“He said that in return for these earrings he wanted my promise that I would never give up―and for some reason that just stuck in my head. It was like he was some sort of messenger from Heaven, put there to keep me on the right track.”
“What happened to him? Did you ever see him again?” Penny asked and Annette shook her head.
“I never caught his name, or even got a good look at his face. He slunk off as soon as my family showed up―but it was still because of him that I became who I am today. Though those next few months were hard, I was determined I wasn’t going to let Valentine win. I spoke with Gavin about my…my…problem.”
“He set me on this rigorous training program. We practiced together and he helped me get fit. Those years took a lot out of me, but I had set my mind on getting my revenge and taking my dream back while I was at it. I went to every audition without fail, but Aldridge couldn’t accept me back after that fiasco. Still, I never gave up. Every year I got better with Gavin’s help, but by the time I turned nineteen things still weren’t looking up,” Annette explained, her eyes starting to glimmer with excitement.
“When it seemed like all hope was lost, something…something extraordinary happened. I still can’t explain how or why, but it did. I woke up one morning and it felt like my whole mouth was on fire. I tried to drink some water, but it wouldn’t stop burning…when my parents asked me what was wrong, I remember I screamed something like get away from me and they did just that,” Annette said with deliberate meaning.
“That was when I discovered―well, what it is I can do.” She shrugged, her eyes flickering with the exhilaration of revealing a secret. “It was like a gift from Nestor, just like the miracles he once worked long ago. People would simply do what I told them to do. I eventually learned how to use it, erratically at first, but I got the hang of it. It was difficult, too, because every time I do it, it completely exhausts me. Sometimes I can’t get out of bed for days.
“Obviously I kept it a secret. I think my family might have had some inkling, but they’re still confused. Not even Gavin knows everything. But it works every time. I can persuade anyone to do anything and they must obey. You saw how it worked on the king. You felt it when I did it to you.”
Penny nodded, the idea of this power scaring her a little.
“So, at the next set of auditions I asked Aldridge for a second chance…and he gave it to me.” Annette looked vulnerable. “Goodness, you must think so little of me.”
Penny considered what Annette had done. “No. You deserved a second chance,” she decided, leaving the rest of her reasoning unsaid.
Annette seemed to like this remark, a devilish smile creeping across her face. “Well, if you don’t yet, you will now. During one particular production Aldridge cast Valentine and I together and she never allowed me a moment of peace. She made sure that every second I spent at rehearsal was torture, and it was evident that Valentine was going to try some other cruel trick to ensure that I had no future, so I decided that I would have to get there first…” she trailed off, as if relishing what she was about to reveal. “I reasoned that Valentine needed a hearty dose of her own medicine and after years of suffering her condescending remarks and schemes, I cooked up something special, just for her.”
“What did you do?”
“I might’ve mentioned in passing how she should go on stage after shaving one side of her head, splattering her face with different paints and shrieking like she was completely insane. I politely asked if she would also holler out all the deepest secrets and private scandals of all the famous, well-to-do people who had trusted her during her career while she was on stage—and the funny thing was, she did exactly that.” Annette fluttered her eyelashes, and though Penny had to admit to herself that it was a childish form of revenge, she could not stop a snort from escaping at the mental image of Valentine humiliating herself in front of hundreds of people.
“Needless to say, she has never worked again. But I was too careless. Ever since then she’s been curious. She knows that I had something to do with her episode and I knew she would catch up to me eventually,” Annette finished with a sigh. She took a deep breath and let it go with relief. “Ahh, somehow it feels so nice to get that all off my chest! I’ve never told anyone this before, you d―”
“Annette, don’t you see?” Penny breathed. “Deimos and Phobos! They were looking for a person with your specific ability and Valentine led them right to you. They weren’t looking for something you had, they were looking for you. They want to use your ability to do something―something awful, no doubt,” Penny choked out.
Annette sighed. “I know,” she admitted, her shoulders slumping. “I knew it from the moment you told me what you’d seen in Deimos’s head. I’m in deep trouble…But I couldn’t have them hurting Gavin or Aunt Wendy if they came looking for me. I’m just glad, for now, that we’re safe up here in the air.”
Penny made it through the rest of the night without even a whisper of an unpleasant dream. Annette wished her a shy good morning, last night’s conversation having left a somewhat awkward atmosphere between them. When they came into the cabin, Hector was already busying himself with making breakfast.
Annette readied them for their meeting with the Goblin ambassadors by explaining the correct mannerisms and methods of conduct. After some debate about their safety, Hector chose fake aliases to use for the meeting, and magically altered their badges. Penny found herself more than certain they were not the right people for this job.
The sea below them was dark cobalt blue, almost black in color, and frosted with white waves. There was something strange about the vast expanse of water without a single boat anywhere in sight. It was with a respectful fear that Penny watched the churning and heaving waves, her mind flooded with frightful images of the alien life that no doubt lurked beneath. She knew those murky waters were at the very least infested with the beasts the Elydrians called fomorians.
Penny took extra care not to sleep anywhere near Annette that night in case she had another disturbing nightmare. To her surprise, she made it through the night without dreaming at all. She awoke to the image of white-blue sky outside of her window, feeling refreshed and devoid of the usual exhaustion that had been weighing her down these past weeks. The weather was temperate, the sky bursting with enormous billowing clouds that dotted the skyline like lazy sheep grazing in a pasture. They opened several of the windows in the cabin and let the winds sweep in the perfumed sea air.
The day was lazy and carefree as they enjoyed the gentle rocking of the airship and amused themselves in the main cabin. As the sky changed from clear blue to dusty rose they ate dinner and settled down for the evening. Annette decided to turn in quite early and Penny hoped that Simon would follow her example so she could have a moment alone to talk to Hector. She didn’t speak a word to the magician, hoping that the lack of stimulus would send him off to sleep. Her plan worked, and Simon’s head rolled back and rested against the side of the couch, his eyes shut. Within minutes he was snoring, his top hat rolling around the cabin floor with the movement of the ship.
Penny rose from the couch and made her way out onto the balcony, knowing Hector would follow to ensure that she did not slip. Sure enough, he snapped his book shut with a sigh and stood from his seat. Penny smiled as she opened the door and a blast of brisk night air met her. Hector shut the door behind him, standing at a distance.
The night sky was speckled with stars and had become a luxurious shade of purple, a lovely backdrop for the two moons. The sea below captured the light of the shining satellites and glimmered back as if laughing. The voices of the wind and ocean collaborated to create a low moan, almost drowning out the clangs and sputters of the heaving airship and its ever-beating wings. Penny glanced over at Hector to gauge his mood. He stared out at the gossamer, lavender-colored clouds. She inhaled the briny air, and Hector’s voice rang out above the roar of the wind and waves.
“It’s about what happened the other nigh
t, isn’t it?” he observed with a wry smile, still not looking at her.
Penny frowned, feeling just a tinge embarrassed. Am I really so easy to read?
“All right, let’s hear it. I’ve been waiting.”
She let out the breath she had been holding and shared what Annette had told her. Hector seemed to understand she was editing for Annette’s privacy and didn’t pursue the whole story, but rather listened, nodding his head every so often to show he was attentive.
“I had a feeling Annette was doing it herself, but there’s still so much missing. I suppose Della will fix all that, though—once we find her, that is,” Hector said at last. “I suppose our getting to Hulver means you and Simon should be able to return home in about a week’s time. You must be excited.” He peered over the edge of the railing.
Penny felt her heart sink but smiled, unsure why her emotions seemed so muddled of late.
“Yep, pretty excited,” she said without enthusiasm, but Hector did not seem to notice. A question teased at the edges of her lips, but she held onto it, afraid of what the answer might be. The terse quiet between them seemed to grow to an unbearable tumult, and then Penny gave in to her curiosity.
“Erm―” she began, thrown off again when Hector looked toward her. She turned away, finding it easier to speak when he was not in her direct line of sight.
“Well, I was wondering…when we―or I guess if we return to Earth,” she corrected herself, knowing that she could not stop now and wishing that she had never started. “What will you do? That is, where will you stay?”
Hector turned his face to the clouds and for a moment the only sound besides the whipping wind and the airship was the steady pound of blood in Penny’s ears. “I should think that a bright young lady such as yourself would have figured that out already,” he mused. He turned toward her, his grin mixed with a sadness she could not interpret.
“Think about how our disappearance will look to the eyes of the Oregon police force. A young girl goes missing without a trace after her teacher was acting strangely. Don’t forget, there was a room full of students who can confirm that. Later that night, the door to her house is beaten down, a burned mass of mangled human flesh is discovered at the scene along with forensic evidence of her teacher’s presence at the home, and then they both go missing on the same night. What conclusions would you draw from that?”
“Oh,” Penny said, looking away again.
“I think it’s safe to assume I’m leading Twin Rivers’ most wanted list.” He attempted to sound humorous, but Penny could not force a smile. Hector watched her from the corner of his eye. “It’s not like there was much left for me on Earth. Besides, I feel―well, it might sound a bit foolish, but I almost feel as if I―ah, never mind,” he left off.
“No, what were you going to say? I want to know,” Penny urged, intent now.
Hector looked uncomfortable, but Penny didn’t look away. “I was simply meaning to relate the fact that I―” He stopped, sighing in defeat. “I don’t know, it’s strange. I’ve never really felt that I’ve belonged anywhere, not on Earth or on Nelvirna, or even really in Elydria…but on some days in this place…I feel like one day I could, perhaps.” He glanced sideways at Penny. “It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud, doesn’t it?”
Penny looked at him with unusual serenity, thinking for a moment she might have caught a glimmer of that self he fought so hard to suppress, that sorrow he was determined to bear in complete solitude. She shook her head and returned his smile.
“No, not ridiculous at all. I―well, I know exactly what you mean,” Penny murmured, thinking with distaste of her own awkward existence back on Earth and how life in Elydria seemed entirely different. She looked out at the horizon, feeling Hector’s gaze on her.
“Well, if you understand then how do you explain that dismal look?” he prodded.
Penny’s face flushed, and she cursed herself for the second time that evening for letting her emotions show through.
“Now, now. If you get to pry, then it’s only fair I should also be allowed at least one instance of shameless nosiness,” Hector teased.
Penny hated to admit that his point was valid, and wondered for a moment if she should lie to him, but she could not find it in her heart to be dishonest after he had been so genuine with her. “Maybe I was―I was almost sort of hoping that possibly…” she scratched at her head and looked down at the churning waves below, feeling a little dizzy. “Well, I was hoping that when all this was over and done with that we could still be friends.” Her voice sounded small and pathetic in the wind, not at all how she wanted it to emerge, but even so Hector appeared touched. She grimaced, wishing she had lied.
“Penny,” he said with affection. Penny’s heart leapt; it was the first time he had used her nickname. She turned to face him, noticing that he also looked quite flustered. Hector took a small breath and smiled, warmth showing behind his eyes. “You and I…we’ll always be friends.”
Not knowing quite how to reply to this, but feeling a warm sensation deep in her chest, Penny managed a pleased little laugh and ran a hand through her hair, stalling. The wind whistled by, filling the long hush between them.
Hector clapped his hands together after a moment and turned away, reacquiring his usual formality. “Well, if it is the same to you, I suggest that we go inside and get some sleep while we can. We should be arriving in Hulver within three or four hours―not to mention it is growing unbearably cold out here.”
PENNY STOOD IN her living room. Only a feeble, dim light filled the room, and the carpet below her bare feet felt cold and flat, not at all like carpet should. Penny looked around, an innate sense telling her that something was wrong. This was her house, but something had been altered. She looked around, seeing the brightly flashing television, a plate holding the remains of a meal, the sofa, the bookshelf, and her mother’s case of oddments. Her eyes fell on a tall lamp standing in the corner of the room.
“That wasn’t here before,” Penny said aloud. She took a few steps toward the lamp. It was the only thing in the entire room that was giving off any light; it was the only thing keeping it away. She looked out of the window and saw rain splattering the panes, and a voice behind her whispered something. It was faraway and indistinct, but alarming. She tried to locate it, and saw the weak light from the lamp flicker. Turning back with a small yelp, she flipped the switch on and off, attempting to make it work. The light bulb fizzled and popped, and with a small electrical sound the light began to fade. Fear rising within her, Penny looked at the corner of the room, seeing a cluster of darkness gathering.
A faint but familiar voice hissed from the growing black spot .“I come with the dark.”
Blackness blotted out her vision, and Penny could see small shapes moving about in the gloom; they were unclear, sometimes in the shape of a grasping hand or a tattered cloak. Penny raced away from the gathering dark toward the stairs, her bare feet slapping on the carpet that still felt too hard as the light dimmed. Penny gasped for air as a static electric sound itched and burned at her ears. She pounded up the stairs, hearing the voice again: an echo, calling to her, calling out her name. Her legs grew heavy as she chased the dying light at the end of the hall.
She was at the top of the stairs, battering away the invisible blockades as she reached the door to her room and threw it open with a shout. An arctic blast of air assaulted her as she pounded into the room. Wind licked at her hair and pierced straight to her bones, and something clamped down on her wrist.
It had caught up with her. Penny screamed and tried to yank her wrist away, but it held fast. Keeping her eyes away from the sanity-shattering sight of the masked entity, Penny made for the window. If it was going to kill her, she might as well take it down with her. She hurtled toward the open window, barely noticing as her clean room slowly decayed into grime, dead leaves and dry bones appearing before her eyes. She fought the masked entity, yanking it forward and feeling as though she was dragging an
anchor along behind her. Her stomach hit the windowsill and she turned, victorious, to face her assailant.
It was Annette.
“Annette?” Penny choked, her senses overloading as the nightmare melted away. She looked around, fear welling up in her chest as she assessed the situation in an instant. The cold and the wind made sense now. Somehow she had made her way out onto the deck of the airship and now leaned precariously over the side railing.
Annette was grasping onto Penny’s wrist with all her might. Her limbs growing weak in her shock and confusion, Penny felt her foot slip on the smooth wood of the deck and her stomach drop out as she toppled backward over the railing of the airship. Annette lurched forward with her, now grasping Penny’s wrist with both hands as Penny dangled over the side with nothing but hundreds of feet of empty air and freezing ocean below. The instant terror was so intense Penny could not make a sound.
“PENNY!” Annette shrieked, her face red with strain as she tried her hardest to pull Penny back up over the railing.
Penny kicked her legs through the air as she tried to catch something, anything, with her other hand. She felt Annette’s strength failing, but the actress leaned forward with Penny instead of letting go. Penny felt sick, knowing exactly what was about to happen. Just as Annette was about to go over Hector appeared and grabbed her by the waist. He leaned forward and grasped Penny’s loose hand and began pulling her up with Annette’s help.
“Hold on! We’ve got you!” Hector called over the roar of the wind, his face pale. Just as Penny started to regain the ability to breathe and hope she would live to see another minute, Simon exploded onto the deck.
“I’m here! What’s the ma-ma-maaaa―” He skidded to a halt just behind Hector, but did not stop in time. Simon slammed into Hector with a force that sent Hector and Annette toppling over the edge. He made a mad grab for Hector and caught his wrist, but the momentum of the fall pulled Simon down with him.
The Angel of Elydria (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 1) Page 27