“Elle are you ok?”
“Alex?” I asked, pulling myself from the cobbled floor, stumbling as I clutched the wall.
“Whoa. What the heck was that?” She exclaimed searching the corridor for any sign of life.
“I have no idea but it’s not the first time I have heard it. I heard it in the field the night we went to the mill, remember and then the Face before I saw the elves.” I breathed.
“Alex, can we not mention this to the guys. I need to figure this out first” I asked. My brain had fully restored its function, and I could finally think clearly.
“Sure, I suppose I can keep quiet. The guys have all gone with the army to search for the elements, and as usual they didn’t want me to go. Considering they want us when they have done all they can do. They don’t want us to help them out at the start. Pfft Men” She moaned.
“Come on we need to head to the library. I need to look up something.”
Taking Alex’s hand, I orbed us into the centre of the library. The gasp of thirty college children shocked me. I forgot that it was the weekend and children liked to go to the library here on their days off. Ah naïve little children. Wait how can I say that when I’ve spent the past two weekends in here. Talk about being a hypocrite.
“What are we looking for again?” Alex asked as we reached the historical section of the library.
“I don’t know, something to do with elements or even a voice in the wind...”
“Crazy wind, got it” She interrupted, disappearing amongst the rows of shelves.
These shelves seriously need a dust once in a while. They would defiantly fail the white glove test. Searching through the rows of book shelves, not one of the five hundred I past had a title that looked promising. I know what they say never judge a book by its cover but to be fair, judging a book by its title is alright. Shouldn’t the title tell you what the book is about? Dragon’s eggs, now I wonder what that is about. This is so not working out. I wonder if Katelyn would consider coming into the twenty-first century and adding a computer to the library, with a library catalogue. Now how easy would that be, plus it would save a lot of time. I suppose time is all that Katelyn has.
“Found anything?” I asked turning the corner to see Alex sat on the floor with her head in a huge green book.
“The Devil's Trap” I read as she ignored me.
“Err... What? Oh yeah, It says something about the elements stones opening something” She mumbled flicking roughly through the pages.
“Opening what?” I asked confused. We know they are being used to open something, what we were looking for is what.
“Oh My Lucky Stars!” She yelled as Katelyn came bombarding around the corner.
“Be quiet!” She hushed in a whispered yell. Mumbling to herself she continued down the empty row. Sensing she was listening Alex stood up. Dragging me through the library with such force I was sure my arm was going to be ripped right out of the socket. Only when we were two corridors away from Katelyn did she let go of my poor arm.
“Ow” I cried rubbing my arm.
“Fire place now” She ordered.
“Geez someone’s grumpy” I sighed orbing us both to the safety of the freezing room. Why do people insist on opening windows in the middle of a windy day? Crossing the room to close the window, Alex sat in front of the unlit fire.
“Elle seriously look at this”, She breathed pointing vigorously at the large book that was covering the floor with dust.
Taking a seat on the floor I read the sentence that Alex was pointing at
When opened the devils gate is a gateway between hell and earth.
“Wow that’s comforting, but what’s that got to do with the stones and the freaky wind voice thing” I asked.
“Think about it” raising her eyebrow and staring me down. She forced me to think. The stones can’t possible open the devils gate can they but even if they could, it would need more than a couple of stones to open up something that powerful.
“There not that powerful, are they?” I asked, half asking myself.
“No, there’s apparently something else that someone needs to open it, but it doesn’t say what.” She mumbled again flipping through more pages. Lifting her hands in the air, she mumbled to herself as her hands began to glow and the pages turned as if they were caught in a gust of wind.
“Nope nothing” She sighed as the pages calmed and settled.
“So I think we can throw out that the stones aren’t being used against the Icarus people. People are being killed to find the stones so they can open a gigantic devils gate to let out some kind of evil. Awesome” I sighed as Leo burst into the room without a second to knock. He was closely followed by Josh and two other members of my father’s army.
“We have found them” Barked Leo.
“What all of them?” I asked jumping up. Pulling out two satin bags from his pocket . He handed them to me, one of them red and one white. Taking them both from their bags, the room was alive with heat and warmth as if we were sitting inside a sauna. The air suddenly changed and cooled, as a light gust of wind rippled around the room. They were defiantly the remaining stones. Replacing them back into their bags, the fire element gave off on more ounce of power and lit up the fireplace. Giving them to Alex for safe keeping, I looked back at Leo.
“What’s wrong?” I asked seeing the anguish in his eyes.
“We had to bring someone back with us” He groaned, stepping aside for a small smartly dressed elf, to make his way through the four of them.
“Cedric” Alex and I cried.
“What is he doing here” I whispered to Leo. I push him to a corner of the room away from Cedric who was warming his bare toes near the fire.
“I’m sorry your highness, but he is the only remaining Government official that hasn’t been killed and he insisted on being taken here for safety.” He said the safety part in a chuckle. Giving him a stern look he stood to attention. Well I’m heading off back to the Bales tomorrow so technically, he won’t be my problem for four days.
“Your father has said that he is your responsibility for the time being and will have to be protected by you.” He continued crushing the thought of leaving him with Leo for safety.
“Yeah because being with me is the safest place for him” I moaned.
What was I going to do with a small elf in the real world? Well mortal world anyway, I’m pretty sure he would stand out amongst the college students.
“How exactly am I going to do that?”
“Have a word with your father…..” Leo started before Cedric interrupted.
“The Devils Gate! Devils Gate!! You’re going to open the Gate. We will perish, Perish in Fire!” He screamed darting around the room, holding the book that was the same size as him. It looked as if the book had legs of its own, and it would be more amusing if he didn’t seem so panicked at the sight of it.
Taking the book from his tight grip, Alex placed it on the table and slapped him round the face.
“ALEX!” I yelled, shocked that she just slapped an elderly crazed elf around the face.
“What? He was deranged” She shrugged stepping away from Cedric who was standing mouth open, like a statue.
“O.K. How about we hear the little fellow out without knocking him senseless shall we,” snickered Josh leading Cedric to an armchair at the side of the room. The armchair looked like it could swallow him whole, his feet didn’t even touch the ground. Josh had to lift him into the seat. Dismissing his men, Leo Pulled a chair from the desk in the corner of the large room and sat next to Cedric, with his elbows on his knees.
“What is this business about the Devils gate?” He asked scratching his head.
“Apparently, using the stones you can open it.” Picking up the book Alex flicked to the page she had showed me and gave it to Leo.
“Cedric what do you know about this Devil Gate and…..”
“It’s the end of the world, all worlds, we will all burn in a fiery Blaze. Th
e air will fill with smoke and choke us all, while the earth opens up and drowns us in its waters. “ He sniffled.
“Well that’s ironically all the elements covered” Josh muttered.
“I think that must have been what I saw in the woods, after I followed the...”I paused.
“That doesn’t matter, all that matters is that apparently someone is wanting to open the gate to hell” I explained.
Without having the stones though, it would be tricky for them, but if they find out we have them we will all be targeted.
“We need to find a safe place for the stones. They most likely know we have them now and we can’t put the whole town at risk can we” I finished.
“Devil Gate, Devil gate, Devil gate” Cedric muttered over and over again.
“Where can we hide them? Any ideas?” Alex asked.
“Devil Gate, Devil gate, Devil gate”
“I think I know the place we can take them, but it will be hard getting them there....”
“Devil Gate, Devil gate, Devil gate”
“We could place them in a hideout that we use for military purposes” He continued keeping one eye on Cedric.
“Devil Gate, Devil gate, Devil gate” he continued chanting to himself rocking back and forth.
“CEDRIC!” I yelled. The constant chanting was driving me insane. Trying to think back to the vision I had on Friday night. The vision was still blurry in my head, and I couldn’t piece anything together.
“Well we know that they don’t just need the stones. So they will be looking for something else won't they.” Asked Josh as he paced up and down the room rubbing his temples.
“Looks like we need another trip to the library then” I sighed.
Chapter Eleven
The clock ticked slowly, as Miss Harrison babbled on about science and the Amazon rainforest. The hard rain falling onto the window pane made hearing her hard, so I decided to switch off.
“So when is he coming to town again?” Poppy whispered from the side of me. “Is he single?”
“Poppy what are you on about?” I whispered back completely dazed. I was so unaware that she had been talking for the past ten minutes.
“Your cousin, Chris”
“Chris?” Do I even know a Chris. Chris, Chris. Oh of course Logan. Is she seriously still hung up on him? Why wouldn’t she be to be honest, I still would be if I was a human or alive.
“He’s out of town for a while now. He’s visiting his parents in Peru” I replied. Peru of course, that’s a normal place to say. Why couldn’t they be in Manchester?
“So that’s it then Guys, have a good rest of the day.” Miss Harrison finished up just before the bell rang. Poppy chattered on about Logan, well Chris the whole walk to our English lesson. I was so glad that I sat next to Oscar in English. This meant I didn’t have to listen to any talk about, how hot Logan was and how he smelt like he wore Calvin Klein aftershave. Like I needed to know that, I could smell him myself. That’s weird to think about. Ok thought babbling stopping now.
“So Elle your friend Alex.” Oscar nudged me with a wink.
“Oh my days,” I yelled. They all looked at me in shock
“Damn did I say that out loud?” I mumbled. So now that my two lives are being merged, everyone is going to fancy someone. I did not see that coming.
“Any chance you guys can keep your horny self to yourself, thanks”
“Well someone’s not getting any.” Oscar laughed.
“Would you like me to kick you somewhere?” I smiled. He made an effort to shuffle as far as he could down the table. Mr. Hanno walked into the room with his hands filled with folders and books. He stumbled, and the books flew through the air. Flicking my finger under the table, I made the books land on the desk and Mr. Hanno stable himself. Smiling to himself, he began to give out a book each to all of us.
“Macbeth,” He shouted as he began to discuss the witches in the first act.
I never understood the ways in which humans describe witches back in the day. I’m pretty sure we didn’t walk around in black cloaks, chanting round big black cauldrons. I mean who would do that. It’s not exactly practical to carry around with you. Well each to their own, I suppose.
“Is it possible to die of boredom?” Oscar sighed laying his head on his bag for a pillow.
“If it is then consider me a dead man,” whispered Carrie from behind us.
This man doesn’t half talk a load of crap sometimes. I highly doubt that this Shakespeare fella, was as great as he is making out. His plays were full of transvestites and death, it’s like a night out in London. Even though it did have a lot fewer demons and werewolves than the nights out I’ve had in London.
“You are coming to Felix’s after college right, Elle?” Oscar asked. Getting Coffee after college every week day is a tradition with our group of friends, yet I still get asked every time.
“Always.” I replied.
The thought of a nice warm cup of hot chocolate, was the only thing stopping me from falling asleep during this dull lesson. Who would have thought that learning about my own kind would bore me so much. Chanting around cauldrons is so last millennium.
The bell rang just as my eyes couldn’t hold out any longer. We all rushed for the door, and before I reached the exit, I couldn’t help but think that Mr. Hanno could help me out with something.
“Hey Guys, I’ll catch you up.” I ushered them to give me a minute as they closed the door behind them.
“Mr. Hanno. Can I ask you a question?” I asked helping him pick up the books from the tables.
“Sure Elle, How can I help you?” He replied mainly talking to the floor than to me. He never did look people in the eye very often, a bit crazy if I was honest.
“You seem to know a lot about witches and their history…”
“I studied them In University you know, it was very interesting” He interrupted.
“Have you ever heard of… you know what, it doesn’t matter,” I sighed heading for the door.
“Nonsense young lady, everything matters. What was it you wanted to ask me?”
Hesitating I turned slowly. Placing my books onto the empty desk, I sat on the side next to it.
“Do you know anything about a Devil gate?” I asked cautiously. With a slam of the books, he turned to me. Taking off his glasses, he rubbed his forehead and sighed.
“Where did you hear that, my child?”
“I heard it on a program about witches. I think it was charmed or something. Anyway it was interesting, so I wondered if you knew anything about the subject.” I lied through a smile.
“Oh, well!” He smiled placing his glasses back on his face. He seemed to become less tense as he took a seat at his desk.
“The Devils Gate Is a Myth from thousands of years ago. There are a number of Devil gates around the world which are mainly rocks that form a big gap in a gorge…”
“Why do people call it a gate then?” I interrupted.
“I suppose because it looks like a gate and in some places it is a death drop on the other side, but to witches it’s a gate way to hell. The right words said at the right time, opens up the devils cage itself. Well that’s the myth anyway.” He chuckled.
“Right” I mimicked his chuckle and stood up.
“Hypothetically, how does anyone open a Devils gate?” I asked.
“It's just a myth Elle” He laughed stroking his balding head.
“I know, but hypothetically”
“Hypothetically alright, it takes a big amount of evil and good. Everything in the world is balanced. You of all people should know that Elle.” He smiled.
“Now I have to finish marking, so off you go to your friends.” He ushered me from the room before I could ask what he meant by, me of all people should know about the balance of good and evil. I’m just being paranoid most likely. So to open the gate there needed to be a balance of good and evil. Wouldn’t that mean an angel and a demon have to open it together.
�
��Elle, you coming?” Oscar called from down the corridor
***
“I wanted to ask him about something,that’s all.” I told them for the one hundredth time.
“How many sugars do you want Poppy, Geez.” I mocked taking a sip of my own hot chocolate. Sitting by the window at Felix’s, was good for people watching. People watching was one of our favourite things to do at Felix’s. Humans are pretty hilarious. A blonde lady was walking past the window as I took a gulp of hot chocolate. As she walked along, a white van drove past her, spraying her with a ton of filthy water.
“Whoa.” Harriet cried as the woman shook herself in fury. She stuck her finger up to the driver and walked off in an angry huff.
“Any of you guys know what you are doing for your English assignment?” Oscar asked sipping his coffee.
“I’m thinking of doing Spies by Michael Fryan. It sounds interesting, Lies and betrayal I’m all for that!” Harriet spoke into her coffee cup.
“Seriously you like lies and betrayal?” I asked surprised.
“You know what I mean. Anyway what are you thinking of doing?”
“I don’t know, I’m torn between an inspector calls and Emma. What are you doing Pops?” I asked Poppy who was busy reading the latest more magazine.
“Men overheard don’t count.” I mocked pulling the magazine out of her hands.
“CHRIS!” Poppy yelled blowing my ear drums out. You have got to be kidding me. I spotted what Poppy saw as he crossed the coffee counter. If my blood pressure wasn’t already high, it is now.
“Well, Well, Poppy isn’t it” He smiled a charming smile and took a seat next to Poppy. I’m pretty sure her smile could be seen from outer space. Mouthing what the hell to him, he gave me a wink and continued to charm Poppy by ruffling his hair and smiling at her.
“Elle said you were visiting your parents in Peru?” Poppy practically purred.
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