Twin Spirit

by Matthew Thompson

  “Start your engines,” said Rose.

  “Oh right… I’m quick, but not that quick.”

  Cars beeped, along with cheers from the surrounding crowd. “Looks like we’re set. You watching or what?”

  “Sure,” said Rose.

  “Look out for the silver Porsche!” he shouted, jogging backwards.

  Rose dashed to the roadside and stood alongside spectators who waved flags and drank from beer bottles.

  The drivers rolled to the start line. A bullet fired released screeching tyres; a plume of smoke and dust ensued. The twins watched the silver Porsche roar into the lead, just like the driver had said, and it was soon over, with victory all his.

  The Porsche pulled up to the twins. The driver smiled, then said, “Told you… Now let’s fuel up.”

  The twins returned to Bella Air with six barrels of fuel to take on deck, which Lily took care of.

  “Whoa! That’s quite a talent you got there,” said the driver.

  Rose smiled at his charming face from the vessel edge. “Thanks for your help, Mr… ?”

  “James… James Dean.”

  “Thanks, James,” said Rose.

  “Enjoy your racing,” said Lily. “My tokens are on you.”

  “Oh… I intend to. Take care now, and good luck finding your mother!”

  * * *

  Day six.

  The Napoleonic war once raged in Sector NW-219. Rose had read about the Battle of Trafalgar, where the French and Spanish vessels had targeted Her Majesty’s ship. Could Admiral Lord Nelson have sailed those seas?

  * * *

  Later.

  Bella Air cruised over Sector VL-372, where the Houses of Parliament stood by the River Themes. Rose read to her dismay that Guy Fawkes did remember, remember the fifth of November. He returned for the Gunpowder Plot II; a failure which resulted in a second, torturous death.

  * * *

  Day seven arrived. With the absence of Stanley and Brunel, emptiness wandered Bella Air. With no contact from their great mentor, Rose had begun to fear the worst. His presence was never far, however: everywhere she looked reminded her of Stanley and his feathered friend.

  The twins had much time to ponder their thoughts. Two reoccurred throughout their voyage. Would they find Mother and Stanley? And would Lily’s most desired wish come true?

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  The Governor of the Govern

  The arrow gave a heartening twitch. Eight days had passed since the compass had shaken within inches of its target. Rose watched it closely, admiring every flicker, and felt every vibration. The dial reassured her: 20.8 kilometres to contact.

  Through the restless clouds, a sector faded into view: the exterior of LV-426. Its sector doors parted.

  A bellow of bleeps confirmed what lurked within as the vessel flew into the overcast sky, which Rose observed through the scope. She witnessed a precarious ridged landscape peaked with grey spikes and hollowed black craters. Rivers of magma flowed, releasing gases into the air – so vast and thick the hazy horizon concealed what lay beyond.

  There was no sign of life below. The channels of lava etched the land towards two thin, towering silhouettes. The lofty piercing spikes were revealed to be supporting a bridge, and beyond that, a ghostly structure emerged.

  Rose caught a glimmer of flat land, within a tight perimeter of twisted rock spires. Easing off the throttle and hovering above dense gases, she eyed the landing zone though patches of clearer air. With caution, she kept the vessel within a safe radius.

  “Steady… Keep her steady,” said Lily.

  “I know, I know. Just – turn that thing off.”

  Lily looked to the bleeping radar and flipped the switch beneath the semi-sphere. “Done.”

  A delicate handling of the thrust resulted in a soft landing.

  The twins arrived on the upper deck. Warm air clambered over Rose’s skin as she looked towards the foreboding structure. Beams of sunlight drifted across the land, as if Kiian was searching the ground for intruders. In the distance, movement caught her attention: a dark figure circled like a vulture eyeing a carcass. Another arrived, and then another. They gathered, descending one by one to the edges of the gothic bridge.

  “What are they doing?” asked Rose, unable to proceed in case they charged into an onslaught.

  “I have no idea. But I doubt there’s any other way in.”

  Rose courageously abandoned Bella Air. She glanced from side to side. Only the slightest of twitches and ticks betrayed that the Govern were not statues. Rose looked ahead, giving quick glances at the devourers. Step by step, stride by stride, sooner than preferred, she was surrounded by them.

  The lava wheezed and hissed; the heat was baking, causing Rose to sweat. Her pace doubled, and her walk turned into a dash through an opened steel gate towards an arched door with a dozen carved ridges surrounding it. More Govern rested at either side, although these appeared to be made of igneous rock.

  The door featured fist-sized rivets and a knocker the size of a dustbin lid. She clenched the compass, feeling the vibrations for reassurance, then brought back the knocker and let go.

  Boom!

  Nothing happened. She reached to knock again, but the two doors parted, revealing a candlelit passage filled with flickering shadows. Nervously, Rose entered and the doors closed behind her with a hefty clunk.

  Quietness flowed through the black stone corridor, abundant with alternative routes at either side, each long passage leading to darkness. Rose sighed, compass held to her heart, and walked ahead, overlooked by sinister carved alien creatures.

  At the end of the passage was a spiral of stone steps. Music drifted down. She had heard the piano notes before, and moved towards them. “Beethoven,” said Rose. “Moonlight Sonata, Number Fourteen – Mary has played this.”

  She took the last step into an extraordinary expansive chamber hall, like a gothic cathedral. She then looked at the compass. The needle pointed to the far door, thirty paces away on the left. Ahead was a throne which stood behind an impressive stone table, fit for a king. On the right, steps led to an upper balcony.

  There was movement above. Govern, perched like bats, watched and waited in the dim light.

  “Don’t be afraid,” said a voice. “Please, come forth. Let me see you – both of you.”

  Rose stepped over to a marble floor diagram. It was encircled with sacred shapes, and contained numbers and letter forms that made no sense.

  “Come out!” screamed Lily. “Release our mother. I won’t ask you again!”

  Rose didn’t budge. She looked around, wide eyed, and listened for a response.

  A click came from a door on the upper balcony. Footsteps tapped against the stone floor; the sound was in time with the music – slow and methodical.

  “Welcome home, sweethearts. You’re safe now.”

  Rose slowly shook her head.

  “Mum is safe. She’s so happy to have finally met you both,” said a man who sounded and appeared exactly like Rose and Lily’s father. He wore his best white shirt, pin-striped trousers and polished shoes.

  “Sophie, come,” said the man, and clapped his hands together twice. A ringing sound emitted. “Look who it is. It’s Rose and Lily. They’ve come to live with us.” He made the final step to the ground floor, and a cat, identical to Sophie, followed and rubbed against his legs.

  “Dad… you didn’t –”

  “Die? Yes, sweetheart.”

  “He’s lying!” snapped Lily.

  Rose glanced to her side and remembered. She looked back at the man who claimed to be her father. “Prove you’re our father.”

  A pause. “When you were six, you slipped and fell from that climbing frame. You needed eight stitches for that cut. And remember the time I bought you the play house at Christmas? You were never out of it; Christmas Day, Boxing Day, you practically lived in there.” He smiled and stepped behind the stone table where a large candlestick was situated, its flame bright.
He placed a hand on the throne.

  “You’re lying… I don’t believe you,” said Rose. “Stanley told us. You take the form of our most respected figure. You’re the Judge, Kiian. You’re not our father, as much as that cat is not Sophie.”

  “Rose, don’t be so… judgmental,” said the man. “I do enjoy Beethoven’s Moonlight. Better acoustics in here, don’t you think?” he said, sitting down in the throne which was decorated with intricate spirals and alien forms. “I want you live with me, Sophie and your mother. Together – at last.”

  Lily took a deep breath. “Where is our mother?”

  “All will be revealed shortly. But it’s a shame all will end so suddenly, so tragically, should you not obey me.”

  “Lily is capable of great things. More than you’ll ever be!” said Rose, plunging into her sister’s fighting spirit.

  “Brave. And foolish. I feared this would happen,” he said softly. “You do realise that wasn’t a true testament of my strength earlier, don’t you?” He placed a hand beneath the table. “Possession is draining in close proximity, never mind the other side of the world. I just thought you should know that, before you make the greatest error of your lives.” His hand rose above the table, holding a shiny red and green apple.

  Rose felt her throat tighten.

  Lily didn’t flinch, and spoke with clarity. “That was days ago. We’re stronger now – stronger than ever.”

  “What do you want?” asked Rose.

  The Judge leaned back in his throne. He tapped his fingers on the armrests, looking directly at Rose. “Do you not like my home? This can be all yours,” he said, and looked at the apple. He took a bite and spoke while chewing. “I can give you anything you desire. I can separate you. I want you both to live with me as my daughters. Before, I didn’t know how special you are. That’s why the Govern won’t attack you. I told them. You are free to live your life, here with –”

  “That’s not free!” yelled Lily. “And you’re not listening. We don’t care for this place, or you. We’re leaving with our mother. Let’s go, Rose.”

  Not wanting to let her sister down, she looked at the compass and took a step in the direction of the arrow.

  “Let’s see, shall we,” said the Judge, adjusting his position on the throne. He took a large bite out of the apple and chewed loudly. “Say stop whenever you feel the need.”

  Rose continued to step forward, until Lily said, “Turn around. This is my fight.”

  She looked awkward and uncertain as she turned her back on Kiian. “Whatever it takes, sis,” she whispered. “I’m with you all the way.”

  Another bite of his apple; he crunched and crunched, gazing at Lily. A sudden blast of light projected over the twins, like a solar flare over Earth. Rose scrunched her eyes tightly as the wave of heat grew hotter and brighter. But it had little effect on its target.

  The light reduced in an instant.

  Rose opened her eyes.

  “You’d better give it up,” he said.

  “Not now – not ever,” retorted Lily.

  “You will. You must. I’m just warming up.”

  Lily narrowed her eyes and said, “I’m not afraid of you. We’re not afraid of you.”

  Rose remained quiet and woozy. She repositioned her feet to regain balance, fearing the notion of him ‘just warming up’. She knew only too well what could happen should her sister go beyond her strength.

  Sis… said Lily with her mind. We have to get out of here. Step once and I’ll know you understand.

  Rose took one step forward. Her heart fluttered nervously. She screamed to herself, Be strong, be brave.

  The Judge smiled. “I’m impressed by your efforts thus far. Now show me how great you really are.”

  Nothing visible happened. However, the stone beneath Rose’s feet began to shake. Heat penetrated through her wellies.

  “Quick, move!” screamed Lily, but it was too late.

  A ten-foot diameter of the stone floor had vanished, and she and Lily fell towards nothingness. With arms outstretched, Rose grabbed the edge of the remaining floor. She held tight, kicking her legs into a pit of black.

  “Hold on!” said Lily. She explored the interior with her eyes, noticing the grand table where the Judge sat. The candlestick rattled. Within a second, the ornament flew through the air and hovered above Rose. “Grab hold!”

  Fearful of letting go, Rose refused for a moment. Then she forced a leap for the candlestick, making a life-saving clench. She floated over solid ground and came to rest on the floor.

  “Bravo! Bravo!” cheered Kiian, and gave a standing ovation.

  Rose too stood, uneasy, as the floor reformed like a magical jigsaw. No mark was visible.

  “You never cease to amaze me,” said the Judge, holding the apple between his finger and thumb; one bite left to its core.

  Lily exhaled with aggression. With her mind, she said, “Get ready, sis.”

  “This time… I will banish you,” said the Judge, sat in his chair, about to take his final bite.

  The moment the words left his lips, Lily propelled the candlestick through the air with potent force. The apple departed his grasp, hitting the tabletop and tumbled onto the floor, where it settled. The Judge’s mouth gaped wide open while he sat as rigid as the candlestick in his chest.

  Rose saw his disturbed expression only briefly as she made a dash for the door. Lily had already unlocked it and opened it without her sister's touch.

  * * *

  Within the confines of gothic intricacy, Rose felt the rumble in her hands as she dashed along the corridor towards the nearest door. Lily opened it, causing a whirl of warm air to engulf her.

  Hundreds of candles lit an inner courtyard. On the highest floor, Rose stepped forward. Two lower balconies surrounded the courtyard. She then lent over a stone-pillared barrier and looked below. “Mum!”

  “Rose! Lily!” yelled their mother.

  The ground floor of the square courtyard featured a fountain at the centre. Water ran over the centrepiece: a statue Govern.

  “We’re coming!” shouted Rose, looking for steps.

  “Over there.” Lily pointed to an open doorway to her left.

  She hurried beneath the archway, down steps to the ground floor, along a corridor and into the courtyard. She sprinted to her mother’s side. “Mum, you okay?” she asked, breathless.

  “I knew it wasn’t a dream," said Violet. "I knew it was true. But how did you –”

  She was distracted by the sound of footsteps. A figure looked down on them from the third balcony.

  “Sis…” said Lily. “Get ready.”

  “That was surprising,” said the Judge in their father’s voice. There was no sign of a wound on his chest. “I don’t like surprises.”

  “You’re not taking my children. Not in this life, or the next.”

  The Judge gave a small sigh. “Very well. Then watch them die.”

  “There is no death, only new beginnings,” said Violet.

  “If that’s what you believe.”

  Lily unlocked the far steel door, swinging it wide open. Within a split second she made a desperate defensive surge as a volume of scorching hot particles encircled the twins. “Run, Mum!” yelled Lily. The shield momentarily shrank. Lily fought harder.

  “Find the vessel! Over the bridge!” cried Rose. She noticed her mother’s helplessness and unwillingness to leave. After repeated turn-backs, Mother was gone from sight.

  The heated particles dispersed and the force imposed on the twins reduced to nothing.

  Kiian abruptly threw down his hands in despair. “Had enough?” he said, pacing along the balcony.

  Rose staggered backwards; her legs felt disconnected from her brain. Her weak hands prevented her head from clashing with the stone floor. She then fell to the ground after her arms couldn’t support her weight.

  “I see you’ve shown your best,” said the Judge. “I had hoped for a better outcome than this. I thought you h
ad more purpose.”

  “Get up,” ordered Lily. “Make yourself get up. You can, you know you can. Hear me, sis, get up and fight!”

  Rose heard every word. She wobbled to her feet. Somehow her inner strength took over.

  The Judge began to play magic tricks. First he appeared on the opposite side of the courtyard. Then two father figures observed the twins from the third floor, followed by another on the adjacent side. Finally, all four sides were taken by his presence. He didn’t relent, but continued to multiply at pace. Soon, the interior courtyard balconies were swarming with representations of Father.

  Listen to me, she said in her mind. This must end. I know we can’t take much more.

  Rose listened patiently, as if transported to another dimension where all threat had succumbed. Lily explained the task ahead. Even though Rose remained uncertain of the outcome, she heard her sister’s defiant voice: full of grit and determination.

  “Goodbye, Lily. Goodbye, Rose,” said Kiian.

  Lily began a mind-bending waltz, and delved into a Judge standing before her. With a tight grasp, she began exploring the possibilities and ventured deeper than ever. Before Kiian had time to react, she had merged one father into another. She didn’t stop there: two fathers, three fathers, four fathers; Lily consumed them one by one.

  “What is this?” he said. “What are you doing?”

  The fathers were being dragged towards the strongest of them all, occupied by the soul of a primitive spirit. In little time, they had all but gone, bar one, and his rival.

  The figure inhabited by Lily stepped towards its maker. Mere metres apart, they faced one another.

  “It’s over,” said Lily in her father’s voice.

  “Yes…” said the Judge “For you!”

  They clashed, merging together into a spiral of dazzling white energy. Candles lifted into the air as Rose slid on her back, attempting to sink her fingers into the cracks of the stone floor. She managed to gain a grip, straining her neck to view the whirling bright light twist, bulge, fragment and explode.

  Rose’s nails scraped along the ground as she was hurled towards a pillar. The impact rattled her bones and she landed with a bash.

  The Judge reappeared, hovering in mid-air. He looked suspicious and confused. He spoke in a distorted voice. “What is this?” Each word seemed to age his vocals. “What is happen–ing? What have you… done?”