The Dark

CHAPTER Thirty-four



Isabel


The exact second I enter the Tribunal Chambers a hush descends. I stand in the open doorway on legs unable to move. My hands are sweating. I run them up and down the side of the long white tunic they put me in. The room itself appears as it did the last time it was used for the purposes of a trial. But now I am the one who is being judged, not Ethan, and my breach is far more severe.

As before, the nine Tribunal members have taken their seats in the Circle. And to my surprise, though he still doesn’t look very well, King Richard II sits to Lord Penbarin’s right. And I have to wonder why they brought him to the Circle when he’s not completely cured. He’s going to be Veridian’s representative on the Tribunal, making all the sectors of the earth complete. King Richard wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t for Ethan, taking the risk to rescue him last year. Apparently Lorian thinks him well enough to sit and watch the proceedings.

Lorian motions for me to enter and sit on the stool provided. Sucking in a deep breath I walk on wobbly legs to the centre of the Circle and gratefully sit. The moment I do, a warmth and sense of calm fills me, and I know straightaway that I’m sitting on one of Arkarian’s ancient hand-carved stools. He must have provided it for me himself. I flick a look around the room in search of him. He appears directly in my vision, his violet eyes reaching out to me, and I feel somehow stronger, calmer, ready to face whatever judgement is handed down.

With this inner calm residing in me, I risk a quick look at the Immortal’s face, being careful not to connect with Lorian’s eyes. In my previous experience I’ve found this difficult to do. But what I see surprises me. Lorian is wearing a look of contemplation, a creased and frowning brow, with eyes that remain downcast. For a second I wish I was a Truthseer and could read Lorian’s thoughts. But then the Immortal stands, raises both hands, and says, ‘The punishment for disobeying a direct order is death.’

The room erupts around me. Arkarian, Ethan and Matt have to be physically restrained. And while I hear the sentence, a part of me becomes detached, as if this whole scene is not happening to me. It’s as if I’m watching from behind a screen.

Lorian turns sideways and an image – a three-D holograph of my school – appears before me. The image zooms in closer and now I see the classroom and students mucking around inside. Once more the image increases, so now it’s as if we’re in the classroom with them, Mr Carter standing in front of the whiteboard.

The first thing I notice is the lack of school uniform. Students are wearing whatever they like – short skirts, dresses, brief tops, all-black outfits, some with chains and body piercing in every conceivable location, others with heads shaved or hair that looks as if it hasn’t seen a comb in a month. A couple of students are wearing jeans with rips at their knees and thighs and just about everywhere.

The second thing is the noise. Craig Johnson stands up and flings something across the room. I duck as this projectile feels as if it’s headed straight for me. It’s only a pen, but it strikes Zoe Fielders on the back of her head. She screams out a string of vile swear words while half climbing over her desk. Mr Carter thumps the board with a ruler and yells at the class to settle down. He is then abused with more vile language and has a book – the history textbook we’re working on in class at the moment – thrown at him. He catches it and sets it down with a loud thump on the desk in front of him, the look on his face one of pure devastation.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask out loud.

Lorian’s head moves just slightly and the image switches to the town mall, where the Angel Fall’s Café is being robbed by an armed man, the patrons terrorised with the threat of a gun. The proprietor, Mr McGowan, hands over money from his till in a grey bag with shaking hands. The robber strikes him with the butt of his gun, before racing outside to a waiting car. And the worst part about this scene is the fact that I recognise this thief. He lives in my neighbourhood, someone I thought to be a loving family man, struggling to raise his young family.

Again I have to ask, ‘What’s happening? How can this be? I know these people.’

‘This is your world now.’

‘What? But how can it change so quickly? We were only gone ten days.’

‘The war has escalated. The situation is serious. The Prophecy has changed, predicting a disastrous outcome. We are at the brink of losing complete control and any chance of attaining peace for all the worlds.’

The image of my home town disappears and Lorian comes to stand before me. I can’t help but think this is all my fault. By leaving Veridian vulnerable for ten whole days, the Goddess has taken the advantage and stepped up her campaign. And obviously she’s winning. Tears hit the back of my eyes, which I’m helpless to do anything about. They begin streaming down my face.

With fingers longer than normal, Lorian touches the underside of my chin, urging me to look up. I’m reluctant to do so, as the power that emanates from the single touch of these fingers makes me want to run. But the pressure of Lorian’s hand intensifies and I understand this is not a request, but a command. I’ve broken one of those already, so I take a deep breath and lift my head.

Intense violet eyes stare back at me, holding me in position. Lorian’s stare is harsh, and it pains me to maintain it. ‘Do you think I make decisions lightly, Isabel?’

My head shakes a no, then slowly I work moisture into my mouth and reply verbally, ‘No, of course not.’

‘Do you have anything you wish to say?’

‘Yes, I do.’ And somehow I try to explain, ‘I’m really sorry. In rescuing Arkarian I never meant to cause such devastation. But …’

‘But?’

I take a deep breath. ‘I’d do it all again, taking more risks if I had to, to bring Arkarian back.’

The whole room goes deathly silent. Then Lorian says, ‘Isabel, who do you think opened the rift?’

What does Lorian mean? As far as I know the rift was opened by … But I don’t want to even think these names in case it incriminates one or all three of the royals.

But screening my thoughts is useless, as Lorian is aware of every one of them. ‘Only an Immortal can open the rift, Isabel, or a descendant with immortal powers.’

‘Arkarian!’ I whisper, knowing in my heart all along, Arkarian must be Lorian’s son! But does this mean Lorian wanted me to rescue Arkarian?

Lorian answers without my having to voice this question out loud. ‘Isabel, understand this – Arkarian is vital to our survival and success against the forces of chaos. There was never any doubt about launching a rescue. It was always going to happen. The only question was who was strong enough to undergo the challenges of the underworld. So I devised a test, which you passed, brilliantly. And I was comforted that Ethan planned to go with you. What did surprise me though,’ and here Lorian glances to the side to Matt, ‘was your brother’s intention to join you both. That was the only glitch to the plan, although Lady Arabella realised at the very end, but was helpless to do anything except provide him with warmth.’

The Immortal’s words render me speechless. It wasn’t true that Lorian didn’t want to rescue Arkarian! It was all a test to find the strongest person. Someone with enough determination to get through the challenges and hardships Lorian knew would have to be overcome in that place.

I grip the stool to keep from falling backwards.

‘Therefore,’ Lorian continues, stepping slightly backwards and giving me some much-needed breathing space, ‘you are exonerated of breaching my command. In fact, you are to be commended for your success and unfailing courage.’

The room explodes in cheering. My eyes search for Arkarian, and a bitter-sweet joy fills me. I’m going to be free, yet what is this freedom if Arkarian doesn’t want to be in my life? To see him only when he has to explain a mission will be torture.

‘There is just one more issue that must be dealt with here today, before you are returned to your homes,’ Lorian says, then looks across the room to Arkarian. ‘Come and stand within the Circle, Arkarian.’

As he does, Lorian explains to the entire room, ‘Earlier Arkarian came to see me with two requests. The first – which I wouldn’t discuss with him – was to plea for Isabel’s freedom. But the second, the second not only surprised me, but shook me deeply. So deeply that I feel compelled to act on it.’

Murmurs erupt around the room. Beside me Arkarian slips his hand in mine, but otherwise remains motionless before his father.

Lorian says, ‘So that he could live in the same world as the girl that he loves, Arkarian asked me to strip him of his power to stop ageing.’

The murmurs reach loud proportions. But I don’t take in any of this. My entire body is shaking with Lorian’s revelation. Arkarian wants his power to stop ageing stripped. And he wants to do this so he can be with me. Unable to stop myself from trembling, I look up at him. ‘You would do this for me?’

‘And more,’ he says simply.

Now I understand why Arkarian has been keeping himself at arm’s length from me. His ability to stop ageing puts us in different worlds. And while I respect that Arkarian can make his own decisions, this one is just too much to make on his own. ‘Arkarian, I can’t let you do this. It wouldn’t be right.’

Lorian raises both hands, and the Tribunal and surrounding crowd go quiet. Lorian stares down at the two of us standing side by side. ‘Isabel, I agree with you.’

‘But—’

Lorian dismisses Arkarian’s argument before it even has a chance to get started. ‘And so I have decided to empower Isabel with this same skill.’

‘What!’ I can’t help call out.

Lorian asks, ‘Is this what you wish, Isabel? Answer carefully.’

My eyes skim around the room. To become ageless? That would be a dream! But to watch my friends and family grow old and die, how would I cope with that? Arkarian shifts into my vision, his violet eyes shimmering and reflecting their love; and I know that I could handle anything as long as we’re together. I search for Ethan and Matt. Ethan has a frown between his brows, while Matt’s mouth is hanging open.

Lorian holds his hand out towards them. ‘Go and talk to them.’

Leaving Arkarian in the Circle I go to where Ethan and Matt are standing. For a minute we don’t say anything. Finally Ethan starts nodding. ‘I think you should do it. It’s too amazing to pass up.’

‘But I will miss you so much.’

‘I still think it’s the right thing. If it were me, I would do it.’

Ethan’s words are heartening. I turn slowly to Matt. He has trouble meeting my eyes. Finally he says, ‘Do you love him?’

‘Yes.’

He starts to nod. ‘Then you should do it.’

‘Are you sure?’

He hesitates, but then his answer is decisive. ‘I’m sure.’

I give them both a hug and return to the centre of the circle. Arkarian reaches for my hand and I give it a firm squeeze, then look up at Lorian. ‘My lord, I accept your generous offer.’

And with these words Lorian lowers both hands to my head. Light surges from them, covering me like a warm liquid cloak. For several moments I am blinded, my entire body shuddering and jerking with the power of the Immortal’s gift driving through me. When it is over, and Lorian’s hands withdraw, I fall backwards to the stool.

‘Are you all right?’ Arkarian asks me.

‘Perfectly,’ I reply, though I don’t feel any different really.

‘It takes time,’ he says. ‘You have two years to get used to the idea. It won’t begin to take effect until you turn eighteen.’

Lorian picks up on Arkarian’s mention of the word time and gives it a different meaning. With hands spread wide, silence descends, and to everyone assembled in the Chamber the Immortal says, ‘Go now and fulfil your duties to the Guard. Time is of the essence. Our most difficult challenges are about to unfold. Remember always that a traitor walks amongst us. And do not despair when my sister unleashes unspeakable horrors on our earthly world.’