Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening (Mortiswood Tales)

by Gina Dickerson

  ‘Touchy!’

  Bran turned away, staring across the grey sea. ‘Do you want to eat or not?’

  Kaelia watched in amusement as Bran stomped down the promenade. What was wrong with him? She didn’t have much choice other than to follow Bran and picked up her feet, racing after him. He stopped suddenly and she cannonballed into his back.

  ‘I said pack it in!’ Bran grabbed her arms, shaking her. ‘You’re behaving like a complete child.’

  Kaelia eyed him. ‘Don’t stress, it was an accident. I don’t want to touch you on purpose.’ She waited for a smart comeback but when there wasn’t any, said, ‘Why are you so edgy?’

  ‘I’m not edgy!’

  Kaelia fell into step beside Bran and eyed him disbelieving but didn’t sat anything. They passed the steps leading up to the bustling gallery and headed into the Old Town where a plethora of independent shops thrived; a mix of vintage stores, eatery places, watering holes, and independent shops, along with a wide array catering for artistic tastes. Tables and chairs scattered outside the food establishments, most of which were occupied and Kaelia led Bran through them in the direction of her favourite cafe.

  ‘Something’s wrong with you. You’ve been acting weird since we arrived in Margate,’ Kaelia said to him.

  ‘Perhaps I’m jealous.’

  Kaelia groaned. ‘Of what?’

  Bran waved a hand in the air. ‘Of the memories and emotions this place evokes in you. You were someone else when you lived here.’ He looked at her. ‘You were happy. Normal.’

  ‘You’re jealous because I was happy? If it makes you feel any better, I’m not happy now. I’m with you.’

  Bran muttered, shaking his head. ‘Do we have to do this? Why do you need to analyse me?’

  ‘You do it to me.’ Kaelia grabbed Bran’s arm before he stepped out in front of a moving car. Light crackled between them both, shooting into her fingers.

  Bran shook her off. ‘I’m envious of what you had when you lived here with your parents. You had a normal life, even after your father died you still had a mother who loved you. People care for you, Kaelia, even that damn pet of yours cares for you and it acutely reminds me I have no-one who cares about me.’ He raised a dark eyebrow. ‘Happy now, can we eat?’

  Kaelia nodded mutely, surprised at the depth of emotion trembling within Bran’s words. ‘Who would’ve guessed,’ she chuckled in an attempt to lighten the mood, ‘that the necromancer has a soft spot in his heart. I thought that thing was withered and dead.’

  Bran’s face darkened. ‘At least withered and dead means it can’t be hurt any more.’ He stiffened as Kaelia’s hand brushed his.

  Light effervesced from the touch, heightening Kaelia’s senses even more. She could taste Bran’s simmering resentment. ‘I think you care about things more than you care to admit. You brought back a lot of people today. You have a heart, Bran, else you would’ve let them die.’

  Bran broke the contact. ‘I did it to impress you and make you trust me. It worked, you’re wrapping nicely around my little finger.’ Glowering, he strode into the cafe, leaving Kaelia spluttering on the pavement behind him.

  * * *

  Kaelia sipped her green tea and watched Bran stride back and forth outside of the cafe in the Old Town. His pointed shoulders were stretched tight. His eyes, darkened by anger, sparked underneath the heavy set of his furrowed brow. As if by magic he produced, from the miniscule pocket of his shirt, a packet of cigarettes. Kaelia was surprised, she hadn’t even known he smoked but what did she really know about him? Drawing deeply on the lit cigarette, Bran held the smoke in before expelling it in an angry stream.

  ‘Can I get you anything else?’ A smiley waitress hovered by Kaelia’s table, pen and notepad in hand. ‘Something to eat, perhaps?’

  Kaelia’s stomach rumbled. The earlier fight had drained her and she was now ravenous. ‘I’ll have a leek and cheese pie.’ Her eyes scanned the menu chalkboard on the wall behind the waitress. ‘And a steak and Camembert pie too, please.’

  ‘Chips with both?’

  Kaelia nodded her thanks and turned her gaze back to the window. Bran had disappeared. She jumped up from her seat and hurried outside. The cigarette still smouldered on the pavement. Kaelia ground it out with the toe of her boot and picked it up, flicking it into a nearby bin. The street outside was busy but Bran was nowhere to be seen. Kaelia sighed, slipping back inside the cafe. She was intrigued as to where Bran had disappeared to but above all else, she was hungry and the thought of leek and cheese pie made her salivate. Like a bad penny, Bran was sure to resurface soon.

  * * *

  Water ran off the Vallesm’s back as it emerged from the sea and slunk up the stone slope to the promenade. The wet paw prints it left behind expanded upon contact with the dry stone, making them even larger. It lowered its head, raising its lips as a familiar figure cut across its path.

  ‘We’re finally alone.’ Bran flexed his fingers at his side. ‘It’s time to take you out of the equation.’ He laughed. ‘Why am I talking to you? You’re nothing more than an overgrown domestic dog.’ He raised a hand and fired a shot of violet light at the wolf.

  Whipping out of the way, the ball of light singing guard-hairs on its left side, the Vallesm howled. Bran fired again, narrowly missing the wolf. The bolt of light crashed into the ground sending shards of stone flying upwards. The wolf howled as several rained down. It launched at Bran, jaws snapping.

  Bran tried to move but wasn’t quick enough and the Vallesm caught his arm, gouging him with its fangs. Bran cried out in pain. The pair rolled over and over, each refusing to let go. Bran poured a stream of violet light at the wolf’s chest and the Vallesm’s jaws finally loosened. Bran seized the opportunity to free himself. He sped away, firing bolts of light back at the Vallesm. The gigantic wolf hauled itself from the ground and shot off in the opposite direction, heading into the busy road by the harbour.

  Screams filled the air as people noticed the Vallesm, they scattered; a human tidal wave of fear. Cars crashed into each other at the traffic lights by the harbour wall. The Vallesm turned and lowered its head as Bran reappeared, hands fizzing with violet light. The wolf’s howls rumbled through the cries of the people surging around Bran, trying to escape from the Vallesm.

  ‘Told you I saw a beast up at Princes Walk!’ a bloke shouted to the woman he was dragging along by the wrist. ‘You didn’t believe me!’

  The woman stumbled. ‘Jim, you always think you know best. Now is not the time for told-you-so. That’s a beast over there!’

  ‘Well, I was right!’ The man called Jim crowed. ‘Admit it!’

  ‘I’m not arguing now!’ the woman snapped. ‘Get me to the car!’

  ‘Run for your lives!’ another man shouted.

  ‘Find something to kill it with!’ called another voice, rising above the screams.

  ‘Don’t kill it yet, I’m filming it. This’ll go viral for sure!’ shouted a gleeful bystander.

  The crowds forced Bran back, knocking him further away from the Vallesm.

  ‘Are they filming here again?’ An elderly woman prodded Bran with her walking stick. ‘Are you in charge? This is chaos. You should have a warning up. I wouldn’t have bothered coming to town today if I’d have known.’

  Bran grabbed the woman’s walking stick. ‘It’s not a film,’ he growled, ‘and don’t hit me with your invalid stick.’

  ‘Oy!’ The woman protested as Bran threw her walking stick into the crowd.

  ‘I’ll report you!’ The old woman waved a gnarled fist. ‘You hot-shot’s think you own the place. I’ve lived here for eight-eight years and you’re the rudest man I’ve met. In my day, young men had more manners!’ Her words fell flat; Bran had already disappeared into the surge of people.

  ‘I will kill you!’ Bran shouted to the Vallesm. He zipped, superhumanly fast, through the crowd of people but he was too late. The Vallesm had disappeared.

  Bran paced the area, looking for paw-pri
nts but found none except the now almost dry prints from before. Reluctantly, he returned to the cafe and, not even out of breath, opened the door to find Kaelia eating a pie. He pulled out the seat opposite her and sat in it.

  ‘What happened to your arm?’ Kaelia raised an eyebrow.

  Bran touched his sleeve, noticing blood on it for the first time. ‘A Draugr in animal form. I saw it through the window and chased it to the promenade. Unfortunately, people saw. It escaped but bit me.’

  ‘Give me your arm.’

  Bran laid it on the table. ‘I’ll live.’

  Kaelia pressed a palm against the wound and called up her healing light.

  ‘Everyone will see,’ Bran hissed.

  ‘And?’ Kaelia countered. ‘You said you were seen fighting a Draugr, how worse can this be?’

  An out of breath man crashed noisily through the door to the cafe. ‘There’s a beast in Margate! A bloody giant wolf!’ He doubled over, trying to catch his breath.

  ‘What?’ the waitress behind the counter struggled to control her laughter.

  A teenager tumbled into the cafe. ‘It’s true, I saw it too!’

  Kaelia snatched her hand back, snuffing her light. ‘Are you sure it was a Draugr?’

  Bran’s gaze was steady. ‘Absolutely.’

  * * *

  Back in the depths of Mortiswood, Jade’s hands were numb from having sat on them for so long to stop Cadence from taking control. Laid out beside Jade, Cadence’s body was marble white and the spirit Cadence, which Jade was struggling to keep inside her, was driving her crazy.

  ‘You’re a bitch!’ Jade said.

  Cadence’s voice took control of Jade’s mouth. ‘And you’re dumb if you never realised it before!’

  Both voices were silenced by the crackling of bracken. Thom’s looming frame appeared from between the trees.

  ‘How long can you maintain the protection sphere?’ Thom tapped the invisible shield with a cracked, blue fingernail. ‘It must be zapping all of your strength to keep it up and hold Cadence within you.’

  ‘You’re not having her.’ Jade’s voice was low, timid. ‘I won’t let you turn her into what you are!’ She flinched as her hand came up and slapped her face. ‘Stop it, Cadence!’

  Cadence’s voice took over. ‘I want to go, Jade. You can’t keep me here forever!’

  ‘No,’ Jade agreed. ‘I can hold you here long enough for Calix to return with a Rosealrium bloom.’

  Thom roared with laughter. ‘The physician has been seen to. He will not be returning.’ His head snapped back up, eyes piercing menacing splinters into Jade’s.

  ‘You’re lying!’ Jade shook. She didn’t want to but she couldn’t control it. No longer under the Draugr’s thrall she could see him as he truly was. With Cadence scratching around inside her body, Jade’s mind filled with her friend’s anger. Cadence’s hunger for Thom, her yearning to be with him, left a foul taste in Jade’s mouth. Cadence wasn’t a Draugr yet but Jade knew she wanted to be. Cadence’s spirit grew stronger inside her with Thom there. Despite every fibre of her being warning her not to turn her back on the Draugr, Jade forced herself to look away from him and shut her eyes. If they were closed Cadence could no longer see Thom either and Jade hoped it would weaken Cadence enough so she could contain her until Calix returned. He would, she thought, he had to.

  Thom tapped the sphere again, sending bolts of energy forking around the protective layer. ‘You have to leave there sooner or later,’ he cackled, ‘and when you do, I will be waiting. I will have what is mine!’ In a plume of violet smoke he corkscrewed into the earth and disappeared.

  * * *

  Darkness finally settled over the glistening waters of Margate harbour. Kaelia wandered along the stone arm of the pier, admiring the multi-coloured doors which were now locked up for the night. Across the harbour, lights twinkled from the many bustling restaurants and pubs. Far across the bay and beyond the main sands, lights shone from the arcades and the tide lapped darkly against the sand. Small boats bobbed in the now deeper waters of the harbour and Kaelia jumped, fur brushing against her.

  ‘I knew you’d be here.’ Her fingers disappeared in the denseness of the Vallesm’s well-furred neck. A sense of calm enveloped her as she stroked the wolf. Its fur had thickened since she’d last touched it, and its overall size had increased.

  The Vallesm’s lips rose, exposing gleaming fangs at Bran’s approach. The wolf moved between the necromancer and Kaelia. Kaelia shushed the Vallesm, soothingly stroking its head.

  ‘What’s up with your pet?’ Bran shoved his hands in his overcoat pocket. ‘It looks different.’

  ‘I think he’s grown.’ Kaelia studied the Vallesm.

  ‘It’s getting fat, I reckon.’

  The Vallesm snarled. Bran rubbed his arm and looked away.

  Kaelia motioned for the wolf to accompany her to the end of the Stone Pier. ‘Bran, show me how we find the bridge to Niflheim.’

  Bran apprehensively eyed the Vallesm and edged around it. ‘Give me your hand.’

  Kaelia hesitated. The Vallesm slunk forward, its nose pressing gently against the outer side of her hand.

  Bran sighed heavily. ‘Fine, I planned to show you how to reveal the bridge but I’ll do it myself.’

  Closing his eyes, Bran splayed out his left hand and radiated his purple light. His steps were deliberate, each foot placed precisely until he reached the very edge of the pier. With his other hand he withdrew a handful of something from his overcoat pocket and threw it across the water. A fine dust shot upwards before igniting into a rolling, violet flame. As quick as it had ignited, the flame extinguished and charred ashes fluttered down.

  ‘I call for rights of safe passage,’ Bran bellowed, making Kaelia jump. ‘Our spirits are not yours to take, we tread with feet of those not dead, hear our words, to Hel we sheath our powers strong, we’ll pass through quietly, to your realm we do not belong. Show us now the golden pass, let our feet not cut on blades, show us the way to where fear is made.’

  Bran stepped off the end of the pier. Kaelia leapt forward, grabbing the back of his coat at the same time Bran’s foot came down and underneath it appeared a brightly shining, golden bridge. Hastily, Kaelia let go of Bran and ran her hand through her hair, feeling foolish.

  Bran grinned, glancing back at her. ‘And there was me thinking you didn’t care about me.’

  ‘Don’t read too much into it,’ Kaelia snapped. ‘I need your help to rescue my grandmother’s spirit else I wouldn’t be here.’

  ‘Okay, rub it in.’ Bran sighed and gestured for Kaelia to join him on the bridge. ‘Come on, we must set off.’

  Kaelia apprehensively stepped off the solid stone of the pier onto the golden bridge. It was fashioned from a delicate, latticed gold metal and Kaelia could see through the bottom of it to water underneath. High railings, their tops twisting into the dark sky above, rose from the edges of the bridge forming a barrier against the long fall to the water below. Instead of the usual coloured sea water, the water was now a translucent purple and moved with a fast current. Thin barbs of long, black-gold plants streamed in the force of the water and what Kaelia thought were silvery fish zigzagged through the clear water.

  ‘They’re not fish,’ Bran said, as if reading her mind. ‘They’re knives. Anyone unfortunate enough to fall in the waters of the Gjoll river will not survive. The blades attack like Piranha and ribbon cut flesh from bones in the blink of an eye. The streaming strands aren’t what you think either.’

  Kaelia quivered. ‘It’s hair, isn’t it?’

  Bran nodded. ‘Scalps of those who have perished in the river. It is said the skull is sucked into the bed of the river wherever the unfortunate fall but I don’t know if it’s true. I’m in no rush to dip a toe in it.’

  Kaelia looked behind her as she, Bran, and the Vallesm ventured along the bridge. The end reaching into Niflheim was not in sight but for some distance along the bridge, she could still see the comforting night lights
of the coastal town they had left behind. She lifted a hand in greeting as a familiar figure drew into view.

  ‘No-one can see us,’ Bran said. ‘Norms can’t see the Gjallarbru bridge. Come on, Kaelia, you need to pay attention. Danger lies ahead.’

  * * *

  Seventeen

  Calix rubbed his eyes. One minute Kaelia had been standing on the edge on the stone pier, the next, she had disappeared. He switched off the motorbike engine and kicked out the stand. Leaving the bike by the harbour wall, he hurried to the end of the pier and folded his arms over his muscular chest. If he had pushed the bike harder he could have found her in time. Cross with himself for not having caught up with Kaelia, Calix trudged back up the Stone Pier to the motorbike. He hadn’t visited this part of Kent before and his stomach growled. He still hadn’t eaten.

  Calix peered up at the moon in the cloudless night sky. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time if he were to save Cadence. He cast a final glance over his shoulder, hoping for a glimpse of Kaelia but only the gentle lap of waves against the belly of the harbour greeted him. With grim determination, Calix edged onto the main road to return to Mortiswood.

  * * *

  Kaelia shivered and pulled up the faux-fur collar of her leather jacket. Wind howled across the waters, carrying with it the iciness of the deadly river.

  ‘If you move quicker, you won’t be so cold,’ Bran snapped.

  ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Kaelia picked up the pace and the Vallesm matched it. ‘You’ve been a complete grouch since we left the wood.’

  ‘What do you think is wrong with me? It’s not a trip to the Mediterranean; we’re going to Hel’s realm.’

  ‘You’ve never been there before, have you?’ Kaelia grabbed his arm. ‘From the way you spoke, I assumed you had.’

  ‘I never said either way,’ Bran pointed out. ‘I simply said I knew how to get there.’