by Vance Huxley
The first half of December crawled by, as it always did with Christmas looming. Trimmings finally appeared at school as did a rash of end of term tests. To make sure everyone did well every teacher set extra homework, which dampened the Christmas spirit a bit. Abel tried to lift them again by taking the other two into the wood to choose a Christmas tree each. There were plenty because the barrier spell stopped people going in there.
Not big trees because they had to be carried or dragged out, but then Ferryl turned the expedition into a lesson. She taught them to carry the trees on cushions of air using continual air glyphs. The trees ended up by the road where they could be wheeled home in barrows, but first all three trainees had to pick the leaves, twigs and muck off each other. The air cushions had blasted debris from the ground all over the humans, much to Ferryl’s amusement since the mess didn’t touch her. The real fir trees arriving in Rob’s and Abel’s house were appreciated by both families and saved them a few quid. Abel’s tree kept Kelis amused. She came round to help decorate it because her Dad didn’t believe in all that nonsense and had thrown hers out.
* * *
Less than a fortnight before Christmas, Abel sat in his room trying to complete his homework when his mark tingled really strongly. Moments later a really strong surge, sucking and almost painful, shot through his flower. “Kelis.” He scooped up his jacket and headed for the door, already calling her on his mobile.
Ferryl came in from the garden and caught up halfway down the stairs, flowing into her tattoo. “What is happening? You nearly left without me.”
“Not likely, you fly faster than I run. Kelis might be in trouble. I felt her through my tattoo.” Abel called into the living room to let Mum know Kelis wanted him, and raced off down the street. “It might be Henry.” According to the phone, Kelis’s mobile wasn’t connected which made no sense.
“When did you start feeling people through your mark?”
“Just Kelis, and always.” Abel saved his breath for running, and anyway Ferryl seemed to be talking enough for two. Most of it had to do with her promises being pointless when fools left a clear opening for an attack, right through all her defences. When he ran up to Kelis’s gates, Abel could clearly hear shouting, screaming and furniture or something similar smashing. Her father’s car parked in the driveway, on a Thursday, explained the rest.
Abel dialled 999 without any hesitation and reported attempted murder of multiple persons, and send an ambulance with the police please. He held up his phone for the woman to hear the crashing and screaming after explaining how far away it was, and inside a house. They’d need an ambulance if that was Kelis screaming, because Abel would be hurting her dad very badly. Maybe he wouldn’t get the chance, because Ferryl understood now. “Let me blast the gates open, then the door, and we can stop him right now. I can bind him to Kelis and she can teach him respect.”
Abel wanted to agree, but if the police found broken gates and doors they’d be more interested in the vandal. Worse, if Abel and Ferryl got to him and he survived, Kelis’s dad might even blame everything on Abel or a mystery intruder. At the moment the noise had stopped, after another savage pull on Abel’s flower. He could still feel Kelis’s tingle now and then so with luck it was all over.
After a moment’s thought Ferryl could help, though Abel had to gesture rather than speak because the 999 woman wanted to keep him on the phone. Smoke rose from the box by the locked gates, and they swung open. Now the police and ambulance could drive straight in. Abel sent a fire glyph into both back tyres of the car and Kelis’s dad wouldn’t be driving away. Ferryl got into the swing of it and the small glass panel on the front door shattered outwards onto the stone slabs. “Now the police can get into the house.”
Abel could now hear a man’s voice shouting at the little bitch to come out here, so maybe Kelis had hidden? “I can give him something else to think of. Something noisy.” Abel held up his phone to catch the sound as a big window on the front of the house blew outwards. “We had better have a reason, now I can reach inside.” A big carved wooden chair followed the glass onto the lawn. Mr. Ventner ran into the room, looked out, waved a fist at Abel and ran back out of sight, while Abel described it all to the woman. She kept telling him to stay away, probably a good idea since Ferryl wanted Mr. Ventner to attack Abel. “Then there will be no rules except no killing. I can pull out bones and keep him alive to watch. That hurts, really hurts and won’t kill him straight away, and your hospital might be able to keep him alive afterwards.”
Abel felt a stronger tingle, and held the phone under his arm to muffle his very quiet voice. “If anyone starts screaming, we’ll go in. If he’s hurting Kelis or her mum you can do something really painful but not obvious, and I’ll help.” Abel wasn’t standing outside and listening to that.
“I hope he tries to hit you.” The sheer anticipation in that would have stopped Kelis’s dad in his tracks if he’d heard it.
At least the tingles from Kelis’s mark reassured Abel she must be conscious. The ranting inside had been joined by more splintering noises by the time the police car hurled around the corner into the driveway. Abel relaxed because four coppers had come in a proper patrol vehicle, not one bloke in a panda car. They rushed in through the broken window when Mr. Ventner didn’t answer, and a full-blooded fight broke out inside.
The ambulance crew were spilling out of their vehicle when the coppers more or less carried their struggling prisoner out. From their torn uniforms and the two who were limping, the police were going to have their own list of complaints. Another police car arrived behind the ambulance, and two of the occupants were WPCs.
The woman on the phone said thank you and told Abel he could hang up now, so he did and called Rob. Abel moved a bit closer to the house, too close. “No sightseeing. Who are you?” The copper pointed at the gates. “Why are you in here?”
“I phoned 999 for you lot and the ambulance. I came inside the garden because if the screaming started again, I was going to go in and try to do something.” Abel was busy explaining to the copper when the stretcher came out of the door. Abel didn’t think it could be Kelis because he’d felt her touch her tattoo, but even so it came as a huge relief when she walked out of the door being helped by a paramedic. One of the WPCs quickly moved in to help.
“Kelis!” She looked up and smiled, a very tired, worried smile. Abel put a hand over his tattoo, and for the first time tried to push out towards her.
“Don’t…” Ferryl’s objection died half-said. Kelis glanced at her arm, startled, then a big beautiful smile broke over her face for a moment and Abel blew her a kiss. Her smile stayed long enough to blow one back, then worry swept back in and Kelis hurried after what had to be her mum.
“Your girlfriend?”
Abel stared at the policeman and tried to concentrate. “Kelis? No. She’s my best friend, one of them. The other one will wish he could have got here in time.” Glancing back, Abel could see Rob outside the gate but police tape now stopped anyone else coming in.
At least the copper seemed willing to give Abel a bit of time to gather his wits. “I’ll wait a minute until she’s left.”
Abel took the chance to ask how Kelis and her mum were, and the copper must have been feeling sociable. Either that or he thought telling Abel that Kelis seemed to be walking wounded, not too serious, and her mum wasn’t critical, would be reassuring. By the time he was done talking the ambulance set off with Kelis and her mum inside, and most of the village were stood near the gates. The cop car followed with Mr. Ventner sat in the back, hidden under a blanket. Rob looked worried until Abel gave him a thumbs-up.
The wait before answering questions turned out to be a good thing, since Abel had time to think about why he’d been at the gate of his not-girlfriend, near enough to hear the noise. Claiming he’d gone for a walk to clear his head of some difficult homework got an odd look, but the policeman wrote it down. With a little smile, Abel wondered if the copper thought Kelis had been sneak
ing out to meet him. The rest wasn’t so bad. Abel explained the gates were unlocked when he pushed so he came nearer, and the 999 woman insisted he didn’t go further.
“A good thing. He might have hurt you. I’ll see you home.” The policeman put away his notebook and turned towards the gate.
Abel pointed. “That’s my mum, but thanks anyway.” As Abel left another van full of police arrived and began to either question people or put tape around the area.
* * *
Abel’s tattoo tingled a lot overnight and the next morning. “That will have to stop.”
“Not yet Ferryl. Kelis will need the reassurance. She felt it outside the house, so this lets her know we’re thinking of her.” Abel touched his mark and gently pushed magic.
“Once Kelis is home, it must stop. The connection, you drawing the ward, didn’t seem active so not too dangerous. Now you tell me it is an open link, permanently connecting you in both directions. That is a weakness, an open channel past your ward to your inner self. It is a weakness for Kelis as well if you are killed or captured, maybe bound.” Ferryl sighed. “I understand, but this really is dangerous for both of you. What if the sorceress glyph had struck Kelis? You would be sucked in as well, unable to defend her. So would I.”
“All right, I get it. But not yet.” Abel felt the tingle as Kelis replied, so she’d got his message. Friday seemed to last forever, because word had spread so half the school asked after Kelis and neither Abel nor Rob had an answer. At least Seraph, Henry and the other seraphims seemed to realise tempers were short and didn’t make any remarks. Abel and Rob hurried home, but their parents didn’t know any more. The hospital was being non-committal to non-relatives, and the workmen who turned up to board up the door and window on Saturday knew nothing. The strange hiatus continued across the weekend, with Rob and Abel messing about with a bit of magic practice, but unable to concentrate properly.
Sunday evening Kelis came home in a car with a stranger. Abel’s mum found out from Mrs. Turner, phoning to find out who it was. Abel had no idea when Mum asked. When his phone rang Abel didn’t recognise the caller number. “It’s me, Kelis. My phone is broken and I couldn’t find your mobile number until I could get home.” She sounded embarrassed. “Can you come over please, you and Rob? I want you to meet my aunty, and explain I’ll be safe going to school on the bus with you two. She wants to take me in the car.”
“Do you want me to phone Rob?”
“No, I’ll do it.” She giggled which came as a big relief. “Or he’ll accuse you of trying to cut him out. See you soon?”
“I’m going to collect Rob now, so get on with calling.”
Abel and Rob walked down to the Green, and on to Kelis’s house, almost in silence. Neither knew what this aunty wanted to know, but if Kelis wanted to ride to school on the bus they’d do their best.
* * *
The gates still gaped wide open, and the glass and chair still littered the lawn. The car had been removed. Someone had swept up the glass from the front door, which opened even as Abel lifted his hand to knock. Moments later both Abel and Rob were being thoroughly hugged by Kelis.
She stopped and stood back, blushing a little. “Sorry.” Though the half-glance behind might mean sorry because her aunt was watching.
Abel still stood staring at her bruised face and black eye when Rob replied. “You’ll have to make up your mind sooner or later, Kelis. Dump Abel and concentrate on me, it’s the sensible choice.”
A happy smile broke on her face. “What, a Glyphmistress with a sweaty barbarian? The shame of it.” She turned. “Aunty Celia, this is Abel and this is Rob. My best friends.”
At least Aunt Celia, a stout, cheerful woman, didn’t seem worried about Kelis having her friends in the house. She took them into the kitchen, allegedly the tidiest room at the moment, and found them a drink of cola while she explained. Aunt Celia would be looking after Kelis until her mum came home, or made other arrangements. Kelis flinched at that, and again when Aunt Celia pointed out she’d be keeping undesirables out, but at least Rob and Abel didn’t seem to be included. Ferryl kept quiet so she didn’t have any ideas though she connected Kelis via spooky-phone to reassure her. Any more trouble and Ferryl would be here faster than Abel could run.
Rob and Abel were accepted as school escorts, as long as they called in to collect Kelis and brought her home again. She wasn’t to walk through the village on her own, which seemed odd. Kelis didn’t seem to be objecting, so the pair went with it. They soon left, following the not terribly subtle hints from Aunty about how tired Kelis must be. Abel suffered the cross-questioning from his mum, repeating that he didn’t know until she gave up. He assumed that Rob suffered the same problem.
The gates were still open on Monday morning, which really seemed weird. Kelis came out the door as Abel and Rob walked down the drive, and almost trotted to meet them. “Phew, free at last.” She giggled. “Not that bad, but Dad is out on bail and Aunty Celia is a bit paranoid. She thinks he’ll snatch me, which would be the first time in my entire life he ever showed any sign of wanting me.”
“He’ll need an army, and will have to climb over many bodies.”
“He can’t have you, and Ferryl agrees. You’re our Glyphmistress.” Abel smiled but Kelis looked very serious and glanced back.
“I might have made a mistake. He came home a day early, really drunk because some deal went bad. He kept drinking then started on Mum, the usual insults, twisting arms and slapping.” Abel and Rob stared but kept quiet; Kelis never mentioned what her Dad actually did even if they’d guessed. Kelis never noticed, just ploughed on. “This time he didn’t stop, he got worse, throwing things and really punching her. I tried to stop him, push him with magic when Mum fell down, and he hit me. He doesn’t usually punch me.” Kelis stopped and sighed. “It’s about time I told you two. I nearly lost the chance because….” Her voice tailed off.
Rob nudged her shoulder. “We guessed some.”
Abel grinned. “Ferryl wanted to do really bad things.”
Kelis giggled briefly and then her face straightened. “So did I. Mum got up and tried to stop him hitting me, and he went crazy. He knocked her down again and started kicking her.” Tears started to trickle down her face. “I lost it. When I could get up again I concentrated. I put my hand on him and pushed, really hard. With a glyph.” Her attempt at a smile didn’t last long. “No control.”
“I felt it.” Abel gestured at his arm.
“You did? Oh.” Kelis put her hand on her arm. “I put my other hand on here first, to concentrate.” She stopped, looking from Abel to Rob with her eyes wide in wonder. “I threw him, Dad, right across the room, into the wall. It hurt my arm, but knocked Dad out. I’d landed on my phone and broke it, the house phone had been ripped out of the wall, and Dad started to stir.” She shrugged. “I helped Mum onto her feet and sort of half-carried, half-dragged her upstairs to my room and started piling up furniture. I used a wind glyph to help carry Mum so maybe she saw that, but I didn’t care just then.”
“I heard him telling you to come out.”
“Yeah, as if that would work. Mum passed out again, and I could hear Dad downstairs, yelling and breaking things. He started on the bedrooms then realised my door wouldn’t open. He started beating the door down, then left for a bit for some reason.”
“Probably Ferryl busting windows for when the police arrived.”
“She did? Thanks, Ferryl. I just kept hoping he’d pass out from the booze, or someone had heard the noise and reported it to the police. He came back and started again and the door split but the furniture stopped it opening. Maybe the wind glyphs helped it to hold. I thought he would be through any time, so I kept trying to get calm enough to really floor him with a glyph. Then the police arrived.”
“I called the police when I heard the noise.” Abel shrugged. “I wanted to come in but the emergency woman said no. I knew you were still all right.” Abel touched his arm, without letting Rob see, and Kel
is smiled. “Ferryl really wanted to come in, which might have been a problem.”
“We could have hidden the body in there.” Kelis nodded towards Castle House as they walked past, and didn’t seem to be joking. “I wish I could have taken Mum there. The barrier would have stopped Dad.”
“I reckon the police will deal with it now. They were looking a bit battered when they brought him out.” Abel left it at that, because the TV kept on about how many abused women wouldn’t prosecute so maybe Mrs. Ventner wouldn’t.
“Oh no, that’s the least of his worries. Mum is mad as hell, and if she looks like backing off I’m going to set into her.” Kelis sighed. “All the times he’s hit her, and she’s finally got mad because he punched me.” Her face hardened. “Well I’m mad about him kicking Mum, and now I can fix him.” For once Kelis didn’t laugh as she lifted a hand and said “Glyphmistress!”
“No need. I’m sure Ferryl can sort that out if necessary while you are sat someplace with fifty witnesses.”
“Please?”
“Ferryl wants permission. She wanted to pull out your Dad’s bones, because I wouldn’t let her kill him.” Rob and Kelis stopped to stare at Abel’s arm. “She swears it won’t kill him, but it will hurt. Apparently intensive care might save him afterwards.”
“Wow. I don’t ever want Ferryl mad at me.” Rob shook his head. “She seems to be a lot of fun most of the time,” he chuckled, “except when clobbering Wolf Shades.”
“May I talk to them now? I didn’t want to before, in case I gave Kelis bad ideas.”