by James Erith
But tell them what, exactly?
What had she yelled on the pitch when he ran over? Something about finding clues, something about Eden Cottage. And there was something else about the Ancient Woman perhaps from visions he’d seen in his dreams and a murder he’s seen over and over again?
Perhaps Cain was right about her. Perhaps saving her was the future?
Isabella, he thought, as he breathed in deeply, must have known too. Her frantic efforts to persuade Solomon to abandon the game now looked like sage advice. What would Solomon make of them now… if he was still alive?
And poor Mrs Pye, sitting at home worrying. He could imagine her pacing around, mumbling to herself. Tears running down her cheeks.
And what of their friends? Had they made it? Would there be anyone left? Probably not—unless they’d escaped into the tower at Upsall.
There was nothing he could do about it now. When they’d discovered a way out of the cave and climbed up through the forest and back home, then they might find out.
He touched his hard hair and wondered if they’d been blessed. Strange how it was them, of all people.
He yawned, his mouth stretching to its widest point. And what of that strange spidery-creature he’d seen over Daisy? Was that also a part of this adventure?
Unwittingly, his eyes closed.
Just so long as he didn’t get any more murderous nightmares… Cain said they’d end. And what if he really did have the courage of a horse and the strength of a lion…?
The mists of tiredness swept over every part of his tired body.
He could think no more.
In moments, the Heirs of Eden and Old Man Wood were all sound asleep.
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Read Book Two, Spider Web Powder.
Your Help Matters…
Dear reader,
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Your review would massively help me in my quest to find new readers.
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Please spare a moment to give POWER & FURY your REVIEW from the online version of the store where you found it.
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I’m working on several new projects right now. Your words will spur me on to finish my words in the series.
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In advance, thank you.
Best wishes,
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James
Book 2, Spider Web Powder
BONUS!!
Read on for the first three chapters of
* * *
SPIDER WEB POWDER
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Book two in the Eden Chronicles series…
Bonus! Chapter 1: Spider Web Powder
Archie extended his arms and pushed out a sleepy yawn. Where were the purple curtains at the end of his bed? Where were the thick oak beams supporting the roof of the attic room that he shared with his sisters, Isabella and Daisy? What about the red drape that hung down like a Bedouin tent?
As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he noted the grey, jagged rocks curving above him like a bad set of teeth and was instantly reminded of the previous day’s horrors.
Archie lay quite still, filtering the curious sand he was lying on through his fingers. Was this part of a dream? Was he even alive?
He moved his head to investigate.
Nestled into the walls were three ledges, like shallow troughs. These were the stone beds Archie and his sisters had sought refuge in last night to escape the storm. Now, they, like him, were stirring.
Moments later, a burst of steam erupted from the circular pool in the middle of the cave where hot water bubbled gently. As he stared, the surface glimmered from what he suspected were a multitude of fluorescent minerals.
Archie hazily remembered how their beaten and cut bodies were soothed and healed by this small pool. But even now his memories of last night were vague. Archie could only recall fragmented scenes, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
His curiosity aroused, Archie moved his eyes around the cave, increasingly astonished by what he saw. He stumbled off his bed, rubbed his face, and attempted to smooth down his hair.
His baffled expression made his older sister Isabella chuckle from her bed along the wall.
‘Your hair took on a new form, remember? It is now irretrievably spiky,’ she said, the words echoing more dramatically than either had expected. ‘The result of being hit by a lightning bolt. Remember?’
Trust Isabella to remember more than he could. He grunted a response and headed to the bubbling pool, wafting his hand at a cloud of steam that billowed into the high roof.
Archie dangled his feet and ankles in the bubbles. Soon, a sparkly feeling fizzled up his torso. He cupped his hands and drank a draught of the water, washed his face and splashed his strange, hard hair.
‘I don’t suppose there’s anything for breakfast?’ he said, more in hope than expectation.
‘There’s another apple each,’ Old Man Wood said. The old man was like a grandfather to the three siblings, and Archie remembered how he’d come to their rescue last night.
Archie picked his way over the rocky, undulating grey floor and sat down next to him. Old Man Wood had found each one of them at deaths door after the violent storm and carried each one from the ledge into a sandy pit in this cave. Overnight, the pit had filled with water as the floodwaters had risen over the height of the ledge outside.
The cave entrance opposite filtered-in a hazy morning light, which appeared to ripple as he stared at it. For a brief moment, he wondered if a kind of see-through crystal-like substance had miraculously grown up in front of the cave’s mouth, holding up a body of moving water behind it.
Old Man Wood handed Archie a small, perfectly formed apple from his large, weathered, and leathery hands.
Archie chomped hungrily and began to take in the caveman art that stretched all the way around the stony walls. He spotted three distinct human figures drawn with firm strokes, but others, he reckoned, looked more like stick men or animals. Some images were upright, others were lying down as if the figures were dead.
‘Do you guys remember these pictures from last night?’ he asked.
Daisy and Isabella were stretching their arms wide and yawning and didn’t answer.
Archie searched further into the cave. ‘Bit of a classic,’ he murmured. ‘This could be interesting.’
‘What’s up, Archie?’ Daisy said, sleepily.
‘We have a problem,’ he said. ‘In fact, we have quite a few.’
His twin, Daisy, yawned. ‘Expand, bro.’
‘Well, yeah,’ he started, not quite knowing what to say. ‘Let’s start with how we get out of this cave.’
Daisy tittered. ‘Seriously?’
Archie raised his eyebrows. ‘Yeah. It’s sealed itself off… I think.’
Daisy ambled over to the pool and splashed her face. ‘Rubbish—’
‘No,’ he said. ‘Look at the entrance, I think it’s blocked.’
Daisy repeated the action this time dunking her entire head in the pool. ‘Of course there’s a way out. No way can we be stuck.’
Archie wondered if she knew something he didn’t. ‘Have you seen the paintings?’ he said, changing the subject.
‘Cool, aren’t they,’ Daisy said. ‘Quite like Picasso.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘The artist, Picasso. I’m sure I’ve seen stuff of his just like this.’
Archie’s eyes bulged. ‘Really, Daisy?’
‘Yup. Simple, abstract lines. That kind of thing,’ she replied.
‘Oh,’ he said, wondering when Daisy had become so knowledgeable about modern art. ‘I thought they might be a kind of guide?’ he said. ‘What do you think?’ He continued to study the outlines. He noticed oblong-shaped objects and lines of repetitive strokes like shadows.
Soon, Daisy and their older sister Isabella joined him. After a short while, Isabella’s continual glancing towards her younger sister finally made Daisy snap.
‘What!’ she cried.
‘Nothi
ng!’ Isabella replied.
‘Well, stop doing that.’
‘Doing what?’
‘Looking at me. Weirdly.’
Isabella moved closer and shuffled from one foot to the other. ‘Actually, Daisy,’ she said, as she examined her sister’s pretty face, ‘Your eyes are—’
‘What about them?’
‘Well. I mean… I think—’
Daisy turned away, her face reddening.
‘No, seriously, Daisy. Look at me.’
‘Why?’ she said, her tone betraying her concern. She looked up.
Isabella leaned in. ‘You’ve done something to your eyes—’
‘No, I haven’t. They’re absolutely fine,’ she said rubbing them and blinking rapidly as if to prove it. ‘What’s the big deal?’
Archie joined in and whistled. ‘Bells is right, Daisy.’
‘Maybe it’s a just a trick of the light,’ Isabella said, as if Daisy couldn’t hear. ‘Hey, Old Man Wood. Come and check this out.’
‘Seriously?’ Daisy cried, flummoxed by all the attention. ‘Stop it, both of you.’
Old Man Wood shuffled closer and gazed at her too. The three of them leaned over her.
‘Thing is, Daisy,’ Archie said, ‘your eyes really are... different.’
‘Different?’
‘Yeah, very.’
‘I need a mirror,’ Daisy said, looking around.
‘You won’t find one here, sis,’ Archie said. ‘It’s hardly the place—’
‘Listen dudes. I really don’t care. But please, stop looking at me—’
Archie’s eyes narrowed. ‘I can’t help it—they’re red.’
Isabella agreed. ‘Ruby red.’
‘Red?’ Daisy queried.
Archie nodded.
‘Don’t be silly. My eyes are perfectly fine. There’s nothing wrong—’
‘Actually,’ Isabella said, ‘it’s more cerise—’
‘Or scarlet blending into burgundy?’ Archie added.
‘They’re a red-apple-colour in my opinion,’ Old Man Wood said, thoughtfully.
‘Chilli-red, possibly,’ Isabella added. ‘Like a vampire.’
This time they all nodded.
‘Tip of my tongue,’ Archie said. ‘But I’d run with Old Man Wood’s description. It’s definitely more of a red-apple-colour.’
‘Look,’ Daisy said, flustered. ‘Maybe it’s from the chemicals in the healing water in the pool…’
Archie squinted at her. ‘Sorry, Daisy. Thing is, the white bit around them is still white,’ he said. ‘It’s the middle bit that’s changed—’
‘It’s known as the iris, Arch,’ Isabella whispered.
‘Yeah, I knew that,’ he said, before addressing his twin. ‘Basically, Daisy, your nice blue eyes have turned a rather fetching chilli-plum-apple-red-colour. Pretty cool, I reckon.’
‘Cool?’ Daisy replied. ‘You’re kidding. You’re saying I’ve turned into a freak!’
Archie flicked his steely hair. ‘Like me?’ he grinned.
Isabella reluctantly held up a hand, where the outline of a neat hole punched through the middle of her palm. ‘Like me too,’ she said.
It was the wound she’d received yesterday as she protected herself against a lightning bolt. She stared at the circular cavities in awe, fully aware that somehow, however inexplicable, and incalculable, her hand-holes had saved her life.
‘If there’s a school left to go back to, we’re going to stand-out big time—’
‘The de Lowe super-weirdos,’ Archie chipped in.
‘Hang on! What about me?’ Old Man Wood said, his deep voice filled with gentleness and soft humour.
Daisy leaned into the old man and looked up at his worn and lined face. ‘Dear, lovely Old Man Wood, you’re already a wonderful freak. We’re just catching you up a little.’
Old Man Wood, couldn’t help but smile back with affection. His wise, kind, dark brown eyes moved from child to child as he pondered their next move.
As Archie had just touched on, he had the not-so-small task of guiding them out of this sanctuary back to Eden Cottage.
Bonus! Chapter 2: The Pictures In The Cave
Daisy returned to her stone bed and lay back on the soft, sandy surface. She studied her siblings. Isabella was sieving bubbling water through the new holes in her hands, while Archie was still wandering around the cave engrossed in the curious artwork.
Daisy had briefly scanned the murals, noticing raised etchings and basic figures and recognisable shapes, but she hadn’t given them too much attention. But when Archie reached the far side of the cave, deeper into the shadows, and stumbled, she decided to investigate further.
She made her way over to Old Man Wood, who had remained rooted to the spot, staring at the pictures as if he were looking right through them to another place and time entirely.
Daisy leant on him as if he were a lamppost, sneaked a hand into his pocket, picked out an apple, and then moved around the room following Archie.
‘Right, guys,’ Daisy announced after a circuit of the chamber. ‘This art is like an instruction manual.’
‘For what?’ Archie asked.
‘Primarily for getting out of here—’
‘Why?’ Isabella said.
‘If you hadn’t noticed we’re trapped, just as Archie said. The entire valley is underwater. There is no way we can physically get out.’
‘I’m not listening if we’ve got to do anything dangerous,’ Isabella said from the pool. ‘I’ve done enough surviving for an entire lifetime.’
‘Well, I think you should listen, oh brainy-one!’ Daisy fired back. ‘Seriously, you need to know what’s going on and, oddly, these knobbly walls have the answers.’
Isabella groaned. ‘Please, Daisy. Can’t we just go home?’
‘Bells, if only it were that easy. If we could simply walk out of here, then yes, I’d be well on the way to a hot bath, a massive hot chocolate, and my own bed. But we can’t because we’re stuck.’ Daisy flicked a strand of hair off her face. ‘These pictures, I think, are the clues to our next meal with Mrs Pye at home.’
While the murals might not make sense to her siblings, to her they were as clear as day.
‘Now, pay attention,’ she said as she marched over to the far side. ‘Once upon a time,’ she began, relishing her moment in the spotlight, ‘there were three brave knights. Here, here and here,’ she said, pointing at three human outlines. ‘They lived in a land where there were nice things to eat, like, um, apples,’ she turned and winked at Old Man Wood, ‘but there were also bad things, like nasty snakes. One day the knights were lying in bed,’ she pointed at a gnarly squiggle on the wall, ‘when they were given some cool gifts, or something.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Let’s study these pictures in a more detail, shall we?’
Isabella splashed a foot in the pool. ‘Daisy, this is ridiculous—’
‘One of them,’ Daisy continued, ‘had extremely large eyes and sticky-out ears, another had big hands and fat feet, and the last knight rode horses and, um, lions.’ Daisy chortled, briefly, surprised at her own explanation.
‘Still with me? Isabella? Archie? Old Man Wood? Excellent!’
She dragged Old Man Wood to the next section. Archie followed and Isabella, defeated, stood up, shook out her feet, and following on behind.
Daisy indicated another faded mark on the wall. ‘One day, loads of arrows shot out of the sky like you can’t believe, with some fiery ones, like this lot… here. When the sun went down—here—our three knights had either died and gone to hell—where they kept on getting shot at—or, if they’d survived, as shown in this squiggle, their prize was to sit in a mega jacuzzi. After that, they climbed up to heaven. End of chapter one!’ Daisy clapped her hands and did a small celebration dance.
‘Oh, bravo!’ Isabella said, her voice smeared with sarcasm. ‘How enlightening. Are you done now?’
‘Not even close, Isabella,’ Daisy replied. ‘Now, onto the next section.
’ Daisy dragged Old Man Wood by the arm to the next patch of drawings. ‘Here,’ she continued, ‘five pictures show how to find three books or stones or tablets. If our heroes find the first one, it means they’ve passed the first stage and they move on to try for the second. But, if, at any point they fail,’ and now her voice went quieter, ‘then, they are going to… DIE.’ She said ‘die’ in a slightly deeper and louder voice, which echoed back eerily, much to her satisfaction.
Daisy hopped up onto a rocky ledge and pointed towards the next section.
‘In this bit, they’ve found the second stone and dumped it on top of the first one— and look, it’s grows into a ginormous book, or stone, or whatever it is! Clever, huh?!’
‘Why would it do that?’ Archie blurted out.
‘How should I know?’ she replied from her lofty standpoint, before turning back to the images. ‘Here, our three heroes must find a third stone and do exactly the same thing all over again... ooh,’ she said, moving into and brushing the wall with her fingertips. ‘A-ha. I see,’ she said, as much to herself as the others who gazed up at her as if she might very well be making the whole thing up.
‘Now, pay attention,’ she continued. ‘If our heroes are successful, they add the third stone to the ginormous book and, BOOM!’
Daisy’s impression of an explosion made Archie laugh. She spun a little further round and theatrically pointed to the wall. ‘And the blast leads to this.’
‘What’ Isabella said, ‘are you going on about—?’
‘A whole other place,’ Daisy interrupted. ‘A place like the surface of the moon with a single great tree bang in the middle.’ She shifted her gaze further around the wall. ‘And, behind this tree they find… they find a—a…’
