Now I knew what she meant when she said… my brother Ernest… “Why couldn't you let her see you?”
“I’m her… her BROTHER!” he wailed. “He attacked her! Malakai attacked her!”
I ran as fast as I could, ignoring the sharp pain in my sides. “It’s up here!” Ernie cried zooming along the corridors ahead of me. My heart was throbbing in my chest as I skidded round corners. Finally Ernie zoomed through a set of large double doors. I crashed into them and ran inside. Then stopped still. This was the Healer’s room? I stood now in awe. Dull green light was coming from, what looked like, a miniature sun which hung high in the middle of the huge room. I couldn’t take my eyes away. It hung graceful and wonderful. A million shades of green swirling imperceptible strands of beauty and light. Green rays gliding downwards to people in beds. It was so beautiful. As I moved slowly into the room, transfixed, I saw the rays drift my way. As it touched me, it became bliss. All pain eliminated, all thoughts vanished, all aches and pains gone. I couldn’t help but stand and stare, soaking up the green goodness.
A beautiful woman in a long, white robe walked elegantly towards me. Her blonde hair hung down to her ankles, her face radiant, with eyes the same green as the sun. And then she spoke with an angelic, soothing voice. “You are here to see Tina Partington?”
“Yes… wait, Partington?” something else smacked me in the face. Tina and Ernie’s Dad was… my form tutor… Magisteer Partington?!
Ernie was bobbing up and down near a bed in the corner of the room. “This way,” said the Healer.
Tina lay unconscious. Green rays coursing in and out of each breath. She looked bad. Open wounds lit her face scarlet red and her hair was matted with dried blood. The soft white clothes she had been put in were running red. The Healer dabbed at the wounds with a white cloth, soaked in a bowl of water and soft smelling potions. As the green light and the water touched her face, the wounds knitted back together. It was strange to watch. Her beautiful face returning in some part back to the one I knew. Tears welled up in my eyes now at the sight of her. Her words reverberating around my mind from the last time she spoke to me. Ernie bobbed by her bedside, sobbing into her pillow.
“All my fault,” he mumbled.
“Ernest Partington? Why didn't you tell me that you were a Partington?”
“I… don’t… know,” he said in between sobs. “Easier… not to.”
“So your the dead brother who set her the quest?”
“Yes, in my ignorance! After I passed over, I realised what I had done, how stupid I was to have left the quest to someone so young and innocent. The grief led me back here as this…” he indicated his see-through form.
“But you couldn’t show yourself to her?”
“No. However hard I tried, she couldn’t see me!” he wailed.
“And your Dad?”
“Him neither, although, maybe he once saw me. I don’t know.”
“She wants to bring you back to life…” I said.
Ernie stopped wailing and nodded. “Oh, I would like that so very much. To be with my family again. I don’t want to be stuck like this forever!”
I turned to the Healer who was quietly dabbing. “How long will she be like that?”
“A while,” she said softly.
I took a final look at Tina and Ernie Partington, then turned away. “I’m going to sort this,” I said turning and walking out of the Healer’s room. “I promise.”
Something inside me clicked, Tina was right, I did have the power to end Malakai. All I needed was the courage. And now he’d given it to me. The Partington family had been ripped apart by this man Malakai. And the girl I… loved, yes loved… had nearly been killed by him.
As I left the Healer’s room, the content feeling drained out of me as despair and anger pulsed back into my veins. I heard a man running up the opposite corridor and bursting into the Healer’s room. I saw the flick of Partington’s brown robes flash into the green light. As I walked further and further away the more and more determined I became to end Malakai - the evil, lower than amoeba, thing that he was.
I had the clues.
All I needed was a plan.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A Key Revelation
That first night I sat and stared out of the clock face, running it all through my mind. Robin came to see me and asked if I’d heard about what happened to Tina. I didn't feel like talking but went through my thoughts with him.
“I know his true name but I can’t say it…” I said. “If I can find a way to remove the Jarred Spell, then I can say it.”
Robin sniffed, his beady eyes blinking rapidly at me. “You have to be careful Avis. Don’t go through with any of this as an act of revenge. This Malakai is the most evil person in the history of Magic, I’m sure he’ll be more than ready for you.”
“Yes. But he can’t hurt me…” the thought had come to me before, why, when I saw him, did he not Spell me? But instead went for Hunter.
He nodded stiffly in agreement. “I get that, he Spelled Hunter and made it look like you, but why didn’t he spot the channeller on your arm? If he knew it was his?”
I looked down at my channeller and then saw why. I indicated to Robin - these robes were too big for me — the sleeves overlapped my arms and hands, the channeller covered over. “And, why would Malakai even think for a moment that I would have to get a channeller from lost property? I’m a Blackthorn!”
“True that, did you know you’re in that encyclopaedia of black Magic… well, your family is.”
“I know.” Our family was notorious, one of my great-grandparents could have given Malakai a run for his money. And then… my thoughts kept coming back to the fact that my parents had me, even though they knew I was a seventh son. Something didn’t add up there.
“I have to do this before April.”
Robin whistled. “Don’t have long then.”
“I just need to follow him, to find out where he is going when he comes into the school. It might lead to the book. And then I need to find out how to say his true name.”
“What you gonna do if you get the book?”
I hadn’t thought about that. “I don’t know, it doesn’t matter. I need to find out what this key does first and who it’s from.” I held up the key that I’d got in the present at Christmas. “Look into it for me…” Robin nodded curtly as I tucked it away. Perhaps I was pinning too much hope on things, perhaps the key was for someone else and the presents had been mixed up?
In the meantime I realised, I needed to find Ernie again.
I searched high and low for that ghost but Tina’s brother Ernie couldn’t be found no matter how hard I looked. It was annoying, because I had left him not two days ago, next to Tina’s bed. I got so desperate I even stopped passing ghosts, asking them where he was, but, if they even bothered to answer me back, all had no idea. Each day, I would go to the Healer’s room and sit by Tina’s bed. She was still unconscious, but the loving Healer lady with the green eyes said that this was a good thing, more time to heal. Her wounds had sealed up nicely now and she was resembling more of the Tina that I remember. Flowers and cards littered the table and floor all around her bed. I sat for hours on end, hoping that Ernie would make an appearance. But I caught not even a sniff of him. Time was running down quickly and I desperately needed to ask him some questions. How did he die? And what did he know about the quest that would help me finish it?
Sitting in the Healer’s room was good. I had to pull myself away at times for the sensation was overwhelmingly comfortable. Thoughts seemed to solidify and make sense, whereas before they were a muddled mess. The mysterious green sun seemed to suck the bad things out of you, replacing it with serenity and goodness.
A week later I was sitting, quietly watching Tina, when a thought flashed through my mind. Use the revealing Spell on the key!
I ran back to the clock tower, knocking for Robin on the way. He was in the Condors’ dorm doing his homework with the others. Ou
r lessons were being covered by a ghost, who kept setting more and more homework. Some of the Condors looked away when I poked my head in, but Robin saw my worried face and raced out.
“What’s going on?” he said.
“Revealing Spell… on the… key!” I just about managed to say. We climbed through the roof hatch into the clock tower. I pulled the key out and put it on the dusty wood floor.
“Sit down,” I said, raising my hands just above it and catching my breath. “What’s the Spell?” I said, my mind had gone blank.
“Er… Kerka-something…” said Robin.
“I remember!” I raised my hands again. “Kerkalculevreo!” The key lit up orange, and my head flew back as a dream like vision danced across our eyes…
Ernie Partington looked very alive as he crept along the corridors. Every so often he would dart inside an alcove, or behind a suit of armour. Some way along the corridor was Malakai, drifting silently along. Then, in a flash he vanished inside a door and was gone. Ernie, with deep bags under his eyes, straightened and went over to inspect the door. Gently, he rubbed the lock, golden light fizzed around his hands, but he grew frustrated - the door wouldn’t open. He stepped back and drew a wad of parchment from his back pocket and made notes. He sighed and turned back with a swish of his long, grey robes.
Then, with a whizz of white light, we zapped forwards. Ernie was on the floating island with friends, they all had silly haircuts, and some had beards. Ernie checked his watch, made an excuse to leave and walked back along the drawbridge. He was popular, people waved and cooed to him as he passed. As he approached the main hall, he scanned behind him to make sure no one was around, then screwing up his face he began rubbing his head viciously with his hands. A new face, body and clothes began to appear in place of him. Now a small man stood with a pudgy pock marked face, black robes and a Magisteer’s crest. Quickly he began to walk toward the Dungeons. The small man walked through the hallways unnoticed, obviously not an important man. Yet, one boy, who was leaning over the banister rail above, saw him and set towards him calling out.
“Sir… Sir!” called the boy, running down the stairway.
“Yes?” called Ernie in a squeaky voice that he wasn’t used to, then coughed. “Yes, what is it?”
“It’s me Sir, Arnold? Just wondering Sir, about the homework, what is it? I thought I could do it now.”
Ernie, as the little man kept walking and Arnold kept pace. “You will know the same time as everyone else.”
“Oh right…” Arnold frowned. “But you said earlier I must find you and ask.”
“Yes,” said Ernie, stopping and scratching his head, this was an unwanted distraction. “What were we studying earlier?” he said, as if trying to remember.
“The transformation of Biglobears and Faradays into Yerpold creatures.”
“Ah yes,” said Ernie. “Well, do me two passages on other Yerpold creatures and why it’s important that we know.”
Arnold frowned again. “Only two passages sir?” this was obviously not what he was used to and he smelt something fishy.
Sweat beads appeared on Ernie’s forehead, he scanned the hallway where a dozen or so people were milling around. Slyly, Ernie raised his hand at Arnold and muttered something under his breath.
“I see Sir,” said Arnold, who promptly ran off looking happy. Ernie smiled and carried on in the direction of the dungeons. That was close.
“But, no one has requested that key in years, I’m not sure I even have it. If I do, it will be rusted over…”
Ernie looked down at the man who was shorter even than he, whom had bags and bags of keys on chains around his waist. “I was assured you would have it by the Lily himself, but if you want me to go and tell him why you can’t do your job then…”
“No! No… I can find it, all I mean is… are you sure it’s that door he wants the key for?” the small, dirty man looked sideways at Ernie with yellowing eyes. The dungeon was dank, mouldy and echoed with the sound of scuttling creatures, Ernie didn’t feel altogether comfortable. The man reached down and slid a key off a chain, and handed it to Ernie, who nodded and turned back.
The next flash and Ernie was alone at a desk. Dim orange embers glowed throughout the room. There was snoring behind him, as the other boys in the room slept. Ernie had his head in his hands, pouring over notes. He collected the sheets together, set a note down and wrote Tina, on the top, folded it, tapped it three times and with a poof of smoke, it vanished. Then he did the same with a thick bundle of notes.
Finally, he pulled out a key and a book. With his head bowed over the page and right hand poised over they key, he recited the instructions. Fiery green light outlined the contours of another key next to the existing one. He placed the original inside a small green box with red ribbon. He sealed the box and began to read another passage. The box jolted and span on his desk, then shrank and popped, disappearing altogether. Ernie sat back in his chair and sighed, brushing his long hair back. He took the copied key, which was loosely transparent.
“Haven’t got long…” he muttered, twisting it round in his hands. Then, putting his grey robes on, looked around the room as if for the last time. With a swish, he left. Ernie walked purposefully, grey robe flapping behind, not making much attempts at quieting his footsteps. He took the key out of his pocket and unlocked the door with a loud clunk and stood back. The door creaked. Ernie brushed his hair back, and steeled himself, before stepping into darkness.
Ernie crept down through darkness. The next second he stood, facing a large man dressed all in black, face long and skeletal with blue glowing eyes that came to rest on Ernie, who raised his hands quickly. Red, green and gold flashes scorched the air. Malakai flapped and the light burst in a shard of sparks. The two foes faced each other. With a long skeletal hand Malakai pinned Ernie to the floor. A very large book with a brown cover, older than time itself, stood on a gold mantle.
“How dare you! Coming here and interfering in my business!” Malakai cried.
Ernie looked charged, he whispered something and vanished, like a mirage. The next moment he was behind Malakai. “Flutteryout!” he cried.
Malakai flew into the opposite wall. Ernie grabbed the book, which fizzed and made horrible cracking noises. Malakai roared.
“Give that back! Don’t you dare!” A whistling lit the air. Ernie stood terrified, unable to move. The next moment he was bound by thick red snaking, chains. Malakai took the book and placed it back on the mantle carefully. Ernie struggled against the expanding chains.
“You will never get away with what you’re doing. I will make sure of it! I know your plans. I won’t stop until your gone!” said Ernie before a red chain bound his mouth.
Malachi chuckled. “Oh please… I’ve heard it all before.”
Another flash of white light and Ernie stood motionless, bound in red chains, at the top of the tallest tower in the school. High pitched wind whistled around the open top. Malakai came to stand and look down at the drop into abyss. “Any last words?”
The chain around Ernie’s mouth disappeared. Ernie’s eyes were large, but he didn’t look like a man about to die.
“You know nothing! There are thousands of other people ready to take my place. The plans I have this year are already making their way to the right people. I followed you the whole year and you haven’t spotted me. You think you’re powerful, you think your special, you think your power gives you a right to rule! It doesn’t. You’re weak, your lust for power comes from a loss of love. And I pity you.”
Malakai’s blue eyes dimmed, and his head tilted to the side. With a lazy flick of his finger, the red chains fell off. “Maybe, but you’re the one whose about to die…”
“I’m not afraid…” Ernie smiled as wind whipped his hair and clothes.
Malakai huffed and swiped the air. Ernie slid across the floor. He didn’t struggle. He just kept his gaze with Malakai and in silence, slid off the tower.
The vision stopped in a flash o
f white light, my head jolting. I blinked and sat up straight, my head spinning. Robin blinked at me. Neither of us said anything. As I sat there, I wondered about the pointlessness of Ernie’s attempts at taking the Book Of Names. He seemed to submit too easily, as if it was all just a game. The way he fell, smiling, keeping his gaze with Malakai. Whatever his plans were, I didn’t understand them. Even Malakai seemed deterred by Ernie’s unusual behaviour.
The key, in the box I’d got for Christmas, was from Ernie. Did it flow through time and only arrive here in time for Christmas? Or did he plan for it to arrive just at that moment?
“I don’t understand how he sent me the box with a key in it,” I said. “I mean, when was he at school?”
Robin looked very disturbed by everything he’d seen. “It’s a very powerful Spell. I’m sure I’ve read about it somewhere in one of the old Library books… or was it Straker who was talking about it? It’s something about committing an item to fate, or destiny or something. And leaving it up to Magic to decide who the next owner should be.”
“Right…” I said. “I suppose the next thing to do then is find Tina’s notes.”
Robin left soon after. I continued to sit cross-legged on my bed starring at the darkening sky. I’d been Tina’s friend for ages and I didn’t even know where her dorm was. Some investigation was needed.
The next day after lessons, we walked around the school choosing some of the more unoccupied corridors. “You do realise what would happen if we get caught in a girls dorm?” said Robin beady eyes flickering.
“I think that is the least of our problems,” I said. “What form is she in?”
“I don’t know… Oh, yes I do, or at least I know a way we can find out… the Riptide wall,” he was right, the Riptide wall was where all the forms in the school were listed, so you can see when your games are scheduled.
Me and Robin marched to the hall where the Riptide wall was. There were a few people around, but most were taking a stroll outside. It was a lovely sunny day and the light streamed in long rays through small windows onto a high wall, filled from top to bottom with sheets and information. Each form had their form name, flag and colours with the people in their form listed below. Robin began scanning the large tapestry for the names in teams. It took flipping ages. Some of the names were so high up I couldn’t see them. But after a while Robin said:
Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! Page 14