Storm and Stone

by Joss Stirling

  ‘Show me.’

  ‘Now, now, Kieran, who is in charge here? I believe that would be me. You have to give me something first before I make any concessions.’

  ‘Showing me the permission form is not a concession—it is a challenge to the legality of what you are doing.’

  ‘So eloquent and so misguided. I’m sure we can make something of you if only you just bend a little.’

  Kieran told Heath what he could do with himself in coarse Anglo-Saxon terms.

  ‘Oh dear. Looks like you need to be in here a little longer. Such a shame as the others are enjoying our facilities—the tennis courts, pool, weights room, games room. Would you like to enjoy those? Be with your friends?’

  ‘All I want to do is sleep.’ And get out of here. Isaac surely had to be worried by now?

  ‘And you can—when you admit you need our help.’

  ‘I admit you are a sociopath.’

  ‘Me?’ Heath looked surprised by the charge.

  ‘One who exhibits extreme antisocial attitudes, like, er, let me think, handcuffing a student to a desk maybe? Add to that a complete lack of conscience.’

  ‘But I’m trying to help you. You are an intelligent young man by all accounts—surely you understand? We’ve found the subject must first be broken down to be rebuilt. It will be so much better in the long run.’

  ‘Do you actually believe what you’re saying?’

  ‘You’ll see, Kieran, once you submit to the process. Just think how pleased Colonel Hampton will be when he sees you navigate the tricky waters of society with the ease of an experienced pilot. Take your place in the UIS network and you’ll never regret it, I promise you.’

  Kieran had had enough. ‘Look at me!’

  Heath smiled sympathetically. ‘I am, Kieran. You have my full attention.’

  ‘I’ve been cuffed to this bloody chair for days. In what way is this reasonable or necessary?’

  ‘Trust me: it gets results. I’ll be back to see how you are getting along. A few more hours and then you might like to trade a concession for a chance to go to bed, eh?’

  Heath clicked the presentation back on. Kieran set his features to blank. If he closed his eyes, they got physical with him so it was better to submerge his thoughts behind a neutral face.

  ‘See you later, Kieran.’

  He grunted, and raised his eyes to watch the screen. They had made a mistake, these manipulators. They had forgotten to edit their own material closely. Yep—there she was. That was the second of screen time that made the rest bearable, a brief glimpse of Raven passing through the back of the picture. How many times now? One hundred and eighty two.

  He dropped his gaze. He’d have to wait another fifteen minutes to see her once more.

  ‘Oh, it’s you.’ Raven came face to face with Gina in the yew walk. For once, Gina was alone, not surrounded by her usual gaggle of friends. ‘Where’s the coven?’

  Gina bit her lip, a big white florist’s box in her arms preventing her making a run for it. ‘If you are referring to my friends, they are getting ready for the prom. I’m on my way to join them.’

  Raven checked the time on her new phone. It was only four in the afternoon. ‘Wow, you must have some major work to do on yourselves if you need three hours.’

  ‘Hedda and Toni have brought in a masseuse, make-up artist, and hairdresser. Three hours will barely be enough. Now, if you will excuse me.’

  Raven stepped aside, shoulder brushing against the spiders’ webs netting the yew. ‘Gina, why did you do it?’

  Gina hesitated. ‘Do what?’

  ‘Lie about me. Do your best to make my life a misery. I was your friend once.’

  ‘I didn’t lie.’ Gina spun round and glared at her. ‘Stop saying that!’

  ‘Oh give it a break: we both know you had a problem with stealing things before Easter. What about my ankle bracelet? You’ve still got that I think.’

  Gina swallowed, eyes revealing her confusion. ‘You … you gave it to me.’

  ‘No, I did not. Think! You took it and I let you because I … I thought you just wanted to share my things as a friend.’ It hurt to remember the fun times they had had together, the late night chats and laughing over stupid stuff. She missed having another girl on her side.

  Gina’s eyes darted up the path towards the castle. ‘I’ll give it back then.’

  ‘I don’t care about the ankle bracelet—I care that you ruined my reputation to protect your own. What the heck happened to you at the manor?’ And what was happening to Kieran and Joe right now? It was days since she had heard from either of them. She was getting frantic with worry. If they turned up at the prom having had a great week, she was liable to slap them both silly.

  The mention of the manor seemed to snap something back in place inside Gina. ‘You are purposely trying to confuse me. I know the truth. You steal because you envy us. We are no longer friends so we shouldn’t be talking. I have to go.’

  Raven sighed. Her brief hope that she was getting through was dashed. ‘OK, fine, rewrite history if you must. I don’t think I can summon up the energy to care. You weren’t much of a friend to me, were you?’

  Gina’s back stiffened but she marched on.

  Raven’s much shorter beauty regime saw her ready in an hour. She checked her reflection in the mirror, deciding that the colour really suited her. She was looking as good as she could look. The single shoulder cut made a necklace impossible so she accessorized with big gold hoop earrings and chunky bracelet—both cheap costume jewellery rather than the real thing. All she need now was her escort. Where was he?

  Her granddad had been busy all day directing the outside caterers and making sure the band set up in the right place. He hurried back briefly half an hour before the event started to give her a gift. At least he remembered.

  ‘By rights, this should be what your young man does but as he’s been away all week and doesn’t know the colour of your frock, I thought I’d treat you.’ He handed her a wrist corsage of red roses tied with a black glittery ribbon to a gold bangle.

  ‘Oh my gosh, that’s just the finishing touch!’ She slipped it on eagerly.

  ‘And something for your hair.’ He tucked a few spare blossoms into the upswept style she had pinned. ‘What a beautiful young lady—the belle of the ball—and I’m not biased.’

  She kissed his cheek. ‘Of course you aren’t, Granddad.’

  ‘Have a lovely time. I’ll keep an eye out for you.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Shouldn’t your young man be here by now? The minibus came in from the manor an hour ago.’

  It had? ‘Maybe he’s getting changed?’

  ‘That’ll be it. I’ll see you over there then. The hall looks wonderful even if I do say so myself.’

  Raven didn’t know what to do while she waited—patience was never her strong suit. She’d paid her last visit to the bathroom, had all her things for the evening packed in her little clutch purse, and had her shoes on. She sat by the window, watching the path. No one approached the cottage.

  She checked her phone for a message. Nothing. She tried ringing Kieran but the phone clicked to voicemail. She checked the time. The dinner was due to start any moment now.

  ‘This is ridiculous!’ she exploded. She couldn’t sit here any longer—she had to go and haul Kieran out of his shower or whatever he was doing. He might have forgotten—become distracted by some super extreme Sudoku puzzle and lost track of the time. He was probably still sitting there in jeans and T-shirt. If Joe was taking one of the other girls, he might not be around to kick him out of their room.

  Looping her skirt over her wrist, Raven strode out of the house, heading for the castle. The place looked like something out of a fairy tale, lights strung in the trees and over the door. Everywhere she looked she could see couples strolling on the paths and lawns, enjoying the warm evening. She spotted Joe easily. He was standing with Hedda on one arm and Toni on the other. Wonderful: her two favourite people guarding the boy
with the answers. Raven was sure they would love to know she had been forgotten by her date. Swallowing her pride, she approached them just as the dinner gong sounded.

  ‘Hi, Joe, have you seen Kieran?’

  Joe took a moment to turn then smiled blearily at her. ‘Raven isn’t it?’

  ‘Of course it’s Raven. I’m looking for Kieran.’

  Hedda tugged at Joe’s arm. ‘Come on, Joe, we have to go in.’

  ‘Joe!’ Raven’s voice cracked with desperation. ‘Please!’

  ‘Raven, the crow. Just a moment, Hedda.’ Joe swayed. ‘No, no. Friend. Not crow. That’s the others.’

  A new suspicion crossed Raven’s mind. ‘Are you drunk?’

  Joe shook his head. ‘No, I’m just a little tired right now. Kinda floating. Stuff going round and round in my head, you know? Kieran, you say?’

  ‘Yes, Kieran. Your best friend.’

  ‘He’s my date,’ said Toni quickly. ‘I’m meeting him inside. He just went to get me a drink.’

  ‘Is this true?’ Raven couldn’t believe it, but why lie in front of Joe when it could so easily be proved wrong?

  Joe frowned. ‘Has there been a mix up? I thought Key was taking Raven.’

  ‘Oh no, he changed his mind.’ Toni held out a white rose corsage on her wrist that matched her short white dress. ‘Look: he gave me this.’

  ‘I don’t believe you.’ Raven pushed past Toni determined to find Kieran. The corsage was a step too far. Until that point she just might have believed that Kieran had been manoeuvred into taking another girl to the prom and standing her up, but she had noticed that Hedda was wearing a similar corsage arrangement and she doubted very much Kieran would have thought of it. She would bet her bottom dollar that these had also come with the prom makeover crew; they’d probably been in the box Gina had been carrying. Toni was just trying to hurt her feelings—not a difficult task, she had to admit.

  ‘Raven?’ Joe called.

  She swung round.

  He appeared to be having a moment of clarity. ‘I don’t think he’s here.’

  ‘What?’

  Joe dropped Hedda’s arm and sank down on a stone step. ‘I’m not feeling great. I’m confused. He said something to me last time we met but … ’

  Hedda hauled Joe back to his feet. ‘C’mon Joe. You need to get inside. You weren’t ready to come back so soon. You’ve hardly started the treatment—you need more help. When I was on the course I remember feeling happy and relaxed in the first week, not like this.’

  ‘Joe, where’s Kieran?’

  ‘Ignore her—she’s just white noise, remember? Block her out.’ Hedda managed to get Joe to stumble a few steps.

  ‘Minute. Something wrong. Yeah.’ A memory flickered across his face. ‘No wait, what … he’s not good, Raven.’

  ‘That’s enough, Joe. You’ve had too much to drink.’

  Hard to do as alcohol was banned. ‘Let him speak, Hedda.’

  ‘He’s said enough. Joe, you’re going inside.’

  ‘Get away from him.’ Raven tugged Hedda’s arm, squashing her corsage.

  Hedda swung her purse at Raven. ‘Leave him alone. Why are you always making trouble?’

  ‘There will be if you don’t let him talk to me!’

  ‘Is there a problem here, ladies?’ Mrs Bain arrived in time to see Raven snatch Hedda’s evening bag and throw it in the bushes.

  ‘You’ve got to do something about her, Mrs Bain. She’s out of control!’ Hedda pointed an accusing finger at Raven. ‘She just stole my bag!’

  ‘I only want to speak with Joe!’ said Raven.

  ‘Joe’s not feeling well. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.’ Hedda circled Joe’s waist. ‘Hey, Joe, lean on me. We understand you’re not feeling yourself.’

  ‘Not myself,’ echoed Joe.

  ‘Take Mr Masters inside, Hedda.’

  Toni ducked under Joe’s other arm and helped Hedda lead him in. Raven tried to follow.

  ‘Oh no, you don’t.’ Mrs Bain stood in her path.

  ‘But I have a ticket.’

  ‘And I have just rescinded that ticket. You are not to set foot inside.’

  If Raven thought she could get away with tackling the head teacher, she would have been delighted to give it a go. ‘I have a date.’

  ‘With whom? I’ll tell him you are unable to come.’

  ‘Kieran Storm.’

  ‘That’s all right then. Mr Storm is unwell. He isn’t here.’

  ‘Toni said he was.’ Raven wanted to scream. She tried to see past Mrs Bain but she couldn’t spot Kieran anywhere in the crowds gathering to watch their confrontation.

  ‘She was mistaken.’

  ‘And Joe’s “unwell” too. Don’t you find that strange?’

  ‘There must be something going around the manor.’

  Raven wondered if she could sprint past the head teacher and go ask Joe a few more questions. She tensed, ready to make a try.

  Mrs Bain blocked the path. ‘Don’t even think of it. Go back to the cottage and pack your bags. I don’t want to see you on my school premises ever again, Miss Stone. Your behaviour is a disgrace—picking a fight with other girls, stealing from them, bag snatching. You were a poor bet when I graciously took you on after your last school threw you out.’ That wasn’t how it had gone down but Mrs Bain was clearly OK with rewriting history too. ‘You’re lucky I’m not calling the police.’

  Raven folded her arms to stop her from shivering. ‘I wish you would.’

  ‘Would what?’

  ‘Call the police. I think something really sick is going on and you know what it is.’

  ‘You have until tomorrow morning to get off Westron land. I’ll tell your grandfather he must find somewhere else for you immediately.’

  ‘You’re all heart, Mrs Bain. I’m sure the local paper would love to hear about this. I think I’ll send them a photo—the dress,’ she picked up the skirt, ‘that’d make a good image. Old hag headmistress chucks out orphan for trying to go to the ball. I can see them running with that.’

  Mrs Bain took a step towards her and grabbed her upper arm. ‘If you so much as breathe a word to anyone, then I will make it my priority to destroy both you and your grandfather. He can kiss goodbye to his pension and you your future in any place of education. All I have to do is share your school record and you’d be sunk—drugs, sexual misconduct, thieving—yes, I think that covers it.’

  Raven curled her nails into her palms. ‘You can’t do that. None of it’s true.’

  ‘Just watch me. Now get out of here before I call my security team.’ Mrs Bain pointed Raven firmly towards the cottage. ‘I don’t want to see either you or that trashy red dress again.’

  Raven put the corsage in the fridge to preserve the roses, stripped off the red dress and put it back on the hanger. It hadn’t been trashy; it had been fabulous. But without Kieran to see her in it, what was the point? Needing comfort clothes, she pulled on a pair of black leggings and a long jumper. Maybe Mrs Bain was doing her a favour stopping her going to the prom? She would have been a wallflower all evening without her date. Not that stupid things like that mattered when Joe was acting really weird and Kieran was a no show.

  OK, Raven, what now? She paced the kitchen, unable to decide the most effective course of action. She had her marching orders but she didn’t care about that. Mrs Bain could kick her out tomorrow, broadcast the lies about her, but tonight, Raven had to get to the bottom of what had happened to Kieran. Her future didn’t matter if his was in jeopardy. Joe was incoherent and barricaded in by her enemies; Kieran wasn’t answering any texts or calls. That left the mysterious Isaac. Kieran had given her instructions to phone him only in an emergency. He had meant if she was in trouble, but Raven was more than happy to reinterpret the orders to apply to the situation she now faced.

  She took out her phone and selected the contact. Her thumb hovered. It felt strange calling a complete stranger, but still … She pressed the green button.
>
  ‘Hampton here. Who is this?’

  ‘Is that Isaac?’ Feeling really awkward, Raven stirred the crumbs by the toaster that sat on the kitchen counter.

  ‘Isaac Hampton, yes. Who is this and how did you get my number?’

  ‘Mr Hampton, my name is Raven Stone.’

  ‘Let me guess: Kieran gave you my mobile number.’

  ‘Yes.’

  She thought she heard him sigh. ‘What can I do for you, Miss Stone?’

  ‘You are some kind of guardian to Kieran, is that right? His godfather.’

  ‘Correct, but I’m afraid I can’t share any personal details about him if that is why you are calling.’

  ‘No, no, it’s just that I’m really worried about him—and Joe.’

  ‘Why would that be? I’ve heard from Joe regularly this week. He and Kieran have been on a course. I thought you would know that, even if Kieran has cut contact with you since you and he split up.’

  ‘Yes but … but we didn’t really split for long. It’s kinda confusing but we were in touch at the beginning of the week—in touch a lot. You know, texting, that sort of thing.’

  ‘He didn’t end his relationship with you?’ Isaac’s tone was ice.

  ‘We made up. He was sending me texts then nothing. And Joe’s not OK either. You wouldn’t say he was if you’d seen him tonight, sir. Joe’s really weird. It’s like he’s drunk or ill.’

  ‘He’s at Westron?’

  ‘Yes, he’s come back for the prom. And Kieran was supposed to be here too but he didn’t show up. He didn’t send word and I was his date.’

  ‘I see.’ She could hear a pen tapping in the background. No prizes for guessing that Isaac really didn’t approve of her.

  ‘Are you near Joe at the moment, Miss Stone, so I can have a word?’ Clearly he didn’t trust her.

  ‘I’m afraid not. I’ve been chucked off school premises. Mrs Bain is keeping me away from the other students. Look, sir, I don’t know what Joe told you but I think he hasn’t seen Kieran for days. He was upset when I pressed him for details and seemed to remember something and he said Kieran was “not good”.’