Marking Time (The Immortal Descendants)

by April White

  So, outmaneuvered on that one, he suddenly changed tactics. He grabbed Tom’s arm and yanked him forward. For some reason, Tom closed his eyes. And then Seth shot him.

  Just like that.

  Shot him.

  The sound was so deafening I felt like I might never hear anything again. Except Tom’s screaming. And suddenly it was the only thing I could hear. Seth kind of went crazy because Tom was screaming so loudly, right in his face. He pushed him away, toward Archer, who grabbed Tom and pulled him behind him.

  Archer locked his eyes on mine. “Run!”

  Archer stepped forward, straight at Seth, who backed up and forgot to look at me. I grabbed Tom’s good arm and dragged him behind me. And we ran.

  Tom’s gunshot wound must have been a flesh wound, because he could run just fine. As soon as we were moving he stopped screaming. I could see shadows on the walls as the adults came running from Nancy’s Steps and suddenly I flashed back to what Ava told me about seeing me and Tom running away from shadows.

  Score one for the Seers.

  I headed straight for Nancy’s Steps. I knew Archer was buying me time to get there and I wasn’t going to waste the opportunity for anything. But I felt sick to my stomach. Archer was back there, face to face with Seth and his gun.

  And at least four more Immortal Descendants were headed right for them. Big ones. Powerful ones. Ones who probably hated Suckers as much as their kids did. I wanted to vomit. But I had to trust that Archer would be okay, even with a couple Seers and Mongers about to descend on him. Fear for him threatened to overwhelm me, but I kept running, because I knew Tom and I were in the middle of a hailstorm that was way bigger than us.

  Just before the entrance to Nancy’s steps I pulled up to catch my breath. Blood was seeping down Tom’s sleeve and he clutched the wound in his arm with blood-stained fingers.

  “Are you okay?”

  Tom winced. “Even though I knew it would happen, it bloody hurts to be shot.”

  “You knew and you didn’t try to stop it?”

  “It doesn’t work like that. You can’t change your fate.”

  “I don’t believe that!” I was suddenly, irrationally furious at him. “I think it’s just one possibility. Not the only one!”

  “Tom?”

  An urgent whisper called out from behind one of the bridge columns. I tensed and very nearly bolted, but then Adam emerged into the light from the streetlamp and I fought back the crazy urge to run into his arms.

  His eyes locked on mine for a second, and then he spotted the blood on Tom’s hand. His face went rigid. “What happened?”

  “Seth Walters shot me.”

  I wondered if Tom had heard the conversation among the adults about his alleged parentage. I hoped he hadn’t. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than finding out the Monger enforcer could be your dad. And it made me hate him all the more for having shot his own son.

  Adam grabbed Tom in a rough hug in that way guys have of being affectionate and still cool. Tom winced in pain and Adam let go quickly. Then he turned back to me. His eyes quickly searched me for any signs of injury before he wrapped me in his arms. It felt good to be there. Really good. But like a brother, good, not like a boyfriend.

  I thought maybe I already had one of those.

  “I have to go, Adam.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  Ava stepped out of the shadows. Mr. Shaw was right behind her. My eyes caught the Bear’s. I couldn’t even describe the relief I felt at seeing him there. Like maybe the grownups would take over and make everything okay.

  I spoke directly to Mr. Shaw. “The Mongers will kill Archer if they can.”

  Adam looked confused. “Who’s Archer?”

  I ignored him and focused on Mr. Shaw. Tom backed me up. “Seth Walters shot me. He’ll kill the Sucker to get to Saira.”

  Adam sounded appalled. “Sucker? You’re here with a Sucker?” Now everyone ignored him.

  Mr. Shaw looked at me for a long moment. “Do they know?”

  They, who? I was guessing he meant do the Mongers know I’m a mixed blood? “There’s a book. A genealogy that might name me. But I don’t know.”

  Adam was about to speak again but Ava shushed him fiercely. He shut up.

  Mr. Shaw’s gaze never left mine, but I could swear his eyes softened slightly in sympathy and pain. “I’ll do what I can.”

  I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until I finally let it go. “Thank you.” Mr. Shaw started to stride away, then stopped and turned back to me. He handed me a package wrapped up in cloth and tied with twine. “What is it?” The package was fairly light, an about the size of my hand.

  “A neuraminidase inhibitor.” I waited for him to translate and he smiled faintly, the first smile I’d seen from him. “It stops the spread of viruses through the body.”

  I narrowed my eyes, understanding slowly dawning. “Like maybe porphyria?”

  He smiled then, properly, and I could tell he was proud of me for getting it. “We don’t know exactly, but we suspect it can. It was designed to stop the spread of H1N1 and avian flu.”

  Valuable stuff. I put it in my bag. “Thank you Mr. Shaw.”

  He hesitated, and then finally said. “I’m sorry… about before. I was scared for you when I saw… in the microscope.” He glanced at the others, said simply. “Forgive me, Saira.” He turned and headed back down the alley. I suddenly didn’t want him to go. “I met Will.” I called after him.

  The science teacher stopped in his tracks, but didn’t turn back to face me. His shoulders tensed and he growled. “Tell him I have his microscope.”

  “I think he’d probably like that.”

  Mr. Shaw hesitated a moment, like there was something else he wanted to say, but he must have changed his mind, because he strode away from me, toward Archer and the Mongers. I couldn’t tell if the news made him sad or angry, but I suddenly wished I could bring Mr. Shaw back with me to meet his great, great, great uncle.

  Ava was tending Tom’s arm and Adam was watching me carefully. I spoke to Tom. “Tell Ava and Adam everything, including the half-part.”

  Tom looked scared and shook his head ‘no.’ I wouldn’t let go of his gaze. “Tell them, Tom. It’s why they took you, and why they want me too.”

  He stared at me in surprise. “But you’re not half!”

  “Ask Mr. Shaw about that.”

  Adam had been watching us like a tennis match, but then he fixed his gaze on me. “I don’t know what’s been going on and I’m pretty bummed you didn’t trust me enough to tell me. But whatever. You’re my friend and I’m coming with you.” His jaw was set in a way lesser mortals would have been swayed by, but today I was not feeling lesser. If anything, I was more confident and sure of what was right than I’d ever been before.

  “We are friends, Adam. But you have to stay here. I need your help.”

  “With what?” He sounded skeptical.

  “Archer is a Vampire, but he’s been protecting me since before I got here. Please help Mr. Shaw save him from the rest of the Families. They’ll hate him because of what he is, but they don’t know who he is.”

  Adam’s skepticism hardened on his face. He really didn’t like what I’d asked him to do. But then Tom spoke, and I could have kissed him. “Dude, the Sucker’s not that bad. For a Sucker.”

  Ava suddenly piped up. “Of course we’ll help him, Saira.”

  I included them all in my relief. “Thank you guys. For everything.” Then I focused my gaze back on Adam. “Alexandra said to tell you she misses you.” Adam stared at me in shock. For all his sight he hadn’t seen that one coming. “She didn’t leave because of you. She left for you. Seth Walters threatened her and she ran because she knew you wouldn’t.”

  “Where is she?” His voice practically shook with emotion. I knew he’d react the way he did, and part of me was a little sad. It’s nice when a big studly guy has a crush on you. It had certainly never happened to me before, but his
mother hadn’t been wrong when she’d warned me about it.

  “There’s a café near Whitechapel Station. She works there. Archer can show you.” If he lives. The thought weighed so heavily on me it was everything I could do to keep moving forward, toward Nancy’s Steps.

  I included Ava and Tom in my gaze. “I have to go back. I have to get my mom.”

  Ava suddenly leapt forward and pressed a small linen sack into my hand. “Your coin. I got a lot for it. The guy wants more if you can get them.” I gave a half smile. “I’ll see what I can do. Thank you, Ava, you’re the best!” Impulsively I hugged her, and then I looked at Adam. “Get the genealogy book if you can. I think everything’s in it. Ask Archer about it because he was there.”

  Tom sounded surprised. “I’ve seen that book. Seth showed it to the Rothbitch.”

  I gave Adam a quick hug. “Please go find Alex. And make things right between you guys.”

  Adam hugged me back, hard. “Come back to us. I still have a lot to learn from you, Clocker.”

  “And a lot to teach me, Seer.”

  Ava suddenly jumped up and took my hands. “I can’t see the past, you know that, right?” I nodded. How useful it would have been to have a little fore-knowledge of what I was going back to. “But you bring your mom back here. I’ve seen it.”

  “What else did you see?” Ava looks at Adam as if to ask permission. My eyes narrow. “Adam, we had a deal about the visions.”

  Adam nods at Ava. “You’re sad when you come back. Profoundly sad. I don’t know why.”

  And how do you like them apples? That’s what I get for asking. “Well, at least I’m coming back, huh?”

  Another gunshot rang out, and shouting echoed down the alley. I started to bolt toward the sounds, but Adam grabbed me. His voice was low in my ear. “They want you, but they can’t find you back there. Go while you still can. We’ll help Shaw with your Sucker.” I was so relieved when he said that I almost gasped. I didn’t know if Archer and Adam would ever be friends, but at least Adam was willing to help. If Archer was still alive that was.

  I nodded, my eyes filling with tears. “Tom, you can come with me if you want to. Adam’s right. They can’t find us then.”

  Tom paled a little. “I’d rather take my chances here, but thanks.”

  “We’ll keep you safe. And you too, Saira, if you want to stay.”

  I shook my head. “Jack the Ripper disappears from history after his last murder, and if I don’t go now, I may never be able to track down my mom.” My voice broke as I looked at Adam. “I have to go.”

  “And you’ll be back.” His whisper sent a shiver through me.

  With a last, lingering look at friends I never thought I’d make, and now couldn’t imagine living without, I turned and ran down Nancy’s Steps into the London Bridge catacombs.

  Into the Darkness

  I barely even noticed the animatronic ghouls and ghosts as I sprinted for my spiral room at the back of the tunnels. I found it easily enough, and after checking that I wasn’t being followed, started tracing the design. Between the slamming of my heart and the clock ticking on an appointment I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make, I was barely even concerned about the impending nausea of traveling through the time portal.

  The edges of the spiral glowed and the humming filled my ears and whole body with the sensation of being pulled. I felt my stomach drop somewhere around my knees and when everything finally stopped, I was barely conscious.

  Fortunately I’d landed with my back to the old brick wall, because it took a long time for the dizziness to pass. The room looked different than either of the two times I’d been there before. It was empty and dusty and very, very dark. I fumbled in my bag for my Maglite. I’d put fresh batteries in and it clicked on with a satisfying white glow. Okay, now to find my other supplies.

  My old knapsack was still where Archer had hidden it, behind a loose brick in the wall. If I was right, and I’d traveled back to 1888 again, the bag had been hidden in the wall for about twenty-five years. Which meant the chloroform inside was older than I was. That couldn’t be good. I wondered if chloroform was a very unstable compound. Hopefully not.

  I emptied the contents of the knapsack into Archer’s leather bag, but barely took stock of my supplies. For the first time in my life I wished I could wear a watch. It had to be very close to 7pm, the time Ringo had set to meet Mary Kelly, and if I didn’t make it back to the loft, I’d have no idea how to find them.

  I made it down the tunnel toward Nancy’s Steps. The corridors were lined with boxes, much like the catacombs had been when Archer and I had hidden the bag, but there was a new gate at the bottom of Nancy’s Steps and the chain wrapped around the iron bars was fastened with a heavy lock. I shook the gate and rattled the chain. It was fastened tight. And bolt cutters hadn’t been part of my survival kit.

  “Help!” I shook the gate again for emphasis. I honestly had no idea how I was going to get out of this locked catacomb. I yelled again, but only the scurrying rats answered. I supposed I could go back to my time, get out of the tunnels, go past the Mongers with their guns and who knew what else was still lurking, and go through the spiral under the bridge. Or maybe…

  I ran back to my spiral room and found the design on the wall. What had Doran said? It was possible to travel between locations as well as times, but I needed a clear picture in my mind of where I wanted to go. I held my Maglite between my teeth and started tracing the spiral. My fingers found their own way, so I closed my eyes and imagined myself tracing the same spiral outside on the bridge column. I felt the hum and stretch come on and for the first time since I’d discovered I could travel through spirals, I surrendered to it, trying to keep my focus on the image in my mind. It was taking too long. It wasn’t working.

  And then suddenly it did. I was outside in the dark and chill of a November night under the London Bridge. I peered around, almost afraid to look too closely in case I had jumped time. But everything looked almost comfortingly familiar. Never thought I’d say that about 1888, but despite the horrors that might await me, I was glad to be back. I looked forward to seeing Ringo, and barely allowed myself to hope I’d see Archer again… before... I got slammed by a wave of guilt, so I firmly shut the door on that line of thought.

  The quay was still populated with drinkers, shoppers and a few laborers wrapping up their day’s work. I climbed up to street level and took off running. Ringo’s loft was only a couple of blocks away but I was afraid he was already gone.

  I couldn’t dwell on what might have been happening in my own time. Archer the Vampire had survived a very long time without help from anyone else, and I hoped that maybe Mr. Shaw and Adam would get past their prejudices against Suckers long enough to see him as a person worth helping.

  I slowed to a casual stroll as I turned the corner to the back alley. My run from the river had caused enough raised eyebrows I didn’t want to draw attention to Ringo’s hideaway.

  “You came back.”

  I nearly left my skin in a puddle on the street at the sound of Ringo’s whisper. “What the hell?!” I got a scampy grin in return.

  “Come on, I figured you’d be late so I pushed off our meeting to later. Let’s eat.”

  I followed Ringo inside the back door and up the ladder to his loft. A ridiculously big part of me hoped Archer would be waiting inside and it was hard to control my disappointment. Ringo noticed. I had the feeling there wasn’t much he didn’t.

  “I haven’t seen him.”

  It took a huge effort to shrug like it didn’t matter. “I didn’t think you would.” My blue dress was lying on the bed and I shut the curtain on it, trying to close off my heart with it.

  Ringo had brought two fish and a loaf of bread home with him. I set about starting a fire on the hearth of the chimney while he filleted and boned them. He had already gutted them down by the river, which I was grateful for.

  We did all of this without really talking, a fairly comfortable silence
between people just used to working together. I knew that if Archer had been there he would be filling the silence with talk about his philosophy lecture, or my favorite of his classes, the bible as literature. I loved to listen to him get fired up about biblical history: what archaeologists had proven to be true and what was likely filled in by someone’s imagination several hundred years later.

  I missed the sound of his voice as Ringo and I prepared the simple meal. Ringo set three plates on the little rescued table and when the fish was finally cooked and we sat down to eat, he took one away again.

  “Thank you. It was staring me in the face.”

  Ringo looked at me speculatively. “You love him, right?”

  I hesitated, and then nodded.

  “Then choose him.”

  Those simple words startled me completely and I stared at Ringo. I waited for a translation.

  He shrugged as if it was obvious. “You’re here to find your mother, yeah? Well, whether or not you find her you’re just assuming you’ll go back.”

  I nodded again. To my native time was what he meant.

  “Why not just stay here? Marry his Lordship, live a decent life on his salary, maybe even take work as a governess or a shop clerk since you can read and figure. Choose him.”

  Now that was something I’d truly never even considered. Not once. Not even in a secret fantasy that I wouldn’t admit to myself of being with Archer for the rest of my life.

  I think the key words were ‘my life’ not ‘his life.’

  Ringo shrugged again. “Anyway, I’m just saying it’s what normal people would do.”

  And there you had it. I wasn’t normal. I hadn’t even been normal before I knew I was a time-traveler. When life was midnight tagging excursions, free-running through the city and avoiding absolutely everyone because the potential for pain was too high every time we left; I was just the new kid, the loner. Actually, to be perfectly honest, the most normal I’d been was since I discovered how much a freak I really was.

  No, I didn’t see a normal life in the cards for me and Archer, if there ever could be an ‘us.’ And if that wasn’t enough confirmation for me, Ava had seen me come back with my mother, but profoundly sad. A prospect I most certainly did not want to think about.