Pale Peak Burning

by Paula Harrison

  Yes that had to be it. He must be casting a spell of cold to get control of the stone.

  Laney gathered a handful of snow from the garden wall and squeezed it between her bare fingers. She expected it to melt round the edges but it didn’t. She pressed it between the palms of her hands. There was no fire in her with her Blaze power gone but the snow still should have melted a little. Maybe it wasn’t just ordinary snow.

  Suddenly the snow seemed more menacing, with a mind and purpose of its own. Laney stuck her hands in her pockets and hurried down the road. Snow was just made from frozen water and if she really had Mist power then she might be able to do things with it – make it move or float. But she didn’t. If this was the Shadow’s doing then there was no way she wanted to play with it.

  There were plenty of people about in the village. A group of kids were making a snowman in someone’s front garden. A few people were shovelling snow off the path but she couldn’t see Tyler anywhere.

  Keeping her head down, she slipped into the corner shop and nearly ran into the long queue that stretched back to the door. Chips Delaney, who was standing by the newspaper rack, glanced at her briefly.

  Tyler was at the front. “Matches, please.” He put down some coins on the counter and the shop owner handed him a matchbox.

  “That’s my last box, everyone,” said the shop owner. “I’ve sold out and I don’t have any lighters either.” Grumbling broke out in the queue. “I’m sorry but I’ve sold a huge number of boxes since last night and that’s all I have.”

  Laney realised that she recognised a lot of these people from the Kindling. Tyler reached her, pocketing the matches. “Come on,” he muttered. “I need to talk to you.”

  “I can lend you matches,” Delaney told the people in the queue. “I’ve got some boxes at home.” There was silence and Delaney’s mouth set in a straight line. He walked towards the door saying, “Well, it’s up to you. You know where I am.”

  Tyler drew Laney down a side street. “This is a nightmare. We’ve never had to buy matches before but none of us can light fires without them. With the electricity off we need fire to keep us warm.”

  “Has anyone seen the Shadow since last night?” Laney asked.

  “No.” Tyler frowned and kicked at the snow.

  Laney had to know if she could trust him. “Did you tell anyone about me and what happened with the water drops yesterday?”

  He looked her straight in the eye. “No, I thought about telling my dad but I didn’t. It’s too confusing and I don’t think our tribe can take anything else right now. I won’t tell if you don’t want me to.”

  “I think I need to figure out what’s happening myself.” Laney folded her arms against the cold. “So what does the tribe plan to do about the Sparkstone?”

  Tyler lowered his voice. “Hillburn thinks it’s still underground. There’s a Blaze spell that stops the Myrical being taken out of the underground passages. It was set up years ago – like an enchanted barrier – and it hasn’t been broken.”

  “So the Shadow left the tunnels without the stone?”

  “He probably had no choice. That spell he used to overpower us wore off after a while and Hillburn and the others started searching the tunnels for him. Maybe they got close just as the Shadow tried to get the Sparkstone through the barrier spell.”

  “So he hid the stone and escaped?”

  “Exactly. So now everyone’s setting out to search the tunnels. None of us have any Blaze magic so we’ll have to take torches.” Tyler rubbed his hands together. “Stay out of the way, OK? The Shadow obviously has something against you. Don’t give him another chance to hurt you.”

  “I can’t just do nothing. I have to help.” Laney broke off as Briana, Zac and Callum ran round the corner, calling out to Tyler. They stopped when they saw Laney, and Briana said something to the others.

  Laney was too far away to hear but she could guess what the other girl was saying. “They still blame me for the red moon. They don’t trust me.”

  “Well, I do! And I know you were looking out for me in the cave yesterday. But you should go back home now or you’ll get yourself killed.” Tyler squeezed her arm and ran to join his friends.

  They raced back to the High Street and disappeared inside the bakery before Laney could argue so she went back to the corner shop and bought some milk and some squashed-looking cherry slices before heading home. Walking back up the hill in the deep snow was hard work but all she could think of was the Shadow. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the Blazes were missing something.

  Crossing the bridge, she began climbing the last stretch up to the cottage. Maybe the Shadow would be at Beggar’s Chasm by the faerie ring. She’d seen him close to a ring once before back in Skellmore. The rings were gateways to the Otherworld and perhaps all the energy pouring through them helped his Shadow spells. Maybe she should go up there and see if she was right.

  When she rounded the corner, she saw Kim and Toby waiting outside the cottage. Spotting her, Kim started waving her arms.

  Laney ran to meet them. “What is it?”

  “There’s been a phone call.” Kim’s voice sounded weird. “From the hospital.”

  “What?” Laney’s throat tightened.

  “Your dad’s got worse, they say, and he’s having trouble breathing. They want to know if we can come in to see him – just in case.”

  Laney didn’t want to ask what just in case meant. “But how are we going to get there with all this snow?”

  “Mrs McKee knows a farmer and he’s going to drive the tractor through the snow with us following. Once we reach the main road the route to Kirkfield is supposed to be clear.”

  The faint roar of an engine came from the end of the lane. “Quickly, put the shopping inside,” Kim said. “We’re going right now.”

  The crawl behind the tractor to the main road was painfully slow. Toby babbled cheerfully to himself in the back seat and spun the wheels on his little toy car. But Kim was silent and Laney didn’t speak either. She didn’t know what to say.

  The snowfall had been lighter in Kirkfield and the roads were clear. Kim parked next to the hospital and they went inside.

  “Keep hold of Toby, could you?” Kim rushed away down the corridor. “I’m going to try to find a doctor who can tell us what’s going on.”

  Laney took Toby’s hand and stopped outside her dad’s room. He’s having trouble breathing. Kim’s words went round and round in her head. She made herself push the door open.

  “Laney!” Simon was standing by the window. “Are you OK?”

  Laney let go of Toby’s hand and walked to the bed. She felt as if she were in a dream – her dad lying there looking like a ghost with an oxygen mask over his mouth. The beeping monitor behind the bed sounded like a warning.

  “I drove up here to see you all but the roads looked so grim that I didn’t think I’d get through,” Simon told her. “So I came here and found Robert like this.”

  “The hospital rang us and said we should come in. Kim’s gone to find a doctor.” Laney sat down in the chair next to the bed and took her dad’s hand. Was this real? She leaned closer. As always, her dad’s eyes were shut tight. Beneath the mask his breathing sounded hoarse.

  Toby crouched down, pushing his little car along the floor.

  Simon broke the silence. “I’m amazed you got through … such terrible weather…”

  Laney tried to swallow. “They said he was worse when they phoned. So we had to.”

  Simon pulled a chair to the other side of the bed. “It might not be as bad as it sounds – maybe it’s best to wait and see what the doctors say. Sometimes people pick up an infection in hospital. He’s always been a strong person though, so whatever it is he’ll fight it off, I’m sure.”

  Laney didn’t say anything. She knew Simon was trying to make her feel better but it was just words. She wanted her dad back. Not this pale person in an oxygen mask.

  She wanted him to tell her to be ca
reful about the tribes, to tell her not to practise magic in the house, to tell her not to stay out after dark. She wanted him to get cross with her and say that she didn’t understand how much trouble she’d be in. She just wished he’d open his eyes.

  The skin on his hand was as thin as tissue paper. There were purple bruises where the drip had been moved so many times. She let go of his fingers. Why wasn’t he fighting this?

  “Are you going to be OK?” Simon looked worried. “Shall I find Kim?”

  Laney shook her head. She wished he’d stop trying to talk to her. Toby had abandoned his car and was fiddling with some flowers in a vase. He pulled a pink rose out of the water and shook it. Kim had brought the flowers the last time they were here, Laney remembered. They were the only bright thing in the room. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “I’ll go and find Kim.” Simon pushed his chair back and made his way to the door.

  “Snow!” Toby waved the flower at Simon as if it was a sword.

  The petals slowly crinkled and turned brown. Simon stepped away but the flower carried on wilting, its stem bending right over. Toby waved the dead rose again, looking confused. A few brown petals fell to the floor.

  Simon looked at Laney.

  She met his gaze and a sick feeling rose inside her. There was only one person she knew who had that effect on living things. A faerie with magic so dark and rotten that his presence could turn leaves brown and make plants wilt.

  That person was the Shadow.

  Simon’s face smoothed over and the worried look vanished. His eyes glittered as if he was calculating whether Laney had figured out his secret.

  Laney stared at the dead rose. There was no mistake. The flower had changed in an instant. In the silence, she heard Kim’s voice in the corridor outside. Toby heard it too. He dropped the dead flower and rushed out of the door calling, “Mummy, me hungry.”

  Simon took a step towards the hospital bed and Laney leapt up. “Don’t you dare come near him!” she hissed.

  “Now, now! Calm down. How are you going to explain to Kim what you’re yelling about? You can’t tell her because she doesn’t know what you are.” A thin smile twisted the edges of his mouth.

  Laney felt ice cold. “You did this to him … and he was your friend.” Looking at him standing there in his jeans and brown jacket, it was almost impossible to believe. Simon had been her dad’s workmate for years. Yet there were little things – the tone of his voice and the way he stood – that now seemed horribly similar to the shadow.

  Simon’s smile deepened. “I was his friend for a reason – just not the reason he thought. I came to watch…” His fingers tightened into fists.

  Those fingers… Laney had seen them covered in black gloves, letting loose a torrent of red lightning. When she’d fought against him to save the Wildwood Arrow, hadn’t she thought ice had formed on her neck? She’d wondered then if the Shadow was a Mist faerie.

  Her gaze snapped back to his face. “Where’s the Sparkstone? You’ve hidden it in the tunnels underneath Groaning Tor, haven’t you?”

  “And if I told you, what would you do? All you had were some Tainted Blaze powers and now they’re gone. You’re nothing, just like your mother was nothing.”

  A tiny groan came from the bed.

  “Dad?” Laney took his hand. His eyes were still closed and there was no sign of movement.

  Simon moved forward too, leaning over the bed. He clamped one rigid hand on her dad’s forehead and at once Mr Rivers’ face tightened and veins stood out underneath his skin.

  “No!” Laney grabbed Simon’s arm and tried to pull him away. “Get off him!”

  Simon eyes filled with darkness. First it covered the gold rings and then the rest of his eyeballs until all that was left were two black holes. His throat rippled and out of his mouth came the cold voice of the Shadow. “I have been keeping him weak for months despite your miserable herb parcels.” He pushed Laney and she fell over. “The extra power has been very useful. I only need a little more to break that Blaze barrier spell and take control of the Sparkstone completely.”

  Laney’s blood pounded in her ears. All this time Simon had been stealing her dad’s power – keeping him helpless. “Why are you doing this?” she whispered.

  Simon straightened, his black eyes fixed on her. “There are sacred rings all over this land being walked over and dug up and built on by humans.” He broke off as if the word tasted rotten in his mouth. “It’s time we took back our land – it was ours in the first place, long ago when the Fair Eyes were free. Your Elders are happy to hide and to pretend that we don’t exist. I shall set us free.”

  “You’re not setting anyone free! You’re just taking things that belong to other tribes.” Struggling up, she was about to launch herself at him when the door creaked.

  Simon whipped his hand away from her dad’s forehead and pretended to be leaning over the bed in concern as Kim and the doctor came in. He blinked and his eyes returned to normal.

  “Laney, are you OK? I thought I heard shouting.” Kim had Toby in her arms. “Things aren’t as bad as I thought. It’s just that your dad’s condition seems very changeable.”

  The doctor went to the bed and examined the heart-rate monitor.

  “It might be best if Laney goes outside,” Simon said smoothly. “I think it’s all been a bit too much.”

  Laney stared back at his thin face, hating him. “Just go.”

  “Laney!” said Kim.

  “It’s all right.” Simon gave his usual pleasant laugh. “This is hard on everyone. I understand. Well, you’ve got my number if you need me.” He made his way out. Even the way he twisted round to pull the door open reminded Laney of the Shadow.

  Kim looked at Laney in confusion.

  “Mrs Rivers?” the doctor said. “He’s had another drop in his heart rate. I’m going to order a few tests. Nothing to worry about. But could I ask you to go to the waiting area for a while?”

  “Of course.” Kim set Toby down and bent over the bed to kiss Laney’s dad on the cheek. She lingered there for a second but there was no change. His breathing under the mask sounded even more ragged than before.

  Kim straightened and picked up Toby again. “Come on. Let’s get you something to eat.”

  Laney followed them out, her head whirling. She had to make sure Simon was really gone. “I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”

  “What are you doing?” Kim looked worried. “Come to the canteen with us and have something to eat. Please.”

  “I won’t be long.” Laney dashed along the corridor and out of the hospital entrance, nearly skidding on a patch of trodden-down snow.

  Just pulling away from the traffic lights was Simon’s blue van. She watched it drive away, taking the turning towards Little Shackle. A flurry of snowflakes drifted downwards. People hurried past, trying to get into the warm. Laney’s head ached. How had Simon lied to them for so long?

  A wave of hopeless fury rolled over her and her legs trembled. Instinctively she opened her hand to see the flame – fire always came when she was angry – but there was nothing. Just the round red mark on her finger which had been there since the night she Awakened. What was she supposed to do now?

  A nurse hurrying past said, “Are you all right, dear?”

  Laney nodded dumbly and stumbled back into the hospital.

  When she reached the canteen, she found Kim wiping her eyes with a tissue. There were three plates of sausages and chips and three polystyrene cups of water on the table. None of the plates of food had been touched. Toby was lying across the seats opposite, fast asleep.

  Laney slipped into the seat beside her stepmum. She didn’t think she’d ever seen Kim cry before, not even when her dad first got injured. “Sorry I ran out. Thanks for the chips.” She picked one up and chewed it. It was hard to swallow.

  “I know this has been an awful day,” Kim began, “but we have to be there for each other. That’s what your dad would want.”

&n
bsp; “I know.” Laney tried to smile.

  “The way you spoke to Simon just now … we can’t take things out on each other like that, OK?”

  Laney pressed her lips together. Simon had really tricked them all. She’d never seen plants wilt around him before but maybe he’d been careful not to get close enough. Or maybe it only happened after he’d been using Shadow magic. He could be heading back to Little Shackle to perform more dark spells right now.

  She searched her pockets. “Can I borrow your phone? I’ve left mine in the cottage.”

  Kim pulled her mobile out of her handbag but then put it straight back. “Actually my phone’s run out of charge. Who are you trying to ring?”

  Laney thought fast. She had to get hold of someone and tell them what she knew. She had no idea what Tyler’s number was even if she had a phone that worked. “I have to go back to the village.” She pushed her plate away.

  “No, we’re staying here and you have to talk to me. Stop shutting me out, Laney. I know I’m just your stepmum but we’re still family and we’ve got this far.” Toby stirred and Kim lowered her voice. “You have to tell me what’s going on. I know there’s something you’re keeping secret. I’m not stupid!”

  “I can’t tell you!” Laney turned scarlet. “And I can’t really explain why.”

  Kim looked at her for a while. “Please try. I promise I won’t be angry no matter what it is.”

  Laney stared at the chips on her plate. The first thing she’d been taught after Awakening was never to reveal the faerie world. Humans believed they were a myth. She knew what Claudia or Tyler or Fletcher would say, but they didn’t have a dad in a coma and a family split apart by Shadow magic.

  Showing Kim would be easier than trying to explain everything. She glanced round. There was no one sitting close to them and their table was hidden from view by a pillar. There was a water drop clinging to the edge of her polystyrene cup and she touched it, moving it on to her finger. Then, very gently, she made the drop lift into the air and spin slowly. She touched another drop from the edge of Toby’s cup and one from Kim’s, and the three drops hung in the air, turning softly.