The Ondine Collection

by Ebony McKenna

  “You next, lass,” Hamish said, then gave her a quick but thrilling kiss. “All this excitement is making me jumpy.”

  Waiting was killing her, but she had to time it perfectly or she’d miss her chance. The light moved over, Ondine shot out. Staying on her toes, she stepped lightly but quickly over the road. Every nerve on heightened alert as she raced to the other side. Lungs burning from exertion, face freezing from the rain, she pushed hard while being as silent as she dared.

  Safe!

  It felt like forever for her breath to settle down. Making noisy gasps for breath could alert the people in the gatehouse. Would she doom them all because of her noisy breathing? Oh why had they not trained for this? When Ondine finally felt able to look back towards Hamish, her heart thumped even harder and her whole body fizzed with nerves. The light swooped, Hamish crept out, sneaking over the road with his body low. Just as a car came hurtling around the corner.

  Ondine opened her mouth to scream. Old Col slapped her hand over her to keep her silent. The car headed straight for Hamish. The driver of said car opened his mouth in shock, then lifted his arm to cover his eyes.

  Hamish stood there in the middle of the road, until suddenly he wasn’t. His clothes, previously filled out by a human, crumpled away, folding in on themselves. The car motored right over him, catching Hamish’s shirt onto the radiator, carrying it off for several metres before it fluttered away.

  But no Hamish. No hideous thump and crunch of bone and muscle on the bonnet. Hamish simply slipped under the car as it kept right on going.

  The car stopped in a screech of brakes. Ondine, Melody, Col and Alexei squished themselves as low as they could, all while saying nothing and keeping their breaths as quiet as possible. Desperate to see what had happened, and desperately worried about her beloved Hamish, Ondine parted a bush limb aside and dared to peek.

  The driver got out, torch in hand, searching the road looking for whatever he’d hit. Or missed. Had Hamish ferretised in time or not? If so, was he becoming human again and reclaiming his clothes, or was he out cold or . . . no, don’t even think of the worse thing. The spotlight from the security gate rolled over the road on its regular sweep, blinding the driver and exposing his car.

  “State your business!” a voice said over a megaphone.

  Was that for Ondine or for the driver?

  “It’s all right, I’m just doing a milk run. I have papers allowing me to be out after curfew,” the man shouted back. “I think I ran over something.”

  “Approach the checkpoint.” Megaphone said.

  “Fine.” The man sounded disappointed.

  This could be their chance to get away. At the sound of his car starting and reversing towards the checkpoint, Ondine felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Alexei, showing that he, Melody and Col were heading towards the funicular tracks.

  They couldn’t leave Hamish behind, could they?

  “If we stay here, we’ll be seen,” Alexei said in a low murmur.

  “I’m waiting for Hamish,” Ondine said.

  “But we have to go,” Alexei said.

  “Would you leave Melody behind?” The defeated look on Alexei’s face proved Ondine right, so she added, “You go on, I’ll catch up.”

  Which he did. The rotter! Not that she could blame him. They had to get the dampening transmitter down so Melody could get the astral word out. Or the thought out.

  Sitting alone, Ondine shivered with fear as she looked for signs of Hamish on the road. The car was now up near the checkpoint, but too far away to hear what they were talking about. When the searchlight crossed the road again, her heart could have stopped. No sign of anything at all. No clothes and no ferret. On the up side, no wiped out boyfriend splattered on the bitumen either.

  A whoosh of air blew hair across her eyes. In a rush of breath, Hamish landed on the ground beside her. Disregarding their need for stealth, Ondine threw herself onto him. “Oh my darling! I was so worried.”

  “Not half as worried as me, lass. Hush now, let’s get to the others, sharpish.”

  He had far too much bare skin where there should be fabric. Which ordinarily would be a lovely thing, but not when they were in the middle of a dangerous mission on a cold spring night. “Where’s your shirt?”

  “In me hands, along with me pants. I had tae leave me shoes behind. Give me a second to get dressed.”

  No shoes? “You’ll get frostbite,” Ondine said.

  “I’ll worry about that when it happens.”

  The moment he donned his clothes, they scarpered towards the beginning of the funicular track, ready to climb the sleepers up the side of the mountain so they could reach the castle and the transmitter at the top. Silently, everyone gave Hamish hugs of support and relief, but these were soon over because they had a climb to make.

  At least, they’d planned to climb up the sleepers. Because the funicular railway, one of the steepest in all Europe, and certainly steeper than anything Slaegal had to offer, was not switched off as they’d assumed. If it had been switched off, with the two carriages stored safely in their homes at the top and bottom of the mountain respectively, they could have made the cold, slippery climb unencumbered. Now they would be massively encumbered as the carriage descended towards the bottom station, leaving them no climbing room or time.

  “We need plan B,” Alexei said to Ondine.

  Luckily they were from Eastern Europe, where the old alphabets were still in use. If plan B failed, they had another 34 letters to go.

  “If the train is switched on, we use it,” Ondine said, with more confidence than she felt. “Climb on as the carriage goes past.”

  Hamish grabbed Ondine by the shoulder. “Get back!” he whispered, at the same time dragging Melody down with him. Old Col and Alexei followed suit. A group of guards were sitting inside the descending carriage. Another group heading into the lower station, ready to switch over with them for the next shift. How would they make it to the top unseen now?

  Utterly trapped, they waited until the groups changed over. The only good thing coming from this very near disaster was that the guards’ heavy boots drowned out the noise of Ondine’s panicked breathing. “OK, here’s what we do now,” Ondine said. “As it goes past, we climb on the back of the carriage and hold on.”

  “Not all of us will be strong enough to do that, dear.” Old Col said.

  “We’ll all hold on to each other,” Ondine said.

  “I have an idea,” Alexei said. “Melody and Old Col go up first, the rest of us get the next one.”

  “You and me go first Alexei,” Melody said. “We can –”

  “Don’t argue, the carriage is right here and you two need to be at the top first.” Alexei grabbed Melody by one hand, Old Col with the other and darted to the carriage. With a solid grunt he lifted Old Col onto the back, where a narrow fender gave her a foothold, and the rear light mount provided a welcome seat. Next he pushed Melody into position and saluted her.

  The whole time Ondine’s heart was virtually in her throat as Alexei managed the impossible. Now all she and Hamish had to do was wait for the corresponding returning carriage to come past them and they’d get their ride. Worst luck, when the return carriage reached the bottom and Melody and Old Col’s carriage reached the top, the guards climbed out and the entire railway shut down.

  Alexei, Hamish and Ondine looked at each other, sighed at the job ahead of them and started the arduous climb to the top. For the next twenty minutes they did nothing but put one foot ahead of the other on the next sleeper, one arm reaching ahead of the other, scaling the steep incline. Naturally the rain became heavier, because nothing in life was allowed to be easy.

  Every few minutes a searchlight would swing over the tracks, making them flatten down between the rails. Ondine didn’t dare move until it was completely dark again, but she’d only have a few minutes until the next sweep of lights.

  Wet, cold and sore, they finally reached the top and sat there, gathering their breaths a
nd their bearings for the next stage of the plan.

  “OK, where are Melody and Old Col?”

  “Psst!” they heard from behind some huge rocks.

  Good. They were all together. Sure, Ondine was aching from the exertion and shivering uncontrollably from cold and adrenaline, but the plan was still holding.

  “Let’s get to the tower,” Ondine said. “Col, we’re going to put roman candles all over the tower legs. I don’t suppose you have a some magic to make them burn hotter?”

  “Once they’re in position, I’ll see what I can do.” Old Col said. “You lot take on the tower, I’ll keep a lookout. If anyone comes, I’ll hoot like an owl.”

  “There are no owls up here,” Ondine said.

  “Exactly, so you’ll know it’s me.” Auntie Col said.

  From his backpack, Alexei took out a grappling hook and cables, then handed them to Hamish. The rest of his pack held what could only be described as a firebug’s dream arsenal. Pinwheels, Roman candles, small rockets and crackers. The noise was going to be intense. They’d have to get this done in one shot or it would all be over for them.

  “Wish me luck, lass.” Hamish gave Ondine a quick kiss before turning into a ferret again.

  Hook in mouth, Shambles scrambled up the transmitter tower, Ondine and Alexei fed the cable after him. Melody rolled her shoulders and made herself ready with whatever she needed so she could astrally project their revolutionary message.

  The cable in Ondine’s hand tugged three times. All set. Shambles shimmied down the struts and landed at Ondine’s feet. Then it was time to take Alexei’s fireworks up there. Being a ferret, he could scarper up and down quickly, but being so small and lacking opposable thumbs meant he had to repeat the climb and descent so many times.

  Then it was time to take the last of the big bangers up the tower. Old Col came over, twirled her hands above the giant cracker and showered it with sparkly white magic. The air felt hot, Ondine took a step back.

  “No need to fret,” Old Col said, “It won’t blow up in our faces.”

  “Nor mine, eh?” Shambles said as he grabbed the firework carefully between his teeth and scrambled up the metal once more.

  This firework had a particularly long fuse, which dangled all the way to the ground. Shambles scurried down for the last time.

  “One more thing,” Old Col said, stepping up to the tower leg. She pressed her hands against the metal. Light beamed from her palms and the rivets on one side popped free. “Now!” She yelled.

  Alexei struck a match and lit the fuse. The tiny flame raced up the tower leg. For the tiniest of semi-seconds nothing happened, then the most thunderous racket broke out as the fireworks exploded in a brilliant chain reaction. Had this been any normal celebratory night, it would have been gorgeous to gaze upon the sparkles in the sky. Red, green, orange and yellow clusters burst out from the tower, looking impossibly pretty. The structure began to sag and bend a little.

  “Heave now!” Hamish cried out in his Shambles form. (He hadn’t yet changed back.)

  Ondine, and Alexei pulled together on the cables. As they hauled and strained, Ondine was stricken with panic that the noise and sight of the incandescent colours in the sky would bring all the guards down on their heads. Suddenly Hamish was beside them, dressed again, pulling on the cables as well. Everything shuddered and groaned, until, like a statue of a deposed tyrant, the tower came down in a sudden rush of creaking, twisted metal. It tumbled over the edge of the platform and dropped down the side of the cliff. It came to rest in a mangled heap at the foot of the mountain, next to the base of the waterfall.

  “Now Melody!” Old Col said.

  “On it!” Melody said, standing tall and holding her hands wide as she looked over Venzelemma.

  The rest of them stood in frightened silence while Melody projected her message. Inside her head, Ondine could hear Melody pleading with all good people of Brugel to take to the streets and gather in Savo Plaza. “Turn the lights on in your homes to show you heard the message. Join the revolution!”

  Please let this work, please let this work, and hurry up and work because we made so much noise people will be here any second.

  Slowly – so slowly Ondine thought she was imagining it – lights came on across the city. Neighbourhoods brightened as homes lit from within, chasing away the gloom. Venzelemma shone brightly.

  “It’s done,” Melody said, her hands falling to her sides. “I gave the message. Savo Plaza, nine tonight.”

  “Nine?” Everyone else said.

  “Doesn’t give us much time to get there ourselves,” Old Col said. “Can’t have a revolution if there’s no-one to lead it.”

  Filled with excitement and adrenaline, the five of them made for the railway to scramble back down and get away.

  A familiar, haughty voice said from the darkness, “You won’t be going anywhere.”

  Ondine should have known things had gone far too well for them, as she turned to face her nemesis, Mrs Howser. “You’ve lost!” She said. “You’re too late! We got the message out!”

  “I don’t think so.” Mrs Howser raised her hands and shot a bolt of cold light straight into Ondine.

  The magic lifted Ondine off the ground, spinning her in the air. Ondine screamed as she tumbled and tipped. Hamish leapt at Mrs Howser. Mid leap, she blasted him sideways. Ondine kept spinning, tumbling and turning and flipping and flopping, nausea threatening to spill out at any moment.

  A bolt of green magic shone in the sky. It hit Howser hard on her side; she screamed and fell on the ground. Ondine dropped with a sickening lurch, falling not on rocky ground but into Hamish’s waiting arms. “I’ve got you lass.”

  “Get out of here, kids!” Old Col shouted, her stance ready for battle.

  Old Col? Firing bolts of witchcraft? What a brilliant time to have a magical hot flash!

  “I’m going to enjoy this,” Mrs Howser said as she righted herself, seemingly unharmed. “The young ones should stay.” Howser summoned purple orbs of magic, growing them in her palm. “They can watch me destroy you!”

  Hamish grabbed Ondine and pulled her towards the funicular. Melody and Alexei were right behind them. Troops marched into position near the top of the railway, blocking their exit.

  “Jupiter’s moons, now what?” Panic raced through Ondine.

  “This way,” Melody yelled.

  Melody darted off. Old Col kept trading magic blasts with Howser. One incendiary flash after another.

  “Get out of here!” Old Col yelled at them.

  On the four ran, slipping and tripping over the wet and rocky ground.

  “Where are we going?” Ondine asked, then saw the answer. The waterfall, straight ahead.

  “There’s a path behind it, over this way,” Melody yelled back.

  Boom! A blue flash from Mrs Howser transformed the waterfall into solid ice, blocking their escape. The freeze extended to everything damp, spreading like an ice-fire, freezing grass, mud and Ondine’s feet. Stamping hard on the ground, chunks of ice fell off her shoes, but she couldn’t feel her frozen toes.

  They were trapped. They had troops behind them, a wall of ice in front, a steep hill to one side and a vertiginous drop to the other. Panicking, Ondine looked to Old Col, still trading magic blasts with Howser. In a crackle of light and boom of thunder, Col split a green ball of magic in two. One headed to Howser, the other straight to Ondine.

  Ondine threw herself down. What a time for Col’s magic to wonk out! But no, the wayward ball of light was deliberate. It flew over her head and hit the waterfall, carving a slalom-style slide across the face of the vertical drop. Melody and Alexei ran for it. Hamish hauled Ondine up and ran towards their icy escape route.

  Ratttatatatatata! Bullets fired over their heads.

  Melody and Alexei leapt onto the slide. In a swoosh, they vanished down the slope, twisting and flailing around a hairpin bends Col had magically carved out of the ice.

  “Col! Hurry!” Ondine yelled
as Hamish dragged her to the slide.

  “Get going!” Col yelled back.

  It was all the distraction Howser needed. The evil witch threw an enormous bolt of deepest purple straight into Old Col’s chest, sending her sprawling.

  “No!” Ondine cried out, clawing at Hamish to let her go.

  “We havetae go!” Hamish yelled back, pulling her onto the slide and away from the mayhem.

  Down they went, sliding and twisting out of control. Ondine could see the mountain, the purple glowing sparks from Howser as she aimed both hands towards Old Col and blasted her. Col screamed. Ondine screamed; her skin froze as she slipped further away from Col.

  “Get up, Col! Get up!” Ondine begged as they dropped away from the battle. Twisting around, she fought to get a clear view, but Hamish was barrelling after her, his body in the way. Another bend, other sickening lurch and she twisted around again. No more green sparks flew on the mountain. Only that horrible purple, all raining down on her great aunt, who wasn’t moving any more.

  A guttural sob came from Ondine at the thought Old Col was dead. That Mrs Howser had killed her. By staying behind, Col had saved Ondine and her friends, but not herself. Then a sickening crash smacked into her as the slide ended and the road came up to meet them.

  Hamish dragged her to her feet. “Come on, Ondi, we havetae get away.”

  A bolt of cold light slammed the ground, sending dirt and ice exploding into the air. Another soon followed, shattering the ice slide. At least Mrs Howser wouldn’t be able to follow them down that way.

  Dodging magic, live bullets and icy debris, the four of them ran off to the shrubbery, to the place where they’d parked their bicycles.

  Melody was the one with a clear head, she found the bikes first.

  Crying while riding, Ondine gulped for air and sobbed every breath. On she rode, with blurry vision and runny nose. Grief had her in its grip and she couldn’t stop it. Great Auntie Col was dead.

  Ahead of her, Alexei and Melody kept up a punishing pace. A shirtless Hamish pedalled alongside, urging her to keep going. The next long while passed in a blur of narrow bike paths and alleys, Alexei choosing the routes where cars couldn’t follow. Ondine lost all track of time and purpose as a single thought beat the drum of her heart.