“I’m sorry, my boy,” she said quietly, “sorry for not telling you sooner about my… our past earlier.” Henry smiled. “Not to worry, Mum,” trying to sound stronger and more mature than he felt. “You can tell me everything in the morning… just get a good night’s sleep.” With that, he kissed his mother on the cheek. She looked up at him and smiled. “It’s been a long time since you did that,” she said softly. “Too long.” Henry said, smiling back. “I’m full of surprises… and don’t worry about anything… I’m old enough to handle the truth… whatever it is… or how bad it is.” And with that, he gave her a cheeky wink. “Goodnight, my boy.” Henry smiled again. “Night, Mum.” He watched as she gently closed her bedroom door.
Henry had no intention of going to bed, having decided earlier that he was going to meet up with Bert and the dog once his mother had settled in for the night. He also had no intention of waiting until the morning for answers: if his mother couldn’t tell him, perhaps Bert could. Trying not to make too much noise, he went to his room and dressed ready to go out the moment he was sure his mother was asleep. Now sitting on the edge of the bed waiting impatiently to leave, fully dressed and wearing his old walking boots, a grey hoody and a short bomber jacket, it was still cold out but this time he was going to be well prepared for the weather. As he sat impatiently waiting, he wondered whether Ben and Bert could shine a little light on whatever it was that was going on and what they would have to say about how he fitted into all of it. He was still sat pondering on the edge of his bed, deep in thought when he heard a light tap on his bedroom door; a little surprised, he got up and crossed the room and opened the door a little, trying to conceal the fact that he was fully dressed by standing behind it and just his head poking round the door. He was about to ask his mother if she was alright but stopped in mid-sentence when he saw that she was also dressed. “Are you ready?” She smiled. “Ready for what?” Henry replied. “To meet up with Bert and Ben… What else?” She smiled again.
Hazel seemed to have completely regained her compose and was a lot more her old self, except for her puffy eyes. Henry stepped from his room, turned out the light and closed his door. “What on earth are you wearing?” he said, looking his mother up and down. He was surprised to see that she was dressed in a full length, green satin cloak that was fastened around her neck by a gold-coloured chain. In the centre was a medallion-shaped clasp which was embossed with a strange, two-legged dragon with a serpent-type body. Although it was approaching winter he was also surprised to see that she was wearing only a pair of open-toed leather sandals, again embossed with the same funny-looking dragon.
As if she knew what her son was thinking, she said, in a soft but determined tone, “This is what I really am, Henry… What I truly am.” She looked down at the medallion, noticing Henry staring at it. “It’s a Wyvern,” she said, “not a dragon which you… or many others may think.” Henry stood frozen to the spot, surprised to see his mother wearing such strange clothes… Nobody dressed like that anymore – well, not unless you were on a film set or in a book. He was also a little confused by the wording she kept using: “This is what I truly am.” Hazel placed her hand on Henry’s shoulder, suddenly breaking his thoughts. “Sorry, Mum… Wh… what did you say?” he said abruptly. “The dragon,” she said. “It’s a Wyvern… not a dragon.” She held the medallion between her fingers. “A symbol of my status and my role in the world… A privileged role that I’ve neglected for far too long… I see it now… trying to hide you from what we are was also wrong… But now all that must be put right… And all will be revealed to you tonight… So please bear with me until we reach the woodland.” She paused for a second as if she was measuring him up, smiled and then said, “Let’s be on our way, then.” Without waiting for a reply or a response from her son, she turned and headed towards the stairs.
Henry stared after her, watching as his mother glided along the landing. Her hair was no longer tied up as usual, but flowing freely over her shoulders and down her back. Seeing her hair down like this was another first for Henry and he could swear that it had changed colour: it was shimmering, just as before when she was arguing with Bert earlier that evening. “Come on, then,” she called back. Without a further thought he followed her down the stairs and out of the front door, closing it behind him.
Hazel waited for her son by the front gate and was staring down the road in the direction of the woodland. She looked back at him, smiled and then started off down the road. Neither of them said a word, even though there was plenty to talk about, especially after their meeting with Bert and the dog; but for now they were both happy in their own thoughts. Henry was still trying to make sense of his day. He had woken a normal teenager with normal issues, argued with his mother, met an odd man and a talking dog in the woods, been told that he and his mother weren’t what he had always believed they were, whatever that meant, and now he was off to a meeting in the middle of the night by an old tree that’s given a warning to the world. “Wow, what a day!” he thought.
As they walked silently down the dark, sleepy streets, lit only by the light from the houses that lined both sides of the street, Henry wondered what sort of day the occupiers might have had. Perhaps everyday things, like going to work, having an evening meal, a few drinks, TV and then bed, things most of us do day in, day out. But tonight… tonight, that wasn’t for him…Tonight he was off to face the unknown.
Although he was apprehensive, he was also excited. He couldn’t say why, or even put his finger on it, but he knew somehow his life was going to change tonight and it would never be the same again. His mother surprised him even more than she had already when she picked up her pace. She was almost gliding across the ground. At times he had to run a few steps or more to catch up with her. He knew that he wasn’t as fit as he should be at his age, but surely he wasn’t so unfit that he was finding it difficult keeping up with his own mother.
Once they reached the edge of the woodland Hazel slowed to a normal walking pace which Henry was grateful for: already he was out of breath and puffing like an old train, and that was before they even reached the woodland. His mother stopped by the gate that led into woodland and stared into the darkness beyond, studying it as if she was looking for someone or something out in the shadows. Henry watched intensely as she studied the darkness and thought that it couldn’t be possible for anyone to be able to see anything in such darkness. However, after today’s events he thought anything could be possible.
Henry was about to speak when his mother raised her hand to silence him. Again he found he couldn’t say a word even if he wanted to. His mother looked over to him and whispered, “Sorry… I’ve done it again,” then put her finger against her lips in a gesture to be quiet. Without another word she opened the gate, paused a second and then, without hesitation, headed off into the darkness of the woodland with her son in tow. It didn’t take long before Henry noticed that something wasn’t right… It was too quiet to start with, and then he felt a strange sensation on his face: it felt as though a soft feather was gently caressing his cheek, having a calming, almost tranquil feel about it, slowly turning into a soft, warm breeze, but not like any breeze he’d known. This breeze came from all directions at once, a gentle, caressing breeze which slowly got stronger with each passing second. The mere feel of it made Henry light-headed, giving him a gentle warmth… deep down inside him. Henry took a deep breath, enjoying its sweet scent and the entire sensation that it gave him.
He looked ahead to say something to his mother only to find himself speechless by the picture he saw before him. Walking just a few yards ahead of him, she was fully encased in a soft green aura, her hair alive with dancing images of flames, and as he looked from side to side he could see that the soft branches on the trees and shrubs on either side of the lane were reaching out to her… As if bowing in respect or trying to reach out to touch her, the whole woodland seemed happy to have her back, “welcoming her home”, he thought. Owls flew overhead, even woodlan
d creatures of all sizes came out of hiding just to greet her, foxes, mice and all manner of small mammals, predator alongside prey.
Suddenly from out of the darkness flew a huge, grey owl. It dived towards them and then glided so low over Henry’s head that it made him duck. Narrowly avoiding Henry, the large bird headed directly towards his mother, and with one of her brightest smiles she reached out her arm in welcome. The owl stretched out its legs and talons and gently landed on her arm. Hazel waited for her bemused son to reach her, still with the large owl resting on her arm. “This is Breeze,” she said, introducing the bird, “an old and trusted friend of mine… I’ve missed him so… so much.” All the little creatures were by now flurrying around Hazel’s feet, making it difficult for Henry to get any closer to his mother. “Does that one speak, too?” he asked with a small amount of sarcasm in his voice. She smiled, looking at the bird. “No… he doesn’t speak… But we do have a way to communicate.” She looked back at Henry. “I think we should talk before we go any further,” his mother said softly. “It’s difficult for me to know where to start,” she continued, “but I feel I should explain a few things about Bert and Ben… before we meet with them.” She paused. “I’ll also try and tell you who we are… who we really are.”
“Bert and Ben are not what they seem at first,” she said without waiting for a reply from Henry. “They are elements of nature… and when I say elements, I mean it in the true meaning of the word…You must know from school that we are all the same… All living and non-living things in this world… we are made up of the same separate elements.” She paused again, this time trying to find an easy way to explain what she meant. “Elements that come not just from this earth… but from the cosmos itself… Carbon, water, iron and so on… All of which comes from the stars we see above us… Bert and our not so friendly dog Ben are not like us, they are free elements… They are all things… but yet nothing… During their creation they could choose what they wished to become… anything, dog, man, tree… and there is a reason why they are different to most… Being free elements of nature makes it easier for them to care for and communicate with the land and woodland around them.”
Hazel paused again for Henry to ask question, but instead he just nodded for her to continue. “However… when I say they can be anything,” she continued, “they cannot change their personality… they are who they are… just like you and me.” She noticed that Henry was now looking at the owl on her arm. “Oh… Breeze is just an owl… an old friend and companion… although, as I said, we do know each other’s mind and thoughts… Other than that, he’s just like all the other animals around us… and no… he can’t speak,” she said while looking affectionately at the bird perched on her arm.
She then lifted her arm so the owl was close to her face and smiled. Henry had never seen anyone affect animals this way before, let alone his own mother; she was so radiant… and her hair! Still rooted to the spot and without interrupting his mother, Henry allowed her to speak freely but was still bewildered and a little distracted by what he was witnessing.
His mother turned to face him and smiled again, happy to be back in her own element. “It may seem a little weird to you at the moment but I hope once you understand more, you may start to accept what we both are,” she said, looking him directly in the eye. “What about us…? Are we free elements as well… am I human or what?” Henry said with an air of concern in his voice.
Hazel took a few steps forward. The woodland creatures at her feet moved aside for her, but reassembled around them again once she had stopped. She placed her free hand on his cheek and smiled again. “No… unlike Bert and Ben we are not free elements but we are not truly human either.” She paused. “I was born out of nature… not as a human, but I was given life from all of the natural elements around us.” She paused again, allowing time for her son to take in what she was saying, but still wasn’t sure whether or not he was understanding any of it. Satisfied that he was listening, she continued. “My sister and I were given the form and bodies of humans… We can do all humans can do… including give birth,” she said, still holding Henry’s cheek in her hand.
“When you were born I decided to give up my life as a carer … hoping to live a life as a normal mother and try to give you the life you deserve… and up to now I had succeeded… but my selfishness has meant that many important things have been neglected…” She paused again, this time to take a breath. “And due to my selfishness, there’s now a real threat to this world and all living things in it… And if I continue neglecting my responsibilities, the entire world could eventually end up in darkness.” Hazel’s face darkened. “Nothing but death and destruction.” Henry was still finding it difficult believing what his mother was saying, but he had never known her to lie and he still had no idea where he fitted into all of this. Try as he might, he found it hard to comprehend anything his mother had just said. If he understood her correctly and his mother was not human… then what did that make him? He’d had more than enough for one day… but now… to be told that the end of the world may be just around the corner, well, that was a little too much to believe. But more worryingly, what on earth was she going to surprise him with next? Henry removed his mother’s hand from his face, taking a step. “Are you saying that I’m not human either?” he said, with more than a hint of fear in his voice. “Yes,” she replied softly, “that is exactly what I’m saying.”
“Yes!” Henry shouted back. “Just one word… yes… no justification or explanations… You can’t just stand there and say I’m not human and expect me to believe it… if… if I’m not human… and not a teenage boy… then what the hell am I?” Henry was now very close to the edge and was starting to rant. His mother raised her hand to calm him. “That’s it, shut me up again with some of your magic tricks!” Henry shouted as he took another step back. Hazel could see that her son was about to lose it completely, but it was imperative that she continued with her explanation. However, in this state he wouldn’t remember half of what she’d said. “No… I’m not going to use magic tricks… as you put it… but I do need you to calm down so that I can explain more… Our lives depend on it.”
Hazel waited until Henry was calmer before she continued. “I need… no, I want, to tell you of your father also.” With that, Henry raised his hand in gesture of frustration. “Oh great… now you decide to hit me with the big one,” he said, turning away in a mock gesture to walk away, then turning back to face his mother. “Well,” he said, staring at her directly in the face, “I’m waiting.” Unperturbed by her son’s outburst, Hazel continued calmly. “As I’ve already said… I’m not human… I’m a lady of nature,” she said quietly, “and like all ladies of nature… I have been given powers… great powers… powers that can influence others… I have powers and capability to accomplish great things… but I also have the ability to cause destruction… My powers can be devastatingly dangerous… I can generate life but… I can also take life… with a mere gesture of my hand.” After a short pause, allowing Henry to soak in the importance of her statement, she said, “And so, my boy… do you.”
CHAPTER TWO
After his unpleasant encounter with Bert and the dog, Walt decided to report straight back to his lady Sophia. However, he wasn’t looking forward it: he would now have to tell her that Bert showed no intention to conform to her request… but may visit her in his own good time, something he knew she wouldn’t want to hear. She was used to having her own way, and a lady of her stature and immense power was not used to be made waiting, especially by someone she saw an inferior to her. Walt had decided it would be more prudent (or safer) not to take the main path through the woodland. He was in no fit state to meet up with anyone else tonight. Instead he took a longer route around the edge of the woodland to the Nappers Wood and from there took the shortest route through the centre of the woods to where Sophia lived. He lumbered lazily along, stopping often to mop the sweat from his head and neck, all the while trying to think of th
e best way to break the news to Sophia.
Walt had been walking for the best part of two hours and was only fifteen minutes or so from where Sophia lived when suddenly he came to an abrupt stop. Something didn’t feel right: the woodland around him had gone deathly quiet. No owl calls, nothing, not even the buzzing of insects. Being a coward and always allowing his imagination to run away with him, Walt froze, fearing that something dark and sinister might be near. Still holding onto his hanky, he stopped mopping but the sweat continued pouring off him even more as he tried to think of what to do next. Was it too late for him to hide? Should he stand still and hope not to be seen? Whichever way he decided, he would have to decide now. He even wondered whether he should try and make his way back home. But before he had time to make up his mind, a huge, shadowy figure appeared on the track about twenty yards or so ahead of him. If nothing else, Walt was a survivalist and without further thought decided that concealment was his best and only option.
So, as quietly and as quickly as he could, he made his way behind the nearest large tree, trying not to be heard, as well as trying to hold his breath, which for Walt wasn’t easy. The shadowy figure slowed almost to a stop, then hesitated a moment as it sensed Walt’s presence. Walt tried to melt into the tree he was standing behind and, finding it almost impossible not to breathe, sweating profusely as seconds seemed like a lifetime. But still he managed not to move: any movement now could mean his instant demise. The shadowy figure hesitated as if it was deciding what to do next, all the while moving a little closer to Walt. It then hesitated: it either didn’t know Walt was there, or more likely didn’t think he was important enough to bother with, so it slowly turned away and continued on its way deeper into the woodland. Walt finally exhaled, and when he did, condensation filled the air in front of him and for the first time he noticed that the air around him had become icy-cold with an awful smell of death and decay.
Between Darkness and the Light Page 5
