Endless Winter (Guardians of The Light)

by J Armitage

  Anais looked up into the distance and could see something coming towards them. As it got closer she could see that it was another tram, identical to this one, heading down the hill on the other track. Aethelu waved at the empty tram as it past and when Anais asked her why, she simply answered “Tradition.”

  When they arrived at the top a few minutes later, an old man was waiting for them. He was wearing a conductor’s uniform and his face sported a big grey bushy moustache which curled at the end and warmed his top lip. Anais placed him in his seventies.

  “Aethelu!” He came over and gave her a hug.

  “Anais, this is Mike. Mike, Anais.” Aethelu introduced them. “I called him up this morning to show you the ride. Mike has worked here for...how long now?”

  “This will be my fifty sixth year” Pride filled his voice.

  “He knows about all about us.” Aethelu turned to Anais. “He was the only non-Guardian to know until you came along.”

  “Yup!” Mike wiggled his moustache “Kept seeing the same kids riding the tram, only they never grew up. Knew something fishy was going on!”

  “We were hardly kids, we were older than you when you started.”

  “You were older than everyone when I started but I know what you mean.”

  “Mike here sometimes lets me ride on the tram when it’s closed and in exchange I volunteer in the sweet shop at the bottom.” Aethelu explained.

  “One day he’ll get over himself and let me work the cables,” said Aethelu giving Mike a cheeky look.

  “Not whilst I’m still here!” He said cheerily to Aethelu before turning to Anais.

  “You girls heading up on to the moor?”

  “Not today Mike,” answered Aethelu “We are just here for the tram. We are heading straight back down.”

  “Did you enjoy the ride?”

  “It was magical!” answered Anais honestly.

  “You should come back in the summer. It’s beautiful when all the flowers are out.”

  “Thank you, I will.”

  “Well it was nice to meet you Anais. It’s always good to see a new face.”

  Mike headed back to the lever that operated the tram as the girls headed to the front of the tram.

  They both got in together this time and waved a cheerful goodbye and thanks to Mike who pulled the lever to make the tram make its slow descent through the woods.

  They spotted no one on the path this time but Anais waved just as enthusiastically as Aethelu at the empty upward moving tram that passed them at the half way point.

  “There used to be all kinds of amusements up at the top but over the years they have all been dismantled. Only the tram and some dodgems remain although the dodgems haven’t run in years. It’s a shame, it was a real tourist destination in the Victorian era. It was only in the last decade that oldest roller coaster ride in the UK was demolished.”

  “It sounds wonderful.” Anais was fascinated with the history of the place.

  “It was, it still is. I miss how it used to be though. Mind you the moors are lovely in the summer. I’ll bring you back when the tram opens to the public in April.”

  When the ride finished the pair got off and made their way back through the woods, remembering to lock the gate as they left the tramway.

  Aethelu climbed a tree and jumped to the overhanging branch that would lead her back to the manors grounds. When Anais had successfully got to the other side she asked Aethelu a question she had been wondering about all morning.

  “The road you could see at the other side of the play park, wouldn’t that take us back to the manor?”

  “It would.”

  “So why didn’t we just walk down the road? Surely it would have been easier than climbing the trees?”

  “Yeah, but not as much fun.” She grinned.

  “You’ve got a strange idea of fun said Anais who had ripped a hole in her jeans on a branch.

  “Honestly, that’s not the full reason. Ever since your dad died, the security in the house has been way over the top. There are cameras everywhere and it creeps me out. I like having a way out of the grounds without anyone knowing that I’m gone. Plus I like being with you and not have to worry about who might be spying.”

  “Oh? And why’s that?”

  “Because of this.” She put her hands on either side of Anais face and kissed her hard.

  Anais felt like she was exploding with pleasure as she kissed Aethelu back.

  Even though they had been practicing holding hands and touching without the electrical impulses shooting through Anais, it still felt like every cell of her being was electric, concentrating on her mouth and shooting bliss throughout her whole body making her shiver.

  Anais was still shaking when they got back to the house. Aethelu apologised but she did it with a big smile on her face which made Anais laugh.

  That afternoon Aethelu told Anais she was going to the studio to work on the painting of her and that she was not, under any circumstances, allowed in.

  Anais begrudgingly agreed not to go to the studio. She’d had such an amazing morning that she didn’t want it to end. Being apart from Aethelu for just an afternoon was enough to make her feel a pang of disappointment. She missed Aethelu when they weren’t together, even an afternoon apart felt like too much. Still, she was desperate to see her painting, so mentally chiding herself for being so silly, she thought of something to do to while away the afternoon.

  Anais thought back to the Alice in Wonderland book and decided now was a good time to check out the manors library, something she had wanted to do ever since Aethelu had first mentioned it.

  The Library was a large room with massive windows filling it with light. Books filled shelves from the floor to the ceiling. A set of ladders leant against one of the books shelves and in the middle was a coffee table and two red leather chairs. A circular Turkish style rug was the only decoration in the austere room although it held a huge open fireplace, perfect for sitting and reading in front of on a winter’s day although Anais knew it couldn’t be good for the books.

  She loved it. Libraries were Anais favourite places, and all the more so when she had one all to herself. Huge gaps along the shelves showed her where Winnie had acquired her stock for the shop. She looked at the books, finding them to be in alphabetical order of author’s surnames. Following the books until she got to C, she looked for Lewis Carroll but there were no books of his on the shelf. She wondered if Aethelu had been mistaken in thinking they had two copies of Alice but then she noticed that her copy was also not here. She hoped Aethelu had listened to her and put both copies away somewhere safe.

  Suddenly a voice from behind her made her jump.

  “What are you looking for?” She turned and saw Andrew sat in one of the chairs. She’d not noticed him when she came in as the back of the chair he was sitting in was facing the door.

  “Sorry, I thought the library was empty. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

  “Not at all.” He had at least a dozen books laid out in front of him and one in his lap which was open to a page which looked like it contained diagrams of circuit boards. “I’m just doing some research, boring really. What did you say you were looking for? Perhaps I can help.”

  “I was just looking for a copy of Alice in Wonderland.”

  “Didn’t Aethelu give you a copy already?”

  “She did. She told me she was bringing it back down to the library although it really should be in a vault somewhere. Aethelu mentioned there were two copies. I was just curious I guess.”

  “Oh ok.” he paused, “Try D.”

  “D?”

  “Lewis Carroll wasn’t his real name.”

  “I know, it was Charles Dodgson... Oh, the books are in order of the author’s real name?”

  She looked over at the D section and found both copies straight away.

  “Only some of them, they are all over the place to be honest. Astrid did a marvellous job keeping this library but when she opened
the shop to look after you, it kind of went downhill. I’ll be glad when she comes back.”

  “I can’t wait to see her again too, although I knew her as Winnie.”

  “Yes, well she prefers using her real name but I’m afraid to me she’ll always be Astrid.”

  “The chess set you designed is amazing” said Anais changing the subject.

  “Ah, so you’ve played on it? I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was rather a labour of love. I don’t have much time for making fun things anymore since Aldric got me upgrading security in the house.”

  He then spent the next ten minutes telling Anais about all the security around the house and what else he was planning.

  Anais was interested but it sounded very over the top. Surely they weren’t in that much danger? She hoped not although Andrew seemed to be turning the manor in to Fort Knox. She remembered what Aethelu had told her earlier about people spying so she asked Andrew about cameras.

  He seemed delighted that she was interested as he pointed out a camera in the top corner of the library that she hadn’t noticed.

  “I’ve got cameras in all the main rooms, by the main entrance and in various places in the grounds.”

  She was not sure how she felt about cameras pointing at her everywhere but then, she realised it was no different from anywhere else nowadays.

  She sat for most of the afternoon with Andrew, more for his sake than hers. She guessed that the others didn’t spend much time with him. He seemed a very lonely character who just wanted a bit of company. She sat and listened and feigned interest on various topics such as wiring and computers. When she could take no more she made an excuse and stood to leave.

  “Don’t go, I’ve really enjoyed chatting to you.”

  “Me too,” Anais gave him a wide smile “but I think Aethelu will be waiting for me.”

  “Can you keep a secret?” Andrew looked at her in earnest.

  Anais wondered if this was a ploy to keep her there but she answered in the affirmative anyway.

  “I have a girlfriend, the others don’t know about her.”

  Anais felt bad for being sceptical but she played along.

  “Really, lovely” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  “She lives in Kenya. I met her over the internet. He fished a photo out of his pocket and showed Anais. “She’s called Judith. I’ve invited her for Christmas.” He seemed almost giddy with excitement.

  The woman in the photo was gorgeous. Ebony skin, golden eyes and a dazzling smile, her braided hair was piled up in an elaborate up-do. Anais heart dropped. She had a suspicion that ‘Judith’ was stringing poor shy Andrew along or worse, wasn’t even the woman in the picture. She’d heard of people coming into the country, getting visas by marriage. She mentally kicked herself and smiled at Andrew. Anais hoped that she wouldn’t hurt him too much. Despite his rather geeky demeanour, he was a real sweetheart and she wouldn’t like to see him get hurt.

  “She’s gorgeous,” Anais said before leaving him to his work and going to find Aethelu, taking a couple of books with her.

  Aethelu was still holed up in the studio so she decided to head back to her room to read one of the books she’d taken from the library.

  Back in the room she sat on the bed and took her shoes off. Laying her head on the pillow she felt something crinkle beneath it. Lifting her head up, she looked down but could see nothing on the pillow. Lifting it up, she found a large brown envelope which she had certainly not put there. Smiling, she wondered what Aethelu had surprised her with. She quickly opened the envelope but when she did she realised it was not from Aethelu at all. It contained photographs of herself and Aethelu from this afternoon. Photos of Aethelu climbing the tree, of both of them on the tram and chatting to Mike.

  She briefly wondered if they were print outs of the CCTV system that Andrew had been talking about earlier but she quickly dismissed it. These were taken from the angle of an adult with a camera. Besides, the CCTV didn’t extend to the tramway. She turned them all over and checked the envelope for some kind of note or message but there was none.

  “Who would send these?” Anais spoke softly to herself? “And why?”

  It was certainly strange.

  Deciding to show them to Aethelu in the morning she laid back down once more and started to read her book.

  When Aethelu bounced into the room, cheerfully announcing breakfast next morning, Anais followed her, thoughts of photos forgotten. She hadn’t noticed they had disappeared in the night.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Christmas Eve marked Anais fourth week in The Manor and there was still no sign of Winnie or Aldric. Nobody seemed to know where they were although there was little concern shown by the houses inhabitants. When Anais asked, she was told that the parents often go on extended trips and not to worry. Anais was beginning to worry though. She was anxious to see Winnie again, she missed her. Winnie was like family to Anais and she had so much to tell her. To take her mind off it she persuaded Aethelu to go to the nearest town for a Christmas shopping expedition. Aethelu had confessed to almost never leaving the manor, so scared was she of touching anyone and giving them a shock, that it took a while to persuade her at all. It was Alex, who often left the manor and so had mastered The Light, who finally got Aethelu to acquiesce to the trip.

  He’d invited himself along when he overheard Anais pleading with Aethelu to take her. Aethelu had been totally set against the idea but when Alex had said he’d take Anais, she had quickly changed her mind.

  Anais had expected to get a bus to the local town so was pleasantly surprised when Alex led them to the double garage doors in the outhouses. He opened them up to an amazing sight. The garage was bigger than Anais had realised and actually housed five cars, two motorbikes and a camper van. Despite growing up in LA, where everyone drove, Anais had never owned a car, nor had she seen so many amazing vehicles in one space. She knew very little about cars but she could see that these were not your average cars. All but one of the cars looked like very expensive sports cars. The one on the end was a big car with seven seats of the type a large family might own. Alex jumped into the nearest car which he told her was a black 1964 Corvette Stingray.

  “It’s American, I thought you’d like it.” He winked at her.

  Aethelu shot him a look and then climbed into the back seat. Anais was going to climb in after her but Alex had already reached across and opened the passenger door for her, clearly expecting her to sit in the front next to him. Not wanting to offend him she took the offered seat, sitting on beige leather. Alex started the car and raced out of the garage, screeching tyres as he went. Anais was glad she’d put her seatbelt on as he drove round corners much quicker than she’d have thought possible of a car of this size. Thankfully, all the roads they travelled on were gritted and clear of snow. She doubted that this car would get very far otherwise. They hurried down the long driveway, through the trees and out into the village. Aethelu, complaining all the while about the speed. Alex laughed it off and Anais, who, although a little nervous was enjoying the thrill of the ride. She was glad to be finally out of the manors grounds. As much as she loved it there, it was nice to be out in civilisation. Once out of the manors gates, which were opened electronically, Anais watched the scenery as it passed. They passed the playground she had seen hints of when Aethelu had taken her to the tramway. The tram itself was hidden in the woods but Anais could see the large snow covered path that led to it. They drove through the village which looked like a winter wonderland. Every house, snow covered and white. The snow at the side of the road had turned to brown slush which spoiled the general effect and the heavy grey sky dulled everything and made the white snow appear dreary.

  The brother and sister bickered all the way into the nearby city and Anais was glad when they finally arrived. The shops were bustling with people doing last minute shopping before Christmas so it was difficult for Aethelu not to touch anyone which only aggravated her bad mood. Even with her gloves on she
accidentally shocked a couple of people who jumped and looked around and then complained very loudly about static electricity. When Alex suggested she just take her gloves off and “accidentally” touch the people in the queue in front of her to make them leave the queue, she did, much to the surprise of Anais. Their little scheme worked for a while as people, not knowing where the shocks were coming from, assumed it was an electrical fault under the floor and went to use other tills, Aethelu’s mood began to lift, now she had found a way to occupy herself. Anais caught her giggling quietly at her little game and Alex obviously also thought it was hilarious. Eventually Anais put a stop to the sibling’s entertainment. Knowing how amazing touching Aethelu’s bare skin made her feel, she was having pangs of jealousy at the gift being used willy-nilly on total strangers. It was something special between her and Aethelu and she had no intention of sharing it any further. Of course, that’s not what she told Aethelu and Alex. She told them she was worried that Aethelu might accidentally give someone a heart attack; such was the intensity of the shocks. Aethelu looked suitably remorseful and promised to keep her gloves on, much to the disappointment of Alex who had been having fun. Anais was thoroughly enjoying the shopping trip. The shops were the same high street shops she was used to but they were all decorated for Christmas. Trees covered in lights and multi-coloured baubles twinkled out at her from every shop and everyone looked so happy. Many shoppers were wearing silly Santa hats and she even saw some wearing novelty flashing earrings. Children excitedly ran through the shops, discussing their Christmas lists and wondering if they’d been good enough for Santa to visit them. Christmas songs blared out from every shop, adding to the general noise and mayhem and wonderful smells of chestnuts roasting filled the air. Alex located the source, a little cart, and bought them a bag of chestnuts each. Anais and Aethelu bought their presents together as Anais had left her purse at Winnie’s shop and had no money on her. For August they bought a barbeque set, Andrew got a children’s magic set which Aethelu assured Anais was a great present for him. Anais picked out a beautiful pair of diamond earrings for Arcadia and for Alex they bought book on supercars when he wasn’t looking. Raphael got a set of handkerchiefs with his initials embroidered on. Aethelu picked out some slippers for her father but Anais asked if she could choose a gift for Winnie. She found a beautiful shawl of pale blue and silver which she knew Winnie would love. When they had finished their shopping they went to a fast food place for lunch. Anais left Alex and Aethelu eating their burgers whilst she quickly went to find a present for Aethelu. She found a beautiful red cashmere jumper and bought a small silver broach in the shape of a heart with a ruby in the middle to go with it. She had had to borrow money from Alex who was more than happy to lend her some, knowing that Winnie would be back soon with all of Anais things, including the money she had saved up whilst working in the shop. By the time she got back to the burger joint, Aethelu and Alex had already finished and were just ready to leave. They packed all their bags into the car and drove home, under the still heavy sky which was just beginning to snow.