‘Don’ try and chop me ‘ead off this time, boy!’ Mad-Doris shouted.
‘I won’t, Mad-Doris, but you have to try and not walk into the weapon as I’m doing it.’
‘Alrigh’,’ she croaked, twitching her way to the living room alcove and dragging Lucy with her.
Harold and George, who Amy hadn’t noticed beforehand, stepped from the table near the living room to watch.
‘Okay, if everyone stands back, I’ll show you this!’ Jack said, swinging it around his head and jumping, the hall providing ample room for the purpose.
Everyone cheered and clapped as Jack spun and jumped into many different and spectacular stances. Amy didn’t realise how good a martial artist he’d become; it was like watching someone from a big screen film. A few people Amy hadn’t met joined Mad-Doris and Lucy in the living room alcove to watch. They asked him to show them different things with each one of his many weapons and he happily obliged.
‘I think you should definitely go with plan B,’ Amy concluded. ‘It’ll be brilliant.’ She would miss working with them and the thought of not seeing Jack every day choked her beyond measure, but she knew how happy he’d be doing what he loved. He looked over the moon for her blessing, but at the same time just as sad for it being the end of an era.
‘Can I see the rest of the home?’ Tom asked Mad-Doris, as if she was a tour guide.
She considered him for a moment and then asked, ‘Are yer mad?’
Tom looked at Lucy for help, who shrugged her shoulders. ‘I’m a bit of a freak,’ he offered, hoping that would be enough.
‘That’ll do. Folla me laddie!’ Mad-Doris crookedly made her way up the stairs, banging her feet unnecessarily hard. Amy shot a look to Mark, who signalled that he’d be fine.
‘So,’ Jack began, still out of breath from his demonstration. ‘Do you know how Ethan set fire to the place?’ Everyone went silent and turned to see.
‘No I don’t,’ Amy answered. ‘I just know he meant to!’
‘He certainly did,’ Winston asserted.
Adaizi gave Amy a kind smile for abiding by the rules. As they finished their drinks, Amy could see Jack’s mind whirling. It was obvious he couldn’t make any sense of it. After five minutes, Tom came back down the stairs, an excited look on his face.
‘Wow, it’s bigger than really big,’ Tom reported in amazement.
‘I think a thesaurus would be of interest to you next, Tom,’ Mark said. ‘Come with me,’ he added, holding out his hand. As Tom took it, Adaizi looked startled and Mark stopped. He turned, looked Adaizi square in the face and smiled like a naughty child. There was something Amy had missed. Amy’s eyes followed Mark as he led Tom into the room under the stairs—the one that must run behind the kitchen.
A moment later, Tom came out with a thesaurus in hand and an astounded look on his face. ‘I do like that room,’ he said. All those books stacked high and all those tables and chairs for people to sit in and read them.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Mark replied, shooting another cheeky look to Adaizi, who sat with prim disapproval. Amy hadn’t a clue what occurred but as she looked at her watch, she realised how long they’d been there.
‘We can’t leave David too long,’ she announced, then stood. ‘Tom, say goodbye to everyone.’
‘Bye everyone.’
‘See you Saturday, Mark,’ Amy said wistfully to Mark after she’d hugged Jack.
‘Can we come here again, Mum?’ Tom asked. ‘I like it here.’
‘You are welcome any time,’ Mark offered, beaming with pride. ‘David is welcome too,’ he added.
‘Thank you,’ Tom said. ‘I like this house and so will David. Do you know this house is as white as you?’
‘Err…thank you,’ Mark mumbled, meeting Amy’s eyes, a strange smile spreading across his face. Tom gave each person in the home a hug, including Lucy who, even though still timid, smiled and allowed him to.
Walking to the door, Mark suddenly took Amy’s hand. Her breath quickened from the warm sensation she felt travel from his hand straight to her heart, and she stared into his magnificent, teal eyes and found a subtle sadness behind them. He opened his mouth to speak but, as if he’d changed his mind at the last moment, he smiled.
‘I’m okay,’ she said, knowing he was concerned for her, which brought a lump to her throat. It was when he brushed a loose curl from her face back into her messy mane that Amy’s mouth fell open. It was a mindless action, like he’d done it a thousand times before, but to her it showed significantly that he was connected to her in the way she wanted. She held his gaze and longed to kiss him; she could see he held a longing of his own. If he wasn’t longing to kiss her, something else was frustrating him. He released her hand, but took in a deep breath as if sorry he had to let her go.
Walking down the path, Amy took a last look back at Mark, who stood at the door, waving them goodbye, and knew for sure there was something she was missing. She knew he cared deeply for her, but it was like he was trying to show her something. Her intuition told her it was dangling in front of her eyes. It was in his gaze, his expression, his whole manner—but again, it was something she just couldn’t put her finger on.
CHAPTER 15
THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER
As if the sun knew what day it was, the morning of Tom’s fourth birthday was a beautiful, scorching hot day. After Tom opened all the presents from Amy and the rest of the family, they were excited to set off to Mark’s. As they reached the archway to the Garden of Need, Amy let David off his lead.
‘He turns white when I stroke him, Mum,’ Tom said, watching him run down the hill.
Amy wasn’t fully listening to Tom. She kept turning her head from side to side as usual, always on guard.
‘You know, like you do when you love me…or when you’re near Mark?’
Amy’s attention now taken, she turned to take notice. ‘What?’
‘I think people who are feeling love or are being loving can turn white. David loves it when I tickle his belly. I’m white all the time. That’s because I’m special, just like Ethan is black all the time because he’s my opposite.’
‘You see people as colours?’ Amy asked, suddenly remembering what had Rose told her years ago.
‘They’re not really colours, they’re more like dark and light. When a person is being nasty they turn darker and when they’re being nice they turn lighter. When they show love they are actually bright white like me. If I see an actual black person I get scary feelings inside me and then my body feels like it’s filling with light.’
‘By black person, you obviously don’t mean skin colour, right?’ Amy clarified.
‘Of course not,’ Tom said like the question was preposterous.
‘I thought not because you love Adaizi, don’t you?’ Amy smiled.
‘That’s because Adaizi is white,’ he said. ‘I think Adaizi is like me,’ he added, looking at Amy for some kind of confirmation.
‘Yes,’ Amy said. Allowing the confirmation to come out of her mouth made her feel odd. ‘So people turn white when they show love, do they?’ Amy asked.
‘Yes,’ he smiled knowingly. ‘Mark lights up blinding when he’s near you.’
Amy blushed, absorbing the fact that Mark loved her as if his words had come from the man himself. She felt relieved to have the obvious spelt out to her. Mark offered to do Tom a birthday party at his home just because he loved it there. She knew Mark loved Tom. Now she knew he loved her. Tom loved him, Amy loved him, he loved them—it should be so simple. She just needed to know what was stopping him.
Tom ran to catch up with David who had run up the path. He then knocked on the door before Amy reached the bottom step. The door opened abruptly.
‘Are yer the reason for all these balloooons, laddie?’ Mad-Doris screamed as she opened the door. David barked at her.
‘Yes,’ Tom replied. Amy could hear the excitement in his voice.
‘Well yer bedda come in then!’ Mad-Doris said, lett
ing him enter. David cowered beside him.
Amy was surprised for a moment when Mad-Doris looked at Amy and smiled, but then soon realised what was behind the smile when her crafty, boggling eyes shone with mischief as she slammed the door shut. Just as Amy thought she would be left with the scorching sun as her only company, the door reopened.
‘Thank you, Mad-Doris, for always inventing new ways to please our guests,’ Mark said, his hand out to Amy. Amy beamed up at him as she entered.
Walking into the hallway, Amy saw how much effort they had gone to. A huge banner across the balustrades of the second floor read ‘Happy Birthday Tom’. There were giant helium-filled balloons tied to the central staircase and a four-tiered cake stood in the centre of the huge kitchen table.
‘Wow,’ Amy said, grabbing Mark’s hand, ‘you shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble!’
‘Nonsense!’ he retorted, squeezing her hand, a sparkle brightening his teal green eyes. He then turned to Jack, who stood in the alcove hugging Tom. ‘Jack, could you put the kettle on while Winston brings Tom’s present out of the classroom?’ Mark asked.
‘Sure,’ Jack agreed with a salute as Winston walked to the room under the stairs to the right.
‘Classroom?’ Amy asked.
‘Yes. It’s where they used to teach the orphans because they didn’t go to school. I use it myself when kids come to stay. It’s full of books on everything you could imagine, a few of which Tom’s already had the pleasure of reading. I’ve been teaching Lucy while she’s been here because we’ve not sorted her a school to go to yet.’
‘Here we go,’ Winston said, wheeling out a bike with a big blue bow and stabilisers. ‘Happy birthday, man!’
‘Wow!’ Tom shouted with tears of joy. ‘Thank you so much,’ he added, his stunned face turning to look at them all with appreciation. He mounted the bike and pedalled. David chased behind, trying to bite the wheels.
‘Thanks guys,’ Amy said to the three of them.
‘Make yourself at home,’ Mark offered, pointing to the living room. ‘I’ll bring you a drink.’
Amy saw the tables and chairs of the living room had been rearranged to fit up against the front window, a tablecloth full of food waiting for everyone to tuck into. Walking into the long, spacious room, which felt so empty considering the amount of chairs, TVs and entertainment areas there were, she smiled at two men who were playing pool in the centre.
Passing the three side windows, which looked out onto the gardens’ many landscaped areas, she strolled to the back window and peered out onto a huge back garden, which, amongst the many trees and tropical flowers, held the biggest waterfall and pond so far. Amy could see flecks of colours dashing in-between the water lilies and knew they must have been koi carp. Next to this beautiful area was a little park that contained a small swing and slide under a huge oak tree. As her eyes followed its height, the top of the leaves almost reaching the top three floors, she saw it held a sturdy tree house. She sighed, picturing how nice it would feel for her and Tom to live here.
Jack came through with the drinks and Mark with a lit cake. Tom leapt off the bike and joined them as they sang ‘Happy Birthday’. They spent the rest of the afternoon playing party games. Mad-Doris was unable to keep still during pass the parcel, but it entertained the children.
One thing Amy enjoyed was watching Lucy. Laughing and joining in, starting to come out of her shell, it showed what a great job Mark was doing with her. She also held Tom’s hand in a big sister type of way whenever he asked for it. Her eyes came alive whenever he spoke to her.
Before it went dark, Amy told Tom it was time to go but, as Tom said his thanks and goodbyes, Mark pulled Amy into the hall, a strange, worried look on his face.
‘What’s wrong?’ she said, squeezing his hand hard.
‘I’ve tried to tell you by showing you. I want to tell you,’ he began, his voice desperate, ‘but I’m…afraid.’ He paused for a moment before continuing and a shiver of dread washed over her. ‘At what point does withholding the truth become a lie?’ he asked, his eyes full of pain. Amy’s heart went over—here it was, the answer to the puzzle.
‘Just tell me!’ she said but, because of the look in his eyes, she suddenly realised she didn’t want to know. She could sense bad news: a let down imminent.
‘Do you know how much I feel for you?’ he asked. ‘I need you to know…’
‘I’m ready!’ Tom interrupted, bounding to the door with David. Mark let go of her hand and gave Tom the same, morbid look; a look that indicated he may never see him again. Amy looked at Mark, waiting for the rest.
‘I’ll see you later,’ he said, with a subdued smile, obviously not willing to carry on the conversation in front of Tom.
Amy stood looking confused for a moment, her heart pounding against her chest. ‘Right,’ Amy replied. ‘Let’s go, Tom.’
After making the best of what evening they had left, Tom went to bed extremely happy, which made her feel much appreciation for Mark. Once Amy was alone however, a deep sense of loneliness set in. Going from having lots of noise around her all afternoon and feeling a big part of something to now being alone made her realise that even though she’d built up this pretend relationship with Mark in her mind, she was so very single. Now she knew Mark loved her as much as she loved him, she just didn’t understand the problem.
Amy was taken from her thoughts by some commotion coming from her front door. Her heart did a somersault as she crept into the hall and heard two voices. She looked through the spy hole and froze to the spot. Kate knocked on the door, but the noise could have easily come from the pounding of Amy’s heart.
‘I’ve brought a birthday card for Tom,’ Kate said, pushing a sealed envelope through the letterbox. ‘I’m sorry it’s a bit late, but…’ She stopped and stood back, looking at the door in desperation. ‘Can I come in? I need to talk to you.’ Her withdrawn face pleading, she looked lonelier than Amy felt. Amy opened the card, which was blank inside, and looked back at Kate.
Amy didn’t know if she was drunk but, smiling eerily, her eyes in and out of focus, she looked out of her mind. ‘I’m sorry, Kate, but no.’ Amy avoided the dark eyes that were peering up at her by Kate’s side. ‘You need to go away,’ Amy asserted, her knees shaking.
‘Yes,’ Kate murmured, although she stood there like she was waiting for Amy to open the door. Amy’s heart went out to Kate, she wished there was something she could do for her and made a mental note to ask Adaizi if they could help save her from Ethan’s influence. Ethan also influenced everyone around Kate, including Luke and the Dark Army, but surely they could maybe capture Kate and keep her safe.
Ethan began shaking. Red in the face, he glared at the door and the lock broke. Amy forced herself against the door but it flung open, hitting Amy hard and knocking her off balance.
‘Thank you,’ Kate said as she made her way through to the living room and sat. Ethan strolled in behind her, weighing up the place with his malicious eyes.
Pain slamming into her temple, speckles of light floating in front of her vision, Amy held the side of her head as she followed.
Kate leant forward and mouthed: ‘I think Ethan can make fire.’ Her face was blank, her stare haunting.
‘What have I told you about whispering, Mother?’ Ethan hissed with a horrid, deep tone. Amy watched in horror as his oily eyes deepened, leaving no white to be seen. His glare fixed on Kate; she turned stiff. Fear rushed through Amy as he turned to her. She knew she was next and her talisman wasn’t working.
She knew, if she survived, that she’d have to fulfil her end of the deal but, not willing to put Tom in any more danger, she began to shout for Adaizi. As she hit the first syllable however, Ethan raised his hand and her jaw clashed together.
‘You’ll sit and be quiet,’ he said, his gruesome face contorting with pure hatred.
Amy felt her knees draw forward while her body tightened. She struggled to fight it, but the more she moved the tenser her body
became.
‘Sit!’ he seethed, his voice booming. His eyes like a predator’s, he held his hands up and forced dark energy into them, and an added pressure dropped her to her knees. ‘While I burn your son!’
Her eyes could only dart from side to side. She was stuck, cemented to the floor. With every effort to free herself only increasing the pain, she was powerless. Kate, as stiff as Amy, looked calm, accepting even. The pair of them sat while Ethan laughed a retched, spine-chilling laugh. With a sly look to them both, he turned and headed for the stairs.
Tears streaming from Amy’s eyes, she tried desperately to open her mouth. Her head pounding with the pressure, she felt like her body would break into pieces if she continued. All she could do was watch as the petrifying flames erupted in the doorway to the front room.
As Ethan set fire to the kitchen and then ran upstairs, Amy was desperately thinking of Adaizi, screaming her name in her mind. She couldn’t believe she’d allowed this to happen. If she would have listened, invoked the power of light already, she could’ve stopped Ethan herself before he left the room.
She now wanted nothing more than to have the opportunity to kill the beast. Flames rapidly ate into the hallway of the maisonette, crumbling and incinerating everything they touched, then crept into the living room. As the sound of destruction grew, Amy’s skin tingled as the heat and the smoke crept up her nose and into her lungs. Amy heard David barking manically and she knew the upstairs was alight too.
Unable to get back into the room past the flames for his mother, Ethan left the maisonette. Powerless and distraught, Amy knew they wouldn’t get out alive. Flames licking the carpet a foot away from them, she lost hope.
As Amy closed her eyes in preparation for her death, a huge, bright figure ran through the flames and picked Amy and Kate up, one under each arm. The masculine figure provided a bubble of light around them and then, with a huge effort to keep his light going against the flames, fought his way back through and out of the front door, placing them both on the ground.
The Guardian's Protector: The Chamber of Souls Page 17