The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2)

by G. L. Twynham

  Clouds of candyfloss came towards her and as they passed over her she found herself sitting at a table with her mum and dad. As always there was enough food to feed a small battalion. Susan made her way to her side. “Honey you need to wake up.” She gently stroked Val’s forehead.

  “No, it’s ok, Mum, I think I want to stay here just a little longer.” She reached out for her mum’s hand.

  “Sorry, but it’s time to go back.” Susan kissed Val softly on the cheek and as it contacted her skin so her eyes opened.

  She was now lying on the ground out in the open, looking into Sam’s eyes. Beyond him was a starry night sky.

  “Hello my love. I need you to teleport.” He leant down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

  Val knew instinctively that this was her Sam. She was so tired. “I love you, Sam, please don’t leave me here alone,” she whispered, shutting her eyes once more and drifting off into what felt like a deep sleep.

  Through the strange fog in her mind, Val could hear voices. There was screaming and shouting, and then she felt herself being lifted off the ground. She wanted to open her eyes, but nothing seemed to be happening. Now she could distinguish Shane’s voice, telling Jason to call an ambulance. Fran was crying. She knew it was Fran because Wendy had a different tone when she was upset. Val wondered what was going on. Why were they panicking?

  Val was desperate to talk, but her throat wouldn’t work. She tried to wriggle one of her fingers, but nothing happened. She needed to tell them about Excariot and that he most likely had Eva now, and they needed to do something fast.

  Sirens started in the distance then got louder and louder. Val felt herself being lifted onto a stretcher, heard the paramedic reassuring Shane, saying that they could only help her if they got her to the hospital. She heard them saying they had never seen anything quite like it, but there must be a logical explanation. Val listened to the chaos raining down on her. They asked for her parents and Shane explained that he was her guardian. Then came a series of thuds and jolts and she knew she was in the back of the ambulance with Shane holding her hand tightly.

  As they travelled he talked to her about how much he cared about her, told her that he would never forgive himself if something happened to her. She allowed her mind to drift again, hoping it would go back to her mum and dad for one last moment, but it didn’t, she just slept.

  “Please, someone tell me what’s going on.” Zac demanded from the bed. He could hear the confusion downstairs, but was still not strong enough to stand. He waited, looking at his watch. After what seemed like an eternity Wendy arrived in the flat. “Where’s Val? What is happening, Wendy?”

  “Calm down. It’s going to be ok.” Wendy sat down on the bed. “We still aren’t sure how she got back to the bookshop, but at least she did. Until the doctors can give us a little more information we can’t tell exactly why she is in the state she is in, but at least we have her, not Excariot.”

  “The Summari touched her, that’s what happened. I need to get to her. Your doctors will not know what to do. Get the books and take me to where she is now. That’s an order.” Zac pushed himself up, but fell back again.

  “Look, our doctors will do the best they can for her, and you aren’t strong enough for anything,”

  Zac knew Wendy was right, but he wasn’t going to give up that easily. They couldn’t afford to both be out of action. “Will you please get the book with the blue cover, just so we can take a look?” Zac smiled as he had seen them do when they wanted something.

  “Ok,” she trotted off.

  Zac took a few deep breaths, he knew this was going to leave him weak, but it had to be done. Wendy came back book in hand. “Thank you. Please hold it open for me?”

  Wendy settled on the bed and did as he asked. Before she knew what had hit her he had her arm and she felt her stomach being wrenched out of her body and shoved back in as she landed with a violent jolt on a grey plastic floor. The retching was actually not the worst part of the experience.

  “Please forgive me. You will be fine. The feelings of unwell will pass quickly,” Zac said.

  Wendy lifted her head up and muttered. “You will have feelings of unwell when I get my hands on you. What the hell are you doing? And where on earth are we?”

  She soon realised they were in a hospital room. Zac was resting against the wall, looking exhausted. Still looking very sick, Wendy wobbled over to him. “Why have you brought me here?”

  “This is the closest I could get you to Val without bringing attention to us. You must do the rest. Take the book and find her. She needs to connect with the dellatrax, it’s her life force. Now go, she doesn’t have much time.” Zac slumped onto the floor and Wendy realised he had done this with the last of his energy.

  “I’ll do it and then I’m coming back for you.” Wendy felt for a wall for support. No wonder Val always landed on her backside she thought. After a few moments she was steady enough to make her way out into the busy corridor, trying to make the very large old blue book under her arm look as inconspicuous as possible. She decided reception would be her best option.

  When Val woke again she was in Wyatt’s hut in the woods. It was daytime now and she was alone. Why was she here? Did her mum need her? Or maybe Excariot had sent her there. She stood up and made her way out towards the familiar pond. There wasn’t anyone in sight. It felt strange, eerie; she looked towards the woods. Had they all gone for a meeting? She started towards the trees but had taken only a couple of steps when a man emerged from between two bushes. Val was immediately struck by his unusual appearance. He was almost angelic, but although he was smiling at her as he approached, Val felt nervous. She wanted to hide behind someone, but that wasn’t an option.

  “Hello V,” he said. His voice left her heart thumping; it was as if he was speaking straight to her soul.

  “Hello,” she replied in an inaudible voice.

  “Things aren’t going so well for you are they?” He moved closer and reached out his hand, touching her gently on the arm.

  “Well, I’ve had better days, but we’re coping,”

  “I’m sorry about all this mess you have to clean up. It was never my intention to cause you so much pain and trouble.” She found she couldn’t tear her eyes away from his. “You need to listen to me now, V; your friends are going to help you but the final battle is for you alone.” His expression became serious and Val began to feel uneasy. He walked past her towards the pond and looked into the water. Slowly Val came up next to him and gazed in. Their faces, seen together in the reflection, made their resemblance uncanny. And then she knew.

  “Are you Gabrielle?” she asked, hardly able to breathe.

  He sighed and nodded.

  “But you’re dead.” Val stepped away from him.

  “To you and Wyetta I am, but that has no relevance in this place.” He took Val’s hand. “You must not lose sight of what’s important, V. I was so focused on Excariot that I left you and your mother open to him and his ways.”

  “Why can’t I come back in time and save you? I bet I could do that.” Val’s voice was full of desperation. “I know I could do that.”

  “Because sometimes we are meant for other things, things greater than our own wishes. You need to learn that. I made a choice. If I changed that choice I would bring shame upon my existence. This thing you call life that you grasp onto so desperately is only as good as you make it by your actions. Some of your people only see a single grain of sand; others see an ocean of life. You would do well to remember to never change anyone who has had honour thrown in their path. Now I’m going to leave you once more, but now you know that I’m proud of you. Remember that and do not break under Excariot’s pressure. You, my daughter, were sent here for a greater reason than any of them know. Only the fearful try to change their reason for being. Are you afraid?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Don’t worry. I am with you always.” He took Val’s wrist and held her bracelet, and she unders
tood. Then Gabrielle placed his other hand on Val’s arm; she jolted as if stuck by an electric volt. “It’s time to wake up.” He let her go and started to walk away towards the wood.

  Val tried to follow him, but something was stopping her. Something was pulling her backwards. “Gabrielle!” she screamed. But he just kept walking away.

  Wendy turned a corner and spotted her friend. “Fran! Fran!” she didn’t want to shout and attract attention, but she knew time was of the essence.

  Fran ran to her. “How did you get here so fast? Um, I don’t mean to insult you car, but...”

  “Zac teleported me here. I need to get to Val now.” Wendy flashed the book at Fran.

  “Let’s go witch girl.”

  Jason was guarding the door. “Wendy! How...?”

  Fran raised her hand, signalling him to be quiet, then went into the room where Shane was sitting at the side of the bed, still holding Val’s lifeless hand. Jason came in behind them and locked the door.

  “What’s going on girls?” Shane asked, sensing their urgency.

  “Zac got me here, just. Now I have to wake Val up.” Wendy sat down next to her. “She looks so pale,” she said placing the book on Val’s chest.

  “Wow, these books never cease to freak me out,” Jason announced.

  “Shh!” Wendy grumbled at him. The dellatrax was already buzzing. Black holograms, very different to Wendy’s, were spinning at great speed around Val’s body and head.

  They were all watching patiently, waiting for something more definite to happen, when the first knock came at the door.

  “Hello, it’s Dr Maxwell here. Please unlock the door.”

  “This thing better hurry up,” Shane voiced everyone’s thoughts.

  “Just a minute!” Fran called, hunching her shoulders as if to express the lameness of her actions.

  “I’m going to have to get security if you don’t open this door!”

  “Come on Val, fight,” Shane pleaded.

  The dark holograms gave a single vivid flash of bright neon blue, causing them all to cover their eyes. When they looked again the holograms had disappeared. At last Val reacted, releasing an elongated scream, her back arching then dropping down onto the hospital bed as she was forced back into to consciousness.

  “Val.” Shane grabbed her shaking body, stopping her from falling to the floor.

  She opened her eyes and was instantly thrown into intense pain. The light of the room was so bright. Where was she? She scrambled up, pulling free from Shane, panicking that she was in even more danger. As her eyes adjusted to the light she saw first Shane’s worried face, and then all the others looking back at her.

  “Right, I’m getting security,” called the voice through the door.

  “Just getting it now,” Jason answered, trying to buy time by rattling the handle. “Doors in hospitals, hey.” He popped his head around the edge. The doctor pushed past, unimpressed with being locked out.

  “When did she wake up? Why didn’t someone inform me? If you don’t mind I need a minute with my patient.” The doctor glared at them over his glasses.

  “Yes let’s go.” Wendy grabbed the book off the bed and signalled for Fran and Jason to leave.

  “Don’t worry, I will stay with her,” said Shane. Wendy grabbed Jason by the arm before he could protest and they exited, leaving the doctor to begin examining Val.

  Val looked from the doctor to Shane. Was this real? She really had no idea what was happening. After a few minutes the doctor had finished. “This is extremely strange. All her vitals are normal. I’m going to get my colleague.” He glared at Shane. “Don’t lock the door.”

  Shane nodded dismissively, his full attention on Val.

  “Ok little lady, where have you been?” Shane held her hand tightly.

  Val placed the palm of her other hand gently onto Shanes cheek. He was real, that’s all she needed to know. “Well, I was at a house and Excariot and Eva were there. Is that bit real?”

  He nodded. “We just couldn’t get a hold on your whereabouts.”

  “Then I was having dinner with...” she paused to choose her words carefully, “…some friends and then I saw Sam.” She blushed.

  “We don’t know about that bit. You were in the house then you disappeared. We had no contact with you. I thought the worst had happened and the next minute someone was calling us because there was an unconscious girl in the doorway of the shop, and there you were on the floor. We don’t know how you got there. We can only assume you managed to teleport back.” Shane was as close to the bed as he could physically get; Val remembered him saying he was her guardian.

  “Thanks for looking after me.” She gave him a hug and as she pulled away she could see intense sadness in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Val, you’re just a kid. I know you need me to be strong for you, but I have lost so many people and this is getting harder by the day.” Shane shook his head as if to get rid of the thoughts. “Sorry, so it seems you got touched by this acid skinned thing then.”

  “Yes, and I lost Eva. I’m pretty sure now that Excariot will have her so we need to be stepping up our game. Where’s Sam? I need to know why you couldn’t track me.”

  “I’m meeting him this afternoon. I’ll tell him to pop in and visit you.”

  “You aren’t thinking I’m going to stay here are you?”

  “Val, you have just been though something none of us understand; you need to be monitored; you’re unwell,”

  “Speaking of the unwell, who’s looking after Zac if you’re all here?”

  “Ah yes, that’s another problem.”

  But not one they had to wait long to find out about as Jason walked in carrying Zac in his arms followed by the girls.

  “What did you do?” Val said crossly.

  “What was necessary? Now please return me to the bookshop. This place disturbs me; everyone is sick,” Zac whispered.

  “I think we will have to get you out of here through the front door mate,” Jason said.

  “No, I will get us home.” Val stood up.

  “Wait a minute, you have just been in a semi-coma and now you want to teleport home?” Shane seemed annoyed.

  “Look, we need to get Zac out of here and I feel fine.” Val turned to Jason. “Please put him on the bed. Together we can get home.” Jason did as he was told. Val stepped towards him. “Missed me buddy?” she winked and placed her hand on his. The blue spark passed between them and they were gone.

  “That’s so unfair. This is costing me a fortune in petrol, Dad,” Jason moaned.

  “I think I would rather drive.” Shane pushed his son towards the door. Let’s get back to work.”

  “I can second that,” Wendy chipped in.

  Val landed next to the bed, dropping Zac down onto the covers. He looked terrible. She had no idea how he was supposed to get better. The Mechanic had said three days, but he looked worse than he had before.

  “Ok, what’s going on?” A familiar voice asked from behind her. It was the Collector.

  “I didn’t touch that portal.” Val turned around raising both arms in the air.

  “No you didn’t. However, you did teleport and so, if you don’t have a prisoner for me, I need to know what you’re up to.”

  “I got touched by a Summari and ended up in hospital, and now we are back. And that’s it,”

  “That’s wonderful for you but you don’t have a prisoner and you teleported. Has Zac not explained to you that you don’t return unless you have a prisoner or you’re dead? That doesn’t leave much room for misunderstanding, does it?” The Collector used her most patronising tone.

  “I tried, but I couldn’t get her this time, so I will go back again tomorrow. Anyway, look at Zac. He’s no good to me like this.” She moved so the Collector could see him lying on the bed.

  “I see. He does look unwell,” She moved over to the bed. Pulling a small piece of glass out of her pocket she placed it to her eye. Making her way around the b
ed she inspected Zac up and down. She made a tutting noise and a variety of huffs and sighs then put the glass back into her pocket. “I think I can help. There’s a blockage. I have dealt with this problem once before.”

  Val thought about all the food inside his body and understood what she meant.

  The Collector placed her tiny hand over him, raising Zac onto his feet. Val wondered if she could do the same for her, her back was starting to hurt from carrying Zac. Although he was now upright he was still hanging like a puppet on strings.

  “What are you going to do to him?”

  “This.” The Collector snapped the fingers on her other hand and Zac instantly went rigid. Val was scared. Then she clapped her hands together. Zac bent violently in the middle and dropped to the floor.

  Val leapt to catch him, but was too slow. “What the hell’s your problem? Was he not ill enough already for you!” she spat at the Collector.

  “It’s ok Val. I feel much better.” Zac lifted himself up smiling at her.

  “What’s going on?” Val jumped back.

  “His blockage has been cleared. Now, get the job done and I will return for your prisoner.” The Collector turned leaving Val and Zac sitting on the floor together.

  “So, how’re you feeling?” Val beamed at Zac.

  “Annoyed, with you. What were you thinking of going up against Excariot without me?” Zac stood up like nothing had ever been wrong with him.

  “I have taken him on before. I just didn’t expect to get jumped from behind by hallucination girl,” Val also stood up and, for a moment, the two looked as though they were squaring up for a fight.

  “How did you get back here?” asked Zac.

  “Shane said some old lady found me on the street. He thought I had managed to teleport.”

  “Incorrect, my report shows your second teleport was from the hospital.” Zac started pressing buttons.

  “So how did I get back here? I’m sure Excariot wasn’t kind enough to drop me off.”

  “At this moment I have no answer for you. Right now we have work to do. We must get the Summari.” Zac reached out for Val’s arm, but she pulled it away before he could get to her.