She draws a key from the deep pocket of her velour robe and opens the door to her flat. The windows are shuttered and the room is dark, but she does not switch the light on. She moves effortlessly around the room, seeming not to notice the darkness. He watches her movements with fascination as she bends to remove papers from a drawer.
She opens the drawer and pulls two envelopes out. One has the letter G scribbled on the front.
‘This is for Garlow,’ she says, passing the envelope to Mark. ‘Do you know where you have to take this one?’
Mark shakes his head as she passes him a second envelope with the letter J written in what looks like a red felt tip pen.
‘Okay. I’ll write the address down for you, just make sure you destroy the paper after you’ve used it and remember the address. Safer in your head, right?’ She taps the right side of her forehead with her forefinger. Her nail is long, curved like a talon and stained brown along its edge.
He nods in reply.
She scribbles an address on some paper and passes it to him. He checks he is able to read her writing. ‘Thank you.’
He stores her instructions in a segment of his head and uses the rest to study her. She is young and yet old. Perhaps the magic she accesses has aged her. She does not care for herself or her environment. Her appearance, like that of her home, is chaotic and he feels the same chaos radiate from her mind. Yet with all the power she holds she seems oblivious to the presence she has welcomed into her home. He would have expected some sign of recognition. A positive or negative reaction to his existence, but she displays neither. So wrapped up is she in the chaos in her head, she appears detached from the world outside.
She snorts and holds out her hand. ‘What have you got for me?’
He pulls the package from his pocket and passes it to her.
‘Ta,’ she says. ‘Is my address written down anywhere?’
He nods and passes the scrap of paper to her. ‘You know where I am now, kid. I’ll dispose of this.’
‘Can I go?’ he asks.
‘You don’t want to stay for a cuppa or something stronger?’
‘No thanks. I’d better get on.’
‘No worries. Pass my regards to G.’ She leans past him and pulls the door open. ‘You can find your own way out, right kid?’
Mark nods and hurries down the stairs.
As he rushes out of the building he pinches his nose, trying to squeeze remnants of the smell from his nostrils. He coughs and gulps air into his lungs. What the fuck? he thinks. What the fucking fuck was that?
He looks at the new address in his hand and remembers her instructions. He considers heading back to Kevin’s first to sort out Garlow’s envelope, but discards that thought. The directions the woman gave him were precise and he uses these as a mental GPS to guide him without the need for thought.
While he walks he considers what he has achieved so far and realises it is very little. Like a game of chess he has positioned his pieces with care. He will win this game and achieve his final goal, but distractions tire him and he wonders why he has decided to align himself with Garlow and his thugs. He isn’t present in this world at this time to become a delivery boy for a megalomaniacal gangster, but something cautions him not to be too eager to burn this bridge. The thugs may be useful.
Chapter 31
Satori hears the scream again and sits bolt upright. What is it? He pushes himself to his feet shaking the remnants of Yesod from his mind. Mum!
He races down the stairs, leaping over the final four, and runs into the living room. His mother is there, the neck of a broken wine bottle in her hand. At her feet, curled into a foetal position, is a boy.
Satori rushes to his mum and grabs her shoulder. She looks at him through glazed eyes as he removes the broken bottle from her hand.
‘What happened?’ he asks
She nods towards the boy on the floor. His black hair is matted with blood. His skin looks frighteningly pale.
‘Help me tie him up, before he wakes up again.’
‘What?’ He steps towards the teenager.
His mother yells. Her voice borders on hysteria. ‘Rope, get some rope, Steve. I need to tie him to a chair.’
‘Who is he? What did he do?’
‘I’ll tell you, I promise, but first we need to make sure he can’t hurt us.’
‘Hurt us? He needs an ambulance, Mum. Is he still alive?’ Satori bends down and touches the boy’s wrist. The pulse flutters, weakly.
He looks around to speak to his mum but she isn’t there. He stands up and walks towards the door. He hears his mother’s voice from the kitchen. ‘…That’s right. Yes, hurry.’
She puts the phone down as Satori joins her. ‘How long will they be?’
‘Not long,’ she answers, picking up a chair.
‘What are you doing, Mum?’
‘Just in case, Steve. It will make me feel safer.’
‘Mum, you can’t!’ Satori shouts and tries to wrestle the chair from her.
Her grip is firm and, however hard he tugs, she does not let go.
‘He came in here to rob us, Steve. Maybe he was going to kill us.’
‘I couldn’t see a weapon. What makes you so sure?’
He pulls the chair again, but she refuses to release her hold. He gives up and sidesteps to stop her moving towards the living room and the unconscious boy. As he takes a step, she swings the chair. The blow knocks him to the floor. His head bounces off the edge of the freezer and he blacks out.
Chapter 32
Mark delivers the second envelope without incident. As he turns away from the street he feels a furious tug in his stomach. He closes his eyes and investigates the feeling. His chessboard appears in his head. He stands at the edge of the game and watches. The queen is moving freely, unhindered by whatever shadow made her cautious before. The black bishop fades out of the game. His image becomes translucent. Heat and power surround the piece like an aura. Satori is practising magic. Somewhere in the city the magician is leaving Malkuth and travelling back to the Planes of Existence.
Mark considers reasons for these changes. He senses that the relationship between his queen and the bishop has altered. He feels the presence of another player rise, a knight coming into play and realises if he is to win the game this piece must be sacrificed. The knight cannot be allowed to protect the queen or stand in the way of the king.
For a moment he considers reaching out to Star. He might go to her, speak to her, offer his help, but the risk of failure is too high. While she is tied to the people around her, she is likely to resist his offer and pull away. Her strength is such that he cannot force her to love and accept him. She must do it of her own free will. Her free movements across the board are part of his plan for her. If she is impeded by another it will make things more difficult and more challenging, at worst it could mean stalemate or even his defeat.
Mark must visit Satori. It is time. He tucks Garlow’s envelope back into his jacket pocket and hurries towards his destination.
The moment Marian opens the door Mark becomes acutely aware of his oversight. She is one of them, a daughter of Sith. She is one of the robed worshippers who have shadowed his every move on this plane. Her eyes darken and he knows she has recognised him. She invites him inside. His mind works quickly to change this unexpected problem to his advantage. When she raises a brown bottle from an occasional table he sees his chance. He blusters around the room as noisily as possible, begging her at the top of his voice to have mercy on him. When she swings the makeshift weapon he does not dodge its blow, but falls to the floor, eyes tight shut.
He hears Satori plead with Marian to see sense. Others join them and discuss how they will secure their prisoner permanently. Mark’s body bounces around as others struggle to move him before a violent jolt loosens their grip and he is lifted onto a shoulder. Satori runs from the house as Mark hangs limp over the man’s body. A soft smile makes Mark’s cheeks twitch. The magician is resourceful and brav
e. For a moment his body warms with pride.
‘Help me.’ Mark’s voice sounds weak.
‘I am,’ Satori answers.
Chapter 33
Satori hears whispers. His head throbs. A door closes: the front door. He tries to sit up, but his head spins and he vomits. The whispers grow louder. He lies on the floor. His eyes open the merest crack. A woman in a white robe moves into the open doorway and looks at him.
‘He’ll be out for a while,’ he hears his mother say.
The woman’s voice is deep and soft. She speaks as though she expects to be obeyed without question. ‘What will you tell him when he wakes?’
‘I’ll think of something.’
The woman turns away and leaves the room. Satori wiggles across the floor, his ears alert for sounds of their return.
‘How did you find him?’ the woman in white asks.
‘He rang our doorbell. He said he was drawn here.’
‘By what?’
‘Sith only knows. I just invited him in and…’
‘Did he attack you?’
‘No, but he insisted on seeing my son. When I said he couldn’t he was about to leave so I stopped him.’
‘Well done, Sister Marian. Brother Bill, help us get the demon into the van. We need to get him out of here before Marian’s son wakes up.’
Satori hears a groan. ‘He’s heavier than he looks,’ a male voice says. ‘Can you help?’
The woman snorts. ‘Put you’re back into it, man. What’s wrong with you? He’s only a child.’
‘He isn’t only a child though, is he?’ Marian says. ‘I’m right, aren’t I? He is the one she predicted.’
The doorbell rings again.
‘Ahhh, this will be Mike. Between you two you should be able to lift a teenager, right?’
‘Of course. As you will it,’ the male voice replies.
Satori hears footsteps move along the hallway to the door. He isn’t sure how many. He slithers to the kitchen door and looks. Two female forms in white robes stand beside the door. One opens it and Ivan’s father steps into the house. As he crosses the threshold he pulls the hood of his robe over his bald head and bows. Satori pulls himself to his feet and hides.
He hears footsteps move to the living room again. Feeling stronger, he takes a key from under the breadbin, walks to the backdoor and unlocks it. He opens it slightly. Breeze freshens Satori’s face and he feels his strength return.
He returns to the hallway and listens to grunts of exertion as the two men struggle with the boy. He sees the white edge of a robe nudge backwards into the hallway and runs towards it. With the full impact of his elbow, he knocks Brother Bill to the floor and grabs the boy.
Mike looks at Satori in anger and amazement, holding empty arms towards him.
‘Satori!’ his mum shouts as he sprints towards the back door with the boy over his shoulder. ‘Satori, come back!’
Satori runs. The boy’s body slams against his stomach and lower back.
‘Help me!’ A weak male voice pleads.
‘I am,’ Satori answers.
‘They’re after me.’ Mark says.
Satori struggles to speak as he sprints along a shadowy lane. ‘I’ll get you to the hospital.’
‘Don’t. They’ll find me there.’
‘Your head. You need to go to a hospital.’
‘I heal fast. Look, you can put me down. I can walk from here.’
Satori stops running and places the boy on his feet. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, but I’ll need somewhere safe to go. Somewhere they won’t find me.’
The boy and man walk side by side as they talk. Their steps are urgent. They keep to shadows and lanes away from traffic, afraid of being found.
‘I’ll take you home,’ Satori says.
‘I don’t have one,’ the boy answers.
‘Okay. I know a place. I’ll take you there. But, tell me, who are you? What were you doing at my house?’
‘My name’s Mark. I was looking for you.’
‘Why?’
‘I was drawn there by your magic.’
Satori halts and looks into the teenager’s vivid green eyes. He frowns and narrows his vision to a graphite stare. ‘My magic…so why did Mum hurt you?’
‘I don’t know. They’ve been watching me for weeks, trying to get close to me, trying to kidnap me. I don’t know why.’
‘Who?’
‘The people in white.’
‘Who are the people in white? Mum, Mike and the others… It doesn’t make sense.’
‘It doesn’t make sense to me either.’
Satori paces back and forth blocking Mark’s passage along the lane. ‘I have so many questions. I need to understand. My mum is one of them, those people in white. Yet, I didn’t know about any of them until today. Why do they want you?’
‘All I can gather is they think I’m special.’
‘Earlier. I heard one of them call you a demon. You don’t look like a demon. You don’t feel like one either, although you do feel familiar. Do I know you?’
‘Perhaps. A long time ago.’
‘Who are you?’
‘Don’t you think we should get somewhere safe first? What if they find us?’
‘You’re right.’ Satori stops pacing and marches forward without checking whether Mark is following in his wake. ‘We’ll find a taxi. There’s this place. I think it’s empty still.’
Mark’s reply sounds breathless. ‘Thank you. Thank you for all your help. I don’t know what would have happened to me, if…’
Satori slows his pace a little. He doesn’t want the boy to pass out. ‘We’re not out of the woods yet. And you still need to tell me who you are.’
‘I know. I will.’
Headlights sweep around the street corner. An orange rectangle glows above.
‘Taxi!’ Satori shouts.
The taxi pulls up to the kerb and Satori and Mark climb onto the back seat.
‘Where to?’ the driver asks.
‘Snuff Mills,’ Satori answers.
Chapter 34
‘Hi,’ His voice is soft, almost a whisper. It caresses Star’s ear.
‘Ivan,’ she answers.
‘Hey, Star. Sorry about the other day. You okay?’
‘Satori left me.’
‘When? Why? Does he know?’
‘About us? Yes.’
Ivan sighs.
‘He’s not stupid, Ivan.’
‘I know. Did you tell him?’
‘He knew. I didn’t deny it. What’s the point?’
‘What now?’ Ivan asks.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Should I come over? We can talk.’
Star bites her lip and makes a soft clicking sound with her mouth. ‘Yes.’
‘I’ll be about twenty minutes.’
‘Thank you.’
‘No problem.’
Star fixes them both a drink. She pours a generous measure of Satori’s favourite whisky into a tumbler and adds some ice cubes. She opens a bottle of beer for herself and takes a gulp of amber liquid from the brown bottle then carries both drinks to the table beside the sofa. She crosses and uncrosses her legs. Pressing firmly with her thumbs, she massages each palm in turn. Sighing, she sinks back into the second hand settee, closes her eyes, opens them again and sits up straight to reach for her ale. She takes another gulp and cradles the bottle in one hand, scratching off the label with her thumb nail then sinks back again, still holding her beer and thinks. Is this what I want? She has no answer. Ivan will come and comfort her. He will talk to her as his friend then they will embrace like lovers. It’s easy. She doesn’t have to pretend for him and he expects nothing from her. What if that changes? What if he wants a relationship with me now Satori is gone? What if he doesn’t? She realises she has no idea how Ivan feels about her. I could ask him, but then he might have to change. My words might change him. I could stay silent and hope that nothing changes or I could hope that it do
es change. I could hope that this will be the love that elevates me and makes me whole. Lilith told me “There is no shame in love, only completion.” A life without shame, what would that feel like after all these years?
A gentle knock at the door breaks into her thoughts. He’s here.
She puts her half-finished bottle of beer next to Ivan’s drink and rises from the settee. Tip-toeing towards the door, she can almost hear him breathing on the other side of the wooden barrier.
She fumbles with her key and pulls at the handle. He looks flushed, fresh and warm. The smell wafting from him to her is intoxicating. He smiles as she opens the door fully and moves to embrace him. He wraps his arms around her and chuckles softly.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he says.
‘I’ve missed you too,’ she replies.
She pulls herself away from his warmth to let him move inside the cottage then locks the door behind him.
‘I made you a drink.’ Star nods towards the whisky glass on the table.
‘Thank you,’ he says. ‘Although I’m driving. I probably shouldn’t.’
‘You can stay here tonight,’ she says quickly.
He turns and looks at her. She blushes. He nods and smiles, lifts the drink and sips the rich golden liquid. She shudders. Is this a mistake?
He lifts her bottle and passes it to her then sits on the settee watching her intently.
She squirms under his gaze and blushes again.
‘It’s not like we…’
He shakes his head and grins.
‘Ivan…’ she says.
‘Yes.’
‘How do you feel about me?’
He coughs and splutters. His face reddens. She cannot tell if it’s from nervousness, embarrassment or the whisky burning his throat. She wishes she could take back the question. Her feet itch and she has the sudden urge to run from the room. She doesn’t need to know how he feels. What was I thinking?
‘I feel you’re the most interesting, complex and sad woman I have ever met.’
She stops shaking and sits beside him. ‘Sad?’
‘In a beautiful, soulful, melancholy way, but yes – sad.’
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