‘She won’t hurt you as long as you don’t try to hurt me,’ Jack said.
‘Thank you,’ Brayden said, hesitating for only a split second before climbing on the Keepers back.
‘You told the Black Prince where we were? How?’ Jack asked as Brayden settled himself down.
‘I wasn’t cleaning out my ration tins in fresh water. I was contacting him. With updates,’ Brayden said. He sounded so ashamed.
‘How did you really get away?’ Jack asked.
‘It was like I told you. I swear,’ Brayden said.
‘He didn’t let you go so you could find me?’ Jack asked.
‘I came here to warn you. I thought you’d turn back. Get help,’ Brayden said. Jack looked at him uncertainly. Brayden closed his eyes and Jack saw tears seeping from his eyes.
‘Let’s go,’ Jack said to the Keeper. He wasn’t sure what to think. Brayden had betrayed him, deceived all of them and now he wanted Jack to trust him. Why? What had changed?
As they left the snow chamber the wind immediately tore at Jacks face and he pulled his scarf up. He felt Brayden’s arms creep around his waist and, as the Keeper took off, they tightened until Jack felt like he was being cut in two.
If Jack had ever tried to imagine what it would be like to ride on the back of a Sphinx in a snowstorm, he wouldn’t have imagined this. Jack was clinging to the Keeper’s back, thinking that he would find it difficult to stay on, thinking her wings would unbalance him and the wind somehow blow him from her back.
To his surprise he found none of this was true. In fact, Jack was sure that if he let go he would stay firmly on the Keeper’s back – the wind didn’t affect her and her wings didn’t need to beat. She glided in the air. He felt as light as a feather, like he was sailing through the skies and the only thing anchoring him were Brayden’s arms.
Jack stretched his hands above his head, tightening his knees to the Keeper’s sides. As he did the sleeves of his coat pulled from his wrist and his friendship bracelet was exposed. Jack stared at it, tightly stretched on his wrist, caught on the tiny stretch of skin between his coat and glove. The Keeper was travelling quickly and the wind stung Jack’s eyes, but he didn’t blink or turn away. The colour of the bracelet, red and green and blue, white and black seemed to blend seamlessly with the pulsing swirling colours of the Southern lights, streaming through the sky. His stomach leapt, his heart was pounding. He was frightened, terrified but he was not a coward.
Jack lowered his arms and clung to the Keeper, feeling her silky fur wind around his fingers. When he ducked down and buried his face in her back, he could almost forget where he was and imagine that he was on a grand adventure, one that had a happy ending, where no one was hurt or scared. Amazingly, Jack begin to drift; it wasn’t long before he was fast asleep.
Jack woke as he felt Brayden’s arms loosen and slip away from him. He opened his eyes to find that they were at the top of Mount Terror. He slid from the Keepers back, aware that something was different but unsure what it was. He felt warm. It struck him that the Antarctic should not be warm, especially not during winter. He looked around and began to understand why. Aloysius was right – the Black Prince had woken the dormant volcano and now the summit of Mount Terror was not covered in snow, as it should be, but was dark and barren. There was an orange glow deep in the heart of the mountain and further down the sides Jack could see steam rising where the snow and heat met.
‘Why hasn’t anyone noticed? Why aren’t there scientists here?’ Jack asked, horror struck.
‘The Black Prince has disguised it,’ Brayden replied from behind Jack ‘no-one knows about it except those who have gone out of their way to look.’
‘Like Aloysius,’ Jack whispered.
‘Yes,’ Brayden said.
The Keeper had brought them to the top of a slope that Jack somehow knew led deep down into the heart of Mount Terror.
‘Well, this is it. You can stay here if you want Brayden, or find a way to get home. The Keeper and I are going on.’ Jack turned to follow the slope down and had taken several steps before Brayden stopped him.
‘Wait!’ he said. Jack looked at the young gnome. He looked desperate.
‘What?’ Jack asked.
‘There’s another way,’ Brayden said. Jack stopped and looked at Brayden, then the Keeper. She was no help.
‘Why would I want to take another way in?’ Jack asked slowly.
‘This way, well, he’ll be expecting you to arrive this way,’ Brayden said, green eyes begging Jack.
‘Why should I trust you?’ Jack asked, though he knew no matter what Brayden said he would have to make a choice based on his instincts. He could not trust Brayden again.
‘You have no reason to but I am telling the truth,’ Brayden said. He fell silent.
‘How do you know about this other way?’ Jack asked. Brayden must have been expecting the question but he hesitated before he answered.
‘I was told about it,’ Brayden said, avoiding Jack’s eye again.
‘Who told you?’ he asked.
‘An insider.’
‘Why?’
‘So I could fetch intelligence,’ Brayden replied, his voice choked. Jack looked away.
‘And you don’t think Auldred will expect us to use that way?’ Jack asked.
‘He might,’ Brayden conceded. It might be a trap but if it wasn’t Jack had a better chance of succeeding. If it was… well there had never been much hope. Jack didn’t trust Brayden, but they would go his way.
‘OK,’ Jack said‘this means you have to come with us, at least part of the way.’ Brayden nodded. ‘We’re going a different way,’ he said to the Keeper.
‘Where’s the entrance?’ Jack asked Brayden.
‘At the bottom,’ Brayden said. Jack looked at the Keeper, who inclined her head and walked to Jack, waiting for him and Brayden to climb back up.
It didn’t take long to reach the bottom of the volcano and by the time they got there, Jack was freezing again. The wind was shrieking around the bottom of the mountain, outlandish and ululating. Brayden turned and started struggling against the wind, hugging the side of the mountain. Soon Brayden stopped and turned. Jack sincerely hoped the entrance was not too far out – he didn’t think that they would last long exposed to the bitter cold and wind. They had been trudging through the snow for only five minutes before Brayden disappeared in front of Jack’s eyes. Jack looked around frantically for the gnome, thinking wildly that he had succeeded in leading Jack to his death. Then he saw Brayden’s head, disembodied in front of him. Jack raced forward, he didn’t know what he was planning to do and then suddenly the wind stopped. The cold too seemed to drop from a harsh, biting frost to an icy chill. Jack let all the air out of his lungs with a blast and turned to watch the Keeper pad through the crack in the ice behind him.
Chapter 14: Redemption
Jack stared around the cave in wonder. It had been carved by time or wind or water into a colossal ice grotto. The glow from the Southern Lights was bouncing off the ice in arcs - streaks of colour that created a spectacular light show. The walls were made of precious light gems - diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald - which were all the brighter because of the darkness all around. Jack peeled off his gloves and reached out to touch the wall with his fingertips. It was smooth and oddly dry. He stretched his hand out, laying the entire palm on the ice. Jack’s hand and upper arm were bejewelled; the friendship bracelet his sister had made blending in with the beautiful glow. He stood, touching the wall and staring at it for a few minutes until he began to feel the cold settling back into his limbs. He pulled his hand away and turned to look into the cave.
Jack couldn’t see the other end of the cavern. He didn’t know if this was because there was not enough light or because it was too far away.
‘We have to move,’ Brayden voice broke Jack’s musing.
‘Why?’ Jack asked.
‘There’s a reason that light only hits this wall,’ Brayden said, glancing around, straining
his eyes although he would not be able to see any more than Jack. Jack hurried behind Brayden.
They carried on through the cave following a sloping path made of ice which clung to the side of the cavern. There was no traction and the way was treacherous; Jack and Brayden both tripping and sliding although the Keeper had no difficulties. Suddenly Jack felt his foot slip against the side of the path, he tried desperately to regain his balance but too late he found himself tumbling off the path. He shouted and reached out with his gloved hands to grasp at the ice in an effort to slow down. His hand slithered helplessly against the smooth ice. Jack slid off the path, dangling down into the cavern. He dug his fingers into the jagged ice, gasping as the ice ripped his glove open. As the weight of his body dragged him down he heard a horrifying snap. With a yell Brayden grabbed his arms and tried to pull him up. Jack refused to let go of the path.
‘Please Jack,’ Brayden said, his arms shaking under the strain of taking almost all of Jack’s body weight.
Could he trust this gnome? He had lied to Jack from the beginning, Aloysius and Gordy too. His lying was so well crafted that no one had known, even suspected, that he would betray them. Should Jack trust him now?
Jack let go and Brayden dragged him to safety.
‘Thank you,’ he said. Brayden nodded. ‘Brayden, help me get the others back.’
‘You… think I can?’ Brayden asked his voice shaking.
‘It’s up to you. I know you want to. We can get your family back as well,’ Jack said.
‘Really?’ Jack nodded.
‘I won’t let anyone suffer for me. Not if I can help it.’ Brayden nodded, he looked as though speech was beyond him. His eyes were shiny and Jack looked away.
‘Yes, well, we’d best get going,’ he said. The rest of the trek was better. Jack still didn’t trust Brayden completely but he knew that he’d done the right thing choosing this way. Brayden, too, was happier now that he had been able to prove himself. Soon the cavern began to feel warmer. The walls of the grotto were more rock than ice. As they approached the bottom Jack was sure that an orange glow had started to push back the dark.
‘What is that?’ he asked Brayden.
‘Lava,’ Brayden said.
‘It’s creepy.’
‘It’s amazing how the Black Prince has managed to reactivate it,’ Brayden said, a dark respect in his voice.
‘He’s strong,’ Jack said.
‘Not just with Fire. He must have tricked the Earth somehow to make it remember when it was molten.’ Jack was about to ask how that was possible when he saw something that drove the thought from his mind.
He blinked and looked more closely at Brayden.
‘Brayden, what’s that on your chin?’ he asked.
‘What?’ Brayden asked defensively. He flushed a dark green that even the orange glow couldn’t disguise.
‘Your beard’s growing,’ Jack said.
‘No it’s not,’ Brayden said quickly, turning away from Jack, his hand protectively covering his face.
‘Yes it is. Who is it?’ Jack asked curiously. Brayden looked around, as if everyone he had ever known were about to jump out from behind the ice and rock.
‘…s….r,’ Brayden mumbled.
‘Pardon?’ Jack asked. Brayden sighed.
‘Esther,’ he said ‘go on and laugh then.’
‘I’m not going to laugh; why would I laugh?’ Jack asked. Brayden shrugged. ‘I think she likes you too,’ Jack said.
‘No way,’ Brayden said morosely. Jack couldn’t break Cali’s confidence and so fell back into brooding silence while he thought about the looming confrontation with Auldred.
Reaching the bottom was a bit of an anti-climax. They arrived in a circular cave – dry and warm - with three exits. Brayden could no longer help Jack. He only knew where the entrance was, he didn’t know where to go next. In the end they decided to rest and eat first, then they would choose. Brayden didn’t say anything, but Jack could see he was relieved that he had a chance to rest before he had to face anyone else. Jack got out the electric cooker and made a meal warmed some of the cured fish.
‘Would you like some?’ he asked the Keeper politely.
‘Would you like to hear my riddle?’ she asked. Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head. He and Brayden ate in silence. Jack finished first and sat for a while staring at the doors. There was nothing very special about any of them; they were simply openings in the rock each filled with flickering orange light; identical in size and shape.
Jack pulled his knees up to his chest and crossed his arms around them; the friendship bracelet crept out from under his coat, still wrapped tightly around his wrist. It made him think of the amazing cave wall and he smiled. His hand went to his neck and he grasped the Amulet. It felt silky and warm, comfortable. It was such a small thing. Jack took it from around his neck and bounced it from hand to hand, watching the orange glow flicker on its surfaces. He looked at Brayden from the corner of his eye. Brayden’s eyes were following the Amulets path, watching as Jack bounced it carelessly from hand to hand.
Jack looked back at the Amulet, now dangling it from his left hand, swinging backwards and forwards; almost sweeping the floor. All Jack had to do was give it willingly to the Black Prince. The world had survived so far; if the Fire Elementals established themselves as the true fourth element then maybe Nature could rebalance itself. Metal Elementals were so rare; it could hardly make that much difference.
Jack stared at the doors some more. They were not really identical, the differences were tiny and some differences could not be seen they had to be felt. Jack knew which one he had to take to find Sophie.
‘Let’s go,’ Jack said.
Jack walked through the arch on the left; it was darker than the one to the right and a strange draught emitted from it periodically. Jack shivered as the thought flashed through his mind - it’s as if the mountain’s breathing. He let out a strangled laugh.
‘Pardon?’ Brayden said.
‘Nothing.’
‘Jack?’ Brayden said. He hadn’t followed Jack into the tunnel. Jack closed his eyes for a moment, then turned round to face Brayden, who was squinting into the tunnel as if trying to see Jack more clearly.
‘You’re sure it’s this way?’ Brayden asked uncertainly, a puzzled look on his face; his green eyes flicked towards the other doors and back to Jack.
‘It’s as good as any,’ Jack replied, wondering if the gnome knew more than he was letting on.
‘That one seems lighter,’ Brayden said, pointing to the arch on the right, and looking to Jack for confirmation.
‘Yes, it does,’ Jack replied, his voice non-committal. Brayden held Jack’s eyes with his own.
‘Last time I was here…’ Brayden began, then stopped. Jack watched as Brayden’s skin darkened.
‘What happened?’ Jack asked. Brayden looked wary and he hesitated but only for a moment.
‘Nothing,’ the young gnome said. Jack could think of nothing to say to make Brayden feel better. He looked down at his feet so that he didn’t have to watch while Brayden rubbed his eyes.
‘Come on. Let’s go,’ Jack said awkwardly. Brayden reached out and took Jack’s arm before he could move back into the tunnel again.
‘Thanks,’ he whispered, his voice croaky ‘for giving me another chance.’ Jack nodded. Brayden dropped Jack’s arm and walked past him into the eerily breathing tunnel where the dimming orange light quickly swallowed him whole. The sight of Brayden vanishing gave Jack a sense of foreboding; the mountain had consumed the gnome.
‘Brayden, wait for us!’ Jack called running after the gnome into the darkness. The Keeper, as ever, padded silently alongside him. Brayden didn’t even break his stride; his determination grew the closer he got to the Black Prince.
The air was heavier, Jack felt like there was lead in his skin, and the heat sucked all the oxygen from the tunnel - every step was a struggle. Jack understood now what Cali had felt in the bubble-tunnel, the wall
s were closing in, the ceiling lowering, he could hardly breathe. Jack’s feet began to drag and his legs, arms, everything felt weighed down - heavy and awkward. He wouldn’t be able to go on for much longer - and now that he thought of it, what was the point? They weren’t going to be able to do anything except walk into Auldred’s arms. The Black Prince already had Sophie, Cali, everyone that Jack really cared about.
He began to slow down; he was walking so slowly that the Keeper walked into him.
‘Brayden…’ Jack said, his voice slow and slurred.
‘Not much further,’ Brayden said, and Jack could hear an awful cheeriness in his voice which, like Jack’s, was slow and slurred. Brayden hadn’t slowed down though and his voice faded as he moved further away. Jack could see his small silhouette backlit with the crawling orange light; the dread of the tunnel saturated him until he felt dirty and soiled. Just as Jack thought he was going to pass out, faint with terror, something clicked and he realised that he could see Brayden, actually see him.
The light, the bizarre, pulsing orange light reminded Jack of something but he could not put his finger on it. He had a nasty sinking feeling in his stomach and, though he had no idea where the image came from, he saw twirling black haired dancers, orange light and pain. Excruciating pain. This memory cast itself over the tunnel until they were one and the same, the silent dancers, the flickering light and the pain. Despite this, Jack forced himself to move, slowly at first but then faster, faster until he was racing towards the light, past Brayden, moving now as if on air as the light grew stronger, closer, brought Jack back to himself.
Jack shot out of the darkness. At first he could see nothing - after the endless night of the horrific tunnel, the light was blindingly bright and he had to blink several times before he could see anything at all - but even this was better than being in that awful labyrinthine passage.
He had emerged into the most enormous chamber he had ever seen. It was hot, overbearingly hot, but Jack no longer felt like he was suffocating, in fact now that he had space above and around him he found his will returning with a vengeance. He realised in a moment that the tunnel was not unguarded and though it’s protection was invisible it was effective.
Elemental: Steele Stolen: Part 1 and 2 Page 17
