Hey! I'm back! Sorry it's been a while, I've been so busy with university work (and *cough* Rugby Tour *cough*)
12th February 2022
Helena's yell cut through the air of the hospital room, by her side, Myka held her wife's hand tightly, "You're doing so well baby, keep going."
Breathing hard through gritted teeth, the inventor threw her head back and growled, "Myka Darling, I love you, but please; make them get this darn thing out of me!"
In the waiting room, a ten year old Lizzie wrang her hands nervously. Pete reached over and held her hands in his much larger palm, "Don't worry, your mum is a tough cookie. She'll be fine."
Nodding nervously, she sniffed, "Yeah."
With a final yell, another voice joined Helena's.
A relieved laugh broke out of Myka, "You did it Hel." Kissing her wife's forehead, she approached the midwife, marvelling at the little life being handed to her.
Passing the baby to Helena, Myka popped her head round the door to call for their older daughter, "Lizzie, do you wanna come meet your sister?"
Dark eyes brightening instantly, all worries dropped away from the little girl's face as she raced in to see her mothers.
Kneeling on a chair so she could get a closer look, she smiled wildly as she asked, "What is she called?"
Stroking Lizzie's hair, Helena softly chuckled, "What do you think about Charlotte? After your uncle Charles."
Nodding in approval the little girl gently touched her sister's head, "I like Charlotte. I'm gonna call you Charlie."
Lifting Lizzie, Myka sat on the edge of the bed, pulling her family closer to her she kissed Helena, "I like it. Welcome to the family Charlie."
"I'm going to be your best friend! I'll teach you everything, and I'll always look after you; I'm your big sister."
Pete's head popped round the door, "Oh man, that's too damned cute!"
Helena laughed, "Such a way with words Peter. Come meet Charlotte."
Grinning, he padded over, "Hey kiddo, welcome to the world!"
Sitting in a Univille café, Claudia jumped as Mrs Frederic appeared behind her, "Agent Donovan."
"Hey Mrs F." Claudia opened up the files in her hand, "The imbalances are getting worse. More artefacts are popping up; we're getting multiple pings a day." She rubber her eyes, "I think we underestimated how much Freya was holding back."
Sitting down, Mrs Frederic picked up the menu, "We must also consider that it took just one dead guardian to spark off the black plague. Two dead and Freya an unknown quantity… the repercussions could be catastrophic."
Running both hands through her hair, Claudia sighed, "The artefacts is just the start isn't it? What's next?"
The sage looked down a moment, concern furrowed her brow, "We can't be sure, but looking at the patterns of the last incident, the artefact disturbances are the first stages, the excess energy…" She shook her head, "We don't exactly have anything more specific to call it yet. But anyway, the excess energy released upon the death of a guardian increases the potential for artefacts in the world. It seems to be at least semi-aware. Like Elizabeth mentioned the fountain's sentience, I think it's safe to assume the 'energy' is whatever the guardian's charge is, trying to find another host. Freya, somehow, was controlling that energy; supressing it with her own."
"What. Comes. Next? Mrs F, we need to be ready."
Sighing, the caretaker paused, "If we can't find some way to contain the energy, then the next stage is extreme weather patterns. Hurricanes, tornados…. Who knows? Perun was the guardian of Lightning, and his death caused a small version of an ice age, and prompted a disease that wiped out a significant portion of the population of Europe. We're dealing with a loss of two guardians, air and earth. I am going to meet with Freya this week and see if she can give us any idea of what we can do to contain this."
Nodding, Claudia realised trying to explain that Freya's mind was more or less shattered was pointless. Mrs Frederic knew it as well as she did; but they were desperate. Something had to give, the younger woman just hoped that it wasn't the warehouse that would bend.
Myka walked into the Alnwick police station to find all officers at action stations.
Gray caught sight of Myka over the rushing officers, "There's been another body found. Similar area to the last."
Nodding, the agent asked, "Do you want me to come with?"
The young woman nodded, "If you like." Her face blanched, "I just hope you have a strong stomach." Throwing a coat over her uniform, Gray passed a travel mug to Myka, "Here, you're going to need it."
Helena was tired of chasing this bloody coach around this bloody 'football' pitch… bloody hand egg if you ask her, and what was with the padding?!
"Coach Jones, I really do insist we talk."
Coming to a bounding stop, the broad chested Welshman scowled fiercely at her, "I'm a bit busy!" He turned to yell across the field, "Come on Clancy! Stop fumbling your passes!"
A blonde floppy haired boy nodded with a grimace, "Sorry Coach."
"Shall I just arrest you now then?"
His face twisted into a confused growl, "What? Arrest me?"
Flashing her badge, for what felt like the hundredth time, she snarled, "This is a government investigation. Failure to cooperate with officers can lead you to be arrested for obstruction of justice."
Sighing heavily, he blew his whistle, "Right lads, that's it for tonight, we'll pick it up again tomorrow." Striding past Helena he grunted, "You've got half an hour."
Following the well-built man, she raised her hands, "At bloody last!"
"Oh my God." Myka covered her mouth as she beheld the murder scene. It looked like something out of a cheap slasher pic. The man and his dog looked like they'd been attacked by an animal; their throats ripped out.
Holding up a hand, she breathed, "I need a moment." Before walking just beyond the police tape.
Sitting on a fallen log, she took several deep breaths.
A water bottle appeared in front of her.
Looking up, she saw Gray standing beside her, "No whiskey unfortunately."
With a ginger smile, Myka accepted the bottle and took a grateful gulp, "What the hell could do that?"
"I don't know. I've seen landmines and buried explosives do something similar; but there's no evidence of a blast." Sitting beside the agent, she asked carefully, "Are you okay? I know it's a hell of a mess."
The agent nodded, "Yeah, it just caught me off guard. Are you?"
There was a practiced numbness to the young woman, "Yeah, but I'll be even better when we work out who the hell is doing this." Getting to her feet, she began to walk back to the scene.
Throwing himself into his chair, Coach Jones cracked his knuckles as Helena took the seat opposite his desk, "So, what do you need from me?"
Leaning back, she took out a notebook, "It is my understanding that you knew the two boys who committed suicide, and the third who attempted it."
The man's knuckles went white, "Yes, they were on my team. Good boys, they kept their noses clean and worked hard for what they had."
Weighing his words, Helena asked, "Do you think, perhaps, it was working so hard that could have pushed them towards taking their own lives?"
Shaking his head, he replied gruffly, "No, they were happy healthy boys. The entire team is in shock, out of all of them, they were the least likely to do this." His voice cracked ever so slightly.
Eyes narrowing a moment, Helena pushed carefully, "You were close with the boys?"
Pinching the bridge of his nose, the coach sighed, "Of course. I wanted them to do well, I helped them with extra training, and saw they could get tutors to help them keep their grades up."
"Do you think the boys may have felt like they were being pushed to succeed?"
Slamming his hand on the desk, he barked, "Are you asking me if I think I pushed them to this?!" He winced and reeled from his own reaction, "The boys were happy. I would have known if…" His voice trailed off uncertainly.
Sensing that she had pushed him too far, Helena stood, "I see. I would like to speak with you again on the matter Coach Jones. Thank you for your time."
Lying in the dark, the fire guardian waited. Barely even daring to breath, she kept her jaw set and her eyes closed.
Inside her she could feel the other one shifting.
Licking her fangs and circling, the other one waited for an opening. Yellow eyes, black shaggy hair and white sharp teeth; waiting for her moment to strike.
The thing prowled in her mind, never resting. Taunting her to no end, it raked its claws in impatience.
She couldn't let herself listen to what it was saying.
Angry growls and shouts barked from its fanged muzzle, demanding her attention, but rarely indulged.
Gripping the flameproof sheets of her cot, her torso rose from the bed. Sweat coated her skin and it felt like she was filled with liquid fire.
Her mind was clouded and blurred. She had not felt this way since she was mortal, when a fever had ripped its way through her young body. Her mother and father had thought she was to die.
Gritting her teeth, she released a growl of her own, she had fought that fever and lived; she would do the same to this beast inside her. She was the guardian of fire; it was not her fate to burn.
Wincing as another wave hit her, causing violent tremors to shake her body. Bones aching and limbs exhausted, she wanted nothing more than to just sleep. But letting her guard down is a mistake she won't make again. She'd had closed her eyes to sleep for barely a moment and the B&B went up in flames.
Shuddering at the thought of what could have happened, she snarled through the painful flash of fire through her veins.
Elizabeth flexed her hand. The level if imbalance had her physically reeling, coupled with her inability to see Freya's aura, the guardian was torn. Standing, she stretched, closing her eyes she began to slowly move her hands.
Keeping her breathing steady she tried to clear her mind as she performed tai chi; hoping somehow the movements would give some clarity.
But her movements only became sharper, transforming into a more combative movement. Fists coming to precise halts, and heels of hands thrusting out harshly; Elizabeth turned her attention to the back wall of her cell.
With each blow, her power sent shards of water and ice raining across the small room.
As she delivered a roundhouse kick to the wall, a blade of ice left an eight inch deep gash in the concrete.
With a roar, she turned to the door, hands raised to destroy it.
Stopping herself, she curled her open hands into fists, and forced herself to sit.
Lying on her bunk, she took shuddering breaths to try and ease the tightness and anger in her chest.
Palm open and arm handing limp over the side of her bed, a thin stream of water travelled along the floor of her cell. Moving up the door, it coated the entire structure.
Jaw set, Elizabeth closed her eyes; at the same time she closed her fist.
With an almighty groan, the eight inch thick steel door was crushed like a ball of tinfoil.
"Agent Wells?"
Helena turned to see a young teacher jogging after her, "Liam Hall, I heard you're hear about the suicides."
Nodding, she shook his hand, "Yes, with the unusual circumstances surrounding the suicides I've been sent to investigate."
"Ah." He nodded, "It's such a damned shame. I can't believe it's happened!" His light brown eyes flashed with distress, "First Natalie, now Jared and Kyle. I've been here three years and we've never had students commit suicide before; three is one year…" He shook his head, "It's just awful. Their poor parents."
A new name pinged Helena's interest, "It is truly awful. You mentioned three names, Natalie. I was not aware of another case."
Nodding, he sighed, "Mmm, yes Natalie. Lovely girl, she was so bright, had so much potential. But her brother found her at home. She took her own life about five months ago now." A slightly angry expression crossed his features, "Many people round here seem to be content to just let her fade into the background. She wasn't a popular girl, a target for bullies. It was a damned shame."
Nodding, Helena's mind was working at a furious pace, "Is there any chance I could see Natalie's file?"
Nodding, he pointed up the corridor, "Sure, ask Margery at reception, she should be able to help you."
Chewing the end of her pencil as she read both the school file and the police reports regarding Natalie Paige, Helena's brow furrowed sympathetically, "Poor girl."
Her teacher had not been kidding, the amount of reports of bulling registered was horrifying; with no apparent reaction being the result of them.
Putting the kettle on to make herself another cup of tea, she sighed, it was going to be another late night.
Her Farnsworth began to buzz on the desk top.
Flipping it open she smiled, "Hello darling…" Seeing Myka's face she asked hurriedly, "Darling, what happened?"
Swallowing, Myka ran a hand through her hair, "It's just been a rough day. A man and his dog turned up dead today…. God Helena it was awful. It was like they'd been torn apart! What on earth could do that?"
Sitting down, the Englishwoman leant closer to the screen, "I'm not sure."
"Days like this I really miss Artie."
"Mmm, me too." Despite their initial conflict, Helena had grown closer to Artie over the years.
Sighing, Myka rubbed her tired eyes, "I'm more than certain that the bottles were involved in the initial deaths, but these others? I'm no closer to a conclusion."
Nodding, Helena shuffled the papers on her desk, "I may have found a lead; there was an initial suicide at the school six months ago. I've only just started reading the files, but I have a feeling the incidents may be related."
"How so?"
"The girl, Natalie, was severely depressed. She was terribly bullied. The surviving boy, Ryan, reported feeling like he was completely alone and hated. I am going to try and speak with Natalie's parents tomorrow, and see if I can find out anything there."
Myka yawned, "That sounds like a plan. I'm going to call Charlie and Lizzie, then hit the hay. We've got a long day tomorrow."
"Sleep well my darling. I'll ring them in the morning, send my love."
Nodding, Myka ruffled her own hair, "I will. Goodnight, I love you."
"I love you too. Sweet dreams." Closing her Farnsworth, Helena loved the warm feeling in her chest that seeing her wife always left within her.
Dialling the number for her teenage daughter, Myka rolled her eyes when the line came up engaged.
With a flick of her wrist, she changed to the number for the house.
A cheery little voice answered, "Bering and Wells Residence, how may I help you?"
Smiling warmly, Myka answered, "Hello Charlie."
"Mom!" The girl whooped excitedly, "I've missed you!"
"I've missed you too baby. Are you alright?"
Nodding, forgetting her mother couldn't actually see her, she spoke quickly, "Yep! I've done sooooo much! School has been so much fun! We're learning about the Victorians, Uncle Pete said you liked the Victorians! Really? What's your favourite part?"
Chuckling at her daughter's enthusiasm, she made a mental note to throttle Pete when she was next home.
Yawning deeply, Myka stretched out on the comfortable hotel bed. Setting her alarm for the morning, she had barely placed her phone on the night stand before being swept away to the realm of Morpheus.
Eyes beginning to blur, Helena was about to call it a night when three names caught her eye. Among the list of names Natalie had given in one of the bullying reports, were the names of the three footballers she had been investigating. Unwilling to brush it off as a coincidence, she scanned the rest of the list, plucking her pencil from behind her ear, she copied out the list; determined to take it to coach Jones in the morning.
It was like a whisper, a soft singing in the air. Opening her eyes, Myka smiled dreamily, it was beautiful. Getting out of bed, it was as if a gentle song was guiding her. Almost dancing across the knotted wood floor of her room, she tiptoed out of the door and across the landing.
The hotel, one of the many old inns in Alnwick, was itself eerily quiet; only the gentle melody calling to her outside could be heard.
The cold northern air didn't bother her as she stepped out into the street, barefoot she padded down the street. The music getting louder by the minute, she had to reach it. God it was beautiful, like the old tales of sirens, it took her very breath away. She felt adrift, floating towards the source of the song. Lips turned up into an uncontrollable smile, she gleefully followed the angelic voice.
Pausing, she turned to look through the window of the Ye Old Cross. Resting a hand against the glass, she could feel the singing vibrating the pane; bidding her to come closer.
With her nails, she pried off the wooden board covering the missing pane.
Sighing in relief, she could actually feel the music surrounding her, whipping up her hair, and begging her to be nearer.
A yell cut across the music, but she paid it no heed, her hand rose and reached for the bottles. She was barely a hairsbreadth away and the singing loved her for it.
"Agent Bering!" A body slammed into hers, knocking her away from the window. Myka took a deep breath like a woman drowning as she hit the pavement.
Like a siren caught, the singing turned to screams. Angry filled with hate, foul words spilled from the bottles. The sound of husband and wife roaring their hatred at each other seemed to shake the very air.
Clapping her hands over her ears, Myka shook her head violently, "What the hell?!"
As soon as it had come the screaming suddenly stopped.
Panting, Sargent Gray picked up her hat, "Are you alright?"
Brushing herself off, Myka stood, "Yeah, could you hear that."
Using the end of her torch to put the nails back into the panel, Gray glared at the window, "Yeah." Stepping back, she shook her head, "The locals don't usually hear them. But they've been getting louder."
"They always make that sound?"
She nodded, "The glass used to stop it, but I don't know what's been happening recently. Those students… Visitors are usually drawn in, but never actually enough to try and get into them."
Confused, Myka frowned, "Wait, you know that they can kill people?"
"Of course." The police officer shrugged, "Everyone around here knows that. The towns round here are old, weird things happen all the time. Outsiders just don't usually get caught up in it."
"What about the other deaths?"
"They aren't the ones. The bottles don't leave a cause of death." She rubbed her eyes, "The other deaths are being caused by something else." Scowling, she checked her watch, "Whoever doing it is a sick bastard." Looking the agent up and down, she sighed, "You had better get back to bed."
"Oh, thanks." Myka shivered, as if the cold had just hit her pyjama clad self, "Thank you. It's lucky you were here."
Shrugging, the young sergeant nodded, "It's nothing, I had a feeling something was going to happen, so I just came for a walk. I'll be around the town till about seven if you need anything."
Thanking her again, Myka withdrew and returned to her room. Lying in bed, she couldn't shake the sinking feeling of horror. I almost died. It was a horrible feeling she was used to through her work at the warehouse; but it was something she never could get used to.
Rolling over she unlocked her phone, the picture of Helena and their girls smiling at her from the bright screen.
Steadying her breathing, she willed herself to go back to sleep, but she knew it was futile; tomorrow was really going to be a long one.
I would love to know your thoughts so far on the story.
Hope you are all enjoying it so far!