” he winked at him, “but I could do with a hot cuppa and some food.”
Aiden put his tin in the coat pocket and looked hopefully at Seb who, realising how much he was shivering, nodded.
“Somewhere warm?” he said, then shone moonlight at the hedge and watched the door appear.
“Somewhere warm, with food?” Zach corrected him and, opening the door, led the way through it.
This time the door took them to a small, snug study. The walls were lined with bookshelves which were bedecked with multicoloured Christmas lights. Beneath a curtained window, opposite the bookshelf through which they had entered, sat a desk, strewn with papers and illuminated by a Tiffany lamp. Amid the chaos of paperwork, sat a cup of tea and beside that were two biscuits on a small plate.
“Warm, with food? That’s it?” Zach grumbled, walking across and snatching a biscuit from the plate. “Where the heck are we?”
Aiden, hugging himself, teeth chattering, stepped towards the desk.
“This is Helen’s study,” he said. “She’s a bit of a night owl. I expect she’s been doing some writing.”
“Well why here Seb? She’s going to think it a bit odd that we’ve arrived from nowhere in the middle of the night —”
“Aiden? Where are you? Are you down there?” a female voice suddenly called out.
“Quick!” Zach whispered urgently, “Hide.” And now he darted behind the door as they heard the sound of footsteps on creaking stairs.
Seb looked around, frantically searching for a suitable hiding place. He leapt over to the desk and ducked under it, squeezing into th
e recess between the two sets of drawers that formed its base.
Alice was laughing. “You guys are so much fun,” he said and zoomed over and sat on the desk, bending forward to look, upside down, at Seb who peered out of the tiny space he had crammed himself into. “Comfy?” he chuckled. Seb frowned at him as a pair feet, wearing huge, fluffy fox slippers, walked through the doorway.
“There you are!” Seb heard the woman’s voice exclaim and he peaked out from under the desk to see. “You had me worried when you weren’t in your room. What are you doing up?”
Helen wasn’t at all what Seb had expected. From what Aiden and Nat had told them about her interests, he expected a wild, hippy-ish woman, dressed in long floaty skirts, bright colours and with her hair tied in plaits. But this woman just looked — normal. Apart from the fluffy fox slippers, she wore simple jeans and a green jumper with a sparkly Christmas star on it. She was in her mid fifties and had short, blonde hair, which fell softly around a cheerful, heart-shaped face.
Putting an arm around Aiden, she continued speaking, “Aw, you’re freezing — and you’re covered in mud. Have you been outside? Are you okay?” She sounded surprised but not annoyed.
“I, I may have been sleep-walking,” Aiden said, nervously.
“Oh?” Helen glanced curiously at him. After a moment, she guided him towards the door. “You go and get into some clean, dry pyjamas while I make you some tea and toast.”
Aiden looked over his shoulder and shrugged helplessly at Seb.
“Toast would be nice,” he said as they left the room.
As soon as they were gone, Zach jumped out from behind the door.
“Toast,” he whispered. “He gets toast. I’m starving.” He checked down the hallway to make sure Helen wasn’t within earshot and then raised his voice to a mumble. “Why here Seb? You could have taken us to The Pytt — Or even to yours.”
“It’s just where the door took me,” Seb said. “I didn’t choose. I just thought about what Aiden needed, somewhere warm, with clothes for him.”
“And food, Seb. You were supposed to think about food too.” Zach grabbed the second biscuit off the plate and stuffed it in his mouth. “Al, tell Aiden we’re coming up to his room.” He returned to the doorway and, looking right, whispered back over his shoulder, “She’s in the kitchen. Come on.” And with that, he was gone, out of the door and left towards the stairs.