by S McPherson
‘It’s me,’ Nathaniel calls, and relief washes over me when I notice his dishevelled silhouette emerge from the trees. He limps over to us as fast as he can. I keep a finger poised over the gun’s trigger, though I hope I don’t have to use it.
‘The boy with nine lives,’ the man snarls, growling when I press the gun to his temple. ‘You’ll have to actually use that thing if you hope to stop me.’
‘Maybe I will,’ I snap. Nathaniel’s eyes dart to mine as I adjust the gun in my hand. The man watches with mock confidence, a wariness in his eyes as I raise the gun high above my head and he snickers.
‘I’m down here, love.’
‘I know,’ and I bring the weapon smashing down across the side of his head. He drops. Blood gushes from his hair but he’s still conscious. Nathaniel balls his fist and socks the man in the same spot but he merely laughs, so Nathaniel hits him again, harder this time, then again and again and again, right in the centre of his face. Finally, he slumps to one side, unconscious, and Nathaniel shakes out his bloodied knuckles. I wonder how much of it is his.
‘Do you think he’s the only one out here?’ I ask, peering over my shoulder.
‘Probably not,’ Nathaniel grimaces, ‘but hopefully he’s the only one we’re going to meet tonight.’ He massages his shoulder whilst I make my way to my rucksack.
‘Nathaniel, you just teleported,’ I blurt out, only now reliving the last few moments. ‘You’re a Teltreporthi.’
‘That wasn’t me, Dez,’ and his brow furrows, ‘that was you.’
I rummage in my bag. ‘No, it can’t have been; I was being flattened,’ and I pull out a coil of rope before going back over to him. ‘You teleported.’
‘Are you serious?’ Nathaniel asks, his eyes wide. ‘You had purple sparks at your fingertips and your eyes glowed. Next thing I knew, I was over there,’ and he waves his hand in the direction he came from. ‘You really didn’t know?’
I pause, thinking of how my body felt bathed in flames and how flashes of purple sparked in my vision. It was me?
‘It was me,’ I have to agree. The rope burns as I absently drag it through my fingers but I don’t stop. I need something to distract me as realisation smacks me in the face. I did it. I moved Nathaniel from the bullets path. I tapped into whatever C.P. power I have and moved him, but I have no idea how.
Nathaniel comes closer and gently tugs the rope from my hands. ‘It was you, Dez. And thank you.’ He clasps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in. I nod, numbly, robotically.
As I stand there, somewhat dazed, flexing my fingers and trying once again to reach whatever crevice I stored my abilities in, Nathaniel binds the man’s hands and feet together. Even if the jerk wakes up, he’ll have a hard time coming after us.
THE PLAN
I yelp when the portal springs open and Jude races out from whorls of shimmering green. He carries a weighted satchel that swings at his side, despite how tightly he grips the strap draped across his body. His eyes are alight and he grins.
‘They said “Yes”,’ I realise. He opens his mouth to speak then stops as his eyes land on the still unconscious R.U.O.E. member, now gagged with Nathaniel’s torn sleeve and tied to a tree.
Jude stares questioningly at Nathaniel and me. ‘Had some trouble?’
‘Piece of cake,’ Nathaniel retorts, rubbing his bruised cheek. His eye also boasts a purpling blotch and a claw-like gash trails along his collarbone. ‘What’s in the bag?’
Jude smirks, his eyes devious, then kneels to open his satchel. From it he pulls out a metal box on which are switches and knobs. My heart constricts. I know this device…It’s Milo’s. It’s the radio machine he used to channel other worlds, to channel me. I swallow the ball of upset that swells in my throat as memories crowd my mind.
‘That’s Milo’s.’
‘Correct,’ Jude nods. ‘Well, it’s a recreation. They’re calling it the Onacat. Means contact in Coldivian. They’ve given it to us so we can contact them when we need to.’ He then pulls out a crystal ball, an exact replica of the one I already have. ‘And they’ve also given us three of these.’
I frown, ‘Why three?’
Jude’s eyes reclaim their sparkle as he shuffles the items back into the satchel and gets to his feet. Lowering his voice, he steps closer to us and says, ‘Change of plans.’
I still cannot believe what I’m hearing as Jude relays the details of the new plan to his mother and the other Makers. It’s the third time I’m hearing it, but still I listen like it’s the first: amazed, confused and a little frightened.
‘So, the three of you will seek out potential fighters?’
‘Yes.’
‘And then you’ll try to convince them to trade places with their counterparts; folk they have never heard of in a world they have never known?’ asks Michaela, an unofficial member of the Makers—her bloodline makes her a bit of a celebrity down here in Feranvil.
Jude nods, the same smile he has worn for the last hour still on his lips. Nathaniel, Sakiya and I sit less confidently at his side, Sakiya voicing on several occasions how ridiculous she finds the whole thing.
‘And if they should need further convincing, you will contact their Coltis counterpart through this Onacat device?’
Another nod. I bite my lip, watching as the adults watch us and I try to guess what they might be thinking. None of them has scoffed outright, not yet, and Jude passes on the information with such assured confidence, it’s hard to disagree.
‘It will be risky,’ Mrs Edwards breathes at last. ‘Not to mention difficult to persuade people to fight a war that doesn’t directly affect them.’
‘But it will affect them,’ I blurt out, though I’m not fully convinced of the plan myself. ‘The C.P. Myth is true. That means that once Diez is done with the Coltis, he will be coming for us: the converted. I don’t really understand what he wants or why but it seems like a war on magic.’ One that somehow involves me…
Jude dips his head. ‘Fight magic with magic.’
‘Are you sure that’s his plan?’ Fawn asks thoughtfully, losing a finger in his beard. ‘War on magic?’
I shrug, lamely. ‘What else could it be?’
‘Let’s hope we don’t find out,’ Pebble drawls, circling her tongue with a tip of her claw-like nails. ‘Diez is a passionate man. He’s not afraid to go for what he wants, no matter how dark or deadly.’ The corner of her mouth curves up in a sneer so sinister, I shiver. ‘But I don’t think he’s trying to get rid of magic. I bet he’s trying to own it. The question is: why?’
I shift uncomfortably as her gaze lands on me.
‘Well, like you said,’ and Mrs Edwards claps her hands together, ‘let’s hope we don’t find out.’
We begin our search for Corporeal recruits quickly, all of us aware that we have a fortnight to pull this off before the hoped for switch. Though the deal is that no Coltis will be involved and only the Makers know what’s going on, Sakiya is proving harder to shake off than a rash. She follows our every move, and even Imogen seems reluctant to leave us. When, for the third time, Mrs Edwards scolds them for hanging around our booth, prying for information, Imogen pouts and eventually leaves. Sakiya, on the other hand, openly refuses until Mrs Edwards seems to decide it isn’t worth the headache and leaves.
‘So what,’ Sakiya scoffs, following us from the Bar & Grill and towards the moat, ‘you swipe some year books from the nearest college and take your pick?’
I glower at her over my shoulder. ‘Not exactly. We’re going undercover, as prospective students.’
At the start of our private tour around Bentford Sixth Form College, Nathaniel, Jude, Sakiya, and I, listen intently, or at least pretend to. Darcy McHaven, our overly chatty guide, doesn’t notice how our eyes study each student as we pass them in the corridor or how enthusiastically we greet our would-be peers. She doesn’t know that the whole time we are wondering if they will one day be fighting alongside us. Comrades in an unwanted war in a forgott
en world.
Nathaniel excuses himself, saying he’ll catch us up—the satchel containing the onacat slung over his shoulder—and slips into the boy’s loo. As we walk on, I know Nathaniel is contacting Lexovia with the names of the students we have met, the ones who seemed strong, friendly and outgoing.
I brace myself for the next step as Darcy leads us into the school library. I cannot help noting how it pales in comparison to the mesmerising structure of Thornton High’s, with its winding aisles lined with more books than one could possibly count in a lifetime.
As we thought it would be, the library is deserted at this time of day, even the librarian having left for a lunch break. The door clicks shut behind us and I watch as Sakiya rests her hand on it. An orange glow spreads from her fingertips and into the door frame, welding it shut. Jude stays close to Darcy, to obscure her view should she turn around.
‘So this is where you can gather any little gems of knowledge you may wish to acquire,’ Darcy chortles as she meanders down the bare aisles, mammoth gaps between nearly every book. She remains oblivious to how tense the three of us have grown or how we linger behind.
I notice Jude flex his fingers, then his eyes meet mine.
‘Darcy?’ I say, stealing her attention.
‘Yes?’ and she turns to me, her eyes bright and smiling but they soon narrow and her head tilts in confusion as the odd sensation radiates from Jude and into her. It doesn’t take long for her to freeze. I exhale deeply, noting the faint blue tinge that has coloured her tanned flesh.
‘Wow,’ I breathe. In a matter of days—and with nothing but sheer dedication—Jude’s gift has flourished. Unlike mine. If my counterpart weren’t the last Elentrice and current ruler of the Court, I’d put my own name down for this trade and training plan. But like many things, that isn’t an option. I’m too valuable and Lexovia too powerful. There are certain luxuries that neither of us will ever have the freedom to enjoy, like choice.
I tear my gaze away from Darcy and meet Jude and Sakiya’s, their eyes seeming shadowed but strangely alight at the same time. A prearranged knock sounds on the door. It’s Nathaniel. The Coltis are ready and now it’s up to us. We carefully prop Darcy against a bookshelf. Supposedly, she may very well feel dizzy when she eventually thaws, but we all keep to ourselves our silent concern that she may never do so. Jude’s magic isn’t exactly concrete.
‘I’ll come back for her,’ he assures us before placing his still humming hand on the door. Instantly, the frame freezes and Nathaniel pushes his way in, ice and shards of wood flying at us.
‘Ready?’ he asks, and wordlessly we follow him down the hallway lined with science labs and computer rooms until we finally gain the college grounds. Out here the buildings are tall and grey, the sky pulled low with clouds that hang like sacks of grain. Students mill about, resting under trees or perched on benches, some around the odd table or two.
‘There,’ Sakiya announces, gesturing with a tilt of her chin, ‘and there.’ Though Sakiya may be against the plan, she has certainly been a great asset to have in our corner. I follow her direction and notice the girl we were fleetingly introduced to earlier. She still wears dancing gear, her wavy red locks wound into lazy pigtails, pink-rimmed glasses resting on her nose as she flicks through the pages of a book. She sits cross-legged on the grass, munching on what looks like baby carrots, and gulps from a large flask.
‘Victoria Burns,’ Nathaniel says, consulting his list. “Dancer. Strong,” he adds. I remember how we briefly watched her in class, launching her body into a one-handed handstand, as though she was nothing more than air.
‘And that one?’ Jude asks, indicating the boy Sakiya had first spotted. He has an easy smile, dark eyes and equally dark hair that’s spiked to perfection. He laughs with some friends, leaning lazily against a bench. He’s tall, at least six foot, and his muscles are well-formed, begging to be freed from his T-shirt.
‘Derek Emry,’ Nathaniel says. “Approachable. Well-built,” he further reads out.
‘You two go to him,’ I instruct Nathaniel and Sakiya; ‘we’ll go to Victoria.’
Nathaniel nods. He pulls a crystal ball from his satchel and presses it into my hands. I cover it with my jacket.
‘They’re ready when you are,’ he says. I know he’s talking about Lexovia, and Victoria’s counterpart, whoever she might be. I nod, and steadily Jude and I approach Victoria, leaving Sakiya and Nathaniel behind.
Victoria looks up as we reach her, a moment of confusion creasing her face until she says, ‘Tour.’
‘That’s right,’ I beam, my heart thrumming in my chest.
She looks about us. ‘Where’s darling Darcy?’ she scoffs.
‘She thought we might like to get acquainted with existing students on our own,’ I lie, easily, as I sit beside her.
Victoria snorts, ‘That’s a first.’
We each chuckle and Jude joins us on the grass. I glance over my shoulder. Nathaniel and Sakiya are chatting easily with Derek, slowly luring him away from his friends. Jude pinches my toes. On the outside it looks like no more than a friendly pat but I know he is urging me to get on with it. Lunch will be ending soon and there’s still two others we need to find here.
‘So…’ I have practiced this speech so many times in my head, but now it’s time to recite it, the words feel false and useless. ‘Do you know anything about a land called Coldivor?’
Victoria cocks an eyebrow. ‘No,’ she replies, clearly bemused.
Drat! I’d so hoped she would say ‘Yes’. I shift uncomfortably. The onacat feels like a lead weight at my side. ‘It’s another realm, running parallel to this one.’
Victoria throws her head back in laughter. I’m not sure what response I’d hoped for but decide laughter is better than screaming or running for the hills. She looks from Jude and back to me, her red tendrils falling into her face like dancing flames.
‘What is this?’ she chirrups, humour sparking in her eyes. ‘Did dopey Darcy put you up to this?’
Sighing, I reveal the crystal ball and wave my hand over it. Victoria smothers her grin with her hand, but when faces appear in the ball, her smile falters.
‘Dezaray?’ Lexovia checks.
‘Hi, Lex, I have Victoria Burns with me.’
Victoria stares from the ball to Jude and to me, then back again. Her face is wary as she waits for an explanation. It’s almost as if she expects us to declare it as some new-age technology, though she’s also clearly wondering why we’ve chosen to share it with her, and why in such a peculiar way.
I look into the ball and see Lexovia turn to behind her, gesturing for someone to step forward, and shortly afterwards, Victoria’s counterpart appears. This girl has a round face, one dotted with freckles, and has short-cropped hair the colour of wheat. She stares out at us, her green eyes seeming almost as in awe as Victoria’s. The two study each other. Victoria tilts her head one way and then the other, as if she expects the girl to do the same.
‘In Coldivor there are people who look like us,’ and I gesture lamely at the ball, ‘that have abilities we thought impossible.’
Victoria doesn’t move. Doesn’t even blink. A part of me wants to look and see how Sakiya and Nathaniel are faring but I feel any movement could send Victoria screaming through the school.
‘Hello,’ the girl in Coldivor finally says, quite clearly better prepared than Victoria, ‘I’m Tessa Duvorky. I’m a Fuerté and if you dig deep enough, you’ll find that you are too.’
A strangulated sound escapes Victoria, her eyes now so wide I’m sure they could tumble from their sockets.
‘Fuerté’s have extraordinary strength,’ I explain. I extend a hand, debating whether or not to place it comfortingly on Victoria’s shoulder. She flinches and so I let my hand drop to my side.
‘I cannot believe I’m actually looking at my counterpart,’ Tessa gushes; ‘you’re beautiful.’ She grins widely. ‘We’re beautiful.’
‘England has a past.’ I push my h
air behind my ears, not quite meeting Victoria’s still gaping eyes. ‘One they don’t want anybody to know about, but we do, and it’s a past everyone should know.’
For the first time, Victoria blinks. Her eyes close, and I wonder if she’ll reopen them as she drags her hands down her face. At last she does, seeming dejected to find us still sitting here, Tessa still admiring her from inside the crystal.
‘So, you’re saying that you are me…but in another world?’ Victoria says, slowly. I assume she’s addressing Tessa, though she keeps her eyes down.
‘I am,’ Tessa says, ‘and you’re me in another world. We’re counterparts and the powers I have lay dormant in you.’
‘We want to wake them up,’ I say, ‘if you’re ready, that is.’
Victoria meets my eye, hers awash with confusion and despair. I can almost see the words “Why me?” running through her mind. I simper and lift a half-hearted shoulder, a weak apology.
‘I know it’s a lot to take in, but it’s true,’ I say. ‘There is so much more to this world than you can possibly imagine, and we’re willing to show you.’
‘Why?’ she asks, warily.
My teeth curl my bottom lip. ‘Because the world needs us.’
‘Here,’ and Jude shuffles forward, rummages in his back pocket and pulls out the makeshift business cards we quickly threw together, about the same size as normal business cards but made from some type of hard plastic. Printed on them, in a font I’ve never seen, are the words: “Unlock your potential. Change the world,” and in the background is the half-tone crest of Coldivor . I watch in what feels like slow motion as Jude presses the card into Victoria’s hand, flipping it over to reveal an address, date and time printed on the back. ‘I hope we see you there.’
And with that, Jude gets to his feet.
‘I hope to see you too,’ I say, hesitant to leave her, now worried about her mental stability.
‘I can’t wait,’ Tessa enthuses.