Bad Apple (The Warner Grimoire)

by Clay Held

  Luke and Penny caught up with him as he sat by the shore of the lake. “What are we waiting for?” Luke said. “Where’d sparky go?”

  “Over the water,” Simon said bitterly. “It died over the middle.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” Luke was already kicking off his shoes and stripping off his hooded sweatshirt. “It ain’t getting any lighter out here, even with these will o’ the wisps.” He waded into the water without hesitation, swatting aside a group of the blue orbs. “What are you waiting for? Hurry up!”

  Penny placed her hand on Simon’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  Memories of the spillway filled Simon’s mind. Falling, the undertow, the way he had been pulled down so suddenly. Then kicking, thrashing, then Sam pulling him up and breathing life back into him. It was the last time they had gone to the spillway. Simon had not been back in the water since. “I’m not a very good swimmer,” he said, still rubbing his arms. “Had some bad luck in the water.”

  “Guess that means you’re staying behind,” Luke said. “Watch my stuff,” he told Maggey, who bobbed happily around the pile.

  Simon watched Maggey for a minute. “You’re really going out there?”

  “I was born on the river,” Luke said. “You might be a crawdad, but water ain’t got nothing over me. I can swim like a catfish.”

  “Those are bottom feeders,” Penny said to Luke. She looked at Simon. “We’ll figure something out. If the ribbon was leading here, we’ll figure out how to get down there.”

  “If?” Simon rubbed his arms. His body was not ready to cooperate. “What do you mean?”

  Penny swallowed. “The ribbon only died here. There’s no way to be certain this is where it was going.” She ran her hand along the surface of the water. “It probably was, though. I’m just not completely sure.”

  Luke waded further away from shore. “Well, then somebody needs to found out, don’t they? You two can sit here all night. I’m checking it out.”

  “Luke, please wait,” Penny said.

  “No doing. If there’s something down here, then that’s where I’m going.” He waded out until the water was up to his chest. “Bottom feeder, after all,” he said, his head disappearing below the water.

  “Wait,” Simon said. He stood slowly. “I need to go too.” His heart pounded in his chest as he kicked off his shoes and pulled his backpack snuggly shut.

  “Are you really sure?” When Simon didn’t answer she kicked off her shoes, too. “I’m coming along then.”

  “You don’t need to,” Simon said. He stared at the black water, the glints of early moonlight rippling across the surface. “We don’t know what’s down there.”

  “I used to swim with my mom,” she said, walking into the water. “She taught me a few things about being in the water.” She waded further out. “I can keep us warm, at least. Can’t help the wet while we’re down there, but I can help the air a little.”

  The moon was already rising into the sky, rippling milk white over the surface of the lake. Simon tightened his backpack again and waded into the water. He went slowly, feeling the cold water wrap around him. He tried to think warm thoughts, but they seemed to bleed out of him, soaking into the black water. The water was up to his knees, then his chest, the icy feeling all around him. His pulse raced, and he shivered in the water next to Penny. His feet still touched the bottom, but the water was already lapping around his neck. He tried not to panic, and largely failed.

  “Simon?” Penny’s head bobbed just above the water, her hair already clinging to her.

  “Yeah?”

  She reached out her hand and found his chest. Warmth flooded into him, the numbness pushed away as her spell took over. “That should help,” she said. “On three, okay?”

  Warmth returned to his finger tips. “Okay,” he said meekly. He had never thought he would get back in the water again. “One...” he said, trying to calm his screaming nerves. “Two...” he took a deep breath, the deepest he could, his heart pounding in his ears.

  He nodded to Penny, and together they dropped below the surface.

  * * *

  “You’re going to die down here,” said the Other Voice.

  The water stung Simon’s eyes, but he kept them open. Penny was swimming down already, her figure rapidly disappearing into the depths. She moved quickly, quicker than Simon could manage, but slowly he began to follow her, swimming down, hoping that she could see Luke. He swam down until the water began to grow dark around them. His lungs began to hurt, and small, dark shapes moved around him, darting away as he swam deeper into the lake. Terror seeped into him.

  Penny’s figure began to grow faint, washed out by the ever-increasing dimness. The darkness closed in around him, and he could not hold back any longer. His heart thudded in his chest and his fingers began to grow cold. The warmth slowly ebbed out of him again, and his chest began to feel heavy. He closed his eyes but could not take a breath. For a moment he considered turning back, kicking towards the surface, pumping his legs until he broke through into the air. His lungs started to burn, and his arms became heavy like lead. Penny’s outline faded into the dark.

  He was alone.

  He struggled against the impulse to gasp. Dizziness flowed into him, and he lost his bearings. The darkness coiled around him, and suddenly he felt the presence of several dark figures around him...

  Some burning-hot thing grabbed his ankle and pulled him down. He gasped involuntarily, and the water flowed into him. The burning in his leg grew, and he was pulled down more, where no moonlight went, only darkness, and no one could hear his panicked yelling.

  The depths were claiming him again.

  He thrashed wildly as white-hot hands closed around his shoulders. He opened his eyes in shock, the water still stinging, and saw Penny floating in front of him, her eyes shimmery blue. Simon could feel they were sinking, as fast as stones. Her lips were moving, but her words were muffled and garbled. Simon thrashed again as bubbles escaped from both of their mouths.

  Something was very wrong. The bubbles did not float away, but instead sank down, staying with them as they sunk further into the lake. Rapidly the bubbles smashed and coalesced into another, until they had grown into one large bubble, big enough for one head, and then two. Penny jammed her head into the bubble and pulled Simon’s head in, and he sputtered and shook while involuntarily drawing in several deep, panicked breaths. The glow from her eyes lit the bubble from inside.

  “Simon!” she said, her face very close to his. Her voice sounded funny in the pocket. Even underwater she managed to shake him. “Are you okay?”

  They settled on the floor of the lake, their heads bobbing into the bubble. “This won’t last forever,” Penny said. “Catch your breath. We have a minute. Two, tops.”

  Simon wiped his eyes, taking several more breaths. “What...” he asked. “What is this?”

  “Water magic,” she said. “Pushing together air into a breathing point. Only really good for emergencies, doesn’t last long.” Her eyes were red and puffy. “What happened?”

  “I got cold,” Simon said, shivering. “I don’t know what happened.”

  “Sorry,” Penny said. She placed her hand on Simon’s chest, and warmth slowly trickled back into him. “I’m still learning.”

  “Where’s Luke?”

  “I don’t know,” Penny said. “I haven’t seen him.”

  “Can we move with the bubble?”

  “Not since we settled. It will stay here now until we leave. After that it’ll float to the surface and be gone.”

  “Can we make another?”

  “All the air is gone from down here. This is it.”

  Simon looked up. The water was strange looking. “Okay,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “I just need a minute.”

  “Okay,” Penny said apprehensively. “Stay close to me this time. I almost didn’t find you.”

  Simon took another deep breath, followed by another. He nodded, then dropped out o
f the bubble.

  They swam along the bottom of the lake, moving as quickly as they could along the bottom as the silt and soil began to slope downwards. Among the weeds and sunken logs that littered the bottom was a large chasm, and a dark shape was moving towards it, kicking quickly into the opening. They exchanged a glance, then paddled furiously, trying to catch up. They closed in on the chasm, then Simon kicked his feet, swimming down against the current.

  It was pitch black in the hole, and they sunk quickly once they entered. The undertow seized them, pulling them down sharply, until it was a shock when Simon felt ground come up under him again. Ahead was a light, and the ground turned suddenly, curving upwards. Luke paddled ahead of them, drawing closer to the light, then suddenly he turned upwards and was gone. Simon kicked hard, his heart pounding as he swam upwards towards the light.

  To Simon’s great surprise, his head broke through into a cave lit completely by torches. Luke sat a few feet away, curled up for warmth, staring at the ceiling overhead. Not ten feet from the water stood a large, wooden door, covered with symbols and inlaid with numerous silver locks and mechanisms. It was flanked by two torches that burned with green and blue flames.

  Penny surfaced a moment later. “What?” she gasped. “What is it?” She saw the door. “Where are we?”

  “Don’t see many cave pockets like this all that often,” Luke said. “We’re actually under the lake. Can’t imagine what treasure they’re hiding on the other side of this, but I got here first, so whatever it is, it’s all mine.”

  Simon pulled himself out of the water. “Treasure?” he asked as he helped Penny out. “Is that all you think about?”

  “Not everything,” Luke said, quickly glancing sideways at Penny, who sat shivering behind them.

  “You should have stayed with us,” she said.

  “Someone had to find this,” Luke said. “You two were busy messing around to get down here. You never would have found this without me.”

  “We were right behind you,” Simon said. “We saw you swim in here.”

  “Not even,” Luke said. “I’ve been waiting for you two for ten minutes, easily. Much longer and I was going to head on in without you.”

  Simon shook his head. “Then what did we see swimming down here?” he asked Penny. “If you weren’t showing us, who was?”

  Luke stood up. “Beats me,” he said, approaching the door. “Right now, I’m thinking about this door, how to open it, and what’s on the other side.”

  “A way to find Sam,” Simon said.

  “Who?” Luke asked absently, never taking his eyes off of the door. He slowly reached out a hand to touch one of the silver mechanisms laid into the door.

  The flames of the torches pulsed and grew, and the door shuddered in front of them, the silver locks sprang to life. reminding Simon of Jo’s random silver and brass parts. Penny jumped back as dust rattled through the small cave pocket, and slowly the two great oak doors swung inward, light spilling out into the cave. A man stood beyond the doors, completely silhouetted by the light. He was tall and thin, with a great mane of white hair and a wild, scraggly beard. He swayed and loomed all over the entrance like a scarecrow dancing in the wind. He lurched slightly, and his clothing was tattered at the edges. “Who’s there?” he called. His voice was raspy and deep. “Peter? Silas? Nathan?”

  “Hello,” Simon said. He pulled the copy of Speaking with the Dead from his soaked backpack. The book was somehow completely dry. “I’m Simon. Simon Warner. I’m looking for Boeman. I have his gift. I’m ready to talk.”

  The figure did not move. “Warner?” he shouted, his voice tripping over the name.

  Luke stepped away from the door. “All you, Stray.”

  Simon cleared his throat. “Yes! Simon Warner. I’m looking for--”

  The torches flickered and died. The shadowy man did not move. Simon took a step forward. “Are you okay?”

  The figure took a step back, followed by another, until he was scrambling back up the corridor.“Come in,” he shouted. “All of you. Be quick.” The figure disappeared down the corridor. It was cut stone, lit only by a few small torches every few feet. The three of them glanced at each other, then hurried quickly down the tunnel.

  “Who is that?” Penny asked.

  “A loon,” Luke said. “Seriously, who lives under a lake?”

  “It’s not Boeman,” Simon said sourly. “That much is clear. Could it be another of his acolytes?”

  “Simon, are you sure about this?” Penny asked.

  “Here,” Simon said, handing her Speaking with the Dead. “Look at the snake symbol on the cover. It’s the same symbol that was on the crystal bag--”

  Penny eyes burned. “So this is what you two took this from the Archives?”

  Luke looked over his shoulder and smiled. “So you kept that, huh? Good for you.”

  “What?” Simon said. “It--no. No, Boeman gave it to me.”

  “It wasn’t his to give,” Penny said. “I’m keeping this. It’s going back to the Archive.”

  “Fine!” Simon said. “After this, fine, but right now I still need it.”

  Penny huffed. “Fine, but I’m marking this in your account when we get back.”

  “He’d have to have one first.” Luke peered around the corner. “Why’s that book so important?”

  “Look at the cover,” Simon repeated. “The snake at the bottom. I’ve seen it before--it was on Boeman’s business card the night we met, and it was on the bag that held the crystal. It has to point to him.”

  Penny traced her fingers over the seal and shuddered. “I’ve seen it somewhere before, but I don’t remember. It’s the mark of the serpent though, so it’s an old family. I know that much.”

  “Up here!” The man’s voice echoed down the tunnel. “Hurry!”

  They moved up the tunnel, exiting into a large, cavernous chamber. Simon shivered as he stepped into the room. The chamber had been cut out of the rock, and the cave walls gave way to hewn stone dotted with torches. Hundreds of rugs and blankets were thrown about, covering large parts of the rocky floor, and a lifetime of furniture filled the cavern: chairs, bookshelves, desks, and books--thousands of them, scattered everywhere. The centerpiece of it all was a large wooden table on the far side, and behind it a wall of organized books and artifacts. Above their heads, the cave ceiling shimmered--moonlight flooded in through a large hole in the cave ceiling, distorted by the gentle rippling waves of the water overhead.

  “We’re still under the lake,” Penny said in awe.

  “Yes,” said the man. He stood behind the large wooden table on the far end of the room. On the table was their shoes and Luke’s hooded sweater. “Directly under the deepest part, but do not worry. The enchantment that keeps us all dry has held for over three hundred years.” He stepped around the table, a small tray of food in his hands. “I don’t think it will pick today to drown us.”

  “Who are you?” Simon said, still clutching Speaking with the Dead. “How’d you get our stuff?”

  “An old friend,” the man said, smiling. Maggey zipped from behind his shoulder over to Luke, whose eyes went wide. “You have one of my books,” the old man said. “That is amusing, considering I seem to recall donating it to the Archives, along with several others, including a bolt of Atlantean fire silk, if I recall correctly. Then again, I quite possibly may not.” He smiled again, his face crooked and disarming.

  “Wait,” Penny said. “Fire silk?” The old man nodded. “I didn’t remember the seal but I remember the dragon skin,” Penny said. “Private collection that came in last year, right after Sterling took over.” She looked at the old man with surprise. “The Limnic Collection.” The three of them turned to the old man, who smiled crookedly.

  “Please, call me Nicodemus,” he said, holding up the tray. “Cookie?”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  THE EMBER

  “Nicodemus the Truant?” Luke cried, his eyes flaring red. “The wayward conspirator. Th
e doddering old fool!”

  The old man nodded, his eyes closed. “Nicodemus Ellery Limnic. Born in a hollow tree, raised like a wolf...” he paused, the words heavy in his mouth. “...One who has walked in Thule.” The full mantle was heavy on him, and he seemed to sway under the weight of it. When he opened his eyes again they were heavy with sadness. He tapped his chest and smiled, his voice the rustling of straw in the wind. “That’s me.”

  “Be quiet,” Penny said to Luke. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “The hell I don’t.” Luke stepped up to Limnic. “My old man couldn’t keep work the last few years while this old geezer was running the show. We thought he had been killed. Turns out he’s just hiding like a rat.”

  “I am sorry to hear about your father,” Limnic said, his eyes suddenly very sharp and very blue. “It was never my intention to put anyone out of work. I can put in a good word for him with the new Archmancer, if you like.”

  “He ain’t in the picture anymore,” Luke said. “Not like your word would do him good anyway.”

  Penny smacked Luke. “That’s enough,” she said.

  “Hey!” Luke said, rubbing his shoulder. “What crawled in your cauldron?”

  “I don’t suspect you came here to argue just for me,” Limnic said, setting down the tray. “I daresay I don’t receive many visitors.”

  “We were looking for someone,” Simon said. “He gave me a gift, said I could use it to find him.”

  “A gift?” Limnic made a small, frightened gesture with one hand.

  “I thought it was this,” Simon said, holding out the book. Limnic did not reach to take it. “I guess not,” Simon said.

  “Tell me,” Limnic said carefully, “was it that book that led you to me?”

  “It was a dowsing rod, paired with a scrying crystal.” Penny said. “It led us here.”

  Limnic nodded slowly. “I see, Miss Nettle.”