The Dark

by Marianne Curley

  ‘I thought all the rooms in the Citadel were safe.’

  ‘Well they are, normally. But a “safe room” is lined with a special element. It can’t be penetrated by any form.’

  We look for the doorway, but there’s no sign of it anywhere. ‘Come on,’ Arkarian mumbles at the wall, running his hands over where we first walked in. ‘Open!’

  I blink a few times and rub my eyes as the light in the room suddenly changes. ‘Arkarian?’ He’s still searching for an opening and hasn’t noticed. I tap his shoulder and point to the centre of the room. It’s there the strangest thing is happening. All the light in the room is moving, spiralling towards this single point.

  ‘Isabel! Quickly!’ Arkarian’s voice sounds desperate. He grabs my hand, gripping it tightly. Within seconds the light completely disappears. ‘Whatever happens, don’t let go of my hand.’

  ‘What’s going on? I can’t see a thing!’

  ‘The light’s been sucked out. Marcus! Get us out of here!’

  But nothing happens. Then the room is rocked by an explosion. It fills with bright blue and purple light. For a second I see Arkarian, his gentle face filled with fear, his blue hair in wild disarray as if charged by electricity. I reach out to him, but the force of the explosion has us both soaring through the air in opposite directions. My back hits a wall and I crash to the floor, banging my head very hard.

  When my eyes open again, my head feels like cement, my vision blurry. But not so blurry that I can’t see a giant of a man standing over me. He has hunched shoulders, so stooped, it looks as if he might drop to all fours at any moment. He’s wearing a wide crimson cloak, his face hidden inside the hood. His head tilts and he grunts at me. It’s an animal sound. Spittle sprays over me, and I jerk back against the wall. What the hell is going on!

  The man turns from me, and with a rough voice, bellows orders across the room. My eyes follow and see an old man, stooped and very frail. But the orders are not for this strange man. Around him are four – creatures, unlike anything I’ve seen walk this earth before. At first they appear to be floating. It looks as if they have wings. One drops, and lands with a heavy thump on strangely human-looking feet.

  ‘Enough!’ the tall man screams at them. ‘Hand me the key and let’s be gone from this house of sickening righteousness.’

  I get to my feet, looking about for Arkarian. One creature moves, and I see its wings now, awkwardly attached to its back. They flap, and hands appear from beneath them. Another shoves the first creature aside, snorting. It stumbles to the ground, and the sight of its small, round red eyes startle me.

  The man in the billowing cloak grabs one of its wings with a gloved hand. ‘Get up!’

  As it staggers to its feet with a squawk, I get a glimpse of something on the floor. It’s Arkarian! But something’s wrong. He’s lying in a heap and not moving. Then I see the chains at his feet and wrists secured with a lock. They’re taking him somewhere. My heart leaps into my throat, especially as the old man starts throwing some sort of ash over the top of him. I take a step towards the old man to stop him but a wave of dizziness has me stumbling blindly.

  ‘Fix the cage around him. And hurry!’ the man in the crimson cloak orders.

  Finding some sort of balance I stagger across the room and yank on the huge man’s arm. ‘What do you think you’re doing? Leave him be!’

  The man glares at me, and a single flash of red flares out from within his hood, as if his eyes are glowing fire. He does not answer.

  I can’t believe this is happening! Outrage fills me, giving me the added impetus I need. I leap up with the intention of clawing this man’s eyes out, but he’s so tall I end up thumping my fists into his rock-like chest. He pushes me away and I hit the floor. I get up again and ram my shoulder into his stomach.

  He throws me across the room. I start to get up, and he points his hand in my direction. His fingers light up in streaks. In that same instant I’m hit by a jolt of power, like an electric current thundering through my body. I try to get up, but can’t. My limbs are weak. ‘Where are you taking him?’

  He remains silent. As he stares at me, I try hard to glimpse inside his hood. Finally he says, ‘To a place where it is midnight every day, and flowers bloom beneath a bleeding moon.’

  His words have a familiar ring to them. ‘Where is this place?’

  He ignores my question, distracted by the walls that have started to vibrate. Alarmed, he beats the creature nearest him with the back of his hand. It squawks and flaps its wings. ‘Hurry, you worthless beast.’ And he asks the old man if he is finished.

  ‘It is done,’ the old man replies, bursting into a coughing fit.

  The vibrating increases. It’s as if the room is revolting against the happenings inside its walls. Rumbling thunder ruptures the air, while cracks appear in jagged streaks, and blinding light floods in from all directions. A deep crack opens under one of my feet. I have to leap to get over it. The man yells at his ‘beasts’ again. ‘The Citadel has found a way to break through Keziah’s enchantment. We have to leave – now!’

  With these words a golden cage is wrapped around Arkarian’s body and locked into place.

  ‘Quickly!’

  They’re going to disappear. I can’t believe this! I have to stop them. But the room is fading in and out of my vision. I force my eyes to stay open, and claw across the floor towards them. A bright flash of light blinds me momentarily. When it clears, and I can see again, every sign of the two men, the four strange helpers, and Arkarian, are gone.

  Chapter Eight

  Isabel

  I run as fast as my legs can manage. But where to go? The Citadel is a mystery to me. On each of my visits here the corridors and stairways have been different. A room never looks the same twice. It’s as if this place has a life-force of its own, always changing. Doors appear around me, opening into hundreds of different rooms; corridors lead me to stairwells that disappear beneath my feet. But after a series of these eerie connections, I find myself balanced on a moving platform with nothing under me as far as I can see. Standing still for the first time since Arkarian’s abduction, I try to restore my breathing to something resembling normal, making sure I don’t rock the platform in any way.

  A door opens ahead invitingly and I jump into a wide hallway, which could easily be a leap into another world. Here the walls are mostly white and made of some sort of rock, like marble. And the stairwells don’t disappear, but glide effortlessly instead.

  I stumble into a large room that is filled with strange light and crowned by the most amazing ceiling I have ever seen. It is made of eight intricately carved panels that tower upwards to a single point. Each panel is made of etched glass or crystal or something similar in a myriad of amazing colours.

  Dragging my eyes away, I move across the room towards another strong light source, a wall made entirely of clear glass. I’m a long way from the ground, at least a hundred floors. For a moment, the height makes me dizzy. But then I see that down there, in a courtyard filled with exotic flowers and shrubs, people are gathered. They look strange to me. Even their clothes are unusual. Nothing like you see on the streets in Angel Falls, that’s for sure. All but a few of these people are standing around in small groups, some pointing in different directions, others shaking their heads, several crying in open distress. The sight of them is unsettling. Who are they? Why are they so distressed? Do they know what’s happened to Arkarian?

  If only I could find a way down to that courtyard, surely someone there will be able to help me.

  I spin around, my movements frantic, as this sense of urgency evolves into sheer panic. I start to run, opening doors, trying different directions. I’m reluctant to admit, even to myself, that I’m totally lost.

  Then I run straight into a man who grabs my upper arms and gives me a strong shake. ‘Stand still!’ he bellows in a familiar voice.

  It’s Mr Carter. He’s my history teacher at school, and he’s also the one who co-ordinates
our missions. But this time, in place of Arkarian, he was supposed to be organising our return. I always thought that was done from Arkarian’s chambers, but Mr Carter is here, in the Citadel, right in front of me.

  Mr Carter doesn’t give me a second to ask the questions going round in my head, or even to explain what I’m doing in this part of the Citadel. He just screams at me, ‘You shouldn’t be here! So much time is passing. Keep still, Isabel, so I can get you back.’

  ‘But Mr Carter—’

  He makes me sit down on the spot, forcing me with strong hands. ‘I know, Isabel. I know about Arkarian.’

  I look up into his face, and I feel incredibly weary suddenly. ‘Tell me what I can do to get him back.’

  ‘Right now I have to get you back – to your time, to your bed, into your own body.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘And when you’re returned,’ he goes on explaining, ‘I want you to gather the others together. We’ll meet in Arkarian’s chambers. It’s safe there. And we’ll try to figure this out.’

  ‘Tell me first: who are those people I saw down there in that courtyard?’

  His eyes bore into mine and his mouth moves once, soundlessly. He’s not going to answer. Something is holding him back. Maybe he has to keep quiet while in the Citadel. Regardless, I have to know more. ‘At least tell me why those people look so distressed?’

  He glances away briefly. ‘They’re distressed at losing Arkarian.’

  I sense that’s not the whole story. My eyebrows lift, encouraging him.

  ‘There’s also a very real possibility that a traitor resides amongst us.’

  Before I have a chance to absorb these words, or the enormity of them, his hand comes up before my face, forcing my eyes closed. ‘No more questions, Isabel. Not here.’

  When I open my eyes again I find myself waking up in my own bedroom. Bright sunlight blinds me for an instant, then a movement near my bed startles me into sitting up and squealing out loud. But it’s only Matt squirming around in my blow-up lounge, trying to make his long body comfortable.

  He hears that I’m awake and snaps, ‘At last you’re back. You’re so lucky Mum had to go to work early this morning.’

  His words send my pulse scampering. How can we waste time on trivial issues when Arkarian has been abducted? In a mad rush I scramble across the bed and grab Matt’s shoulders, ripping his shirt collar in the process. ‘Something terrible has happened!’

  Colour disappears from his face. He takes my hands and peels them off his shirt, briefly examining the ripped collar. ‘What’s going on?’

  Pushing him out of the way, I raid my wardrobe, quickly changing into jeans and a T-shirt. ‘Arkarian’s been kidnapped.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Get the others. We have to make a rescue plan.’ He continues to stare at me, his mouth gaping.

  ‘Hurry!’

  ‘What do you want me to do?’

  I stop and try to calm my racing thoughts. ‘OK, remember how there are nine of us?’

  He nods and starts counting off his fingers. ‘You, me and Ethan. Ethan’s father. Mr Carter. And of course, Jimmy, who I’d rather forget.’

  I try to ignore Matt’s dislike of Jimmy. He hasn’t allowed himself to get to know Jimmy as I have these past twelve months. ‘And don’t forget Rochelle. She’s with the Guard now too.’ The second these words are out I could kick myself. Hearing the name of his ex-girlfriend probably still upsets him. ‘Sorry, Matt. As if you could.’

  He looks at me blankly and I say, ‘Forget her, I mean.’

  His left shoulder lifts slightly. He’s trying to give me the impression thinking about Rochelle doesn’t hurt any more. He’s lying of course. ‘I am over her. It’s just … hard to forget, that’s all.’

  We’re silent for a moment; I go hunting for my brown boots. I know they’re here somewhere. Finally I spot one poking out from under my bed.

  ‘That’s only seven,’ Matt says in a voice devoid of energy. I try to ignore the pull his soft, drained tone has on my emotions. They’re chaotic enough right now.

  ‘Arkarian,’ I tell him. ‘And the girl.’

  His eyes light up for a second and he stares off in a dreamlike state. ‘I think I remember her now. Wasn’t it her image Ethan created in that illusion he used to defeat Marduke?’

  ‘Yes, but she was real for the time that she was in Ethan’s illusion. And her name is Neriah. She’s Marduke’s daughter, and when he turned traitor she had to go into hiding. These things are important. You really should remember them.’

  ‘Right,’ he says, cupping a hand around his chin, and looking embarrassed.

  I smile encouragingly. Matt will get this Guard thing together one day. He has to. Arkarian believes in him.

  ‘So let me get this right,’ he says. ‘You want me to gather all these people together?’

  I bite back my frustration. ‘Obviously you’re not going to be able to find Rochelle. She’s being de-briefed somewhere safe.’ He nods and I go on, as that sense of urgency keeps growing stronger every second. ‘Neriah hasn’t been interned into the Guard yet. Her time is still to come. So you can’t find her either. We might have to split up to get the others organised. Ethan’s probably at school already.’

  ‘I haven’t seen Jimmy for a few days. Not that I’ve been looking,’ he adds with sarcasm.

  ‘That’s because he’s working in Veridian, making the city more secure. But you should be able to find Shaun.’

  It takes what feels like an incredible amount of time, but is probably less than an hour before Ethan and Shaun arrive at Arkarian’s chambers to find us waiting impatiently.

  As soon as I see Ethan I can’t help but run to him. He holds me for a minute, then pushes me back to peer into my face. ‘Something terrible’s happened, hasn’t it? What is it?’

  ‘He’s been abducted.’

  ‘Who?’ Shaun asks, pulling slightly at my arm. Creases around his eyes intensify as he reads the terror in mine.

  My voice, in the end, turns into a whisper, ‘Arkarian.’

  Shaun goes still, his eyes staring into mine with incomprehension. Ethan’s fingers dig deeply into my arms. ‘How did this happen?’

  I have to yank my arms free of his grip. ‘We were in the Citadel on our return from a mission to France when we were ambushed by two men – one old, the other huge. And four creatures I can hardly describe. They were hideous.’

  ‘Did they say where they were taking him?’ Shaun asks.

  ‘The huge man said …’ I stop. Sudddenly it hits me where I heard those words before – from Marduke himself. The same words Ethan hears in his nightmares sometimes, when he re-lives his sister’s murder.

  When I finish telling them, Matt has to find Ethan a seat. ‘Where is this place where the flowers bloom under a bleeding … what did you say?’

  Ethan stares up at Matt, his eyes red. ‘The place Marduke said he was taking my sister moments before he placed his over-sized hand on her head and used his power to kill her.’

  ‘Hell,’ Matt exclaims, flicking a nervous look across to Shaun. ‘What does this mean? Is Arkarian … dead?’

  Shaun visibly tries to collect himself, shaking his shoulders and rubbing his arms. ‘Don’t assume the worst. Who knows the Goddess’s purpose? She is, after all, driven by the very act of chaos.’

  ‘Our mission tonight was a trap.’

  This gets their attention.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Ethan asks.

  ‘Lathenia turned up. She was expecting you to be there.’

  Silence. And then they all start talking at the same time. But words are the last thing I need right now. ‘I’m going to rescue him.’

  Shaun touches my arm. ‘Let’s think this over.’

  I move away from his touch. ‘There’s nothing to think about. All I need is a plan.’

  ‘And some information,’ a voice from the doorway calls.

  It’s Mr Carter – at last!

  ‘So wh
ere have you been?’ Ethan asks in a suspicious tone. These two have never got along. And over the years that I’ve known Mr Carter as a teacher at school, he’s been particularly hard on Ethan. Sometimes I can’t see the sense in it, sometimes I think it’s because Mr Carter sees a potential in Ethan that he believes could benefit from discipline and hard work.

  ‘Mr Carter co-ordinated the mission last night. We met in the corridors of the Citadel not long ago.’

  ‘So,’ Ethan is quick to accuse, ‘you were there when Arkarian was abducted.’

  Shaun shakes his head at his son. ‘Be quiet, Ethan. You assume too much.’

  But Ethan isn’t easily quieted. ‘Maybe I do, but Carter has an odd habit of being in the wrong place at the right time. As I recall, he was the one who brought us the news last year that Marduke had Matt.’

  ‘Ethan, it would take more than Marcus’s talents to arrange something like this.’

  All this debate won’t bring Arkarian back; and right now that’s all I can think of. ‘Shut up, Ethan! Let Mr Carter tell us what he knows!’

  Ethan does as he’s told, and Mr Carter starts to explain, ‘Arkarian has been taken to a holding place.’

  ‘Where? What place is this?’

  He looks at me, and his eyes are sad. ‘A very dark place, Isabel. A place that no mortal should enter, not without protection. It’s called the underworld.’

  Stepping up close to his face, I tell him simply, ‘I would go there, protected or otherwise. Mr Carter, the dark doesn’t frighten me. I have Lady Arabella’s gift.’

  ‘This darkness is profound.’

  ‘I’ll take a torch.’

  ‘And if the torch fails?’

  ‘In total darkness, Isabel,’ Ethan reminds me, ‘even you wouldn’t be able to see.’

  Mr Carter brings us back to the point he’s trying to make. ‘You have to understand, the underworld is impossible to enter or exit.’

  ‘Arkarian’s kidnappers managed, why can’t we?’