by G S Banks
He bangs the palm of his hand on the table and shakes his head.
‘And now I’m here with my new Nordic friend, and all these people and I’m like, I’m home baby! Because I’m not going back there. I’m staying. I’m doing this. No matter what.’
He frowns a little. I’m guessing James is from a family who aren’t Anitars.
‘Hey,’ he says, hushing his voice and leaning in towards us. ‘You guys got any idea what Animal you’ll manifest? I’m thinking Tiger for myself. Or Snow Leopard. It has to be one of the wild cats, you know? Fierce, fighting, that kind of thing. I mean, look at me.’
He makes his hands look like paws and gives a ‘roar!’ I can’t help but burst into laughter, and neither can Ben.
‘Seriously though?’ he says.
‘I’m here with one thing in mind,’ I say. ‘To find my sister. She’s missing and this is the place with all the information, apparently…’
I notice that the seat next to me must’ve emptied because suddenly some guy is pulling the chair back and falling into it.
‘Nina Gregory,’ he says. ‘Am I right?’
‘Yes, that’s right. And you are?’
He’s slim with dark eyes, shaved light brown hair and a little scar running across his left eyebrow.
‘Dominic Federov,’ he says. ‘You’ve probably heard the name Federov before, most likely because of my brother, Tony Federov.’
I look at him blankly.
‘Tony is the greatest living Chameleon in the world. He trained here.’
I have no idea who he’s talking about, and I can only presume that this shows in my face.
‘Your parents must have told you about Tony. I know about the Gregory’s…’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t know much about other Anitars.’
He looks ruffled by this.
‘Too busy shopping?’
‘Excuse me?’ I say.
‘I’m just surprised you don’t know who I am. But you’ll learn I suppose. You’re not what I would’ve expected from a Gregory. Your parents are legends. But still, we can talk.’
‘Oh. I’m sorry I’m not what you expected.’
Is this guy for real?
‘That’s why we’re on the Manifestation Program. To improve, so I wouldn’t worry about it.’
I stare at him, disbelieving.
‘Listen, we should make the effort to get along. Our parents would expect us to.’
He flashes a critical look towards Ben and James.
‘Would you like me to save you from little and large here? I have no idea who either of them are.’
‘This is Ben, and James,’ I say, glancing towards them. ‘And no, I don’t need saving. I’m quite happy where I am.’
A dark look flashes across his features and he says nothing for a few moments.
‘So you actually are what you look like?’ he says, eventually. ‘One of those idiot high school girls?’
‘Hey, hey,’ says James. ‘It’s dangerous talking to the ladies that way, don’t you know that?’
‘This lady is clearly not dangerous. Are your parents disappointed by how you turned out?’
My blood boils, but before I have a chance to say anything Ben’s face changes from mild-mannered to enraged in less than a second and he hits his fist on the table, causing the cutlery to fly upwards and an almighty clatter to clang out as his plates and bowls hit against each other.
‘Enough,’ he says. ‘You take a trip.’
Dominic scrunches up his face.
‘What? I take a trip?’
‘Hike,’ says James loudly, leaning forward. ‘He means, take a hike.’
Dominic stands up, looking at us down his nose.
‘Happily. She’s not worth wasting my time on. She’s all yours, fellas.’
With that, he walks away, leaving me staring at the back of his head as he disappears out of the canteen.
________
I wake up from a fitful slumber spent trying not to fall off my rock hard bed. The lights are on, bright, and a commanding voice is telling me to get up. I look at the clock on the wall. 5am. My body is a dead weight. The room sways before my eyes – jet lag I presume. This is ridiculous. Why get up now? As I pull myself up onto my elbows I stare at the pile of navy blue clothes at the end of my bed, like an unwelcome present on Christmas morning. I hear moans and groans from the other girls as they flop off their beds, onto the cold floor. Lady Muldoon is booming us along like some kind of nightmare. I lay my head back on the pillow and without warning a head pops up at the side of the bed. Lucy. She grins at me as she deliberately messes up her hair so it flies out at all angles.
‘We’re bunk buddies!’
I grunt at her. She darts off and trips over her towel, landing flat on her hands, before bouncing back up and assuring me that she’s ok. Just watching her makes me feel exhausted. With great effort, I go to the communal bathroom and splash my face with cold water. I drag myself into the blue ensemble and stand in front of one of the long mirrors, appalled at the sight. I look like a convict. I comb my hair and curl it into a bun on top of my head, trying to make the best of a bad job. As I apply a coat of lipstick Lady Muldoon appears and tells me to ‘get along’. I huff and puff all the way to the canteen which is full of the same navy blue uniforms. We all look like prisoners.
I help myself to two boiled eggs and some toast covered in butter, then join Ben and James who beckon me over to join them again. They sit in their matching blue overalls, Ben munching through bacon, eggs, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms and hash browns whilst James explains to us the virtues of peanut butter, maple syrup and pancakes, preferably the way his Grandma makes them. I sip on my hot mug of tea but there’s not enough time to drink the whole thing before we are hauled outside and marched across the front of the grounds. The sun has barely risen and everything looks hazy and beautiful. Lucy runs up alongside me and pinches my arm as she moves on ahead. Eventually we reach an enormous assault course. There are walls and frames and nets and pools of muddy water. This cannot be good. I’m not made for this kind of thing.
Lady Muldoon sweeps to the front, Shadow darting along behind her, explaining that our first day will consist of a physical assessment ‘to see where we are at.’ I haven’t exercised in a long time; over a year, pretty much. I used to, with Kelci, when we tried to manifest, but lately I’ve walked while shopping and that’s about it. Lady Muldoon says we should see these first few days as an opportunity to prepare for our first ‘challenge’. I swallow hard, surely this is our first challenge?
Too soon, it begins. I’m clambering under a rope net, staring at the backsides of my fellow Trainees rushing away from me. I’m down on my stomach, trying to pull myself through the net when Dominic crawls alongside me.
‘Looking good, sweetheart,’ he says, ‘Just be careful not to break a nail, they look expensive.’
He takes off into the distance at great speed. How the hell does he move so fast? It takes a surprisingly short amount of time for me to be left behind by the majority of the group. Only myself, James and a sullen-faced girl called Linda are left under the net. James’ seems to expend a lot energy trying to throw the net off himself, but he still gets out before me. He jogs on, gasping for air and muttering ‘man, I need to start working out.’ After jumping over various obstacles and winding my way around others I find myself slap bang in front of a huge, upside down-V-shaped wall. My spirits sink at the sight of it. I can’t do it… but I clamber up somehow, though by the time I’m at the top I realise that I’m now well and truly last. From this vantage point I can see that half the group are already at the finish line, standing there staring at me. I can even see the outline of that eye-rolling boy with one hand on his hip, the other hand shielding his eyes from the sun, watching me. For God’s sake.
I swing myself over, clinging on for dear life and wish there was some other way, any other way, to get down the other side. Unfortunately I can’t think of anything so I sort o
f slide my way down, with no control and bruising all manner of body parts as I do so. I see Linda up ahead wading through a pit of mud. I’ve got no choice but to do the same and I soon feel the wetness soak into my trousers. James is at the finish line, bent over holding his hands to his chest. I look at the back of Linda’s head and try to speed up – catch her for goodness sake, don’t come last – but within a few steps I realise I’ve made a mistake. My feet have nothing to grip on and I’m out of control. I see one flash of the group before I fall head first into the mud. For a second it feels like I’m drowning. I pull myself up. It’s slimy and cold and brown. My ears are filled with the sound of giggles and snorts.
As I am grappling to stand up I see a muscly form looming towards me. Because of the mud in my eyes I can’t see who it is but I soon feel two enormous arms scooping me up. As I’m being carried out of the pit I manage to get enough dirt off my face to see that the person I am being rescued by is Ben. We get to the finish line and he places me gently on the floor in front of Lady Muldoon, then stands back – like I’m a present he has brought for his master. I sit on the ground, sodden. The laughter’s louder now. Lady Muldoon stares at me like I’m the creature from the black lagoon, which I can only presume is not too far off the mark. Shadow trots over to me and nudges my leg, looking at me, questioning. There’s nothing else for it. I plaster back my hair from my face, stand up, ineffectually brush myself down and say:
‘That went well, didn’t it?’
10. Lavender & Hot Chocolate
Three days since Kelci was taken, Lady Muldoon’s Study
The rest of the day did not get any better. There was rock climbing, archery, swimming, running, all of which left me utterly exhausted. By now, with night fallen, I’ve become a ghost of my former self. I just saw my face in the mirror and I hardly recognised the red-faced, frizzy haired person looking back at me. I almost laughed when I thought of what Mason would say if he saw me, but no laughter came, not even a smile. Worst of all is the fact that I am no nearer to finding Kelci. Not one bit closer. Here, in this place, I feel further away from her than ever. I have to do something. Right now.
That’s why I’m here, knocking on the door of Lady Muldoon’s study as we approach midnight. I persuaded Artemiz to guide me up here, after she supervised us for the last part of the day. Somehow deep down below the cool demeanour, I get the feeling Artemiz really does want to help me – I can’t help thinking she wouldn’t let anyone else do this, but then I did beg and plead and hover around her like a fly, until she said yes. It’s the first time I’ve ventured above ground and even though I’ve only seen one corridor, things look very different up here. It is plush and warm and there are beautiful lights along the walls, silver bands entwined over bunches of crystals glowing all colours of the rainbow.
As Artemiz disappears I hear a muffled voice coming from within the room. I push the door open slowly and immediately my nostrils are hit with the smell of lavender and chocolate and old books. Lady Muldoon sits behind a huge oak desk that looks like it is growing out of the floorboards. Her eyebrows rise like two arches when she sees me. Shadow is curled up on a thick purple rug in front of the roaring fire. He turns his head towards me for a moment, then rests his nose back down on his paws.
‘Hello, Lady Muldoon,’ I say.
I feel like I should curtsy or something and I think it’s because she looks so regal sat there, holding a silver pen in her hand, a great spray of purple feathers and flowers next to her. There’s a painting of a stag too, looking out of a dark forest, just behind her. I can’t help staring at it, and the shelves of books and the nooks and crannies in the walls containing amethysts and candles. In front of her sits a steaming mug.
‘Nina Gregory,’ she says. ‘Would you like some hot chocolate, my dear?’
That was unexpected…
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘I would love one. Thank you.’
She rises from her desk, gathering the swathes of her robe as she goes.
‘Of course, you know you are not supposed to be here?’ she says.
‘Artemiz said I could come up, just this once…’
‘Oh did she now?’ she says, giving me her incredulous look once again. ‘I shall have a word with Artemiz in the morning.’
‘It was me, Lady Muldoon,’ I say. ‘I pestered her.’
‘Very well.’
She pours the contents of a ceramic jug into another mug.
‘Do take a seat, now that you’re here.’
She gestures towards the carved wooden seat in front of her desk, with swirling half circles for arms. I sink into the plump lilac cushion and moments later, she places a thick, stony mug into my hands, before floating back behind her desk. I cradle the mug, then take a sip. It is like drinking pure, melted chocolate, thick and rich, like velvet in my mouth. There’s a taste of lavender in there, and a little bit of spice. It is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted. Lady Muldoon smiles.
‘It is rather good, isn’t it?’
I am staring at the contents of the cup. She sits herself back down at the desk and leans forward.
‘Now. Might I ask what all this is about?’
I look up, then take a deep breath.
‘As you know, Lady Muldoon, I need to find my sister. She was supposed to be an Apprentice here next year, when she turns 16, and she disappeared right in front of me and there was nothing I could do and that’s why I’m here. Because Artemiz said I should try to manifest and that if there’s anything worth knowing, it will be here. I need your help. I can’t just do nothing.’
She takes a sip from her own mug.
‘I see,’ she says. ‘What is it you intend to do?’
‘Well, I was hoping you could help me, to find her… Somehow.’
She stays quiet for a moment, then continues.
‘I know all about your sister, Kelci. I sent for her myself when I found out she manifested. It is terrible, absolutely terrible what has happened…’
‘So you will help me?’
Her eyes widen.
‘Nina, I am helping you.’
‘But I mean, to find her. As soon as possible.’
She lets out a breath through her long nose.
‘There is more to this than you know, I’m afraid. All I will say is, I assure you that we are doing all we can to find Kelci. If your parents have any news, of course, I will relay it to you straight away.’
I place my mug on the table.
‘But whilst we are sitting here, drinking hot chocolate, my sister is out there, in the hands of god knows who.’
‘I understand, but the best thing you can do right now, is excel in your training.’
‘It’s a waste of time.’
I won’t manifest anyway.
‘There are others in the same situation as your sister and believe me when I say that everything in our power is being done to find them.’
‘But what is being done?’
‘Nina.’
Her nostrils flare slightly.
‘Concentrate on what you need to do right now.’
I sit back in my chair. She’s giving me nothing. All she wants me to do is manifest, but I don’t even think I can and I don’t even know if I want to. If I could just get some information about the people who took her, where she is… I might not even need any powers, and everything that goes along with it. I can still have a life, my dreams, Mason…
‘I can’t concentrate.’
She gives me a stern look.
‘Yes, you can. And you really ought to. And if you would like to find your sister, you will.’
She stands up, and swoops over to the fireside, pointing to a framed picture on the wall, a class photo. She beckons me over.
‘Come.’
I rise from the chair and step over Shadow who nuzzles his nose into Lady Muldoon’s ankle. Her voice softens.
‘See those two there, on the back row. That’s your parents. Luke Gregory and Stella Smythe. Two of the bes
t Apprentices of that year.’
I peer at the picture and see that, yes, that’s my Dad, with a thick head of blonde hair, wearing a blue jacket with enormous lapels on it and next to him is Mum, young and beautiful, beaming a big smile. I feel a pang of sadness to think of the last time I saw them, looking so drawn and desperate.
‘I did so want them to stay at Muldoon, to teach – they would have made great Trainers in their Houses, but they wanted to go out in the world and start a family. To have you.’
I sigh. I wonder if Dominic is right. Are they disappointed in me?
‘Let me ask you something, Nina. Today, at the assault course, did you believe you had a chance of finishing anything but last?’
‘I don’t know, I mean, Linda was pretty slow, but no, not really. It’s just not really me, all this clambering about.’
She raises her eyebrows again.
‘So you expect to release your sister from the clutches of her kidnappers without any, and I quote, “clambering about” because “it’s just not really me”?’
I stare at her open-mouthed.
‘I mean, well…’
I can’t think of anything to say to that.
‘Would you like my honest opinion?’
‘I guess.’
She turns to me and smiles gently.
‘All you need to do, is believe.’
I let out a half laugh, half moan.
‘Believe in what?’
And with a mysterious kind of look, she says: ‘Only you can decide that.’
11. Punch From The Hips
Four days since Kelci was taken, Trainee Hall
At 5am this morning, when the wake up call came around once again, I was still going through the conversation with Lady Muldoon in my head, over and over. How, as she said, would I release my sister from her kidnappers? How would I do that? They were armed, they were huge, even Kelci with her abilities couldn’t get the better of them. Even if I do find out right now where she is, am I going to go there empty-handed and alone? There’s no one to help me. Except my parents, who are thousands of miles away. All I know is that something is going to have to change. But then, the moment I start to think that, a feeling of dread takes over… What if I start trying to manifest again, just like I did in the past, and still, I can’t do it? What if nothing happens?