TWENTY-NINE ONE HOUR TILL MIDNIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
ONE HOUR TILL MIDNIGHT
T he three of us collapse into the grass among the gravestones, coughing from the smoke as we watch the church collapse.
Opel leans into Tariq, who wraps an arm around her.
Watching them, I wish Tariq’s arm were around me, drawing me closer.
Draven’s words play in my mind. Does Tariq have feelings for me?
Why hasn’t he said anything? I guess we haven’t really had the opportunity.
With Opel here, now isn’t the time to bring it up.
Tariq notices my gaze, offering a half-smile before returning his attention to the fire.
‘It might be late,’ Opel says, ‘but this fire is bound to attract attention.’
‘You’re right,’ Tariq says, standing up. ‘I got it.’ He steps toward the burning rubble, extending his hands toward the ground.
‘What’s going on?’ I say.
Droplets of water emerge from the earth around us.
A choreographed dance around Tariq, they ascend high into the night air.
It’s surreal, almost as if it’s raining in reverse.
With a twist of his hands, the droplets start to unite, forming a vast water bubble.
Suspended above the smouldering church, the bubble hovers, then bursts at Tariq’s quick movement.
The water crashes down over the flames, and within seconds, the fire subsides, leaving only glowing embers.
The smoke’s colour shifts from black to white almost instantly.
I’m sort of speechless. The extent of Tariq’s power is incredible.
‘Show off,’ says Opel.
Tariq grins.
‘What on earth!’ A voice comes from behind us.
All three of us spin to see Nathaniel staggering across the graveyard. He’s taken his glasses off, squinting toward the crumbling chaos in front of us.
‘Nathaniel!’ Tariq says.
Nathaniel looks from the ruined church, to Tariq, to Opel, and, finally, to me. He folds his arms. ‘What part of wait for me to return did you not understand?’
Tariq explains everything, and I can’t tell if Nathaniel is angry or relieved. Both emotions seem to cause the same wrinkled forehead on him.
‘But if I have your pendant, where’s mine?’ Opel says.
‘Draven has it,’ I interject.
‘What? Where is he?’ Opel says, tearing off Tariq’s pendant and shoving it back to him.
Tariq sighs. ‘Heading to the Crossing. We think.’
‘This was all a distraction,’ Nathaniel says.
‘A distraction from what?’ Opel asks.
‘The Night of Alastor,’ I say.
Opel’s frown deepens. ‘The Night of what now?’
‘It’s a summoning,’ Nathaniel explains. ‘The Dark Friars plan to raise the demon Alastor from the Crossing.’
‘They’re already there,’ I say. ‘Layla, Draven…’
‘The Guild believe the ritual will take place at midnight,’ says Nathaniel.
Tariq pulls out his phone. ‘But that’s basically an hour from now.’
‘Exactly. That’s why I came looking for you. We need to get moving.’ Nathaniel turns to leave.
‘Wait. Opel and I will handle this. You take Liam back,’ Tariq says.
‘What?’ I protest.
‘It’s too risky,’ Tariq argues.
‘Oh, sure, because what just happened in there was a breeze.’ I gesture toward the charred remains of the church.
‘Wretches are one thing,’ Tariq counters. ‘But we have no idea what we’re walking into here. Neither Opel nor I have dealt with a summoning before.’
‘Then we’re all in the same boat!’ I insist.
Nathaniel approaches. ‘Tariq is right, Liam. However, I think, for this, we may just need you.’
I’m shocked by Nathaniel’s support, but I hide it with a smile.
Tariq shakes his head. ‘Nathaniel, I really—’
‘Oh for Christ’s sake, Tar, just let the kid come,’ Opel says. ‘He seems to be holding his own… and if he gets himself killed, well, it’s on him.’
Tariq eyes me, his expression unreadable. He nods for me to follow, and we all head out of the churchyard.
‘Can someone finally explain who this Albator is?’ Opel asks.
‘Alastor,’ Tariq, Nathaniel, and I say simultaneously, our voices uniting as we set off for the Crossing.
The Crossing at Old Sarum is about half an hour’s walk away from the ruins of the church. We move as a group through the city centre, avoiding the drunken crowds spilling out of the pubs, blissfully unaware of what could unfold tonight at the ancient hillfort.
We make our way up a lengthy road, our path lit by the soft glow of streetlights. The occasional car passes by, though the usual bustling traffic has dwindled in the quiet of the night.
Nathaniel leads the way, with Opel beside him. I guess he’s taking the opportunity to fill her in on what happened to Tariq and me at the Wellbeing Centre, and what we learned.
I hang back at the rear with Tariq. Since leaving the churchyard, he’s hardly spoken a word to me. He’s being distant, as though my presence were somehow unwelcome or suddenly inconvenient.
As we make our way through an underpass, the silence between Tariq and me grows louder. Something is off. Have I done something to upset him? His jaw is clenched as he stares ahead.
‘Are you okay?’ I say.
‘I’m fine.’
His voice is firm. I don’t press again until we’re out the other side and climbing the steps back to the road.
‘You don’t seem fine.’
‘Do you even realise what you’re doing, Liam? Putting yourself in danger constantly.’
‘What are you talking about?’ I say, trying to keep up with his pace.
Tariq throws his arms up. ‘Let’s list them, shall we? You give away my pendant to a friend and get attacked by a Wretch. I told you to trust no one, and somehow you end up alone in a library after dark and nearly get killed.’
I go to interrupt, but he doesn’t look as if he’s stopping.
‘You drag me along to meet a mentally unstable Keeper. You jump into the Everlasting. And tonight, you insisted on following me to the church. It’s reckless, Liam.’
‘I was just trying to help.’
He stops walking and turns to me. ‘You awakened less than two weeks ago. You don’t need to help. You need to learn.’
I’m shaking. Why is he being a dick? I’m not usually the argumentative type, but this is beginning to grate.
‘If I hadn’t been there tonight, you and Opel might not have made it out. What was I supposed to do? Let you handle it alone?’
‘Yes, Liam! That’s exactly what you were supposed to do. Stop throwing yourself into danger like you’re invincible.’
The heat in his words catches me off guard.
‘I know what happened to Thomas was horrible, but that doesn’t mean you get to decide everything for me!’
‘Yes, I…’ Tariq’s expression hardens, but there’s a glint in his eye. ‘We can’t lose another Keeper.’
A couple, hand in hand, skirt around us and down the underpass.
‘It’s more than that, isn’t it?’ I say, once the strangers are out of earshot.
‘We don’t have time for this,’ Tariq says.
He moves to go but I grab his arm. ‘I heard what Draven said back in the church. Jack noticed it too. You haven’t even spoken about that night when we…’
‘Alright, Liam.’ He clenches his fists at his sides, his jaw tight. ‘Yes, it’s more than that.’
‘Then be honest with me,’ I push. ‘Why are you so angry?’
‘Because…’ Tariq’s gaze softens, and for a moment, the intensity in his eyes makes my heart skip a beat.
‘I can’t lose you, okay? Not just because you’re a Keeper.
I care about you. More than I should.’ He sighs, looking up the street, avoiding eye contact.
‘But I can’t think about that. There are more important things going on.
Being a Keeper, protecting this city, that must come first.’
I nod. I want to say something, to tell him that his feelings matter to me, but he turns away, starting to walk again, his pace quickening as he catches up with Nathaniel and Opel.
He’s right, there are more important things right now.
Ten minutes later, we approach the main entrance of Old Sarum.
I switch on my phone and I’m greeted by a string of missed calls and messages from Lily, Jack, and my mum.
They must be worried sick. This morning, Tariq picked me up for a walk, and now the day has spiralled into saving the world from a demon.
I quickly shoot each of them a message to say I’m okay and that I decided to spend the evening with Tariq at his place.
Mum instantly replies asking how my wound is and I respond saying it’s holding up.
It’s not a complete lie considering the day I’ve had, although the events at the church have left it throbbing a little.
I switch my phone off and put it away.
‘Damage control, huh?’ Opel says, now walking beside me as Tariq talks to Nathaniel ahead of us.
‘Oh, yeah. I guess.’
‘It’s not easy, kid.’
‘How do you and Tariq deal with the whole “secret identity” stuff?’
‘Well, I’m lucky, my family have a history with the Guild, some of my ancestors have even been Keepers. So my parents are cool with it, not that they’re ever around anyway. The only other people I’m close to are Tar and Theo, so I’m off the hook. For Tar, it’s different.’
‘Different?’
‘Yeah, he doesn’t have any family, and me and Thom… I mean, I’m his only friend.’
‘Just you?’
‘Hey!’
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just… Tariq really doesn’t have anyone else?’
She shakes her head. ‘You’re the first person I’ve ever seen him get close to.’
We make a sharp left turn, taking a gravel path toward the visitors’ centre. Opel rubs her temples.
‘How’s the head?’ I say.
‘Still attached,’ Opel says, in her usual dry manner.
We continue on, making our way through a gate.
‘About earlier…’ Opel begins.
‘Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t have been there. Tariq already gave me the whole lecture,’ I say.
‘Actually, I was going to thank you.’
I nearly stumble over my own feet. Did I hear that right?
‘Look, I know I haven’t exactly been the most welcoming. Let’s be real, I’m kind of a bitch.’
I snort. ‘No, you’re… okay yeah, I guess you are a little.’
She smiles an actual smile.
‘I’m trying to say that I appreciate it. If you weren’t there, I’d probably be Wretch food right now.’
‘You’re welcome.’
Opel’s smile lingers, and it suits her in a strange way. ‘Just don’t go telling everyone I thanked you. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.’
She nudges me before heading off to rejoin Tariq and Nathaniel.
We pass the Old Sarum welcome sign and head into the visitors’ car park. There’s a harsh chill in the air. I forget how cold it can get up here at night. I pull up my hood to keep my ears warm. There’s a glow coming from the higher level of the hillfort, some sort of light.
Nathaniel stops, scanning the area.
‘Where are they?’ Opel says. ‘Wouldn’t the Dark Friars be out here patrolling?’
‘It’s not long now until the summoning begins,’ says Nathaniel. ‘I imagine their numbers will be contained to the upper plateau.’
‘How do we know it hasn’t already happened?’ I ask, a shiver in my voice.
‘Going on history, the Guild believe the Dark Friars have a narrow window in which to pull Alastor from the Crossing,’ Nathaniel explains. ‘That opportunity will be at midnight.’
‘So, what’s the plan?’ says Tariq.
‘We need to keep Draven and Layla distracted long enough so that they miss their chance,’ says Nathaniel. ‘We should move in and get a closer look at what we’re up against. Use the embankment; the Dark Friars are likely to be guarding the footbridge and main entrance.’
We share a collective nod.
We climb the hilly ramparts, careful not to make a sound that might give us away. The moon lights our way as we navigate through the rocks and tall shrubbery.
‘Stay low,’ whispers Tariq.
I finally reach the top and join Nathaniel, Tariq, and Opel, who are lying on their fronts in the grass ahead.
There’s the footbridge Nathaniel and I took when he brought me up here last week.
The visitors’ centre is nestled between stone walls, but it’s the inner section where the main action is taking place.
The glow I saw before is coming from large burning torches implanted in the ground surrounding the ruins. The flames sway in the breeze. A large group of hooded figures is moving about the area, their robes blending into the darkness, only distinguishable by the torchlight that accompanies them.
‘I’ve never seen them in such numbers,’ Nathaniel whispers.
The main hive of activity seems to be by the area near the well, but between the dim light and ruins, I can’t make out who is there or what is happening.
‘Any sign of Layla or Draven?’ Tariq asks.
Leaning forward doesn’t improve my view. ‘Not that I can see.’
‘Aren’t you supposed to have super-sight or something?’ Opel says.
‘I haven’t tried it yet,’ I say.
‘Well, now’d be the time, kid.’
‘Think back to your training,’ Nathaniel says. ‘Close off your other senses. Find the spark, ignite it.’
I squint, guiding my focus on the path to the central area. My eyes feel dry from the intensity. Just like before, warmth courses through me, radiating upward to my head. It’s as if I’m adjusting a camera lens. Suddenly, the indistinct group before me snaps into high definition.
‘This is seriously strange,’ I mutter.
‘What do you see?’ Nathaniel says.
‘Draven is there… and Layla.’
‘Anything else?’ Tariq says.
‘Layla is kneeling at the well… her eyes are… there’s some sort of glow.’
‘Glow?’ Opel says.
‘I’m not sure… ah… my eyes are burning!’ I avert my gaze, rubbing my eye sockets.
‘You okay?’ Tariq says, his hand on my back.
I nod, blinking rapidly.
‘The pain will lessen with practice,’ Nathaniel says. Opel starts edging away from us, heading down the opposite side of the rampart.
‘Where are you going?’ Nathaniel says.
‘That bastard has my pendant; I’m getting it back.’
She continues, but Tariq grabs her by the arm. ‘If you go down there, you’ll be swarmed by Dark Friars.’
‘We’ve got fifteen minutes until midnight,’ Nathaniel says. ‘Fifteen minutes until the Dark Friars summon one of the oldest demons known to this earth. We can’t let that happen.’
‘We need a distraction,’ Tariq says.
‘What kind of distraction?’ Opel inquires.
Tariq smiles. ‘Me.’