Chapter 3
Dakota and Seraphim done by Mo. Go Mo! mo flag
Walking out of the school gates, relieved to have rushed and given in that theory paper on Jon Spiro, Dakota noticed that George was talking to another Chauffeur. Too stressed to care she allowed him to carry on. If only she had time to ask Artemis about his encounter with Spiro she would have had that theory done and dusted. However no thanks to Mr Parkinson, who had given her two days to write a 30 page document on some one elses brain, time had not been on her side. She was just about to wind down the tinted window of the her fathers brand new Jaguar, when she noticed Seraphim storming towards the two Chauffeurs. By the look on her face, she could tell that the older girl was not to be spoken to, especially after having given Dakota that look earlier on.
"STOP FRATERNISING WITH THE ENEMY!" She yelled, her raven black hair flying about, and hazel eyes flashing.
Poor Dakota, as far as she was concerned this 17 year old girl hated her for a reason she did not know.
Perhaps I said something out of place at the dinner party earlier this summer. She thought, Maybe I should apologize however, before she could even reach for the door handle Seraphim had gone, marching her chauffeur in front of her. A moment later, George entered the car.
"Who was your friend George?" She questioned; for curiosity had taken the better of her.
"Henry, miss, and as you could see, Miss Seraphim's chauffeur" he puzzled. "And do you happen to know why I am the enemy?" he said, a grin playing under his bristly moustache.
"Nope..." She replied to George as he pulled out onto the main road and towards Dakota's home, situated in the open meadows of the countryside. About an hour later the Jaguar pulled into the long gravel drive of the Gilgalad estate. Entering the house she was greeted be various people, some taking her coats and other her books and laptop. She greeted her parents and headed into her room. There she found various things and outfits laid out for her.
What is this? Is there another party to attend? Or have they simply brought me more clothes? Not like I need any... she mused, tracing a finger over her lips as she stared at the expensive clothes.
Shoving them off the bed she flipped on her laptop and logged onto the internet. After checking all her mail, she suddenly found one from Artemis; she opened the file and waited for it to load. Her eyes scanned the document; after reading it, she quickly slammed shut the laptop, launched it across the room and ran from the room as if something was after her. She found that her feet had taken her to the stables, perhaps one of the most comforting places on the whole of the estate. Of course, all the horses were outside having their daily walk about and exercise, so she simply sat outside and tried to erase from her mind the contents of Artemis' e-mail. This however was a failed attempt as it constantly brought her mind back to it. A sudden thud broke her chain of thought. She looked up and there, stuck in the wall, was the smoking head of a spoon.
How on earth did that get there? But before she could work it out a crack began to spread up the wall.
Rushing up she dashed from the stable and ran as fast as she could away from the building. Just in time the wall crumbled away, the rubble almost catching her foot. Who on earth was trying to kill her? Or was this simply a coincidence?
..
Departing from school she noticed her Chauffeur, Henry, and her black Bentley parked in its usual place, however the old man was not in it. Looking up and down the road she immediately saw him talking to-
"WHAT?!" who was this? Dakotas chauffeur! The traitor! how could he do this! She quickly marched over and started screaming at him.
"STOP FRATERNISING WITH THE ENEMY! Hurry up and do your job! Otherwise I shall get you replaced!" She gave him a murderous look and followed as he walked back towards the car.
How could he talk to anyone who even knew that Dakota girl? I mean, honestly! Who on earth had the name Dakota? Was it even a name? Defiantly not for someone with such a high social status. Seraphim flung herself into the car. God, that girl annoys me so. Seraphim stopped. She envied Dakota, having Artemis attention, where as she had none. What was going on with her? She was never like this, even in the most depressing time. Had this boy she had met only last week infatuated her mind? A million and one thoughts ran through her head, so many that she did not even notice that George had quietly gotten into the car and was pulling away from the school.
I shouldn't have yelled at Henry, that was out of line and out of order she thought.
"Henry; I...I apologize about my behavior earlier, I don't know what came over me..."
"No problem, miss"
There that was that sorted, onto the fact about Dakota. She still thought that it was unfair how a boy such as Artemis could see anything in such a girl. How he had completely ignored her at their last meeting. Then again they did have a past, where as she was simply a girl who had walked into his life only 2 weeks ago. Frustration over took her, ever little detail was enhanced and everything seem to bug her.
Like this traffic jam for instance. Never had the traffic been so bad, sure there would be traffic but at least they would be moving!
"This was simply ridiculous. Henry; could you go and see what is blocking the road and remove it if you can?" She ordered.
"Yes miss." He stood up out of the car and walked on the hard shoulder to do so.
Perhaps I should ask father to give him a small raise, just to show that I really am sorry... she thought, watching him disappear behind a truck.. And what to do about Dakota? She sighed. One of the two people who she could not get out of her mind. And well there was simply no room for more then one person in her mind. She knew exactly which one that was going to be, but how to get rid of the other? That was a problem.
At that moment Henry re-entered the car and said "Sorry, Seraphim, but we have to take the long way home, but believe it or not... There is a huge crater in the middle of the road."
"A crater? From what? This is the middle of Oxford, the most boring place in the whole of England, and you say there is a crater in the road!" This was something to be laughed at. For heavens sake the people in oxford had so much time they had written a dictionary!
"Well, this might sound stupid but it looks like a tin of lima beans has caused it." She burst into laughter for a can of lima beans to have created a crater, it had to have been dropped from the earths hemisphere to make such a hole, and had to be made of extremely strong stuff to survive the impact. Perhaps just to prove herself wrong she glanced up at the sky, and to her horror, A little black, swirling cloud could be seen among the other, more fluffier white cotton like clouds. What on earth was happening?
..
Artemis smiled. He should have known. That man on his security cameras was Dustfingers, after all.
"Dustfingers? I don't know who you're talking about. Please leave." Artemis smirked. He flipped out his pen-knife and twirled it around his fingers.
"Oh, really?" he said, casually pocketing the sharp instrument again. He looked past the frowning gentleman and saw the books shadow on the hallway. "Never were much of a hider, eh, old friend?" he looked at his hands and gave the sort of smile that made Blaize shiver even though he was warm from the fire. "Your pathetic love of fire casts far too many shadows where they shouldn't be. Mind if I come in?"
Blaize frowned and pushed the door closed, and yanked out the cord, his fingers trembling slightly. "How can you prove it's yours? Who says it-" he snapped his mouth shut. Artemis laughed airily and settled himself onto a leather sofa.
"Guilty conscience, hmm?" Artemis checked his nails carelessly. He leaned forward, and looked the tall man in the eye. "I can see. Its too late, isn't it. You've opened the book." Blaize nodded. "Well...I should be angrier at you. But I seem to find delight in your panic." He settled into the chair. "Do you have anything to drink?"
"Aren't you a bit young?" Blaize sneered, clenching a fist.
"We'll talk about age difference when you stop doing childish things like stealing." He retorted. As the man strode out to get the drinks sorted, Artemis' thoughts drifted back to his childhood. How simple things had been then. Picnics with his mother, father and Dakota. Under the cherry trees...he looked through the dingy window to see the moulting pink tree, white with frost, swaying ever so slightly in the chill breeze. Just like before. Before all of everything had started. Why couldn't it be like that now?
"Shaken or stirred?" enquired Blaize.
..
After an hour of arguments and insults, Artemis had returned home. Sighing deeply, Blaize pulled the book towards him and traced a finger over the carved binding. He almost felt it shiver as he touched it. Of course, he thought. The book knows I'm the only one who can control it. He stared at the cover for a good ten minutes, and soon his eyes blurred. Then, words suddenly jumped out at him. Shaking his head and reeling backwards, he rubbed his watery eyes and frowned. He paused, and then looked at the book again. If he blurred his eyes, he could just about-
-Brrrp. Brrrp. Brrrp.-
The phone rang in the hallway. Growling, he stood and strode over to the ringing machine. He stood, arms folded, and waited. His voice sounded, and then Artemis' worried voice, accompanied with the steady clicking of a keyboard sounded.
"Well, we do have a problem here. I just looked up on this book, and it seems you've opened up a vortex in the hemisphere, creating a magnetic field on the earth's surface...Oh, if you're there, pick up, by the way...Hmm, well, it-" Blaize's hand reached for the phone. Albeit with a tiny hint of smugness; Artemis couldn't manage to erase the worry from his voice, no matter how smarmy he tried to be. He picked the phone up.
"Yes?" Blaize answered, gruffly.
"Didn't you hear me? I just said-"
"Yes I heard you." He muttered, leaning against the wall. "So, what else is going on?"
"..."Artemis' breath paused as he watched an email send.
"Artemis?" Blaize frowned, teasing a strand of black hair entangled with blond.
"Er, yes, what was I saying?" Artemis blinked. "Yes. That's it. Erm," Blaize raised an eyebrow, "magnetic fields. Yes. Your- that is to say, my- book has the ability to trigger a strong magnetic field. Now-"
"Hold up," Blaize stopped him, staring at the book through the crack of the door hinge. "How does that happen?"
"I would have thought you knew."
"Well, I don't; so explain. All I know is that the book is very valuable and its dangerous," he paused, "However, I do know how to control it-"
"Turn on your TV!" Artemis shouted. Blaize obliged. "Is that what you call control?!" Images of tin foil balls smacking people on the head and concussing them flashed before him- an entire mansion in Cambridge had been shattered to pieces by a chair.
"Ah." Blaize peered tentatively at the book. He looked outside. "This affects everyone in the country except..."
"Except the holder of the book, yes." Artemis replied.
"Well, that's OK then!" Blaize said, promptly hanging up.
Artemis sighed, rolling his eyes. "Well, at least something hasn't changed," He mused, looking at the sent mail before him.
REVIEW RESPONSE
The story is actually kind of getting the idea from Inkheart with a book that can control things, but I just used Dustfingers (Blaize) character. He doesn't think about the book, because he is a normal guy.
'What's gna happen eh? Dakota and seraphim have issues, and Artemis seems quite sweet. What's gna happen between Dakota and Blaize?' You'll have to read on and see! Muahahahahahaha evil smile
Dakota and Seraphim done by Mo. Go Mo! mo flag
Walking out of the school gates, relieved to have rushed and given in that theory paper on Jon Spiro, Dakota noticed that George was talking to another Chauffeur. Too stressed to care she allowed him to carry on. If only she had time to ask Artemis about his encounter with Spiro she would have had that theory done and dusted. However no thanks to Mr Parkinson, who had given her two days to write a 30 page document on some one elses brain, time had not been on her side. She was just about to wind down the tinted window of the her fathers brand new Jaguar, when she noticed Seraphim storming towards the two Chauffeurs. By the look on her face, she could tell that the older girl was not to be spoken to, especially after having given Dakota that look earlier on.
"STOP FRATERNISING WITH THE ENEMY!" She yelled, her raven black hair flying about, and hazel eyes flashing.
Poor Dakota, as far as she was concerned this 17 year old girl hated her for a reason she did not know.
Perhaps I said something out of place at the dinner party earlier this summer. She thought, Maybe I should apologize however, before she could even reach for the door handle Seraphim had gone, marching her chauffeur in front of her. A moment later, George entered the car.
"Who was your friend George?" She questioned; for curiosity had taken the better of her.
"Henry, miss, and as you could see, Miss Seraphim's chauffeur" he puzzled. "And do you happen to know why I am the enemy?" he said, a grin playing under his bristly moustache.
"Nope..." She replied to George as he pulled out onto the main road and towards Dakota's home, situated in the open meadows of the countryside. About an hour later the Jaguar pulled into the long gravel drive of the Gilgalad estate. Entering the house she was greeted be various people, some taking her coats and other her books and laptop. She greeted her parents and headed into her room. There she found various things and outfits laid out for her.
What is this? Is there another party to attend? Or have they simply brought me more clothes? Not like I need any... she mused, tracing a finger over her lips as she stared at the expensive clothes.
Shoving them off the bed she flipped on her laptop and logged onto the internet. After checking all her mail, she suddenly found one from Artemis; she opened the file and waited for it to load. Her eyes scanned the document; after reading it, she quickly slammed shut the laptop, launched it across the room and ran from the room as if something was after her. She found that her feet had taken her to the stables, perhaps one of the most comforting places on the whole of the estate. Of course, all the horses were outside having their daily walk about and exercise, so she simply sat outside and tried to erase from her mind the contents of Artemis' e-mail. This however was a failed attempt as it constantly brought her mind back to it. A sudden thud broke her chain of thought. She looked up and there, stuck in the wall, was the smoking head of a spoon.
How on earth did that get there? But before she could work it out a crack began to spread up the wall.
Rushing up she dashed from the stable and ran as fast as she could away from the building. Just in time the wall crumbled away, the rubble almost catching her foot. Who on earth was trying to kill her? Or was this simply a coincidence?
..
Departing from school she noticed her Chauffeur, Henry, and her black Bentley parked in its usual place, however the old man was not in it. Looking up and down the road she immediately saw him talking to-
"WHAT?!" who was this? Dakotas chauffeur! The traitor! how could he do this! She quickly marched over and started screaming at him.
"STOP FRATERNISING WITH THE ENEMY! Hurry up and do your job! Otherwise I shall get you replaced!" She gave him a murderous look and followed as he walked back towards the car.
How could he talk to anyone who even knew that Dakota girl? I mean, honestly! Who on earth had the name Dakota? Was it even a name? Defiantly not for someone with such a high social status. Seraphim flung herself into the car. God, that girl annoys me so. Seraphim stopped. She envied Dakota, having Artemis attention, where as she had none. What was going on with her? She was never like this, even in the most depressing time. Had this boy she had met only last week infatuated her mind? A million and one thoughts ran through her head, so many that she did not even notice that George had quietly gotten into the car and was pulling away from the school.
I shouldn't have yelled at Henry, that was out of line and out of order she thought.
"Henry; I...I apologize about my behavior earlier, I don't know what came over me..."
"No problem, miss"
There that was that sorted, onto the fact about Dakota. She still thought that it was unfair how a boy such as Artemis could see anything in such a girl. How he had completely ignored her at their last meeting. Then again they did have a past, where as she was simply a girl who had walked into his life only 2 weeks ago. Frustration over took her, ever little detail was enhanced and everything seem to bug her.
Like this traffic jam for instance. Never had the traffic been so bad, sure there would be traffic but at least they would be moving!
"This was simply ridiculous. Henry; could you go and see what is blocking the road and remove it if you can?" She ordered.
"Yes miss." He stood up out of the car and walked on the hard shoulder to do so.
Perhaps I should ask father to give him a small raise, just to show that I really am sorry... she thought, watching him disappear behind a truck.. And what to do about Dakota? She sighed. One of the two people who she could not get out of her mind. And well there was simply no room for more then one person in her mind. She knew exactly which one that was going to be, but how to get rid of the other? That was a problem.
At that moment Henry re-entered the car and said "Sorry, Seraphim, but we have to take the long way home, but believe it or not... There is a huge crater in the middle of the road."
"A crater? From what? This is the middle of Oxford, the most boring place in the whole of England, and you say there is a crater in the road!" This was something to be laughed at. For heavens sake the people in oxford had so much time they had written a dictionary!
"Well, this might sound stupid but it looks like a tin of lima beans has caused it." She burst into laughter for a can of lima beans to have created a crater, it had to have been dropped from the earths hemisphere to make such a hole, and had to be made of extremely strong stuff to survive the impact. Perhaps just to prove herself wrong she glanced up at the sky, and to her horror, A little black, swirling cloud could be seen among the other, more fluffier white cotton like clouds. What on earth was happening?
..
Artemis smiled. He should have known. That man on his security cameras was Dustfingers, after all.
"Dustfingers? I don't know who you're talking about. Please leave." Artemis smirked. He flipped out his pen-knife and twirled it around his fingers.
"Oh, really?" he said, casually pocketing the sharp instrument again. He looked past the frowning gentleman and saw the books shadow on the hallway. "Never were much of a hider, eh, old friend?" he looked at his hands and gave the sort of smile that made Blaize shiver even though he was warm from the fire. "Your pathetic love of fire casts far too many shadows where they shouldn't be. Mind if I come in?"
Blaize frowned and pushed the door closed, and yanked out the cord, his fingers trembling slightly. "How can you prove it's yours? Who says it-" he snapped his mouth shut. Artemis laughed airily and settled himself onto a leather sofa.
"Guilty conscience, hmm?" Artemis checked his nails carelessly. He leaned forward, and looked the tall man in the eye. "I can see. Its too late, isn't it. You've opened the book." Blaize nodded. "Well...I should be angrier at you. But I seem to find delight in your panic." He settled into the chair. "Do you have anything to drink?"
"Aren't you a bit young?" Blaize sneered, clenching a fist.
"We'll talk about age difference when you stop doing childish things like stealing." He retorted. As the man strode out to get the drinks sorted, Artemis' thoughts drifted back to his childhood. How simple things had been then. Picnics with his mother, father and Dakota. Under the cherry trees...he looked through the dingy window to see the moulting pink tree, white with frost, swaying ever so slightly in the chill breeze. Just like before. Before all of everything had started. Why couldn't it be like that now?
"Shaken or stirred?" enquired Blaize.
..
After an hour of arguments and insults, Artemis had returned home. Sighing deeply, Blaize pulled the book towards him and traced a finger over the carved binding. He almost felt it shiver as he touched it. Of course, he thought. The book knows I'm the only one who can control it. He stared at the cover for a good ten minutes, and soon his eyes blurred. Then, words suddenly jumped out at him. Shaking his head and reeling backwards, he rubbed his watery eyes and frowned. He paused, and then looked at the book again. If he blurred his eyes, he could just about-
-Brrrp. Brrrp. Brrrp.-
The phone rang in the hallway. Growling, he stood and strode over to the ringing machine. He stood, arms folded, and waited. His voice sounded, and then Artemis' worried voice, accompanied with the steady clicking of a keyboard sounded.
"Well, we do have a problem here. I just looked up on this book, and it seems you've opened up a vortex in the hemisphere, creating a magnetic field on the earth's surface...Oh, if you're there, pick up, by the way...Hmm, well, it-" Blaize's hand reached for the phone. Albeit with a tiny hint of smugness; Artemis couldn't manage to erase the worry from his voice, no matter how smarmy he tried to be. He picked the phone up.
"Yes?" Blaize answered, gruffly.
"Didn't you hear me? I just said-"
"Yes I heard you." He muttered, leaning against the wall. "So, what else is going on?"
"..."Artemis' breath paused as he watched an email send.
"Artemis?" Blaize frowned, teasing a strand of black hair entangled with blond.
"Er, yes, what was I saying?" Artemis blinked. "Yes. That's it. Erm," Blaize raised an eyebrow, "magnetic fields. Yes. Your- that is to say, my- book has the ability to trigger a strong magnetic field. Now-"
"Hold up," Blaize stopped him, staring at the book through the crack of the door hinge. "How does that happen?"
"I would have thought you knew."
"Well, I don't; so explain. All I know is that the book is very valuable and its dangerous," he paused, "However, I do know how to control it-"
"Turn on your TV!" Artemis shouted. Blaize obliged. "Is that what you call control?!" Images of tin foil balls smacking people on the head and concussing them flashed before him- an entire mansion in Cambridge had been shattered to pieces by a chair.
"Ah." Blaize peered tentatively at the book. He looked outside. "This affects everyone in the country except..."
"Except the holder of the book, yes." Artemis replied.
"Well, that's OK then!" Blaize said, promptly hanging up.
Artemis sighed, rolling his eyes. "Well, at least something hasn't changed," He mused, looking at the sent mail before him.
REVIEW RESPONSE
The story is actually kind of getting the idea from Inkheart with a book that can control things, but I just used Dustfingers (Blaize) character. He doesn't think about the book, because he is a normal guy.
'What's gna happen eh? Dakota and seraphim have issues, and Artemis seems quite sweet. What's gna happen between Dakota and Blaize?' You'll have to read on and see! Muahahahahahaha evil smile