The Dark

CHAPTER Thirty-two



Isabel


We drop a long way into a room in the Citadel. The same room I stumbled across when running from Arkarian’s abduction. Looking around, it seems everyone is here, including Dillon, Sera and John, sprawled out across the floor.

Getting up, I notice others gathering around us. Strange-looking people of different shapes, sizes, colour and species, though all appear to resemble human beings.

Arkarian comes towards me, each slow step making my heart slam against my ribs. Raising his eyes, they lock with mine, and my mouth goes tinder dry. He stops in front me, so close that it would only take one small movement for his hand to skim the side of my face. ‘Are you all right?’

How can I be? My thoughts can’t help but scream out. When you don’t want me! I make sure this last part is thoroughly scrambled.

We hold eye contact but the effort is costing him. ‘Isabel,’ he whispers in a tone of regret. The effect is crushing and I turn away.

Nearby Matt groans, but seems fine. He helps Dillon to his feet. Sera starts getting up too, as does John beside her. But as our eyes drift to the wren, we notice something strange happening. He appears to be growing taller, his shape lengthening right before our eyes. Sera notices too and starts backing away. ‘What’s happening, Ethan?’

Ethan shrugs his shoulders, flicking Arkarian a worried look. We brought John through with us, but did we have a choice?

John continues to change shape. The transformation only takes a few moments, but once complete, has us all look on in amazement. Even the growing crowd surrounding us give a collective sigh.

John is no longer part bird, part human or mostly beast, but a man of about thirty years of age, with soft blue eyes, dark brown hair, and skin that slightly glows. Just like Sera’s. In fact, he has the same ethereal look about him.

He gazes down at himself. ‘I … I think I’m free.’ He pauses as moisture floods his eyes unashamedly. ‘I don’t know how to thank you.’

Sera’s hand comes up to cover her mouth, her head shaking. ‘Does this mean we’ll be leaving together?’

‘I believe it does, miss.’

Sera gives a little nod, her eyes glistening. ‘I guess we’d better say good-bye then, before whatever happens, happens.’

Arkarian and I turn unconsciously to look at Ethan. His eyes flick to ours and back again to his sister in uncertainty. ‘I can’t believe that after all these years we’re only going to have a few moments together. There’s so much I want to say to you.’

Before our eyes Sera begins to fade, as does John; and Ethan starts to panic. ‘No, you can’t leave yet!’

Arkarian goes over to John and shakes his hand, then gives Sera a hug, which she fiercely returns. He motions to Ethan to hurry. ‘A few moments is all you’re going to have, Ethan. Go straight to what’s in your heart.’

Sera fades a little more and Ethan runs over and drags her fast-disappearing body roughly into his arms. ‘I’m so sorry. I should have protected you from Marduke. I should have remembered his name. I should have sought justice for your death. And I should have listened to you through my dreams. You wouldn’t have suffered all these years.’

She pulls back to stare up at him with disbelieving eyes. It’s obvious she wants to tell him none of what happened was his fault, that there is nothing for him to feel guilty over. But it’s clear that a simple denial will not be enough, especially with so little time left. And so she raises her small hand to his face, and says, ‘I forgive you.’

With these words Sera and John completely disappear.

It takes several seconds for us to collect our thoughts and take in what just happened. But a whooshing sound behind us gets our attention quickly. We turn to find Lord Penbarin and Lady Arabella.

Lord Penbarin is first to speak. ‘You’re to accompany us straight to Athens. Your hearing has been set.’

Though all of us have questions to ask, Ethan’s concern for his mother has him pushing roughly to the front. ‘I have to go home first. Take me home, Lord Penbarin. Take me home now.’

Lady Arabella holds her hands up. ‘I’m afraid that’s impossible, Ethan.’

‘You don’t understand.’

‘It’s you who doesn’t understand. All will be explained at the hearing.’

Ethan can’t believe it. His head rolls backwards as he glares at the vivid panels overhead. How long has he carried the weight of his mother’s depression on his shoulders? And now he has to wait even longer. ‘Well tell me this much, what day is it?’

Lady Arabella appears puzzled. ‘In your time?’

Frustration and concern adds a hard edge to Ethan’s voice. ‘Yes, in my time!’

‘Why, I believe it is Thursday the tenth.’

Ethan looks at me, but I’ve figured it out already. We spent ten whole days in the underworld. Before we left, there were still five days before his mother was due to go to the sanatorium. She was to stay there for a further five, which means …

‘I’m too late. She could already have …’ He glares from Lady Arabella to Lord Penbarin. ‘My mother … Do you know anything …?’

A soft smile comes to Lady Arabella’s lips. ‘She is perfectly well, Ethan.’

‘What?’

‘She has spent the last ten days waiting by the phone for any word on your disappearance. She had no thought for anything but your safe return.’

Disappearance? When I planned this rescue I never thought that our mortal bodies would just seem to have disappeared. ‘What about my mother?’ I flick a brief look at Matt.

‘She’s been fraught with worry. Shaun and Jimmy released the story that the three of you went missing while hiking in the woods. They’ve been trying to keep everyone calm, and convince your mothers that you will make a safe return.’ And to Ethan she says pointedly, ‘Your mother hasn’t spared one thought on herself these past ten days.’

‘So she didn’t go to the sanatorium?’

‘No.’

‘And she didn’t … attempt … anything stupid?’

‘No, Ethan.’

Ethan turns to me with a huge grin, blue eyes shimmering as he sheds his greatest fear.

‘And now that Sera’s soul is free,’ Arkarian says, ‘Laura won’t be traumatised any more.’

Arkarian is right. I try not to think about what trauma I put my own mother through these past ten days. After the hearing will be soon enough.

Arkarian grips Ethan’s shoulder, giving it a generous squeeze, but he has more concerns on his mind. He turns to Lady Arabella, ‘Tell me, you’re not planning to take our mortal bodies to Athens?’

He’s brought up a good point. Everybody knows that to take our body and soul out of our own time is harmful and could prove fatal.

Lady Arabella replies in her trusting voice, ‘In your absence much has changed. There’s an urgency now in everything we do. Isabel’s hearing will be brief, not long enough to do your bodies damage.’

‘Isabel’s hearing?’ Arkarian repeats in a tight voice.

Lady Arabella’s head bows in an almost apologetic nod. ‘Lorian is holding Isabel accountable for the direct breach of a superior command.’

Ethan tries to argue, but Lord Penbarin shuts him up fast. ‘Save your arguments for the trial. But be warned, Lorian is in no mood to listen to anyone.’

Arkarian steps right up to Lord Penbarin’s face. ‘Lorian will listen to me.’

I’ve never heard him sound so defiant.

‘We’ll go with you,’ he continues. ‘But I want a private visit with Lorian before Isabel’s hearing. And I want a safe room set up immediately.’ He pulls Dillon over and introduces him. ‘I’m sure you will find the information Dillon brings to the Guard very useful.’

Lord Penbarin and Lady Arabella agree to organise a safe room. Safe, that is, for the Guard as well. Changing sides is a serious matter. Very few do it. There are a lot of risks. Dillon will be briefed thoroughly and under constant surveillance for a long time.

‘But as for your meeting with Lorian,’ Lady Arabella explains. ‘We can only do what we can.’

Arkarian nods, accepting, and Lord Penbarin puts an arm around his shoulder. ‘It’s good to have you back.’

Lady Arabella smiles, and a trickle of tears slides down each side of her face.

The surrounding crowd, which has now surged to more than a hundred, start to cheer, with whistles and wild clapping.

I can’t help but ask, ‘Who are those people?’

Lady Arabella shares a look with Lord Penbarin, who shrugs almost imperceptibly, and she says, ‘They are the survivors – charged with the protection of the living.’