The shadows from the trees even made him shiver; all he wanted to do was go home. He watched her struggling to climb and hatred fuelled him forward. If he could kill her and get away with it, he would.
Amber slipped. A rock bit into her knee and as the pain registered, she felt another forceful push from behind digging it further in.
‘What the hell is your problem?’ she snapped pulling out a small stone splinter. She pressed her finger on her now bleeding knee as pain, anger, everything she had ever felt seemed to burst open with it. Seth leaned forward.
‘My problem? You’re the problem you stupid cow.’
‘Poor liddle Amber, look at my bleeding knee. I just want to be like you when I grow up Anna. I wuv you.’ He mocked putting one hand on his heart. She stared up at him tearfully, her bottom lip jutting out.
‘It wasn’t like that – I explained to you what happened. Anyway, you wouldn’t be free if I hadn’t helped you. I could have died thanks to your stinking totem.’ she blurted, instantly regretting it. There was a loud intake of breath from both Nettles and Seth, and she paled.
‘You bitch!’ Seth snarled. Animal instinct pushed through, and she reeled backwards readying herself. Nettles punched her way between them, her face had turned puce.
‘Really Amber? You really want to do this now?’ Nettles asked while holding Seth back.
Amber mumbled an apology, but Seth was far from calm. Hatred almost boiled in his eyes, and that was when it actually hit her. No matter what she did now, she would never be accepted back into the group.
‘I’m sorry,’ Amber blubbered. Nettles looked at her like she was an insect and cold fear washed over her. She glanced at Seth. He was in pounce position, and the way his fists were clenching and unclenching, she wondered if she would ever make it home.’
‘I’m really sorry,' she whispered again, fighting the rise of hysteria.
‘Give me one valid reason why we should believe you?’
Amber wrung her hands, looking up at both of them.
‘All I know is that I’m sorry. I know that it’s over for me in the group, but please let me go home. I promise, you’ll never hear from me again.’
‘Changing area then?’ Seth sneered. Amber blinked, she hadn’t thought of that. They all went to the same school, but then her Mum always wanted to move. She’d had a brilliant job offer but turned it down because of her. Now, she wished she hadn’t.
‘Yes, we’ll move.’ Her voice was resigned.
Seth screwed up his eyes, and she felt the first rays of hope when she saw his fists unclench. Tears rolled down her cheeks then, and she swallowed hard to stop herself from sobbing.
‘Ha, See? There she goes again with the damn crying. Can’t you see through her Nettles? She doesn’t give a damn about us, never has. All she cares about is herself.’
Nettles turned to him planting her two feet a little wider.
‘I’m quite aware of what she did – I was there too y’know.’
Seth pushed his hands through his overlong Mohican, looking at her as if he has been stabbed in the heart. Amber cringed, she’d been around arguments long enough to tell when one was about to kick off.
‘Then how can you stand it, to be this close to her? She stinks of them.’ When she didn’t answer, he stepped closer, one foot in front of the other.
‘Or have I got you all wrong too babe? After all, it wasn’t your totem that was trashed was it?’
The slap resounded through the forest, and a few birds flapped loudly from the top of the trees. The expression in her eyes was of cold fury. Amber scrambled backwards, feeling the hard ridge of the incline on her back, looking at them dismally. He was right, it was her fault, all of it, and now she was making the biggest lovebirds in the group turn on each other.
‘Stop please! Whatever has happened or not happened and whatever I did, don’t fight.’ she said as they turned to face her. Seth still had his hand on his cheek and seemed in shock.
‘You have always been soul mates. No matter what happens, I know you both love each other. Take it out on me. I’m the traitor here. Seth you can hit me if you like, I deserve it. Just don’t take it out on her. Life’s too short.’
Her voice broke then, and she looked down at her hands submissively, squealing when she felt a hand touch the top of her head. She twisted away.
‘Amber, no-one is going to hurt you, believe it or not.’
‘Babe…’ Nettles, turned round to face Seth. The rest was in whispers as they both moved a little further down. Gestures and whispers followed and increased growling. She turned away, concentrating on her knee; it was the best attempt at privacy she could give them. Although she did peer at them from beneath her fringe, the familiar pangs of jealousy edging their way forward. This side of her life was empty, and it was only her angel that made her feel complete. While she dabbed, she recreated the image of him smiling at her. She liked the way he smiled, and every time he did that, she gave him a little more of herself. The growling between the two of them was starting to make her uncomfortable and she heaved herself further up the ridge grabbing clumps of grass and wishing she could turn back time, and change everything.
When Anna first approached her, she should have told Andrea, warned them. Everything she wished for must have happened for all the right reasons. They were the only family she knew. She heard them following her, pleased that she’d done something right. Whatever happened now, she knew she still had to face Andrea and the thought of it made her lose her footing. Clumps of grass and stones crumbled behind her, and she heard a gasp of breath.
‘Watch it, you idiot!’ Seth growled.
‘Seth!’ Nettles scolded.
‘Take it slow Amber; feel if the rocks are secure first before pulling on it. Do you see the ridge above you? Wait for us there.’ Amber almost screamed with joy at the normality of Nettles’ voice.
‘Okay,’ she called back. She felt a sudden surge of energy pushing towards the small depression and sat down triumphantly, looking in the direction of Seth and Nettles. They were close by and although Nettles didn’t say anything else for a while, she seemed calmer. Roots from the trees at the top spread out teasingly. They were so close.
‘Y’know, this would be a good time to test your totem.’ Nettles whispered to Seth. The words seem to hang in the air, and even Amber looked at her as if she were crazed.
Why did she have to bring that up now?
She heard Seth grunt, and then shake his head.
‘I can’t do it, not yet.’ He peered round Nettles to look pointedly at Amber. ‘It feels tainted.’ Amber reddened at the way he emphasised the last word and instinctively leaned back. At least he wasn’t pushing or threatening to kill me, she thought miserably. In the distance, they could make out the roof of the fortress and, until now, never realised how large and imposing it was.
‘Can you see anything?’ Nettles asked nobody in particular.
‘Nope, just the prison. I don’t get it. Why turn off the alarms?’ He gave them a sideways glance before picking up a rock and tossing it down.
‘I mean, why go to all that trouble of catching us and then not chase us? Jeezus, I’m more confused now than I was in the first place.
Amber breathed out loudly, and they both turned towards her.
‘You okay?’ Nettles frowned. Amber looked pale and even though she nodded, her hands were trembling. Instinct told her Amber was holding something back.
‘What’s wrong? What aren’t you telling us?’ she asked, her voice rising slightly, but enough to make Amber start nibbling at her nails.
‘Amber, no more games. If there’s something we need to know – spit it out.’ Her voice was like iron now. Seth groaned next to her, shaking his head.
‘Jeezus, I told you, didn’t I tell you?’
Nettles dug him in the ribs.
‘Look at me Amber. Is there anything else we should know?’
‘They
’re back; those weather things are back.’ Amber blurted pointing back at the fortress.
Nettles shivered. ‘What are those things anyway?’
‘They control the weather. That’s what this has all been about, control.’ Amber shifted her knees up again, wincing as the dried blood on her knee broke.
‘I still don’t get it.’ Seth said, his voice whining. ‘What did that have to do with us?’
‘Nothing’ Amber felt a sense of shame then. She never really understood either. Now, being here in the outside, smelling fresh air, everything was starting to make sense. The snippets of conversation; the whispers when they thought no-one was listening.
Nettles looked at her evenly. ‘Amber, you didn’t answer my question. Is there anything else we need to know?’
Nettles felt like hitting her when she concentrated on her knee again, and breathed deeply.
‘Amber?’
She didn’t look up and Amber gritted her teeth, breathing in loudly. She almost missed the soft voice of Amber.
‘Maybe…it might be nothing but I think I know where Anna has gone with all of us here and no-one there.’ Her voice dropped to a raspy whisper.
Seth and Nettle froze.
‘Eden. They talked about creating a new Eden.’ She mumbled. Nettles stared at her, the enormity of her statement taking its time to sink in.
‘What? Eden? You mean Adam and Eve stuff?’
Seth gave a weak laugh.
‘Amber, now you’ve seriously lost it.’
‘Weather, Eden, Totems – they’ve been creating an ark but who is Adam and Eve?’ She was thinking aloud, trying to make sense of it herself, even though part of her felt like she was letting her angel down.
Only now, did she comprehend the last few days, before all of this had happened. The fortress had been strangely empty and some of the stronger trancers, the ones that have been turned or followed willingly, were gone. She never seriously thought about it until now – the ark. Where is this place? She looked at the fortress in panic, a look that didn’t go unnoticed by Nettles.
‘Amber, you have to tell us.’ Nettles pleaded, but her voice was drowned by the sudden crack of thunder followed by a peel of blue lightning.
It made them all jump, especially Amber who hid her head between her knees.
‘Amber – tell us, please.’ Nettles pleaded. She crouched beside her and Amber visibly paled. Their plan, her angel and Anna’s, were bigger than everyone thought.
‘Forget about her, we have to get out of here,’ Seth’s voice faded against another deafening roll of thunder. He scrambled up the next incline and wedged his feet under a root. No-one had noticed the sudden change in weather and when lightning hit a nearby tree, they all dived for cover. Sheets of rain fell on them, and it wasn’t long before they fell, the earth beneath them crumbling.
‘It’s going to give way.’ Seth shouted scrambling upwards. He turned back towards Nettles holding out one hand. Sheets of rain slashed at their skin, and Amber felt herself slip further down. All it took was one wrong step and she would be history.
‘Form a chain. Grab my hand,’ Seth screamed, his hand flailing desperately for Nettles hand. She grabbed his and turned towards Amber, but the distance was too far.
‘Try and get closer.’ she shouted, but Amber stared past her in horror as another flash of lightning split a tree. Within minutes, the three of them were engulfed in branches and leaves. The mudslide carried them back down the hill towards the outcrop of trees and the field surrounding Harp headquarters. Amber choked, swallowing mud and tried to clamber upwards fighting for air. As her throat expanded, the mud wedged itself further in, clogging her throat and airways. She scratched her neck, trying to push it out and was on the point of blacking out, when something hard hit her from behind. The clogged mud flew out of her mouth and so did everything from her stomach. Gasping for breath Amber blinked in the darkness, pawing desperately.
She felt a shoe and pulled on it. It came loose. She sobbed then. Not knowing whose it was, made it worse somehow. She pushed both hands round the perimeter, using one twig that stuck out as a point of reference. When her hands had turned the circumference, she realised then that she was in a mud coffin. How deep she was, she didn’t know, but apart from the crackling of her shallow breathing, everything was silent. The lack of air made her weak, and the last thoughts as she fell into unconsciousness were of her angel smiling at her.
Back at the cabin, Andrea, Claudine and Caro made beds for those recovering. The Ecos had tried to bring back most of the frozen group. Their pain was etched on their faces. Elula, one of the leaders, told him that they last saw Amber with two others. Judging by their description, it was Seth and Nettles. Hawk frowned, wondering why it was taking so long to find them and sensed them a message. The flow of mumbled conversation that echoed around the cabin started to quieten down as some disappeared. Only Hawk remained quiet, unmoving, near the window watching the sheets of rain. His face was guarded, and Andrea tapped his shoulder.
‘Hey, what’s up…we won, right? And I’m sure we’ll see Seth and Nettles fairly soon. They’re slower because of Amber.’ Nettles looked at her watch, mentally giving them another hour. If not, then she would send out another search party. She noticed Hawk shaking his head, looking at her like she was stupid. She felt her rage rise again; she had had enough of this guy putting her down.
‘What?’ she snapped.
‘Andrea, they didn’t even put up a fight. Anna wasn’t even there. How did we win? It’s like they knew we were coming.’
Andrea grimaced shaking her head in confusion.
‘How could they?’ she asked.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Think about it Andrea.’ He watched as Andrea did the calculations, her face paling.
‘Amber?’
He nodded slowly.
‘Perhaps. Only perhaps.’
The silence was thick with tension.
‘She couldn’t, she wouldn’t!’ Andrea exploded, calling on her totem. Hawk grabbed her, pulling her behind a clustered group of Ecos. This time she couldn’t stop the hot, angry tears that stained her face. She was still reeling from the betrayal and anger. It was her fault for not reading the signs properly.
‘Forget about her and think about who! Who did Anna want in exchange for Seth and Nettles?’
Andrea’s eyes widened.
‘Nevaeh!’
35
Here and there
I feel so powerful; the magic is feeding my very core. His earth name is Mika, and he has been teaching me to tap into Gaia herself. The ancient power feels so right. My body is stronger than ever, and I have no desire to return to the weak person I once was. I don’t feel any pain or sadness anymore, but I can see the plague that darkens the planet. I am part of Gaia now, fusing with her energy. With him, I dip into the past, and the ancient covenant made with man. Humans have broken that covenant, and it is up to us to restore and build. He wants to join with me but first I have to go back to my body. I don’t want to – I want to stay here and be with him always. Did you know there’s a veil between here and there? He showed me only once, and I felt so connected to what lay behind. I thought of the woman then, my true mother, but Mika said that she sacrificed herself for me and that she was on the earthly plane now. If I went behind the curtain, I would never come back, never see him again. The thought of losing him is too much to bear. I can’t lose him, we are one and he alone gives my life meaning. I’m sorry Hawk, but I have to help, they are my people.
36
Waves
Lightning carved up the sky over Tidwell, puncturing the dark underbelly of the clouds that night. The rain gushed at first, almost eagerly, spilling its contents on unsuspecting humans who raced for cover. They were starting to get used to this. It had been happening for over a month, but tonight most of them were at the summer show house. Tidwell had a mini Globe Theatre and they bundled together, watching from the d
oorways.
Everyone seemed to be rooted, distracted from the blue ribbon of light that pulsated below them. Deep cracks had already appeared beneath the surface. The strange energy crackled, fragmenting the air, disorientating and confusing everyone, including Hawk and Andrea.
‘Careful!’ Hawk shouted as Andrea narrowly missed an oncoming car. The wind battered the small Peugeot and the old windscreen wipers struggled against the wall of water that poured over them. She’d only had her licence for a month and already the car she shared with her mother was drowning in the middle of Tidwell High Street. A police car wobbled past, its shrill siren and headlights dying as it sunk into a large pool of muddy water further down. Opposite, a late night lorry jack-knifed; cutting off the route they were taking to the hospital. Cars were trying to turn around creating a knot that would take hours to unravel.
‘What are we going to do?’ Andrea shouts - her eyes glued to the road.
‘Hawk?’
Hawk stared at the wall of water that poured down from the hills above them, creating a landslide of mud and rocks. She pulled the car over, and they ran as fast as their legs could take them. Other people joined them, pointing at the water, until a line of scrambling residents led all the way from the street. The humming underground continued to grow pushing apart the earth like moles until finally it reached the surface. Hawk felt his heart racing, and although the hospital might only be a few miles away, right now, for him, it might as well have been on the moon. He had to find a place to join with his totem. It was his only way of getting past the water. He looked around for Andrea. She was further down - the crowd had overtaken her. He knew she wouldn’t dare change in front of everyone and sensed her message. He couldn’t wait; he had to get to the hospital. The pit of his stomach felt knotted and he damned himself for being so complacent. Anna had been planning this all along, to detract them from her true purpose, to get Nevaeh. The timing puzzled him; surely she knew where she was? Why didn’t she take her weeks ago? Why go to all the effort of grabbing Seth and Nettles? A nearby derelict church stood out like an island. Inside was silent, and he felt as if he were in the eye of the storm. This was the moment he was at his most vulnerable. He didn’t see the ancient brick steeple shudder or the blue ribbon of light cut, as easily as butter, through the ancient foundation.
Heaven's Children (Earth Totem) Page 16