by K T Kaye
“Are you okay?” Araminta asked, turning my attention away from the house fairies.
“Me yeah sure why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’ve been staring at your drink for over twenty minutes.”
Damn it! I had been outsmarted by a glass of water!
“I’m fine, just tired.”
“You look tired, have you…?”
“He looks like he’s been shoved headfirst into dragon dung,” Fern exclaimed as she entered.
“No one asked your opinion,” Clover muttered to her sister.
“Maybe not but I’m going to give it anyway. What’s up demon-breath?”
“The sky,” I muttered sarcastically.
“Clever!” Fern mocked.
“Why are you here?” Clover hissed.
“I live here.”
“I know that! I meant why are you in this room?”
“Because I want to be. Don’t worry I’m not going to interrupt your flirting.”
“I’m not flirting,” Clover said turning pink.
“Whatever.”
“Anyway,” Clover turned to me, “I hear that your sword fighting has improved a lot recently.”
“Err, yes I suppose so,” I muttered.
“That’s great, perhaps me and you could train together sometime.”
“Flirting,” Fern coughed.
“I was just…” Clover started but was interrupted.
“Dinner is on the table,” Ethan announced as he stood at the door.
We got up and followed him into the kitchen.
“Anyone know where Sophie is?” asked Ethan as we sat.
“I haven’t seen her since last night,” Clover answered.
“Have you guys heard?” Sue asked as she entered with Roger and Elsa, “Angel’s back as Captain.”
“Really?” Clover exclaimed, “That’s a surprise.”
“She was let out of lock up, and now she’s back as Captain!” Sue explained.
“Have you got a problem with that?” Roger asked coldly.
“No, it’s just a little strange.”
“Angel is strange though” Clover exclaimed, after seeing Roger’s harsh stare she quickly added, “I mean her powers are strange.”
“What do you mean?” I asked confused.
“Oh of course you don’t know! Normally shapeshifters can only transform into animals or humans, they can’t transform into other paranormal beings. However Angel can transform into a vampire and into a werewolf in human form!”
“How come Angel can transform into paranormal beings when other shapeshifters can’t?”
“No one knows,” Ethan answered. At that moment, Willow and Roxy entered, they were chatting about some big scandal involving lords and ladies I had never heard of before. I quickly drowned out their conversation and returned to a more important matter, what was bigger than a mammoth?
“Have any of you seen Sophie?” Ethan asked again.
“Oh, haven’t you heard?” Roxy didn’t wait for an answer, “She’s on an assignment in Russia. Angel told me earlier.”
“I wonder what’s going on in Russia. It’s not often people just disappear in the middle of the night,” Sue muttered.
“Speaking of disappearing, where have you been?” asked Fern as Angel and Alexander arrived.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Angel muttered before sitting herself down next to me.
“Sounds interesting,” Fern smiled, “So where have you been?”
“I’m sure I just said, it’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Normally when you say, ‘it’s nothing for you to worry about’ it ends in you getting either yourself or, more importantly, me shot.”
“Not this time.”
“So, where were you?”
“I was at a captain’s meeting. There, you happy?”
“See that wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
“I wish you weren’t so difficult.”
“Love you too cap,” Fern muttered sarcastically, “Love you too!”
“Oh you’re getting really good Jason!” Roxy suddenly exclaimed.
“At what?” I asked confused.
“At blocking your mind, I can’t read it at all.”
“You shouldn’t be trying to read his mind in the first place!” Angel snapped.
“Lock up has clearly done nothing to fix your attitude.”
“Has anyone seen Paris? Or Danny?” Araminta asked trying to change the subject.
“I saw Paris earlier, he said he might be a bit late,” Elsa replied.
“Danny is doing a job for me,” Angel explained, “He’ll join us later.”
While the rest of the squad were distracted with food, Angel turned to me and whispered, “I want you to switch out with Danny. He’s been watching over the hospital wing all day, he could do with a break.”
* * * * *
Once I had finished eating, I quickly headed to the hospital wing. I arrived to find Paris unconscious and handcuffed to a bed, whilst Rowan and Skyjack were trying to remove a dagger from Sophie’s stomach. Danny was stood in the corner of the room, a grave look covering his face.
“What the hell!?” I exclaimed, “What happened?”
“Paris, he’s a terrorist or traitor, whatever it is we’re calling them,” Danny muttered, “He just tried to kill Sophie.”
“He’s a…Bloody hell!”
“Exactly. Do you have your phone?”
“I…yes…why?” Danny didn’t give me an answer, instead he grabbed my phone and quickly called Angel. I could hear Danny speak but I didn’t take in anything that he said. Paris was a terrorist. He had tried to kill Sophie. He worked for Mr Jet. These three sentences bounced around my brain. How could this be? How could? I thought Paris was my friend but, all this time, he had been working for the man who had killed my mum.
Angel arrived moments later, and I could see Danny explaining the situation to her but, once again, I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. How was I supposed to deal with this situation? What was I supposed to feel? What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to feel angry? Angel looked angry. She ran her hands through her hair and paced the hospital wing. She had known Paris for longer than I had, was that why she was able to get angry so quickly? I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t muster up any anger. I couldn’t muster up anything. I wasn’t upset. I didn’t feel upset about Paris being a terrorist. In fact the only feeling I felt was confusion. I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t process this situation.
“She stole his powers!?” I heard Angel exclaim as my hearing returned.
“Yeah, I’m not sure how. We have to keep her eyes covered as she can’t control his powers,” Danny muttered.
“This is a mess. Is Sophie…?”
Rowan walked over to us, “She’s alive. We’ve taken the dagger out, now we just need to wait and see. Have you informed the Colonel?”
“Alex went to tell him. Rowan make sure you give Danny a full check-up.”
“I’m fine, just a couple of bruises,” Danny muttered.
“Just do as I say,” Angel pleaded.
“Yes Cap.”
“Come with me,” Rowan took Danny to one side.
“I can’t believe Paris is a…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. I really couldn’t believe it. Paris had taught me all about this world, he had trained me, he had been my friend, but that had all been a lie.
“I should have seen this coming!”
“How…?”
“I don’t know!” Angel exclaimed, “I just…I should have seen this. I’ve trained with him every day for the last…how could I have not seen this!”
“None of us saw this coming,” Danny called from behind a curtained off bed, “So stop blaming yourself.”
“I…” at that moment Alexander and the Colonel arrived. The Colonel studied the situation for a moment then turned to Angel.
“This is a disaster. I’m putting
the base under lock down. No one leaves. The ghosts will patrol at night and all alarm systems will be activated,” the Colonel snapped sharply, “The whole base is under house arrest.”
“What do we do about Paris?” Angel asked.
“Well this is the first one we’ve got alive and awake; we need to get him talking.”
“That won’t be easy to break him. Paris is…was one of the best.”
“Everyone breaks eventually. For now take Paris to the cells.”
“The cells, is that a good idea? You do want him to talk, don’t you? It’s going to be a bit hard to get him talking if he gets eaten by a demon.”
“The guards will intervene if it tries to kill him.”
“Well it’s hardly going to try to start salsa dancing with him, is it?”
“Captain!”
“Yes sir,” Angel hissed. The Colonel stared at Paris for a moment, then turned quickly and left.
“Paris won’t break easily,” Alexander stared at the unconscious Paris, “It would be better to do a Mind Take, we’d get more from him that way.”
“Then we should just…” at that moment Angel’s phone began to ring, she answered, “Ambroise, you’re on speaker, what’s up?”
“The Colonel sent me and the other captains a message, he just ordered us to take our squads to the drill field.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure but he said it was important.”
“Okay, I’ll bring my Squad.”
“See you there,” then Ambroise hung up.
“What does the Colonel want all the squads for?” I asked.
Angel muttered, “There’s only one way we’re going to find out.”
* * * * *
All the squads gathered at the drill field and waited. It wasn’t until that moment that I realised just how many people (and creatures) lived at the base. I had spent most of my time at the Lightning Squad house, so I hadn’t really encountered the other squads before. I tried not to stare as I found myself face-to-face with dragons, griffins, centaurs, and other incredible paranormal beings. At the end of the field was a stage on which the Colonel was stood. Once all the squads had gathered the Colonel began to speak.
“I stand before you all with a heavy heart,” the Colonel began, “Last night, the base was attacked by followers of the terrorist known as Mr Jet.”
“He isn’t,” Angel muttered under her breath, “He wouldn’t.”
“These followers killed the Centaur Guard Joseph. Joseph was a good friend who has worked at this base for many years. He will be missed. Mr Jet and his followers entered the base but were stopped by brave members of Lightning Squad. I would like to thank Sophie Day, Danny Park, Alexander Laurentius Octavius, Jason Dragonheart and Captain Angel Night for their hard work,” the Colonel paused.
The Colonel then continued, “Mr Jet and his followers had help getting onto the base. Paris Surf, a member of Lightning Squad, was arrested today on charges of attempted murder and terrorism. Until the prisoner is moved, I am placing the base under lock down. We shall not let this defeat us. We shall stand strong. This Empire belongs to the paranormals, and we shall defend it. Demons have no place in this world, and we shall ensure that they go back to the underworld where they belong. Dismissed!”
With that the Colonel left and the drill field became incredibly noisy.
“He didn’t mention that the other followers were from the base,” Alexander pointed out.
“I noticed,” Angel muttered, “He’s made out it was just Paris on his own, saves us from paranoia and panic at least.”
“He said ‘until the prisoner is moved’, where exactly is Paris moving to?” I asked.
“To the court and execution house,” Alexander explained, “I think the Colonel is planning to have Paris publicly executed.”
Executed! I felt my stomach drop. Alexander had just said executed. He had just said that Paris would be executed! How could he say that so calmly!? Executed? How could someone be? What crazy world was this!? Executions were things of the past. They belonged in the “dark ages” not now. Not in the twenty-first century! How could Paris be...? And publicly!? The vampire had said publicly, that meant that people were going to watch! People would watch Paris be... I felt sick. I couldn’t deal with this. I didn’t want to have anything to do with this. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t...Angel grabbed my arm as my knees gave way. She helped me over to a bench where she sat me down.
“Deep breaths Jason,” Angel whispered, “Nothing’s been decided yet. Alex shouldn’t have said that.”
Angel pulled out her wand and pressed it to my forehead. Her wand glowed as I felt the soft reassuring bliss of magical sedation take over my body. Suddenly the fact that Paris was going to be executed didn’t bother me in the slightest. The rest of the squad quickly joined us. They asked Angel numerous questions, speaking loudly and on top of each other. I didn’t take in a word they said. I was too busy thinking about my earlier extremely important question, what was double the size of a mammoth?
“Angel,” I vaguely remember hearing Araminta ask, “What have you done to Jason?”
“I sedated him. He was freaking out and I didn’t really know what else to do,” Angel replied.
“You sedated the Master of Darkness! That’s hilarious! Aww he’s smiling, he looks tipsy!” Fern laughed.
“This isn’t the time to be laughing Fern,” Clover snapped, “Paris is a terrorist!”
“I knew there was a reason I never liked him!”
“Fern! Mr Jet got onto the base. This isn’t the time for you to be acting like a...”
“Why didn’t you tell us!?” Roxy interrupted, “About Mr Jet, about Paris!?”
“I’ve only just found out about Paris,” Angel explained, “And the attack on the base was classified.”
“Of course, it’s always classified,” Clover muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means we’re always kept in the dark. We never get told anything! The Colonel expects us to fight and die for him, but he never tells us what’s going on!”
For some reason I found Clover’s outburst amusing, so I started to giggle. The squad turned to stare at me, but I didn’t mind, I was happily sedated. Their annoyed gazes were highly entertaining or at least I thought so at the time. I then began to talk about how watermelons and cabbages were planning to take over the world and that we needed to pray to the holy cheesecake for protection. I laughed and continued to talk absentmindedly, until Angel slapped the back of my head and I fell into a disgruntled silence.
“I know this is a big shock, but I need you all to pull together,” Angel said softly, “Things are going to start getting a lot harder for us. The fact that Paris was in our squad means that all eyes will be on us. We need to show them that Paris hasn’t broken or converted us. I expect that we will all get called into questioning at some point.”
“Questioning? Why?” asked Willow.
“To make sure none of us are working with him.”
“Captain Night,” the Colonel suddenly appeared behind me. I jumped, falling off the bench and landing heavily on the ground, at the sound of his voice. Fern laughed at me, which I thought was rather rude.
“Yes sir,” it was hard to hear Angel over my nonsensical rant about how Fern was rude and if she wasn’t careful a giant carrot called Steve (not sure why the carrot was called Steve, not the most carroty name I could have come up with) was going to eat her.
“I thought I told you to take Surf to the cells.”
“Yes sir, I’ll get right on that sir.”
“Good,” the Colonel then added, “And stop sedating the Master of Darkness, it’s embarrassing.”
“Yes sir,” Angel bowed her head in apology as the Colonel walked away. She stared daggers in my direction before turning to the rest of the squad, “Go back to the house and rest. Alexander, make sure they do that. Danny, I want you to go to the hospital wing and guard Sophie.”
/>
“Guard Sophie? What happened to Sophie?” asked Roger.
“Alex will explain when you get to the house. Jason, you come with me.”
“Me? Why?” I asked stumbling to my feet.
“So I can keep an eye on you!”
Interlude
Hidden by a forcefield, in the middle of a dark and dangerous wood, stood an old manor house. The house had a regal look, with grey stone walls and a large well-kept garden decorating the front. Gargoyles sat on the rooftop, scaring pigeons and unwelcome sparrows with their grotesque faces. Inside the manor house was dark and gothic. Its furniture belonged in centuries past and candles were the only source of light. In a large old-fashioned living room (decorated with leather chairs, a piano, and a large crackling fire) a record player was playing classical music. The room was covered in high bookcases and on the only remaining wall sat a large portrait. In one of the brown armchairs sat a vampire. The vampire was sipping human blood from a wine glass. Having been bottled two-hundred years previous, the blood had become rich and succulent. Just as the music was reaching its crescendo, someone knocked on the door.
Mr Jet sighed, “Enter.”
The door opened and an old thin man entered. He had a hunchback and wispy white hair. His skin was wrinkled and his grey eyes fading. He walked over to Mr Jet and bowed his head.
“What is it Jeeves?” Mr Jet asked.
“Well Master Jet sir, there was a call for you on the telephone,” Jeeves, the vampire butler, stuttered.
“Who was it?”
“The Miss from the base.” Mr Jet flicked his wrist and the record player paused. The vampire beckoned his butler closer and gestured for him to continue.
