by Wesley King
Ignoring everything, I scooped the Iron Hammer up off the dirt and turned back to Dungan. He was still hunched over, roaring in pain and trying to pull the small knife out of his foot. Hunched over like that, he was just short enough that I could reach his head.
I charged, pulling the hammer behind me with both hands. I had one shot.
Dungan looked up just as I swung it with every ounce of strength left in my body. The hammer connected squarely with his broad forehead, and a massive wave of invisible energy leapt outward from the impact, knocking the watching goblins to the ground and sending the Swords tumbling after them. It passed around me, but Dungan went flying, the incredible force sending him soaring through the air. He slammed into the ground, motionless. There was no doubt the second I saw him land. Dungan was dead.
All around me, monsters slowly got back up, wide-eyed and disbelieving. I slowly turned in a circle, gripping the hammer with two hands. It had worked once before—I figured I might as well try it again.
“Who’s next?” I shouted.
The monsters all looked at each other, and then without another word, they all turned and started running for the tunnel. The shouts and cries and warnings fled through the army, and like a retreating tide they pushed over each other in a desperate rush to flood back into the Under Earth. I let them go. My body was throbbing with pain, and all I wanted to do was collapse. Instead I limped over to my brother, making sure he wasn’t trampled in the retreat, and pulled him close.
“Are you all right?” I said, my voice cracking with emotion.
“I’m fine,” he said, burying his face into my shoulder. “I’m sorry. Dungan said he was going to kill you if I didn’t help.” He pulled away. “You killed him, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“And Uncle Laine?”
“I let him go. But if he ever goes near you again, I’ll crush him too.”
Tom smiled. “Can we go home now?”
“Yeah,” I said, turning to the Swords. “I think it’s about that time.”
I walked over with Tom, ready to speak to Eldon, when Allison suddenly wrapped me in a hug.
“I’m sorry I doubted you,” she said in a rush. “You are definitely the Monster Crusher. It’s going to be different at school from now on. I promise.”
I tried not to gasp as my ribs throbbed in pain in Allison’s strong grip, and turned it into a laugh instead. “Don’t worry about it. Suddenly fat jokes don’t seem that important.”
She just smiled as Eldon limped over and laid his bloodied hand on my arm.
“I thought you might have what it takes to be a Monster Crusher,” he said quietly. “Now I know you have what it takes to be a great one.” He smiled. “Take Tom and go home. Come to Derwin when you’re ready.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
He looked at Dungan’s massive body and sighed.
“We’ve got some cleaning up to do.”
—
Tom and I stepped through the front door, and my mom looked over the couch and screamed. She bolted out of the living room and snatched Tom up in her arms, already crying. Stache came running out of the kitchen and wrapped them both in a hug, and I even saw tears in his big green eyes for the first time in my life.
He turned to me. “What happened?”
Eldon had wrapped my ribs with some bandages and cleaned the blood off my face, so I was at least semi-presentable. But I was still covered in dirt and leaves.
I hesitated. “Uncle Laine and I went looking for Tom, and we found him walking through the woods. He said he got away from his abductors. We brought him straight home.”
Stache looked outside. “Where’s your uncle?”
“He wanted to give us some time,” I said. “He went back home.”
Stache hugged me, running his hands through my hair.
“I’ll have to thank him,” he said gruffly.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “You do that.”
We all stood there for a few minutes, hugging and crying. I was in a whole lot of pain, but I tried to keep it from showing. Thankfully they were both pretty distracted. Eldon said there was nothing to do for my broken ribs except give them time to heal. Stache finally went to call the police and tell them Tom was home, and my mom went to get him some food, though she was reluctant to let go of his hand. When we were alone, Tom looked at me.
“I thought I was going to die,” he said softly. “When they came and took me.”
I nodded and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Bat Boy. I should have been honest with you. But I wanted to protect you. I guessed a few weeks ago that you were a Shadow Sight. I thought I was the only one who knew. I was obviously wrong.”
“It’s not your fault,” he replied. “How are we going to explain Uncle Laine?”
“I don’t know. I have a feeling he won’t be coming around here anymore anyway. Eldon is going to pay him a visit and make sure he doesn’t bother us ever again.”
Tom shook his head. “How are we going to just go back to school and pretend everything is normal?”
I laughed and messed up his hair. “I don’t know. But I can’t wait to try.”
“So when can I come to Derwin?” he asked casually.
I scowled. “Never.”
“I’m a Shadow Sight,” he replied. “They need me down there.”
I lowered my voice. “You were almost killed by a troll, remember?”
He smiled. “I know. But that’s why I have a Monster Crusher to protect me.”
“Maybe in a few years.”
“I could make your job a whole lot easier,” he pointed out.
“Tom…”
He looked right at me, as he sometimes did, with those big blue eyes. “I could be important down there, Laura. I have the Sight. Can you imagine? Being wanted for the one thing I always thought was my biggest weakness? Don’t you know what that’s like?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I guess I do. But you’re my Bat Boy, and I want to keep you safe. That’s all. I’ll tell you what: just let me make sure everything is under control down there, and then we can talk, okay?”
“Okay.”
I wrapped him in a hug, being very careful not to put any pressure on my aching ribs, and he eventually had to pry himself away from me.
After we had a family meal, my mom crying all the way through it, the police came by to confirm Tom was home and ask him some questions. Of course it wasn’t hard for him to say he hadn’t seen the abductors, so they just left a squad car in front of the house and left us alone. When I finally said good night around three in the morning, I went up to my room and looked out the window. There were no yellow eyes, and no Swords. Things were finally going to go back to normal.
I lay down in bed, thinking that there was no way I was going to be able to sleep after everything that had happened that night. But the second my head hit the pillow, I slipped into the most restful sleep I’d had since I’d moved there.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I went back to school on Tuesday. My family spent the Monday together, just watching movies and eating ice cream and relaxing. Even Stache just hung out and did nothing, which was pretty much the first time ever. My parents said Tom and I could have the week off, but that’s the last thing I wanted. I was ready to get back to my normal life and hang out with my friends and pine after Liam and even do my math homework. It’s amazing what you miss when you think you might not get to do it anymore.
Tom was a little more reluctant to go back, but he told my parents he was sticking close to me. He also told them he had decided to take up photography, so he was back to normal.
Mia and Shal were waiting by the portable steps like every other day, and I joined them and gave them both a hug, wincing just a little. They’d been calling and messaging non-stop the last two days, and I was very appreciative. It was nice to have friends. When the hugs and reunions were over, things quickly got back to normal. I sat and listened to Shal gossip about P
aul, who was standing with Steve and Liam on the other side of the yard. Apparently us all going to the movie didn’t mean we were a group now, which I’d kind of hoped for, but Liam did give me a little wave. I felt my cheeks flush.
“Laura Lovesick is at it again,” Shal said, smirking.
Mia giggled. “Think you guys will go on another date?”
I picked a piece of grass and let it float off in the breeze.
“I hope so.”
“Really?” Shal said, looking past me and shaking her head. “On a Tuesday?”
I followed her gaze and saw Allison Black walking into the schoolyard, wearing a long, flowery summer dress and a white shawl that contrasted sharply with her raven hair. It was quite the change from her Sword’s uniform. I was guessing she was trying to go back to normal too. I smiled knowingly as she walked straight toward us.
“Morning, girls,” Allison said. She was flanked by Ashley and another seagull as usual. The seagull, a girl named Carly, looked at me haughtily.
“Love your graphic T-shirt,” Carly said. “Very original. It’s like Haute Fat Couture.”
“Shut up,” Allison said.
Carly and Ashley looked stunned.
Allison just smiled and walked away, followed by two very confused-looking seagulls.
Mia poked her head around the portable. “Did that just happen?”
Shal and I broke out laughing.
The rest of the school day was normal enough, except for right at the end. I was just packing up my backpack when I noticed Liam walking toward me.
I straightened immediately and tried to act natural. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said.
His hair was up in kind of a cowlick today, and he was wearing a new striped blue shirt that really brought out his eyes.
“Just want to say thanks again for the movie. It was fun.”
“Yeah, totally,” I said. Totally? Ugh. “We should all do it again sometime.”
“Yeah, I was going to say the same thing.” He paused. “Maybe this weekend?”
Was Liam R. Kelp asking me out? I felt my knees wobbling.
“Yeah,” I said, sounding ten times too eager. “I’ll tell Mia and Shal.”
He grinned. “Awesome. See you tomorrow.”
“See ya,” I said, trying not to run around skipping as he walked away.
Liam wanted to see another movie with me. Well, and the others. But still. Best day ever. I hurried back to my locker, thinking that eighth grade might just be a great year after all.
—
“So, how was your day?” my mom asked, scooping some mashed potatoes onto her plate.
I glanced at her. “Good. Liam asked if I wanted to go to the movies again this weekend.”
Stache shook his head.
He hadn’t managed to finish the house, but it was definitely coming along. The kitchen was all done now, and the bathrooms were painted and polished. There were still a few hallways that were cracking and yellowed, and the dining room was still just a massive pile of boxes. But it was getting there, and it was starting to feel like home.
“I don’t like this kid already,” Stache grumbled.
“I think it’s cute,” my mom said. “More potatoes, Tom?”
Tom was busy feeling around for potatoes on his plate. “Maybe a scoop.”
“How was your day?” she asked, plopping some beside his fork.
“Pretty good,” he said casually. “My EA broke up with her boyfriend. Found an email. Not good. She went to the bathroom to cry for awhile.”
My mom sighed. “Anything else?”
“Not really. Football tryouts are next week, so we better start playing catch in the yard, Dad. I heard they have a pretty good quarterback already, but I think I can take him.”
My dad just nodded. “Sounds good, Tom.”
“I’ve been thinking,” my mom said, glancing at my father. “With the kidnapping, and the disappearances, maybe we should have a family discussion about moving again—”
“No!” Tom and I said at the same time.
My mom looked taken aback, while Stache just grinned.
“I told you, honey. When I was done with this place, they’d never want to leave.”
“Exactly,” I said, and saw Tom smile and dig into his potatoes.
—
Later that night I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when I decided to go check in on Derwin. Eldon had told me to take a few days and get some rest, but I wanted to know what was going on. After plummeting down in the elevator, not even holding onto the lever anymore, I emerged to find Porton sitting in the old rocking chair as usual, wearing a knowing grin through that thicket of bushy white hair.
“Welcome back, Monster Crusher. I hear you’ve been busy.”
I snorted. “You could say that.”
He looked at the elevator thoughtfully. “They’ve been talking about you. Saying you saved Derwin from certain destruction. And all this from the girl who almost ran away.” His grey eyes twinkled as he looked at me. “What do you think of yourself now?”
I shrugged and started into the meadow.
“I can swing a mean hammer.”
I heard him laughing as I strode across the meadow, taking in the scenery fully now: the scent of fresh grass; the darting, dancing butterflies; and the sounds of laughter and song in the distance. I had helped save something magical, and that was a pretty good feeling. When I walked through the village this time, people waved and called out my name. Children ran up to give me flowers, and soon I had a whole arrangement bursting between my fingers, purple and red and gold. Even the men by the tavern, the ones who had always looked at me so scornfully, raised their glasses and shouted cheers. I didn’t even know what to say. I just waved and hurried on, smiling.
When I finally reached Arnwell Castle, it seemed that nothing had changed. The Monster Crushers were training with their Swords in the courtyard, stabbing fake creatures and jumping over logs and swinging on ropes. But when I walked in, many started clapping and cheering, and Lee even gave me a hug, which had me blushing so much I tried to brush my hair over my cheeks.
“Well done,” he said, flashing me a smile and shaking my shoulder.
I muttered something like thanks, meeting his eyes for a second and then quickly looking away. Oh, Lee. Not quite Liam R. Kelp, but definitely something.
I spotted Allison watching from the courtyard, and I waved and walked over. She glared at me as I approached. Was she actually jealous? That was laughable in itself.
“What were you talking about?” she asked sharply.
“Cupcakes,” I said. “What do you think?”
She just scowled and folded her arms. “He always talks to you.”
“So why don’t you go talk to him?”
“Me?” she said, flushing just a little. “And say what?”
I couldn’t believe I was having to do this. She was acting like Mia Mouse.
“I don’t know…hello? Ask him to hang out sometime.”
She shifted, and then nodded. “Okay. I can do that.”
I watched as she approached, wondering how a girl that looked like that would ever be afraid of talking to a boy. Of course, Lee was probably the cutest boy I’d ever seen. Ugh. They were perfect.
They spoke for a moment, and then Allison stormed back toward me, her small dark eyes flashing dangerously. I raised my eyebrows. Why weren’t they in love already?
“What happened?”
“He said girls were a distraction,” she hissed. “He said that he wouldn’t be able to spend any time with me anyway, since I was your Sword. It wouldn’t be proper.”
I glanced at Lee, and he gave me a shrug and a smile. I couldn’t help it. I laughed.
Allison just glared at me. “I hate you,” she muttered.
“But you have to protect me.”
“Shut up.”
“Besties?”
She just scowled and scooped up a bow. “I’m going to go kil
l things.”
I laughed as she stormed off. Even Allison Black couldn’t get everything, I guess. I watched as she shot a feathered arrow into a fake goblin’s forehead. She was a difficult girl sometimes, and kind of mean, but I was very glad she was one of my Swords.
Eldon soon appeared, striding toward me from the castle. He looked different now: the heavy bags under his eyes were gone, and he’d shaved the thick stubble that had been creeping across his neck and face. His hair was loose, falling past a rare smile.
“Hello, Laura,” he said. “I was wondering when you might pop by.”
“Figured I’d get some rest.”
He nodded. “Derwin is in a full celebration, as are the other realms. Many of the Monster Crushers used the battle here as a cover to push their own enemies back, so we have peace…for now. The Brotherhood are planning a celebration for you in Derwin a month from today. It seems they have a medal for you.”
“Sweet,” I said. “I haven’t won anything in awhile.”
“And probably nothing like this,” he said proudly. “I was wrong, you know.”
“About what?”
“The spell being broken. Magic is strange sometimes…your brother might have been the target of the monsters, but you ended up being their bane. You’ve done well.”
He suddenly grew sombre.
“I paid Laine a visit. The Brotherhood wanted his head, but I told them you asked for him to be spared, and they reluctantly agreed. He is forbidden from re-entering Derwin, or from going near your home. I believe he’s currently planning to move. I told him that would be a good idea.”
I nodded sadly. “I still can’t believe it.”
“Neither can I. But it’s a reminder that we always have to watch our backs.”
“So what now?” I asked.
He shrugged. “The war isn’t over, I’m afraid. The monsters have fallen back, and it will take them some time to find a new leader. Months, maybe years. But they will return eventually, I’m sure. We’ll just have to be there when they do. And there are other monsters to watch out for of course, so we’ll stay busy. Speaking of which, your brother…”
“No.”
