Land of Verne (22 page)

When the air cleared, Dorian patted him on the shoulder and laughed.

“Astounding!” he said. “I’d forgotten about those mushrooms. I learned that rhyme when I was young.”

Grim blushed. “Well I just learned it, so it’s pretty new to me.”

“Nice,” he said.

Grim looked back to where the men had fallen and noticed the hand of Marveleous Thingrom. His fingers clutched a little figure of a man with an umbrella. And it was pulsing with a tainted, black hue.

“Dorian —”

A well-dressed gentleman appeared under the lamppost wearing a tall black coat with matching top hat. One of his eyes was covered with a black patch. He cast no shadow upon the ground and despite the fact that the trees were shifting in the faint breeze, the man’s cape did not budge. The man disappeared, only to reappear three feet in front of them. Grim sucked in his breath. As he exhaled he could see it. The air was winter cold.

The man eyed them both and removed his hat. His face was pale, and a thin black goatee circled his mouth. His one black eye focused briefly on Dorian.

“What are doing here, Gargoyle?”

“That isn’t any of your business,” Dorian said.

“I am Sinistral, Master of the Darksworn. You will speak with respect.”

“Jinn,” Dorian whispered to Grim.

Grim clutched the little figurine. He fiddled with the umbrella.

Nothing happened.

The pale-faced man looked at what sat in his hands. “Interesting device.”

Grim balled up the fear in his throat and swallowed it down. He flicked the umbrella a little faster.

Sinistral gritted his gleaming white teeth. Black flames danced at the tips of his pale hands and before Grim could even blink, he hurled fire at the two of them. Grim winced and braced for the impact, but Dorian hastily flipped three switches and pushed a button on his rod. It produced a metal shield. The fire hit hard against it.

Then the shield folded up.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Sinistral’s malicious eye twinkled with glee.

“I still have sinth but it’s dead,” Dorian muttered. “Step back!”

The Gargoyle’s wings unfurled, leathery and bat-like and his eyes glowed an angry red. Dorian growled in rage.

“I don’t think so,” the Jinn hissed. With sudden, swift movements, he picked them both up by the collars and threw them backwards, sending them scooting along the ground.

Sinistral marched forward and towered over Grim. Grim scrambled for the little figurine hoping it might help, but it was yards away. Sinistral blocked his path, snatching Grim’s hand in his pale one. Black flames licked at Grim’s skin and he screamed.

“There is no escape for you.”

Grim closed his eyes, knowing now that Veerasin’s foretelling had come to pass. He waited for the pain, waited for the burning fire, and the end.

Chapter 23

Grim Doyle’s life was now in grave danger, more than it had ever been. He waited for the heat, waited to be burned to a crisp. He braced himself for the agonizing pain.

A sickening feel churned in his stomach. He winced. But there was nothing. Nothing at all.

Grim opened his eyes and the Jinn’s fire enveloped him, incinerating everything on the ground around him. Black and red flames danced along the ground, and all along his skin. Yet Grim felt nothing. He was still alive and not melting. He rolled over, away from the Jinn, and Sinistral’s single eye widened in shock.

“Impossible!”

Before Sinistral could respond a man in a white suit and cloak appeared in the clearing.

Grim froze briefly, unsure of what to do. They couldn’t possibly stand against two of them. He crawled across the ground as the white-cloaked one advanced.

He marched with a limp and a shiny wooden cane. He removed his cloak, letting it flutter to the ground. The man didn’t advance on Grim or Dorian. The man went after Sinistral, limping towards him with a determined stride.

He swiped at Sinistral with his cane and the black-cloaked Jinn shuffled back. Grim scooped up the woman with the umbrella as Dorian ran up beside him.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Grim nodded, shaking.

“How did you survive that? You should be dead.”

“I don’t know,” he muttered and checked his skin and clothing. All was normal, other than the mud on his garments.

“Come on,” Dorian said. “Let’s get out of the way.”

Grim followed him and dashed towards the edge of the trees while the two men fought with each other.

Thunder echoed from the ceiling as their canes struck. The man in white seemed to hide in Sinistral’s blind spot and attacked from such angles that the man in black had trouble seeing him. Their canes, alight with flame, sailed through the air, slicing at each other.

Then the white Jinn was knocked off his legs and he struggled to rise. Sinistral lunged forward and pounced on him. He tried to sink his fingers into the other man’s throat, but the white one rolled and swiped at Sinistral once more with his cane, slicing him along his face. It was a swipe that scratched the corner of Sinistral’s one good eye.

 The black-cloaked Jinn stood. He looked at his opponent, bowed his head, and then swiftly departed the clearing and the forest, his cane tapping the stone alley at a hurried pace.  

Then the white-dressed man turned his gaze towards Dorian and Grim. He retrieved his cloak, fastened it and limped towards them.

The Jinn studied them for a time before speaking. “We have not encountered your kind in some time.” His voice was soft.

Dorian stepped forward. “I don’t understand. Our kind?”

“Not your kind,” he said and then looked at Grim. “I am Arabus. Who are you, child, that you have summoned me?”

Arabus!

“My name is Grim,” he said. “Grim Doyle.” He offered his hand and the man took it with an amusing smile. “I didn’t summon you.”

“You are standing in the Mystics Circle and you summoned me with that device. Where did you get it?”

“It’s my Poppa’s,” he replied and held it behind his back.

Arabus chuckled. “No need to hide it. I have no use for it. What is your lineage? The Mystics are lost. Only the Darksworn are left.”

Grim pulled out the pocket watch.

“Ahh,” he said. “Your bloodline is that of the Mystics of old.” He took it from Grim, studying the back of it. “And this is from your father?”

“Well he’s not really my father. I wasn’t born from him.”

The Jinn handed it back. “And why are you here?”

“I was looking for you. The Scourge is spreading through Madam Malkim’s. We think Jinn’s blood will cure it.”

“Jinn’s blood will only help reverse certain conditions if you know its cause. Who sent a child on this errand?”

“No one really sent me, although my Aunt Patrice knows I’m here.”

“Patrice,” said the Jinn with a nod. He almost seemed to smile. “You are either very brave or very foolish to come out here.”

“Does that mean you’ll give us what we need?”

From out of his jacket Arabus pulled three red vials.

Grim took them. Each one sparkled.

“One drop should suffice. Should this spread further,” he said, “you have two more.”

“Thanks,” Grim said. “And thank you for saving us.” He watched where Sinistral had departed and then to the mushroom patch where Marveleous Thingrom had collapsed. The man was no longer there. “I don’t suppose you can escort us back to Madam Malkim’s. Sinistral may come back.”

“You summoned me for only one purpose — to save your lives.”

“Can I summon you again?” Grim asked and looked at the figurine. She had a crack running through her.

Arabus shook his head. “This device will only work once for such a purpose.”

“But what if I need you again?”

“Although you are of the line of Mystics, you do not have the power to summon me again. It is a shame the Tower was closed. One of your blood could be well trained there.”

“Can I find another device like this one?”

“They are rare. But you won’t need it.” He handed Grim a leather-bound book from within his jacket. “This book will teach you what you need to know. I will come for it soon. I suggest you memorize its contents because I give it only once.”

Grim grinned. “Cool!”

“Remember, it is a one-time gift.”

He nodded.

“Until we meet again. Good day,” Arabus said and limped in the opposite direction of Sinistral. They watched him go.

“We should head back,” Grim said.

Dorian lowered his head and scuffed his feet. “Uh, Grim, I’m not going back.”

“What? Why not?” he asked. He could use with Dorian’s help.

“There’s no proof of what happened to Valeria, and I’m meant to face stoning in Gravenhurst. It wasn’t Eevenellin who did it, and if it was Festrel it’ll be difficult to prove. He’s the son of a very powerful Lord and he’s accusing me. No one will believe he did such a thing. I must disappear, for now. Perhaps I can return when things have settled and my name is cleared.”

“Where will you go?”

“I don’t know,” he said, looking towards where the Jinn had walked away.

Grim nodded in understanding and had a sudden idea.

“Take this,” he said, and handed him the pocket watch from his dads. “Go and find my parents. Hand this to them and tell them you helped me. Tell them that Grim Doyle of Earth sent you. They’ll know what that means.”

Dorian hesitantly accepted the pocket watch. It shone in the faint lamplight.

“Are you sure about this?”

Grim nodded. “I insist. You’ll be safe with them.”

“Thanks, Grim. You’re all right.”

“You too,” he replied with a grin.

The two then walked together, Grim telling Dorian of Earth and its various technologies to which Dorian listened intently.

After a few hours, Dorian found a sewer that he was convinced would take him out of the city. Grim then eventually found his way to the surface on his own and worked his way back towards Madam Malkim’s. A certain comfort shrouded him as he drew near, like he was coming home.

Curious
.

All was eerily tranquil, as if the building had been abandoned. He wondered how he would sneak in without being noticed. He couldn’t go in through the side door of the Library since Madam Tyne would see him. Then they’d know he’d been outside and he’d have a lot of explaining to do.

A few autumn leaves rustled at his feet as he stood there. Then around the corner came Rudy and Aunt Patrice.

His sister supported their Aunt as she walked.

“How did you know I was here?” Grim asked.

His Aunt smiled. “You summoned Rudy.”

“Huh?”

Rudy shrugged. “I knew you needed me.”

Their Aunt nodded to the book in his hand. “Lesson One: Need.”

Grim flipped open the book.

Lesson One: Need

A Mystic’s needs always surpasses a Mystic’s wants. Focus on your needs first, and all manner of things can be summoned
.

He closed the book. He wanted so much to tell her everything, to tell her about Arabus and Sinistral, but there wasn’t time.

“I have the Jinn blood,” he said.

“I’m glad you made it back safely,” his Aunt said, and stroked Grim’s face. Her hands were coated in brown splotches, even worse than before. She gripped his shoulder briefly for support.

“It’s good to be back,” he replied.

Master Galan marched towards them from across the grounds. He was out of breath when he reached them.

“I received your message, my Lady, and got here as soon as I could,” he said, puffing. “Hello, Grimwald. Rudolpha.”

Grim pulled one of the vials from his pocket and handed it to Master Galan. “This will help cure the plague.”

Rudy looked like she wanted to say something, but then closed her mouth.

The man took it gently. “I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”

“We think the plague was created with an elixir of Marmorite Blue and the hair of a Changeling. It’s called The Scourge. This will reverse it.”

Master Galan’s face paled. “Who would do such a thing? And where would anyone find the hair of a Changeling?”

“Veerasin,” Grim said. “She was always allowing me to leave early from chores when the moon was full. The last time I went to the kitchens and the full moon was up, she wasn’t there.”

Their Aunt nodded. “Very good. I will leave Master Galan to brew an elixir. I pray that you are right, child. Once we have cured everyone, we must determine who did this. More have become sick since you left, including Madam Phoebe and Finneas Keltin, and three have died. We are doing all we can to stall any more deaths. It is more than good fortune that your siblings have lasted as long as they have. Almost a miracle, really.”

Master Galan patted Grim on the head. “Thank you, child. You have done us all a great service.” He left them to march back across the grounds to his laboratory.

Grim escorted Aunt Patrice and Rudy back to the Academy.

“So you met a Jinn,” Aunt Patrice said.

Grim nodded. “Two of them,” he said, “one called Sinistral and another called Arabus.” He opened the door. “I summoned Arabus and he saved us.”

Rudy looked aghast.