‘I know, he has armies of shadow salamanders and all Fire Elementals and other …’ she shuddered and closed her eyes ‘creatures are under his control. I know who he is.’
‘Why do you want to come?’ Jack asked again, the most immediate question.
‘I just do. And Aloysius has agreed that I should go,’ she said, which wasn’t really an answer.
‘Why would Aloysius have agreed that you should come and not tell any of us?’ Jack asked.
‘But he did tell someone,’ Esther said, her eyes widening. Jack blinked in surprise.
‘Who? Who did he tell?’ Jack said but as he spoke Esther let out a gasp.
‘Gordy,’ Esther whispered looking over Jack’s shoulder. Jack automatically turned to look. Gordy was standing in the doorway.
‘Y-You can’t deny it,’ Esther said shakily, her familiar stammer back, her eyes darting from Jack to Gordy and back again.
‘I’m not going to,’ Gordy said in a low voice. His face was chalk white and his eyes were blazing green fire.
‘You knew she was coming?’ Jack asked. Gordy ignored him.
‘I’ve got my things packed,’ Esther said in a slightly steadier voice.
‘Fine. Meet us in Aloysius’ office in five minutes. Jack,’ Gordy said and gestured Jack from the room. He could feel Gordy’s eyes like brands on the back of his neck as he walked through the door from the dim meeting room and back into the even darker corridor.
‘So why didn’t you tell me?’ Jack asked as Gordy followed him from the room. Gordy ignored him again.
Jack heard the Keeper stand and follow them as they walked down the hall towards the central atrium where the large clock had just begun to strike midnight.
Gordy stayed grimly silent. Suddenly a scream echoed down the hallway. Jack’s eyes widened. Even raised in a cry he recognised the voice.
‘Cali!’ he shouted. Jack and Gordy broke into a run and although Gordy was smaller than Jack by far he still reached the central atrium ahead of Jack.
‘Stay there,’ Gordy shouted at Jack over his shoulder as he sprinted forward.
Jack, running on autopilot, stopped and looked around hurriedly. Almost immediately he saw Cali, directly under the large, glass clock struggling with a dark figure. Gordy had not stopped moving but Jack was frozen to the spot - everything had become slow and dreamy. He could feel his breath gathering sluggishly in his chest.
The stranger had a hold of Cali’s bag and was roughly dragging it from her shoulder. Cali let out another cry as the stranger struck her face and Jack saw her head snap back, but Cali did not let go of the bag.
‘Let go!’ a deep voice snarled. Jack could see Cali’s hands scrunched in the fabric, could hear her nails skidding over the waterproof sides.
‘Cali!’ Jack shouted and she turned at the sound of his voice. Her face went white.
‘No!’ Cali said when she saw Jack. The stranger used the distraction to strike a harder blow, this time to the back of her head. Jack heard a sickening crack and watched in horror as Cali crumpled to the floor. Gordy still had not covered half the distance before the stranger managed to wrench the bag from her shoulder.
The stranger turned to look at Jack, who could see nothing of the strangers face except for the flickering orange orbs of his eyes, and pointed, as if marking him. Then with a snarl of triumph the figure took off with the bag through the front doors, which were wide open, and disappeared into the night.
Gordy sprinted after him but by the time he got there the only things moving were the gently waving branches of the surrounding trees.
Time began to move properly again, and so did Jack. He finally reached Cali who lay slumped and silent on the floor and gently lifted her head.
‘Cali? Cali? It’s me Jack,’ he said, choking. There was blood on her cheek and her left eye was swollen. She didn’t answer.
Gordy appeared by Jack’s side.
‘Is she OK?’ Gordy asked, gruffly.
‘I don’t know,’ Jack said, choking again, trying to disguise it with a cough. Then he felt her stir against him and her eyes flickered slowly open.
‘Cali?’ Jack asked and for the moment that she didn’t answer he was sitting back on the staircase in Steele Manor the night of the party, watching all the people rushing by: seeking but never finding.
‘’m OK,’ she said unsteadily. Jack lifted her into a fierce hug.
The night guards, crumpled up on either side of the door like discarded napkins, began to stir as people came thundering into the central atrium drawn by the commotion. Midnight finished striking on the huge clock; Jack couldn’t believe everything that had happened since he had heard Cali scream had taken less than a minute.
‘So much for a quiet exit,’ Gordy said as he felt along Cali’s scalp. Jack looked up at the gathering audience and back at Gordy.
‘Well? Is she alright?’ Jack asked urgently.
Cali hissed as his fingers brushed the golf ball sized lump on the back of her head and then carried on.
‘It’s OK,’ Gordy pronounced.
Jack, ignoring the crowds, helped Cali to her feet.
‘Can you walk?’ Jack asked her gently. Cali nodded, smiling weakly at him. With Cali leaning against his shoulder and Gordy on her other side, the three of them walked towards Aloysius’ office. The gnomes who had been awakened by the noise watched in almost total silence.
‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ Jack asked quietly as they walked. She was white and he could feel her shaking.
‘Fine,’ she said quietly.
‘Where’s Brayden? He was supposed to stay with you,’ Gordy said, trotting beside them, glaring at the gnomes they passed.
‘He left something behind. He had to go back for it. He should be back soon,’ Cali said. She sounded like she was speaking on autopilot.
‘He’d better be, Esther too, otherwise it’ll just be the three of us,’ Gordy said grimly as he looked over his shoulder at the huddles of gnomes now whispering amongst themselves.
They hurried across the atrium and Jack felt a wave of relief as they entered the corridor that led to Aloysius’ office.
‘Who was that man, the one that attacked Cali?’ Jack asked Gordy, keeping his voice level. He was so angry he was surprised he could speak, but he wanted answers. Gordy shook his head.
‘I don’t know Jack, there are so many Fire Elementals now –…’ Gordy stopped, as if he had said too much.
‘What do you mean?’ Jack asked. Gordy didn’t answer straight away, but when he looked up and saw Cali leaning against Jack he weakened.
‘I don’t know how, but there are probably more Fire Elementals than the other Elements put together,’ Gordy said slowly.
‘And?’ Jack asked, knowing there was more.
‘There should be an equal balance. That’s why the Metal Element became so weak, there wasn’t enough of a balance.’
‘How? How can it be?’ Jack asked. Gordy looked tired and there was a deep sadness in him that Jack had not noticed before. It made him think of Aloysius.
‘We don’t know. Aloysius suspects that the Black Prince has a hand in it, although I really don’t see how that could be possible,’ Gordy said, but Jack could hear the doubt in Gordy’s voice and so could Gordy.
‘Have you…’ Jack began, before Gordy cut him off.
‘I see Brayden,’ he said and hurried ahead, though Jack could see no one. Cali couldn’t move any faster so Jack, frustrated, had to let Gordy go.
By the time they got to the office Esther, Brayden and Gordy were all there. Brayden was pale and shaking like a leaf. Esther stood quiet and blank faced.
‘What happened?’ Brayden asked urgently as they approached.
‘Someone was expecting us,’ Gordy said. He had clearly waited for Jack and Cali to arrive before telling the others about the stranger.
‘Who?’ Brayden asked, his eyes rounded.
‘We don’t know,’ Gordy said, looking at Esther with deep suspic
ion.
‘They stole my bag from Cali,’ Jack said.
‘Your bag,’ Brayden said and now he was even paler and Jack could see a glistening sheen on his face.
‘Are you alright?’ Jack asked.
‘He has your bag,’ Brayden said faintly.
‘Yeah. What’s so important about my bag?’ Jack asked, confused.
‘You were carrying the Amulet,’ Gordy said heavily ‘the Fire Elementals have everything they need.’
‘But, well, the Amulet wasn’t in my bag,’ Jack said slowly. Gordy and Brayden both looked stunned.
‘Where is it then?’ Brayden whispered. Jack reached into his shirt and brought the Amulet out. It glowed in the dim light. Brayden’s face froze.
‘You took it out?’ he said.
‘Yeah, listen, I’m sorry. I probably should have listened to you…’ Jack said, knowing how it would look to Brayden. Brayden shook his head.
‘No, you were right,’ he whispered, his eyes fixed on the Amulet.
‘Excellent Jack, excellent,’ Gordy said.
‘It turned out better this way, didn’t it?’ Jack said. He felt terrible; like he had tricked Brayden into thinking he had a say in the Amulet’s safety.
Gordy was rejuvenated by the news that they still had the Amulet. His eyes flared and Jack watched his jaw set, determination in every line – the sadness was gone. He shrugged his bag from his shoulder and passed it to Jack.
‘You might as well hold this while I open the portal,’ Gordy said. Jack nodded, taking it from Gordy while still supporting Cali’s weight.
‘Where’s Cali’s bag?’ Jack asked. Brayden lifted it from next to his feet. Cali made a feeble attempt to take it but Jack was too quick and he took her bag too.
‘We have to be quick,’ Gordy said ‘there were a lot of people out there and most of them don’t know what we’re doing.’
‘Are you joking?’ Jack asked incredulously looking at Esther, then back at Gordy.
‘We need it to be as secret as possible,’ Gordy said glowering at Jack.
‘Does it really matter now?’ Jack asked.
‘More than ever. They’ll try to stop us if they can,’ Gordy said.
‘Why would they do that?’ Jack asked as the others shouldered their bags.
‘Lots of reasons, mainly because they don’t want to give the Fire Elementals a reason to attack Five Oakes,’ Gordy turned to them and smiled fiercely.
‘But… we’re helping them,’ Cali said numbly.
‘Most of them think people like myself and Aloysius are scare mongering,’ Gordy said, his eyes flashing.
Gordy walked to the back of the room and muttered under his breath, his hands moving slowly around the bookcase.
‘What’s that?’ asked Cali, who had been very quiet since the attack.
‘What?’ Jack said. He had been inspecting the desk again - still no drawers.
‘That noise… It sounds like thunder…’ Cali said.
‘I don’t know,’ Jack said. He walked over to the door and opened it a crack. His eyes widened in shock.
‘Jack,’ Cali said, she was still dull and confused after the attack and didn’t immediately understand the look on his face as he turned to Gordy.
‘Gordy! You’d better hurry up!’ Jack said urgently
‘Why?’ Gordy asked.
‘Because are a lot of gnomes heading this way who look like they mean business,’ Jack said closing the door.
‘The Keeper,’ Cali said.
‘Show yourself please,’ Jack said to the Keeper. The Keeper materialised from thin air. She stood next to the doorway as Gordy continued his muttering.
‘Isn’t there some kind of lock?’ Jack asked, although he knew that the door’s smooth, glassy finish had no blemish except the handle.
Cali walked over unsteadily to where Gordy stood, said a couple of words and the portal materialised. Gordy looked at her, shocked.
‘What?’ she asked. Gordy didn’t reply, just grabbed his bag from Jack and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
‘Jack, get away from the door. The only person who can lock it is the Head of Council,’ Gordy barked. Jack hastily backed away from the door, watching as it began to swing open.
‘Brayden, you and Esther first, then you Cali. Jack, get the Keeper away from that door!’ Gordy said, his words rattling out at breakneck speed. Jack gestured the Keeper to him just as the door opened to its fullest extent. The entire hallway, all that Jack could see, was filled with gnomes, angry gnomes, their eyes flashed green fire at Jack. They didn’t enter the office, not yet. Jack could see their fear of the Keeper was holding them back.
‘Gordy,’ the gnome leading the mob spoke, although his eyes never left Jack’s face.
‘Jack, you go through with Cali. The Keeper will follow you. I’ll bring up the rear. Do it now!’
‘Gordy, you can’t help them,’ the gnome said, his voice almost as gruff as Gordy’s. Jack realised with a start that the gnome was Head of Security.
‘Yes, I know what it means Win and you know that we should be helping the boy, not trying to stop him,’ Gordy said.
‘We must prevent War!’ Win said though his eyes dropped to the floor.
‘Jack, go,’ Gordy said, his eyes not leaving Win’s face.
‘Don’t do it boy,’ the gnome spoke directly to Jack.
Jack watched from the corner of his eye as Brayden and Esther walked through the doorway quickly. A murmur ran through the gathered crowd and Jack could feel a surge forward. A few of the gnomes were now inside the office, but Win held them back, waiting to see what Jack would do.
‘I have to,’ Jack said. Everyone in the room and the corridor fell silent. The outcome of this would determine the future of both their worlds.
‘It is genocide if we let you leave boy,’ Win said and Jack could hear regret in his voice and sadness and struggle. Jack could see the gnome edging further forward, could see that more had entered the office and were, even now, beginning to line the walls.
No one spoke for a long moment. Jack knew he had to leave but he also had to pick the time to move carefully. The gnomes were poised, on a knife-edge. Jack swallowed – his mouth had become dry very suddenly - and glanced sideways at Cali.
She still looked white and frightened and her swollen eye, now purple, made her look more fragile than he had ever seen her. He reached over to take her hand.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, holding the gnome’s eyes as he backed towards the portal, holding Cali’s hand tighter.
Silence stretched.
Jack felt the rebellion before he heard or saw anything.
‘Wait!’ he heard Win call – perhaps having a change of heart, or maybe he just wanted to rally the troops either way it was too late. As one the crowd surged forward, burying Win beneath its rising fury. Watching, shocked, Jack saw the rage was alive, leaping from gnome to gnome, turning them into a faceless mob. He watched as Gordy, standing forthright and furious, was buried under a tide of hostile fury.
The Keeper did not hold any fear for the Earth Elementals over the threat of War and the gnomes, driven like beasts, continued to pour in through the door until the room was completely full and still more were trying to get in. Despite the countless gnomes and despite knowing that there was no way he would be able to get Gordy and get through the portal without being caught, Jack could not leave him behind.
‘Keep going!’ he said to Cali, pushing her through the portal. Jack paused for a moment as he watched her stumble to the other side, making sure that she was safely with Esther and Brayden. Then instead of following her, Jack turned away from the portal and ran back into the room, barging through the gnomes, brushing away their grasping, vicious fingers, ignoring their curses and their hate filled eyes trying to reach Gordy. The gnomes were strong, but Jack still got half way across the room before he was forced to stop and watch helplessly as Gordy disappeared completely.
‘Jack!’ Cali shouted from the po
rtal opening. Jack turned and saw that she was struggling against Brayden and Esther, trying to get back through the portal. They had only managed to hold on for so long because Cali was injured; it was only a matter of time before she broke free. Jack had to make a choice – keep going after Gordy, or go through the portal and keep Cali safe.
At the moment he was trapped, the gnomes holding him were determined. Jack thought he could break free but he would not have time for indecision. Which would it be – Gordy or Cali?
‘Cali, stay there,’ Jack shouted but Cali only struggled harder against Esther and Brayden. She managed to break free of Brayden and moved towards the portal, dragging Esther behind her. Brayden leapt forward and grabbed for her arm again but she tugged away from him easily.
Jack watched helplessly as she drew closer.
‘No!’ Jack shouted, but she could not hear him over the voices of the gnomes and besides, she would not have listened to him.
Jack had to think fast but before he could do anything the room was filled with flying gnomes. The ones holding him were thrown to the other side of the room and Jack, not knowing what was happening and not caring, began to move forward. This was his chance to reach Gordy.
Before he got more than a couple of steps, Jack felt someone grab him by the collar and drag him away. He struggled frantically – he couldn’t be caught, he had to get Gordy. Whoever had hold of him was stronger than any of the Earth Elementals he had encountered so far, unbelievably strong because Jack could not dislodge the grip, no matter how hard he fought.
‘Let go of me,’ Jack said, trying to turn and see his captor but he was moving too fast. He tried to dig his heels in but it was no good on the slippery wooden floor. He reached out to grab the single leg of one of the chairs as he was dragged past but his hand, damp and clammy, would not grip.
He was being dragged out, out through the portal where Cali was standing still white faced and shaken but Jack didn’t know if it was from the attack in the central atrium or the shock of being ambushed by the Earth elementals.
Gordy’s head rose above the mob; his arms as he fought against them were distorted by speed. Inevitably one of the gnomes managed to strike Gordy down again. Seeing Jack escaping the Earth Elementals moved forward as one, they would reach the portal at any moment and take Jack back through it. Jack was being pulled further back from the opening. He struggled; he had to go back and help Gordy. Then Jack heard Gordy’s voice, he couldn’t hear what Gordy was saying and suddenly Gordy, the room, the portal disappeared from view and Jack was staring wild eyed into darkness.
Elemental: Steele Stolen: Part 1 and 2 Page 11
