by Darby Cupid
The anger hasn’t reached her yet, but it will. The tingling need for revenge already burns white hot in my heart. Crystal begins to shake, and I pull her to me, holding her firmly against my chest. She’s not alone and neither am I. The realisation makes me hold her tighter and she relaxes into me.
We’re in the same position: stranded on an alien planet with parents murdered by the same evil bastard.
“Wait!” I drop my arms and take her hands as another realisation takes hold. “The King and Queen are dead?”
Her shoulders droop at my words, but I step back a little and lift her face, my eyes fixed on hers.
“You’re the queen!”
Before she can respond, I bow and raise my hand, fingers splayed in the Starlatten salute.
“Your Majesty.”
The look of mortification on her face is almost hilarious. Her cheeks flame and she reaches up, trying to pull my arm down. “What are you doing? Stop it!”
I look down at her and grin, my green eyes teasing for a moment before seriousness settles over me once more. “We need to get you home. We need to tell the people of Starlatten they still have a leader.”
“I have no way of contacting anyone,” she explains. “Cadicus destroyed my pod and there’s no way my amulet is strong enough.”
I reach for my own amulet, holding it up between thumb and forefinger. “What about two of them?”
My memories are getting clearer by the minute. It’s as if a fog is lifting. Even though my mind keeps replaying the image of my mother’s crumpling body like a gif, I’m beginning to remember other things. Happy memories of my childhood in Galeania. Happy memories of Crystal.
I’d been so annoyed with my parents when they told me the royal family was joining us for the summer. I didn’t care that the princess was a similar age. I had my own friends and hanging out with some spoilt royal brat was not in my plans.
Then she’d arrived, looking as miserable about the situation as I was. It had taken a couple of days, but then we’d started talking, realising we had more in common than we could have known. We practiced tricks with our amulets that we weren’t allowed to do, chased greyare beasts, lay in prasalia-laced fields and watched the clouds cross the moons. It had been a pretty perfect summer. Until it wasn’t.
“What are you smiling about?”
I blink, realising that Crystal is watching me. My grin widens. “Just remembering our summer in Galeania.”
Crystal smiles back, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I make a silent pledge to bring joy to those eyes.
“Are you ready?” I ask. We’re sat cross-legged, our knees touching, on the cold floor of what I now realise is a storage unit. Quick introductions have been made and although Eddie is clearly not in a hurry to drop his guard, things are becoming a little more normal. If that’s even possible.
I’ve never tried to send a signal using my amulet before, but I remember my parents teaching me how to do it in case of an emergency as a kid. I just hope it works.
“Do you think it will work?” Crystal asks, echoing my thoughts.
I shrug. “We can only try. I still can’t believe your parents didn’t teach you how to do it.”
“I suppose as I always had Dyja around me, they didn’t think the situation where I needed to would ever arise.”
“What are Dyja?” Jordan calls out from nearby. “Sorry… Just curious.”
Crystal turns to explain, a warm smile on her lips. “Dyja are guards. They protect our planet. They’re extremely tall and they wear dark red, hooded robes.”
“Right,” I say, reaching out and taking her hands. “Are you ready?”
She nods and my heart pounds with excitement. I might be going home.
“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “We’re going to focus all our energy on our amulets,” I explain for my own benefit as much as anyone else’s. “When we’ve pooled as much energy as we can, we’re going to push that energy straight up into the atmosphere and hopefully, into space.”
“Wow,” Sera exhales. “Sounds like a long shot.”
“Literally,” Linda giggles.
I raise an eyebrow at them. “It’s the only shot we’ve got.”
“No pressure then,” Crystal squeezes my hands. “Let’s do it.”
As I close my eyes, I realise I haven’t used my amulet since I was a kid. What if I can’t remember how? What if this all falls apart because I’ve been here for so long without it? I’m about to open my eyes and voice my concerns when I feel it. A warmth on my chest. The heat builds against my skin to the verge of being uncomfortable, but it never hurts. Green light seeps from the centre of the stone down my arms and into my fingertips, tickling and crackling like static electricity.
Suddenly, a rush of deep purple light bursts in through my fingertips, intertwining with the green. Our combined energy seeps in and out between our fingers, pushing, pulling and connecting us. My breath catches at how intimate it feels.
Even with my eyes firmly closed, I can sense the swirling tower of purple and green energy building between us like a small tornado. It stretches and twists like it’s alive, reaching up above us. I fight the urge to open my eyes to see if it’s really there. My body buzzes with light and energy, euphoric and exhausting at the same time.
I’m just wondering how I’ll know when I’m ‘full’, when a jolt knocks the breath from my lungs. It’s as though a piece of elastic between the amulet and the swirling tower has snapped. As the last few droplets of power race down my arms and fingers, a burst of energy shoots purple and green light into the air and out of sight.
I’m thrown backwards as if by an explosion and I try to hold on to Crystal’s fingers, but the force is too strong. Instead, I watch in slow motion as she’s thrown into the air in the opposite direction, landing a few meters away. I reach out, but as I hit the ground with force, exhaustion overpowers me, and my eyes close.
It’s dark. Too dark. Too quiet. I open my eyes. Still dark. My heart begins to pound. Why can’t I see? Dread gnaws at my insides. I rub my eyes and try to open them. Black. Has the amulet made me blind? Why can’t I hear anything? I scream for help, throwing my arms out around me. My fingers find nothing. I hear nothing. My voice dissolves into the nothingness.
Hot tears burn my eyes. I finally get my memories back and now what? I’m dead? Maybe this is it. Forever. The lack of senses smothers me with a fear unlike anything I’ve ever known, seeping into every bone.
Then, I see it. Far away, in the distance. A very small light. I squint, peering at it curiously. So, I’m not blind and possibly not alone. Maybe it’s Crystal? Maybe we’re both trapped in this weird dark world. I hope she’s not as scared as I am. I start running towards the light.
I stop. It’s not a light. It’s two lights. Two small orange lights. There’s a brief blissful second before I realise what I’m seeing. My blood runs cold and ice shoots up my spine, knocking the air from my lungs. They’re eyes. Amber eyes.
Panic exploding in my chest, I turn and sprint in the other direction. How has he found me? I’m not ready. In front of me, the darkness is thick and endless. Am I even moving? As if in answer, the eyes appear in front of me. I turn again, but there they are, again and again. They’re everywhere. They’re all around me. Amber eyes, glinting cruelly in the inky blackness.
“I see you,” an all too familiar voice hisses.
I shout, but my voice is nothingness.
“I’m coming for you.”
Something pulls me backwards. The eyes grow smaller and smaller. Then they’re gone.
I open my eyes, my body doused in cold sweat. “Crystal!”
Pushing myself up, it takes a second to find her. She’s sat on the floor on the other side of the container, a circle around her. Boxes and books are strewn across the container as if a small hurricane passed through.
She sees me awake and calls out. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I reassure her, “but—”
/> “Do you think it worked?” she continues, her eyes so full of hope. “It was a pretty powerful energy blast! Do you think anyone will sense our signal?”
Oh. Someone felt it all right. I struggle to find the right words. I’ve put everyone in danger. My stupid idea. I hold my head in my hands.
“What’s wrong?” She’s on her feet and by my side in seconds.
I shake my head. “I’m so sorry.”
“What?” she presses.
Finally, I force myself to look in her deep brown eyes. “Cadicus. He’s coming.”
Watching from the outskirts, I linger as the group prepares to leave. Jordan seems to have secured himself a role as Oakstone’s assistant, helping him pack his papers and laptop. Dylan is deep in conversation with Crystal and the others loiter nervously, going over the plan again and again.
“You okay?”
I look down to find Linda has materialised beside me. “Not really,” I say honestly.
“I suppose it’s all a bit crazy.”
“It’s beyond crazy,” I shake my head. “When you guys brought me here, I was a completely different person - but not - at the same time.”
Linda looks up at me, tilting her head. “What do you mean?”
“When you guys kidnapped me –” I pause, raising my eyebrows at Linda’s expression. “Oh, don’t give me that look. You know you did. When you kidnapped me, I thought I was an unwanted kid living with an abusive criminal uncle. Now, I know I’m not even from this planet and I might still have a father out there in the universe somewhere.”
“I guess that’s a bit of an adjustment.”
I snort at the understatement before nudging her gently with my arm. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“For coming back.” I look down at her, my face serious. “If you hadn’t come looking for me… If you hadn’t been brave enough to set up this meeting…”
She shrugs and looks away, trying and failing to seem nonchalant. “You’re welcome, I guess.”
“Right!” Dylan announces. “Let’s get out of here. Now.”
Oakstone unlocks the door to the storage unit and we pour out into the cool evening air. I blink in surprise at the dusk. I hadn’t realised how late it was.
“Eddie!” Linda calls out as we begin to hurry down the long repetitive corridor of identical storage units. “We need to call Mum!”
“I’ve already text her,” Eddie calls out without turning around.
My heart pounds with anxiety as we turn a corner. These guys don’t know how dangerous Cas really is. I’ve lived with the monster for the past seven years and if he finds us, it will all be over.
The yard of storage units is like a maze. Hundreds upon hundreds of grey metallic boxes all in rows, like some sort of futuristic ghost town.
When we reach a T-junction, we split. Crystal, Dylan, Oakstone and Eddie go left and the rest of us turn right. It had been decided that we split up in case we’re followed. We’ve arranged to meet at Oakstone’s aunt’s house on the outskirts of town. Jordan suggested that Cadicus won’t know Oakstone is working with us, so contacts of his are the safest. Plus, his aunt is apparently on a Caribbean cruise for the over 60s for the next fortnight.
As our feet crunch the gravel, I realise just how eerily quiet the yard is. Just the sound of our feet and breathing. Not another soul in sight. I glance over my shoulder to see Linda jogging along behind us and I attempt an encouraging smile. In front of me, Jordan lurches forward, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
I skid to a halt by his side as he rolls over gasping for breath. “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” he winces as Sera inspects him for damage. “I tripped.”
My eyes scan the ground and I see why Jordan fell. I motion for everyone to step back, my eyes darting from side to side.
“What’s going on?” Linda demands, tugging at my sleeve.
I point at the ground where Jordan fell, at the small, almost invisible wire stretched across the pathway. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
Pulling Jordan to his feet, my blood freezes in my veins. They’re here. They know where we are. It’s too late.
As if conjured by my thoughts alone, two large men dressed in bulky black jackets rush out from a gap between the units, hoods up and their faces covered with black bandanas.
Linda opens her mouth to scream, but a gloved hand covers her mouth, another arm wrapping around her waist and lifting her into the air. I watch frozen in horror as she kicks furiously against his grip. Another man grabs Sera in the same way and Jordan launches into action. The man lifts a knee and kicks Jordan so hard he’s knocked right off his feet, smashing into a nearby unit. He slides to the ground, his head forward.
I unfreeze. Suddenly, these masked men are both Cadicus. Rage pours through me and I leap forward, wrapping my hands around the throat of the man holding Linda. I squeeze, relieved at a chance to release some of my pent-up anger. Redness blurs the edges of my vision as the man chokes and gurgles, releasing Linda and trying to prise my fingers from his throat.
As the man grows limp, I realise Linda is shouting something. I blink, focusing on her tearstained face.
“Jaik! Please! They’ve got Sera!”
I immediately let go of the man and he falls to the floor. The other man has made it to the end of the row with Sera, now limp in his arms. I sprint after them, but it’s too late. They’re gone. I run down the path a little further and check down a few rows and then back the other way and try again. It’s as if they’ve vanished into thin air. I run my hands over my face and trudge back to Linda and Jordan, my heart in my shoes.
“Jordan?” Linda shakes his shoulders. “Please be alive.”
He groans and rolls his head back. I realise I’ve been holding my breath.
“Where’s Sera?” Linda looks up at me and then behind me as if expecting her friend to step out from the shadows.
I shake my head. “I’m so sorry. They’d disappeared by the time I got to them. I’ve looked, but there’s no sign of them.”
Linda bursts into sobs and my hands ball into fists. “We’re going to get her back,” I say through gritted teeth. “I promise.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Dylan
“It has to be him, right?”
I pause in the massaging of my temples to look at Jordan. He’s standing, arms widespread as he addresses the group. His eyes are wide, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this scared. I don’t have answers for him.
“It was him.”
Jaik has been brooding in a corner since we arrived at Oakstone’s aunt’s house. We’ve gathered in the living room with the flowered curtains drawn and just one small white candle for light, in an attempt to minimise attention drawn to the house. Linda relayed most of what happened through breathless sobs, but now, she sits in silence, knees to her chest and her face blank. I think she might be in shock.
“Did you recognise the men?” Crystal asks.
“No, but what they were wearing and how they fought?” Jaik’s eyes are dark. “They were his men.”
Jordan flops down beside me. “We should have brought the one you took out back with us.”
“What? And lead Cadicus straight to us?” Jaik scoffs.
“We decided not to, and it can’t be undone,” Crystal says, her voice quiet but firm. “There’s little point arguing about it.”
I reach over and put a hand on her knee. What if it had been Crystal they’d taken? My pulse races at the thought.
“I think it’s time to get the police involved.”
Silence echoes around the shadowed room as everyone turns to look at Eddie.
“What?” he shrugs. “Sera’s been kidnapped. Kidnapped. God only knows what they’re doing to her right now.” He flinches and looks at Jordan. “Sorry, mate.”
Oakstone gives a small cough. He’s sat in an oversized high-backed armchair covered in dark green leaves. They look almost ghoulish
in the flickering candlelight. “I think Eddie’s got a point. This has all got out of hand. We’re dealing with an established criminal gang and perhaps the best thing to do is to get more people involved.”
I sense Crystal’s eyes on me, seeking my reaction. What would be the downside of getting the police involved? Well, we wouldn’t be able to tell them everything for a start, but what Oakstone said is true. We are in way over our heads. I glance around. We look lost. Lost and weary. My mind is dull and heavy. I can’t think clearly at all. It’s been a million years since I last slept and my eyes are raw. If I think about too much, I reckon I could cry.
“Are you okay?”
I look down at Crystal’s face, full of concern and force a smile. “I’ll be okay when we get Sera back.”
She returns my bravado with a smile of her own. She looks exhausted too. Perhaps it’s the shadows from the candlelight, but dark circles are appearing around her eyes and her light brown skin seems dry and pale. The last couple of days is taking its toll on us all.
“You should get some rest,” I whisper, pulling her towards me as I lean back on the sofa. Stroking her hair, she yawns against my chest.
Oakstone stands decisively and relief washes over me. I honestly just want someone to tell me what to do.
“Right. Here’s what’s happening,” he says. “Three people try and get some sleep and the rest of us will keep watch and try to come up with a plan. We’ll swap after an hour or so and gradually we’ll refresh our minds and bodies.”
Crystal mumbles something in protest, but it’s unintelligible. Within seconds, her breathing has become deep and steady.
“I’ll take the first shift,” Oakstone volunteers. “I need a lot less sleep than you young ‘uns anyway.”
Jordan fidgets beside me. “I’ll take the first shift too. I don’t think I could sleep anyway.”
I glance between Linda and Jaik. Linda is still sitting, staring into nothing, her face pale. “I think you should try and get some rest Linda. Crystal is already out for the count.”
