The Amber Pendant

by Imogen White

  It covered him.

  Silence.

  ChhhhROARRRRRRRR!

  The sound exploded. The blackness surged upwards into a giant column, twisting into the rafters, concealing Funnel and Mr Gupta’s corpse.

  The brotherhood stared calmly on, as if in a trance, their robes pulling them towards the swirling chaos.

  “What’s wrong with ’em?” Rose shouted. “Why ain’t they trying to get away?”

  Before Rui could answer, a streak of purple light exploded in the middle of the vortex. Rose steadied herself against the vibrating ground, but everything around them tumbled away. They were exposed.

  Finding his balance, Rui dug his nails into Rose’s arm and pulled her close.

  “What have they started?” Rui breathed, his hair blowing forward.

  “It’s like the belly of hell has just ripped open,” Rose muttered, holding Bahula close to her chest.

  A whining noise thrummed from the cyclone and it spun round and round, howling, louder and louder. Funnel and Mr Gupta were still lost in its middle. Rose glimpsed a huge swirling face forming within the chaos, its mouth stretched wide, its teeth snapping, but by the next rotation it had been sucked away. Giant shadowy hands snatched out, trying to claw themselves free. Rose bent away in terror – the scene looked just like the picture Mr Gupta had detailed in his journal. The turmoil expanded and spiralled in every direction, until even the kneeling brotherhood were consumed by it.

  Rui stepped forward, shielding his face from its force. Rose stood next to him, the hem of her dress drawing towards it.

  “Let’s see.” Rui picked up a lobster pot and threw it inside the melee. The cage entered the cyclone, and getting sucked into its current, it spun higher and higher, faster and faster, until it was lost inside the black swirling mass.

  “Deduction number one,” Rui began. “We can enter the magic circle. “Deduction number two, if we do—”

  “We’re mincemeat,” Rose said, with a swallow. Bahula gripped onto her leg.

  “Correct.”

  A shrill sound filled the air. Rose held her head, the noise burning her ears. Bahula jumped onto Rui’s shoulder and clung to his neck.

  “This way, or we’ll be drawn in.” Rui pulled Rose over to the nearest iron column. “Hold on!”

  They both clung on for dear life. Rose’s knuckles turned white. The force of the drag was so strong that she buckled her fingers together to resist it. Next to them, a lobster pot fell to the ground and tumbled along towards the vortex, followed by three more. The wind, the rain – even the oxygen it seemed – was ripped away from them.

  The pier groaned, its structure shifting, and Rose’s gaze turned upwards.

  “This place is not going to withstand the pressure,” Rui shouted. “We need to get out, Rose!”

  And then in a heartbeat everything stopped.

  Silence.

  Rose heard a sudden rush of voices in her mind. “Your two halves, Rose,” Miss Templeforth’s panicked voice cried above the others. Rose’s heart winged. She flexed her fingers.

  Gravelly stones suddenly rained down on them, striking the iron structure like renegade bullets. Rose and Rui grabbed each other, shielding their heads from the falling debris.

  The swirling black mist inside the circle calmed and gradually receded. At the heart of the circle Funnel lay in a crumpled heap. The cup rested upturned by his side. Opposite him a hulking black figure kneeled where Mr Gupta’s body had been, his broad shoulders blanketed in a cloak.

  The creature’s giant stag antlers jutted from the top of his head, proud and otherworldly. The lamp had shattered and been replaced by a new mauve-coloured light source which radiated up from the ground inside the circle.

  “Verrulf,” Rose hissed.

  Verrulf raised his hulking head and a sound like rustling leaves filled the air. He drew a rasping breath. His two glaring eyes pulsed red. Rose gripped her throat. “He’s alive, Rui!”

  “It’s worked. The necromancy spell. Mr Gupta has been replaced,” Rui said, his voice quivering. “By…Verrulf. He’s free from the cup.”

  “And where have the rest of them disappeared to?” Rose whispered, staring anxiously around the iron column that they were now hidden behind.

  Twelve unoccupied robes were heaped on the ground. Above them a powdery blackness swam about. “They’ve gone!”

  Verrulf’s long black hair blew about around his youthful face. His chiselled cheekbones and strong nose glowed with a blueish-light, like moonlight. He shook his mighty antlers and stood.

  Rose stared across at him, her mouth open. His branched antlers merged into the cavern of shadows above. Even without the antlers he must have been nearly seven feet tall. He wasn’t at all how Rose had imagined he’d be. He wasn’t all shadowy now, he looked more human instead. And young, and…handsome even.

  Verrulf’s cloak hung from his broad shoulders down to the ground, covered in squares of black-papery material, which rustled endlessly in the wind, like whispering voices. His thin lips turned down and his eyes blazed ever brighter behind narrowing lids.

  “I brrreathe!” Verrulf’s voice vibrated, deep and ugly. Verrulf studied his giant shimmering hands. “My human forrrm,” he muttered to himself, his voice gravelly. “I will be so strrrong,” he grunted, sniffing the air.

  Funnel began to stir and stumbled to his feet. Tripping over his robe, he spun in a circle. “Where are my men?” he croaked, looking at the empty cloaks which writhed around as if each covered a nest of rats. Funnel doubled over, choking, blood spluttering from his mouth, his hair grey once more and his face sallow and drawn.

  “Funnel’s ageing again,” Rose gasped. The pendants swung around his neck, no longer flashing, but as if they had no life left in them.

  Verrulf’s grin exposed broken gnarly teeth embedded into black gums. “You brrrought me back and the gateway is nearrrly fully open. My Crrreeplings are coming – and they arrre hungrrry!” Verrulf’s navy-blue tongue ran along his thin lips. “Soon I will have strrrength to walk and then I shall HUNT.”

  “This is not what we planned and—” Funnel began, but his voice was swallowed by dark, unholy noises that swarmed around him. He looked about, trying to find their source. The brotherhood’s robes shifted, rising up and down. Breathing. Funnel backed away. “What is going on?”

  “You have serrrved yourrr purrrpose. You have my perrrmission to die.” Verrulf’s words shook around them. “So I can take the pendants for myself.”

  “Die?” Funnel cowered. “B-but I helped you, you’re here because of me. You promised me riches. I command you to stop all this and return my men,” he cried jutting out his chin.

  “YOU WEAK HUMAN!” Verrulf boomed. The ferocity of his words ricocheted off the metal structure. Funnel flew backwards, landing in a crumpled heap.

  SSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssssss.

  Echoing voices hissed as one. Funnel shielded his face.

  Rose’s large grey eyes reflected the drama playing out before them like mirrors. “I ain’t stopping here watching this, Rui. Somehow, I need to get both them pendants. And before that monster does. And I gotta put him back in the cup – just like Albion did.” She sprang forwards, ready.

  “Wait, Rose.” Rui reached out to pull her back, turning to Bahula. “Quickly, Bahula, get the cup.” He lifted the monkey up onto the iron column they were hiding behind.

  The cup? Yes! Rose craned forward. With everything that had happened she had totally forgotten about it. She spotted it, now a natural deep red, camouflaged amid the darkness of the shingle. It pulsed once, as if winking at them. Bahula sprang silently away into the rafters.

  “Once we see Bahula, we are going in. We need to create a distraction while Bahula removes the cup.”

  She knew her two halves still made her strong. Did it mean that she could control the cup if she could get both pendants? Would she be powerful enough? It was their only hope.

  Almost immediately, a tiny silhouette scu
ttled down one of the iron stacks and into the magic circle.

  “There’s Bahula,” Rose pointed.

  “Now. Let’s go,” Rui said. Squeezing hands, they stood as one.

  “Tally-ho,” Rui said through gritted teeth as together they surged forward. Rose’s heart thumped with fear and adrenaline. She knew they were doing the right thing. She had to stop Verrulf – or die trying.

  They leaped over the inflating robes and into the middle of the circle.

  Verrulf jumped back from Funnel. On seeing Rose, Verrulf’s look of surprise turned into a grimace. “You!” he howled.

  Rose stood tall. Rui stood with his back to hers, staring horrified at the blackness sweeping around the brotherhood’s empty robes. The energy inside the circle felt electric with danger, outside of time, alive with the sound of hidden, whispering voices.

  Blocked by Rose and Rui, Bahula grabbed the cup unseen.

  “Rrrose Muddle! We meet at larrst.”

  “You fear me, Verrulf!” Rose shouted, surprised by the strength of her own voice. “I share your blood!” she continued, trying to hold Verrulf’s complete attention while Bahula scuttled away up into the network of iron above, the cup gripped under his arm.

  “Me – fearrr you! A human child!” His muscular frame dwarfed Rose and Rui.

  Rose didn’t budge an inch.

  “You can’t stop me,” Verrulf hissed at Rose. “You arrre trrrapped inside this cirrrcle, you cannot leave. Welcome to your timely end, Rrrose Muddle!” Verrulf’s voice sounded almost amused. “The gates to my worrrld arrre opening. Yourrr sun will be hidden by mine, and in that darrrkness the Crrreeplings will feed and I will rrrule suprrreme!” He spread out his arms making himself huge with his cloak.

  “I CAN stop you. I share your blood and Albion’s. I am the granddaughter of Emily Templeforth” – she pointed down at the body doubled over on the ground – “and Funnel. We figured it all out.” Rose nodded, her nostrils flaring.

  Funnel stopped still, then lifted his head to look at Rose. “My g-granddaughter?” She caught the mixture of shock and sadness register across his face. Funnel pointed at Verrulf. “You betrayed me!” he moaned. “You used me. LIED to me.” He collapsed hard onto the shingle, without even the strength to contain his fall.

  “Yes!” Verrulf sneered. “NOW DIE QUICKLY so I can take the pendants.” He readied to lunge at Funnel.

  “NO!” Rose blocked his path, tiny against Verrulf’s hulking form. He paused momentarily, taken aback by her grit.

  Rose’s heart banged like a caged bird inside her ribs.

  “As you wish. I’ll kill you firrrst.”

  “NO, WAIT!” Rui shouted, his hands raised. “We have the cup. And we’ll put you back in it.”

  “Yeah!” Rose said. Though a nagging part of her was not at all sure they could.

  Rui whistled up into the rafters and Bahula poked his head down before leaping to the ground to join them. He curled his limbs around Rui’s feet and held the cup aloft.

  Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

  Surprise flickered across Verrulf’s face as he registered what was happening.

  Verrulf cast his gaze over to Funnel, who still rolled about on the ground, writhing in pain. Still alive.

  “On the contrrrarrry.” Verrulf smiled at Bahula. “MY monkey has the cup.” With these words, Verrulf’s face softened and his eyes shut, opening to reveal the human eyes of Mr Gupta. Slowly, Mr Gupta’s whole face appeared, replacing Verrulf’s. He smiled at Bahula through a thick grey beard.

  “He’s shape-shifted!” Rui gasped. “Bahula, that’s not your master.”

  “Mere pas ao mere mitra. Mere pas lao, tum chote se chatur bandar,” Verrulf coaxed, but it was Mr Gupta’s voice that spoke.

  Bahula tilted his head.

  “Bahula, NAHIM! He’s tricking you,” Rui implored.

  But Bahula scampered towards the sound of his old master’s voice, taking the cup with him.

  Verrulf laughed. “You cleverrr little soon-to-be-dead crrreaturrre you.”

  “Oh, Bahula. NO!” Rose begged him. But it was too late.

  Bahula offered out the cup and grinned.

  Verrulf bent low and retrieved it. As soon as he grasped the cup, Mr Gupta’s face morphed back into Verrulf’s and he let rip a greedy laugh.

  Bahula flattened to the ground and cowered backwards.

  “Rui, we’re done for.” Rose’s hair blew across her face, her eyes fierce. She clung onto Rui’s arm.

  “What’s this?” Verrulf squinted at the tiny cup, dwarfed by his big hands. He frowned.

  “GRRRHHHHRRRAAAAGHHHHHHHH!” Verrulf’s roar twisted through the iron structure of the pier. His eyes blazed red in their sockets.

  What’s going on? Rose strained to see.

  “Look!” she panted, tugging on Rui’s sleeve. “It’s not the cup. Ha! Bahula’s given him his hat!”

  “His fez!” Rui grinned. “Why, Bahula is as brave as Hanuman himself,” Rui whispered, his eyes darting every which way.

  “Enough! I’m going to finish you once and forrr all,” Verrulf roared at Rose. Hatred blazed in his eyes. He swiped at Rose with his massive forearm. She catapulted through the air landing heavily. The fall cut the breath from her lungs.

  “ROSE!” Rui yelled rushing over to her side.

  “Leave her alone!” Funnel whimpered at Verrulf, unable to lift himself from the ground.

  “l’m going to rrrip yourrr granddaughterrr limb frrrom limb.” Verrulf snarled at Funnel. “And you can watch.”

  Rui cradled Rose in his arms. But it was too late. Rose squeezed her eyes shut. Verrulf’s head leaned back and he let loose an almighty cry. He charged towards them. They were done for.

  A ball of light vaulted over the brotherhood’s robes, blocking Verrulf mid-leap.

  “SssswAhhhghh!” Verrulf wailed. Stumbling backwards, he crashed to his knees.

  Rose shielded her eyes, trying to see through the blinding white light.

  Getting to her feet, Enna Lee blew the curls from her face. She stood proud and fierce, brandishing a stream of mirrored lamplight ahead of her, looking stronger than ever.

  “Enna!” Rose’s face lit up and she struggled to her feet. Again, she heard the words TWO HALVES channelling through her, as if the pendant was suddenly strengthened by Rose’s renewed hope. She knew she had to get the pendants before Verrulf did.

  “Rose, Rui, get behind me.” They scrambled to Enna and the protection she offered. Funnel lay heaped by Enna’s feet.

  “This stops NOW!” Enna commanded. Her mirrored lamp projected a piercing light. She flashed it at Verrulf.

  “Parandarrrh!” The word shuddered from Verrulf’s mouth and he recoiled away.

  Funnel moaned, as death took another swipe to control him. Enna spoke to him. “You fool, Anthony Funnel!” Enna’s wild eyes glared at him. “What would Emily Templeforth think of you now? She’d be disgusted.”

  “I’m dying,” Funnel said, staring at his hands, which were shrivelling back around the bone and sinew.

  Keeping her eyes fixed on Verrulf, Enna replied, “The two pendants are killing you. No one person can wear them both and live. I suppose Verrulf failed to tell you that?”

  “What?” Rose said.

  “Rose!” Rui’s eyes widened with terror.

  A wave of horrible doubt filled her. If I take them I’ll…die?

  Enna stalked around Funnel in a circle, and Rose and Rui stayed close, her lamplight forcing Verrulf back into the darkness manifesting where the brotherhood had stood.

  “That trrrick won’t larrrst you much longerrr.” Verrulf prowled slow and wolf-like, sniffing the air – waiting for a moment to pounce. “My Crrreeplings are already amongst us!” Dark unruly shapes thickened and swelled behind him. “You’rrre out…of…time!” Verrulf began laughing. “The gateway is open. Look arrround you!”

  All at once, the cloaks in the circle shot into the air. Flapping in the wind, they
towered around Verrulf, connecting to the ground with stretched powdery legs, their heads masked by the shadows above. Grotesque, withered arms ending in sharp pointy fingers grabbed the air, snatching at them.

  “Rose!” Rui pulled her close.

  “Fearrr them!” Verrulf hissed. “Fearrr is what they want, it excites them. Can you hearrr theirrr excitement?”

  The scissoring gnash of teeth came at them from every direction. The Creeplings jerked towards Rose and Rui, moving in fractured pulses, as though passing through invisible films of water.

  “Noooooo!” Funnel’s wizened hands clutched at his head. He rolled over and began to shrivel before them, face crumpling, his eye disappearing into the folds of his brow. His robes clung to the sharp edges of his shoulder blades. “Awwwwhhh!” His terrified howl cut through the night, but even his voice sounded aged and feeble now.

  “He’s dead?” Rose gasped, a strange mix of emotions surging through her. She dropped down beside him.

  Funnel was evil, he’d become a complete monster, but he was family. Involuntarily, her hand outstretched to comfort him, but at that same moment, he suddenly stopped moving altogether.

  Rui pulled her back, encircling her with his arm. “It’s the pendants, they just…killed him!” Rui explained.

  Enna’s lamplight flickered and went out. They were unprotected.

  Within the otherworldly light glowing inside the circle, one Creepling broke free of the others. Its face swung into view, its mouth shut, just its nasty polished eyes glinting. Keeping its distance, it sniffed them. Rose’s heart buckled. Its snarl exposed blackened, pin-sharp teeth, stringed with slobber. The stench of rotting vegetation oozed from its mouth. It circled them on all fours, its body rising and falling. The others crept forward behind it, hissing.

  “Destrrroy them,” Verrulf boomed. “The pendants arrre finally MINE!”

  “Rose,” a weak voice groaned. Rose looked down to see Funnel handing her the two pendants. He’s still alive? His sunken eye glistened. “Take them…stop…him,” he choked. “I’m sor—” Funnel collapsed, dead. A single tear trickled down his grey face. His fist gripped the two pendants, still offering them to her.