Dark Angel Box Set

by Hanna Peach

  “Of course you will.”

  “Alyx,” Tii’la gasped.

  “It’ll be okay, Tii’la,” Alyx said. “I promise.”

  Varian laughed. “It’s quite touching how you can maintain such optimism in the face of total defeat. “Now get inside. You first.”

  Chapter 8

  In the Castle Speranza, Israel knocked on the door to Sparrow’s room. There was no answer. He knocked again before he tried the door and pushed it open.

  “Sparrow?” The small bed was untouched and no one was in. The small swallow that Alyx had befriended was sitting on the sill and chirping. Israel also noticed that the chair at the small table by the only window had been thrown in the corner. And was it missing a−

  Something moved to his left behind the door. Israel ducked behind the door, narrowly missing getting a chair leg to the head. The leg smacked against the side of the door with a crack. That wasn’t a practice shot.

  “Jesus Christ, Sparrow. What are you doing?” Israel grabbed the splintery wooden chair leg that Sparrow was brandishing at him like a sword. Somehow the kid had managed to break the leg off the only chair in his bare room.

  Sparrow struggled with the end of his wooden weapon before Israel pulled it clean from his hands. Immediately Sparrow’s eyes glanced all around the room, searching for…either a way out or another weapon, Israel wasn’t sure. Either way, he had to get Sparrow calmed down before he hurt himself or someone else.

  “I’m not here to hurt you. Alyx sent me. I’m Israel. I’m a good friend of hers. She asked me to take you around.”

  Sparrow turned his narrowed eyes at Israel, studying him all over. “Where’s Alyx?”

  “She had to go somewhere on a mission. She asked me to take care of you while she’s gone.”

  “If you’re really a friend of hers, then you’ll be able to answer some questions.”

  Israel almost laughed at how serious he was. “Okay, ask away.”

  “What’s her racing name?”

  “You mean for the night races? Bullet.”

  “What’s our swallow friend’s name then?”

  The swallow chirped and hopped along the sill. Israel wasn’t sure whether that was supposed to be encouragement or whether he was being heckled.

  “It’s Piki, isn’t that right?” Israel took a step towards the boy, but he backed up.

  “Okay, so you’re a friend of Alyx’s. Doesn’t make you a friend to me.”

  This kid had some serious case of mistrust. But from the story Alyx had told him about the boy’s past, no wonder he was this way. Israel had also been this mistrusting when he was younger. The boy just needed a bit of understanding and some time to see that he was safe here.

  “We don’t have to be friends for me to show you around the castle.”

  Sparrow didn’t reply.

  “Maybe you can let me show you around, and you can decide later if you want to be friends.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Or you can stay in this room all day. Up to you.” Israel watched Sparrow’s little face contort slightly. He was considering it; that was a start. “I’ll make my way down to the training fields where we can check out some weapons that’ll make your broken chair leg seem like child’s play.”

  Sparrow’s eyes widened slightly. But just as quickly they narrowed.

  “Then I’ll probably swing by the kitchen and grab myself something to eat,” Israel continued. “I’m sure they’ll have leftovers for you too.”

  That did it. Sparrow’s little tongue poked out to lick quickly at his bottom lip. Israel swore he could hear his stomach rumble.

  Israel took Sparrow down to the kitchen first. The cook told Sparrow he could take as much bread and cheese as he could carry. Israel watched, amused, as the boy stuffed his pockets and pants of his fill. He didn’t stop munching as they walked around the grounds. Good, Israel thought. He could use some meat on his bones.

  “These are our training fields. We train everything here: magical training, hand-to-hand and weapons.”

  Sparrow’s eyes widened at the rows of Seraphim who were training. Since the battle with Samyara, most of the usually peaceful FreeThinkers had taken it upon themselves to continue training. They had seen how useful it had been, and they knew the battle with Samyara was probably not going to be the last one.

  “Do you want to have a go at a punching bag?” Israel asked as he stepped up to one and gave it a good smack. Their bags were made from mismatched leather pieces recycled from old jackets and furniture that some of the FreeThinkers had sourced. They had been cut and sown with thick string and stuffed with old couch stuffing and dried beans. “It won’t hit back, I promise.”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  “Maybe you’ll want to train with some magic? Do you know what powers you’ll grow into yet?”

  Sparrow glanced away. “I don’t think I’ll get any powers.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “My parents didn’t want me. I’m a nobody. I’m not going to get any powers.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Why else would they have thrown me away? It doesn’t matter anyway.”

  Israel knew the boy was trying to be tough, but he recognized the hurt in Sparrow’s voice. “I know how you feel, Sparrow.”

  “No you don’t.”

  “I was an orphan as well. My mother died when I was born and I thought my father never wanted me.”

  “Oh,” said Sparrow. “That sucks. Sorry.”

  “Being an orphan does suck. And for the longest time I thought I was going to have to go through this life alone. But you learn some things as you get older.”

  “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  “Like…do you know what the coolest thing about being an orphan is?”

  Sparrow stared at him strangely, as if he couldn’t believe that there was anything that Israel could say that was cool about being an orphan. “What?”

  Israel glanced around at the castle and at the warriors training: he spotted Vix training with Xiang watching; he saw Tobias walking with Dianne on the far side of the field; he thought of Alyx and his heart filled close to bursting. Finally his gaze returned to Sparrow. “You get to pick your own family.”

  The skin around Sparrow’s eyes tightened and his bottom lip pressed against his top. The boy was so used to keeping his emotions to himself.

  Israel was about to speak again when he heard a cry of pain. Israel turned on his heel. A seraph, whom Israel recognized as Tebo, was staring at his hands in horror.

  “What’s wrong?” Israel asked as he stepped up to Tebo’s side.

  “I was practicing,” Tebo said, staring at his shaking hands. “I was just practicing my aim. But now…it’s gone.”

  “What’s gone?”

  “M-My magic. My FireTwirler. I can’t raise it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Look at them.” Tebo thrust his shaking hands towards Israel. “There’s nothing. Nothing.” A crowd had started to form around them now, but a quick scan showed him that Sparrow was still there, standing back on the edge of it.

  Israel turned back to Tebo. “Maybe you’re just tired. Maybe−”

  “No!” Tebo cried out so violently spit flew from his mouth. “I’m not just tired. My magic just stopped. I can’t even feel it anymore. Look, see.” Tebo cupped his hands in front of him as if he were holding an invisible ball. His fingers shook and his forehead creased with visible exertion. He let out the breath he had been holding. “It’s gone. My magic’s gone.”

  A nervous chatter spread through the surrounding Seraphim. Israel stared around them. He needed to keep everyone calm. He turned to Tebo. “It’s probably nothing. There’s no need to panic. But you should go and tell Tobias. He’ll…. He’ll know what to do.” Israel turned to the closest Seraphim. “You go with him.”

  The crowd dispersed as Tebo crossed the training area towards Tobias. Israel went over to where Sparrow was standing. The boy�
�s eyes were wide as an owl’s.

  “Tebo will be fine,” Israel said. “His magic…he’s probably just overexerted himself.”

  But it didn’t seem like Sparrow had heard him at all. He looked like he was a thousand miles away. Sparrow was worried by something. Israel wasn’t sure what. But he was sure was that Sparrow wasn’t going to tell him. Not yet anyway.

  Chapter 9

  Alyx ascended the stairs first, Varian behind her, Tii’la, then Do’hann brought up the rear. The stairs ended in a square room, probably only five or so meters in diameter. The floor was carved roughly from the bedrock of stone from which this chamber seemed to have been excavated.

  Ahead were two large matching doors, lit only by the flames that flickered from iron torches. It didn’t seem like there was any way to distinguish between them.

  “So,” Varian said, “which one do we go through?”

  Alyx stood in front of the doors and studied each one. Both doors looked identical, both were large faded green wooden doors with steel reinforcements. Both had two brass knockers positioned in the center. There was no telling them apart.

  “Stop stalling,” Varian commanded.

  “I’m not,” Alyx said. “Give me some time.”

  “You’ve got thirty seconds.”

  Alyx moved around the chamber examining the walls and the floor with her eyes.

  “Twenty seconds.”

  She looked again, this time with her Soulsight, but there were no additional clues, no writing or symbols or hidden panels.

  “Ten seconds…”

  Alyx moved back to stand before the doors.

  “Time’s up.”

  “I-I don’t know. They both look identical and there’s no way to tell them apart.”

  “Just open them both and see what’s on the other side of each,” said Do’hann.

  “But…” This is when Alyx realized that there were no door handles, no visible locks on the doors. Did the doors have to be opened from the inside?

  “Jesus Christ, just open one,” said Varian.

  “We can’t just open one. This chamber has been silent and protected for centuries by hell knows what kind of magic tricks or creatures. God knows what’s on the other side.”

  Varian grumbled and shoved her out of the way. “I don’t have all day to wait around for the stars to damn well align for you.” He strode up to the door on the left and reached his hand out, placing it on the wooden panel and pushing on the door.

  It didn’t budge.

  Before Alyx could say anything, an unfamiliar voice called out, “Oy, gee yee haaa orff mye nosh.”

  Varian snatched his hand away from the door. “What was that?”

  “I said, ‘get your hand off my nose’.”

  Holy hell. This distinguished-sounding voice was coming from the door.

  Varian unsheathed his weapon and pointed it around him. “Who said that?”

  “Your shiny bit of metal won’t work on us.” This second voice, a deeper baritone, was coming from the other door. “Put it away before you hurt yourself.”

  The first door was moving. The damn thing was moving. In fact it wasn’t just a door anymore, it had a small dimpled chin, a thin mouth and a nose, which it was wrinkling around. The second door had grown a face too, the one with the baritone voice. But this one had a soft round chin, cheeks like a cherub and thick lips under a trimmed brass moustache. What in the world…?

  “Ahhh…” the first door said, his nostrils flaring.

  “What in depths of Hell is it?” Varian said as he stepped towards it, peering at it closely.

  “Varian, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” said Alyx.

  “You don’t damn well tell me what to do,” he snapped.

  “Ahhhh….” The door said again.

  “But I think he’s going to…”

  “Achooo!” A stream of pale droplets flew out from his nose and all over Varian.

  Alyx smothered a laugh behind her hand. “…sneeze.”

  Even Do’hann let out a snort that he tried to hide.

  “Oh dear me, that’s better,” the first door said as he wrinkled his nose.

  Varian yelped as he rubbed his face with his sleeves. “What the hell?”

  “Sorry about that. But you did tickle the bejezus out of my nose when you pushed on it.”

  Varian stared at the door for another moment before shaking his head. “What the hell are you?”

  “I’m Righty. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  “But you’re on the left.”

  Righty screwed his mouth up. “Not if you’re facing where I’m facing. Learn to see things from the other point of view. You’ll be more likeable.”

  “I don’t care about being likeable,” growled Varian.

  “Obviously,” Righty stage-whispered to Alyx.

  “He’s always right, you know,” the other door said. “And when he’s right, I’m left without a right to argue with him.”

  “Left, right, is anyone else getting confused here?” muttered Do’hann.

  “So we have Righty. And let me guess,” said Varian, turning towards the other door. “You’re Lefty.”

  “Lefty?” the other door shuddered. “What a horrible name for a door. No, my name’s Fred.”

  “Whatever,” said Varian, his voice rising, “just…tell us which one of you is the right door to go through.”

  “Well, we’ve already established I’m the right door,” said Righty.

  “But on the other hand,” injected Fred, “if you’re facing the other way from us, then I’m the right door, right?”

  “Right,” agreed Righty.

  Varian growled, “Goddamn stupid doors.” He swung his sword over his head at Righty, screaming as he smashed down with full force.

  “Varian, no!” Alyx yelled out.

  Righty’s face sank back into the door, rendering it flush just as Varian’s sword came down upon it with a horrible clang. But his sword just ricocheted off the wood. It didn’t even make a dent. In fact, all the shock of the blow went into Varian’s arms as shown by the howl that he gave out as he dropped his sword and clutched his hands together.

  Righty’s face pushed out through the door again. “Fred did tell you that your bits of metal wouldn’t work on us.”

  “I did,” said Fred. “I did tell you.”

  “The doors must be enchanted,” said Tii’la. “Which means we can’t get through them unless we unlock their riddle.”

  Both Righty and Fred’s eyes lit up and Fred’s chin wobbled as he nodded approvingly. “Give that woman a knocker. She certainly knows her enchantments.”

  Alyx turned to Righty and Fred. “Is Tii’la right? Do you have a riddle for us to solve before we can pass?”

  “Indeed,” they said in unison.

  “Why didn’t you bloody say that in the first place?” yelled Varian, red-faced and still nursing his wrist.

  “Well,” Righty opened his eyes with feigned innocence, “you didn’t ask.”

  Varian opened his mouth, probably to yell some more, but Alyx interrupted him. “What’s your riddle? Please.”

  “Well…” said Fred.

  “Since you asked so politely…” said Righty.

  “A-hem,” the two doors cleared their throats in unison, then began to sing.

  “To pass you have to decide,

  Open door one or door number two,

  Make no mistake, the fate is great,

  Within this tune is your clue.”

  “Enter this door,” sang Righty.

  “Don’t enter the other door,” sang Fred.

  “Listen to Fred, he’s always telling the truth,” sang Righty.

  Then both together they continued,

  “Beware of these words,

  You can’t trust all you’ve heard,

  As one be the truth and two be a lie,

  Hurry, decide before you all die.”

  The strains of their song died down in a slig
htly flat attempt at a harmony. Then both Righty and Fred grinned at each other.

  “Good show,” said Fred.

  “You were superb,” said Righty.

  “Why, thank you. So were you.”

  “That’s it?” Varian interrupted.

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” said Do’hann.

  “Wait,” cried out Alyx, “what did you mean by the last line? ‘Hurry, decide before you all die’?”

  Fred and Righty looked at each other, then both sighed in unison.

  “So sorry.”

  “Terribly sorry, you see…”

  “It’s the rules of the riddle.”

  “So hurry.”

  “Yes, hurry.”

  “You don’t have much time.”

  Don’t have much time? A large stone slammed down, blocking the only passageway out. Dust billowed out from the base. A rumbling began and the entire chamber started to tremble. Pieces of stone fell from the roof and the chamber thickened with dust. The two sides of the walls began to move towards them, closing in on them.

  Chapter 10

  “This is the fifth incident where someone has lost their power in less than two days,” Tobias said, rubbing his forehead with his fingers. Israel thought he looked tired and his voice definitely sounded strained. “I can’t explain why our powers are disappearing. Our community members are starting to freak out. We can’t have a mass panic on our hands.”

  Israel placed his hands on Tobias’s shoulders. “We’ll figure it out, Dad.”

  At that, Tobias’s shoulders relaxed a little. He looked up from his fingers at Israel and gave him a small smile. “I’m sure we will.”

  Israel was sitting in one of the sunrooms of the Castle Speranza along with Dianne and Vix, as well as the other two Speranza community leaders, Belle and Aaban. Tobias had called an emergency meeting after yet another Seraphim came to him with news that his powers had disappeared.

  The room was in the higher part of the castle facing south with large windows overlooking the green forest surrounding the castle area. It was a long rectangular-shaped room with the longer side abutting the large windows to make the most of the sun. Stone benches were cut into the windows, making permanent window seats, which someone had covered with colorful flat cushions. More cushions and low daybeds were scattered around the room among green leafy plants in clay pots. Israel hadn’t known about this room until now. He would have to bring Alyx up here when she returned.