Month: December 2017

Mae stood on the darkened stage, not sure what to do. Except for the stage lights, the space hadn’t been all that well lit in the first place. Now it was pitch dark. Before she knew what was happening a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her. She tried to struggle but the hand had a firm grip and she couldn’t get away. She was dragged through the crowd, which was still milling around the room in a state of confusion. People were asking each other what had just happened, but no one knew.

She was dragged out into the bar where they had first come in. The room wasn’t quite so dark, as the frosted glass in the windows allowed some light in. But, it didn’t help much. If anything it made everything more frightening somehow, shapes of different sizes were everywhere, some human, some not, and the confusion that had been in the back bar, was very much in evidence here.

Whoever the person was, dragged her behind the bar, and through another door. She found herself in a passageway, lit by torches shining some kind of strange violet light. They looked like flames but there was no heat. It took a moment for Mae’s eye to adjust to being able to see again. Finally she was able to see who was pulling her. Her first thought was to wonder how the orange hair didn’t somehow glow in the dark.

Amity turned around. She grinned, “Come on girl!”

“Where are you taking me? Wait. Why are you taking me?”

“Like chill okay. You’re like with friends. We like just couldn’t stay up there.”

They reached the end on the passageway which appeared to be boarded up. The board was covered in graffiti. In the middle of the artwork a man in a top hat stood grinning, while holding a playing card, the five of diamonds. Amity placed the palm of her hand on the middle diamond. There was a slight rumbling sound, and then the board slid open, revealing an extraordinary lit room.

In the middle of the room, was a rickety old kitchen table, and a number of mismatched chairs were all around it. Seated around the table were the two blonde giants from behind the bar, and Hector.

 

Back at the hotel, Beatrice and Melusina surveyed the obviously empty room. Despite the blackout, there was enough light coming from the window to allow them to see. Frantic, Beatrice went into the bathroom, hoping to find her daughter there. But she was gone. Where was she? Had someone taken her? She glanced toward to TV cabinet. Even in her state of near panic she recalled leaving the room keys there. They were gone. Would someone coming to kidnap Mae bother to take the keys with them? She decided that was unlikely. It appeared that whatever happened since, Mae left of her own volition. She was so relieved that she wasn’t even mad that her daughter had disobeyed her. Not very mad anyway.

She turned toward Melusina, who she was surprised to see was even more concerned than she was. She and Melusina had never been all that close. Even back in their days at the Institute, although they had all hung together as a group, Beatrice had always felt like an outsider. Her dear friend Clarissa was her only reason for spending time with them at all, and then later when Frederick realised that they were as close as sisters, he was always kind to her. But Melusina had only ever really just tolerated her. So to see her so upset made her think that she had misjudged the woman for all these years.

Melusina’s face had drained of all it’s colour. She looked around the room.

“She’s not here?” Her voice was slightly panicked.

“Clearly not.” It was strange, seeing this woman’s almost over the top reaction to finding her daughter gone, helped to calm her down. “It looks like she’s gone out.”

“But, but, you said she was here.”

“Yes, I did. I told her to stay here, but she’s a wilful young woman, I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised that she’s taken off.”

“But, it’s not safe!”

Beatrice sighed. “I know that, and you know that. I thought she understood that, but I don’t think I’ve handled this very well. She didn’t take it very well when I told her about herself, and about her parents.”

“Well what are we going to do now? We have to find her!”

“We will. We will.”

Beatrice moved to the window. She looked out the city. It was strange seeing the city without all the lights. She looked up, it was clear night, and she could see the stars. She mused that it has probably been a long time since anybody in this place had been able to do that. She lent her face against the glass, her eyes went wide, coming through the glass she could feel power. Only faint but it was there. It was a bit like the smell of gunpowder after it’s gone off. Except this wasn’t a smell, it was more like an overwhelming sense of calm and well being.

She motioned to Melusina. “Come and sand here.”

Sceptical, Melusina stood at the window. “Now what?”

“You need to touch the glass.”

She reached out a hand and put her index finger on the glass. She immediately jumped back shaking her finger like she’d burnt it. “The power!”

“I think we might be able to find her. Don’t you.” Beatrice was already moving to the door.

“Yes. I think so.”

“Of course, that means he can too. So we’d better hurry. Come on.” The two women left the hotel.

 

 

Above the city Alistair was on the phone barking orders.

“Bring the H.O.R.S.E. around now! We’re going to the old city.”

He hung up. He then grabbed a pistol from his desk. Tonight it would be over, and he would finally be able to crown himself king. There would be no dispute. The power would be all his.

He got into the lift, and went down to the basement and to the H.O.R.S.E. waiting for him. Henderson held the door open. He eased into the back seat. He smiled.

Not since his mother died had he felt such power. The feeling of contentment that enveloped him was extraordinary. He almost felt sorry that she had to die. To extinguish such a talent seemed such a waste. But, he would get over it, he was sure.

The H.O.R.S.E. sped through the darkened city. People had begun to spill out of the building, coming out to investigate the cause of the black out. Only a few would ever know the true reason. Alistair directed Henderson where he needed to go. As he got closer, the feeling inside him had become one of pure ecstasy and joy.

Eventually, they pulled up outside The Local Tavern. As soon as he saw it he knew that this was the place. He knew that she must have been drawn here, almost like he was. He got out of the car, Henderson came around and stood beside him.

“M’lord? Do you need me to order reinforcements?”

“That won’t be necessary. I’m going to do this myself, and it’s going to feel good.”

He walked into the bar.

High above the city, on the top floor of the HLC building, Alastair took in the view. Belbarbiton really was the most stunning city in the world. He looked on with the satisfaction of knowing that all before him had been created by him. Through his intellect and his gift for innovation he had transformed this place from a sleepy little backwater, to the thriving metropolis it was now.

The first time he came here had been for his education. Just like his brothers, and his mother, they had been given instruction in the ways of the Amethyst Song by the Crone herself. The Crone, in those days had lived up to the name, unlike the current occupant of the chair.

He smiled when he thought of his most recent interview with that woman. He knew that the interfering wench Beatrice would eventually seek aid from the Crone for the girl. When he arrived back after his brief sojourn into the country he made it his business to pay a visit to his alma mater.

When he arrived the woman gave the impression of being displeased to see him. Yet, he recalled days past when he, Melusina, Frederick, Clarissa, and of course that meddlesome bitch used to pal around during their school days. He reminded her of that time, and how back then he had been somewhat of a favourite of hers.  He told her that on occasion, he regretted that he had mostly ignored her. Back then his interest mainly lay with the lovely Clarissa. However, he never stood a chance with her, not beside his brother who was better looking, not to mention the heir to the throne. So, he had admired her from afar.

There was one time though, he told Melusina, when he thought he may win her affection after all. It was during the great freeze of that year. The roads were all but impassable. His brother, had earlier been called away by their father on some matter of state, and was then unable to return. Melusina was buried in her books as always, oblivious to all. Which left he, Clarissa and Beatrice. The last one too, was occupied with something or other. He and Clarissa spent the days together talking, and laughing. It was one of the happiest times of his life. But then his brother returned and he was all but forgotten.

Spending time with Melusina in that office brought it all back. He paced the office, talking about those days while the woman had sat, nervously in her chair. She should be nervous too, he knew that she had been involved with the forces working against him. Working to remove him from power. Working to take his toys away. Most importantly working to keep the girl and the stone hidden from him.

He kept talking. He talked about his frustration of always being second to his brother. His brother who wasn’t as talented, or as clever as he was. Who simply by the luck of being born first was given everything, while he had to settle for the crumbs. Even now, his brother long dead, it seemed he had to make way for some invisible child.

As he approached her desk he noticed a photograph of a young man in a frame. The man looked to be about twenty something. He looked strangely familiar. He picked it up and brought it over to Melusina.

“Who’s this handsome young man? A bit young for you isn’t he?”

Melusina’s face had drained of colour, and her eyes were wide, she whispered, “That’s my son.”

“Your son? I didn’t know you had a…wait how old is he?”

“Twenty-five.”

Alistair tilted his head to one side thinking. A smile spreading across his face.

“The night of the Amethyst Ball…he’s mine?”

Still whispering, “Yes.”

“Well, how about that. Hmm.”

He turned to her staring directly into her eyes. “Tell me where the girl is, or I will find him and gut him like a fish.”

She swallowed, taking a moment to assess the threat. She knew him well enough to know what he was capable of.

“She’s in a small village, Murpodompous. Down on the coast.”

He looked at her intently, gripping her arm tightly, “Hmm… I think you might even be telling the truth. Apparently they haven’t come her yet.”

“Come? Here?”

“Yes, yes.” He let go of her arm, and started pacing again. “I already found your little hideaway. I must say it was pretty good, such an inconsequential little place it almost doesn’t exist. Not good enough though, I still found it, and they’ve been dealt with. But it seems she got away. My guess is they’ll come here. She’s eighteen you know.”

For a brief moment relief passed over her, hearing that the girl got away. “Has it been that long?”

“You know it has. Now, here’s what you’re going to do. When this girl contacts you, you will call me and tell me exactly where she is. If you do that, I MAY just forget I have a son, and that you kept him from me. But,” he leaned back in so their faces were inches from each other, “If I find that she has been warned off, or that you have interfered in anyway to stop me getting what I want, well…”

He straightened up. “Well, it’s been wonderful catching up hasn’t it. So good reminiscing with old friends. We must do this again.” He moved to the door, as he was about to leave he turned and said, “How soon we repeat this is entirely up to you my dear.” Then he left.

Now he was waiting. He didn’t like waiting. Just to be sure that she did the right thing, he had placed one of his junior staffers at the Institute to keep an eye on her. He was a promising young lad, a bit timid perhaps, but there was something to be said for the timid. They were much more amenable to doing as they were told.

It had been a few days though. He was beginning to wonder if he had miscalculated. Some people often turned out to be more brave, and therefore foolish, than he anticipated. It was a huge problem, but it would mean extra work. It was always preferable when the people simply responded to the threat of violence, rather than him having to go to ll the trouble of carrying it out.

He was watching the tiny vehicles below when the phone rang. He answered.

“Yes?”

“She’s here.”

“Here? Where here?”

“Bea is with me now. She’s got her stashed in a hotel, somewhere in the city.”

“You’d better go with her then. Let me know when you have the exact location. And remember, no funny business.”

The phone went silent.

Well, this was turning out beautifully. By the end of this evening he would have what he wanted. His eighteen year search would be over. He poured himself a drink, and sat in his leather armchair, admiring the lights across the city.

He started humming to himself, idly creating patterns in the air.

Then the power went out.