Vega jane and the end of.., p.9
Vega Jane and the End of Time, page 9
He was tall and exceedingly thin and his features were haggard, but he had a kind, warm face. He said softly, ‘Petra?’
She lifted her head.
‘Petra, I heard what happened. Are you all right?’
‘I’m fine, Uncle.’
Uncle, I thought. This bloke must be the relative Petra told me about, the one who was magical and possessed a wand. The one who would later die at the hands of a garm that Petra would kill, only too late to save him.
He sat down beside her and stared into the distance. ‘The young ones can be cruel,’ he said.
She sat up straight, her face puffy and her eyes reddened. ‘It’s not only the young.’
Her uncle nodded. ‘I’ve said this before – you’re different from the others, Petra. I believe that they can sense that.’
‘I don’t want to be different.’
‘There is nothing wrong with being different. It would be a dull place indeed if all were the same.’
When she didn’t respond, her uncle gave a searching look around and then pulled something from his pocket.
His wand.
‘You have no choice in the matter, as I had no choice,’ he said.
She looked at the wand.
‘What use is it?’
‘It has a great many uses, as you well know. Many people would love to have the abilities we do, Petra. We can help people.’
‘They hate me. Because . . .’
‘Because you can make things happen that are inexplicable? I experienced the exact same thing when I was your age. But I had someone who showed me that I was special.’
‘Because of your wand?’ she said coldly.
‘A mere possession cannot really make one special, Petra. It’s how you live your life that does it.’
Silenus from the parchment had told me that the bloke was definitely a Maladon, because the wand he had given to Petra was that of a Maladon. But Petra’s uncle didn’t sound evil. He sounded kind.
‘I have something for you, Petra,’ said her uncle.
I watched as he slowly reached in his pocket and pulled it out.
Petra’s wand. She had told me that her uncle had given it to her. It had part of his fingernail embedded in the wood.
But she shook her head. ‘I don’t want that, Uncle.’
Her uncle nodded. ‘I can understand why you feel that way, but let me explain something.’
She watched him, patiently waiting. As did I.
He held the wand up. ‘You saved a child today from death. You did so at great personal risk. You did so despite knowing that your actions would be mocked instead of cheered. It takes a special person to do that. And that is why, today, I give you your wand. Because you have earned it, my very dear Petra.’
She stared at her uncle and I could see a lifetime’s hurt on her face.
She reached out and gripped the wand.
‘Thank you, Uncle,’ she said.
And then the mists covered me once more.
16
COLIN SONNET
Someone passed so close to me that we almost collided. I stepped back, trying to get my bearings. I looked beneath me to see cobbles, and ahead of me to see a broad boulevard, lined with stone buildings. It was like the high street back in Wormwood, only far nicer. People came and went along the street. It felt peaceful, prosperous.
I was standing in front of a shopfront, and I started at the name on the sign.
ARCANE ARTEFACTS, ET ALIA, COLIN SONNET, PROPRIETOR
A passerby entered the shop, and I slipped in behind them. They were a tall, strongly built man in a luxurious burgundy cloak.
As the door opened, a bell tinkled.
I looked around the shop and tried to take it all in, but that was impossible; there was so much to see.
Long, low glass cabinets were filled with neat rows of objects. I drew closer to inspect the contents.
There were aged coins, fat leather books, pieces of bone. Entire skeletons of small beasts. Myriad rolls of parchment next to sparkling ink sticks, and necklaces made of chain mail alongside jewels of every conceivable colour. An eyeball sat next to a lethal-looking fang. A metal hand leaned against a shimmering bottle of liquid that smoked and sparked inside its container.
On the walls above the counters were fastened all manner of things: heads of beasts, shields of metal, spears, swords, lances, a metal ball with spikes. A full suit of armour hung from the ceiling. Stuffed winged creatures, both large and small, were suspended on long chains from the rafters, as though they might soar across the room and attack me. One of them looked like the dreads that had chased me back in the Quag.
A full black carriage sat against one wall. Next to that was a mirror that reflected nothing in the shop, but instead held the image of a dark sky with shining stars scattered across its face like flower petals along a path.
The floors were piled high with crates, overflowing with interesting objects: an assortment of weapons and instruments and scientific devices; hats and cloaks and gloves; long glass tubes filled with colourful liquids. In a cage was an assortment of live small animals and birds, all surprisingly getting along swimmingly.
‘Colin, how are you?’
The man in the burgundy cloak greeted a small, thin, younger man, who had emerged from behind a curtain. The younger man had a full head of red hair and a pair of finely wrought golden spectacles that sat halfway down his nose.
‘Gunther, I am never better, thank you.’
I blinked again. Gunther? Was this Gunther Adronis, Alice’s husband?
He was tall and broad-shouldered, and as he turned to look around the shop, my suspicions were confirmed. This was indeed Gunther Adronis. I had seen his portrait back at Empyrean. I had also seen his body in a silver coffin. Pillsbury had told me how Necro had murdered Gunther in his home, slitting his throat. I shivered at the thought that the man I was staring at would die a violent death.
Then I studied Colin Sonnet. For some reason, I had imagined he would be muscular and fierce-looking. However, his appearance was far more like a scholar’s than a warrior’s. He was certainly nothing like Petra.
Colin adjusted his spectacles and looked up at the tall Gunther. ‘And how is Alice?’
Gunther’s hearty smile receded. ‘It has been difficult. Losing a child . . .’
‘I was so sorry to hear that news. My wife would like to come by, to bring food and sit with her.’
‘Thank you, Colin. But I think Alice needs to be alone, at least for now. One day, we may try again – she wants a daughter, very badly.’
I had not realized that Alice had lost a child.
Gunther turned his attention to one of the counters and I crept over to the cage and stared at the creatures inside. One furry creature was about the size of my hand. One of the birds had wings of gold and a beak about six inches long. There was a beast sleeping on the floor of the cage. It was long and muscular with curly golden hair. When it yawned, I could see row after row of needle-sharp teeth. It opened its eyes, and when a fluttering bird came within reach of its fangs, I feared the worst. But it just rolled over and went back to sleep.
That would never have happened in the Quag.
A few minutes later, Gunther finished his business and left. I drew closer to the counter. Now, I could ask Colin about my ring.
Only . . . I couldn’t. I was invisible.
In despair, I looked at the counter where Sonnet was returning some items that Gunther had been examining.
My gaze fastened on one item there.
It was my ring! Or at the very least it was its twin. My grandfather had been given his ring from Colin, probably from this very shop. So there could well be a spare.
As I stood there, an incredible thing happened. A white light shot out from the ring under the glass and impacted the ring on my finger.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t see you come in. May I help you?’
I looked at Colin, who was now staring directly at me.
I looked around to make sure he was actually speaking to me, but there was no one else in the shop.
‘That was Gunther Adronis, was it not?’ I managed to say. He nodded and looked at me closely.
‘You know Gunther?’
‘I know Alice Adronis.’
He looked me over. ‘There is actually a resemblance between you. Are you related to the Janes? A fine family.’
‘Distantly. They live nearby, is that right?’
‘At Alice’s ancestral home, Empyrean, a wonderful estate not too far from here.’
‘I have heard of it,’ I said.
‘And how can I help you?’
‘I was wondering if you could assist me with my ring.’
I took it off and set it on the counter.
He glanced at it and then gave me a sharp look.
‘How did you come by it?’ he asked.
‘My grandfather gave it to me.’ This was perfectly true, even if the actual event had occurred far into the future.
‘And his name?’
‘Virgil.’
‘And your name? You did not give it before.’
‘Vega. I do not hail from here,’ I added quickly. ‘But I was passing through and noticed your shop.’ I glanced around. ‘It is quite wonderful.’
He smiled. ‘Many have found it so.’
‘The creatures in the cage over there?’
‘They are pets to be brought into homes. That one, with the needle-sharp teeth? He’s called Amadeus. A canine – quite loyal and harmless usually. But not if their loved ones are threatened in any way. Then they can become quite fierce.’
I glanced back over at Amadeus. So that was what a canine looked like over eight centuries ago. They had changed quite a bit.
‘Rightly so,’ I said. ‘I have a canine myself.’
He nodded and gingerly touched the ring. ‘Fascinating.’
I said, ‘I see you have one identical to it.’
Colin nodded. ‘Yes. I have had it for a very long time. I must say that it is quite surprising to see another. I had thought there to be only one in existence.’
His comment startled me. Could that ring under the counter and my ring be the same? Virgil would not come for his ring for quite some time. But then again, he might already have come, since I was wearing the ring he had given me. Time travel! My poor head swirled with the complications of it.
‘How can I help you with it?’ he asked. I had prepared for this question, but now my ready explanation seemed quite nonsensical. As I stared back at him, his eyes behind the specs seemed to grow to enormous proportion, giving me the uncomfortable impression that he could see into my mind.
I opted for the truth, or at least some of it. ‘This is no ordinary ring,’ I said.
‘How do you mean?’
I recalled exactly what my grandfather had told me that Sonnet had told him when he had given Virgil the ring. ‘Magic is borne from necessity. It can be the result of the confluence of mystical powers coming together at just the right moment. Quite a phenomenon of serendipity, but magic is often that way.’
Colin stared at me over the rims of his specs. ‘I have written books on the field of sorcery.’
‘I know. I have read at least one. A friend gave it to me – I found it to be very helpful, particularly for those who hate dark sorcery, but are concerned that one day they may need to fight against it.’
His gaze sharpened at my words.
‘You are young to have such thoughts.’
‘I may be young in body, but I can assure you that I am mature beyond my years when it comes to knowing the potential wickedness of others.’
His gaze flicked to my ring on the counter. ‘I see. Yes, I think I see quite clearly what you mean.’
I picked up the ring, placed it on my finger and then spun it slowly around, so the tip was facing down.
‘I take it you can still see me,’ I said.
He nodded slowly. ‘And I take it you do not wish to be seen?’
‘That’s right. The ring, unfortunately, was subject to an . . . interference by another. This apparently has stripped it of its true abilities. I was wondering if you could repair it.’
‘And you wish it to have its power returned so that you can . . . ?’
‘Deal with the wickedness of others,’ I replied.
I took the ring off and handed it to him. ‘Can you help me?’
He looked down at the ring. ‘I can certainly try. But it will take some time. Return at dusk. I trust you have other things to do in the interim?’
‘I will find other things to do.’
He bowed and disappeared behind the curtain with my ring.
And I headed back out into the past to see what I could see.
17
FULL CIRCLE
I was glad of my long cloak because others here were wearing similar clothing. I passed down the road fronting the shops, keeping to the footpaths, for horses and carriages steadily rumbled past. The time for motorcars was apparently far into the future, although people did magically appear and disappear in the street and I saw wands in their hands.
No one seemed anxious. I wondered how long it would be before the war with the Maladons was to commence. Was it far enough away that I would not see any signs for it? Although Colin Sonnet had seemed to understand my words when I mentioned fighting wickedness.
Just then I noticed a man and woman approaching, with a little boy skipping along behind them. I stopped and flattened myself against the wall.
It was Astrea Prine and the man who must be her husband. And the little boy looked an awful lot like the man I now knew as her son, Archie.
Astrea, because of the Elixir of Life, had not changed much – although she was much taller. She had told me that the weight of centuries had physically compressed her body. She wore a long, green cloak.
I felt sombre as I watched them. With all her magical ability, Astrea did not know, could not know, what I did: that her life and that of her family’s were soon to be torn apart.
I listened as they walked past me.
‘You worry too much, my dear,’ her husband was saying to Astrea.
‘War is unthinkable. Things will work out. Unless I am very wrong, Necro is a good man.’
‘You are very wrong, then.’
So, I thought. My question had been answered. It seemed the war was drawing near.
Her husband sighed and pointed to some articles in a window. ‘Look, Archie, the hat you wanted.’
He and Archie went inside the shop while Astrea waited outside.
I tentatively approached her.
‘Yes?’ she said brusquely, eyeing me up and down in a severe way.
‘You’re Astrea Prine.’
‘I know I am. And who are you?’
‘No one important.’
I stared at her. I had to fight the impulse to warn her of what was to come. I remember Jasper telling me of the dire consequences for Astrea if I were to do that. But would they be more terrible than what was actually in store for her?
I said, ‘Do you know Alice Adronis?’
‘I do,’ said Astrea, her gaze still scrutinizing me in an unsettling way.
‘I understand that she has lost her child?’
Now Astrea eyed me suspiciously. ‘And how did you come to know that?’
‘I was in Colin Sonnet’s shop when Gunther Adronis came in. I overheard him tell Colin.’
‘You should not eavesdrop,’ Astrea said sternly.
‘I wasn’t eavesdropping. Gunther has a booming voice.’
‘That he does,’ agreed Astrea, her features relaxing a bit. ‘And men often do not know when to keep silent on certain subjects.’
‘Your husband says that war is unthinkable. But apparently you don’t believe him?’
She studied me closely. ‘Who exactly are you?’
‘You don’t know me, but—’
Before I could say more, a man approached us. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and elegantly dressed all in black. His chin jutted out and was bracketed by a solid jaw. A thin line of hair lay above his top lip.
Unlike the other men I had seen, who were outfitted in cloaks, this gent was dressed neatly in a three-piece pinstripe suit, tie and bowler hat.
He tipped his hat at Astrea, revealing immaculately combed hair parted down the middle.
‘Madame Prine, how wonderful to see you.’
She looked back at him with a face of granite. ‘Necro,’ she said stiffly.
This attractive and well-dressed man was Necro? That foul creature I had seen on his horrible throne at Maladon Castle? Yet it had to be. Now I saw where Endemen and his henchmen had acquired their choice of clothing.
He glanced at me, and in those eyes, I could see past the good looks and suave manners. They were twin dots of pure silky black, so dark that they appeared fathomless. I could see myself falling through them into the pits of Hel, which was the only place such eyes could possibly lead.
‘And who might your young friend be?’ asked Necro, glancing at me.
‘I only just met her myself,’ said Astrea. She looked worried, I thought.
‘Just passing through,’ I said.
‘Well, I hope that we meet again.’ He tipped his hat once more and was off.
We will meet again, I said to myself.
I looked at Astrea, who was still staring after Necro with disgust in her features.
‘If I were you, Madame Prine, I would prepare for war,’ I said.
She flinched and said, ‘What do you know of anything?’
‘A lot more than you probably think. Heed my words, for they are both well intended and well founded.’
With that, I hurried after Necro.
He turned down one street and then another. I kept close enough to follow, but not so close as to arouse suspicion.
As we reached a different part of town, I shivered. It was as though a sudden chill had fallen. I looked up at the sky and saw that it had darkened, like a storm was near.
The people hereabouts were uniformly dressed in dark garments. And while they looked normal, there was something in their countenances that told me that I had ventured into the world of the Maladons, even if they were not yet called that.
