The Dark

by Marianne Curley

  Both Ethan and I stand still and silent, unwilling to say anything in response to Lord Penbarin’s apparent unhappiness to see us. He ushers us over to a sofa that overlooks a series of differently shaped swimming pools, and invites us to sit. ‘I know what you want. You seek me out to open the rift that allows a union between the worlds. Well you’ve come for nothing, for I will not help you. In fact, I doubt I could anyway. It would take three times my power to even stand a chance.’

  His words, his callous brush off, irritate me so quickly I forget my nervousness. Ethan hits me, picking up on my leaping mood, making sure his one quick slap to my arm gets his message across loud and clear. ‘Let me handle this,’ he whispers, to make sure I thoroughly understand. He turns to Lord Penbarin. ‘You’re Arkarian’s only chance of survival. How many times in your lifetime has he helped you?’

  Lord Penbarin looks away to the swimming pools beyond. A young woman wearing a sheer blue gown enters the pool area, diving gracefully into the pool furthest from us. With her gown drifting around her, she floats languorously around the pool. Lord Penbarin drags his eyes from the woman reluctantly. Ethan has made a point, but will it be enough?

  ‘There’s no doubt as to Arkarian’s worth. It can’t be measured in mortal or immortal terms if you ask me. That is not the issue here. What you ask – even if I were able to twist the minds of two Tribunal members to help us – is treason.’

  ‘You’ve risked Lorian’s anger before to help me,’ Ethan reminds him.

  ‘Hmm, that was rather different. The risks now are far greater. Have you two any idea what could happen if the joining between the worlds is left open a few seconds too long?’ He doesn’t wait for us to answer. ‘Should even one of those underworld creatures find its way into our mortal world, everything we have, and everything we’ve worked so hard to maintain, could be destroyed. Do you want that responsibility hanging over your heads?’

  ‘But if we’re careful—’ I start to say.

  He brushes my protest away with a wave of his hand. ‘How careful can one be when working with the unknown?’

  ‘If you pardon my asking, my lord, have you seen this world yourself? Has anyone? How do you know what creatures live there, and what risk they pose to our world? I guess I’m asking what proof do you have?’

  His black eyes flare at me, then close to slits. ‘My dear, in some cases proof is not necessary. Have you learnt nothing in your time with the Guard?’

  His put-down is to the point. I feel my face burn from the neck up, but I’m determined not to leave this palace without help from someone. ‘Are you saying you won’t help us?’

  His head shakes a definite negative. ‘That’s right. I will not.’

  I get up, disgusted in him. ‘And you’re a leader of a house? With soldiers that answer to your command and a whole sector of the earth to watch over? I think you earned your title by default.’

  ‘Isabel, what are you doing?’ Ethan tries tugging me down.

  I ignore him. I’m just too riled up. ‘Well, my lord, I think you’re little more than a coward!’

  ‘Isabel!’ Ethan stands right in front of me, blocking me completely from Lord Penbarin’s view. He turns with his hands open wide, trying to ensure not one part of my body is showing. ‘We were just leaving.’

  I decide he’s right, and that we may as well leave. Penbarin is useless anyway. I start making for the door, when he calls us back. We turn around and he says, ‘Find me two other Tribunal members who agree to help you with their powers, and,’ he adds smugly, ‘find the exact co-ordinates of this rift in our earthly sky. If you can do this, I will be there tomorrow morning at first light, your time.’

  He thinks we can’t, and that’s why he’s smiling at us in his lordly superior way. He doesn’t know us very well. ‘Do we have your word on that, my lord?’

  ‘Do you doubt me?’

  My mouth goes dry very quickly at his sudden look of outrage. ‘Of course not, it’s just—’

  ‘You have my word,’ he snaps, dismissing us.

  Outside his rooms, Ethan and I turn to each other wondering who else might help us. We decide to go knocking door to door.

  The first royal we approach is Lady Arabella. But it turns out she’s away overlooking her lands and her staff can’t say when she’s expected to return. We move on to Lord Alexandon, but his reply is an adamant no. We end up spending the next few hours walking corridors, approaching all the Lords, Kings and Queens we can find. But no one, it appears, no matter what arguments we come up with, is willing to go against Lorian and help us. Completely dejected and exhausted we go and sit in the courtyard to re-think our strategy.

  Ethan’s shoulders sag as his elbows slide to his knees. ‘I’m starting to think it’s hopeless.’

  I can’t believe he’s doing this. Giving in! I glare at him. ‘Don’t say that. We’ll find a way.’

  He moans softly. ‘We have ten minutes before it’s midnight, and we’ve seen every Lord, Lady, King and Queen, that’s here right now. No one will help us. Lord Penbarin’s challenge is proving impossible. And you know what? He knew we would fail. No one is willing to go against Lorian. I’m starting to think neither should we.’

  Without wanting to admit it, a part of my brain registers the thought that maybe Ethan’s right, maybe it is impossible to get anyone to agree to help us. But my mind refuses to believe we’re going to fail before we even get started. ‘There must be someone who will help us. Think, Ethan. Who haven’t we seen?’

  ‘I believe you’ve been looking for me?’

  We both turn at the sound of Lady Arabella’s voice. She’s back! But is she willing to help?

  As delicate and beautiful as I remember her, Lady Arabella comes over to stand right in front of us, her translucent skin revealing an intricate pattern of blue veins beneath.

  She takes my hand and covers it with Ethan’s, then her own. I look up into her blue eyes, lashes encrusted with fine shards of ice, and words leave me. She lifts a finger to her lips. ‘You don’t have to say anything. I will help you with whatever you need.’

  Ethan squeezes my hand. ‘We’re still one short, my lady. You see, Lord Penbarin said we need—’

  Lady Arabella just smiles. ‘I will persuade another to help us. Don’t worry. Now come quickly. We have an appointment with my good Lord Penbarin.’

  When we get to Lord Penbarin’s suite, he’s sleeping, but Lady Arabella walks straight past the man in the baggy suit. ‘Wake your master, Elsepth. I assure you he will be only too pleased to see us.’

  Her over-confidence and the fact that we are here again, in Lord Penbarin’s rooms, one step closer to rescuing Arkarian, makes me giddy with relief. I have to physically stop myself from bursting out in hysterical little giggles.

  Lord Penbarin comes out of his bedroom, grumbling as he slips his arms into a shimmering red dressing gown. ‘What have we here? Oh no, not you, my lady.’

  ‘It appears you have struck a deal with these two good people that you must now fulfil, my lord.’

  ‘But who is the third?’

  ‘Leave that to me. There will be a third by morning.’

  Grudgingly he accepts her word that she’ll find someone else to help, then looks at me and Ethan, ‘As I recall, you two must tell me the exact location of the rift before my part in this fiasco is cemented. Hmm?’ He waits, his mouth forming into a smug line. He thinks he has us beat. How could we mere mortals possibly know where this rift is?

  But Lord Penbarin wasn’t there on that open field on the mountain when the Goddess sent that storm – from the underworld. I take a deep breath and recite the co-ordinates that Ethan and I earlier worked out, hoping that, if they’re not exact, they will be near enough. ‘Thirty-six degrees south of the equator, one hundred and forty-eight degrees east of the prime meridian.’

  Lord Penbarin’s mouth drops open. He’s impressed, yet unimpressed at the same time. But one thing is certain, he made a deal. And there’s no way, as L
ord of Samartyne, he’s going to back down now.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Isabel

  We meet at dawn, on the field above Arkarian’s chambers. Matt is with us, and for a second, while Ethan is busy double-checking the supplies in our backpacks, I’m tempted to ask if he knows anything about why our father walked out all those years ago. My recent vision of him still plays in my head. Dad said he couldn’t live with the deceit any more, and it’s eating at me not knowing what that deceit was, or who caused it.

  But Ethan’s checking doesn’t take very long. He comes over, and I drop all thoughts of Dad for now.

  ‘You’re too inexperienced,’ Ethan tells Matt. Lost in thought, I miss the first part of their conversation. But it’s easy to pick up. Matt, it seems, is adamant he’s coming with us.

  ‘How can I learn anything if you protect me from any form of possible danger?’ My brother points to me. ‘Isabel has no fighting powers. And while I know she’s … well, really good at everything, I can manage these trips too. I know I can.’

  ‘This isn’t going to be an “ordinary trip”,’ Ethan argues back.

  ‘I know, it’s just … well, I have to look out for Isabel.’

  ‘What!’ I can’t help squeal at this. ‘You just admitted I’m “really good at everything”, don’t pull the big brother act on me now.’

  ‘I’m not going to apologise for wanting to look out for you. It’s just something I’ve always done, you know that. I promised …’

  He doesn’t finish. An awkward silence follows. ‘What are you on about?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Matt?’

  ‘Nothing!’

  Ethan’s patience snaps. His hands jerk into the air. ‘Look, Matt, amongst other things, Isabel is a healer, and healing is one of the most significant powers a Guard can have. We don’t know what condition Arkarian is going to be in, or what dangers we’re going to face, but Isabel’s skills could make the difference between life and death.’

  Matt keeps arguing, rationalising why he thinks he should come with us. ‘You don’t even know if any of your skills will work in this world.’

  ‘Maybe not, but I can’t stop Isabel from going, even if I tied her arms and legs together with chains.’

  Ethan’s words spark an image of Arkarian’s abduction, his hands and feet chained within that gilded cage. Tears spring to my eyes and I glance away before either of these two see them. Especially Matt. He already feels he has to ‘protect me’. I don’t want to give him ammunition to feed his cause. So I make a point of peering around as if looking for signs of Lord Penbarin, Lady Arabella and the third Tribunal member Lady Arabella promised to bring. Hopefully they’ll be here soon. It’s almost sunrise. There’s plenty of light starting already.

  ‘I can stop you, Matt. Like it or not, I’m your superior.’ Pulling rank has got to be Ethan’s last resort. ‘As my Apprentice you’re my responsibility. And I’m not going to stop protecting you just because you think you’re ready.’

  ‘I’ve been your Apprentice for a whole year already!’ Matt practically yells. ‘Don’t tell me I’m not ready!’

  ‘Arkarian was Lorian’s Apprentice for two hundred years,’ I say softly.

  Both heads turn and stare at me.

  Ethan looks at Matt as if to say, ‘Well, there!’ But when he speaks his tone is much more gentle. ‘Look, it’s enough I’m risking my own future doing this. If you’re worried about Isabel, well, for what it’s worth, I’ll be there. I’ll look after her.’

  Ethan’s words make me groan. ‘Spare me please.’

  Exasperated with their over-inflated egos, I glance at my watch. There’s so much light now, I’m afraid the royals aren’t going to show. What if Lady Arabella can’t convince anyone to help? ‘Where are they?’ I ask noone in particular, looking around the vast field.

  Matt and Ethan look around too, but it’s Matt, the tallest of the pair, that spots something first. ‘I don’t believe this!’

  I stand on my toes to see what he’s looking at. Ethan hisses air out between clenched teeth. ‘Oh great.’ He gives Matt a hard stare. ‘Did you invite her to come with us? This isn’t a picnic you know. She could get hurt.’

  ‘It wasn’t me. I swear!’

  At last I see what’s got them so agitated. It’s Rochelle, running up the hill, a bag on her back. She sees we’ve spotted her and gives a little wave. Before long she comes right up.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Ethan snaps.

  For a second it’s as if his strong tone takes her breath away. Her deep green eyes skim the distant ridges where ice rests on some of the higher peaks already. Finally she says, ‘Don’t sound so happy. I’m coming with you.’

  Everyone has the same instant reaction.

  ‘Nah-huh.’

  ‘No way.’

  ‘Forget it. You’re not coming.’

  She persists, her hands sliding to her hips. ‘You could use my skills.’

  She’s not wrong there as her skills of truthseeing and touch are fully developed, but it changes nothing. ‘We can’t put more members at risk. Lorian is going to excommunicate us as it is,’ I explain.

  ‘Oh, so you think I haven’t taken risks before? What do you reckon it took to turn traitor on the Order? It wasn’t easy, you know. Now I’ve got Marduke and Lathenia after me. Without Arkarian’s help I wouldn’t have done it. He believed in me. He trusted me. And didn’t I prove my loyalty in Rome recently?’

  She thinks we don’t want her to come because we don’t trust her. Maybe she’s part right. How do you fully trust a former spy? Sure, I was there in Rome, and while Rochelle’s loyalty on that mission couldn’t be faulted, how do we know it wasn’t all an act?

  For a second I forget that she can read my thoughts, just as I forget to screen them. ‘Come on, Isabel. How weak is your faith? How short is your memory?’

  She’s probably reminding me of when she saved Matt from being burnt at the stake last year. I haven’t forgotten, but trust – or our lack of it – isn’t the main issue here. ‘Look, this isn’t solely about trust, Rochelle. Matt wants to come too—’

  She glares at him, her eyes open wide. ‘What! Don’t be a fool, Matt. You haven’t any—’

  It’s Matt’s turn to interrupt. ‘I’m not useless just because I don’t have any powers.’

  For a moment all four of us are quiet. The silence is broken by Rochelle’s earnest plea. ‘You don’t understand. I have to do this.’

  ‘Why?’ Ethan asks.

  ‘Of all of you, he’s the only one who believes in me without doubt. If we lose Arkarian, I have no future. Without him, I … I would have trouble believing in myself.’

  Everybody shuts up, completely wordless. Rochelle always seems so confident. It’s a shock to discover otherwise. She glances away, blinking rapidly. She’s close to tears. Ethan goes to say something, but she brushes him away. He persists, grabbing her arm. ‘There’s something else you have to understand.’

  She looks up at him, and he says, ‘We’re going into this world undisguised. If we should meet up with anyone from the Order who can recognise you …’ His head shakes. ‘It’s too big a risk.’

  She seems to chew on these words, absorbing their full impact. For Rochelle to have no disguise could prove fatal. ‘All right. But you don’t have to make it so obvious you don’t want me. What will it take to get you lot to accept me?’

  With these words she storms off, and we’re left looking at each other in an uncomfortable silence. But something about her brief visit has the hairs prickling at the back of my neck.

  Ethan is the first to speak. ‘Well, that was enlightening.’

  ‘I’ll say,’ Matt says.

  ‘So how do you suppose she knew what we were doing, and exactly where to find us?’

  Matt is quick to defend himself for a second time. His hands fly into the air. ‘Don’t look at me. I haven’t gone near Rochelle since she’s been back.’

  ‘
So how did Rochelle find out?’

  ‘Maybe one of you inadvertently let her read your thoughts.’

  I take offence at Matt’s accusation. ‘One of us?’

  He shrugs. ‘Didn’t you two just go on a mission with her?’

  Ethan shares a puzzled look with me. Just how careful are we when in Rochelle’s company? We all know, mistakes happen.

  And then there’s the possibility that Rochelle is telling the truth about Arkarian’s belief in her. If this is true, then I should trust her too. In fact, so should everyone.

  Any more thoughts of Rochelle fly from my head as a soft whooshing sound gets my heart beating fast. All three of us move back at the sound as Lord Penbarin and Lady Arabella materialise in front of us. And they have Queen Brystianne with them! I can’t help grinning and jumping on the spot like a hyperactive two-year-old. At last the royals are here – all three – and we can begin.

  The instant Lord Penbarin’s body completely forms he looks up to the sky. A zigzag of brilliantly coloured light appears above us for a fraction of a second. If we weren’t looking in exactly the right direction, none of us would have noticed. ‘Well, well, it appears I may have underestimated you two.’ He looks at Matt, lifts one finely arched eyebrow, then, as if recognising him, or something about him, bows his head just slightly. ‘I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.’

  Ethan introduces him. ‘May I present my Apprentice, Matt Becket.’

  Lord Penbarin can’t seem to drag his eyes off Matt. Finally, he says to Ethan, ‘Not for long, I’m sure.’

  It’s a strange thing to say. Ethan looks at me with a frown. I shrug my shoulders lightly.

  Lady Arabella approaches, and catching sight of Matt, gives a little breathy gasp. She then does the most amazing thing. Grabbing her wide skirt in both hands, she curtsies, low and deep. When her head lifts, her ice-tipped eyelashes are fluttering against her pale cheeks. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you.’