by M S C Barnes
“Dierne, take Morgan if you please; I will take Dom. Alice, can you escort Greg?” Alice nodded. “And Seb, Trudy is in your care.”
There was no messing around. Instantly, Dierne and Alice swooped over, picked up their charges and were on their way back to the boat before Seb had realised what he was being asked to do. Without hesitation, Dom allowed Aelfric to pick him up and now Aelfric stood, waiting, as Seb looked awkwardly at Trudy, wondering how he was going to carry her. Although she was much shorter than him, she was a little powerhouse; he thought he would struggle to lift her. As he bent towards her she frowned at him. Then suddenly, her face brightened.
“Piggy-back Seb? Probably the easiest way for you.” She actually chuckled.
Seb smiled and turned his back. In one leap she was on, clinging around his neck with her arms, her thighs jammed against his sides. She was remarkably light and as Aelfric set off with Dom, Seb followed without any difficulty. Pace had not moved more than a foot from his side and now the wolf loped along with him once more, running as though on dry land.
In the moonlight the shimmering pathway stretched yards ahead of them, moving forward with them as, once used by the Custodians, each asrai glided forward to lie under the water at the head of the path and provide their service again. Walking quickly, the wind in his face, Seb followed the curve of the path past St Michael’s Mount towards the waiting boat. Alice and Dierne had already reached it and in a few minutes Seb and Aelfric joined them. Having deposited The Caretaker and Greg on the deck, the Dryads swooped down and took Trudy and Dom from Seb and Aelfric.
Standing by the barnacle-crusted hull, the waves hacking at its planks, Seb watched the asrais swim down beneath it and take positions along its length. The water under the boat glowed blue-white. He stared at his feet, at the outline of fingers grasping his boots, and then looked at the face of the asrai still assisting him. It was a female, and she gazed back at him impassively.
She looked about thirty-five, and although, as a human, would probably not have been thought particularly beautiful, as a spectral, glowing outline she looked stunning.
What did you do? He thought. Who did you kill?
“How long do they have to serve a Custodian for before they can be released?” Seb asked Aelfric, looking up, and the troubled look returned to Aelfric’s face.
“I am not a party to that calculation, Seb. When Nature deems the soul fit to return to sleep, then they are released. For some it is a night only, for others many years. But without the chance to serve,” he glanced down, “they must wait until an opportunity arises to save a life and that could be,” he paused, frowning, “very much longer.”
By now Dierne and Alice had returned and, lifting the two Custodians, carried them up to the deck. As Seb placed his feet on the firm surface, Pace landed next to him.
Tracking
After the wet and cold outside, the living area of the boat felt like a haven. Seb’s hair was dripping, his trouser legs soaked, and he shivered while his body adjusted to the sudden warmth. Aelfric closed the door, cutting off the noise from the wind and sea and the contrasting quiet was a further relief. That, however, was soon shattered by Greg’s loud, squeaky exclamation.
“My word. Is this your home Aelfric?” He glanced around at the comfortable quarters, smiling. “A yacht. Who’d have guessed a yacht?”
Trudy looked surprised too, as she took in her surroundings. “Amazing,” she said.
“It is not what I imagined at all,” Dom agreed with them. “But a lovely home Aelfric.”
Only The Caretaker, remaining by the doorway, hood up, said nothing.
Aelfric took off his coat, then put an arm out for Seb to hand him his.
“If you will excuse me for a moment,” he said, “I will bring up some towels. Please, do sit down.”
As he disappeared below decks Greg continued talking.
“It’s unusual, that’s for sure. I had envisaged — well, I don’t know what I had envisaged.” Then a thought seemed to pop into his head and he looked at Dierne. “Where are the crew?” He paused, then added, “Who are the crew?”
Seb thought Dierne looked defensive. As if weighing up what to say, he was slow to answer.
“The asrais,” he said, eventually.
Greg was astounded. “What?” He turned to Dom, who also looked shocked. “But they are —”
“Souls, Greg.” Aelfric, re-appearing from below decks carrying a bundle of towels, walked towards him.
For a moment Greg simply stared at him in astonishment and then, unable to maintain eye contact, he looked at, and took, the towel Aelfric was offering.
Handing out towels to the others, Aelfric again invited them to take a seat, ushering Seb towards the great armchair. He didn’t sit himself, but stood, with his back to the amazing panorama outside, and Seb could see, by the lights on St Michael’s Mount, that the boat was gradually turning starboard. Pace, his fur completely dry, came and lay beside the big chair.
Greg sat on the sofa. He still looked troubled. Aelfric addressed him.
“Greg, I know you do not approve, but this is not the time to discuss it. We need to deal with the problem at hand.”
As though snapped out of his reverie, Greg lifted his head, glanced at Dom who had sat beside him, and then nodded.
“I do not disapprove Aelfric. I am just — surprised.” His frown disappeared. “And you are right, we need to deal with this issue.
“Dom and I are in agreement with you — this is sympathetic influence. You described the pain as if something sharp was being driven through Seb’s chest and also that it wasn’t just a piercing pain, but seared flesh too?” He turned to Seb, who instinctively put his hand to his chest and shuddered. He nodded. Alice, who had been hovering beside the chair, moved closer and perched on the armrest.
“And it was limited to the one area?” Dom asked, leaning forward.
Seb, grimacing, pointed to his breast bone. “Yes, right here,” he said.
“We believe, therefore, that it is imitative,” Dom said. “In order to direct the attack to one specific part of the body an image must have been created — an effigy.” His forehead crumpled into a deep frown. “And that is a bigger problem than if it had been contagious.” Seb’s heart sank as Dom continued in his slow, mournful voice. “If it had been contagious, then the effect would have been over the whole body, and the sample — whether that was a piece of clothing that had been in touch with Seb’s body, or a hair from his head — would have been exhausted. Whoever is doing this would have had to do to the sample exactly what they wanted Seb to experience. If they wished to evoke the sensation of burning, for example, they would have had to burn the sample, thereby destroying it. So, unless they have a plentiful supply of samples, that would put paid to any further attempts at harm if the first was unsuccessful.”
Greg nodded quickly. “Yes, but this localised pain suggests a single, violent act inflicted on the chest area. And that suggests one sample — one tag-lock — embedded within an effigy, creating a tool that can be used multiple times, in so many different ways.” Seb stared blankly at Greg who, drops of salt water glistening in his frizzy hair, tried to give him a re-assuring smile before he continued. “We also believe that the darkness you were feeling, Aelfric,” he looked up at him, “was the effect of the attacker tracking Seb. In order to make this attack as catastrophic as possible, they found it necessary to locate him precisely. Once they had, the attack could take place.”
Dom looked glum and then Greg, looking interestedly at Aelfric, said, “May I ask how you stopped the attack on Seb? Because, if you had not, the brutal ferocity of it, I feel, would have killed him.”
Aelfric seemed reluctant to answer. Eventually he said, “I used the power of the wolf-stags to push whatever was being driven into Seb’s body — out.”
“Well, it is likely then, that you used the link formed by the tag-lock to force the instrument of harm out of the effigy. For example, if it was
a burning pin, thrust into the chest of the effigy — which I suspect it was — the pin was forced back out. If you hadn’t it could have been a fatal wound. It is a wonder Seb survived. It seems that whoever is doing this wants him dead.” There was silence as everyone mulled over Greg’s words.
For Seb, mulling them over consisted of trying to control the rising panic they caused. There was someone out there that wished him dead and had tracked him, targeted him and attacked him without his even being aware they existed. Trying not to let his fear show on his face, he kept his eyes down, watching the rise and fall of Pace’s chest as the wolf slept. He was concious Alice had turned and was watching him. He sensed everyone else was too.
“You’ll be okay Seb,” Alice’s voice entered his head. “Aelfric looked after you before. He can do it again if there is another attack.”
As Alice’s words finished, Dom’s were beginning, “If the attacker knows Seb survived, which is likely since you broke the tag-lock, Aelfric, then he is still at risk and it is only a matter of time before he is located once more and there is a further attack.”
“Then what do we do?” Trudy looked angry.
Greg spoke quietly, almost mumbling, “We have only one option: find whoever has committed this act and prevent them attacking again.”
“I am sorry,” Alice said, looking embarrassed that he had interrupted. “Scarlet is saying her mother is waking.”
“Lily sends the same message,” Dierne added.
“Well, we knew time would be short,” Greg said, sadly.
Seb, confused, spoke silently to Alice, “What does that mean?”
“After you lost conciousness, Seb, Aelfric called Lily. She went back to Scarlet’s room with her and together they put something in a cup of tea Scarlet made for your mother. It made her fall asleep — before she realised you were gone. They couldn’t have her raising the alarm when she discovered you were missing, and they certainly couldn’t explain all this to her.” Seb nodded. “Scarlet told The Taz your mum was ill and she gave him tea and put him to bed. But now it appears the sleeping draft has worn off.”
“Thank you Dierne, Alice,” Aelfric said, stepping forward. “We must trust Lily and Scarlet to work this through.” He turned to Greg and Dom who were sat side-by-side on the sofa. “I need your guidance.”
Dom sat more erect and Greg nodded, then put a hand to his chin, looking thoughtful.
“I detected nothing regarding this darkness until you pointed it out and I witnessed Seb’s change in demeanour at the cottage,” he said after a moment. “And I can still feel no trace of this maleficence — no locale to direct our search towards.” He shook his head. “You said, however, that Nat did sense it. She is attuned to Seb, to his emotions, to the normal aura and vibrations his soul generates. I believe, therefore, she may be able to detect more of what was causing the disturbance around him and its possible source.”
Aelfric regarded Greg thoughtfully and then said, “Alice, contact Nat please, and ask her to get ready. I will open the door in a few minutes.”
Alice smiled. “Actually, she is awake. She knows something is wrong and has been asking where we are.”
“Okay. She will need a warm coat,” Aelfric said and Alice gave a nod. “Dierne, my friend.” Aelfric turned to his twin, “If you could collect her please?”
Dierne nodded and as Aelfric opened the glass doors and walked onto the deck, he whizzed through behind him and darted left, over the side of the yacht. Watching him go, Aelfric lifted his hand and swept it towards the promontory of rocks where he knew the door was located.
The wind was more ferocious now as it rushed in from the deck to the living area, and the prow of the boat rocked up and down as it forged its way through what had become a stormy sea.
In moments, Dierne was landing on the deck, cradling Nat in his arms. He brought her straight inside and Aelfric closed the door on the storm.
As soon as Dierne placed her on the floor Nat, ignoring everyone else, rushed over to Seb and threw her arms around him.
“You are okay then?” she mumbled into his ear, “I was so worried.” Her hair smelled of coconut conditioner and he brushed a wet strand of it away from her face.
“I’m fine,” he whispered. Her body felt warm against his, but he could feel her trembling. “Are you?” he said. “You’re shaking.”
“Er-hum,” Greg interrupted. “Sorry to intrude, but time is pressing and we need your help, Nat.” Standing, he offered her his seat.
Realising that everyone was watching them, Nat gave Seb a disappointed smile and reluctantly leg go of him. But now her eyes fell on Aelfric and she looked suddenly concerned. She opened her mouth to speak. The Caretaker, noticing, took a step forward, puzzled. Seb saw Aelfric give a slight shake of his head and Nat, with a quick nod, closed her mouth and walked across to take the seat Greg had vacated for her.
“I know what happened,” she said, regarding him seriously. Greg looked surprised. “I felt the attack. Not physically.” She shook her head. “I felt the disturbance around Seb.” Her eyes flicked over to his and he wished he could go and sit with her. “What is strange though, is that I have felt nothing since. Nothing at all.”
“Souls are much harder to track on water; being here serves to protect Seb,” Dom said. “Whoever did this will struggle to re-locate him.”
“Yes, he is safe — for the moment,” Greg nodded. “Nat,” he frowned, “we believe someone is using imitative, sympathetic influence to attack Seb.”
She looked bemused. “I don’t know what that means.”
“Voodoo dolls Nat,” Seb said, trying to sound jovial, but knew he simply sounded scared.
She put a hand to her mouth and stifled a gasp.
“In order to prevent another attack on him, we need to find the soul that is casting this influence before they can re-locate him.” Nat looked like she was going to cry. “Were you able to sense anything about who, or where, this influence was coming from? Give us an area, or an identity we can use?”
Taking a deep breath, she composed herself, pondered the question for a minute and then spoke tentatively, “There is nothing now, as I say. But I felt things before, when I was with Seb. It was like I could sense a darkness, and then Seb would suddenly get sad.” Aelfric, nodding, took a step forward. “Well, that was the same darkness I felt earlier tonight, only much, much stronger.” She turned and looked at Aelfric. “It was like something was reaching out, feeling for Seb, and he reacted to it by becoming sad.”
“We believe that was the attacker tracking Seb,” Dom said to her.
“That would make sense. As I say, it was like something was reaching for him. I couldn’t tell where it was coming from tonight, but when I have been with Seb and felt it, it always seemed to come from nearby — from the woods around the cottage.”
“In the vicinity of the cottage …” Dom muttered.
Now Aelfric spoke, “When Seb was attacked at his house, whoever was doing it was nearby — Pace detected them — he howled towards the window just before it happened and, when the influence was brought to bear, he gave the same indication, out of the window upstairs.”
Seb looked down at Pace. The wolf appeared settled which made him feel more secure.
“Whilst sympathetic influence can be used from any distance, I wonder if this attacker wants proximity in order to ensure it has maximum potency? Maybe the sample they have used for the tag-lock isn’t a very good one,” Greg said, “so transferring the intent over distance may limit its effectiveness.”
Dom was nodding. “Fortunately,” he looked at Aelfric, “you have transported Seb a good distance from his home. The attacker will have to re-locate him first, which will be difficult while he is at sea and moving, and then, if Greg is right, they will need to travel to a place near to him to achieve the greatest impact. Which means you have bought us time, Aelfric.”
“Then Seb is safer here,” Aelfric said. “He will remain here until we have located
the person who wishes him harm.”
Now Trudy clenched her fists and almost stamped a foot; she looked as though she were only just controlling her temper. Seb wasn’t sure why and, other than her angry posture, she said nothing. The Caretaker moved across to her and put a hand on her arm. She dropped her head and her shoulders slumped.
“That gives us a matter of hours then. We mustn’t waste them,” The Caretaker said, turning to Aelfric. “Our starting point will be the woods around the cottage.”
Trudy nodded. “Let’s go,” she hissed.
Protection
Seb was stunned at how quickly everything was organised — and how soon he was left alone. Having agreed that the best starting place in the hunt to find his attacker was the woods around the cottage and school, Aelfric’s group had departed. They had taken Nat with them, since she was most likely to be able to pick up any trace that could lead them to that person.
In a reverse process of how they had arrived, each of them was conveyed to shore, to travel back through a doorway to their destination. Seb, however, had not been allowed to take part in carrying the individuals to land. Aelfric believed that the risk of his being re-located was too high. Alice had assisted though, carrying Nat to the mainland as Aelfric and Dierne, having already transported Trudy and The Caretaker, took Greg and Dom.
And so Seb was left alone on a boat piloted by dead souls, with just a giant wolf for company. Staring out at the vast expanse of the sea and the cloud-oppressed, stormy sky, he had never felt so lonely — or so threatened. Someone wanted him dead and now, in the silence, and with no other distractions, his mind was able to dwell on the key question: Who?
No-one had asked that question. He had no idea who could hate him so much they wanted to kill him. The only two souls he could think of that would fit that bill, were locked away in the Soul Drop, sealed in with a Shield Knot which, apparently, meant they could never get out and, more importantly, could not use their minds to stretch their influence to the material world. And so, if not Heath or Braddock, who could it possibly be? And no-one had explained how, whoever this was, had obtained what Greg and Dom called a ‘sample’ of his.