Crystal: Starlatten Book One

by Darby Cupid

  She says nothing, but Jaik nods in agreement and grabs a throw from the back of the chair she’s sitting on, draping it around her. Her face unchanging, she turns to her side, still hugging her knees. I really hope she can get some rest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this quiet and it’s unsettling.

  “I think it might be best for you to rest too, Dylan,” Oakstone says, looking pointedly at Crystal. “If you move, she might wake.”

  Even though every atom is screaming out for sleep, I find myself arguing. “She’s this tired because of that signal. Perhaps Jaik should rest as we might need to use the amulets again soon.”

  Jaik watches me, his eyes narrowed. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like me, but I’m not entirely sure why.

  “No, mate,” he says. “You get some rest. I’m fine.”

  We stare at each other for a moment, both knowing how much each of us want to sleep. Jaik’s eyes look barely able to stay open and I know the amulet will have taken it out of him. The fact is, neither of us want to miss anything.

  On my chest, Crystal stirs, her arms snaking around my waist as she snuggles her head against my chest. I tighten my grip on her just a little, the warmth of her body causing a fresh wave of exhaustion as I stifle a yawn.

  “Jaik is right,” Oakstone agrees. “It’s only an hour. We’ll compile everything we know and add what Jaik knows about Cadicus and his men. Okay?”

  I open my mouth to protest but instead the yawn bubbles to the surface. I nod, heavy with sleep and then I’m gone.

  There’s a bee in my pocket. I know it’s not real. It’s an illusion caused by Cadicus and his yellow amulet. I try to stay calm, but it keeps buzzing and buzzing. There’s something else. Something that I know I should have remembered. A small layer of guilt underneath everything. The bee keeps buzzing.

  My eyes fly open. The buzzing continues. As the dregs of sleep fall away, I realise the incessant buzzing is my phone in my pocket. Mum! My stomach turns at the realisation. She’ll be so worried! Linda and Crystal are asleep, and the room is dark. I don’t know where the others have gone to talk.

  Very carefully, I extract myself from underneath Crystal, who stretches out across the couch, her arms finding a small cushion. My phone has stopped vibrating. Pulling it from my pocket, my fears are confirmed as a list of missed calls from home illuminates the room.

  Voices drift in from the connecting kitchen, so I move to the stairs and find Oakstone’s aunt’s bedroom. Keeping the light off, my eyes adjust slowly in the moonlight streaming through the open curtains. My heart pounding, I swipe to call her back, preparing for the onslaught.

  “Dylan?”

  “Hi, Mum.”

  “Where are you? Why haven’t you been answering your phone? I’ve been calling for hours! I was about to call the police!”

  “Mum!” I hiss. “Calm down! I’m fine.”

  “Where are you?”

  I glance around the tiny floral bedroom. “I’m at Jordan’s house,” I start, the lie beginning to form in my mind. “We were playing a new game on his console and I fell asleep. I’m so sorry.”

  The silence on the other end of the line goes on for so long that I take the phone away from my ear to check she’s still there.

  “This is very unlike you,” she eventually replies. “I was really worried.”

  Shame presses down on my shoulders as I picture her alone; tired and sad. I’ve let her down.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You’ll be back at five to help, right?” she asks, but it’s not really a question. “I’ll put the ovens on to warm at four, but I’ll need you by five.”

  I can’t. I just can’t. How can I leave everyone in the middle of this mess? “Can Katie help you, just this once?”

  “Katie’s helping in the shop later,” she replies, her voice strained.

  “Please, Mum,” I plead, trying to keep the urgency from my voice. I can’t go home. “Just this once?”

  “Fine.”

  Her short reply makes me flinch. “I really am sorry, Mum. I’ll see you later?”

  The line goes dead and I flop down on the bed, my head in my hands.

  My heart still heavy, I eventually make my way back downstairs. Everyone is exactly as I left them, oblivious to my angst. I wonder whether the others have contacted their parents. Crystal is still sprawled across the sofa. Not wanting to wake her, I lower myself to the floor, leaning my back against the chair, resting my head near hers.

  Turning to look at her, I prepare to smile at her peaceful expression, but her brow is creased, eyes flickering behind her eyelids. I sit up. Is she having a nightmare? I’m debating whether to shake her awake, when she gasps and sits bolt upright causing me to fall backwards onto my hands.

  “Jeez, Crystal!” I breathe. “Are you okay?”

  She looks around the room, her eyes wild. “Where is everyone?”

  The door to the kitchen flies open, and Jaik, Oakstone and Eddie spill out. Behind me, Linda starts to stir, blinking sleep from her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” Jaik asks. Before I can get to my feet, he’s sitting beside her on the couch, taking her hands in his. “What did you see?”

  “Cadicus,” she says, shaking.

  Jaik pulls her into his arms, stroking her back. “It’s okay. He can’t hurt you. You’re safe.”

  My teeth grind and my fingers claw into fists against the carpet. I can’t do anything though. He’s her childhood friend, right? I’m not going to be the jealous boyfriend. Wait. Boyfriend? Am I even? It’s not like we’ve discussed things. It’s not like this is a normal situation. Still. I can’t help the overwhelming urge to rip him off her.

  “Crystal, what did you see?” I ask, in a shallow attempt to pull her focus from Jaik.

  My voice has the desired effect and she leans away, her eyes wet and full of fear. “It was awful. His eyes – those awful amber eyes – they came at me through the darkness. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t scream or run. He was all around me. He knows who I am and that I’m here on Earth.”

  “Is Sera okay?” Jordan croaks. “Did he say anything?”

  Crystal nods. “He says she’s okay. So far. He said tomorrow morning, 8am and that Jaik would know where.”

  All eyes turn to Jaik.

  “He must be talking about the abandoned mill on Southland street.”

  Oakstone already has his laptop open, the blue light illuminating his face in the dark room. “Are you sure?” he asks, turning the screen to face us. “This place?”

  Jaik nods at the street view image of a dilapidated red brick factory building. Its walls are covered with graffiti and the windows that aren’t boarded up are smashed.

  “Looks delightful,” Eddie murmurs.

  “It’s where Cas likes to do a lot of his dealings,” Jaik explains. “It’s too old to be demolished. Something about town heritage, but it’s too much of a wreck for anyone to buy. No one goes near it and Cas makes sure squatters stay clear.”

  “What does he want?” Eddie asks. “He’s not just going to give us Sera back, right?”

  “Exactly!” Jordan exclaims. “What is he after? What’s the point of all this?”

  “Me.” Crystal whispers. “He wants me.”

  I rise up onto my knees, taking her hands in mine. “Over my dead body.”

  Jaik exhales. “Crystal’s right. He wants her. He couldn’t get what he wanted from my father and now, he thinks he’s going to get the sole heir to the Starlatten throne.”

  “That’s it. I’m calling the police.” Oakstone’s statement lingers in the darkness. “I think it’s time we faced facts. We are dealing with murdering kidnappers. As the only adult here, I’m pulling rank.”

  Jaik stands, offended, about to protest his adult status, but Oakstone holds up an apologetic hand.

  “You know what I mean,” he continues. “This is not about being over eighteen. This is about life experience and seeing the big picture. You’ll get more trouble if you don�
�t involve the police than if you do.”

  Crystal squeezes my hands. “What do you think?”

  I look up at her, wishing I had answers, but this is a very unusual situation and I honestly can’t see a way out of it. “There’s a lot we won’t be able to explain,” I start.

  “Exactly. I’m on board with getting a little outside help here,” Jordan chips in, “but how do we explain two aliens and a dead scientist?”

  Oakstone claps his hands together in sudden inspiration. “Easy! We don’t tell them about the alien part, and I’ll feign amnesia!”

  “It’s not that simple!” Jaik roars. “You don’t know. You don’t know him! He’s not just a bad guy. He’s pure evil. He won’t show mercy. If he finds out the police are coming, he’ll kill Sera without a second thought and they’ll never find her body.”

  Jordan and Linda move to stand, but Jaik’s face suddenly turns a similar shade to his eyes and he runs to the kitchen door.

  “Oh, Jaik,” Crystal says. “I’ll go see if he’s okay.”

  “No,” I say, my own voice surprising me. “I’ll go.”

  Before she can protest, I’m on my feet and pushing open the door to the cramped kitchenette. Jaik is still heaving over the sink and I stand awkwardly as the door closes behind me.

  “You okay, man?”

  He looks at me sideways as he rests his head on the counter. “Yeah. Brilliant, thanks.”

  “Sorry.” I look around and find a glass, holding it out to him. “It’s all a bit much, huh?”

  Jaik fills the glass with water and turns, leaning against the countertop. “Just a bit. We can’t call the police.”

  “Oakstone thinks—”

  “I don’t care what Oakstone thinks,” Jaik bites out. “It’s not worth the risk.”

  I blow out a slow breath and lean against the opposite counter. The kitchen is so small, our legs are almost touching. “He really messed you up, huh?”

  Jaik grunts in response.

  What am I doing in here? Maybe I should have let Crystal come after him. My initial jealousy seems stupid as I watch Jaik’s tormented figure in front of me. I can’t imagine how it must feel to forget your whole life and family, live an entirely different life and then try to merge the two. “So,” I say, trying to sound positive. “What do you think we should do then?”

  “I’m not sure,” he admits, placing the glass down and holding his head in his hands. “This is all my fault.”

  Not the response I was expecting. “It’s not your fault. It’s this Cadicus guy’s fault.”

  “No. It’s my fault,” he looks up, his eyes dark with regret. “If I hadn’t gone back to that alley. If I hadn’t met up with you guys. I could have just run away.”

  “I’m sure if running away was an option, you’d have done it a long time ago,” I reassure him. “I know I don’t know the half of it, but I know Cadicus is a hard man to escape from.”

  “Perhaps,” he admits.

  “We’ll get Sera back.” I try and force confidence into my tone. “Good triumphs over evil, right?”

  Jaik looks at me in disbelief. “Tell my mother that. Or Crystal’s parents.”

  “Come on, mate,” I sigh. “I’m trying.”

  “Well, don’t,” Jaik huffs. “We need to get back in there and figure out a plan that doesn’t end in us getting ourselves killed.”

  Before I can respond, he pushes himself off the side and through the door. There’s a darkness in the pit of my stomach that I can’t shake. I hope he’s not right.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Crystal

  Yawning, I take another sip of lukewarm black coffee. There’s little else to drink in the house besides water and after a long night like last night, I need something stronger than water. A wave of homesickness washes over me as I long for the sweet but musky flavour of bahabo tea.

  After staying up strategizing until the early hours of the morning, we ended up sleeping in the living room. Everyone except Oakstone. He put up a good fight, but we convinced him to sleep upstairs in the only bed. No one said it out loud, but I don’t think any of us wanted to be separated after what happened.

  Jordan slept in the chair after losing a game of something called rock, paper, scissors with Eddie. Linda took the sofa. Jaik, Eddie, Dylan and I found spaces on the floor. It wasn’t too bad. The floor is covered with a thick soft covering and we found a cupboard full of warm blankets. Plus, I got to spend the few hours’ sleep we had in Dylan’s arms. I smile at the memory. Waking up to his sleepy smile is something I could get used to.

  “What are you grinning at?”

  My smile broadens as Dylan sits down beside me with his second cup of coffee. “You.”

  “Oh?”

  I open my mouth to tell him how happy he makes me, but Jaik stands and claps his hands together, calling our attention.

  “Right! Is everyone ready for today? Everyone know their part?”

  “Yes,” I answer along with everyone else. I try to sound confident, but my insides are somersaulting at the thought of today more than the first time I travelled in a spacecraft.

  “It’s a good plan,” Dylan murmurs at my ear, sensing my nerves. He moves into my line of sight, staring at me until I meet his gaze. “It will work.”

  I manage a small smile and try to breathe in his confidence. It might work, but there’s also a lot that could go wrong.

  It’s a cold morning and the pale sun casts an eerie light on the deserted streets. As I gaze up at the old building, the silence makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Several stories high, it’s covered with giant windows with a tall brick tower reaching up into the sky.

  Buildings on Starlatten are generally pale in colour with many windows; designed to blend in with their natural surroundings. There is nothing natural about this red giant. It looms over us, bringing nothing but a sense of foreboding.

  Linda, Jordan, Eddie and I crouch between discarded building materials, and something called a ‘skip’. Shifting awkwardly, in an unsuccessful attempt to get more comfortable, I watch as Dylan, Jaik and Dr. Oakstone make their way towards the building. My heart is in my mouth as they approach one of the few windows that isn’t boarded up.

  Last night, we decided either Sera is already inside the building, or they’ll bring her here in time for the meeting. Either way, it’s in our advantage to be here first. If she’s already here, the plan is for Dylan, Jaik and Dr. Oakstone to distract the guards and get her out. If they bring her at the agreed time, Jaik will confront them with the others hiding in case anything goes wrong. Jordan and Eddie are poised as back up, ready to get help or storm the building.

  Of course, things probably won’t go to plan. Of this, we are all painfully aware. There are too many variables and even now, as I think over the various strategies, all I can see are huge gaping holes. This is going to be far from straight forward. Despite my protests, it was decided that I am to stay hidden at all costs. Something I’m still not happy about.

  Beside me, Jordan looks at his phone for the hundredth time. Oakstone has set up a clever little program on his computer that will send an automated message to the police if things go really wrong. It will inform them of our whereabouts with as little information as we can get away with. All Jordan has to do is type a four-digit number on his phone.

  “I wish we could see what’s going on in there,” Linda whispers. “I hate this.”

  We agreed not to call or text each other in case the notification alerts someone it shouldn’t. I bite my lip hard, nodding in agreement as I watch the window the boys have disappeared through.

  Eddie shuffles closer and nudges me with his elbow. “Can’t you send Jaik one of your psychic necklace messages?”

  I blink in surprise. I haven’t even thought of that. How strange. Back home, talking telepathically is second nature. A handful of days on Earth and it’s almost a distant memory. “It’s worth a try I s
uppose. I don’t know if he’ll be able to respond though. It takes practise and he’s only used his amulet once since getting his memories back.”

  “Please try,” Linda pleads.

  Jordan gives me a small smile. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

  I smile back, look towards the building and concentrate.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Dylan

  Swallowing my nerves, I try to ignore the pounding of my heart in my ears as I watch Jaik lead the way. He seems so comfortable in his role – hiding in the shadows and then motioning for us to join him.

  “Move it!” Oakstone hisses, tapping me on the shoulder.

  I lift my hand in apology and continue through the maze of dark, cold empty rooms trying to remember why I volunteered for this. The air smells of damp and something I can’t put my finger on. Something I know I don’t want to recognise. I push the thought from my mind and join Jaik and Oakstone in a huddle behind a mass of overturned tables, boxes and pallets.

  This must be the main room. I glance up at the tall boarded windows which fill its length. Enormous pillars covered with peeling, faded green paint support the damaged ceiling, which sends shards of light slicing through the gloom, illuminating the dust and cobwebs in the air.

  “This is the room he’ll bring her to,” Jaik says, his green eyes flashing with adrenaline. “I honestly thought she’d be here already.”

  “They’ll be here in the next half an hour,” I say, glancing at my watch. “If he keeps his word.”

  “Do you think he will?” Oakstone asks.

  Jaik doesn’t respond. His eyes have glassed over slightly and he’s staring at a space just over my right shoulder.

  “You okay, mate?”

  I’m considering waving a hand in front of his face when the light returns to his eyes and he looks at us in surprise.

  “Crystal just sent me a message,” he breathes.

  “Of course!” Oakstone gasps. “The amulets!”

  My heart jumps at the mention of Crystal’s name. I hate knowing she’s out there without me. Not that she needs protecting, as she made abundantly clear when we were coming up with the plan. “Is she okay?” I ask. “What did she say?”