by Jon Robinson
Come on, Elsa, Harlan thought. You can do better than that.
‘Baldy was trying to teach me the coin thing,’ she went on. ‘But I’m no good!’
‘Practise!’ the man called back wearily. He unscrewed a bottle of water and took a sip.
Seconds later, the guard yelped and grabbed his head. ‘What did you just throw at me?’
‘Sorry!’ Elsa called back from above. ‘It was my coin – can you find it for me?’
He muttered at her and got up from the low wall. Harlan took this as his opportunity to creep towards the door. The guard turned away from Harlan and hunched over, looking for Elsa’s coin.
‘I see it!’ Elsa yelled down. ‘It’s right there, by the drain! No, not there, a bit to the right …’
Harlan looked up at Elsa, gave her a thumbs-up, and scurried across the grass.
He walked until he found a shabby-looking amusement arcade, less than a mile away, sandwiched between an off-licence and a laundrette. Harlan stepped inside, gazing around at the pulsing lights, and eventually settled on a fruit machine by the door.
He inserted a couple of coins and pressed the glowing buttons. Can’t think of a better place to practise, he thought. As the three reels spun in unison, Harlan shut his eyes.
Inside the machine, the smallest, barely noticeable fluctuation in gravity caused the first reel to falter and slow, and seconds later it landed on the image of a bell.
Harlan felt a tingling sensation inside his skull. He opened his eyes just as the second and third reels also landed on bells. The lights flashed and a cascade of coins clattered into the tray.
This is addictive, he thought, the tingling sensation only just fading. What else might he be able to influence? There seemed no end of possibilities.
‘How old did you say you were again?’ said the manager, carefully scrutinizing Harlan half an hour later.
‘Eighteen,’ Harlan lied, scooping the coins from his jumper on to the counter. ‘I’d like to change this into notes.’
The manager of the arcade narrowed his eyes and watched Harlan carefully. With a sigh, he reluctantly counted the coins and removed some notes from the till before thrusting them at Harlan. ‘If I find out you’re cheating …’ he said, and trailed off as Harlan turned and left.
A few miles from the amusement arcade, not far from where he’d left the Guild’s car, Julian perched in a shop doorway, staring vacantly as the rain pattered steadily across the cobblestones. The canvas awning above his head bulged and heaved, and a single trail of water dribbled into a pool beside him.
‘There you are,’ Harlan said, sitting beside Julian. ‘It’s taken me ages to find you.’
Julian remained silent.
‘Come with us,’ Harlan said. ‘The Guild will look after us. We’ll be safe with them – they’ll train us, and you’ll learn things you never thought were possible …’
Only then did Julian turn his head to meet Harlan’s eyes. ‘This Ability … if it’s true, it’s dangerous. It’s a curse.’
‘Maybe you’re right, but that’s why we need to learn to use it,’ Harlan said excitedly. ‘So we can control it. Otherwise –’
Julian looked away. ‘For all we know, this whole thing is just another lie.’
‘I don’t think you really believe that.’
‘I might. You don’t know anything about me, Harlan.’
‘I know you’re not as complex as you think you are. You’re like the rest of us. A little more selfish perhaps. But in the end, we’re not really that different. We’ve all been thrown into something that we’re trying to make sense of.’
‘Then why do you even care whether or not I join you and the rest of those weirdos?’
‘Where else are you going to go? Back home? What’ll you do when they come looking for you?’
‘I’ll manage.’
Harlan smiled. ‘You don’t even have any money since Elsa stole it.’
‘Then I’ll sleep here,’ Julian said with a shrug. ‘I’ll find food. I’ll survive. It’s what I do best.’
‘At least give the Guild a try. No one’s forcing you to stay.’
‘The Guild.’ He laughed and shook his head. ‘You really think they’re any better than the ones who put us in the prison?’
‘Anyone’s better than them,’ Harlan said. He got up and pointed in the direction of the Guild’s base. ‘It’s a grey tower block called Hermes House, twenty minutes away.’ Harlan pointed to a couple of faint buildings in the distance. ‘If you change your mind – and I hope you do – that’s where you’ll find us.’
Before he left, Harlan reached inside his pocket and removed a wad of money, at least two hundred pounds. ‘You wanted your money back. Here. Take it,’ he said, and passed it to Julian.
Julian looked baffled. ‘Where did you get it? Why are you doing this?’
‘Looking out for you,’ Harlan said. ‘How else are you going to learn, Julian?’ He said nothing else and walked away quickly through the falling rain.
41
After a long afternoon of practising unsuccessfully with the coin, Elsa hopped up from her bed and walked over to the window. Wish they’d give me something a little more exciting to do, she thought, sighing, turning the coin between her fingers. At this rate, she’d never be a proper member of the Guild, not if she couldn’t pass the most basic test.
She left the bedroom and paused by the locked door at the end of the corridor. Elsa made sure nobody was looking and edged slowly towards it. It was as though something was pulling her and she was unable to resist.
She took a final step and peered through the keyhole. She was sure there was something in there, a shape. But what …?
Pyra grabbed her by the arm, pulling her away. ‘Thought you were told to stay away from that room. You have trouble listening to orders?’
‘Nope,’ said Elsa, ‘I just have trouble obeying them.’
Pyra narrowed her eyes. ‘I have something to do. Want to come? Keep you out of trouble!’
Elsa shrugged. ‘Depends, I guess. What kind of thing?’
‘Surveillance,’ Pyra clarified.
‘You’re spying on someone? Who?’
‘His name’s Lord Blythe. He’s a close associate of James Felix. The two have been hanging around a lot recently.’ She lifted a rolled-up newspaper in her hand and opened it to a picture of a suspicious-looking Blythe and Felix. ‘The papers think they’re involved in some dodgy business merger, but thanks to what you told us about Felix, we think it might be about the Pledge.’
Elsa studied the picture for a few moments. ‘How are you going to find this Blythe guy?’
‘He’s not as secretive as Felix,’ Pyra said. ‘The opposite in fact.’
‘And you want me to help you spy on him?’
‘Sure. I think it might do you some good. Come on.’
Pyra pulled her away as Elsa looked at the locked door one last time.
Half an hour later, the pair were standing together on the crowded tube. Pyra was leaning against a pole with her arms folded, while Elsa squinted at the tube map.
‘How are you finding the training?’ Pyra asked. Elsa looked up.
‘Hard, I guess. I’ve done everything Baldy told me.’
‘And?’
‘I’m not good enough. I don’t think I’ll ever do it. I can imagine what I’m supposed to; I just can’t concentrate.’
Pyra slipped a hand inside her jeans pocket and removed the domino. ‘It’s called a locus,’ she said.
Elsa took the domino with her forefinger and thumb, examined it and dropped it back in Pyra’s hand. ‘Can I have one?’
‘You need to get your own. It works best if it means something to you. It doesn’t even need to be an actual thing. It could be a symbol, a word, a memory … If you’re trying to influence things, your own desire can sometimes get in the way. A locus can help you concentrate.’
‘A blue elephant,’ Elsa said, a little embarrassed. ‘It’s m
y favourite toy. My parents used to put it on the floor by my bed when I was sleeping. They said it’d keep the monsters away. After a while, I didn’t even need the toy when I was scared, I just used to think of it. Can I use that as my locus?’
‘Knock yourself out. Anyway, this is our stop,’ Pyra said, and headed on to the train platform.
Elsa struggled to keep up as they went up a flight of stairs to the escalators. She gazed at the advertisements floating past them on either side. ‘So where do we find this Blythe guy then?’
‘There’s a little restaurant in Covent Garden,’ said Pyra. ‘Apparently he eats there every Wednesday.’
‘So we’re just gonna bust in and grab a seat next to him?’
‘We’re not going to do anything as fun as that. We’re going to wait.’
They turned right out of the station and walked past the gathered crowds, who were circled around a few street performers. The scent of cooked food drifted out of the little restaurants and bistros dotted around. Elsa felt her stomach rumble as they entered the piazza.
‘Down here,’ Pyra said, pointing to a road. ‘There’s a coffee shop opposite. We can sit there and wait.’
After brushing some raindrops from the metal chairs, the two sat at the table, with Pyra facing the restaurant door on the opposite side of the road. She ordered two coffees for them both and a short while later a smiling waitress emerged with their drinks.
‘You haven’t told me how you got involved with the Guild,’ Elsa said.
‘Was I supposed to?’
‘No, I was just wondering. That’s all.’
‘I’ve been in and out of care my whole life,’ said Pyra after a moment’s pause. ‘When I started to realize about the Ability I wasn’t all that much older than you. They told me I was sick.’
‘But you weren’t, right?’
‘Well, I might’ve been,’ said Pyra. ‘I was an angry kid. Got into a bit of trouble and had to stay at a young offenders’ institution. On my last night there, I imagined it burning to the ground. Three days later, it did. They said it was a mix of things – a dodgy plug, some turpentine that hadn’t been cleaned up properly, old batteries in the smoke alarm. No one person’s fault …’
‘But you were the spark? At least that’s what you think, right?’
Pyra went to speak but cut herself short and shrugged. ‘I dunno. But that’s why we exist … to train people, so we can take control of it, and use it for good.’ Her eyes swept quickly past Elsa to the restaurant door. ‘Anyway, look. That’s our man.’
Elsa spun round in her chair, but Pyra grabbed her wrist. ‘Don’t make it so obvious,’ she said. ‘You think that your training is all about using the Ability, but there’s a lot more to it than that.’ She waited until Blythe was a short distance away and stood still. ‘Come on, follow me.’
42
‘So,’ said Alyn, as the chauffeur-driven car weaved through streams of afternoon traffic, ‘who’s first?’
‘The lowest-ranking member of the Pledge. His name is Blythe.’
‘Does it ever bother you that you might be cheating?’ Alyn said.
‘Cheating? Not at all,’ Felix chuckled. ‘Had you found Stephen, he’d have had you do the same, I’m sure. The boy doesn’t like me at all, for some reason or another.’
Alyn watched Felix clean his glasses on a silk handkerchief. ‘So while you and Blythe are talking, I have to imagine him agreeing to kick Stephen out,’ Alyn said. ‘That’s all.’
‘It’s not as simple as just imagining, Alyn. You have to focus with every fibre of your being, as though you’re forcing your imagination to replace reality itself.’
It was easier switching off some lights, Alyn pondered. Manipulating someone’s thoughts seems like something else.
‘And afterwards,’ Felix added, ‘I’ll take you out for a burger. What do you say?’
Alyn followed Felix out of the car to a large Edwardian townhouse. Standing outside was an overweight grey-haired man with a moustache and a reddened face, a cigar planted between his fingers like a paintbrush.
‘Blythe,’ said Felix, extending his hand. ‘It’s good to see you.’
‘Likewise,’ Blythe announced. He turned his scrutiny to Alyn.
‘I want you to meet my apprentice,’ Felix said. ‘This is Alyn.’
Blythe let his cigar droop and tilted back his neck. ‘Ah yes,’ he murmured, billowing a stream of smoke. ‘Poor chap, whatever did you do to deserve this? He’s working you to the bone, I’ll bet!’ Blythe slapped a heavy hand on Alyn’s arm and laughed loudly.
‘Is there somewhere we can talk in private?’ Felix asked.
‘Indeed.’ Blythe took another pull on his cigar, and steered them both away from the front steps. ‘Follow me.’
Alyn braced himself for another enthusiastic pat on his shoulder and followed the two men until they arrived at a prestigious hotel at the bottom of the next street. An attentive pudgy-faced doorman stood rigid, hands clasped neatly behind his back. Overhead a white flag rippled and fluttered in the cold air.
‘Good afternoon, gentlemen,’ the doorman said, recognizing the pair and stepping aside.
Elsa peeped out from round the wall, squinting at them.
‘They’ve gone inside that hotel!’ she whispered to Pyra. ‘There was someone else with them too, but I couldn’t really see. You think we should follow them?’
Pyra looked down at her torn jeans and leather jacket. ‘Not we. You.’
‘But I can’t –’
‘Time to stop thinking about what you can’t do, Elsa, and focus on what you can. This is all part of your training … using your wits and learning to think on your feet. Luthan is a traditionalist. He might have you flipping that coin, but I prefer to get you out there.’
Elsa pulled a face. ‘What do I do once I’m inside?’
‘Get a cup of hot chocolate and relax.’ Pyra smiled. ‘I’m kidding, of course. See if you can overhear anything that might be useful. If you feel in danger just leave, I’ll be waiting right here.’
Pyra gave Elsa an encouraging shove and slipped back behind the wall. Elsa trotted along the pavement towards the hotel. She felt her stomach sink as she walked through the car park and towards the door.
Blythe sighed. ‘Unless I’m mistaken, we’ve already had this conversation, Felix. You want me and Antonia to join you in voting Stephen out of the Pledge.’
On the far side of the room, Alyn had been struggling to keep an image in his mind of Blythe agreeing with Felix’s request.
‘I’ve heard it all before, and my answer is still the same. He’s more use to us in than out, and we don’t want to upset the applecart. There would be ghastly repercussions if this went ahead.’
‘There would be repercussions if it didn’t,’ Felix argued. ‘You really see him in charge of the Pledge some day, Blythe? You want everyone’s fate in his hands – the hands of a madman?’
‘Fate is always in the hands of madmen, Felix. Because madmen are the only ones cunning enough – or stupid enough – to seek that kind of power in the first place.’ He leant in towards Felix, lowering his voice. ‘Besides, do you really think this is the time to be discussing such matters? I don’t see why you needed to bring him along.’
‘Alyn has no idea about any of this,’ Felix lied, slowly sipping his drink. ‘He’s just been running some errands for me.’
‘Hm. Well, anyway, I need the little boys’ room,’ Blythe said. ‘Another gin and tonic, if you’re buying.’
He stood, belched loudly with a look of pride, and waddled towards the stairs.
Felix waited until he was out of sight before striding across to where Alyn was seated. ‘It doesn’t seem to be working,’ Felix spat. ‘He’s not changed his mind. You have to keep trying, Alyn. I don’t know how much longer I can keep him here. There’s a charity gala at the opera house on Friday. All of the Pledge will be attending. This is when I plan on announcing Stephen’s dismissal. We need Blythe
and Antonia to agree by then.’
Alyn sighed, recognizing the disappointment and desperation in the billionaire’s voice. If what he said about Stephen was true, it was vital they succeed. But more than that, Felix was one of the few people to have shown him kindness … something even his own father hadn’t been able to manage.
‘I’ll keep trying,’ Alyn said.
‘I know you’re more than capable.’ Felix patted his shoulder encouragingly and hurried back to his chair, just as Blythe returned.
Elsa darted inside. So far there was no sign of Felix or Blythe anywhere. She walked cautiously around the sweeping hall, glancing at the rows of framed paintings, floral patterned armchairs, dark wood tables, where guests sat stiffly.
I can’t screw this up and make a fool out of myself in front of Pyra, she thought. Otherwise, it was likely to be the first and last time she was invited on a mission.
As Elsa entered the lounge, she saw them. Felix and Blythe were sat in front of a grandiose-looking fireplace. She crept nearer, helping herself to a canapé from a parked trolley.
Elsa dropped into a seat a short way from their table and picked up a newspaper, covering her face. Straining her ears, she tried to make out their conversation.
‘I hope to see you at the opera house on Friday,’ Felix said after a short while. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’ll be glad to get the whole thing over with.’
The opera house on Friday, Elsa thought. I wonder what’s going on there?
Felix stood, stretching, and turned to his apprentice. ‘We’re done here, Alyn,’ he said to the boy at the window. ‘Did you manage to get all that work done for me?’
Elsa lowered the newspaper, and saw Alyn making his way towards the pair.
‘All of it,’ Alyn answered.
‘Alyn?’ she said aloud, and quickly brought the newspaper back over her face. It can’t be him. She waited for a couple of seconds and peered out again. It was him. What’s he doing here?
‘Pleased to have met you,’ Alyn said, shaking Blythe’s hand.
Elsa’s mouth hung open at the sight of her friend dressed in an expensive suit and shaking hands with the very people who had been responsible for their imprisonment.