SIX THE PENDANT
SIX
THE PENDANT
T he walk to my place is uneventful, to my relief.
It has also been rather quiet, mainly because I haven’t asked any more questions.
I’m sure Tariq wouldn’t mind answering them, but I really don’t think I’ve got the mental capacity to take in any more information tonight.
He did put his number into my phone. A few days ago getting a boy’s phone number would have sent me into overdrive with numerous dating possibilities, but his intentions are less Hugh Grant in Notting Hill and more Liam Neeson in Taken .
We approach the front door to my building.
‘Well, this is me,’ I say, pulling out my keys. ‘Thanks for fixing me, and, you know, saving my life.’
He grins. ‘You’re welcome.’
There it is again, that warm feeling I get when he looks at me and smiles.
Tariq steps closer.
Is he looking at my lips?
He pulls down his white top from the collar, revealing the chain I noticed earlier. He lifts it out, exposing a pendant. A silver setting wound, snake-like, around a blue stone. He takes my hand and clasps my fingers around the stone. A familiar rush of heat moves through me.
‘You feel that, right?’ he says.
The fact he knows exactly what is happening to my body is a little unnerving.
He holds up the stone between his thumb and forefinger. ‘It’s a seresberi stone.’
I actually know that. Many people who grow up around here know that stone can be found throughout Sarumbourne. It’s what the castle was made from at Old Sarum, before it became ruins. I can thank Lily for that particular bit of knowledge.
Upon closer inspection, the stone appears bluer, with cracks of white and green resembling a lightning storm across a night sky.
‘This stone has a long history with Keepers. It has many benefits.’
‘Benefits?’ I say, caressing the stone with my finger.
‘Well, for one, they keep your powers grounded. So, no more attacking vending machines.’
‘Or bedposts,’ I joke.
‘There are some in the Dark Friar order who can track a Keeper’s power, that’s how they found you earlier tonight. Seresberi stone helps to mask your power so they can’t track you, and will also stop power-hungry demons from snacking on you.’
‘D-demons?’ I say, suddenly unnerved.
‘Yep. There are a lot worse things out there than Dark Friars, trust me.’ Tariq lifts the pendant off himself and places it over my head. ‘You need this more than I do right now.’
I shiver as his fingers lightly graze my chest as he tucks the pendant under my T-shirt. Now I’m getting a different kind of heat, which I try to squash immediately.
‘But it’s yours?’
‘Well, I’ll want it back. But you’ll have your own soon.’
I nod, adjusting the chain around my neck.
‘So, 6.30pm. Here. Tomorrow,’ Tariq says, stepping away.
‘What?’
‘I’ll pick you up and bring you back to the Seven Angels. You’ll be meeting Nathaniel.’
Right. Nathaniel. Whoever he is. I hope he’s as friendly as Tariq. What am I going to tell Lily? We usually hang out on Saturday nights. Am I even safe to do that anymore? Can I do normal things?
‘So, I should go barricade myself in my room until then?’ I say.
Tariq laughs. ‘You’ll be fine. They can’t track you now you have my pendant on. And you’ll be safe in the daytime. The Dark Friars won’t attack in the light.’
‘Why? Have they got a vampire-thing going on or something?’
‘The light doesn’t affect them physically, no. But it’s a decree of their order. They can only operate at night. For them, going against that is punishable by death.’
That’s a pretty harsh rule. Then again, they’re pretty harsh people. Am I surprised?
‘Remember this,’ Tariq continues. ‘The Dark Friars need to remain hidden just as much as we do. They will try to create opportunities to get you alone after dark. Don’t trust anyone outside your immediate friends and family.’
‘Got it,’ I say.
I open the door to my building.
‘Oh, and, Liam,’ Tariq calls out, and I turn again, ‘don’t take it off.’
I clasp the pendant. When I look up, Tariq is gone.
The steps up to my flat are always a struggle, but after the day I’ve had, it feels like I’m climbing a mountain.
Mum and I live on the second floor of an old Victorian townhouse, which looks beautiful from the outside; however, the 50s conversion into flats has left the inside rather less charming.
Now I’m inside, my bag of damp clothes finds its place in the wash basket in the hall. I head straight through the kitchen and into our living room, being careful not to disturb my mum in her bedroom.
The single, arched window looks out onto the quiet street below. No sign of Tariq. Only the glow of streetlights brings any life to the scene.
I reach for the pendant around my neck, clutching it between my fingers.
Further from the street is a set of trees and, behind them, Sarumbourne train station.
My stomach rumbles.
I open the fridge to find leftover pizza, in all its cheesy glory. I take a bite, and it’s everything.
I carry the plate of cold pizza to my room, flip on the bedside lamp, and plop down on the bed, half-chewing a crust. I reach into my pockets and grab my phone, noticing a new voice note from Lily. I hit play and her lively voice fills the room.
‘You cut me off! But I’ll let you off considering you had nakedness in your vicinity. You do know you’re going to have to tell me absolutely everything in detail. I just— oh hey, Cassie, yes you’re gorgeous, hey girl. Sorry, Cassie has come to say hi.’
Cassie is Lily’s golden retriever, and she’s the reason why Jack and I prefer to have our movie nights at Lily’s place rather than mine or his. She’s our cuddle-buddy!
‘Anyway,’ Lily’s voice continues, ‘please come to college tomorrow. You can tell me all about the boy, and help your BFF with open day prep. Win-win. I’m getting in for nine. Pretty please? I’ll treat you to a burger afterwards. I may even stretch to a shake. Also, message me when you’re home!’
I send Lily a quick message, letting her know I’m home and that I’ll see her at college in the morning. After all, Tariq did say I’d be safe during the day. Plus, spending time with Lily might help me take my mind off all this craziness, at least for a few hours until Tariq comes to get me.
I drop Tariq a message: Don’t suppose you have any excuses in your repertoire so I can get out of a social thing with a friend tomorrow night? PS – this is Liam, aka, the breaker of beds.
Tomorrow is going to be awkward. I hate keeping secrets. How can I not tell Lily what’s going on? She’s my best friend, and I tell her everything. But Tariq made it clear to keep quiet about it.
My phone buzzes. It’s a reply from Tariq: Breaker of beds, eh? What a title to live up to! Just tell your friend that you have another OneNight date.
He signs the message off with a winky face emoji, which sends flutters all over my body. I begin typing a reply, then stop when another message comes through from him.
It’s better than telling them the truth.
I guess I’m just going to have to go along with Tariq being my date.
Ugh, guilt. But if it means keeping Lily safe then that’s what I’m going to have to do. Besides, Tariq seemed okay with the whole ‘OneNight’ thing, which is just even more confusing. Does he like the idea of being my date? Or is he just doing it to keep me safe and protect my new identity?
Another voice note comes through, this time from Jack. I hit play.
‘Heeeeeeey, buddy. Lily just told me what you’ve been up to tonight. Player!’
Damn it, Lily!
‘I need some of your powers, man. Only for girls, not guys. Also, mate, sorry for earlier today in Smokers’ Clearing. It wasn’t cool for us to just leave you there. I know vivid dreams can mess with your head. Anyway, see you for badders Sunday.’
I shove another slice of pizza into my mouth. I take off Tariq’s T-shirt, and I’m hit with citrus and spice. It’s the scent of Tariq’s room. My mind suddenly erupts with images of his dark hair, the chain around his neck, his muscular back, his peachy… okay, I need to stop.
I stare into the mirror beside my wardrobe, catching sight of the pendant dangling from my neck.
As I run my fingers over it, a warmth spreads through me.
What have I stumbled into? Keepers, Dark Friars, demons, darkness.
And Nathaniel, the mysterious figure I’m to meet tomorrow. It’s a lot to process.
I’m not the same Liam I was yesterday.
A soft knock on my door makes me jump. I quickly clutch the pendant, hiding it in my hand.
‘Liam? Are you decent?’ Mum calls from outside.
Why isn’t she asleep?
‘Er… one sec,’ I stammer.
I scramble onto my bed and throw the duvet over myself, pulling it up to cover the stone around my neck. Deep breaths, Liam. Keep it together.
‘Yeah, come in,’ I manage to say, trying to sound casual.
The door opens, and Mum steps in, wearing her Winnie-the-Pooh dressing gown and white fluffy slippers.
‘You just got back?’ she asks, sitting at the end of my bed.
I nod. ‘Sorry if I woke you.’
‘I can’t sleep anyway,’ she says, brushing my frizzy fringe out of my eyes.
I scrunch the covers tighter around my neck. I can’t let her see the pendant. It’s not something I’d ever wear, and she’d only ask lots of questions about it. And I don’t really have the answers.
‘What did you do to your head?’ she says, finding the plaster.
‘Oh, I… tripped over at college today.’
She leans in, inspecting the injury. ‘Want me to take a look at it?’
‘No. It’s fine. Tar— I mean… Lily patched me up.’
‘Honestly, love, first your hand and now your head. Don’t let the third time be the charm, okay? I don’t want to see you on the ward anytime soon.’
I smile and she kisses my forehead.
‘I’m going to make some warm milk; do you want some?’ she asks, heading for the door.
I shake my head. ‘You get to sleep now. I don’t need to read to you, do I?’
I chuckle softly. ‘No, Mum.’
But that does remind me… ‘Do you remember the stories Nan and Grandad used to read to me when I was little? The local tales, about the monsters, and the Old Sarum knights who fought them.’
Mum hovers for a moment, staring blankly at me. She’s probably wondering why I’m bringing up old memories out of the blue.
‘Course I do, you used to love them. Wouldn’t go to sleep without one when you stayed with them.’
‘Do we still have them?’
‘No, I don’t think so, sweetie. We passed everything on to charity shops when your grandad passed.’
We lost Grandad a year ago, and Nan just a couple before that. Sunday dinners, birthdays, holidays – none of these things are the same without either of them.
‘I can keep an eye out in the shops for them?’
I smile. ‘No, don’t worry. It’s just… it’s for a project at college. I can look online.’
She grins and starts to close the door, then stops again.
‘Oh, I almost forgot. I was sorry to hear about that girl who’s gone missing. Katie something, I think?’
I freeze, my heart pounding, and I nearly lose the quilt covering the pendant. ‘How did you hear about her?’ I try to keep my voice steady.
‘An email came through from the college principal. They’re quite concerned. Did you know her?’
Katie’s burning body flashes through my mind.
‘She…’ I begin, suddenly unable to form words. ‘She was in one of my classes. I didn’t really know her, though.’
‘Well, I hope she’s found safe and well.’
‘Me too.’ My heart sinks.
‘Goodnight, love.’ The door closes.
I sink deeper under the sheets. I put my face in my hands, feeling the pendant against my skin. I know safe and well is the last thing Katie is. She’s dead.
If Tariq had been out the night Katie died, he may have saved her instead. She could be wearing this pendant now, not me. She’d be alive.
I switch off the light and roll over, hoping for a dreamless night.