Jay and Paul squealed at the clap of thunder, hugging each other; even Jo-Jo jumped in alarm.
‘I can’t believe we’re doing this or that she believed that vampire.’ Paul whispered before squealing a second time.
‘I know, it has to be the weirdest crap I’ve ever heard. It’s like something from one of those movies. Does Jo-Jo really believe that there’s an evil witch who wants to kidnap Nevaeh? I mean look at her.’ Paul pointed at the lifeless body next to them.
‘She’s not exactly going anywhere.’
Jay giggled, slapping Paul on the shoulder, and Jo-Jo glared at them. ‘Are you two going to stand there like a couple of princesses, or are you going to help me?’
They both stood to attention. Jo-Jo was known for her temper, and they flushed guiltily.
Jo-Jo rolled her eyes, doubting her decision. Even though she promised Amber, Jay and Paul were the only two she had told. But even she knew that there was no way she was going to be able to do this alone. She hadn’t even thought of the heart machine or the fact that Nevaeh had stickers all over her. What she did know was that unhooking her, if only for a second would register at the front desk unless they were all taking a coffee break. Two o’clock in the morning was dead hour; she knew that from Nevaeh’s Mum. For once, she was glad she had paid attention and prayed that Amber was safe. She hadn’t gone into detail about this person called Anna and didn’t want to scare the hell out of Jay and Paul who were self confessed cowards. ‘You don’t have to push so hard y’know. Jeez she’s heavy. Can you put on weight with hospital food?’ Jay wheezed as they pushed Nevaeh’s bed to another room.
‘Shut up – you’re such a wimp…keep pushing and pray that Paul is keeping lookout. Here, look, there’s another guy in a coma in this room.’
‘How do you know he’s in a coma?’ Jay hissed. ‘There’s no sign.’
A nurse padded past the cubicle they were hiding in, and they all held their breath. They had successfully swopped, and even reattached, the heart monitors, and being a mixed ward, there shouldn’t be too much fuss. Jo-Jo stared at the old man they had place in Nevaeh’s spot. Jay picked up his board, scanning it, before shaking his head at her. She shrugged, either way he was asleep. They raced back to where Nevaeh was. A noise from the central hallway made them all gasp. Paul’s eyes were wide with horror as the footsteps that passed screeched to a halt in front of the night desk. They could hear computer keys being pressed, before a call from someone else paused them.
‘Um…what do you think you’re doing Nurse…?’
‘Hey, you’re not Nurse Prowert. Who? umphhh.’
All three of them ducked under Nevaeh’s bed. Paul and Jay pulled her top cover further over until part of it was lying on the floor. Shoes scuffed the newly washed lino making Jay push his fist into his mouth in fear. Paul mouthed an exaggerated – OMG. Jo-Jo felt she was going to scream. Whatever was going on – she had no doubt that it wasn’t a nurse that had passed them. Footsteps came closer then, and by the way they paused then continued, they could only guess who they were looking for. It was only when they heard their ward door open that Jo-Jo felt like she was going to faint and instinctively closed her eyes.
The screeching sound of the curtain as it was pulled aside, followed by the strong smell of perfume, assaulted all three of them, making them pinch their noses. They tried desperately not to sneeze. Paul was the worst one, he had hay fever and anything could set him off. But it was the voice, an old gravelly voice that made them all blink at each other. Jo-Jo was so certain that they were going to be heard as she shifted onto her haunches, ready to jump. She’d seen movies where the element of surprise worked.
‘My daughter, if you can hear me, it’s your mother, Anna.’
Jo-Jo’s jaw dropped. Amber hadn’t told her that – her Mother? Her real Mother?
‘It’s time to take you home. Return to your body and renew the covenant with Khaos and Gaia. Mika is here; I’ve brought him for you.’
She heard a moan, and knew that it was Nevaeh. Questions raced through her. Was she waking up? Who was Mika? As if in answer, another set of footsteps arrived.
‘Nevaeh, remember everything I’ve shown you. It’s time to return to me.’ Jo-Jo lifted her head slightly. The voice was hypnotic and familiar, and she felt dizzy. What were they doing to her? Jay and Paul pushed themselves as close to the back wall as possible and her mind went into overdrive - Mika? She’d heard the name before, and blinked furiously – was this the angel Amber had spoken of, who was…? She stopped and looked up in horror as the springs of the mattress moved downwards. Someone was sitting on the bed. She felt herself pull away. The springs, the mattress, everything was glowing then. Some of it was liquid enough to drip through like it was acid and she pulled her legs away. It seemed to sink into the floor. She crept closer to the boys holding onto their knees, and bent her head as Anna’s voice rose above the pounding rain. She was speaking in a strange tongue and they all felt the incantation weave around them.
An image of a fly in a web flashed through her mind. Time felt hazy, and the boys transformed into shifting mirages, their faces leaning in and out of focus. The sound of the rain no longer rapped but buzzed continuously in her ears. She only partly registered feet, moving around the side of the bed and wanted to warn the boys, but her mouth wouldn’t open. Only once they walked away, did life begin to seep back into in her bones.
She blinked, and her body felt stiff. The boys were moaning, and her arm jerked towards them. They both cringed watching her arm as if it was a separate being. It took them longer to come out of the trance.
The rain sounded like it had returned and for the first time, she felt brave enough to peer out from under the cover. She groaned loudly, after a crack of lightening made her jerk her head against the metal edge. The pain was overwhelming and she winced, holding her head. Jay moved closer, and peeked under the thin linen hospital blanket, careful to keep his face half hidden. His face came back flushed with excitement.
‘They’ve got her. There’s this guy and he’s holding her in his arms,’ he whispered. Jo-Jo felt like she had sunk to the depths of despair and this added to the weight of the headache. She had failed her friend again.
‘We have to get out of here, call someone, the police!’ Paul whispered, pulling at Jay. They waited until the coast was clear before sliding out.
‘Did you see that light?’ Jay rasped, his voice cutting off as they crept towards the doorway.
Something dragged, scraping itself along the floor, winding its way towards them and they grabbed each other. But when this was followed by a sudden cacophony of animal sounds, Jay and Paul looked like they were going to elevate.
‘I want to go home,’ Jay trembled and Paul nodded frantically next to him.
‘Jeezus, what the hell is that?’ Jo-Jo whispered, ignoring them. The alarm in the hospital sounded in time with a crack of blue lightning. It lit everything up, and Jay and Paul were finally released from the silence. They screamed in unison as a large coiling snake moved past the doorway, its head poised and mouth flickering. They watched it writhe as another flash of blue lightning coiled itself round the body. Jo-Jo felt her knees buckling and sunk to the floor, just as the alarm stopped. Someone had turned it off.
‘Jo-Jo, we can’t stay here, get up.’ Paul whispered and they both pulled at her frantically.
‘Jeezus, what is that?’ Jay screeched as a group of large wild cats stepped over the still writhing snake. The last one turned its head in their direction, pulling its mouth back to reveal dripping fangs.
‘This is just crazy shit.’ Jay whispered, just as a male voice chilled them to the core. Jo-Jo pulled her head from Paul’s shoulder and dragged herself to the doorway, peering round.
‘Put her down…or I’ll…’
‘You’ll what?’
In the hallway, Mika held Nevaeh close to his chest while, in front, Anna twirled the blue lightning in her hands co
iling it round her fingers. This was the energy Quinqui spoke of – she had harnessed Gaia’s breath.
‘You fools, don’t you realise, I’m saving her - my daughter.’ Hawk recoiled at the way her face twisted, her green eyes wide and desperate.
A light from above suddenly pierced the darkness, illuminating and dispersing any traces of blue energy. If that wasn't crazy enough for Jo-Jo, she recognised the figure that hovered within it. Everyone, including Anna gasped. Even Mika stared up in shock, hugging her human form closer. Jo-Jo fainted.
‘Nevaeh?’ Hawk whispered.
The figure seemed translucent as it held its hand out to Anna. Nevaeh looked ethereal; her long golden hair moving as if a slight breeze blew from behind her. Her face seemed so different, so peaceful at that moment.
‘Is she dead?’ Andrea whispered. She had released her totem and with it the agony of the lightning. Anna knelt before her, holding her hands upwards. Hawk tried to step forward but was held back by the human form of Gabe and Garren. He pulled himself free. Whatever she was now, it was good and bad. Bad, because returning to her body might be the hardest thing to do.
‘Nevaeh'. He called and she pivoted leaving trails of pale mist from the movement. He held his breath, she was breathtaking. Her porcelain skin sparkled and her eyes shone. He watched her touch Anna’s head and the grey hair changed to gold, leaving only the blackness of her cloak on the floor.
‘Daughter’ they all heard her whisper, as Nevaeh took her hand. And before anyone could move, or say anything, they both dissolved into air. There was a stunned silence and the lights flickered in the hallway. Something fantastic had just happened, and Hawk knew that they would be telling their children about this.
‘Daughter?’ The twins whispered. They were the last to release their totems and stared in awe. They grabbed hold of Gabe and Garren in shock. The stark reality of artificial lightning hit them in the face and they all groaned covering their eyes. It signalled movement - computers, people, everyone was moving except Hawk. Mika was staring at the cloak on the floor in shock.
‘What’s wrong – didn’t work out the way you planned?’ Hawk’s voice was like steel.
Mika stared evenly at him.
‘You’re no match for me human. I am meant to be with her.’ His voice was filled with hatred and Hawk remembered Quinqui’s vision of scales. If he is Nevaeh’s other half, he has the dark heart.
‘You’ll see me again,’ he snarled, and before Hawk had time to react he was gone, in a similar trail of mist. Fear rushed through him when Nevaeh’s body was dropped, but arms reached up through the floor catching her. It was Quinqui himself.
Everyone moved at lightning speed, wheeling her bed back, returning the nurse to her station and even laying hands on those patients that had witnessed the commotion. Jo-Jo, Jay and Paul were dealt with by the Ecos who whisked their sleeping bodies away.
They lay Nevaeh’s still sleeping form back in her bed, the familiar beeps of the heart monitor reassuring everyone that she wasn’t dead. Hawk kissed her hand. For him, it wasn’t over and the cold fury towards him was growing. Where were they? Where were they all?
37
Balance
The town of Tidwell was in turmoil. News crew turned up to see evidence of the ‘Freak weather.’ Images were splashed over newspapers. The worst hit was the church, now a crumbled ruin. Search parties were sent out to find Seth, Nettles and Amber, but the mudslide on the side of the Harp made it difficult. Totem families gathered together, young and old, retracing the steps from the now empty fort. The drones were taken in by families until they worked out how to reverse their brainwashing. On the third day, the Ecos found them. They had traced their energy to the hill where the mudslide created caverns. It was a day of good news and bad news.
Seth and Nettles were found half frozen and it took two hours to dig them out from under a mountain of soil. At first, they had started digging near a single trainer that jutted up from the ground. Beneath it sounded hollow, but inside, there was nothing, although it did look like something had been sleeping there from the indentations. They were taken to a nearby hospital and were under observation in intensive care. Amber was still missing and Andrea was leading that search party.
Hawk had not left Nevaeh’s side, and he gave an agonised groan, guilt rushing through him as he stared at her pale body. He damned himself for not protecting her like he was supposed to, and wished for one moment to feel her in his arms. Pushing his hands through his hair, he damned his abilities. What advantage had they been to her? The last few days were affecting him, and he was exhausted. He should have been happy, the danger was over and from what he had learned, no-one had heard from Anna. His mind drifted to the other one – Mika and he prayed the legend wasn’t true.
‘Look after her Jin,’ he whispered. Since the near abduction of her body, he hadn’t left her and he didn’t want to trance, it made him too vulnerable. A press on his shoulder answered his question, maybe he could sense for her. He closed his eyes, his heart pounding; he was not ready to face failure, not yet.
Nevaeh, if you can hear me, let me know that you’re safe.
Hawk slumped back onto the bed waiting, and the silence only seemed to remind him that maybe she had returned to Nirvana. He was startled by a giggle followed by a flash of light whizzing past him and for a split second wondered if it was one of the Ecos. Another side of his mind argued against this thought, only another trancer could make contact. He went on alert, scanning for others, but he could feel none in the vicinity. Confused, he forced his energy open again and felt something touch him.
Hawk couldn’t help but smile, and wished he could see her. His eyes caught something floating above her body and he gasped at the sight of a golden butterfly drifting rhythmically over her. Was that Nevaeh’s butterfly, free from the cocoon? He thought of the vision and wondered if it was a sign?
Nevaeh?
He shook his head in amazement at the appearance of a vase of flowers. The smell was intoxicating and he wasn’t certain if it was his breath, but the purple flower seemed to sigh ever so slightly. Every petal radiated a light, pulsating like a heartbeat. He knew then that they were there specifically for him. It was her gift to him. An alarm triggered - was she saying goodbye? A nurse walked past and put her clipboard on the side table – through the vase. He almost screamed in joy. It had to be her.
He stood in the room, trying to sense her.
Nevaeh
Hope bubbled up when he felt hands move to his eyes. He wished he was certain, but he felt disorientated. Whoever it was, if it was her, she was closing them. He paused when he felt a squeeze on his shoulder, and only then did he realise it was Jin. He should have been elated, but instead, he felt hope drip away. He tried to open his eyes, but the hands held them fast and he felt irritated. He so desperately wanted them to be her hands and if they weren’t - the news wasn’t good. If Jin was trying to contact him, then Nevaeh must have chosen to stay. The thought filled him with anxiety and he almost shouted in relief when they were finally released. His first view was of a field of flowers. They took his breath away.
Jin, what’s going on?
Whatever was going on, Jin had brought him here for a reason.
Is this Nirvana? He asked again.
A sudden breeze parted the flowers, creating the illusion of someone running in the direction of mountains. His first thought was of Nevaeh.
Jin, c’mon, is Nevaeh here? Is that why you brought me? Is she okay? Worry sweeps through him making him draw in his breath. He looks at the flowers again, someone is definitely walking towards him and this time, he doesn’t have to wait too long.
Hawk, you are not finished…you have to fetch her. Hearing Jin’s voice surprised and comforted him. Just knowing that he was close, made him feel stronger. He focused on the parted flowers in front of him, imagining his friend. This time, he spoke.
‘Jin, I don’t know what to do, help me.�
�� Hawk knelt closing his eyes. He was fighting for her life.
I can’t lose her
Open your eyes, Hawk..
Aponi stood in front of him, smiling, creating an emotion that flooded through him with such an intensity, he wanted to cry. Questions, he had so many questions. Aponi touched his hand.
‘Hawk, she is living in perfection, a place so difficult to leave.’
She stared into his eyes, cupping her hands, reminding him of the cocoon.
‘Only your love will bring her back.’ Her hazel eyes became serious. ‘To save her, you must sacrifice, to keep the balance.’
He stared at her blankly until she unclasped her hands again. Inside were golden scales, and he thought of Quinqui. He gasped, they weren’t empty, lying on one side was the image of Nevaeh, and the other the round shape of Gaia herself. He looked back at her in confusion, she seemed in balance. Aponi shook her head.
‘She is now, but if you want her back, you have to keep the balance, you have to give something back to Gaia.
‘What?’ he whispered, almost sorry that she closed her hands again. Her eyes were serious, and she gave him a look, he had never seen before and he felt fear take hold.
‘Only a true born child of Heaven can replace her.’
He listened as Aponi explained and the pain felt as physical as knife wound. Goddess Gaia, give me the strength, he thought centreing himself. He breathed in the warrior spirit of the Hawk, preparing for an immortal battle.
38
Butterfly
I see her now. She’s sitting with her back to me, in the long grass. On her head is posy of bluebells. I look around, she’s alone and I know I don’t have much time.
Heaven's Children (Earth Totem) Page 17