“Isn’t what you’re offering me just as wicked? To go with you now to save my own skin, letting everyone I love… die? How are you any different than Umbria? The only thing you’re offering me is sorrow, guilt and weakness.”
“What I’m asking you to do is save this Realm. Can you not understand that, child?”
“No,” Aero replied simply. “And don’t call me that. I am not a child, to you or anyone else. If you were anything like my real grandma, you’d know I’d never do what you’re asking me to. I’d never abandon my own family.” Her voice came out surprisingly confident and strong. Convincing even. In her head it had sounded thin and uncertain.
Regardless of the turmoil turning in her stomach, the trembling in her legs and the weight of anxiety making each breath a hard slug of heavy air, all that remained was knowing this woman was not her Joanna.
It was okay to be scared. Though she wanted nothing more than to turn tail and pretend everything was all right, it wasn’t. Yes, she was afraid. But hadn’t she spent all her life being fearful? Afraid of fitting in, afraid of not being liked or failing. She had to battle forward to move on, but fight she would. For all those who already had and failed.
And despite every nerve which trembled in her body, Aero immediately felt definite and certain. Until now she’d been unsure of her own skill and courage. Though she understood she would be giving up her own life, it took less than a heartbeat for her to know she would do it.
Walking away, she glanced behind her as if hoping both her fear and Jo wouldn’t follow her. Instead of pursuing her the woman called out, “If you leave now, you’re going to die.”
Aero looked back over her shoulder once more and replied, “I’m making no promises.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
A Witch’s Taunt
Louise had learned a little more thanks to the passing of news between the witches and their adjacent cells. Because of her hearing it had taken longer for her to understand the messages and relay them properly.
This transference of information was an especially slow and complicated process for her. Each of them asked a question of their neighbour and awaited a reply. When it came, often the message had to be repeated because she didn’t hear it, and so the cycle would begin again.
One thing Louise had discovered was that Amanda and Isaac stood out being the only children in the castle, and thanks to her, their mother Cadence had discovered her children were alive. The relief at knowing they were also together was like a wave of joy rippling throughout the cells. It somehow lifted them all to hear it, but Cadence didn’t yet know what had happened to her husband. No one had heard anything about a man.
The eruption of fresh screams was also a powerful force, stopping this process of hopeful searching and conversation in its tracks. As a result, it did more than just slow the opportunity to understand their situation and form a plan. This mental torture was little by little erasing the hope these women felt through their connections. But when enough time had passed, they began again, seeking out glimpses of optimism amongst the cold hard stone.
Louise had learned some good news of her own. Her own dear sister, Perri, was still alive and thankfully unharmed. She tried hard not to get absorbed in this information for fear she would not stay focussed. But she said a silent prayer of thanks to the Realm for this miracle.
Louise looked up with trepidation as the door to her cell creaked and complained from being opened. She smelt a strong odour, an artificial smell. It took her a while to place it, until she finally realised it was perfume.
The clicking of heels echoed along the stone floor. Louise held her breath and trembled slightly. Having not wanted to use the bucket in the corner of the room earlier, her legs crossed tightly to hold on to her bladder.
The stranger entered the cell and Louise knew at once from her breathing she was human. Her shoes clinked with a tinny, eerie sound; each step coming closer to her as the woman entered the room. With a final grumble she closed the door, and a heavy waiting silence filled the space.
The visitor carried herself with ease, moving with a long straight back and confident demeanour. She had the air of someone who believed they were in charge. Though Louise wondered, who in their right mind would be in collusion with monsters? Who would want to be the leader of a castle of horrors?
“Hello, Louise. Can I just say it’s such a pleasure to finally put a face to the name? I’ve heard so very much about you and your sister, but I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed. I’d come to think of you as something of an enigma. I guess it’s true what they say about meeting your heroes.”
Louise didn’t trust her honeyed tone and replied curtly, “I’m afraid I don’t know you at all.” Which was true in every sense.
“Well, not to worry. I’m happy to fill you in later, we have plenty of time for all that. For now, my name is Megan. First, I must ask if you think we will see your lovely niece shortly? It would be so nice to have the full family reunion. Don’t you think?”
“It’s you?” Louise whispered inaudibly. Her blood ran cold and stiff in her veins. This was THE Megan, the person responsible for so many crimes against her family. Louise hardly knew which to feel the angriest about first.
The Realworlders had been trying to eradicate them for as long as any of them could remember. Suddenly she understood why this woman had sided with the Shadow Creatures.
“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed then. Aero won’t be coming to join us.” At least Aero was safe. Megan’s face dropped for a moment, unreadable. Louise saw her eyes narrow, then noticed a flash of pain and anger shining, like something remembered. There was something so familiar about the expression. Louise tried desperately to stave off the fear and focus on what it was. She had a feeling if she could understand it, then everything would make sense, as if her whole fate rested upon this knowledge.
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we? But don’t worry about that now. After all, you have something far more pressing to concern yourself with. It’s your turn.”
Louise gulped.
Then Megan grabbed her arm and marched her with a click clack all the way to the excision room.
Megan directed the workers to strap Louise’s arms down to the large metal chair. The whole workings of the space gave Louise the feeling of having fallen into a nightmare or a work of fiction. The cold metal seat numbed her flesh and the rhythmic humming of transformers pulsed through her legs with an eerie regularity which made her head throb. It all reminded her coldly of the birth of the monster Frankenstein. Except they did not mean to revive her but to take something which belonged to her: her magic.
When it came time for Megan to pull the switch and rip out her essence, Louise suddenly remembered. “Wait. Please, wait. I need to tell you something.”
Megan grasped the lever but held fast. Locking eyes with Louise in impatience, she snapped, “What is it, a last meal, a final request?”
“No. I need to tell you what happened to your parents.” Louise couldn’t believe she’d only just realised who Megan really was. All this time the girl from her childhood had been right under her nose.
Throughout it all, Megan listened and remained silent. Louise had no idea how long it had taken her to tell the story but knew Megan’s hand still grasped the lever. The sight of it trembling with fatigue unnerved her. It wasn’t hard for Louise to imagine how her arm must have ached and how weary she must have felt. Seeing the lever edge ever so slightly downwards, Louise shuddered.
But she wasn’t only troubled because of her fear for herself. She understood how painful the truth of this story must be for Megan. No matter her crimes, Louise saw the girl in her once more, crying tears of shame and fear and sorrow for her parents; not understanding how she had caused their deaths. And Louise knew the destruction of that innocent child who had known no better was as much their fault as anyone’s and her heart felt pity. There would never be a way to mend this or to fix what had been broken.
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bsp; She could only beg the Realm to answer her prayer that Megan would hear the honesty in her words. Selfishly, she prayed too that they would stop her.
But Megan chortled, and laughed long and hard and deep. “I’ve never heard anything quite so ridiculous in all my life. Of all the ways to beg for your life, this has to be the best.”
Louise prepared herself as Megan shakily began to pull down on the handle.
Then Umbria was in the room, fearsome and bear like, his great head reaching almost to the high ceiling in this form.
“How dare you take this prisoner without my permission!” Lunging forward, he swiped at Megan with a half bear, half human hand, knocking her flying, away from the machine. “Don’t you realise how stupid you are, witch?”
And there it was, the truth in the folly of his words. This was not anger causing him to make a mistake, but rather it caused him to speak truth. He had called Megan a witch.
Louise could tell from the look on Megan’s face that comprehension washed over her. It was easy to imagine what Megan was thinking. Louise could only hope they would live long enough to forgive each other.
Chapter Twenty-Five
A Sorcery of Shadows
The damned useless witch Megan had almost killed his hostages. Umbria had thrown her into the pit for it, but not before he’d knocked the exact location of Aero out of her. He couldn’t imagine needing her again, but he held her prisoner, waiting his return when he could deal with her then.
Umbria didn’t dwell on how rapidly his plan could have unravelled if he hadn’t stopped her in time. Instead he gathered himself and set off immediately in search of the girl. The closer he came to where she would be the calmer he felt. Everything was still going as he had planned.
When he came across Aero, he looked at her curiously, and saw at once that her eyes were blank and resigned. Getting what he wanted would be easier than he’d anticipated. The girl was nothing more than a means to an end for him. The other witches were mere trinkets in comparison to what she could offer him. Though at the sight of her, dishevelled and downtrodden, he couldn’t help thinking how very little she looked like anything much at all.
“Well, here we are then. I would say it is good to see you, but as you likely don’t feel the same, I won’t. I imagine you deplore me and my kind but as I have your family as my guests in the castle, I believe this is an opportunity. A chance for us to get to know one another better and talk. I have something on my mind, you see. A particular offer I would wish to discuss, but it may be difficult for you to understand us and our motives. We are so different you and I, but you must believe me when I say that, despite this, my respect for you is without question.
“But… the human world to which you belong has suppressed us for long enough. We are old like time and you are by comparison mere specks of dust. Yet it is us who live here without creativity or imagination. Your world is capable of such invention and this was born through fire and pain. Nothing great can come without being forged in the flame.
“You may not appreciate this, but we’re the prisoners here. This world limits us and we intend to be free. I am sorry that sacrifices must be made for this to happen, but this is the truth of both war and life.
“And so, I have a proposal for you. We would much prefer having you as our guest. If you would agree to come with me now, I could see to it that your mother and aunt are safely transported back to Earth.”
Bravely looking upwards to meet his gaze, he was surprised by the contempt he saw flickering in her eyes. Perhaps there was still fire in her belly after all.
He could have chosen force to get her to come with him, if he so desired, but it would be better if she came willingly; especially knowing she had a little bit of fight left in her.
Aero didn’t have the measure of Umbria, that was clear, but she thought his sanctimonious speech must have brought him great delight. He was no different than the many generals of history who had given such talks to gullible soldiers.
Like those who had gone before him, Umbria was a dictator just like the rest. He demanded to take what he thought belonged to him, and thought nothing of using those around him to get what he wanted. No one’s life was as precious as his own desires.
She also realised that Jo must have been truthful when she had told her this would happen. It made no difference, however, there was no alternative but to do what the other Aeros had done and agree to this arrangement.
As Aero came to this realisation, the sky seemed to turn darker. Turning to Umbria, she said reluctantly, “I will agree to your terms, provided you commit to letting all the other guests go free in exchange. Not just my family, but everyone who is in the castle and wishes to leave.” It gave her a small comfort to know she was saving their lives. “But I will need some kind of guarantee to know I can trust you. If you wanted you could take me now, I would not be able to stop you. You are a Shadow Creature; how can I know you will keep your word?”
“I would be insulted, but I realise how little you understand.”
“Well, then I want you to let me leave and return. If so, then perhaps I can trust you to do as you have said,” Aero replied.
“Who are you to make demands? What you want matters little to me, but I will consider your words.”
Umbria thought it best to remind the girl of who was in charge. He was powerful and in command; his hostages, his terms. For a time, he remained silent while he thought over her request. He examined the girl closely; her resignation and supplication pleased him, and he was satisfied.
“I will do what we have agreed upon because I have said it is so. If you are determined to leave, I will not stop you. As an act of faith, I will release the prisoners while you are gone, but if you do not return, then mark my words, Aero, your family will be the first to die.”
“Then it is done. Have no fear, I will return.”
Aero found herself walking again. Three times she had walked away from either friend or foe, and it was to the former she now returned. Before giving herself up, she had to say goodbye to her faithful and true friend, Shadow. Her heart felt as if it had sunk so low in her chest it rested in her stomach, but she did not look back over her shoulder as she left. Lifting her chin, she summoned as much dignity as could be mustered.
Chapter Twenty-Six
For Queen and Country
Arianna had not been resting on her laurels, but still the work had not progressed fast enough for her liking. Following the successful utilisation and retrieval of the MX-1 probe they were finally ready to deploy to the Shadow Realm. High definition images retrieved from the onboard camera assigned to the probe revealed a smooth transition through the portal, with no damage to the unit upon its return.
She had to admit to tearing up at the sight of the human test subjects brave enough to be the initial pioneers to travel. It made her heart feel so damn proud of her country as they took their first steps into the unknown.
Together they had done extraordinary things here, beyond even her own imagination. When the volunteers, like the probe before them, returned unscathed, her operation had been given the green light and the preparations had gone full steam.
Arianna had split and designated several convoys to pass through the portal in a highly organised and efficient wave. There was no favouritism in assigning her own Military Defence team to travel first, commanded by her trusted colleague with whom she’d served in Afghanistan. This was entirely a practical decision and one rooted in good military strategy.
The first team were armed, and final preparations were underway. It pained her to miss it. Her body ached to be a part of the action, despite the danger, but she was not a soldier on the ground anymore.
Even here in her office she could feel the vibrations through the soles of her feet as the machine fired up the gateway, sending a delightful thrill through her body. The bright red lights at the corner of her office signalled the portal was opening. She downed the final dregs of coffee from her mug.
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nbsp; Although not able to see it directly from her desk, she knew the team would be loading up on the platform, readying to pass through from this world and into the next. She itched to get up and watch from the viewing window, but it would have to wait, her work came first.
Beads of hot sweat broke out across her brow, but it was uncertain if the temperature had jumped higher still, or if the stress of the moment was getting to her.
The room began to tremble. Her pens and cup vibrated, until they rattled off the end of the desk as if in an earthquake. Arianna leapt to her feet. This wasn’t normal.
And then the room became alive with scorching heat and light and sound. Something was very wrong. The ordnance explosives should not have gone off yet, but the sound was unmistakable. The bomb had detonated early.
Used to making decisions under pressure, Arianna didn’t waver. She hit the emergency button by her left knee under the desk. This would bring down shutters which would shield her from any potential blast. Less than a fraction of a second later, the facility became encased in flame.
The violent tremors which shook her office proved too much for her legs to take and she fell, hitting her chin with a dull thud on the concrete floor. The world went black.
An ever-expanding explosion blew a hole in the facility’s walls, and an oppressive flood of earth began to rain down on the disfigured, scorched bodies below. Mounds of soil slowly began to encase the workers, many of whom were alive and screaming. Some tried desperately to escape, clambering over the bleeding men who couldn’t move, frantic to find a way out of the horror. The soil pressed relentlessly on their chests, filling their noses and mouths more with every fighting breath. Ragged, gasping, they wrestled against the weight, trying to live. Until the noise of their plight grew little by little deathly still, and the room became their earthy tomb. All life extinguished within, except for one.
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