Nyteria Rising (The Thirteenth Series Book 3) (16 page)

“From the beginning, if it holds interest.”

Val walked over to the kettle, made herself a coffee then sat by the window spinning the tale of her very simple life up until her birthday, of funny childhood antics and lazy summer holidays with the girl who had been her best friend. Of relatives past and present and how she had been so lucky to have such great parents. Of her pet goldfish, Frank, and the hamster that had never arrived, along with the cat and dog she had waited for all her childhood. As she talked, every so often she would see the glimmer of a set of eyes or the reflection of light off slithery skin. It was scary, but not as scary as telling an almost emotionless Hunter about the time in her school play when she was supposed to be a motionless star, yet she had managed to organise all the wise men and shepherds, and had then taken the baby from the manger and dropped it off the stage.

She told him the little she remembered of going back in time and meeting her real mother, of how the world was in the past, her sackcloth dress and the fact that she had no shoes. About all of the people she had saved and how difficult it had been, knowing her parents had forgotten her, but that she had learnt that sometimes you have to sacrifice the things you love to keep them safe. She talked about meeting Shane, his kindness, and that somehow she had known he was always on her side. Her eyes filled up and the words caught in her throat. “I will make him proud.”

“He was a very special person and I feel honoured to have known him.” Val looked at Zac’s face. He was looking out of the window, attempting to hide the fact he was as sad about Shane as she was. It must be so hard to have emotions without knowing what they meant. He really did have a heart.

The story came to an end as her mum entered the kitchen. Susan’s voice was a welcome break from her own. “Morning.” She placed a kiss on Val’s head and patted Zac’s arm. To Val’s unease the sun was rising. They had made it through the night without any incidents, but what would follow?

Slowly the others surfaced, but it was a subdued group who gradually assembled in the kitchen.

“So is anyone hungry?” Val’s mum asked, pulling out some frying pans.

Fran held her belly. “I’m not sure. I’m feeling a little bit queasy.”

“I think we should all have something,” Mike said. “You’ll be fine after some of Susan’s pancakes and bacon, Fran, it’s her speciality. Never go to war on an empty stomach.” He knew Susan found cooking calming and also knew she needed to feel like she was making sure everyone was ok.

“Then breakfast it is.” She flicked on the hob’s rings and went to the fridge.

Val turned away from the window and did a double take at what Sam was wearing. “So is this your uniform for the day?” Today he wasn’t wearing the Magrafe uniform. He was all in green, the same as Wendy. He looked smart and she had to admit she wished she could get out of her cat suit for a breather, as it made going for a wee virtually impossible.

“Says the woman in Lycra, I thought you loved Spiderman, not his clothes.” He pulled at her uniform which was stuck to her skin.

“Harsh. If this suit wasn’t my only weapon I’d be in my jeans right now.” She pushed him playfully. Was this real? Were they all really standing around the kitchen as her mum cooked pancakes waiting for the end to come?

“Zac,” Susan called holding out a glass of his vitamin gunk.

“Thank you, Susan.”

“Now you can’t say I don’t feed you.” She gave him a warm smile.

Wendy was last to arrive in her green Judge’s ensemble; it was all starting to look very official. “Morning hunny. How’s Daniel?” Susan enquired.

“Still sleeping.” She looked ashamedly at the floor.

Jason walked over to her. Gently he placed his hand on hers and the other under her chin to lift her face. “Wendy, we can’t take back what happened yesterday, and today’s not the day to talk about it, but if he’s joining us because he loves you, then I’ll accept that. One thing my Dad taught me was to give everyone an equal chance. Let’s see how he uses it.”

Her eyes welled up. “Thank you, Jason. I promise you he won’t fail us.”

“Ok. Who’s first?” Susan flipped the pancake as in walked David’s Hunter.

“Hey, come on in but don’t eat or drink anything,” Val greeted him. “How’s David?”

“He can have this.” Susan passed him a glass of Zac’s gunk.

“Thank you for your kindness.” He took it, drinking it straight down. “Fourteen is stable; he doesn’t seem to
have changed. It’s as if he’s frozen. I just wanted to offer you my services for today.” He turned and bowed his head in respect to Sam and Wendy.

Sam responded, “You’ll stay here and help protect the house with Susan and Fran. Jason may need you. He’ll come and collect you as soon as we leave.” The Hunter nodded and left them to make their plans.

After they had eaten and the sun was up, the true extent of the crowd gathering outside the house became clearer.

“Your neighbours must be used to some weird goings on, Sam! If I saw something that looked that much like a Minotaur in my garden, I would be running for help or calling the police. Why does no one seem to be reacting?” Fran asked.

“Zac says there’s a good chance that Eva has them cloaked to the humans.”

“So why let us see them?” Jason asked.

“Intimidation, they want us to be aware of their power.”

“Interesting,” he nodded shoving a piece of bacon into his mouth.

They all stood around eating pancakes in an oddly upbeat frame of mind. Val was wondering if this would be her last meal when Sam tapped on his watch. “Right, it’s time. We have quite a drive in front of us.”

“That’s if we get out of the garage alive…” Zac stated.

“Zac, sugar coating!” Val glared at him.

Mike jangled his keys and they started to make their way out towards Bessie. Wendy and Sam jumped in the
back, crouching down out of sight. Belinda joined them. Mike embraced Susan and kissed her. “See you later.” He smiled as tears started to fill her eyes.

“Don’t be late for dinner.” She forced a smile for him. He released her and walked quickly away, aware that they had little time. He and Zac got into the front of the truck.

Val was next in line to hug her mum. “Valerie Sheridan Saunders, you come home tonight, or else.” Susan’s voice trembled.

“Ok, if you promise to make me my favourite dinner.”

“Hawaiian burgers it is.” She hugged Val and then it was time for them to leave.

Val closed the connecting door on her mum as Zac impatiently beckoned her into the vehicle. “No, I need to deal with the crowd first.” She pressed the button to open the garage doors. Mike started the engine. The truck door swung open as Zac leapt out. “Stay there, I’ll be fine. Anyway, Hunters don’t fight.” She shoved him back to the car. The last thing she needed was him getting her knocked about. He did as ordered. With the door fully open she could see the crowd of creatures gathering. Her stomach tightened as her helmet sprung over her face. Her sword extended as she readied herself for the fight of her life. “Please let me get through this battle alive,” she murmured to herself.

Her screen showed her vitals were strong, apart from the fact that her heart was dancing a Samba. She was about to the leave the garage when a huge blue flash of light knocked her off her feet, throwing her forcefully onto the bonnet of the car. Val shook her head, trying to clear it then looked up and saw the shadows of two large
figures in the open garage door. She had to get up and take care of them before they harmed her friends in the truck. Then Mike was grabbing at her arm, pulling her to her feet.

A large, dark figure strode towards her, made difficult to see by the bright light spilling through the garage door. Mike dragged her backwards, but she shrugged him off, trying to summon her sword again. “Did you call?” A familiar voice asked.

She gasped and her helmet sprung back. The figure’s helmets followed and to her utter joy there stood Boden, with Hadwyn close behind him. “Oh my God, it’s you! How did you get here? You’re alive! I’m so pleased to see you.” She embraced Boden and turned to greet Hadwyn. “I won’t hug you, don’t worry.”

“Good,” he replied turning his nose up at the open displays of affection.

“We didn’t get here, you brought us here.” Boden returned the embrace.

Val called to the truck and its occupants. “Hey, this is my team, well I’m sort of their follower!” she said loudly so Sam and Wendy could hear her.

“Pleased to meet you,” Mike said as he shook their hands. “I’m Val’s Dad from the future.”

“What’s the problem? We got a distress call from you and then we were teleported out.” Boden asked.

Val nodded to the scene behind him.

He turned around to face the gathering crowd of full aliens. “Ah! Right, I see. So what’s your plan?”

“Looks like she was planning on getting killed,” Hadwyn butted in.

Val ignored him. “We have to get to a place called Mistley Heath where Lailah and her followers are
gathering to open a portal to the Prison, big enough to teleport all the prisoners to Earth at once.”

“Are we talking about Princess Lailah?”

“You can call her Queen Lailah for all I care, although I prefer psycho. We need to stop her.”

Hadwyn looked concerned. “She’s been in Prison for a long time, Val, and she’s one of a group who attempted to free the Ranswars before. This isn’t going to be easy.”

“Nothing is in my life,” she responded. Zac tapped on the windscreen, making pointing signals to the back of the car and another to the outside. “I’m pleased you’re here guys, but I think it’s time to make a move.”

“Val can you hear me?” Jason’s voice was clear in her ear.

“Yes I can. Tell me what you can see,” she asked as they stood on the garage’s threshold.

“Whose voice is this we can hear?” Hadwyn asked, twitching his head.

“It’s Jason. He has equipment to help us see how many aliens and where they are.”

“Why do we not teleport?” Boden enquired.

Val glanced back at the truck. “Because our secret weapon’s in the truck and we must protect it with our lives.”

“Good enough for me.” Hadwyn drew his gun, Boden released his crossbow and Val’s suit flared blue flames. “I do love it when you do that,” he laughed.

“Let’s get going.” Val stepped out, and something fell from the garage roof onto her back, only to scream in pain as it came in contact with the heat of the flames radiating from her body.

“Looks like there are at least fifty surrounding the house, more moving in,” Jason relayed. “Hadwyn, six to your left.”

But Hadwyn was already taking care of them. Flashes shot from his gun, leaving the creatures stunned and motionless on the ground.

Val could feel the adrenaline rushing though her. The aliens charged at them in an uncoordinated rush, from all directions. If Hadwyn didn’t get them first, then Boden was close behind. Val struck some creature covered in fur with a fire ball. It lit up like a twig, the smell of burning hair filling her nostrils. Then she knocked down two more with a blast of air. More surged forward, as the truck started to leave the garage, Mike steering cautiously behind the fighters, clearly aware of the danger. Inside the truck they heard a thunderous noise as a four-armed alien landed on the truck roof, denting it with its weight. Its skin glowed aggressive red with lumps that looked like boils.

“Belinda, can you protect the car?” Mike called back to her.

“I’m trying.” She began weaving a small blue ribbon between her fingers as the beast struck again at the roof. “As I wind this string I bind, the alien from another time. Take his power, give it to me, and keep us safe, so mote it be.” Then Wendy started to chant from the floor of the car with her mother. “As you wind this string you bind, the alien from another time. Take his power, give it to thee, and keep us safe, so mote it be.” They got louder and faster as another blow struck the roof and Zac’s side of the truck was so dented he was almost sitting on Mike’s lap.

Boden was dispatching an alien when he spotted the truck’s plight. He headed back towards them, ready to fire at the creature on the roof. He was too late. Belinda and Wendy’s spell caught the creature, sending it flying into the air. Yelping in confusion, it floated spinning above the roof, not able to get away. Boden leapt onto the truck’s bonnet and took aim. The stunned creature
dropped to the ground. Boden jumped back down, moving to one side allowing the truck to slowly edge past him. He nodded respectfully at Belinda who acknowledged him in between chants.

Val was knocking the beasts down one by one. Boden had now positioned himself behind the truck and Hadwyn was on the far side. They seemed to have been fighting forever, and she was starting to tire. The aliens were relentless and extremely strong. Jason kept them informed of what was coming, and so they kept fighting until the mass slowly became a rabble and the rabble became a few desperate fools.

“They’re finished,” Hadwyn called over to the others as he fired at yet another crazed alien. “I’m sure I’ve met him before. Got him that time as well,” he guffawed.