Talisman of El (42 page)

‘You just don’t know when to stay away, do you, Romeo,’ Josh spat.

‘It’s a free country,’ Alex retorted.

‘And
you
just don’t know when to shut up.’ Josh inched closer to her, but Charlie stood in his way. Josh sniggered. ‘Ooh, look who wants to play. You ought to have respect for your superiors.’

‘You ought to stop being an arse,’ Charlie shot back. ‘Makes you feel tough bullying a girl, huh.’ Josh’s jaw clenched. ‘I know it must have been hard, what with your dad –’

Josh grabbed him and pushed him up against the locker. ‘Shut the hell up!’

Richmond grabbed Josh’s arm, but Damzel pulled him back, holding him in a chokehold.

‘Leave them alone,’ Alex cried.

‘Back off, Josh,’ Charlie warned.

‘Make me.’

At first, it seemed as though Charlie was looking into Josh’s eyes, but he was in fact looking right past him at the pair of green eyes that were staring back at him. Candra had materialised in the hall, and she didn’t look pleased.

‘I don’t want you to get hurt,’ Charlie said with sincerity.

‘You don’t scare me.’

‘I’m not the one you should be afraid of.’

Right on queue, a low growl erupted in the hall.

Damzel squealed.

Charlie felt Josh’s arms tense, unease replacing the rage in his eyes. Josh spun around and sucked in a breath when he saw the lion, its muzzle trembling, revealing sharp fangs as it glared at him.

Charlie sidestepped as Josh stumbled backwards and slammed into the lockers beside Damzel. Seeing the terrified expression on Alex and Richmond’s faces, Charlie whispered, ‘It’s Candra,’ and the three of them went and stood behind her.

‘Please, please, don’t eat me,’ Josh pleaded.

Candra let out a thunderous growl, and the bullies shrieked. The trio smiled, which broke into laughter when they saw the wet patch on Josh’s trousers. The bullies took off down the hall, screaming as if they were on fire.

‘Yeah, that’s right, run,’ Richmond yelled after them.

Candra shifted back into human-like form. The last time Charlie had spoken to her had been at the bowling alley, but he knew she had been around, going about her Guardian duties. He had caught glimpses of her many times, though she never approached him. Turning to the others, he said, ‘I’ll meet you outside.’

‘You sure?’ asked Alex, her suspicious gaze locked on Candra.

Charlie nodded.

‘Bus leaves in ten,’ Alex reminded him, and she and Richmond walked off.

To break the awkward silence that had settled in the hall, Candra asked, ‘What did you do to upset him?’ She was referring to Josh.

‘Breathe. It upsets him that I’m alive.’

‘I know Derkein told you.’ Candra’s face looked apologetic. ‘I knew how upset you’d be, so I thought it best to give you some time.’

‘I was upset at first,’ Charlie admitted, ‘but I know you were just trying to help him. It meant a lot what you did. Thanks. And thanks for getting my stuff back from Jacob’s house.’

Candra motioned for him to walk with her.

‘About what you said at the bowling alley,’ Charlie said. ‘I’m ready when you are.’

Candra looked puzzled. ‘Ready for what?’

‘Training. I’ve talked to Derkein about it, and he reckons it’s a good idea.’

Candra smiled. ‘Good. I’ve been talking to Avaran and the others, and we’ve all agreed to take turns in your training.’

‘So, you guys kissed and made up, huh?’

‘They’ve agreed to work with me for the sake of mankind. Once you lose someone’s trust, you have to go a long way to gain it back. I’m working on it.’

‘Do you remember when I told you about that sound I heard coming from the talisman?’ Charlie asked.

Candra nodded.

‘When I was living with Jacob, I heard that same noise coming from a green diamond he had stashed away.’

Candra stopped, and he mimicked her. Her expression was curious, then, as if she realised something, she looked shocked. ‘She knew he had it. That’s why she chose him.’

‘Sorry?’ Candra’s gaze locked on him, and he noticed the hesitant look in her eyes. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Your mother’s last words were Jacob Willoughby.’

Charlie stared at her in shock.

Candra went on, ‘It made no sense at first, until years later when I was searching through files at the adoption agency for candidates living in West Sussex and came across that same name. When I read Jacob’s file and realised he lived in the county where the gateway would open, I thought that was why your mother chose him.’

Charlie felt his blood pumping through his veins, heat rising in his chest. ‘You’re telling me you’re the reason I went to live with Jacob Willoughby.’

‘Don’t you see? Eleanor knew. There were more candidates living in West Sussex, but she chose Jacob because she knew he had the diamond.’

‘Yeah, but it was pointless. We don’t have the diamond.’

‘No, but we know who does.’

Charlie looked away, his anger replaced by shame. He wished he had heeded Alex’s constant request for him to take one of the jewels sooner.

‘You look troubled,’ Candra acknowledged.

He looked back at her. ‘He moved it. He must have taken it out of the house because I didn’t hear the noise anymore.’

‘I will inform Avaran of the news.’ Candra rested a hand on his shoulder. ‘We will find Jacob.’ She looked towards the entrance. ‘The bus leaves in one minute, twenty seconds.’ Looking back at Charlie, she said, ‘We’ll talk more about training when I get back. Until then, please, stay out of trouble.’

Charlie’s eyes flashed opened at the sound of sweet melody flowing through his open bedroom door. He glanced around the blue room and realised he was back in Palmers Green. He got up and rushed out of the room. Halfway down the stairs, he stopped, retreated two steps back, and kissed a portrait of his mum on the stairway wall. As he headed past the living room, soft, gentle hands grabbed him from behind and wrapped around his torso, embracing him in a hug.

‘My you’re outgrowing me,’ a warm voice said.

Charlie turned to his mum. ‘Maybe you’re shrinking.’ ‘Cheeky.’ She ruffled his hair. ‘I’ll fix you some breakfast.’ Charlie was about to follow her towards the kitchen when the doorbell rang. ‘I’ll get it.’ He hurried to the front door. When he opened it, he saw Alex and Richmond splashing about in the lake outside Windermere Drive. He was back in his present home.

‘Hey,’ Derkein called. Charlie turned round and saw him descending the stairs. ‘Aren’t you going to join in?’

‘Yeah, I’ll just go change.’ Charlie tried to move but felt an invisible force tighten around him, holding him where he stood. ‘I can’t –’ he began to say but froze when he realised he could see through Derkein.

He was fading.

Derkein walked right through him, and he gasped as a cold chill coursed through his veins. After the feeling passed, he turned round, but Derkein had vanished.

Charlie ran towards the lake. ‘Guys, did you see that?’

‘See what?’ Alex asked.

‘Derkein walked right through me.’

‘I can swim, Charlie,’ said Richmond, who was doing backstrokes in the water.

‘Get in, Charlie,’ Alex said. ‘The water is great.’

‘Where’s Derkein?’ Charlie asked.

Alex smiled then sank beneath the water. Richmond also went under.

‘Guys, this isn’t funny.’ Charlie waited a few seconds, and when neither Richmond nor Alex resurfaced, he panicked and jumped into the lake after them.

The icy water stabbed at his skin, like a swarm of killer bees attacking him. Although he was under water, he found his breathing was normal. He spotted Alex and Richmond a little way ahead of him and followed them.

As he neared the bottom of the lake, he saw them hovering in one spot and swam up to them. Their faces were sad, and even under water, he could see tears rolling down their cheeks. Following their gaze, he spotted a black granite gravestone protruding through the ground at the bottom of the lake. He swam up to it and read the inscription.

In Loving Memory Of Derkein Lucas Odessa …

There were more writings on the gravestone, but he couldn’t read beyond the first two lines. He felt a pressure in his chest that caused his breathing to become heavy and shallow, and he looked up and saw that Alex and Richmond had vanished. He looked back at the gravestone, and it, too, had disappeared …

Charlie sprung upright in bed. It was October and chilly, but he was sweating. It was the first nightmare he could recall since he had moved to Windermere Drive. He had thought they’d stopped, but he knew the feeling too well to know it was more than just a dream –

BANG!

Charlie jumped and glanced at the window. Tossing the quilt off himself, he climbed out of bed and rushed over to the window. He surveyed the dark garden, but there was nothing outside. Looking at the silent lake, he felt sick and turned away. He looked at his clock; it was one in the morning.

Walking back over to his bed, he sat down and buried his face in his hands. Candra had said she didn’t know why he was having visions. Only archangels could see the future, but he wasn’t an archangel, so it made no sense.

‘We’re alone in this,’ Candra had said. ‘We knew before we agreed to come back that we would have no help. No God. No archangels. We’re on our own.’

‘I have my orders ... No interfering,’ Uriel had said to him. What Charlie couldn’t understand was why, if they were on their own, someone or something had saved him the moment the werewolf was about to attack him.

Okay. Focus.
He inhaled and exhaled slowly.
Derkein plus gravestone equals …
A chill ran through him, and he got up and left the room. Heading across the dark landing, past the stairs to his right, he opened the door to the bedroom opposite his and stuck his head through the gap. He saw Richmond asleep in bed and closed the door. He was about to head to Derkein’s room when a faint creaking noise coming from downstairs made him stop.

Charlie’s eyes were accustomed to the dark, so he didn’t need light to guide him as he headed downstairs. Poking his head around the wall at the bottom of the stairs, he peeked into the living room and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it empty. As he turned to go back upstairs, a cold breeze sprang up out of nowhere and engulfed him. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

The front door was open.

He crept over to the door and opened it wider. His suspicious eyes surveyed the deserted garden and found nothing out of the ordinary. But something was wrong; the open door confirmed that.

On closing the door, he went back upstairs, headed to the right, away from his bedroom, and opened the door to Derkein’s room. He turned the light on and saw Derkein’s bed empty. Charlie’s stomach sank. He ran to Richmond’s room and woke him.

Richmond stirred. ‘What?’ he groaned.

‘Derkein’s gone.’

Richmond sat up. ‘Maybe he’s downstairs.’

‘I checked. He’s not here. The front door was open.’ Richmond’s face went pale.

They left the room and went downstairs.

Entering the living room, Charlie picked the phone up and dialled 999. After the phone call, they headed into the kitchen.

‘What are you doing?’ Richmond asked.

‘We need weapons.’ Charlie grabbed a pan and handed Richmond a baking roller. They headed for the front door and stepped out into the chilling air. Wearing only their pyjamas, they stood with their shoulders hunched as they scanned the garden. The cold wind brushed against their skin like stinging nettles.

‘What now?’ Richmond asked, his teeth chattering as they headed around the house.

‘Derkein wouldn’t just leave without telling us. He has to be here.’

The back garden was empty.

‘We should wait for the police,’ Richmond suggested.

‘Derkein could be hurt.’

‘But he could be anywhere.’

Charlie contemplated their choices and realised Richmond was right. As they headed back towards the house, they heard a cry coming from the woods behind them and stopped.

‘Please tell me we’re not going in there,’ Richmond pleaded.

Charlie grabbed his arm. ‘Come on.’ They headed towards the woods.

They had been walking for a few minutes when they heard a voice and stopped. Charlie’s body tensed. ‘Jacob,’ he said in a hushed voice. He saw the fear in Richmond’s eyes.

They continued towards the voice.

The moon shone bright in the sky, illuminating the forest grounds, revealing the darkest shadows. The boys crept through the woods, their footsteps lost in the orchestral sounds of the night.

When Jacob’s voice was loud enough to the point where it sounded as if he was right beside them, they slowed their pace. Within seconds, they spotted the beefy man. He was holding a shotgun, walking back and forth like a military guard.

The boys moved closer and hid behind a tree. There they saw Derkein sitting on a tree root, a gush of blood on the right side of his head.

‘Derkein,’ Jacob was saying. ‘I thought I’d heard the name before, and that’s when it hit me. That’s what those brats called the ageing man – the one who broke into my home and held me at gunpoint.’

‘Yes, of course,’ Derkein said, ‘
you’re
the victim here.’ Jacob stopped pacing and gave him a hard kick to the leg. Derkein let out a muffled groan.

‘When I saw you in town the other day and heard them calling your name, it didn’t click right away,’ said Jacob. ‘Back then, my main concern was revenge. I brought that worthless brat into my home and he ruined my life. Once I started thinking clearly again, that’s when the name occurred to me.’

‘Name your price. I’ll pay whatever you want. Just leave Charlie out of it.’

‘I didn’t think it was a coincidence that you’re also named Derkein. I just can’t figure out how you went from that’ – Jacob fixed Derkein with a resentful look – ‘to this.’

‘Just tell me what you want.’

‘Well, for a start, I’d like the world not to brand me as a child abductor.’

‘Fine. I’ll make sure the charges against you are dropped.’

‘That easy, huh? Just snap your fingers and the world falls at your feet.’ Jacob drew closer to Derkein, who pulled back slightly as the shotgun barrel came withing inches of his face. ‘Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t pull the trigger.’