Everyone was gathered around the table, evaluating the current situation presented to them. Finally the grand mage stood up. Looking at Jesse, who was feeling just as awkward as I was, we stood forward from against the wall.
“We’ve decided that the best thing for Jesse is to go into hiding in a safe house. It will have all the necessary protection for him and you, Skye would go with him. NJ will accompany you there, and if she so wishes, stay with you until we catch the person in charge here. We are questioning Shane as we speak, tying to get information about their organisation. So far he’s been silent.”
Talking a deep breath, I took another step forward and said tentatively,
“I think I know how to get him to talk.”
Everyone looked at me shocked. It slightly unnerved me.
“How?”
“Well.. You see... He just told me we have a little sister. He cares for her a lot. He told me were to find her. If I could get her we could maybe use her to get him to talk?”
Everyone started muttering angst their heads, a few of them nodding in agreement.
“Very well. NJ will go with you. She will help you if you get into any trouble. Jesse, Skulduggery, Val. You all stay here. We need to sort out the finer details of the plan.”
Everyone got up and went their separate ways. There was a tap on my shoulder, turning round I saw Jesse standing there. He looked nervous and looked down, fixing his hair. He muttered something like,
“Take care.”
He walked away again. Leaving me standing there bemused.
“Are you coming or not?”
“Yeah. I’m coming.”
*
Racing through the quite, deserted roads and lanes of the country, we looked very out of place. Serene birds resting in the hedges, suddenly burst into flight to escape the roar of the engine.
“You going fast enough for yourself there?”
I teased.
“Naw, I’m going slow cause I don’t wanna scare you off”
“You’re serious? Jeez I’m not a wain. Go full pealt, like”
“I think I could manage that”
All of a sudden the engine gave out a massive roar like a lion, and we shot off into the mist.
“So where’s this place of yours?”
“Emm... It’s actually away up north.”
I looked at her apologetically.
“No way! I thought I heard it in your accent! I am too”
“Really? Where abouts?”
Just outside Ballymena, lawd “
“Wow! I’m outside Ballymena too. Well, closer to Carnlough and Glenarm though”
“I’m closer to Randalstown and Antrim”
“Cool.”
“Thats weird”
“Yup”
“we scarily seem to have things in common
“ano”
“let me guess. Country girl too?”
“You bet ya”
“Music?”
“Used to play fiddle and tin whistle but couldn’t be bothered to keep it on”
“I play piano cause I’m awesome like that”
“O aye”
“Ano”
“Do you like acting too?”
“Yea. Have since I was 3”
“Now I’m scared”
“Same.”
Looking at each other we burst out laughing.
“Maybe I had you wrong, Skye. “
“Yeah, I think I had you wrong too.”
“Friends?”
“Aye, why not”
“Now, since we’re friends I can tell you my honest opinion without you getting mad.”
“Ok now I’m scared”
I said jokingly.
“As you should be. Now. You need to wise up and accept you like Jesse and he likes you, but you are both so blind you can’t see it. Second thing is I’m going to help you keep your promise to him. I’m gonna stay with you in the safe house, though I will leave every so often cause I really get an urge to fight someone and it really annoys me if I can’t hurt someone, you know?”
“Yea.. JK”
“You actually aren’t t bad of a fighter. I was surprised when I saw you fight your broter. And you were ready to kill him! I mean I was shocked at that especially.”
She looked over at me and Ishrugged in response.
“And what was that thing you did? You’re eyes glowed piercing blue and you seemed to know how to kill him?”
“It was a trick I learned a few years ago. I can take all their memories, experiences, feeling, everything they are and have been in a sense. It becomes part of me. I can’t lose a fight then because I know everything they know and know how to beat them. It is really draining though sI don’t use it all the time. Also I need to learn how to use it for more people all at once cause I can only use it for 2 people at once. It takes a lot of practice to become good at it.”
“Now that is cool”
“I guess so”
“More like you know so, but you don’t want to brag?”
“You know me too well already NJ”
“You are reading my mind aren’t you?”
“Surprisingly, no. I don’t o it all the time. Only if I want to. And no offense but I have no need to read your mind, also you’re my friend so if I’m planning on reading your mind I’ll let you know.”
“Aww that’s so sweet of you.”
NJ said in a mocking grateful voice.
“So what’s your story?”
“Well.... I have a dark angel mother and a sorcerer father. My 2 older brothers are necromancers, and a couple months ago sent 2 vampires, Laragh and Lurig, after me.”
“Wow. Did they catch you?”
“Unfortunately. And I was taken home and thats were I found him.”
She said this part gravely, which made me curious.
“Him?”
“Green eyes. My ‘soul mate’”
“Huh?”
“dark angels have a sign on them. Only 1 other dark angel has it in the world. Your so called soul mate. I didn’t want to meet him, but I did. And you would actually be soo jealous. He’s amazing. Funny, fit, etc etc.”
“Why did yiou not want to see him then?”
“Because I would begin t love him and then I’d be vulnerable because my feelings would blind me and I’d do anything for him.”
She said this getting faster and louder.
“I’m sorry.”
“sometimes you have to make decisions you don’t want to, but you have to. Especially here. People are wanting to kill Jesse, Skye. If you really love him, like you say you don’t but obviously do, then you’ll have to make tough decisions too.”
Looking up at her my heart sank.
“Like what?”
She looked at me, then stopped the car.
“Like realising you need to do anything to save him. It is going to be far from easy to catch these guys, and you need to realise if we can’t find him, we need him to be bait and lure them to us. You could die and so could he. We may have to make up a new life for him. You won’t be there 24/7 for him. You need to start and trust people to help you, and... let him go. You can’t see things clearly because of your feelings. They are getting in the way of your choices. It could kill us, you, him. I’m telling this cause I don’t wanna see you get killed. But get a fucking grip, Skye.”
“You know what? I will. You don’t have to help me anymore. I’ll do it myself.”
Reaching out to open the door I heard a click.
“Unlock the door”
“No”
I glared at her.
“I said open the door”
This time I though the words. She looked shocked and slightly scared.
“No. I’m doing this for your own good. This is what I mean. I mean, look at yourself! What are you planning on doing? Walking up north getting your sister and walking back? No way am I letting you do that!”
She slapped me across the face. I was about to hit her back when I realised what I was doing, and I calmed down.
“Sorry. NO you’re right. I’m over reacting and have to wise up. These people are dangerous, and we have to stop them before they do some serious damage. I’ll do whatever I need to.”
“Good. Now I believe we have some mileage to pick up here if we are going to be at your house in our hour deadline.”
“Floor it.”
“As if I’d do anything but”
She grinned as she raced the car down the road, grit flying behind us in the wave of smoke we left behind.
*
An hour later we were driving up a quite country road, hidden by a canopy of oak trees.
“Wow it’s beautiful here”
NJ said in awe, as we past a small waterfall beside the bridge we were crossing.
“Yeah. It is. Peaceful too. Stop here a minute.”
Getting out of the car I jumped over the bridge and landed in the pool of water below. Grinning to myself, I swam over to the small island in the middle of the lake. Looking up I saw NJ standing there looking puzzled at me. I motioned for her to jump down. Next thing I know she jumps of the bridge, but instead of falling into the lake, she releases 2 powerful, black wings and flies over to me.
“So that’s what dark angel wings are like?”
She looked at me weirdly.
“Eh. I’m weird”
“Figures”
“Here follow me. I’ve got something to show you.”
We started making our way into the trees that stood on the island. Treading carefully through the forestry. I stopped at a tree. Looking up I grinned.
“8 years. 8 years since I stood here.”
Grasping onto the nearest branch I hauled myself up. Climbing the tree, I felt a rush of adrenaline I hadn’t felt for a long time. Not the type you get in a fight. No that is survival adrenaline. No.. No this was different. It was happiness. Reaching the top I looked across the tree tops. It was beautiful up here.
“Why have you brung me here?”
“This is where I used to go if I was upset. It was a good place to think. I mean.. look.”
Looking around at the view NJ’s jaw dropped.
“Oh my God. This is amazing”
“yeah. You’re the only other person I’ve shown it to. I miss it. Being here. IT made me feel better.”
“I can imagine. As much as I want to stay here, and believe me I do. We kinda need to hurry up.”
“Wha.. O right! Yeah sorry i forgot”
“Look. Grab onto my waist I’ll get us back to the car quicker”
Next thin knew NJ jumped off the tree and spread out her magnificent wings. It only took a minute for her to get us back to the car.
“Cool”
“You get used to it”
“Suppose”
“How far till we reach your house?”
“Not long”
“Good”
When we got a bit further up the road, there were a set of black iron gates closing the entrance of a driveway.
“That’s it there”
“That is your house?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“It’s cool. All grand country house style. Mine is like a modern mansion.”
“Old isn’t always better”
“I know”
“I wonder if they’ve kept my horses and stables?”
I said worryingly.
“You have your own stables?”
“yeah. Don’t you?”
“NO”
“Oh.”
Pulling the car into the entrance of the drive I got out and walked over to the security house. Opening the door I looked to see if anyone was here. It was empty. Perfect. Walking towards the over side of the small building I pulled a leaver down to open the gates.
I walked out again and got back into the car.
“Why is there no one here?”
“Don’t ask me. When I left there had been a stack of people. We had everyone. Butlers, cooks, stable hands, everything. Mum and dad are rich.
“Well naw. I thought you had little pixie’s to do the cleaning up.”
“No need to be sarcastic”
“yes there is. Sarcastic is my middle name”
“Well that’s a weird middle name”
“are you being serious?”
“NO! Jeez I may be weird but I ain’t stupid”
“Just checking. By the way how long is this drive?”
“Very”
“Thats pointless”
“Yeah. I think they just want to show off how big the gardens are, you know?”
“No”
“Neither do I”
We both started laughing again at this. We finally came out onto the fore court yard of the sand coloured house.
“Woah”
“Eh you get used to it”
Getting out of the car I looked around at the all too familiar sight. The front gardens stretched out all the way down to the road side, and surrounded by the neighbouring fields. Trees and flowers blossomed all around the perfectly manicured lawns, and statues were dotted around along with benches. The small pond glistened under the sun. The house was as magnificent as ever. Three stories high and columns stood firmly holding the balcony above. Making my way round the back of the house, I let out a shriek of excitement. In the paddock behind the house were horses of all shapes and sizes. At the sound of my voice 4 heads raised up, their ears pricked. Letting out a chorus of whinnies, they galloped over to meet me at the fence.
“Magic, Chico, Comet, Misty! I’ve missed you so much.”
I hugged each of them and the nickered in welcome. I heard a cough behind me. Turning round I saw a young girl with similar long blonde hair and blue eyes as me. She was wearing a pair of cream jodhpurs and a tight fitting polo top. I was shocked.
“What the hell are you doing with my horses?”
She said in a firm, controlling voice. Shocked at her appearance and tone, I replied with as much authority as I could
“Actually they are my horses. I had to leave them behind when I ran away 8 years ago”
She stared at me
“You.. you... you’re étaoin. Aren’t you?”
“who’s étaoin, Skye?”
“Étaoin, who’s Skye?”
Looking at them both helplessly, I said,
“My given name is étaoin. My taken name is Skye.”
“Oh”
“What’s a taken name and given name Étaoin?”
Looking over at my little sisters confused face, I sighed. You mean you don’t know? Didn’t Shane tell you?”
“Who’s Shane?”
“Your brother. His given name is Casey.” I explained to her.
“Where’s Casey? What’s happened him? Why are you here? Why’d you come all of a sudden?”
“Why don’t we go inside. We have a lot of catching up to do”
Walking up the stone flagged steps, we entered the house through the large oak doors. Closing the door behind me, I turned to look at NJ and Caoimhe.
“Right. Where do we start?”
