by E. G. Foley
Its hand was blocking their way out.
“What do we do?” Jake cried.
The hand pulled back. The devil tilted its giant horned head to peer at them through the doorway. Its burning eyes gleamed with malice.
“It’s trying to get out!” Isabelle said.
They both clung to Derek.
“Get out of here,” he ordered, pulling out his Bowie knives. “I’ll hold him off.”
“Are you insane?” Jake yelled while the hellhounds’ barking grew louder. “It’s a suicide mission!”
“Just go!” Derek marched toward the skull doorway.
Before he reached it, however, there was a blinding flash of white light in their midst.
A second flash appeared, piercing through a mountain’s worth of stone like a column of white light. A third and fourth joined it, seemingly out of nowhere.
Powerful winged figures appeared in the beams.
Jake and Isabelle clung to each other and stared.
“Dr. Celestus?” he breathed.
In full battle regalia, the angel from the stained-glass window and three of his fellow warriors rose from their crouched positions, where they had slammed to earth.
“Go, Guardian Stone,” Celestus commanded. “This is a battle beyond your power.” They drew out their shining swords and marched toward the skull doorway with gliding grace.
When Derek and Jake and Isabelle all failed to move, paralyzed with shock, the pale-haired angel who had once saved Dani’s life turned and said harshly to them: “Go!”
Then they ran. Derek steadied them as the stone chamber started shaking behind them.
Chunks of rock began falling from the ceiling as they ran out through the tomb.
The whole place was coming down—for good this time.
Archie grabbed hold of his sister the moment they cleared the hole he had blown in the wall. “Isabelle!”
“Hurry!” Derek yelled, pushing them all before him.
Archie had the only lantern and he held it up for them as they all went racing up the tunnel, trying to escape the coming collapse.
It was already starting. The whole mine shook around them. Jake was not surprised, considering the battle royal going on back there.
“We’re not going to make it!” Archie yelled, when all of a sudden, a little door cut right into the tunnel wall popped open and Ufudd peeked out, beckoning to them.
“Friends! Over here!”
Dani was with him, gesturing wildly. “Hurry! Everybody, this way! Oh, Isabelle!” She gave the older girl a quick hug as Ufudd rushed them all through the dwarves’ secret door where, apparently, the two mines abutted.
As Jake stepped through the doorway, he was startled to find Emrys sitting at the front of a line of mining carts waiting for them on the tracks. “All aboard, and make it quick! It’s an earthquake!”
“Er, not exactly,” Jake muttered, but there was no time to explain.
They jumped into the mining carts and Emrys threw the switch. The shaking continued, but they all held on for dear life as the carts whizzed up and down over the crazy tracks, zooming them back up to the surface.
Minutes later, they whooshed out into blinding sunlight at the top of the White Lace Falls, safe within the bounds of Plas-y-Fforest.
Red was already there, roaring for them.
Dani quickly explained that after leading Madam Sylvia to the frozen governess in the woods, she had run over to the secret goldmine entrance to tell the dwarves what was happening, since Master Emrys always seemed to know what to do.
As they all leaped out of the mining carts, Jake seized the chance to mumble an apology to Emrys for going off alone with Red during the gargoyle hunt.
The head dwarf waved him off. “Never mind that. I’m just glad you’re safe, lad.”
Then they all ran toward the vantage point atop the waterfall, where they could see a section of the Harris Mine collapsing in the distance.
The ground still shook as from an earthquake while the angels battled the demon and his minions back into their fiery prison.
The enemy must have been putting up quite a fight.
Jake and the others stood together with the river coursing past them until, a few minutes later, the shaking stopped.
Everyone held their breath, unsure what to expect.
They yelled out in surprise when a section of the mine suddenly cratered with a deep groan, burying the tomb and the skull-shaped portal under so much earth this time that no one was ever getting out.
What about the angels? Jake wondered.
Just then, Miss Helena came running out of the woods (in her human form) to hug a very relieved Derek Stone.
Madam Sylvia followed a few steps behind, and everybody welcomed her into their midst.
“Look!” Isabelle cried all of a sudden, pointing at the sky.
The angels must have done their job. Four streaks of brilliant light shot up out of the hillside and went zooming up into the blue, vanishing behind the clouds.
They all stared for a long moment in speechless wonder, waiting for any further glimpse of them, but there was none.
At length, Jake shook his head and whispered, “Amazing.”
EPILOGUE
First Snow
Snowdrop Fingle outdid herself with the food for the celebration they had later that evening at the cottage.
To be sure, they had many reasons to rejoice.
Isabelle was back safe and feeling much better with the help of a gryphon feather’s magical healing properties. Jake was alive. Red and Archie were once again their proper sizes. Derek and Helena were free to move about at will, and Madam Sylvia was also unscathed after having freed the teachers at the Harris School from Garnock’s various torments.
Likewise, to help speed the students’ recovery after the evil sorcerer had preyed on their souls and drained half the life out of them, Jake had ordered party foods sent to the school. Cakes and candy worked wonders for a kid’s general happiness, in his experience. Snowdrop, of course, had been overjoyed to have dozens more people to cook and bake for.
The real fun started, however, when the dwarves arrived. Earlier, Miss Helena, looking very happy to return to her normal governess duties, had instructed Jake that it was proper to return the hospitality the dwarves had extended to them a few days ago. So they were all together again: Emrys and his family, Ufudd, and a few of the other leading citizens of Waterfall Village in attendance.
The little mayor presented Jake with a fresh pouch of Illuminium to take with him after hearing about his victory.
But the surprise guest of the night was none other than everyone’s favorite fairy courier, Gladwin Lightwing.
“Her Ladyship was worried when she got your telegram, so she sent me personally to check on you all and see if everything was all right.”
“Pfft,” said Jake.
Gladwin looked at him in confusion at this answer.
“What took her so long to reply?” he retorted. “Didn’t she get my Inkbug messages?”
Gladwin frowned. “Oh, er, we had a bit of a tragedy with the poor Inkbug while you were away, I’m afraid. It seems he got out of his box and one of the maids—well, I’m sorry to say, somebody stepped on him. Most unfortunate.”
They groaned.
“So she never even got my first two messages?”
“No, the first one she received was the regular telegram. I know you said you needed her advice about some spells, but I hope it wasn’t too terribly inconvenient. I’ll be happy to take back any answer you like—”
“No, please, don’t fly off so soon, Gladwin! Stay with us awhile,” Dani begged her, which pleased the little fairy greatly—although Gladwin did seem puzzled about why the boys were laughing.
“Oh, no, it wasn’t too terribly inconvenient,” Jake said wryly.
“Pardon?” the fairy asked.
“Never mind.”
“It is too bad about the Inkbug,” Archie remarked.
Jake nodded at him. “I don’t imagine they’re easy to come by.”
“Well, the important thing is, Her Ladyship did as you asked. Here are the refresher spells you are to use, along with some instructions.”
Jake took the fairy’s tiny, scrolled message in relief, then nodded. “I’ll go see to this.”
“You can’t leave your own party,” Dani protested when he stood up to go.
He rumpled her red hair. “It’s important. Besides, I’ll be back.” The truth was, he rather needed some time alone. He had a lot to think about, still digesting all that had happened between him and Garnock and Isabelle and the demon. It was not every day that a lad saw such things.
Jake retreated quietly from the gathering, reviewed Aunt Ramona’s instructions, then put on his coat, got a wand from the Archive room, and stepped outside.
The autumn night was crisp and black, and the moon rode high over the mountains. He took a deep breath, glad to be alone, then he set out to walk the boundary of his property, renewing the old magical protection spells, per his great-great aunt’s instructions.
Every twenty steps, he had to flick the wand and say a couple of lines in Latin, some sort of white-magic blessing. He hesitated the first few times, unsure if he was doing it right.
A cheerful sparkle-trail in the darkness proved to be Gladwin, following him out. “Mind if I join you?”
Jake shrugged. “Sure, but I’m not much in a talking mood.”
“Is that why you left the party?”
He nodded. “I guess so.”
Fluttering near his face, the tiny fairy studied him in worry, but did not intrude on his thoughts, flying along beside him in silence.
The only sound was the crunching of the leaves beneath his feet and his awkward repetitions of the Latin words. She corrected his pronunciation, then chuckled in her high-pitched, tinkling voice. “Not to nag, but who knows what’ll happen if you say it wrong.”
Jake smiled at her. “Good point.”
They moved on.
“This could take a while, you know,” he warned. “I’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
“I don’t mind.” She gasped, hovering in midair when they approached the field near the chapel ruins. She pointed. “Unicorns!”
“Better keep my distance in case the stallion tries to impale me,” Jake muttered. “Thankless brute.”
The fairy’s laughter in response sounded like little silver wind chimes.
“Did you know we have pixies here, too?”
“Ugh, pixies.” She wrinkled her nose in slightly haughty distaste, then it was Jake’s turn to laugh at her.
“They said you fairies think you’re too good for everyone.”
“Well, we are,” she answered with a grin, and tugged on the white lock of his hair. “What is this new look you’re trying? It’s silly.”
“It wasn’t on purpose! Stop that!” He waved her away like he would an insect, chuckling. “I wonder if this spell will get rid of the tree goblins. Though, to be honest, I’m with Emrys—I don’t mind them. I kind of feel sorry for them.”
“Tree goblins?” She was still scanning the branches overhead with a wary look as Jake stepped out of the woods into the field, keeping well clear of the unicorn herd.
“Keep up, eh?” he called as he marched toward the ruins.
“Where are you going? Isn’t the property line over there?”
“I have to check on someone first.”
Gladwin followed.
He didn’t know if Brother Colwyn would still be haunting the ruins now that he had his head back. He just wanted to let the friar ghost know that Garnock wouldn’t be murdering anybody anymore.
Upon arriving at the edge of the lonely ruins, however, he found that the place seemed deserted.
When Gladwin caught up, he nodded to her. “Come in here a second. You’ve got to see this.”
She flew after him as he led her through what was left of the hollowed nave and into the side chapel, where he showed her Sir Reginald’s tomb.
He gestured at it. “The original Lord Griffon.”
She ooh’ed and ahh’ed, while Jake reflected on how he had changed after all he’d been through in Wales. Right now, he felt confident that if he were to find a gryphon egg, he, too, would have given it back to the mother without hesitation.
Turning around, still lost in his thoughts, Jake was nearly startled out of his skin to find Brother Colwyn standing—well, floating politely—in the archway behind them.
“Blimey, guv, you gave me a fright.” He clutched his chest. It wasn’t like him to be so jumpy, but he’d had enough surprises for one day.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt,” the ghost said.
“It’s all right.” Jake quickly did the introductions.
“Nice to meet you,” said Gladwin with a midair curtsy.
“Likewise, miss.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d still be here. How’s the head? It looks good on you,” Jake jested as the monk ghost beamed.
“It fits perfectly,” Brother Colwyn replied with a grin. “Actually, I am glad you’re here. You’re just in time.”
“For what?”
“Tonight,” he answered, eagerly floating closer. “It’s time. I finally get to go. You know, up there. Meet the Boss in person.” He pointed discreetly toward the sky.
“Really?”
“That must be particularly exciting for a man of the cloth,” Gladwin said with an earnest nod.
“Oh, yes! Celestus is in town picking up the others even now. He’ll be taking us all up shortly.”
“How exciting.”
“Others?” Jake asked.
Before Brother Colwyn could answer, the angel himself appeared with the noisy crowd of ghosts he would be escorting to Heaven. Jake was astonished, recognizing many faces from the séance. The miners, the soldier ghost—even the phantom dog was there—but there was one among them that made Jake’s jaw drop.
Old Sack!
“You’re alive!” he exclaimed.
“In a sense,” the headmaster ghost answered with a chuckle.
“But I saw Garnock eat you! How? All of you…” He looked around in confusion. “I thought he destroyed you.”
Dr. Celestus strode over to him with a laugh. “Don’t hurt your brain trying to make logic from it, Jake. Souls are eternal, and that’s that. Surely you, of all people, must have realized that by now after all you’ve seen. And by the way, congratulations on a battle won.”
“To you, as well,” Jake responded. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come.”
The angel waved off his concerns. “Ah, he tries to get out every now and then. We just keep putting him back. Dreadful-looking these days, though. Shocking to see how much he’s let himself go since we used to work together. To think he was once considered the handsomest of us!”
Jake pondered this. It was hard to imagine that that horrible demon used to be an angel.
“How’s your cousin?” Celestus asked.
“She’s doing much better, thanks. I think it’ll be a while before she’s entirely herself again, though. You know how sensitive she is.”
“Perhaps I should pay her a visit later. I could help.”
“I’m sure she would appreciate that if you’re free.”
“Well!” He clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth, turning to his band of heaven-bound souls with an otherworldly smile. “Everyone ready?”
“Wait. Have you really been hanging around my family since the time when this chapel was built?” Jake asked, pointing at the stained-glass window depicting the very angel who now stood before him.
“You look shocked,” Celestus replied, then he shrugged, stretching out his big white wings. “We all have our assignments. Greetings, Lord Crafanc!” he added as Red came flying down from the dark skies and landed with a pounce in their midst.
The ghosts murmured in shock at the arrival of t
he Gryphon. Red bowed to Celestus—a rare honor. Then the angel smiled at him.
“See you around, Jake.” He glanced at his following. “All right, everyone. Take hold of my sleeves here, or catch hold of the edge of my sash. The rest of you join hands. I’ll have you all home in a twinkling of…”
They disappeared before he had even finished the sentence.
Jake, Gladwin, and Red stared at the empty space where the group had stood.
“Well!” the fairy said at last. “I suppose that’s that—like he said.”
Red nudged Jake affectionately with his head like a giant housecat and let out a brief purr. “Aw, what’s the matter, boy?”
“I think he came to bring you back to the party,” Gladwin observed, folding her tiny arms across her chest as she balanced on the back of an ancient pew.
Jake put his hands in his pockets. “I guess I could always finish up the spells tomorrow.”
“Becaw!”
“All right, boy. I wouldn’t want to be rude.”
“That’s a first,” Gladwin teased.
Jake snorted and gave her a droll look, then swung onto Red’s back. As the Gryphon lifted off, Gladwin kept pace, flying through the dark sky beside them.
The cottage was in sight below, its windows warmly glowing, when all of a sudden, a cold puff of wind blew past, carrying with it the first snowflakes of the season.
“Oh, how beautiful!” Gladwin exclaimed.
“I guess winter comes early up here in the mountains,” Jake agreed.
Lacy snowflakes went spinning past them on all sides, each one unique.
“It’ll be Christmas before you know it,” Gladwin said. Then she turned to him in surprise. “Your first Christmas with a family!”
“Aha,” Jake murmured, “and presents! Red, I’m going to need some gold for shopping—”
The Gryphon banked hard to the left at that comment, nearly spilling his rider off his back.
Jake hung on with a laugh. “I was only joking! All right, all right, we can talk about my allowance later. Let’s go tell the others to come outside and see the snow!”
Red snorted and swooped back the other way, throwing Jake into an upright sitting position on his back again.
With a grin from ear to ear, Jake leaned lower over the Gryphon’s neck like a jockey, while snowflakes starred his lashes and clung to his rosy cheeks.