The Guardian's Protector: The Chamber of Souls

by Debbie Kowalczyk

  ‘Unfortunately not. Once the dark has taken over a soul, there’s nothing we can do. If we tried to save her, we’d kill her. Same with Luke. The only thing we can do is void this life so they don’t lose any points they’ve gained from their last lives.’

  Amy stared at her for a moment. ‘There must be something.’

  Adaizi looked over her glasses, her eyes fixed on Amy’s. ‘It doesn’t hurt to invoke the light, you know. We just have to open a channel inside you, then all you have to do is relax enough to visit your higher self, then you will receive the power.’

  ‘I don’t want to speak to my higher self. I don’t want to be given a lecture about what I agreed. I don’t want to meet the person who agreed to help train him to fight!’

  ‘You will visit the Decision Maker for a source of comfort. The fact that you will remember who else you are only helps you. You will be both Nevaeh and Amy when you enter the Divine Realm.’

  ‘I don’t want to feel confused. I’m clear that I shouldn’t have agreed to this mission.’

  ‘You’ll feel better once you connect to yourself.’

  ‘“Myself,”’ who agreed to train Tom?’

  ‘Your higher self isn’t as stubborn as your lower self. If you wanted something that Nevaeh didn’t, you would win. All you will be doing is remembering. It just means nothing would have to be explained. You say you want to protect Tom from what could hurt him, right?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Adaizi raised her eyebrows. ‘Do you not also want to protect him from the pain of losing his mother?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘We could have lost you last night. That kind of behaviour will lose Tom his mother, and he needs his mother. Without you, the one person he trusts most in the world, the person who makes him extremely powerful, this mission could fail.’

  Amy didn’t know what to say to that. Adaizi telling her Tom needed her definitely caught her off guard. She stared at Adaizi with a blank expression for a moment before weakly making her retort: ‘I believe there’s always a way around things.’

  Adaizi paused for a second and looked at her seriously. ‘I don’t believe there’s another way and I’ve valid reason for that. The last thing I’d do is put this loving boy in harm’s way if it wasn’t what he agreed. Or if it wasn’t necessary.’

  ‘Maybe it’s not necessary!’ Amy said, clinging to the idea.

  ‘Even though you have resistance, I believe in you. Although,’ she added contemplatively, ‘I also trust things happen for a reason and that good always comes out of bad so, even though your refusal to invoke the light worries me, I’m not so concerned.’

  ‘No?’

  Adaizi shook her head and looked in deep thought. ‘No,’ she answered like she meant it. ‘It will be sad to lose you…and Tom will be distraught without his mother…but …if the reason you not invoking the light turns out to be that you will die because of it, the good from that bad would be that we could then take over Tom’s upbringing and…’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ Amy shouted in horror. The thought made her skin crawl. Adaizi knew exactly how to get under her skin, but she didn’t think she’d claw her way under. ‘A compromise is in order.’

  Adaizi’s face lit. ‘A compromise?’

  ‘I’ll make you a deal,’ Amy offered, trying to think fast. ‘If I’m in danger, or Tom ends up in danger because I’ve not invoked the light, then I’ll invoke the light to protect myself…but I won’t visit my higher self.’

  ‘I’m afraid the two go hand in hand. You open a channel first to enable you to invoke the light. To invoke the light you then must visit Omnipion. Once you have visited then you can use the light you have been given.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘And if you’re only going to wait until you’re in danger, when that time comes please call for me so I can save you.’

  ‘I did try to call you. I thought you’d sent someone because you must have heard me think your name.’

  ‘No,’ Adaizi said, but she didn’t look confused.

  ‘Well, who was the man made of light in the alley?’

  ‘A Guardian who just happened to have a vision of you being in trouble. You were lucky!’

  ‘How many Guardians are there on this mission? I feel like I’m being watched at every turn. First you, then Rose, now someone else.’

  ‘On this mission there are just three for now. Tom included. Rose isn’t a Guardian, though. She’s, let’s say, a discrepancy in the Test. She shouldn’t have remembered the Truelife but she did. Nevertheless, she’s part of the mission too and valuable help.’

  ‘So four?’

  ‘Winston, five. You make six. We can recruit more help when the time comes to make the numbers equal to the Dogod’s army. There are Guardians with completed missions scattered all around the world we could also call upon.’

  Amy sighed. ‘If I’m in danger ever again, I will call you. If I ever have to do that, I will then—and only then—invoke the light…but…I won’t change my mind about training Tom to fight!’ Amy said, holding him tight.

  Adaizi, trusting Amy’s honour, patiently agreed.

  CHAPTER 10

  THE UNINVITED GUEST

  ‘Guess what you can do today,’ Amy said to Tom as they walked down the road.

  He looked up at her, his amazing eyes alive with excitement. ‘Me blow candle on bufday cake?’ he asked. Every party the café hosted, Tom had to watch children blow out candles. Amy couldn’t wait to watch Tom do it.

  ‘Yes.’ Amy smiled. ‘So no going in the ball pit today!’ she added.

  ‘Yes won’t!’ he said, nodding his head as they stepped into the café. Tom took one look around and gasped. There must’ve been a hundred colourful balloons all around the place and a ‘Happy Birthday Tom’ banner spanned the entrance to the play area.

  Tom ran to Jack and Winston. ‘Love Jack. Love Winston. My TVD,’ he shouted, holding his arms up, referring to the TV and DVD player he’d opened from them before he came.

  ‘You’re welcome!’ they answered, picking one arm and one leg each side of him and swinging him into a group hug.

  Mark entered, bending his huge, chiselled frame under the kitchen doorway. His piercing teal green eyes caught Amy’s first. As he smiled, Amy’s heart rate soared.

  ‘Father Christmas!’ Tom shouted gleefully. The guys placed him back on the floor and Tom ran to him. Mark smiled and patted his head then handed him a present: a set of plastic coloured letters and a small magnetic white board to stick them to.

  ‘Wow,’ Tom said. ‘Thank you!’ Mark secured the board into a sturdy position and then reached in the bag and placed a few letters on the board. Tom stood tall and pointed to each letter. ‘T, H, P and N.’

  Mark looked impressed. ‘He’s learnt his letters already, I see.’

  ‘Yes, thanks to you, he’s mastered that book already!’ Amy’s voice was sweeter than usual. Mark was there to cover her shift. He was also the reason for her brand new silk dress the shrewd expensive shop assistant told her brought out her eyes.

  ‘I’ve got a few early learning books. I could bring him some others if you like.’ Mark smiled his handsome, shy smile at her and this time she didn’t even notice his scar. His hand rested on the counter next to hers; her heart fluttered at the thought he might touch it.

  ‘Yes, I’d love that,’ she agreed, a little too enthusiastically. ‘I mean he’d love that!’ Thankfully, as she’d just begun to blush, the doors opened and guests walked in. The three lads, taking up their work positions, led all the mothers and children through.

  Out of all the children who turned up, only Molly ran to Tom. Molly decided that today, as soon as he opened his presents, he would be her dog. In consideration for his new suit, she allowed him to be led by his hand instead of walking him on all fours.

  When Frank and Alicia arrived with Thomas and Joan, Amy walked into the café area to greet them. Thomas shook Jack’s hand enthusiastically and Joan gave him a kiss b
ut, as Frank told Jack how good it was to see him, Alicia stared at him with a look of disgust.

  ‘How many squiggly daft lines have you got now?’ she grated, looking at the S shaped tattoos he had on both forearms like he was an idiot.

  ‘They’re F-holes!’ Jack clarified. ‘You know, from a violin, an elegant and endearing instrument.’ He held out his forearms and smiled with pride for his art. Even though it was obvious Jack thought she was rude, and knew the question was rhetorical, he smiled, lowered his arms, and answered: ‘And I have fifteen.’

  ‘Hasn’t Frank got three tattoos?’ Amy asked, her tone remaining as sweet as possible because of Mark.

  ‘They’re hidden though, aren’t they?’ Alicia smirked and then gave her a filthy look. ‘And is it some kind of rule that you must have ridiculous hair to work here or what?’ Amy looked at Jack, whose hair, now past his shoulders and full of beads, had begun to form complete dreadlocks, and then to Winston’s, who could have been stashing at least four birds, and then touched her own mass of curls, embarrassed she hadn’t straightened it.

  Frank put on his best never-mind-my-wife-she’s-only-joking face, while Joan smiled nervously. Ignoring them all, Thomas walked into the play area and patted Tom on the head. Amy, picking up Francesca, followed him in.

  ‘How’s my best grandson?’ Thomas asked him.

  ‘Me best son okay, Granddad,’ Tom said, hugging him tight. Molly reluctantly let go of his hand.

  ‘Look who’s here, Tom,’ Amy said. Francesca’s hair was in pigtails and she was wearing the beautiful lemon dress Amy had bought for her first birthday.

  ‘Francesca!’ Tom said excitedly. Francesca smiled at him and Amy placed her beside him. Towering above her, he took her hand in his to support her unsteady walk.

  ‘Molly,’ Tracy called, worried her daughter was in the way. ‘Come here.’

  ‘She’s okay,’ Amy assured her. ‘She can hold his other hand.’ Tom held out his other hand and Molly smiled as she took it.

  Tracy smiled then turned, her attention taken by someone’s arrival. ‘Hello,’ Tracy said enthusiastically as Alicia entered the play area.

  Alicia looked confused. ‘Err, hi. What are you doing here?’

  ‘Me and Molly come here all the time. Molly and Tom are inseparable,’ Tracy answered. Alicia’s face dropped. ‘I didn’t realise you were related to Tom,’ Tracy added.

  ‘I’m not. Frank is!’ she said, looking insulted. As Amy was led away with the three children, she couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation. Amy sat the children on the picnic mat and went to get them some drinks. As Amy passed, Alicia began to laugh with Tracy, which bothered her more than she could have imagined. She couldn’t believe Alicia knew Tracy; they were nothing alike. She just hoped Alicia wasn’t saying anything bad about Tom.

  As Amy returned with the drinks, she caught Tom talking to a lady who’d come with a mother and child he knew. She was smiling at him.

  ‘We’ve just been having a right chin-wag,’ the lady said. ‘He’s been telling me what he got for his birthday. He’s adorable.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Amy smiled.

  ‘How old is he?’ she asked innocently.

  Amy hesitated, fearing the smile will be wiped off her face. ‘He’s one!’ Amy wasn’t wrong; all pleasantries were washed from her face. She scowled at Amy and then stood and walked away.

  A while later, she heard the woman ranting to the lady she’d come with and another mother. ‘She’s deluded!’

  ‘Ah, but,’ the other woman said, ‘he’s the boy they all talk about, isn’t he?’ She turned to the friend she’d come with. ‘I didn’t know his actual age. I just got the invite and came! Were you told his age?’

  ‘No. I heard he was only one, but I thought it was a rumour.’

  ‘Obviously!’ said the first lady. ‘I spoke to him. There is no way that boy’s one year old!’

  The next minute, Amy recognised Tracy’s voice joining in. ‘Who’s not one?’

  ‘Tom,’ said the lady.

  ‘I know Tom well,’ Tracy laughed. ‘He’s definitely not one year old!’

  Amy’s heart sank. Tracy had never once asked Tom’s age. She’d likely presumed from his size and abilities that he was around Molly’s age.

  ‘She just said he’s one!’ the lady said, pointing to Amy.

  Tracy shook her head at the lady and walked to Amy. As she came close Amy’s palms began to sweat.

  ‘Amy,’ Tracy began with a puzzled look, ‘that lady said you told her Tom’s one.’

  ‘Yes!’ Amy responded, not knowing how she would react.

  Tracy searched Amy’s face for a moment. ‘Why did you tell her that?’ She laughed uncomfortably.

  ‘Because she asked,’ Amy said patiently, waiting for the fact to sink in.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Tracy looked at Amy like she was mad. Amy felt sorry for Tracy now; she obviously didn’t understand. Before Amy could state that he was one, the look on her face darkened.

  ‘Seriously, he’s just one?’

  ‘She take me for walk,’ Tom interrupted, being led by Molly. Alicia picked up Francesca and stared over Tracy’s shoulder with a grin on her face.

  ‘He my doggy today!’ Molly announced. Tracy smiled but it certainly wasn’t her normal smile.

  ‘See you, woof woof,’ Tom said, thankfully oblivious.

  ‘Good doggy,’ Molly cooed, patting him on the head as she dragged him away.

  Amy, completely ignoring Tracy and the others’ reactions, took Francesca from Alicia. ‘Would you like some cake, gorgeous?’ she asked. Francesca looked up at her, vague recognition in her eyes for all Amy’s words; a blatant example of what a one-year-old should look like. She understood most things, but there was a huge difference between her and Tom. As Amy walked towards the kitchen, the women broke into gossip.

  Francesca gasped excitedly at all the fairy cakes sat neatly on a tray, ready to take through. Amy leant forward so she could grab one but, just as Francesca’s hand touched the big pink one, the café door opened. As it shut, the sound of cutlery on plates stopped, all chattering ceased and an air of hatred crawled up behind her. Without turning around, Amy knew who had entered.

  The chill to her spine, a warning of imminent danger, left Amy unable to turn. Gripping Francesca tight, she could feel their eyes boring into her back. Knowing they stood waiting for her to turn, her body quivered.

  ‘Where was our invite?’ Kate said, her voice shrill and cold. As Kate spoke a hot sensation overwhelmed Amy.

  Amy turned on her heel, noticing first the reactions of the customers—their faces frozen in horror—and looked Kate square in the face. ‘It must have gotten lost in the post!’ Amy stammered, then swallowed to relieve her dry throat.

  Ethan, also huge for his age, stood with a crooked smile and a murderous glint in his eyes. Amy was as taken aback by his ever-worsening appearance as the customers. One side of his misshapen face looked to be pulling his skin, making his nose bent and his right eye drawn. His skin, now a definite, pale grey, made the blue, veined lines more prominent.

  ‘Oh that poor boy,’ one old lady whispered to her friend at the back table as if in sympathy yet Amy could tell it was apparent to all Ethan held a vicious nature.

  Mark stared intently at him from behind the counter, Jack looked alarmed—his head turning from Amy to Kate—and the rest of the people looked horrified.

  Ethan left Kate’s side and strolled past each table, his cold, glaring eyes revelling in the fear he caused. Instinctively, most people diverted their eyes, but some couldn’t help but stare. Amy was transfixed. As he reached the gap in the counter Ethan spun his head to Jack and Mark and hissed, baring his teeth like a rabid dog. Jack’s eyes were wide with alarm. Mark continued to stare yet he showed no feelings towards him. Kate remained by the door, her expression vacant.

  As Ethan moved forward to make his way into the play area, Amy stepped out of the kitchen and said, ‘You’re not
invited!’

  He stopped and narrowed his eyes, a flicker of amusement passing behind them. ‘Like I care,’ he said, his voice as deep and dominant as a sergeant major. As his pupils grew large, Amy’s eyes grew heavy. Just as her mind was beginning to cloud, Jack stepped forward.

  ‘Err…look,’ he shouted over to Kate. ‘If Amy says you’re not invited then you’re not invited!’

  Ethan’s head spun to face Jack, breaking Amy’s heavy feeling. ‘I’ll do what I want!’ he growled. Jack stood back in shock and silence spread through the play area, his presence now known in both buildings.

  ‘Don’t let him pass!’ Amy said, feeling trapped. She wanted to enter the play area to protect Tom, but she didn’t want to put Francesca in danger. Mark, aware of how frightened Amy was and seemingly wanting to protect her, made a slight move towards Ethan.

  ‘Don’t you learn?’ Ethan asked. He turned and addressed the entire café: ‘I’m walking into this room,’ he said, his eyes resting on each individual, making sure they knew he was to be feared. ‘Try and stop me…’ he hissed, turning back to Mark, ‘…and everyone will die!’

  His words brought gasps all around the café. One young girl sitting with her mother began to wail. Ethan clicked his fingers in the air and Kate snapped out of her sombre stare, walked towards him and took his hand. He then walked forward while she followed. Mark and Jack, taking him as serious as Amy knew him to be, didn’t know what to do. They looked to Amy as if waiting for further instructions. As Mark’s eyes filled with concern and agitation, she realised how much he appeared to care for her and Tom.

  Amy quickly passed Francesca to Jack. ‘Stay here!’ she said.

  ‘Amy,’ he whispered, grabbing her arm, ‘there’s something wrong with that kid. I don’t mean his condition, whatever the hell that is. I mean something else. He’s not right!’ Jack tapped his temple to indicate mental problems.

  ‘I know,’ Amy said, pulling her arm back and following them in. Each face within the play area filled with shock as they took in the terrible sight of Ethan and Kate. Some mothers quickly grabbed their children to their sides or picked them up protectively.