Talisman of El

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE



The Next Best Thing

‘I REMEMBER BEING IN Eden,’ Derkein said. ‘I was wounded, and Terra was trying to heal me.’ Thirty minutes had passed, and he and Charlie were sitting in Gabler’s office alone. ‘I don’t remember anything between then and when I woke up.’

An image of Derkein lying on the floor inside the temple flashed across Charlie’s mind, and his stomach clenched. He still couldn’t believe Derkein was sitting beside him, so much so he kept pinching his arm to see if he would disappear. ‘You’re totally freaked out, aren’t you?’ Derkein asked. ‘You have no idea.’

Derkein smiled then sat back and heaved a deep sigh. ‘What’s wrong?’ Charlie asked.

Derkein gave him a hesitant glance then sat forward, resting an elbow on the arm of his chair. ‘I know what you did.’

That clenching feeling Charlie had felt in his stomach had now risen to his chest. He had been so ecstatic by Derkein’s resurrection he hadn’t given any thought to what it actually meant. Candra had told him the consequence of resurrecting a mortal, but it hadn’t mattered then. All that had mattered was saving Derkein.

‘I know you’re angry –’ Charlie began.

‘Angry?’ Derkein looked confused. ‘I admit, I was a little upset at first knowing the risk you took, but seeing that you’re safe, I couldn’t be more happy.’ Seeing the glimmering expression of delight on Derkein’s face, Charlie relaxed a little. ‘You saved my life, Charlie. No amount of words can sufficiently express how I feel. Because of you, I have a chance to find my father.’

‘Which you will now that you have all the time in the world.’

‘Well, I wouldn’t say I have all the time.’

‘But you do. You know, because you can’t ...’ Charlie paused, studying Derkein. ‘So, you’re not angry that I brought you back from the dead?’

‘No, no, of course not. Look at me. I’m alive.’

‘But you don’t think you’re cursed or anything?’

‘Cursed?’ Derkein was quiet for a moment, his expression perplexed. ‘Charlie, what’s going on?’

Oh my god, he doesn’t know! Charlie tried to gulp, but his throat was so dry he ended up having a coughing fit.

Derkein patted him on the back. ‘You all right?’

Charlie nodded and then sat up straight, his gaze on the floor. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Derkein.

‘Okay, I’m starting to worry now,’ Derkein said. ‘You’re far too quiet.’

Charlie looked at him. ‘Sorry. I guess I’m still a little shocked.’ Just tell him, he thought, but what came out of his mouth instead was, ‘A friend of my father’s …’ He cocked his head. ‘Seriously?’

‘It was either that or the truth.’

Charlie sat back. ‘Well, I’m glad you survived the plane crash. It must have been hard waking up after the coma to find your memories gone.’

Derkein laughed.

‘How did you even pull it off ?’ Charlie asked.

Derkein’s smile faded at once. ‘I did have a little help – and before you get upset, I asked her not to tell you, so it’s not her fault.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’ve been in contact with Candra.’

‘Since when?’ As soon as he said it, Charlie realised what Derkein was saying. Before Derkein could respond, he said in a faraway voice, ‘The news said you died, and that you disappeared from the hospital, so you didn’t just get up and walk out.’ Charlie was quiet for a moment, his mind racing. ‘She knew, didn’t she? When I spoke to her the other day, she knew you were alive.’ He rose from his chair and inched away from the desk. ‘How long has she known?’

‘It was Candra who took me from the hospital –’

‘The whole time!’ Charlie placed his hands on his head, clenching his jaw to stifle a verbal outburst. Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he asked, ‘When did it happen? How long has it been since you ... woke up?’

Derkein looked away, his shoulders drooping as he released a sigh. Slowly, he rose to his feet and turned to face Charlie. ‘It’s been nearly eight weeks.’

Charlie dropped his hands and turned away from him. ‘You’ve been alive this whole time, and she just let me think you were dead.’

‘In her defence, I did ask her not to tell you.’

Charlie turned back to him. ‘Why?’

‘I wanted to have everything sorted before I came to see you.’ Derkein’s voice was low, his face a tad shiny. Charlie knew that look. He was nervous.

‘Have what sorted?’ Charlie’s voice was calmer now.

‘I didn’t tell you but my father was born in England which makes me a British citizen by descent.’ Derkein motioned to the chair, and they sat back down. ‘I bought a house in West Sussex.’

Charlie’s eyes widened. ‘But what about your house in New York?’

‘A relative is looking after it.’

‘Are you being serious? You really bought a house here?’

‘Yes. But, you know, the house isn’t just for me.’ Derkein stood up and walked over to the window. ‘I heard it was your birthday a few days ago. I’m sorry I missed it.’

‘This surprise is way better than any gift.’

Derkein turned round. ‘The house is big, too big for just one person, and I thought – if you have no better offers – that you’d like to come and stay.’

Charlie’s jaw dropped. ‘You mean live with you?’

‘I would understand if you didn’t want to or if you need time to think about it –’

‘Are you serious?’ Charlie couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Sure, he had vouched never to live with anyone ever again, but that was before Derkein came back from the dead.

Derkein walked over to him. ‘Of course I’m serious. You’ve done so much for me. I couldn’t just walk away. So, what do you say?’

Charlie scrambled to his feet so fast he tripped and almost fell. ‘When can we leave?’

Derkein smiled. ‘Well, I’ve had a few visits from your social worker, Ms. Trent, who, by the way, always feels the need to tell me how shocked she was to hear about Jacob.’

‘She had a thing for him.’ As if Charlie just realised something, he gasped. ‘What if he comes after us?’

‘He won’t be a problem,’ Derkein assured him. ‘It shouldn’t be too long before the police get hold of him. You have nothing to worry about. Now, as I was saying. I’ve been in talks with Marz and Ms. Trent, and I recently received a decision from the adoption agency –’

‘What did they say?’ Charlie asked with eager interest, his eyes wide with anticipation.

Derkein gave him a concerned look. ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you’re going to have to move again.’

Charlie threw his hands up. ‘Yes!’ he yelled with joy.

The office door burst open, and Gabler rushed into the room, a startled look on his face. ‘What is it?’

‘I just told him the news,’ Derkein said.

‘When can we leave?’ Charlie asked.

Derkein looked at his watch. ‘I was thinking half an hour.’ Charlie’s eyes widened. ‘But you can take your time –’

‘I’ll be right back,’ he cut in and dashed towards the door.

‘Charlie,’ Derkein called.

Charlie stopped and turned to him.

‘Thank you,’ Derkein said. ‘You gave me a second chance.’

Charlie smiled. ‘I’d say we’re about even.’

‘I can’t believe you bought a house here,’ Charlie said for the tenth time since they left Alpha. He was sitting in the passenger seat of the Aston Martin. They had been on the road for just over an hour, and his excitement seemed to increase by the minute. ‘Wait, it’s not Jacob’s house, is it?’

Derkein glanced at him. ‘Give me some credit.’

‘How comes you bought a house here instead of New York?’

‘I wanted you to feel at home. You’ve spent fifteen years of your life here. England is where all your memories are. I didn’t want to take that away from you. Besides, your school and your friends are here. With all that’s happened in the last few months, it wouldn’t have been a great time to start over again. You have too much on your plate as it is.’

Charlie averted his eyes and glanced out the window.

‘What is it?’ Derkein asked.

‘Richmond isn’t here.’ Charlie leaned back, resting his head against the seat. ‘I bet he hates me.’

‘Why would he hate you?’

‘I promised I wouldn’t let him go back to live with his foster parents. He hated it there.’

‘He doesn’t hate you.’

Charlie sighed. ‘You’re just saying that.’

‘No, I’m not. As a matter of fact, he seems quite happy with the way things are going.’

Charlie glanced at Derkein and sat up. ‘You’ve seen him!’

Derkein nodded. ‘Candra found out where he was staying, and I went to visit him. He’s doing well.’

Charlie smiled. ‘Really?’

‘I promise you. I’ll tell you what. Tomorrow, we’ll head up to Surrey and you can see for yourself. How does that sound?’ ‘I’d like that.’

‘Great. It’s settled, then.’

Thirty minutes later, Derkein turned down Windermere Drive, a narrow road parted by tall, arched trees. Charlie saw a clearing beyond the trees, and as they got farther down the road, a large brown brick house came into view. It was the size of a mansion. Charlie spotted a lake at the front of the house. ‘This is where you live?’

‘No. This is where we live,’ Derkein corrected. He stopped the car, and they got out. ‘So, what do you think?’

‘It’s amazing.’

‘Come on in.’

Charlie followed him inside the house, which looked even more spectacular than the outside. He stood in the centre of the hallway, gazing up at the glittering chandelier above him. A grand staircase stood to the right of the entrance with an open doorway at the bottom of the stairs leading to a living room with choc brown and coffee coloured interior, lush furnishings and coffered ceiling. The creamy hallway walls brightened the house. Beige toned marble floors ran from the hallway right through to the kitchen.

‘Wow,’ Charlie muttered. ‘This place is huge.’

Derkein took him on a tour. There were five bedrooms. The last room Derkein showed him was his bedroom. It was four times larger than the one at Jacob’s house. The room was welcoming with its grey taupe walls, a double bed, built-in wardrobes, a plasma TV … The list was endless. Charlie stood in the centre of the room, grinning. ‘I could get lost in here.’

Derkein laughed.

Charlie spotted the black box and the photo album he had left at Jacob’s house sitting on his bed and walked over to them.

‘Candra brought them by,’ Derkein said.

Charlie noticed an old leather journal beside the box and picked it up. ‘Isn’t this Tom’s journal?’ he asked, confused.

Derkein entered the room. Before he even said a word, Charlie could tell from the look on his face that something was wrong. ‘Tom passed away a few weeks ago.’

Charlie’s heart sank, and he sat on the bed, the journal on his lap. ‘What happened?’

‘The nurse said he died in his sleep,’ Derkein explained, as he sat beside him. ‘I took the journal. I think he would have wanted you to have it.’

‘Do you think he knew we made it to Arcadia?’

‘I do. I think he saw the news of the missing children and figured it out. He would have been happy.’ Derkein stood up.

‘Can we go visit him?’ Charlie asked.

‘Sure. Whenever you’re ready.’

Charlie looked down at the journal.

‘I think you missed something,’ Derkein said.

Charlie looked up, but Derkein wasn’t looking at him. Following his gaze, he saw a telescope on a tripod wrapped in a red bow over by the window. ‘Is that for me?’

‘It’s a late birthday present. Go on, have a look.’

Charlie placed the journal down on the bed and went over to the window. He looked through the telescope overlooking the garden – more like field – and what he saw shocked him. His head snapped up, and he turned to Derkein. ‘That’s … That’s …’ He looked through the telescope again to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him, and sure enough, he saw Alex and Richmond standing in the garden, waving up at him.

‘Go on,’ Derkein said. ‘Don’t keep them waiting. They’ve been driving me crazy all day.’

Charlie rushed out of the room and down the stairs. He opened the front door and Alex and Richmond were standing on the step, smiling at him. The trio threw their arms around one another, embracing in a tight hug.

When they finally pulled apart, Charlie regarded Alex for a moment. There was something different about her, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. She had the same boyish fashion sense, her hair was the same except she had it tied back in a bun. Looking at her glowing skin, he wondered when she had started wearing make up, and then it hit him. It was the first time he was really seeing her face, her whole face, without her hair obstructing it. His heart pounded inside his chest.

Realising he was gawping at her, Charlie turned his attention to Richmond. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.

‘I live here,’ Richmond replied.

‘Didn’t I tell you?’ Derkein said behind him. Charlie turned round, glowering at him. ‘Must have slipped my mind.’ Derkein smiled.

Charlie couldn’t believe his luck. In the last few hours, his life had changed dramatically. All he had ever wanted since the death of his dad was for things to go back to normal. While he didn’t have his parents, he had the next best thing, and more importantly, he had a family.

Charlie couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes the following morning. It was all just a dream, he told himself, and he wanted to hold onto it for as long as possible. He waited for the stampede of footsteps outside his door.

He heard a click, and then a familiar voice said, ‘Charlie, are you awake?’

Opening his eyes, he glanced at the door and saw Richmond. Charlie jumped out of bed and ran over to the window. It wasn’t a dream. He dashed towards the bed and did a twisting dive onto it, landing on his back.

Richmond entered the room. ‘I can’t believe we live together.’

‘Tell me about it.’

‘We should ask Derkein if we can camp out in the garden.’

‘Yeah, it’d be like old times.’

‘Breakfast!’ Derkein called from downstairs.

The boys exchanged glances, smiling.

‘Race you,’ Richmond said, and he ran out of the room. Charlie jumped up and chased after him.

‘Morning,’ Derkein greeted them as they scrambled through the kitchen doorway. He was standing at the stove, his back to them.

‘Morning,’ the boys said together, panting. They walked past the central island and went to sit on the padded chairs around the long, square oak table. The subtle cream finish added warmth to the modern kitchen dominated by white cupboards and black granite surfaces. The two fridges were a bonus for Richmond.

Derkein served a breakfast of pancakes and sausages. ‘Dig in,’ he said, as he sat down.

Charlie scrutinised the sausages on his plate.

‘You won’t find any eyes,’ Derkein said. ‘They’re vegetarian.’

Charlie made a face at him. Before tucking in, he placed his hands under the table and pinched himself. It hurt, which made him smile.

‘How did you sleep?’ Derkein asked them.

‘Like a baby,’ Richmond mumbled through his stuffed mouth.

‘I haven’t slept that well in ages,’ Charlie said, before putting a forkful of pancakes in his mouth.

‘Any dreams I should know about?’ Derkein asked.

‘Well, since you asked …’

Derkein stared at Charlie with wide, petrified eyes.

‘Just kidding,’ Charlie said. ‘No dreams.’ He and Richmond started laughing.

Derkein relaxed back in his seat, a smile playing on his lips. ‘That wasn’t funny.’

‘What’s for dinner?’ Richmond enquired.

‘Dinner,’ Derkein said, shocked. ‘You just startedbreakfast.’

‘Yeah, but I’m gonna be hungry later.’

‘Well, I can’t keep feeding you take away.’

Richmond shrugged. ‘I don’t mind.’

‘I’m not bothered,’ Charlie said.

Derkein got up and walked over to the large fridge opposite the island. ‘I’m sure you’re both comfortable eating junk all week, but I’m not.’ He took out a jug of orange juice and placed it on the island counter. ‘I might have to hire a chef.’

‘Or you could ask Terra to cook you something,’ Charlie teased.

Richmond chortled, and food flew out of his mouth.

Derkein paused in front of the built-in cabinet beside the fridge, two plastic cups in his hand. He scrutinised the boys with a mixture of apprehension and shock.

‘He’s going red,’ Richmond acknowledged.

Derkein grinned and looked away. ‘I don’t know what you two are talking about.’ He closed the cabinet door, walked over to the island, grabbed the orange juice, and headed back to the table. As he sat down, Charlie and Richmond locked eyes, smiling.

‘Derkein and Terra,’ Richmond sang, ‘sitting in the tree –’

‘I have the authority to ground you,’ Derkein warned, ‘or have you forgotten that?’

Charlie bit his lip to hide a smile. After a moment, he glanced at Richmond, who mouthed, ‘K-i-s-s-i-n-g.’

Alex glanced at her mobile phone on the coffee table in front of her. It was nearing midnight, and she, Charlie, Richmond and Derkein were sitting in the living room.

It was Friday, and Alex’s parents had agreed to her sleeping over on the account she carried the phone they had bought her everywhere she went.

‘They’re probably asleep by now,’ Derkein said. ‘It is rather late.’

‘Give it a second,’ Alex said, her gaze still fixed on the phone. ‘The day’s not over yet.’ No sooner had she spoken than the phone rang. Alex gave the others a look that said, ‘I told you so’. She took a deep breath before answering. ‘Wow, Mum, thirty minutes, that’s like, a new record.’ She paused. ‘I’m not being smart.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, we’re still watching the movie.’ She went silent for a second. ‘Well, it would be over if you stopped calling. Mother, please!’ Alex heaved a sigh and sat back in the armchair. ‘Dad, she’s doing my head in. Okay, love you, too. Bye.’ She placed the phone down on the coffee table.

‘I think you handled that rather well,’ Derkein said.

‘Yeah,’ Charlie agreed. ‘There was definitely less shouting.’

‘It’s annoying,’ Alex said. ‘I feel like I’m on parole. I bet there’s a tracking device in the phone.’ Derkein and the boys laughed. ‘I’m serious.’

‘In all fairness, you did disappear for over two months,’ Derkein said. ‘They’re just trying to keep you safe.’ ‘I suppose,’ said Alex.

‘Right, I’m off to bed.’

‘Don’t forget you’re registering me at school on Monday,’ Richmond reminded him.

Derkein rolled his eyes. ‘That’s the tenth time you’ve reminded me today.’

‘Just making sure you don’t forget.’

‘Goodnight,’ said Derkein.

‘Night,’ they replied.

‘Hey.’ Derkein pointed at Charlie and Alex. ‘Separate rooms.’

Charlie’s eyes widened. ‘Night,’ he said through gritted teeth.

Derkein smiled and left the room. A second later, Charlie jumped off the sofa and hurried after him. Derkein stopped on the bottom step of the stairs.

‘What did Candra say about your dad?’ Charlie asked.

‘She’s ruled out Arcadia. It would be pointless for them to keep teleporting him back and forth. It’s likely he’s on the surface.’

‘We’ll find him,’ Charlie assured him. ‘He’s still alive. I know it.’ Derkein smiled and continued up the stairs. Charlie returned to the living room and sat back on the sofa.

‘Hey, guys, separate rooms,’ Richmond teased.

Alex threw a cushion at him, which hit him across the head.

‘I can’t wait to start school,’ Richmond went on.

‘Give it two weeks and you’ll be complaining about having to get up so early,’ Alex said. ‘You won’t be smiling then.’

‘Maybe you’re just lazy.’

Alex pounced on Richmond, wrestling him to the ground. Charlie relaxed back in the sofa, a huge smile on his face.

An hour had passed, and Charlie and Alex were sitting shoulder to shoulder on one end of the sofa, Richmond asleep on the other end.

‘You excited about going back to school?’ Alex asked.

‘I should say no,’ he replied, ‘but I am a little. Josh hasn’t been bothering you, has he?’

‘The opposite, actually. I think he’s kinda jealous of all the attention I’m getting.’

‘Lucky you. I don’t think he’ll be kind enough to ignore me.’

‘We can take him.’ Alex sounded confident. ‘After werewolves and bat-monkeys, I don’t think there’s anything we can’t handle.’

A sudden shiver ran through Charlie. He would like to say that the events that had occurred in the last few months were behind him now, but in fact, it was all ahead of him. The strangeness he and the others had experienced in Arcadia had only been the beginning.

‘It doesn’t feel real,’ Alex said. ‘Even though I’ve seen it, it’s still hard to believe Arcadia exists.’

‘Makes you wonder what else is out there.’

‘Well, whatever else is out there, I say we ought to stay away from it. I don’t think I can handle anymore near death experiences.’

‘Tell me about it.’ Charlie paused for a second. ‘Alex. What do you think of me? Being the way I am, I mean.’ Although he didn’t look at her, he could feel her gaze on his face.

‘You want the truth?’ she asked. He glanced at her. Alex looked thoughtful for a second, and then she smiled. ‘Charlie, you’re my best friend. You can be an alien, for all I care. You’re still the same person – freakish wings, and all.’

‘I don’t have wings.’

Alex’s eyebrows puckered. ‘Then what are those?’ Panicked, Charlie looked behind him.

Alex giggled. ‘Gotcha.’

‘That’s not funny. I’m going through changes here. You can’t say things like that.’

Alex’s expression turned serious. ‘Sorry. I guess I haven’t thought about how strange it must be for you. How does it feel, you know, being an angel?’

‘Well, I don’t physically feel any different, if that’s what you mean.’ Charlie was silent for a moment. ‘Sometimes I wish none of this had happened. Everything has changed. People are expecting me to do great things, and I can’t. I don’t know how. Maybe I’ll never know how. Then again, I’m glad it did happen otherwise Derkein wouldn’t be here. To be honest, I don’t know what to feel.’ Seeing the concerned look on Alex’s face, he changed the subject. ‘You think everyone’s going to probe us when we get back to school?’

Alex sighed. ‘Guaranteed. There are all these people I’ve hardly spoken to coming up to me asking questions. It’s annoying.’

‘I’ll help you fight them off.’

Alex’s face lit up. ‘You know, I thought I was never going to see you again.’

‘Me, too. I mean, see you, not me.’

Alex smiled. ‘I know it’s late saying this, but thanks. If it weren’t for you, I’d be … I wouldn’t be here. I don’t know how you caught that arrow, but it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.’

‘I seriously have no idea how that happened. But I’m glad it did.’ Charlie ran his eyes over Alex’s face, and their gaze locked. ‘Derkein said that sometimes facing your fears can make you realise your strengths. I guess my protective instinct kicked in.’

‘I’m glad it kicked in at the right time, or you could have been sitting here missing me like crazy.’

Charlie felt his cheeks heat up. ‘Trust me. Eight weeks away from you was like torture.’

Alex blushed. ‘I missed you, too. I’m so glad you’re back.’

‘Me, too. But just promise me you won’t be all girly now.’

Alex’s face hardened. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Her low voice shook with anger. ‘I ama girl. I’m always just one of the guys with you, aren’t I?’ She shifted and sat on the carpeted floor, her back against the sofa.

After a moment’s hesitation, Charlie sat beside her. ‘That’s not what –’ He stopped when Alex turned her back to him. ‘I know you’re a girl,’ he resumed in a placating voice. ‘I just meant … I just don’t want you to change. I like the old you.’

She turned to him, her face softer now. ‘Really?’

‘Well, there is one thing I would change.’

Alex punched him on the arm. ‘You’re supposed to say yes.’

‘You didn’t even let me finish. As I was saying – before you rudely interrupted me – I like your hair. I can actually see your whole face.’

‘Is that a good thing?’

Charlie paused, but when Alex raised her fist, he leaned away and said, ‘Yes, it’s a good thing.’

Alex smiled, her cheeks turning a rosy pink, and looked away. Charlie’s eyes stayed on her.