The Mortal Knife (8 page)

Melissa whistled between her teeth. ‘So you were grounded the whole holiday?' At Adam's nod she grinned. ‘You must have done something really bad. What was it?'

Adam snorted and managed to turn it into a cough. He tried to imagine her face if he told her the truth.
I illegally guided a soul into the afterlife while alone and underage.
And of course the rest – the bit not even his family knew.
And I didn't give the soul any directions for the Unknown Roads because I was angry that he tried to kill loads of people – people I saved, also illegally.
How would she react? He sighed. ‘It wasn't really anything bad. My family are pretty strict.'

She gave him a sympathetic look. ‘Yeah, my mum used to be pretty strict too but she's getting better. I think she's starting to get the message that I'm not five any more!'

Adam hesitated for a moment before asking, ‘How is your mum?'

Melissa tensed. It was very slight but Adam felt the faint movement as her body stiffened and cursed himself for being so clumsy. ‘She's OK,' Melissa said. ‘She's waiting for an appointment. She promised she would go to the hospital and get the tests they wanted to do.' She smiled but there was something questioning in her eyes. ‘Just like you said she should.'

Adam shrugged and tried to look casual. ‘Well it's always a good idea to get checked out if you don't feel well.' There was no way he was admitting the disturbing premonitions he'd had before the half-term holiday – Melissa sitting by a hospital bed, holding the wasted hand of a woman who looked just like her. He tried to make a joke of it all. ‘See, this is why I want to be a doctor. So I can boss people about and tell them to go to the hospital!'

Melissa smiled cautiously. ‘I guess.' She hesitated. ‘You know this sounds really weird but I was starting to think you were psychic or something.'

‘Yeah,' Adam said. He grinned at her shocked face. ‘It does sound really weird.'

She punched his arm and grinned – but then she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and left it there as they walked. Adam could feel her fingers burning through his blazer. He suddenly felt ten feet tall.

‘Your friends looked really freaked out when I came to the library,' Melissa said.

Adam shrugged. ‘They don't talk to girls much. Well, girls don't talk to them.'

Melissa raised an eyebrow. ‘And you do?'

‘Only my sister and my aunt,' Adam said without thinking. He stopped, horrified at his own honesty, but Melissa was smiling at him. He felt bold enough to say, ‘I was glad you came to see me. I thought that  …  maybe you were annoyed at me. You know, after registration.'

Melissa's smile faded. ‘No, nothing like that. I just can't be bothered with all the stupid pointing and whispering and gossiping. It was bad enough before the holidays. You know with Cryptique and the  …  video.'

‘Yeah, I know,' Adam said, dying inside at the memory. He hesitated. ‘You were really nice about that.'

‘I like you,' Melissa said simply. She paused. ‘I just don't like everyone talking about me. It was like when my dad left and everyone was sort of
looking
at me, like they were sorry for me and asking me how I was. I hated it. And here  …  everyone is always
watching
what you're doing and I just don't want it all to be this big deal. I just want things to be normal. But I do like you.'

She was looking at Adam and he looked back, feeling like his chest had gone empty and fluttery inside. ‘I like you too,' he said. His voice sounded croaky. What was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to kiss her now? Why wasn't he Luc?! Luc would know what to do. Luc always knew what to do when it came to girls!

Just as he might have plucked up the courage to act, the silence was broken by squeals and shouts up ahead. A gang of first years charged out from behind a hedge, chasing a football. Adam gave them a murderous glare but they ran on blissfully unaware. Melissa rolled her eyes at them and smiled but the moment had passed. She
did
slip her hand into Adam's. He could definitely live with that for now.

They chatted about everything and nothing as they walked around. Adam relaxed and began to enjoy himself. He had forgotten how easy she was to talk to. Why had he been so nervous about hanging out with her? Admittedly their first few dates hadn't exactly gone smoothly – but she didn't seem to hold any of it against him. He liked watching her when she talked about her favourite things, like her artwork. Her eyes got very bright and she moved her hand a lot – the one that wasn't holding his.

The warning bell rang and reluctantly they walked back towards the main building. Adam looked at the daffodils pushing up in the flower beds lining the main walkway and briefly considered picking one for her – until the tiny voice of reason at the back of his head rewarded him with an image of Melissa hitting him with it and running off laughing.

Of course every ointment had its fly. They were at the bottom of the steps just about to go back into the main building, when a group of figures came round the corner and stopped dead at the sight of them. It was none other than Michael Bulber and friends.

It was the first time Adam had seen the Beast since their unfortunate run-in on Valentine's night. Was he imagining things or was there still a faint hint of bruising round the Beast's eyes, courtesy of Ripper, the bouncer at Cryptique?

The Beast jerked his head at Melissa. ‘All right, Melissa?' He turned his attention to Adam, sounding almost polite. ‘All right, nobhead?'

Adam glared at the Beast and his tittering gang of minions. He still couldn't believe the lengths the older boy had gone to, just to try to ruin his chances with Melissa. He wasn't really sure how you answered a greeting like ‘All right, nobhead,' so he decided to say nothing.

Melissa wasn't as restrained. ‘What do
you
want?'

Michael Bulber widened his eyes and hammed up an expression of the utmost innocence. ‘Me? Just going inside, aren't I, like a good little boy. It's a free country. But since you're asking, I wouldn't mind taking you for a nice walk sometime. I wouldn't waste my time talking about bunnies and flowers though. Or even throwing up on you.' He did something disgusting with his tongue and his mates fell about laughing. Adam felt a brief and passionate longing to tear his throat out.

Melissa snorted. ‘Yeah. Like that's going to happen.'

The Beast grinned. ‘At least I'd know what I was doing with you, unlike him.'

Adam scowled, smarting inside. The truth hurt  …  He cleared his throat. ‘Just leave it, will you?'

‘Oooooh, just leave it, will you!' The Beast put on his most simpering voice. ‘
Please
, don't
hurt
me!' His mates were still laughing but as he looked at Adam the air between them seemed to snap taut. ‘Maybe we should have another little chat in an alleyway sometime.'

Adam took a step towards him, anger making him reckless. ‘That didn't end so well for you last time round,' he said, so softly that only Bulber could hear.

The Beast flinched and his expression became even uglier. It wasn't clear what might have happened next – if a voice hadn't boomed from the top of the steps. ‘Ah, Michael, there you are! I've been looking for you.' The Bulb was standing beaming down at his son. ‘Just need to have a quick word.' He turned his attentions to the others, seemingly unaware of the tension in the air. ‘The rest of you, get to class!'

Melissa grinned at the Beast. ‘Yeah, we'd better go. Wouldn't want to be late.' She turned to Adam and without warning stretched up and kissed him on the lips. ‘See you later, Adam.' She sashayed up past The Bulb and disappeared inside.

Adam stared stupidly after her, feeling his lips tingle. His heart was swelling up, threatening to explode out of his chest cavity and cover everyone in range with warm goo. When he looked at the Beast he had the satisfaction of seeing his nemesis glaring at him. He grinned and gave him a little wave. ‘See you Michael.'

The Beast's eyes burning into his back only lightened his step as he went.

Adam's last two classes passed by in a mixture of happy daydreams about Melissa and gloomy scenarios involving extreme violence from the Beast. The thing was, it was all very well winding him up in school – but the last time Adam had been cornered by Michael Bulber he would have been dead if he hadn't escaped into the Hinterland. Even in Cryptique it had only been Luc's presence that had saved him from a beating and forced Bulber to fall back on more subtle malice.

He couldn't risk breaking any more Luman laws. Normal people weren't allowed to know about the existence of the Hinterland, end of. Adam's disappearance from the physical world had freaked the Beast out and saved Adam from a hiding – but if he pulled a stunt like that again and the Concilium found out they would kill him anyway. His good feelings deflated a little. It seemed like
everyone
wanted to kill him these days.

He frowned, thinking about his mates. He'd been out of order and grovelling was the only way forward. The thought of it was painful but better that than being Norman no-mates. He would swallow his pride tomorrow.

By the time he got home from school he was starving. Maybe it was being loved up, he mused as he headed towards the house, enduring his usual affectionate mauling from the dogs. All that anxiety over dating and snogging must burn extra calories or something. He couldn't help grinning when he remembered how Melissa had kissed him, so casually, in front of everyone. Like,
oh, I'm just going to kiss Adam now. I could do this every day.
Maybe she would. He hoped so…

He was just scrabbling through the fridge when Chloe hurtled into the kitchen. ‘We thought you were never going to get home! Come on!'

Adam blinked, startled at her sudden arrival. Two days in a row he had arrived home, only to be pounced upon. It was unsettling.

‘Come on where?'

‘Into the parlour. Everyone's waiting for you!'

‘Waiting for
me
? What have I done?' Adam muttered. ‘I need to get something to eat.'

Chloe hissed in frustration. ‘There's food in the parlour. Come on, they wouldn't tell us until you got home!'

Adam stared at her baffled. ‘Wouldn't tell who what?'

But Chloe was already disappearing back into the hall, yelling, ‘
Come on!
'

Adam sighed. Maybe with a bit of luck they would tell him he'd been accidentally swapped at birth and he was going back to his real family now.

***

Adam walked into the parlour and stopped, discomfited to find six pairs of eyes boring into him. The parlour was a long, pleasant room with a dark mahogany table at one end. It was usually only used for parties – like when the Concilium had visited a few weeks earlier. The few chairs in the room had been pulled to one side and his family were sitting staring expectantly at him. There were two bottles of champagne in ice buckets on the table, as well as platters of sandwiches and a cake. It was the last thing Adam had expected to see.

He cleared his throat. ‘What's the occasion?'

Nathanial was standing in front of the others, beaming at his youngest son. ‘Sit down Adam. I wanted to wait until you got home so we could all be together.'

‘Okaaaaaay,' Adam said, sidling towards the last remaining chair. It didn't
seem
like he was in more trouble. He'd half wondered if his role in cheating Morta of souls had been discovered – but he doubted they would have made a celebratory cake. Unless of course it was the last meal of the condemned prisoner  … 

Nathanial cleared his throat. ‘Well, it's been an unusual twenty-four hours. Yesterday was a very special day, although you might not believe it. Very few humans will ever see what we saw in the Realm of the Fates.'

‘Just as well,' Auntie Jo said. ‘It would blow their minds.'

Adam nodded in silent agreement. The Tapestry of Light was beautiful and extraordinary and he would never forget seeing it. But equally he couldn't forget the long, cruel tip of the Mortal Knife dancing over the brightly coloured threads. Knowing that his own life – and the lives of everyone he loved – were at the mercy of someone like Morta was a disconcerting thought.

Nathanial nodded. ‘It's just part of the responsibility we bear.'

‘What was Morta going on about at the end?' Chloe asked innocently. ‘She sounded like she was having a go at the Concilium. All that stuff about
her
souls and doing their
jobs
.'

Nathanial frowned. ‘Nothing for you to worry about. She was merely reminding us all of our responsibilities.' He fell silent and Adam felt a twinge of guilt. His father would never in a million years suspect that
Adam
was the rogue Luman. He could hardly believe that Adam had guided the soul of the dead bomber into his Light alone but he had put that down to youthful over-enthusiasm; that Adam had something to prove because he was generally so inept at all things Luman-related. It helped that Nathanial had no idea how many people should have died that day – but of course Morta did. No wonder she was so furious at being cheated.

‘Can I have a sandwich?' Auntie Jo said, eyeing the table hopefully.

‘In a minute,' Nathanial said, jolted from his thoughts back to the present. ‘So, to happier topics. I know none of us expected to see the Concilium again quite so soon but it did give me a welcome opportunity to discuss something with Heinrich. And I'm very pleased to tell you that he is in agreement – it's time for Aron to come of age and be Marked!'

There was a gasp of delight from Elise and Auntie Jo. Aron leapt to his feet and punched the air. ‘Yessssss!' he hissed, grinning at Luc. ‘Told you I'd get there before you.'

Luc shrugged. ‘Of course you did. You're older than me. Not exactly a surprise.' He slouched back in his chair, feigning nonchalance but his usual smirk was more of a grimace. That was the funny thing about Luc. He pretended to be casual about everything but beneath the cool exterior there was a steely – and surprising – ambition. Aron might assume he would be the next High Luman because he was the eldest son – but Adam had a feeling Luc would give him a run for his money.

Elise was on her feet embracing Aron, kissing him on both cheeks. She was proud of her steady eldest son. He might not have Luc's quicksilver charm but he worked hard and was stoic about the demands of being a Luman. Nathanial popped the champagne open and passed round crystal flutes. Auntie Jo made a beeline for the sandwiches.

Adam found himself face to face with Aron and held out his hand. ‘Congratulations.'

Aron nodded and shook his hand. ‘Cheers.' He hesitated. ‘You'll get your turn.'

‘Eventually,' Luc said, waving his glass around. ‘You know, when you're about forty and you've stopped throwing up every time you guide a soul.'

Adam scowled at Luc and grabbed a piece of cake. ‘Yeah, rub it in why don't you.'

Auntie Jo clipped Luc around the ear and ignored his yelp. ‘So when is the big day?'

‘Well, obviously we need to confirm things with the Lady Fates. We'd like as many Lumen as possible to be able to attend. There'll be a lot to organise but we're hoping in just a few weeks.'

‘
Zut alors!
' Elise said, clutching her hand to her heart. ‘So many things to do! The ballroom must be decorated, the linens must be washed. Candles! We must order candles!' She wobbled slightly, torn between the agonies and ecstasies of organising such an event. Adam grinned. This was his mother's dream come true – the chance to prove she was the perfect Luman wife. After all, while women couldn't guide souls their only chance to shine was as hostesses.

‘Will Uncle Paddy's family be coming?' Chloe asked, looking intently at the ground.

Luc grinned. ‘Will Ciaron be coming, more like.
Ouch!
' He glared at Auntie Jo, who had administered another stinging swipe to his ear. ‘Stop hitting me woman!'

‘Stop winding people up,' she mumbled through a mouthful of cake.

Nathanial smiled at Chloe. ‘To answer your question, yes of course Patrick will be coming – as will the whole family.'

‘But so will many other Lumen families,' Elise interjected, frowning slightly. ‘We must have some dresses made!'

Adam grinned. Nathanial would be delighted if Chloe married Ciaron, the eldest son of Uncle Paddy, High Luman of Ireland – but his mother had much higher aspirations for her only daughter.

Nathanial raised his glass. ‘Well, it's nice to end the day on such a happy note.' He nodded at Aron. ‘It's not every day you find out that your eldest son will become a man. To Aron. Our Light is his Light.'

‘To Aron,' Adam said in time with the others. There was something oddly touching about the moment. His family didn't often get the chance to be all together and celebrate. They were usually getting called off to deal with deaths.

As if on cue there was a collective groan as death senses flared. Nathanial sighed and closed his eyes. ‘It's a car crash. A few victims by the feel of things.' He clasped his eldest son's shoulder. ‘Shall we?'

Aron nodded. ‘Yes Father.' He put down his glass and gave the others an awkward nod. ‘Thanks for the party.'

Adam watched them leave the room together and just for once felt a twinge of envy.

Up in his room after dinner Adam tried to bury himself in his chemistry homework but he couldn't concentrate. He was supposed to balancing valencies but the letters and numbers seemed to be hopping around the page, mocking his attempts to tame them. He scowled and flung his pencil down on the desk. Normally he liked this kind of thing because in the end you could master it. Equations could be pinned down neatly, unlike all the other thoughts in his head. Not tonight though.

He mooched down to the kitchen and poured a glass of juice. The house was quiet. Elise had swept Chloe off to her personal dressmaker as soon as dinner was over. Nathanial and Aron were in the study, probably swotting for the Marking ceremony and Luc had gone out with a shifty look on his face. Only Auntie Jo was in the den, laptop balanced on her knee while she watched
Hitchhiker Horror 4
.

She glanced up as Adam came in and nodded at the screen. ‘Look at her. She's driving along a road in the desert and she sees
that
guy with his thumb in the air. His eyes are looking in four directions at once, he's got a dripping holdall and he's barely got a tooth in his head – and she stops and picks him up. Who
does
that?' She shook her head ruefully at the folly of horror-movie heroines.

Adam sat down on the other end of the sofa and tried to smile but his face didn't seem to be working properly. Auntie Jo noticed of course. ‘What's wrong with you?'

Adam shrugged. ‘Dunno,' he said honestly. ‘Can't be bothered with homework tonight.'

She snorted. ‘I suppose I'll go ahead and state the obvious. You won't thank me for it but I'll say it anyway. If you give up school you won't have to bother with homework ever again.'

Adam scowled. ‘I said I can't be bothered
tonight
. I'll do it in the morning.'

‘I see.' Auntie Jo paused and said casually, ‘So that's exciting news about Aron.'

Adam nodded. ‘Yeah, it is.' The thing was, he meant it. He didn't get on that well with Aron – they were just too different – but he knew his brother was a good Luman. He wasn't inspired at saying the right thing the way some Lumen were, but like Nathanial, he was steady and reassuring. Someone like Aron would send you into the afterlife full of warm certainty that everything was going to be OK. When Adam guided souls he was pretty sure they threw themselves into their Lights just to escape from him.

‘It'll be your turn some day,' Auntie Jo continued, pretending to look at something on her laptop.

Adam rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, I don't think I'll be coming of age any time soon.' He paused. ‘So what will actually happen? You know, at the ceremony?'

‘Don't you remember?' Auntie Jo grinned. ‘I suppose you were still a sprat the last time we went to a Marking. Well, if your mother has her way most of the Luman world will be there – or at least all the
important
families. We'll be downstairs in the Oath Chamber and the Crone will Mark Aron.'

‘The Crone  … ' Adam began, then broke off. He had been to plenty of balls but only one Marking when he was younger. He had a vague memory of a veiled and shadowy figure. ‘Is she the one in the cloak?'

Auntie Jo nodded. ‘Tradition says we should never see her face. It's supposed to stop people lobbying her for secret Markings to get round the Concilium and the Fates. Just another way of keeping the same families top dog. After all, any Luman could get their son Marked then – and once they've come of age what would stop them from having a crack at becoming High Luman?'

Adam frowned. He'd never really thought about it before. Some of the other British Lumen were older than his father – but Nathanial had still been made High Luman. And some of the other Lumen's sons were older than Aron – but he was the first in his generation to come of age. ‘But that's not fair!'

Auntie Jo raised an eyebrow. ‘Since when has fairness had anything to do with who's in charge? It's just the way things have always been done. The High Luman is supposed to be picked from the whole Luman ranks – but the reality is that most High Lumen are fast-response Lumen. It was just luck that long ago the Mortsons specialised and left the other British Lumen families to guide the sick and elderly when they died quietly in their beds. And we've managed to keep things that way quite nicely ever since.'

‘But what if those other Lumen are really good?' Adam persisted. After all, he was rubbish at the whole thing. Every Luman who had ever lived would be better than him! He couldn't quite bring himself to say it.