by W. C. Peever
“Why couldn’t we all go together?” asked Bailey suspiciously.
“Good question indeed, young lady,” returned Simon. He pushed his black rimmed glasses tight up on his nose, and gave her a very thin smile. He was unusual looking. His pale skin evidently didn’t see the sun very often. He had black hair, gelled and spiked, and he could not have been taller than five and a half feet. “We QILTers can only transport three people at a time. Any more can become difficult to control. When Silace and I were younger we tried to jump our classmates to Aruba for a party, five people each. We ended up fighting off sharks somewhere in the Atlantic. It was mad fun, but dangerous. Could have just as easily been a volcano. No, better to be safe. ‘Three at a time, land on a dime!’ That’s our motto these days.”
“Is QILTing an ability? Can anyone do it?” asked Bailey.
“It is an ability and sadly, you cannot learn it. However, many QILTers charge crystals with their power and sell them. Instant travel is profitable for us and convenient for others. Professor Grayson doesn’t really approve, as it is an ability that takes years to master, but we do send them with great directions. There hasn’t been an accident in…years,” he said, suddenly laughing. “Well, there actually was that one a year ago, come to think of it. Poor bloke wound up in the Sahara instead of Fiji.” Simon winked at Charlie.
“You didn’t!” said Mick.
“Didn’t what? Wasn’t my fault he couldn’t control it. Just because he…” Simon paused. “Hold on. Alright then, all set. Gather up close, and if a certain large Captain of the Manserian guard should ever ask, forget everything I just said.” As Simon turned the dial on his gold watch, a bubble enveloped them, blue and white sparks danced across its surface and electric colors whirled about them, increasingly faster. After a second Charlie’s eyes could no longer register what was happening. Then it was suddenly still, and the children were standing in the middle of a wood. Marley’s staff was out and glowing.
“Down,” barked Marley. “Get down! All of you.” Simon pulled the children to the ground, Silace crouched beside them. “Anything from up there, Pricilla?” Her voice floated down from above like a sunny shower.
“I can’t see anything, but that doesn’t mean they are not there.” Charlie blinked several times. Pricilla was flying. “I say we are safe, but let’s check in with the twins to be sure.”
“Either of you sense anything?” Marley asked.
“No. Whatever it was is gone. But there was something out there, something strange and powerful. It may have been a Watcher,” the twins said simultaneously.
“A Watcher?” asked Charlie.
“Might have been. Wouldn’t surprise me at all,” said Marley, ignoring Charlie completely. “Keep watch until I get the kids in the house, then we set up the wards. Silace, contact the council. Inform them of our situation and ask for their guidance. Keep down, you three. I want to make one final sweep, then we go to the house.”
Simon looked at Charlie. “Don’t mind him. He can come off as stiff and serious, but at times like this, you want him on your side. To answer your question, a Watcher is a person who can spy on a place without physically being there. It makes sense that the Vanari would be watching to see if you turned up.”
“Okay, let’s move,” came Marley’s authoritative tone. “Into the house – quick as possible!” The entire band moved quickly through the new fallen snow. Charlie and Bailey looked at each other and smiled. This area of the woods separated their two houses. It was here that they spent many summers building tree forts, escaping their mothers’ nagging. They arrived momentarily at the doorstep of Charlie’s house. “Don’t knock, Charlie, just get us inside.”
“Hello? Is someone there?” Ellen Burrows paused. “Charlie?” Charlie’s mother, covered in flour and eggs, ran into the hallway. Charlie could not help but laugh. His mother was actually trying to cook, and as expected it did not appear to be going well. “Charlie!” She swung her arms around him and gave him a huge kiss on the forehead. “And Bailey too!” Grabbing Bailey by the arm, she pulled the girl into the hug too.
“It’s only been a couple of days, Mom. No need for the dramatics.”
“Shush. You didn’t even have time to say goodbye.
I’ve been so worried, and it’s terribly lonely here without you. Bailey dear, your mother is on her way. We weren’t expecting you for another thirty minutes or so.”
“We must have had a good tail wind,” Charlie offered happily. “This is Marley, Simon, Silace and Celli. They’re from the Secret Service.”
“Why so many of them, Charlie? Are you in that much danger here? What’s going on?” Ellen stepped up to Marley, who was at least a foot and a half taller than her, and lifted her wooden spoon up to his chin. “I want answers young man, and I want them now! Do you hear me? If these kids are in danger in any way I will pull them out of that school of yours so fast it will make your giant head spin. I don’t care if we have to move to China…”
Marley smiled and with one finger gently pushed the spoon from his chin. “Ma’am, it is a pleasure to meet you. We were all friends of your husband. He was an amazing man, and it is out of respect to him, more than danger to the children, that we have all come. We wished to pay our respects and to ensure that Charlie’s flight went smoothly. I promise we won’t be an imposition.”
His words seemed to calm Mrs. Bellows, who turned back to Charlie. “And, who is this?” she asked, pointing to Mick, her bird song like voice returning.
“This is my friend, Mick. He’s Australian.” Charlie said as if being Australian was an important fact to add.
“Mick, you are most welcome.” She gave Bailey a knowing wink. “It’s good to see that you two have made friends so quickly. Don’t just stand there. Come in, come in. Oh dear, I think I smell the bacon burning!” Charlie laughed, for indeed he could smell the familiar odor of burning bacon. They all proceeded together into the tiny kitchen.
“Bailey, you get the plates, and boys, you find some extra chairs from the living room. I wasn’t expecting so many. The good news is there is plenty of food. After all, I was expecting Bailey.” Charlie laughed.
“Good thing you ate all the tarts this morning,” he said chuckling at her.
“Shut up, Charlie,” she retorted and began to bang plates down on the table, a bit too forcefully for Mrs. Burrows’ liking.
“Careful, Bailey,” Mrs. Burrows said.
“Sorry,” Bailey replied.
“Please sit,” Mrs. Burrows directed her guests, who were looming awkwardly by the door. “You must all be tired. Coffee?” She walked over to the stove, where a kettle boiled vigorously. “Or maybe some tea?” She added quickly.
“Some coffee would be fine,” said Marley, the twins also nodding appreciatively. “Do you happen to have any builder’s tea?” asked Celli. Marley shot her a warning look.
“Builder’s tea?”
“I think you call it breakfast tea here.”
“In that case, you’re in luck Celli. Milk and sugar?”
“Both, please. The sweeter the better.” She smiled at Mrs. Burrows and then turned to the boys, who had just finished putting the chairs in place. “Well you two, what are your plans for this weekend? Party at the lake, hanging out at the mall?”
Bailey laughed. “That’s not exactly our style, Celli. Is the pond still frozen, Mrs. Burrows?”
“I think so, Bailey. The temperature has been down all week. But before you go, Charlie, I need you to chop some wood.”
There was a knock at the door. “Ellen, are you there?” Mrs. Relling’s songlike voice echoed through the hallway.
“In here, Barbara. The kids are here too.”
“Hey Mom!” Bailey got up and gave her mom a tight hug. “You didn’t?” said Bailey, looking down at the white box her mother carried.
“Your favorite – a Newman’s Bakery chocolate cream pie! I thought that after all that horrid British food you would want an American classic – no
offence to our guests.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Bailey absently wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, then threw her arms back around her mother and covered her with kisses.
“I thought that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach” whispered Charlie to Mick. Bailey shot him a withering look.
After breakfast the children went out to cut firewood, with Celli and Marley standing vigil fifty yards away on either side. Cutting wood was a taxing chore, but the children made a game of it and soon had a full cord stacked neatly against the side of the house. Mick regarded the impressive stack. “That should last her ‘til July, don’t you think?”
“April. She likes to use a lot of wood.” He shook his head. “What can I say, she loves a warm house.”
Bailey tugged at Charlie’s sleeve. “Why is it suddenly so quiet? Where are the birds?” she said, with a confused look on her face.
They stopped chatting and looked around. The leaves had stopped rustling. The squirrels were still in the trees. Even the winter wind had abated. The air tasted stale, as if an old sodden blanket had been thrown over them and they were forced to inhale the same breath over and over again.
“Celli? Marley?” Charlie cried. Then he spotted them, and what he saw made his heart turn to stone. Celli and Marley were standing motionless, like in a photograph.
“We need to get out of here,” he whispered. From out of the corner of his eye, Charlie saw five dark shapes emerge from the forest.
“Charlie Burrows, the World Jumper? A pleasure, I am sure.” The voice was rich with charismatic seduction. Its owner turned abruptly to the two other children. “Well, well, well. And this must be Bailey Relling, the Mover, and their loyal Guardian. Oh, the amazing lives you will lead.” Mick stepped forward to shield Bailey.
“What are you talking about? You must have the wrong people. We’re just kids cutting firewood.”
“Just kids cutting fire wood?” The figure nodded at a man to his right, who took out a long black staff and pointed it at the children. There was a loud crack. All three children were thrown to the ground. “All of us here have abilities. You can talk openly, there’s no need to worry about the Secrecy Act. I know who and what you are. I have seen your future, and what a magnificent future it is! It’s too bad that your choices are about to kill everyone dear to you, Charlie. But I suppose that can’t be helped when you limit your knowledge by avoiding what some impotently call ‘the darkness.’ Real happiness is always found in compromise. If only you had had the courage to explore the gray areas, Charlie, Bailey needn’t have died.
“But what am I saying? You always have a choice, and even now it is not too late to save your friends from death. If your father had taken me up on my generous offer, he would be at your side right now. I hope you have a sharper intellect than he. Come with me now. Devote your powers to me. Do this, Charlie, or die.
“Think and choose carefully. If you do not, friends will die in our little war; and after their sacrifice, you will follow. Your efforts will have been in vain. It is a simple choice. You are young. You have no oaths or responsibilities to the Order. Why die for a gaggle of silly old men? We can teach you how to use your powers without restriction. No one babysitting, telling you what you can and can not do with your enormous potential. With me, you will be as great as your potential.”
“My father spent his life fighting you,” Charlie retorted. “There must be a reason for that. I trust him more than –”
“Trust in a father who left you when you were two? Who never returned, never tucked you into bed, or held your mother when she cried? After all those nights crying herself to sleep, the tears staining her face, and aging her five years for every one that went by? After all those nights she went without to make sure your belly was full? Charlie, Charlie…you have no idea. Where was this father when his family needed him, Charlie? That’s what the Order does to people. He was brainwashed. He abandoned his only son to keep his power for himself. If he had only joined with me, you would have a real father, Charlie. And your life would not be as close to ending as it is, this very moment.”
The man became quiet. His words hung in the air like a damp fog, chilling Charlie to the bone. Confusion drowned any thoughts. He could not breathe. He fell to his knees, muscles weak and yearning to submit to whatever was draining his energy. Death began to tug at his body. Was this the quick death he’d been promised? The woods about him drifted out of focus. He was surrounded by darkness.
A loud roar suddenly shook the snow encrusted ground, shattering the stillness and yanking Charlie out of the mental quicksand that had enveloped him.
“You incompetent fool! I thought you froze time outside of this bubble!” The man who, moments before, had been cajoling Charlie now raised his long black cane and pointed it at his quivering companion.
“I did, sir. Please, my Lord. I did. Look for yourself. The Guardian and more are still frozen. Everything else around us, the birds, even the wind, is still. I cast a perfect bubble.”
“Something has gotten through. Did you hear that noise?” A blue ball of electricity erupted from the end of Vali’s staff, and hurdled towards his companion’s chest. The man crumpled to the ground. “I would kill you here and now, if I didn’t need you to keep the time field up. You two, go find out what caused that commotion.”
An enormous brown and cream colored tigress jumped between the children and the hooded figures. “No need for that, Bobby. I am making the commotion,” came Joelle’s voice.
“Joelle,” Vali said calmly. “I might have known. The Headmaster would not have sent this boy out, without also sending along the castle’s pet cat. It has been a long time since we were in school together, Joelle. I lead the Vanari now and they call me Freyr Vali.”
“You will always be little Bobby Lester to me.” Joelle interrupted. “Are you still a Lord in the British Parliament? I mean, that is who you are when you are not in our world, correct?” The werecat laughed at the absurdity “Lord Freyr Vali? You do realize that translates to Lord Lord of Vengeance? A bit redundant don’t you think?” The werecat sighed. “I see that not much has changed over the years. You are still constantly overestimating your situation. These children have a lot more protection than you are aware of. We both know that I am more than a match for your henchmen. Once I have eaten the one you have conveniently left at my feet, the time field will collapse and you, Bobby, will become very vulnerable, and let’s face it, you have never been one to put your own life in jeopardy. So, why don’t you just get on your way, like a good little boy?”
“You can’t protect them forever Joelle. You, of all people, should know.”
“Bobby, I grow hungry. I really think you should be going.”
Vali shot the werecat a venomous look and flicked his staff. There was a great crack, like that of a hundred old tree branches breaking at once, and all the dark figures disappeared instantly.
“You there! Don’t move!” Marley shouted. “Oh, Joelle… it’s you. How did you get here?”
“You overconfident idiot! You almost got these children killed! Why did you and Celli allow these children to drift more than ten yards away? Vali was here!” The werecat rolled her enormous tiger eyes. “It’s a good thing I acted on Silace’s information. Now, collect this wood and bring it into to kitchen.” Marley stood stunned. “Do it now, or I will give you a second scar to match the one you have. The children are not safe here. Vali will not make the mistake of bringing too few henchmen another time.” Marley blinked, abashedly, then picked up some wood and joined the children in bringing it to the house.
Silace and Simon ran from the house to meet Joelle. “We take it you got our message.”
“I did, and thank you,” said the werecat, who promptly turned back into an oversized Siamese house-cat. “Please inform the Headmaster of the events that transpired and reassure him that all is well. Tell him I will personally set up powerful wards that will make this entire town safe for the chi
ldren, and that we will all return to the castle in time for the trials.” The twins nodded and ran back to the house. The werecat cocked her head towards Charlie. “Do you have any tuna? I’m famished.”
“I think our moms can dig some up for you, considering you saved our lives and all,” said Charlie.
“Joelle,” asked Mick. “Vali said something about us being destined for greatness. What did he mean? How does he know our future?”
“It was foolish of him to say that to you. In the telling he may well have changed future events, and not to his own benefit. Vali relies on Seers to ‘see’ the future. I am sure he has had them watching you for some time. ‘Seeing’ however, is like looking through a photo album. You can guess at the basic story line, but it is still open to interpretation. Only a very skilled and intelligent Seer can read the future with any degree of accuracy. I know his Seers and none of them are particularly skilled. Telling you that you were going to cause him trouble lost him a lot of power over you. I would therefore surmise that what he said was true in his mind, seeing as he thought that you would join him today or die.”
“Joelle, have you seen our future?” Charlie asked.
“I have.”
“Is what he has said really true?”
“You three are important. The rest is best left until Monday, which will be soon enough.” The four walked in silence, lost in his and her thoughts and finally into the house for lunch, which in Joelle’s case consisted of several cans of tuna.
Chapter Six
The Trials of Tribulations
The weekend went by far too fast. Once again, Charlie procrastinated, staring guiltily at his belongings scattered all over his bed. A bundle of blankets on the bed corner moved and a large Siamese cat slid out, to perch atop them and hiss her displeasure. Plates and silverware clinked downstairs.
“Darn showerhead,” boomed Marley’s voice from the bathroom below. He’d evidently found the showerhead with his own head.