‘Would I make fun of a beautiful lady?’ said the boy laughing as he began to walk backwards away from her. ‘Come on, we’d better go or we will be very wet.’
As he spoke the few raindrops became heavier and more frequent and soon a heavy downpour was sweeping in along the bay.
‘Come on,’ shouted the boy who was now making his way quickly up the beach towards the path. Nicola hesitated for a moment but as she stood still the rain began to come down like stair rods and she could feel herself becoming quickly soaked. Shrugging she began to run towards the boy catching him up as he neared the path. They then raced across the sands, each trying to outrun the other, giggling as they tried to barge each other out of the way. The boy reached the path first and as soon as his shoe clad feet were on firmer ground he pulled away. Nicola followed, her bare feet pounding heavily on the brown earth as she tried to catch up.
Nicola stood in the lobby of the hotel catching her breath after the run from the beach. She pulled the boy’s thick jumper, now quite wet, over her head and handed it to him. She felt suddenly self-conscious standing there in her bikini.
‘I guess we’re both pretty wet,’ he said, pushing damp, dark hair back from his forehead.
‘My fault I’m afraid,’ said Nicola. ‘I stole your jumper.’
He smiled at her. Again she felt as if he was seeing into her.
‘I’ll let you off this time,’ he said.
As he spoke Nicola noticed a single tuft of his hair that had fallen back down across his forehead. Before she knew what she was doing she had leaned forward, reaching out to push the hair back away from his face, the curve of her bare forearm resting heavily on his shoulder as she did so. She pulled away suddenly, scared at what she had done. He reached forwards, his hand touching her arm.
‘Thanks,’ he said. Nicola returned his gaze, staring into hidden depths, her heart racing in her chest.
‘Look, you had better go and get changed,’ he said.
Nicola did not want to leave, to break the spell that he had cast on her, the electric touch of his fingertips on her skin.
‘Of course,’ she said, turning to go, breaking the contact between them.
‘Look,’ said the boy.
Nicola turned back to him, the deepening greyness outside casting the lobby into shadow and making him a dark silhouette against the failing light. For a moment Nicola saw him as he had been, standing over her in the firelight, his eyes full of desire, fear and hope, deep blue eyes that burned into her, and she knew where she had seen him before. He had been in her dream.
‘What’s your name?’ he asked.
‘Nicola,’ she said, her voice seeming to come from somewhere far away. ‘What’s yours?’ she heard herself ask.
‘Paul,’ he said.
Nicola felt time stretching, her heart beating heavily.
‘I’d better get changed,’ she whispered as if still in a dream. She turned slowly.
‘Will I see you again?’ he asked.
She turned meeting his gaze once more.
‘Sure,’ she said. She turned and walked up the stairs to her room.
Chapter Eight
The leaf fell, turning slowly in the sunlight. Alex stared transfixed, her open hand still outstretched, broken flecks of brown leaf caught on her skin. She looked up to see a woman in white standing on the edge of a wooded clearing. The woman was gripping something in her hand, a long sword decorated with golden dragons that gleamed like flames against the whiteness. Then Alex was flying forwards in an autumn sky at dusk, the land below cloaked in a fiery red glow from the setting sun. Valleys were shrouded in burning mist, the hilltops caught as if ablaze with golden fire.
She flew west into the dying sun, meadows turning to wetlands until the land rose into mountains with densely wooded valleys, and all the time she saw no light in the land, no cities or roads, and then the land began to disappear and Alex found herself seeing by firelight, a fierce pyre before her, and on the other side, through the flames, she saw a man, his face half hidden in shadow.
She saw that the man wore armour. Black armour that gleamed in the firelight and behind him, sticking from the ground, she saw the same sword that the woman had held, the dragons coiling round the long handle, and nearby was a shield, firelight dancing across its front. The man looked at her, his burning blue eyes meeting hers. With a shock Alex realised that it was Paul, yet he was different somehow, for he was taller and more muscular, with an intense fierceness that frightened her.
Suddenly Alex wanted to run, to turn and run away but she could not move. Her brother turned, wrenching the sword from the ground and sliding it into a scabbard. He picked up the shield, strapping both across a huge war-horse that towered above the ground. He mounted, turning the wild horse towards her, the great beast stamping its iron hoofs on the soft ground throwing up chunks of mud as it moved around the fire.
Alex cowered down in fear as they approached to stand over her, the horse whinnying and bucking its head. Paul looked down at her, mocking in his eyes and then the horse reared suddenly, great hooves flashing in the firelight and filling the sky above her with a blurring mass of iron coming closer and closer.
Alex screamed and then all was darkness. Her eyes snapped open as she found herself sitting upright in bed, her breath coming in quick, heavy gasps. Shaking, she swung her legs unsteadily round until she felt soft carpet under her feet. She had wanted to forget, to push it from her mind so she could pretend it had not happened but now she could not shake the image of the falling leaf from her vision. Gwen had given her the leaf to prove to her that everything was real and all she had done was ignore it. Her brother was in trouble and she had just run away as she ran from everything else. Sudden guilt racked her. Then, something else came, the certainty that she would have to do Gwen’s bidding and go and look for him.
Alex looked over at the glowing red numbers on her alarm clock, rubbing her eyes until they came into focus. It was two twenty two in the morning. Grimacing, she pushed herself up from the bed and padded to the bathroom. Turning on the light she stared at herself in the mirror. Tired brown eyes stared back at her. The intense light made her blink and squint, her skin looking washed out and white. Thin arms reached down to the sink to splash cold water on her face. She looked down at her frame and then back again at her face, hating the way she looked, the way she felt. She could see the lines under her eyes, the long days at work and the strain of Gwen’s illness taking their toll, and now this. A spark of anger flashed then. She would have to jeopardise her job, the only thing that was truly hers, to run off and find him. God help him if there was nothing wrong.
Taking one last look at herself in the mirror she turned off the light, plunging the bathroom into darkness. Slowly the faint light from the streetlamps outside registered in her vision. Unsteadily, she made her way back to her bedroom falling back on the bed with an exasperated sigh. She closed her eyes, willing sleep.
‘Why is it raining? It’s not fair,’ said Neil, his face pressed up against the window pane. They were sitting in the ancient conservatory that clung to the side of the cottage, the rain drumming heavily on the corrugated plastic roof. ‘I want to go to the beach again.’
‘You’ve been every day this week so far,’ said his mum. ‘And you’ve been very lucky with the weather so don’t complain.’
‘But what are we going to do?’ he asked.
‘You can come with us into town,’ said his mum.
‘That’s even more boring than being stuck in here.’
‘You can start your homework,’ said his dad.
‘No chance of that,’ said Vicki who had her face buried in a book on antiques she had found in one of the cupboards.
‘Start stripping the walls in the front bedroom,’ said his dad. ‘Then paint them and install a new bathroom.’ He looked up from his newspaper at his son. ‘That should keep you busy.’
‘Yeah, thanks Dad, I’ll just knock up a third floor while I’m at
it,’ said Neil.
‘John, I think it’s time to get going or we’ll miss our appointment,’ said their mother.
Their Dad sighed and began folding up his newspaper.
‘Ok. I just need to go to the loo.’
He got up and went through the doorway into the lounge where their coats were hung up on a rack by the door. Their mum followed, going off into the kitchen to get her handbag while their dad went upstairs. The children were alone for a moment.
‘So, what do you want to do?’ said Neil.
‘I’m reading, thank you,’ said Vicky.
‘Since when did you get interested in antiques?’ he asked.
She pulled a face at him before whispering, ‘I’m trying to find out about the key.’
‘Haven’t you handed it in yet?’ he asked.
‘No.’
‘So where is it then?’ he said.
She patted her chest.
‘You’re wearing it,’ he exclaimed.
‘Shhh,’ she said furiously as their dad’s footsteps sounded on the creaky stairs.
‘Why don’t you want mum and dad to know?’ Neil asked loudly.
‘Know what?’ said their dad poking his head round the corner as he put on his jacket.
‘Nothing,’ said Vicky quickly.
‘Just that Vicky has a new found interest in antiques,’ said Neil. ‘She’s going to value that old furniture in the garage for you.’
‘Great,’ said their dad. ‘If you find something valuable remember your cash strapped parents, won’t you?’
Their mum appeared in the doorway armed with her handbag and umbrella.
‘Ready John?’ she asked.
‘Ok, let’s go,’ he replied.
They stepped past and then opened the front door.
‘See you later kids.’
‘Be good.’
‘As always,’ said Neil.
The children watched as the rain distorted shapes of their parents moved past the conservatory windows and out to the car. A minute later the sound of the engine starting was followed by the crunching of tyres on gravel as the car pulled out of the drive. Then they were gone and the children were on their own.
All was silent for a minute. Neil stared out of the window frustrated that the rain was keeping them indoors. He stole a quick glance at his sister who resolutely refused to look up from her book.
‘So,’ said Neil breaking the silence. ‘Back to my original question. What do you want to do?’
‘Ooh, there’s nothing in here,’ said Vicky snapping the book shut in annoyance.
‘Why don’t you want mum and dad to see it?’ asked Neil.
‘Because it’s mine now and they will make me give it back,’ said Vicky.
‘Have you tried Googling it?’ he asked.
‘No,’ replied his sister. ‘Dad’s always on the computer.’
‘Duh, well they’re not here now,’ said Neil. ‘Let’s give it a try.’
He jumped up, relieved to have something to do. Vicky followed him into the living room. On a table in the corner sat a laptop half buried amongst a pile of documents, plans and invoices.
‘Ok,’ said Neil as he sat down and powered it up. Vicky sat next to him.
‘Right. Images. Gold key,’ he said as he typed it in. Several thousand search results came up.
‘We have to be more specific,’ said Vicky. Neil tried another search term and they began trolling through the returns. After half an hour of fruitless searching they were no better off.
‘I’m bored now,’ said Neil getting up abruptly. Vicky remained sitting staring intently at the screen scrolling through pages believing that the next page would bring up what she was looking for. She just knew there had to be something out there that would identify the key. Neil went over to the window and looked out.
‘Hey, it’s stopped raining,’ he called, looking back at his sister. ‘Let’s go out and explore.’
It took Vicky a few seconds to lift her face from the screen and look at her brother before finally admitting defeat.
‘Oh, ok,’ she said disappointedly turning off the laptop and then standing up and stretching. ‘I can’t find anything anyway.’
She followed her brother out into the conservatory. He squatted down to put on his trainers. Vicky picked up a jumper that she had left on the chair overnight and put this on before putting her trainers on too. Neil pulled the keys out of the front door and then opened it and they stepped outside. The air was damp and clammy. Seagulls called in the distance.
‘Which way?’ Vicky asked.
‘I think we have to patrol the castle boundary,’ Neil replied. ‘Make sure there are no dragons lurking around.’
‘Is it wise for the key holder to be on patrol?’ asked Vicky. ‘What if we find one and I get captured or something?’
Neil stepped back, running through a series of blocks and jabs that he had learnt at his Jujitsu club.
‘Do not worry,’ he assured her as he finished his display, ‘I am the Kingdom’s greatest warrior, it is impossible for you to be captured. Besides, it is the last thing they would expect.’
‘Ok big brother. Lead the way,’ said Vicky.
She followed Neil around the side of the cottage. The boundary was marked by a thick hedge which enclosed a scruffy lawn and outbuildings. They went right round to where the hedge touched the back of the cottage, crouching low and entering what was a small passageway. A few steps in Neil stopped, peering intently to his left.
‘Look, there’s a gap here. This could be how they’re getting in.’ He looked back at her. ‘I think we’d better follow the trail and see where it leads.’
‘I’m right behind you,’ said Vicky.
Neil disappeared into the tangle of shrubs and thick tree stumps. Vicky followed, scratching her left leg on a tangle of twigs and brambles.
‘Ouch,’ she said as she emerged from the undergrowth licking her finger and rubbing a trickle of blood off her calf.
‘Get down,’ whispered Neil urgently.
Vicky looked at him.
‘I’m pretty much kneeling Neil, I can’t get any lower.’
He remained motionless, crouched down and staring out across the field that lay behind the cottage. A short distance away was a hedgerow of thorny bushes and stunted trees, branches twisted into bizarre shapes by the wind. Beyond that the ground rose slightly, and on the horizon, almost lost amongst the expanse of moorland, huddled a small copse of trees.
‘Is that the dragon’s hideout?’ Vicky asked.
Neil turned to her. ‘It must be. We have to go there.’
‘There's no cover,’ said Vicky. ‘How will we get there without being seen?’
‘Good question,’ said Neil. ‘No idea.’
‘I know,’ said Vicky producing a packet of mints from her pocket and holding them up in front of her. ‘The wizard gave us these magic invisibility pills. If we take one each we'll be ok.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ said Neil taking one and popping it in his mouth. They both chewed on the mints while above them a solitary crow crabbed across the sky calling loudly.
‘Could be a scout,’ said Neil through munching teeth. ‘We took these just in time.’
They moved out of the cover of the hedge and ran across the field to the hedgerow on the opposite side. About half way along was a gate and they went through it, heading off towards the cluster of trees on the horizon. As they got nearer they could see the copse was bigger than it had looked at first. The outside appeared to be an impenetrable wall of thick scrub and bushes, which rose to a thick centre of tall trees. They reached the edge of it and stopped.
‘Can’t see a way in,’ said Neil.
‘Not here, let's go around,’ said Vicky.
They walked slowly around the trees. Eventually they found an opening in the scrub, climbing a small bank to enter. After a few steps the daylight began to filter out and the world became gloomy and silent. The children stopped after wh
ile and looked around.
‘Can't see much,’ said Neil.
‘It's a bit creepy,’ said Vicky. ‘I can't even make out the path back.’
‘It's there,’ said Neil pointing but then realised that he couldn't see it either. He looked at his sister and then shrugged. ‘If we keep in a straight line we'll get back out.’
‘Ow,’ she exclaimed suddenly.
‘Ssh,’ said Neil. ‘We're supposed to be the denizens of stealth and surprise.’
‘It's the key,’ said Vicky quickly pulling it out. ‘It's very hot.’
Neil felt it, but it was cold to his touch.
‘I don't feel anything,’ he replied giving it back.
‘It was hot, I'm telling you,’ she said placing it back against her skin where it burned dully.
‘Maybe it's a warning,’ said Neil.
‘I don’t like it here,’ replied Vicky suddenly, as she felt a shiver run up and down her spine.
‘That’s dark magic, trying to put us off.’
Vicky looked up at him feeling scared.
‘Do you think so?’
‘Of course not. Come on, let’s explore the dragon’s lair,’ said Neil and he stepped forwards threading his way further into the gloom. Vicky hesitated a moment before following him. As she walked further into the trees, her feet crunching on long dried and dead leaves, a sudden noise like a loud whisper filled the air lasting for only a few seconds. She stopped in surprise and turned around. There was nothing behind her. She turned back to follow her brother but he was gone.
‘Neil?’ she called out, the sound of her voice muted by the thick woodland. There was no reply.
‘Neil?’ she called a little louder, a hint of fear in her voice. She began to step forward again and as she did so the noise came back suddenly louder.
Vicky jumped and her head shot round to look behind her but again there was nothing to see but the gnarled bark of trees. She turned around slowly, the only sound now audible being the panting of her breath and the hammering of her heart in her chest. She looked to where her brother had been and stepped forward again.
‘It can’t be,’ asked the whispered voice. Vicky jumped in fright, turning quickly.
The Dark Rider (Fading Light) Page 7