YAY new chapter. And first authors note. I'm quite excited (though that could be late night hyperness kicking in).
Ok, so... this chapter is a little bit shorter than the last, but there's some action, and the story is going places now. I had to change/add a little bit to the last chapter - nothing major, just a bit of description to tie in with something Mel says in this chap. no need to go reread or anything.
And thank you followers, you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happeeeeeeeeeeeey when I have to studeeeeeey D:
And for those who asked, I will almost definitely be doing Mel/Edward...but...it would be cool to write about the others girls and Eddie. Maybe I'll cook up a little jealousy, to make Mel realise she really does like him (if I get that far, that is.)
Oh, and next chapter may be a while. I haven't written as much as I had done for the now published chapters pre-publishing. But I'll do ma best.
Anyhoo, on with the show...
Chapter 2
When I touched the orb, warmth passed through me.
The orb felt... familiar. If only I had known then what I know today.
I should have smashed the orb into a thousand pieces and fled Harburg that night.
I tuck the orb into my backpack. As soon as I release it the glowing stops.
Strange... I'd better get out of here. This place sure is living up to the tales I used to hear. Though I haven't met any ghosts yet – and thank the Goddess. This place creeps me out enough as it is.
I practically run back through the blue corridors to the sewers. That white star is up ahead. Emergency Exit, it said. Should I try it?
I'll probably get lost trying to go back the way I came, and end up a pile of bones. No thanks. The sooner I leave this place, the better.
The light engulfs me when I step onto the star, the black walls of the sewers turning white, then to green trees. A breeze pulls at my hair. I'm back outside, at the top of the ladder into the sewers.
I take a deep, fresh breathe, then shiver.
Ugh, I feel as if I've been slobbered on by a ghost. I don't care what the client says – that place is cursed. There is no way I am ever going back there again!
I should go to my client and return the heirloom. Dawn is still hours away, but I want my reward.
~O~O~O~
"You've returned with the item?"
In answer I hold out the glowing orb. The glowing stops when he grasps it.
That orb is freaky, just like it's home.
I'm back at the top of clockwork mansion with the three men. Nothing has changed since I left. Granny and Grandpa are still fast asleep. I can hear their snoring from out here.
The red cloaked man inspects the orb closely, ignoring me pointedly staring at him – or as at him as I can. His face is in shadow under his hood.
"I've given you your heirloom. Where is the rest of my payment?" I demand.
"Boys," murmurs the man, "give the thief her reward."
I put my hand out as the two men in purple step forward, then draw it back, suspicious.
"What the..."
They both reach forward and grab my arms.
"Hey! Let me go, you big louts!" I cry, but their grips only tighten, almost lifting me off the ground.
For a moment, the snoring stops, then starts up again.
"If you value your life, Darkthrop whelp, shut up!" the man snaps.
"Darkthrop?" I say feeling a slight chill. "What are you talking about? I demand you put me down!"
"Let's go." he says to his cronies, pocketing the orb and ignoring me. "Hyudren Ta Morvus!"
What?
In an explosion of light, a giant, dark hole appears before him. It spins slowly, sucking the surrounding air into its bleak emptiness. I can feel it gently tugging at me.
"Ah!" I try to pull away, but I'm held fast between the two cloaked figures. "What is that thing?"
"It's a portal, foolish girl. I am taking you home. Now shut up and let's go."
Okay, what? Portal? Home? This guy is not explaining himself as well as he thinks.
But before I can even open my mouth, the guy on my right explodes. Literally. One minute he's there, the next, poof! He's a pile of dust.
We all turn around in time to see what must be a second arrow come flying at us. It hits the second thug, who suffers this same fate as dust boy on my left.
On the other side of the balcony, a voice yells "Run, girl!"
Boy, do I run, gripping my bag tightly. Away from the almost kidnapper and his 'portal', straight towards a figure by a second door that leads into the house.
"Stay close behind me." the stranger mutters. I catch a woman's deathly pale face and short scarlet hair before she turns away and heads towards my client (my ex client. No way am I having anything to do with him after this).
I follow, completely willing to follow this woman. I might have next to no idea what is happening, but I definitely want to see her kick the other's butt.
"You!" Ex-client yells out as we near him. He pulls down his hood. His face is as pale as the newcomer's.
"Hello, Gyendal." the stranger calls. "Give me the orb, or join your friends."
"Never!"
"I don't want to kill you, brother. Do as I say, or perish!"
Brother?
"You want the orb? Come and get it!" he snarls.
The woman throws her bow and arrows aside, then steps forward. She holds up her hands, then...
Sparks start flying. Bright, colourful sparks of magic, I suppose, some stronger looking than others, jet between them. Who are these people?
"Hah!" cries the woman over a blue spark. "Your magic is weak in the Overworld!"
"I can fight without it, sister." He launches himself at her, all magic gone, and they tumble to the ground, just like in any street fight.
Except the stranger doesn't bother with a punch. With a crack, a mini explosion sends the man flying back.
Getting to his feet, the man growls "You'll pay for that!"
"You were never much of a fighter, brother." the stranger drawls, dusting herself off.
"This has only begun. As for the girl..." He glares at her, then his eyes flick over to me, "you can't watch her forever. I shall find her when you are not looking. She is mine; and when I am through with her, she will be worst than dead!"
The woman makes a move towards him, but too late, he jumps into the portal, which disappears.
"Curses!" She whisks round. "Come, we must leave now."
My mouth, which before had been hanging open, started to work. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on! Who are you? Who were those men?"
"Vampires." she says shortly, picking up her quiver of arrows and swinging them onto her back. She bends again to get her bow.
"Vampires don't exist!"
Straightening, the stranger bares her teeth. Her eyes glow red. "Don't they?"
Something clicks in my head. The pale skin of her and her brother, those two guys who turned to ash. Even the red hair and red lips add up. The colour of blood.
"Ah! Vampire!" I scream it, hoping someone will hear, and attempt to run away, but the stranger grabs me by the nape of my neck.
"Put me down!" I yell.
"Not until you promise me that you won't run."
Ow, this really hurts. I struggle, and she tightens her grip – OW!
"Okay, okay, I won't run!"
The stranger puts me down.
"Fine!" I scowl, rubbing my neck. "You're a vampire; they're vampires. Who are you? What's going on here?"
"My name is Te'ijal, and you just had the privilege of playing the fool for my brother, Gyendal, and his thugs."
"I'm not a fool!"
Te'ijal bares her teeth again, her eyes flashing red. "I don't have time to argue with you, human. You've just given my brother an orb with the power to destroy light."
"What?" I back away. If the stories are anything to go by, standing next to an angry vampire is not a situation you want to be in. "That's insane. It was just a family heirloom."
"Your family heirloom, not his."
"I'm not a descendant of Mordred Darkthrop!" I growl.
"Being the scion of the most evil sorcerer in two hundred years doesn't make you a bad person."
"Lies!" Too many people are saying I'm related to Darkthrop.
"We don't have time to chat. My brother will be back soon, and you don't want to be here when he returns. We must leave the city. I shall explain everything when we are safely hidden." She says with such finality that I know I have no choice. I glare at her instead.
"Where are we going?"
"Thais. I have friends there who will know what to do. Let's go."
Te'ijal grabs me by the arm and pulls me over to the edge of the balcony. We jump.
For two of the most horrible moments in my life, we hang in the air, high above the ground. Then we plummet down.
"Ah, don't ever do that again!" I say as we land. It didn't hurt – magic I guess - but I massage my ankles anyway.
"Come, let us go."
We leave the clockwork mansion gardens and head towards the north gate. I stop in my tracks.
"There's somebody I need to see before we go."
"We don't have time to visit friends. We must leave the city at once."
"But Boden is my boss." My only friend. "He'll want to know..."
"The fewer who know of our whereabouts, the better. Come. We must go to Thais."
