“Can she really do this?” Val whispered to Zac. To her dismay he nodded. “Then we need to move now.” She reached out for the door of the cage, and pushed. To her delight and relief it opened with ease. “Come on,” she signalled to the others.
When Max came to exit she grabbed his arm. “Listen Max, these guys are exhausted; it’s going to get messy. I need you to take care of the others and head out. We will find you later.”
He nodded in agreement. “Will do. Come on,” he signalled to the others and they moved off towards the exit.
Luckily for them, all the people left in the hanger were completely mesmerized by Wendy. Val, Fran, Jason, Shane and Zac made their way along the wall to a large pile of crates, probably filled with old books, Val thought, and perfect to hide behind. Val peeked over the top. “What do we need to do now?” she asked Zac.
“We need to break the connection between Wendy and the dellatrax, and I have to say I told you so. I knew there was a Judge on Earth.”
Val gave him a quick pat. “Yeah, well done you. Now let’s save her.” She stood up and walked towards Wendy.
“Does she ever think about what she’s doing?” Zac asked Shane.
“Nope,” he smiled back.
Val could only think of one way of stopping Excariot and making sure Wendy survived. “Hey, you know, you should have guessed I would get free.” She turned to look for Eva, but there was no sign of her. “Damn, your witch didn’t want to stop around to watch me beat you again.” Val pulled out her sword.
Excariot looked away from Wendy. Realising the cage was now empty he pulled Belinda off the ground. “How many times should we dance this dance? The sword thing is becoming tedious.” He turned, lifting his hand to throw her, but Val was ready and she counteracted with a massive gush of wind. She was nearly close enough to shock Wendy.
“Well, well, we have learnt a lesson or two since we last met,” he mocked.
“Does annoying come naturally or do you have to practise in the mirror,” she asked, lifting her hand into the air and creating a flame on her fingers.
Excariot laughed. “Did someone want a light?” He looked around as his followers and laughed.
“No, I don’t like smokers!” she said as her body combusted into flames. Excariot stood back, overwhelmed with the intense heat. Belinda screamed, trying desperately to pull free, yet Excariot seemed unaffected by her attempts.
Val had what she wanted; he stepped away from her. The doorway to Wendy had opened slightly; however what she hadn’t spotted was what had been happening to Wendy.
“Val, get her!” Shane called from the boxes. She turned to see Jason vaulting over the top. Then she looked towards Wendy, who had become completely consumed by the holograms. She started to run to her when something hard struck her from the side. It was Excariot, wielding a hefty length of wood. She stumbled, reaching out, but there was nothing to balance her. The flames diminished and she landed hard on the floor.
“No!”
Val heard a scream from behind her. Looking up she saw that Fran was running as well now. She felt the hairs on her body stand on end; as she looked up to see what resembled a tear in the atmosphere opening above Wendy’s head.
Belinda had decided to do the opposite; instead of trying to escape Excariot she was attacking him by jumping on him from behind. He was now spinning around with her on his back. Val pulled herself up, just as Zac came flying past. He was also heading for Wendy. Shane came over the box following Jason, and a group of Hench men were heading for them. The fight was on to get to Wendy, and Zac was in the lead.
“Get them!” Excariot called as he threw Belinda to the floor. He also strode towards Wendy, his face set with determination..
The tear was getting bigger by the second, and flashes of light were darting in and out of it. Val was on the move again. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Shane scrum a man to the ground, as Zac leapt through the air towards what was still visible of Wendy.
She held her breath, but it was too late. Zac was thrown back by the holograms. Wendy’s body was pulled into the tear and she was gone. They went from chaos to instant silence. The only sound was the book hitting the ground.
Val stood perfectly still only feet away from Excariot. His arms dropping to his side; he was clearly dazed by what had just transpired.
Val heard Belinda weeping behind her.
Excariot looked at Val. “You, why couldn’t you just die? Why did you have to survive?” He looked ready to explode. Val reached out to grab his arm.
“Don’t touch me, reject!” Excariot pulled his arm away from Val. “Someone grab them...” He didn’t get to finish as Jason struck him from behind with the length of wood he had used on Val and Shane piled on him, pulling him to the ground. Val pulled her sleeve up to pull off her bracelet. She flicked it out and wrapped it around Excariot’s wrist. He kicked out. She didn’t quite know how to cope with him.
“I will kill you,” he screamed before his face was shoved into the ground by Shane.
“Have you nothing more original to say,” Val whispered into his ear.
The followers realising that maybe they weren’t going to win had started to run in various different directions. In a matter of a few moments they were alone, somewhere in a hidden hanger, fingers crossed, somewhere in the UK! The question now was where was Wendy?
All of a sudden out of nowhere a red spark appeared about two feet away from Val. She knew what it was, but having never seen herself teleport it was mesmerising to watch. As the rip opened, in her heart Val wanted Wendy to fall through it, but it wasn’t her. She watched quietly as Daniel appeared, landing perfectly.
He looked at them and then faced Val. “Where’s Wendy?” he demanded.
“Gone, no thanks to you.” Val wanted to blow him up. She didn’t know if she had the power, but she was about to find out. Her hands came together and a sparking ball of energy, like nothing she had created before, began to form.
“Save your parlour tricks for the side show.” Daniel looked at Shane and the others who were sitting on Excariot. “I asked you a question. Where’s Wendy?”
“She’s gone,” Zac responded dryly. “And you should not exist. Your mother and father are evil and, as such, the Alchany prison rules state that you must hand yourself over to us now.”
Even Val had to admit that what Zac had just said was embarrassing.
“This is your last chance to tell me, or I will have to take this into my own hands.”
“Ask your daddy.” Val lowered her hands. Her priorities were changing; she needed to be cautious; she didn’t know what Daniel was capable of. However, she had a good idea that he didn’t know which volume of the dellatrax Wendy had been using when she had been taken. She took a step towards the books.
“You and that thing will pay for what you did to me and my mother!” He pointed at them both, venom in his words. Val felt a pang of guilt. Seeing him in front of her made it hard not to want to say she was sorry.
“How did you know Eva was your mother?” she asked.
Anger spread across his face. “Delta is my mother and don’t let her name cross your lips, freak, or I’ll wipe them off your face.”
Val took another step towards the book, “Look Daniel, we have all lost Wendy, but together we can find her I’m sure.”
“Enough! You left me and my mother, and now you have lost the one person I cared about. I will now have my revenge.” Daniel raised his hand and what resembled a bolt of light appeared in his palm. Val would have been more impressed if it hadn’t been aimed at her.
She leapt to one side as the bolt came down. It still just managed to catch her side and she was knocked several feet along the floor. The pain was incredible. She looked up to find him instantly standing over her with another bolt ready to drop at close quarters.
“Daniel please, I promise together...” Val pleaded.
He had no time for her promises; the bolt was released. Val instinctively put
her hands over her face. This was the best she could muster as the first strike had left her weakened. What she hadn’t managed to see yet was the amount of blood spilling out her side.
Then there was a sound as if lighting had struck at close quarters. Val lifted her head and just got a glimpse of Sam. The funny part was he had his sword with him in one hand and in his other was what looked like a crystal ball floating in mid-air. Through her pain she marvelled at what that man could make. The noise had been so ear-splitting that she had been left slightly deaf, so the yelling of the others seemed muffled.
Val looked around her. There it was. She reached out for Wendy’s book, pulling it close into her chest. Somehow she knew that the dellatrax would keep her safe. She felt a hand on her arm; it was Sam. He was lifting her off the ground into his arms. She was feeling light-headed, but saw Fran’s face come close to hers, and she noticed instantly how shocked Fran looked.
“Are you ok?” she was mouthing at her.
“No, it hurts. Where are we going?” Val asked as Sam strode confidently. She felt herself slipping.
“Make some space, Shane,” Sam ordered.
Shane shoved everything off the table. They could all see she was seriously wounded.
“You, who are you?” Fran asked as she looked at Sam.
“Now’s not the time to ask.” He smiled at her then concentrated on pulling at Val’s top, exposing the place where Daniel’s bolt had caught her. “You all need to move back.”
“Why are you on Earth?” asked Zac.
“I will tell you everything in a minute; just let me help Val now.” Sam pulled a piece of metal, about the size of a ten pence piece, from his pocket. Gently, he placed it onto the blood on Val’s side. It started to fizz. The others watched in amazement as the foam built. When it eventually stopped, Sam used his shirtsleeve to wipe the excess away.
“That’s not possible! It’s healed.” Fran covered her mouth with her hands in shock.
“You took your time.” Shane patted Sam on the back.
“I’m sorry. I was trying to sort out some other issues when I got your call. You know this isn’t what I wanted.”
“I know, but life doesn’t always serve you what you want,” Shane said.
“Why aren’t you freaking out, Dad?” Jason asked looking as bemused as the others.
“I told you son, me and Sam have been friends for a long time. I will explain it all to you later.”
Val sat up and looked around her, pleased to note that her hearing was back to normal; the pain in her side had gone too. “About time you showed up,” she said to Sam, “That ball thing you did was cool. I’m impressed. Has Daniel gone?” No one answered. The others just stared gormlessly back at her. “What?”
“Well, I understand that you were wounded, but you seem oblivious to the fact that Sam here just appeared out of thin air.” Fran shoved her hands on her hips. “Maybe this is all just a crazy nightmare. First Daniel’s light show and now Sam’s.” She pinched Jason’s arm. He howled in pain. “Ok, so I’m awake. Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” Her eyes were fixed firmly on Sam.
He signed. “Ok. I stepped, that’s what we call it.” Sam looked embarrassed just talking about it.
“Lovely, but since when have you been stepping?” Fran asked him, clearly on a mission. “And how do we know you’re Sam and not a zombie body snatcher.”
“Fran, I can vouch for the fact that Sam’s not a Zombie,” Shane said.
“Have I missed something here?” Val searched their faces for an answer.
“I think you and I have missed something massive. I was right; there is a judge on earth,” Zac said looking pointedly at Sam.
“But that’s Wendy, right?” Val asked, still looking directly into Sam’s eyes.
“Sort of,” he prevaricated.
“Samuel, my friend!” Excariot called from his spot on the ground. “How’s about a hand for your old comrade?”
“Here!” Sam lifted his hand creating a mini ball of light, aimed it at Excariot and released it. They all held their breath. As it hit him, a force field was created around his body. Excariot screamed yet they could hear nothing.
“Explain what’s going on. NOW!” Val demanded.
“I knew you would be like this.” He shook his head turning to Shane. “I told you she wouldn’t react well.”
“I’m sorry, is Shane in on this?” She looked around the room. “Anyone else have anything they want to tell us while we’re all at it?”
No one spoke.
Sam shook his head. “Shane couldn’t tell you, Val, and neither could I. Now things will have to change.”
“I’m sorry to break up the confessions, but is no one going to help me get my daughter back?” Belinda butted in.
Val held out the book to Sam. “She had this book when she disappeared. Get her back please. Then you can tell me what’s going on.”
Sam took the book from her. “There’s a problem. If I bring her back from wherever she is, things will change. For everyone.”
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“I can’t control what Wendy has done. She has gone to a place where she feels safe, a place where she thinks everything is as it should be. I was sent here to guide her and I got distracted.” Sam looked at the others. “For that I’m sorry, but if I bring her back here, things will have to change.”
“Do it,” Belinda pleaded. “Please. She’s all I have.” Tears started to run down her cheeks.
“Do it,” Val and Fran chorused at the same moment.
“I need a moment with Val.” Sam grabbed her hand and they were instantly transported away.
Val waited for the landing, but it never happened. They seemed to be suspended in mid-air. She felt stable, but there was nothing to support her. She held Sam’s hand tightly for fear of falling. “What are you,” she asked. “Who are you?”
“I’m Sam, the same Sam you met in sixteen forty-five. The Sam that has loved you from the first time he saw you. I had to let you go then and I’m going to have to let you go again now.”
“But I don’t remember being with you, even though I feel it. I’m so confused.”
“This should help.” He placed his hand over Val’s eyes. Everything went dark, and then her memories started to return. She remembered Wyetta and the coven. And there he was: Sam. They had spent time together and however brief, it had changed them. She was very much in love with him. It was in every pore of her skin; every beat of her heart was for him.
Then the time came for her initiation. Excariot had arrived and she had fallen, as she remembered it so many times. With Wyetta’s help, Sam managed to send her to the future. He had told her that it would be ok, that she would be safe in her new home. Val felt the intense pain of a broken heart. He told her that she would forget him, that it was for the best, that their love was never meant to be, not now, not ever. She had cried on his shoulder, but he knew what was best for her. They had kissed one last time and then he had placed his hand on her arm and led her to the future to be reborn with no memories of who she was, or why she was there.
Sam took his hand away. “I’m so sorry, Val, if I bring Wendy back, you will forget this all over again. You can’t live with these memories.”
Val’s eyes stared into Sam’s. “I love you, no memories will change that.”
“And I you V.”
For a moment she simply savoured the words. But then reality claimed her again and they were back with the others.
Sam looked around for any sign that anyone had noticed their exit or return, but they were completely oblivious. “Val, the outcome may be worse for you than anyone else here if Wendy does return.”
“Look, Wendy’s my friend. I can deal with whatever the outcome is. Just get her back.” Val reached out for Belinda’s hand.
“Let’s do it,” Zac said.
“Zac, you need to get Excariot out of here. Take him to Alchany.” Sam moved his hand in
a slow circular motion and a portal opened next to Excariot’s temporary prison dome. “Twenty-three twelve you were never my friend,” Sam told him, removing the light field that was holding him prisoner. “Zac, go.”
Zac lifted Excariot up by his hands, which were tied behind his back. Excariot’s head hung down, his imminent extraction obviously now weighing heavy on his mind.
“You have disappointed me,” Sam said. “You have hurt and murdered innocent humans and if it you had been in my jurisdiction I would have dealt with you myself. You will have plenty of time to repent for your actions, because I will make sure you’re imprisoned for a millennium.”
He turned to Zac. “Zac, when you’re finished you will return to Val and continue as her hunter and I will make sure the Warden hears of your bravery.” Zac nodded then passed through the portal with Excariot.
Val was starting to realise how important Sam really was. He placed the book down on the floor. “Belinda, would you please free the people who are under Eva’s spell?”
She pulled out the mirror she had in her pocket and held it up.
“Eva, with the power of three,
I send this magic back to thee,
take this mirror and reflect,
all the negative reject.”
The mirror slowly filled with light that first appeared as a tiny, bright spot and spread. They all watched as the light started to spring out. It jumped from one unconscious henchman to another, and then a beam shot up towards the ceiling and out. “So be it done.” She pulled the mirror down and put it back into her pocket.
“Is that it?” Jason asked.
“Yes, Jason. What’s special about magic is it needs only the power of the individual’s mind and belief,” Belinda answered.
“Thank you.” Sam smiled warmly at her. “Let’s get Wendy.” He put the book on the floor and opened it on the first page. Then they all waited for something as impressive as last time: holograms, rips in time, etc.
“Wendy, you can come out now.” Sam spoke to the book.
Val gaped at him. “Are you being serious?”
Sam shot her a glare. “Wendy, it’s safe. You need to come out; the others have gone.”
The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2) Page 25