Ariel's Charm

by Marnie Lester

Three weeks had passed since this purgatory began. One night when she was returning her half-eaten dinner plate to the servery, she suddenly tripped. The plate shattered at her feet and a piece of china drove itself into her palm as she tried to catch herself. Turning and looking up she saw Adrian standing over her with a grin on his face. Ariel knew that Adrian deliberately tripped her. Reaching down he seized her hair and dragged her to her feet:

  ‘You should watch where you’re going, stupid’ he said with a sneer.

  Ariel felt hot, angry tears in her eyes. The pain in her scalp finally snapped Ariel out of her funk and she knew that she was not willing to tolerate his bullying any longer: Her hand stung where the fragment of the plate had pierced her skin. She could feel the warm trickle of blood tracing down her palm to the end of her middle finger before dripping to the floor. Using the side of her hand she tried to slap his arm away. Ariel heard horrified gasps coming from behind her. She turned her head surprised to see the others standing and staring at her in mingled fascination and horror. No-one had ever stood up to a prefect before. Ariel quickly turned back to Adrian knowing it would be a mistake to look away from him.

  ‘Take your hands off me!’ she commanded, wrenching herself from his grip, pouring every ounce of her loathing into a few simple words.

  She had no way of knowing but her voice held the authority that she would need when one day she became queen. Ariel noticed a collection of silky dark hairs clasped in his hand and her anger flared.

  For a moment Adrian flinched as his grip on her hair gave way, clearly shocked that, for the first time, someone was standing up to him. Then his face changed as he realised that he was being defied.

  ‘What?’ he snarled. ‘Do you think you can speak to me like that?’

  His hand snaked out and slapped her cheek, the sound echoing in the silent dining hall. Gasps sounded around the room at the dramatic scene in front of them. Ariel’s defiance was something that they had not been prepared for, but to see one of the prefects actually strike a girl left them stunned. Although the prefects regularly used threats and intimidation they generally did not need to hit their charges to maintain order. The image of Adrian’s palm imprinted on Ariel’s pale cheek was as shocking to them as if they had felt the sting of the slap themselves.

  Adrian grabbed her hair again and forced Ariel to her knees. ‘This is where you belong. You are pathetic!’ he roared.

  ‘Let her go,’ another voice spoke quietly.

  Ariel turned and saw Marco standing close by, an expression of rage on his face. Ariel gasped in shock when she saw Marco’s right eye swollen shut and heavily bruised. A dark bruise also shadowed his jaw on the other side of his face. She thought back to her conversation with him the day before and knew that he had been punished for their moment together. This made Ariel realise the enormous risk Marco had taken to speak with her and the price that he had paid. Her heart filled with gratitude and her eyes were momentarily blinded by tears at her dearest friend putting himself in harm’s way to defend her.

  Adrian’s grip suddenly slackened and Ariel fell flat on her back, her head smacking sharply against the floor and making her breath catch in her throat. He slowly approached Marco.

  ‘So, it’s her boyfriend.’ Adrian’s face was contorted with fury. ‘I know you fancy her don’t you? Well maybe the two of you can get closer when you’re both in traction.’

  The other prefects standing behind Adrian laughed. Marco kept his back straight and glared at the boy who had made Ariel’s life a misery. The fact that Marco was at least two inches taller than Adrian made the prefect hesitate for a moment. Then Adrian glanced over his shoulder and his smirk returned as he saw his fellow prefects slowly circling them. All three of the prefects now surrounded Marco and Ariel. Adrian spoke again.

  ‘Do you really think that you can stop me doing whatever the hell I like to your little girlfriend?’ The sight of his companions backing him up must have given him courage because he reached out and poked Marco in the shoulder. ‘Well, do you?’

  Marco did not respond and Ariel was reminded of the courage of Reynaldo facing Largo’s men.

  ‘Well, farm boy?’ he repeated.

  ‘He’s not alone,’ another voice spoke behind them.

  As one, they turned and Ariel was surprised to see three other boys standing up. They glanced around them at the other tables and, as one, all of the other inmates rose to their feet. Ariel could not believe what she was seeing. These people who had seemed so apathetic and thoroughly beaten were standing tall and facing their oppressors.

  ‘You can’t take on all of us,’ the boy continued.

  For the first time since she had come into Brentonville Ariel saw the prefects look nervous. They glanced at one another trying to decide how to deal with this rebellion. The sheer weight of numbers was against them and even their arrogance could not withstand the odds. With Largo away again, they knew that they were on their own. Randolph lumbered forward and pulling his whistle from his pocket he blew it sharply.

  ‘All of you go to your rooms, now! This has nothing to do with any of you.’ His voice rose, a combination of anger and uncertainty making him shrill. Nobody moved and Randolph seemed to shrink. Marco smiled.

  ‘It seems nobody wants to let you bully them anymore.’

  He ignored Adrian and approached Randolph. Reaching out he plucked the whistle from Randolph’s hand. Looking around he signaled three of the other boys to restrain the other prefects. These prefects who had dominated the facility so completely now appeared defenceless as the boys ushered them into the storage pantry and shot the bolt to lock the door after they were all inside. Marco reached down and pulled Ariel to her feet.

  ‘We need to move before Largo returns. Is the charm in his office?’

  Ariel nodded. ‘I think so.’ Glancing around at the other inmates, she felt her throat constrict at the extraordinary courage and unity of these young people.

  Blinking back tears she said, ‘Thank you, all.’ The group responded with smiles and nods.

  She hesitated then turned to them, her face worried. ‘What will you do now?’

  An older boy stepped forward. ‘Don’t worry about us. We can call the Sheriff in the next town and tell them everything. Starting with Sheriff Hobbs and Largo and these three’, he said nodding his head toward the pantry. Then he added, ‘Right now I think everyone here needs a good meal.’

  The other children all cheered and raced each other to the kitchen pulling open the refrigerators. Their excited voices rose as they pulled out a variety of foods like hot dogs, cheese and bread.

  Ariel realised this was the first time that she had seen them look happy. She knew in her heart they would be fine and that the bullying at Brentonville was over. Holding Marco’s hand she turned and headed to the main stairs leading to Largo’s office.

  Chapter 32

  Arriving outside Largo’s office Marco jiggled the doorknob. Clearly it was locked and he sighed in frustration.

  ‘It’s locked,’ he said, then turning to Ariel his face changed. ‘Ariel, you need to unlock it.’

  Confused she stared at him and realised what he was talking about. Then she remembered Reynaldo telling her that she could use her abilities under special circumstances. She was pretty sure this qualified. Stepping forward she concentrated on the lock and focused on turning the door handle. In her mind she could visualise the tumblers of the lock turning. Her brow was furrowed and she could feel sweat beading on her upper lip. Finally she felt a click in her mind and, passing her hand over the lock, the door swung open.

  The shades in Largo’s luxurious office were drawn. The room seemed dim and the air stuffy. For the first time Ariel noticed that the office had a stale smell about it. It made her wonder how much time did Largo actually spend here at Brentonville. Walking around the back of the desk Ariel approached the small drawer where she had seen Largo place the charm. Not surprisingly the drawer was locked. Marco turned on a small desk lamp a
nd a circle of warm light flowed around them. Ignoring the shadows behind her she concentrated on retrieving the charm. Ariel looked at the lock willing it to open; she heard a small click and the drawer rolled open.

  This time she noticed that it felt much easier to open the lock. Ariel realised that the use of the gift was simply a matter of practice and control so the more that she used the gift the more adept she would become at its control. The charm sat nestled in a wad of cotton. Picking it up once again Ariel felt the warmth and power of this amazing object. The charm immediately glowed as it rested in her palm. She had the feeling it was happy to be back where it belonged.

  Glancing at Marco she lifted the heavy chain around her neck for the second time. So much had happened since that day back in Reynaldo’s small cottage. She felt as though she had lived another lifetime within a few short weeks. Marco slipped his hand in hers and lifted her chin with his other hand.

  ‘Ariel, we need to go.’

  Nodding her head she closed, her hand around the charm and once again felt the spinning sensation as her mind filled with the glorious pictures of her home, Walhalla.

  A brief moment seemed to pass and then Ariel felt her feet hit solid ground and she glanced around to see where they had landed. Once again her clothing had changed and she noticed that, although slightly shabbier, Marco wore a similar outfit to that which Reynaldo wore the first time that she had seen him in Walhalla. The air was filled with the clean scents of earth and grass. The glowing red Walhalla sun was directly overhead and a slight breeze ruffled her clothing. Ariel closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the cleanest air that she had breathed in weeks. Glancing at Marco she was filled with an amazing joy and relief to be back in Walhalla. Ariel noticed that her hand no longer stung in the place where she had cut it. Glancing down, she was not completely surprised to see that her skin was smooth and unmarked. Marco also seemed slightly taller than she remembered and his blond hair was thicker and more golden. A healthy tan made his skin glow; the bruising from the beating he had received at the hands of the Brentonville prefects was also gone. Laughing in relief, the two friends hugged each other. Marco released his arms from around Ariel first. He then walked a few paces ahead of her and then turned to her.

  ‘We are going to need help to rescue Reynaldo. I think I know who can help us,’ he declared suddenly.

  He turned to continue down the dirt road.

  ‘We best get moving. I think that we are almost at Golden City. I just hope that they are nearby,’ Marco added.

  Ariel looked at him curiously wondering to whom he was referring.

  Marco did not seem willing to tell her any more for the time being. Ariel trusted him enough to let the matter rest. She realised there was still so little she knew about Marco’s background so she asked.

  ‘Marco, can you tell me how you ended up coming to America with Reynaldo?’

  He smiled at her.

  ‘I left North Alderidge shortly after my parents’ deaths. I travelled to Golden City to find work. The circumstances of my parents’ deaths did not leave me, so when Reynaldo asked me to help find and return you to Walhalla I didn’t hesitate. As I told you I left the orphanage the day after you did. Reynaldo wanted me to stay behind so that I could be of use to you if and when you needed to leap back. The plan was if you made it to Golden City safely he would return to bring me back to Walhalla. He was to signal me using the cards. Oddly enough the Sheriff didn’t take them when I was arrested. I suppose they just looked like pebbles to him. Luckily when I was admitted to Brentonville the prefects searched me not Largo, so they didn’t see anything dangerous about a collection of small green stones either and let me keep them.’ He removed the cards from a pouch he had tied around his neck.

  Marco remembered the sniggering of the Brentonville prefects as they looked at the remarkable, enchanted objects.

  Laughing, Randolph had tossed them back to Marco saying, ‘Here’s your pretty pebbles loser.’

  ‘Why did he take you straight to Brentonville?’ Ariel asked.

  ‘Probably for the same reason he took you straight there. Sheriff Hobbs has been accepting bribes from Largo to bring children to the correctional facility. I suspect Largo knew you were not far from Golden City. Where were you when you made the leap back?’

  Ariel thought for a moment. It seemed so long ago.

  ‘I am not sure. It was just outside a village. I don’t know what it is called. It was past Little Handleton. Largo’s men were there and I knew I had to escape.’

  Marco nodded.

  ‘That would be Dariewville, the final village before Golden City. We have come into Walhalla only a few ties past it.’ Then seeing her expression, he added, ‘Yes it is named for your father. The villagers swore loyalty to the crown and have suffered greatly since Largo’s reign. I suspected you were in that area to have arrived outside Brentonville.’

  Ariel gathered her thoughts for a moment.

  ‘I still don’t understand how Largo is making the leap. He can’t use and doesn’t have access to the charm.’

  Marco nodded.

  ‘He has another piece of ebonite. A few seasons ago he sent teams of men to all of the abandoned mines in Walhalla to search for another stone. I have seen it on a chain around his neck. I have no idea how it became enchanted to travel between worlds.’ He hesitated, not knowing if Ariel should know what most of Walhalla had suspected for some time. ‘There is a possibility that Largo is acting under the command of a powerful being.’

  He watched her face and then continued walking. He could see that Ariel paled at this shocking revelation.

  ‘I think he makes the leap on the outskirts of Brentonville. This would take him straight into Golden City. I think he likes the fear and wonder of the locals at his sudden appearances,’ Marco added with a small frown of distaste.

  Ariel thought back to Largo’s physical appearance at Brentonville, including his luxuriously appointed office. His image seemed important to him. Ariel wondered if he thought a powerful appearance convinced those around him of his strength. It made her wonder if his power was real or an act of subterfuge created by the being controlling him.

  This thought brought another question to Ariel’s mind. ‘Marco, I wondered if Largo’s men saw some sign that I had made the leap outside Dariewville. Is there a sign left behind of someone who has made the leap?’

  Marco considered her question before answering.

  ‘Reynaldo would have explained to you about the movement between worlds creating a rift in the virtual membrane. When you leap it creates an atmospheric vortex in the area around you, like a small whirlwind. Largo’s men would have seen this. I am sorry, Ariel. It is possible that Reynaldo did not consider this likely to happen which is why he didn’t tell you. It is this visual vortex that Largo uses to intimidate the locals in Golden City. His dramatic appearances and disappearances have added to the belief that he is an otherworldly powerful being. It is why people are reluctant to defy him.’

  Chapter 33

  A monotonous dripping could be heard clearly in the confined space. Reynaldo lay on his side on the hard stone floor of his cell. His eyes were locked on the drip falling from the ceiling. It was a sound that had haunted every moment since he had come into this prison. It had been many days since his confinement. As much as he hated every part of his present environment, the constant damp and freezing cold, the occasional scream that followed the harsh crack of the lash, all he could think about was Ariel. Was she still in Walhalla? Had she out of fear made the leap back to America? Where was Marco? So many questions, so many doubts. Had he done the right thing so long ago? Reynaldo recognised the smell of rot and despair. He knew also that he had lost weight and that his health was deteriorating. The single bowl of gruel a day paired with the constant cold was draining his reserves of strength. Again he thought of the time long ago and asked himself if he had done the right thing.

  Reynaldo thought back, far back to t
he days long before Ariel was born. He thought back to Walhalla when he was a boy. There was no hunger, no poverty and no discontent in the land. King Rufus had ruled with the same compassion and wisdom that his son practiced in his own reign. Then the dark times of Largo came.

  Rumours had flown around Walhalla for about ten seasons before the uprising of the presence of a powerful, charismatic man who was creating dissent among the Walhalla natives. Reynaldo remembered stories that he had heard as a child, stories of a displaced king, but he was sure that this was just a legend. The people who had always been content under their rulers suddenly questioned their lot in life. Some began making unreasonable demands on the rulers of Walhalla.

  Eventually more disturbing rumours reached Golden City; rumours of looting, torture and killing. It was at this time Reynaldo knew Dariew and Volanda must leave. This man who they knew as Largo was clearly power-crazed and would not stop until he achieved his goal, to be ruler of Walhalla. Reynaldo had also heard rumours of the origins of this man; rumours of a possible royal lineage; but he would not give them credence.

  After Dariew and Volanda fled, Walhalla was overrun by Largo and his ilk. What had been a happy and bountiful land soon became a wasteland. Crops were confiscated and salt sown into the land of those who pledged loyalty to the former king and queen. Reynaldo was forced to go into hiding. A bounty had been placed on his head. He knew Largo saw him as a threat. His seasons as a trusted member of the royal family were no longer an asset.

  So Reynaldo went into hiding, moving mostly at night, trying not to stay in any one place long enough for word to spread. He soon became aware of an undercurrent in the people of Walhalla. It was a sign that Largo did not have the loyalty of all of the people. The more Reynaldo travelled and the more people he spoke with, the more he knew all was not lost in Walhalla. Then something terrible happened.

  An official decree was released from the palace saying King Dariew and Queen Volanda were dead. Reynaldo could still remember the overwhelming and crushing grief that left him paralyzed. To lose the two people he loved most in the world left him shaken and distraught. The emotion adding the most to his grief was guilt. Had his jealousy of his half-brother somehow doomed them? Had his secret love of Volanda started a deadly chain of events? He wanted to believe that his attempt to save their lives had been a noble gesture though part of him hoped that, (may Pallagrin forgive him) only Volanda would return. It was this thought that tortured him the most. He had so many memories of growing up with Dariew, the half-brother who was also a friend. How could his traitorous heart have put a woman above this bond? Yet he remembered the breathless-ness, dizziness and palpitations he felt every time Volanda was near. Simple things like a prolonged look, unseen by others, or a gentle brush of her hand, left him speechless. It was a feeling that made him question and eventually betray his love for his own brother. It was a sin he would spend the rest of his life repenting.