Burrows walked slowly using the furniture as aid. “This room is a secret room, found only and used only by the initiated — of the Heptagon Society…” He said grandly, waving his arms into the air.
“I’ve never heard of it,” I said as noise filtered across my senses, gradually at first but then louder. Chambers and Burrows heard it too, turning their heads towards the oncoming sound… it sounded like an angry mob was coming our way. “How did you get in here?” I said.
“Through the window,” said Burrows. I grimaced. If they had seen where we had come, then I was pretty sure that Robin would lead the Lily up here (to save me).
“They know where we are…”
“How do they know?” said Chambers.
And I told them, how Robin and I had used his effy-ray spectacles to find the tunnel leading into this room. Chambers smiled. “It seems that you seventh sons have a knack of finding things you’re not supposed to…” Then he seemed to look through the floor. “We don’t have long.”
“Then I must be brief and tell you what you must,” said Burrows. “This room is where we used to conduct our meetings. Around this very table,” he said wrapping his big knuckles upon it. “I am glad that you followed your instincts and found the captor and released me. I am not evil, no matter what anyone says.”
“Who used to conduct meetings here?” I said imagining the Lily and the Magisteers sat round the table with Burrows talking.
“The Heptagon Society — a society exclusively for seventh sons. Didn’t I mention? I am a seventh son too… that’s why I needed your blood.”
Suddenly, some things were starting to make sense — the book that I’d read when I was in here, about seventh sons — “It was you who read my book…” he said cocking his head and glaring at me.
“Er… er, what book?” I mumbled.
“The one about seventh sons — it was open on the wrong page…” then he sniggered. “You need to work on your body language, I can read you like a book.”
“Don’t be mean,” said Chambers. “Anyway he’s a Wizard. A Wizard is drawn to books on magic like an artist is drawn to the canvas…”
“Oh, and!” said Burrows fixing me a dark stare. “You must take good care of the incense holder, promise me that?”
“I will… but why?”
“It’s more important then you can know right now. Hide it if you must, conceal it, what ever you can. We are both special, there are not many of us and we have a special mission. Things are harder for us, you probably noticed that already.” Burrows grinned a wide toothy smile. “There are seven members of the Society… you are the last one, you are the seventh. Together all seven of us, will be able to do awesome things.”
The noise outside was getting louder, they were getting nearer and nearer. “Don’t listen to what they say about me, they will need you to think I am bad, or evil, or whatever else. Just, be careful of who you trust, the sides of good and bad are not labelled. It’s probably a good idea not to tell anyone about what I am telling you.” He was standing close to me now, this hand reaching out for my shoulder, his big deep eyes stared into mine. “There will always be help for you, from the Heptagon Society. But there is work to do yet to get it up and running…”
Chambers made a signal to Burrows that they must leave, and they quickly set about packing things.
“But, who set the accidents on me?”
Burrows and Chambers eyes swam across to me. “I would’ve thought by now that this question did not need to be asked? Chambers, my crystal ball.”
Chambers gave him a smarting look, tapping his watch, before reaching into his bag and pulling out a big clear glass ball.
Burrows put a hand to the ball and closed his eyes, muttering things under his breath before beckoning me towards it. The images inside the crystal ball expelled outwards into the room. Noise suddenly filled my senses as we shot back to the start of the year…
Piles of students made their way to the main hall, but up high in the school peering down at the masses was the short, stubby creature. It’s glowing eyes and bald head cloaked by thick dirty rags. Suddenly, the vision shot upwards through the sky, through the wall and into the corridor — darting inside the creature — now, I saw what he saw and felt what he felt.
I saw myself through it’s eyes as I made my way towards the school next to Robin and Tina. I looked so happy. Carriages flew overhead and the crowd greeted each other after a long summer. Anger coursed through it at the sight of me — it’s fists clenched, it was all it could do not to come down and kill me there and then.
And then, the vision changed, zapping forwards in time.
The creature had made itself so invisible, it couldn’t even see itself. Concealed by spells, it darted from statute to statue along the Big Walk corridor. I, was making my way along with Robin and the others to a class.
Ideas and plans were hatching about the creatures brain for… revenge.
Zap! The vision changed again.
It was nervous as it made its way out of the school for the first time, hiding behind a large stone as children made their way past. It didn’t know how the spells would react out here. Ducking beneath the wooden stadium, it darted from pillar to pillar, searching for the boy. And then it saw me, up high… perfect. With the energy stored the creature lifted a bony hand up in front of itself and performed the spell. The wooden rafter that hung by a thick rope juddered, before suddenly making a beeline for me. Excitement coursed though it — running to the next pillar to get a better view of me falling to my death.
And then, just as I was about to splatter into the ground, Iwas saved — Simone’s hands outstretched.
Anger pierced through the creature, greater than any pain, as it scuttled back into the school to recuperate.
Zap!
It was waiting, watching from high above the class — finally a chance, I left the room, I’d just been sent out by Yearlove — it rushed after me, passing through the wall and into the boys toilets. Hidden in one of the cubicles, it set about working on the spells. I was angry, kicking out at things.
This was the boys ending. Revenge at last, thought the creature raising its bony arms at me— the taps burst sending off water into the air — a great distraction — watching me through the translucent toilet door it aimed again, the chandelier above fell, crashing onto me… Yes!
And then, out of nowhere I stood, unscathed and began shouting and searching, seeing feet beneath the cubicle. The creature reacted, he had to get out, away to safety to plan again! Darting out under the cubicle, I saw my angry, scared face aiming a freezing spell which missed. Stupid boy, it thought.
The creature tried many times’s, to get me — but every time he was thwarted. But, they took time and a lot of recuperating of energies to perform, energy he could have spent in better ways. I thwarted him in the changing rooms when he so very nearly got squished by the statue. Thwarted him when he refused to eat the cursed putting. And I managed to get out of the charmed flowers grip.
It sulked, everything it tried, failed. The creatures memories flashed around it’s brain as it lay in the middle of the cold stone floor… the boy striking lucky and defeating him. Oh, the pain of it, the power lost as the boy said his true name for the final time. The creature said aloud the spell that would get him out of that room, away from the boy who knew his true name,and away to safety. But the damage had been done — in this new room, up high, it looked in the mirror, breathing heavily, for the life had been sucked out of it. Before the mirror, it watched its tall form descend, shrink and shrivel up. The clothes now dragged on the floor. Everything reducing in size, he looked ridiculous. He was no longer Malakai…
But he would get his revenge. He vowed, before falling unconscious high up in one of the old school classrooms amongst the sprats and dirt, dreaming of revenge.
Malakai! This whole time.
His form had been completely reduced, unrecognisably after I had said his true name last year — he h
ad stayed in the school since our battle, in that classroom with the dirt and the mark on the wall, plotting revenge against me.
Chambers and Burrows were watching with expectant faces. Chambers with a couple of bags under his arm, the noise outside the room of the mob, getting louder.
“When you are reduced to a form like that, it opens the door to negativity. I mentioned before, that I was governed by different magic when I was a Djinn…” said Burrows. “He probably thinks, that by killing you with magic it will make you come back as a ghost—and I don’t think he wants that.”
“But,” said Chambers. “If he kills you, by accident, then maybe he thinks that you will not be able to come back as a ghost and reveal his true name to all.”
“I didn’t think it mattered how you were killed?” I said. “I thought you have to have an anchor to become a ghost?”
Chambers and Burrows smiled. “You do, but he doesn’t know that.”
“When you are reduced to that form, you develop a kind of stubborn inward madness,” said Chambers, with half an eye on Burrows. “I mean I wouldn’t know, I’m not the expert but I am sure John would agree?”
Burrows nodded slightly, with a knowing look at Chambers. “He is a sorry, lost creature. But poses a big danger. Before we go, we will help you get rid of it…”
Suddenly out of nowhere a pulse of bright blue light swept through the room. “AHH!” Burrows cried out, staggering backwards into Chambers. The noise outside the room was now at fever pitch, they were up here in this turret, hundreds of them by the sounds of it.
“You need to go!” I cried as Burrows stood again, looking weak.
“A poxy dispelling charm…” said Burrows. “I’m too weak to counter it!” he said, before he turned to Chambers. “But we need to help him get rid of the creature—” Another flash of blue light, like a wave, shot through the room causing Burrows to scream with pain. I felt nothing, nor did Chambers.
“We must go!” Chambers cried, supporting Burrows, who held up a long finger at me.
“We must go and find the remaining Heptagon Society members. It won’t be easy, but we shall keep in contact.”
Chambers and Burrows smiled. A second later a purple light licked the air like a firework. And they were gone, along with everything in the room. It was empty, completely empty.
A voice quiet and soft entered the room as if from a discarnate being, a pair of lips spoke from the middle of the room in John Burrows voice: “I forgot to say… follow the runes,” it said, before disappearing in a small purple flash.
I sat down cross legged and awaited the mobs entry, looking as nonchalant as I could. I could hear short discussions between the Magisteers about how best to enter. Thoughts about what the Djinn had just told me raced through my head — what did I tell them when they came in?
A second later, a loud voice echoed. “Any thing that offers harm, please step away. I am the Lily. I am entering…” The tunnel opened out as the Lily, white and tall came striding through with big bold eyes scanning every corner of the seven sided room. Straker, Partington, Dodaline and Yearlove followed up the rear.
“Where is it?” said the Lily, from his body pulsed another wave of bright blue light that shot though the walls.
“Who?” I said as simply as I could. “I haven’t seen anyone, I just woke up here.” I avoided eye contact, instead I smiled at Robin who had just sneaked inside with his panic-stricken, but relieved face.
“Well, thank God you are okay!” said Partington darting forwards and summoning a towel around me. Outside the room was quite a crowd — Partington spoke loudly to them: “He’s okay!” he called. There was a loud, relived, cheer.
Straker stepped forward with a deep frown on his face. “We saw something take you, it looked like a Djinn?”
“Of course it was the Djinn!” said the Lily, angered.
I stood slowly. “If it was, it didn’t do me any harm.” I said as they slowly looked around at each other. “But, I do know what has been setting the apparent accidents on me and others this year. The collapse of the stadium just now, the falling statue, the cursed pudding, the charmed flower, the fire…”
Yearlove, who was looking out the window, turned. “Yes, yes, tell us then boy! Who?”
“Malakai,” I said. Robin gave me a wide eyed look of horror and scanned the room with his spectacles again. “He is in the school, he never left after… after Ernie defeated him last year. It wasn’t the Djinn at all, it was Malakai.”
“The Djinn didn’t hurt you at all?” said Partington.
“Not one bit,” I said. “But… it saved me, from the collapsing stadium. I wouldn’t have made it out if the Djinn hadn’t saved me.”
“Preposterous, it’s modified his memories!” called the Lily, looking around at the Magisteers, who stared back at me. “Magisteer Dodaline, can you send a ping around the school to check for discarnate beings like Djinn, and also for any trace of Malakai.”
“Certainly can,” said Dodaline, before rubbing her palms together and throwing them into the air. A ball of green smoke collected above her head before exploding outwards.
“We shall find out soon enough,” said the Lily. And not a second later did the smoke return to a ball atop Magisteer Dodaline’s head.
Dodaline closed her eyes. “Well, that is interesting…” she said. “Seems there certainly was a Djinn here, not more than thirty-seconds ago… but as for… Malakai — I’m afraid it’s found no trace of him.”
Eyes turned towards me, Robin looked worried. “I’m not lying!” I said. Partington began checking my arms for any signs of harm from the Djinn — before flashing a light into my eyes and peering inside. “Ahh, gerrof!” I called.
“His eyes are fine, no sign of modifications…” said Partington satisfied.
The Lily sighed and spoke as if he were talking to a toddler. “We are talking about one of the most powerful Djinn to have ever existed. It will not leave a mark of it’s magic.”
Partington shuffled awkwardly on the spot. “No, of course not… just… checking.”
“Well,” said Straker. “At least it’s gone, that’s something.”
Everyone stood in silence, watching me. It was awkward. I’d have killed for someone to just speak, to say something. But they didn’t. I stared at the floor, wondering how to get out of this one.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Kill Avis Blackthorn”
“I don’t think I need to remind you that we are dealing with a Djinn,” said the Lily slowly. “A centuries old Djinn that will say and do anything to regain and retain its freedom. You know more than you are letting on Avis and let me tell you now that it’s firmly within your interest to tell me.”
I stood in the centre of the Lily’s office, knees weak. He stood tall and imposing, grey spotted eyes boring into me. I couldn’t bring myself to meet them, for I know I would reveal everything to him and I couldn’t do that. Not after what the Djinn told me — he said I was a member of the Heptagon Society and they were going to find the rest. The words… Just, be careful of who you trust, the sides of good and bad are not labelled. It’s probably a good idea not to tell anyone about what I am telling you… seemed to reverberate around my mind as the Lily waited for an explanation.
“I am sorry Sir. I wish I could, but I can’t remember anything.” I lied, staring intently at a crack in the white stone floor (one slight imperfection in a room of perfection). The Lily stared at me silently, I felt his gaze turn cold. He sighed softly, before turning and running a long finger along his desk.
“Now, you say it was Malakai that set these accidents on you?” He said. “Why you?”
“I’m sorry Sir?”
“Why…” he said slowly, “was he trying to kill you?”
I swallowed. “I don’t know Sir.”
“Look at me,” he ordered, slowly I looked up and met his gaze. He was silent for a moment. “I would have thought that if he was after anyone, it would be Ernest Parti
ngton? Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes Sir,” the Lily was getting impatient. “You do know that the Djinn is tricking you? It has what it needs from you and now it wants you to believe something so as it can cover it’s tracks. It does not want the person who set it free filled with vengeance — otherwise it could be vanquished, by the only one who set it free. It has spun you a yarn that will make you reluctant to go after it. You are the only one who can get it back into the captor. You are the one that it needed to convince, no one else…”
The rain was splattering against the window, outside the Stadium lay in a huge pile of debris, again. “I’m sorry Sir…” I said. “I don’t remember anything.”
The Lily cricked his neck and looked around at the walls, taking a seat at his desk and slumping backwards shaking his head like a spurned teenager. “It’s a shame… shame… you have to help me to help you. But you don’t want to, that’s fine.”
He stretched out his hand as a glass appeared, filling with orange liquid, which he sipped. “I’ve come to a decision on the outcome of the Riptide semi-final…” he announced placing the drink down, and pressing his hands together.
“Oh…” I said, completely forgetting about the Riptide match, even thought I was still in my yellow Condor top.
“Yeeas,” said the Lily slowly. “I am awarding the place in the final to the Swillows.”
I couldn’t speak, my mouth drying up — was he serious? He was only doing it to get back at me for not telling him what the Djinn said. “But, but… that’s not fair!” I cried, the injustice burning a cauldron of poison in my stomach so hot, I didn’t even care who I was talking to. “You can’t… I mean… I was ten feet from the bolt-hole before the stadium fell! I was about to score!”
“Ah, but you didn’t. And on the subject of fairness…” he said slowly. “Do you really think it’s sporting to wear the pair of Seven League Shoes?”
Avis Blackthorn and the Magical Multicolour Jumper (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 2) Page 30