‘We need to be quiet,’ Adaizi said, looking over her round glasses out the door to make sure no one was coming. She turned to Amy. ‘We have to get him out of here!’ Tears still streaming down her cheeks, Amy nodded and made to help him up. Thomas didn’t need telling twice; he hurried out of bed while Amy helped him with his balance.
‘Hey you…you with the hands,’ the old lady across the hall yelled. ‘I know you’ve got powers…I’ve just seen them. Please…I want to go!’
Adaizi took one sympathetic look at the lady and stopped.
‘Come on,’ the lady continued desperately, her lined face scrunched, making her look like a bulldog puppy. Adaizi sauntered over to her, placed her hands in hers and stared lovingly into her eyes. ‘I can…see them,’ the old lady whispered now with a little fear in her tone. Adaizi gently kissed her forehead and she drifted slowly away.
Amy didn’t know how to feel. One half of her felt totally shocked that Adaizi had just helped someone die, but knowing what she knew—that she would now have entered bliss—she couldn’t help but feel pleased for the woman. Amy had never seen such relief sweep across somebody’s face; death left her with such a content expression that Amy smiled. Amy’s parents were simply in awe.
As Adaizi returned, Amy grabbed her parents and Adaizi’s hands and they Light-Voided to the living room of the Crofts’ cottage.
‘Arhh!’ Joan said with a shudder.
‘I’ll leave you to talk for a while,’ Adaizi murmured, the glint in her eye now sympathetic. Knowing she didn’t have long left with them, Amy’s heart sank.
CHAPTER 27
THE GOODBYE
No sooner had Adaizi left in a Light-Void, Amy’s parents began speaking at high speed.
‘What the…?’ Thomas began.
‘How on Earth?’ Joan interrupted.
‘How’s this possible?’
‘I don’t understand…’
‘Please, tell me what’s going on!’ Thomas cried. ‘How am I better? Who the hell was that woman? How the hell does that bubble thing work? What is…’
‘Sit down,’ Amy instructed, not knowing where to begin. ‘I’ll make us a pot of tea and then I’ll try to explain.’
As Amy walked through to the kitchen, dawn broke. As a few rays shone through the window, she thought of Tom. She knew Mark would take care of him when he woke but, once she’d explained everything to her parents, she would have to tell him he was right; he wouldn’t see them again.
After making the pot of tea, Amy spent all morning explaining who and what she and Tom were, the powers she had been given in the hope to save Tom from his fate, and the truth about Adaizi and Mark. Her parents held expressions of amazement, awe, confusion and disbelief throughout but, as Amy showed them the light in her hands, her parents broke into tears.
This time, even though the information looked like it had it scared them beyond belief, her parents couldn’t have been more apologetic. In this moment, peering into both her parents’ sorrowful eyes, the thought of having to say goodbye broke her heart.
‘There’s something you’re not telling us, isn’t there?’ Thomas said, noting the pain behind Amy’s eyes. She nodded and, as her sparkling eyes filled with tears, hung her head.
‘What is it?’ Joan asked, exhausted from the amount of information she’d already taken in.
‘I have to say…goodbye to you. You’re not safe if we stay in your life. The Dogod will kill anyone I’m close to,’ she answered, trying to sound strong.
‘I don’t care who’s after you,’ Thomas said. ‘I can look after myself!’
‘It’s not as easy as that, Dad,’ she reasoned, taking his hand. ‘It’s for your safety. I’ve seen what he can do, and it’s more than vicious,’ she said, trying to wipe out the flashing images of Mark’s parents from her mind.
‘There’s always a way,’ Joan interjected.
‘There isn’t. He will slaughter you! Then he’ll laugh as he revels in the pain he’s causing, just to get at Tom and me. You are not safe! I’m sorry, I have to say goodbye.’
‘No!’ Joan said, her eyes filling with tears. ‘I won’t have it! You can tell that Guardian of yours that we won’t lose you.’
Amy’s eyes were full of pain as she stood tall. ‘I’m going to get Tom to come and say goodbye. Phone Frank and tell him what’s happened. Tell him to come over because we need to say goodbye to him too. I’m so sorry. Adaizi!’ Amy called before they could protest. Another flash and Adaizi entered the living room.
Adaizi turned to look at her parents’ distraught faces. ‘I’m so sorry,’ Adaizi said to them. They stared coldly at her like she was to blame, their shades darkening, like Amy had done herself so many times before. Amy looked from their eyes to Adaizi’s and, watching Adaizi take every ounce of their contempt, felt much sorrow for her.
‘We’ll be back soon. Get Frank!’ Amy instructed, taking Adaizi’s hand.
‘Are you all right?’ Adaizi asked as they landed inside Amy’s bedroom.
Amy held her chest. ‘This is harder than I thought!’ Amy answered, feeling a dreadful compression inside her heart.
‘I know, beautiful,’ Adaizi said, allowing Amy to lean into her. ‘You’re doing so well. I’m so proud of you.’
‘What am I going to say to Tom?’
Adaizi looked at Amy with much love in her eyes. ‘How about the truth?’
‘Hmm,’ Amy said, determining how she could whitewash the truth. She wiped her eyes before she walked downstairs and headed straight into the classroom.
‘Can Tom be excused today, Mr Smith?’ Amy asked, her voice high and jolly as if everything were fine. ‘We have a family matter to attend to,’ she added.
Mark noted her brave face and put one on himself. ‘Okay class,’ he said in a similar tone. ‘Mr Croft has to leave early today so I think it only fair that Miss Richards can finish too.’
‘Yeah!’ Lucy yelled, putting her hand up to high-five Tom. Tom smiled at Lucy, but Amy could see he wasn’t falling for the false pleasantries.
‘We’re going to see Grandma and Granddad, aren’t we?’
‘Yes, Tom, we are.’
‘Why?’ he asked, looking fearful.
‘Let’s go have a little chat,’ she replied, holding her hand out for him. As she made to leave, Mark gave her a supportive smile and she smiled gratefully back. She will always remember the way in which he had helped her. As the vivid image flashed through her mind, her heart flapped as though in a state of panic.
Looking at him in this moment she knew, no matter who else she was about to lose, that he would always be there for her. He would do anything he could for her. He was her family now!
Amy took Tom up to his room and, after David followed through, shut the door. ‘Sit down, Tom,’ Amy instructed, holding his hand and sitting on his bed. He sat and David jumped up beside him, staring at Amy with nearly the same sad expression Tom held. ‘I’m going to try to explain as best I can what’s happening,’ she began, trying to stop her eyes from watering.
‘Okay,’ Tom said patiently. Not even five years of age, yet his mannerisms resembled the wisdom of a man.
Every time she looked at him, even before knowing about the power he held inside him, and without noting his pure white shade, she knew he was special. Since her visit to Omnipion, she knew he was the Bright One, the Dogod’s nemesis, but at this moment he was still just her child, innocent and unaware of what was to come. She was about to do what she didn’t want to do: tell him things! She knew she would have to tell him some things, even if she was still going to protect him, but she still felt strongly enough to make sure he’d never live out the fate set out for him. As she stared at him, she also knew he was intuitive enough not to be misled.
‘Granddad’s not going to die any more, is he?’ he asked, although the question was more of a statement.
‘No, he’s not,’ Amy said, her heart turning in appreciation for the fact. ‘He’s well again.’
‘But we can’t see them any more, can we?’ He looked like he could have cried at any moment.
Amy’s throat was so dry she had to swallow hard before she could respond. ‘No we can’t,’ Amy answered, holding his hand.
He sat up, his stunning grey eyes full of pain and spoke in a soft, trembling voice. ‘Why?’
Her heart tightened. ‘They’re not safe if we stay in their life,’ Amy replied, trying her best to hold it together. ‘It’s for their protection that we stay away.’
He looked at her for a moment and then something wild flickered in his eyes. ‘Because of Ethan!’ The words again needed no confirmation.
‘Yes.’
Tom leant forward and squeezed her hand, his expression full of concern. ‘That’s okay, Mum,’ he said in a comforting tone. ‘I want them to be safe. Don’t you?’ Amy looked at him in awe. As soon as he knew the reason why, the fact was fully accepted and instantly understood. It didn’t matter who he was—for anyone to be so clear minded for right and wrong was beyond her.
She stared at him for a moment. ‘Yes.’
‘Then let’s go and say goodbye,’ he said, wiping another tear that fell from his eye and standing from his bed.
She took both his hands and pulled him towards her. ‘Do you know how much I love you, Tom?’
‘Yes, I do,’ he said, a smile spreading across his face and reaching his eyes.
‘I love you enough to cover the amount of all the family you’ll lose today!’ she cried, taking him into her arms.
‘I know that too,’ he repeated, squeezing her as hard as she squeezed him.
‘As long as Jack lives here we can keep him, though.’
‘Because Mark can protect him, can’t he?’
‘Yes. We’ll always have Mark. And Adaizi!’
‘Then I’ll always have plenty of love around me. Don’t worry, Mum,’ Tom said, again comforting her. ‘You will always have enough love from me to cover what you’ll lose today!’ His shade was almost blinding as he spoke.
She couldn’t help it; she broke down into tears. She didn’t know about the rest of the world, but he was definitely her saviour. She stood proudly with the strength he’d given her, and took his hand.
‘We’re going in a bubble of light, aren’t we?’ he asked, excitedly.
‘Yes,’ Amy said. ‘Watch this,’ she added.
‘What?’
‘Adaizi.’
‘Wow!’
‘Hello, gorgeous boy!’ Adaizi cried, as she materialised. ‘You ready?’ she added to Amy with a sympathetic look.
‘Ready.’
‘Your brother, sister-in-law and niece are now there. Your parents have told them everything. We’ll let you say goodbye and then…I’ll take their memories.’
Amy now felt even more nervous about the goodbye. With one deep breath for strength, Amy took Tom and Adaizi’s hands and they Light-Voided into the hallway of the cottage. Amy led the way into the living room.
On the sofa, Alicia held Frank’s hand, for he had been crying, and Francesca sat on her granddad’s knee in the chair, looking extremely happy. Looking at her beautiful niece, Amy’s heart gave another harsh pang. Joan had been in the kitchen and was walking back into the front room. Seeing Adaizi behind her daughter, she let out a yelp.
‘You’ve changed your mind?’ she said, panic-stricken. ‘You’re taking him back to the hospital, aren’t you?’
‘No, no,’ Adaizi said reassuringly.
Joan relaxed a little but still held contempt for her.
Thomas smiled politely at Adaizi as she entered the living room, but Alicia and Francesca looked frightened.
Frank sat up to meet the mysterious woman walking through with Amy. ‘So you’re a…Guardian…like Tom, are you?’ he asked.
‘I am,’ Adaizi confirmed. Amy suddenly felt panicked; she knew by the look on his face Tom had stored the word in his brain until later.
‘Please, have a seat, Adaizi,’ Thomas offered, who looked like he had never had a day’s illness in his life. He was being overly nice to the woman he thought was to blame for this goodbye.
‘Thank you so much,’ Adaizi said. As she approached the sofa to sit down, Alicia jumped up from where she sat as if she was about to be attacked, her shade dark grey.
Frank was more concerned with Tom. He kept his captivated eyes on his nephew the whole time. Tom caught his eye and smiled at his uncle, but Amy could see, with Frank’s shade deepening and brightening, there was no way Tom could make out how his uncle felt.
Thomas stood and coughed, a sign that he wanted silence. ‘I would first like to thank Amy for saving me,’ he began, trying to stop himself from choking up. ‘I always knew you were special, kiddo!’ he added, now only looking at her. Then he faced Adaizi. ‘But I would like to add that I would rather be dead than lose her so, Adaizi, I’m not accepting this!’
‘It’s none negotiable, Dad,’ Amy said with a truly sorrowful expression. She didn’t know how to break the news to them that they were about to lose their memories too. She didn’t want them to lose their memories of her and Tom, if anything, for the simple fact that for once, Tom was looked upon as special.
‘I’ll never get over it!’ he continued, more sternly.
‘You don’t have to,’ Adaizi said, her heartfelt words almost gave them hope, but her regretful and compassionate expression didn’t. Before they could ask anything, Amy interjected.
‘Adaizi’s going to take…to take…to take…’ Amy’s voice trailed off as she looked back to Adaizi to take over. Tom squeezed in between Adaizi and his uncle Frank. Alicia stood next to Joan, looking scared.
‘I need to take your memories about Tom being a Guardian, and about what Amy did,’ Adaizi said. The whole family shot worried and annoyed glances at each other.
‘Suits me!’ Alicia said snottily, a slight smirk appearing across her face. After being told how wonderfully gifted Amy was, and how Tom was a divine soul, Amy understood why she suddenly looked pleased.
‘I don’t think you understand,’ Adaizi continued. ‘We need to take your memories of them altogether!’ Adaizi’s glistening, magical eyes, although still remaining kind, dared Alicia to say another word.
‘But why?’ Frank asked, ignoring his wife.
‘I know it’s hard,’ Adaizi said sympathetically, ‘but it’s for your protection. Not only would the Dogod kill you given half the chance but…’
‘I don’t care!’ Thomas shouted, his shade turning darker than Amy had seen it, although his anger wasn’t lost on anyone.
‘You don’t care that he will kill your granddaughter?’ Adaizi asked, motioning to Francesca.
‘He’s going to kill my grandson, isn’t he?’ he said as if that somehow made it fair.
‘Yeah!’ Adaizi replied, matter-of-factly. Amy looked from her dad to Tom, but Tom looked more interested in what was being said than the facts themselves. Frank looked more concerned for his daughter. Alicia just looked confused. Joan was in turmoil; she could see there was no getting out of it.
‘Well then, we’ll all be in danger together,’ Thomas said. ‘I want to help protect them!’ Amy couldn’t believe how brave he was being. His love for her standing out above anything meant the world to her, but she couldn’t believe his naivety. He truly thought he could win. It reminded her of her own naivety.
‘We don’t want to put you in that danger!’ Adaizi said, her voice still kind. ‘You’re saying this out of obligation but, although this is noble, you don’t need to. Amy thought she would one day say goodbye to you when she entered the Chamber for this mission. She chose parents she believed were strong enough to handle the loss.’ Adaizi looked at Amy proudly. The rest looked at her in confusion.
Amy had a sudden flash of being inside her Omni-Pod trying to choose parents suitable from all who were in the first stage of pregnancy at the time. She vaguely recalled picking Joan because she remembered her saying that her pregnancy wasn’t planned and that she was
happy with just the one child. She had said it without hatred or upset, but Amy knew from the way she had said it that Joan would be okay without her when the time came. She then realised she’d made the decision to leave before she even been born. She was then suddenly confused to whether Nevaeh had influenced her into protecting them instead of her coming to the decision herself.
‘I’m not strong enough to lose her!’ Thomas said.
‘The fact is,’ Adaizi continued, ‘you don’t need to be strong enough to handle the loss…just strong enough for each other after. Strong enough as a unit without Amy.’
‘I don’t want to be without her,’ Thomas shouted. ‘She’s my daughter!’
‘She’s the Protector, Thomas!’
‘She’s still our daughter!’ Joan cried.
Adaizi, as well as everyone else, turned to Joan. ‘Sure,’ Adaizi allowed, noting Joan’s obvious pain.
‘And my sister!’ Frank added, trying to keep his temper under control. Alicia remained silent. Her shade was flickering lighter now, although Amy couldn’t distinguish why from her cold expression.
‘I know,’ Adaizi said, again sympathetic. ‘When you pass your Test you’ll see her again. You’ll remember you were a part of this mission and you will feel proud that Amy chose you and it will add to your points.’
‘I don’t care about points in this damn Test you’re talking about. I care for Amy!’ Thomas screamed, then looked at Tom. ‘And Tom. My word, how I care so much for Tom!’ he said, his eyes filling with tears.
‘The fact is, Thomas, whether you care for it or not, you are having the Test right now and this information has affected it! Even though this experience has awakened you to the fact there is something higher than yourself, not only does all the information you’ve been given go against everything you believe, you didn’t find it out yourself. It was forced upon you. It has left you feeling like your beliefs have been stripped away.’
Thomas hung his head and began to cry. ‘You mean I have to lose my daughter and grandson and stay as ignorant and…and as closed minded as I…I…’ He clenched his fists in anger at himself then lifted his head and looked at Tom. ‘I’m so sorry, Tom! I’m sorry I never believed you even though I wanted to. You’re my laddo and always will be!’
The Guardian's Protector: The Chamber of Souls Page 30
