Entwined (28 page)

Sounds to me like he learned plenty. “You could tell all of this from the way he did his spell?”

Ntatemogolo nods. “I had to unwrap every layer. He put many spells on the necklace. One to bind it to the wearer, one to open her mind, one to enhance her strength, one to hide her activities from probing eyes…” He shakes his head. “Most people who perform mind-control magic are short-term thinkers. Not this one. He has a plan, and he’s weaving every piece of the fabric very carefully. Which brings me to the bad news.”

My heart sinks. “What is it, Ntatemogolo?”

He gives me a small, apologetic smile. “I tried. I tried reason, fear, but nothing worked. The traditional doctors are not going after the Puppetmaster, my girl. I’ve been trying to convince them for weeks, but yesterday they made their final decision.”

“No!” I lean forward in my chair. “No, they can’t just let him go!”

He lifts his shoulders in a helpless shrug. “As far as they are concerned, he should be treated like any other criminal and reported to the police. You have to understand, Connie – they’re afraid. I don’t blame them.”

“I blame them,” I retort. “How can an entire community be afraid of one man?”

“You haven’t been listening,” Ntatemogolo chides me. “This is no ordinary man.”

I slump back in my chair. I knew this was coming. The traditional doctors seemed uninterested from the start. “So what happens now?”

Ntatemogolo is quiet for a long time, and when he finally speaks it’s with great reluctance. “Now, my girl, it’s up to us. No one else is going to do it, and as much as I hate it, you are so deep in this mess that nothing I do will get you out. All I can do is be here to help and protect you. So – what have you learned?”

I tell him everything that’s happened since the last time we spoke. He grimaces when I mention the photo in the
GC Chronicle
, but says nothing until I finish speaking.

“You’re right – that photo would not reach the papers if he wanted to prevent it,” he muses. “He must have some reason for wanting the world to see it. That’s the key. What is the name of the editor of that paper? He must know where the photo came from.”

“He’s not going to reveal his sources, though.”

Ntatemogolo smiles. “Not to you, perhaps, but I still have my tricks.” He clears his throat, and I sense a shift in the conversation. “Rakwena didn’t come in today. I saw him drop you off.”

“He had some things to do.” I can see where this is going, but there’s no way to avoid it.

“I’m glad he didn’t come. I wanted to ask you, Connie, what you’ve learned about the boy since the start of your friendship. Has he spoken about his family?”

“Yes.” I’m feeling defensive; I hate it when people question my friendship with Rakwena. “I even went with him to see his mother. I know everything I need to know.”

Ntatemogolo looks at me with piercing eyes. “I am not so sure.”

“We’re still getting to know each other,” I protest.

“We’ll see,” says Ntatemogolo. “But be careful.”

“Ntatemogolo –”

“Don’t argue,” he says brusquely. “Do you know his gifts? One or two tricks, yes… and what else? You meet his poor sick mother and see his big empty house and you think he’s let you in.” He leans towards me. “You don’t know this boy. Not really.”

I want to argue, defend Rakwena, but I know that my grandfather is right. There are a lot of secrets I have yet to uncover. Rakwena may have told me some things, but what about the things he refuses to share? What about his father?

I get up to leave. “It’s going to be dark soon,” I mutter.

Ntatemogolo nods. He walks me to the door and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Be careful, Connie. All the time. With everyone.”

I nod, say goodbye and make my way to the combi stop. It’s only when I’m sitting in the combi, squashed between a large woman with a wailing baby and a tall man whose elbows keep digging into my ribs, that I realise something. Ntatemogolo mentioned Rakwena’s “poor, sick mother”. I didn’t say anything about her being sick, and the only other person who could have told him is Rakwena.

I remember when I first mentioned Rakwena to my grandfather. His reaction then suggested that the two of them knew each other, and now I’m certain they have a history. But how did they meet, and why is my grandfather so suspicious of Rakwena? I sigh wearily, shift away from my neighbour’s bony elbow and add “Rakwena’s secrets” to the rapidly growing list of things I have to figure out.

The weekend is so uneventful that I’m actually glad when the week rolls around. School may not be exciting, but it’s better than nothing. Wiki has now taken it upon himself to be the first student to arrive every morning, just so he has time to study in peace. Lebz and I find him on the bench when we arrive, waiting for the library to open.

“You should really start studying,” he tells us imperiously. “Before you know it the exams will be here, and you’ll have nothing to show for it.”

Lebz yawns. “Thanks, Professor.”

Wiki shakes his head. “I think you two need to forget all the supernatural drama for the next few weeks. It’ll still be there after exams.”

“I’m not sure Ma-fourteen will still be there,” I tell him, “so please understand if Maths and Science aren’t my main priorities.”

He frowns. “You don’t really think he’ll hurt them, do you? He needs them.”

“For now,” says Lebz ominously.

Wiki falls silent. He doesn’t want to argue, but I know he thinks we’re not taking our schoolwork seriously, but I have more important things to focus on now, real-life things, not equations in a book.

Rose arrives, all smiles for a change. “I have some great news,” she says, taking a seat beside Lebz. “Emily’s ready for you to take her necklace, the way you took mine.”

I love the way she says this as if it’s going to be the simplest thing in the world.

“When are you free?”

Oh, let’s see – I have a free slot on Wednesday, between vampire-slaying and wand practice. I look at Lebz and Wiki, who shrug in a most unhelpful manner. “Rose, it took ages just to get you to trust me enough to let me near you. I don’t think I can do it. It’s too soon. I’d have to meet her a few times first, to practise, and then –”

“Connie, there’s no time,” Rose interrupts. “Emily isn’t even supposed to be talking to me, and if the others find out, she’s dead. Please, she’s counting on you!”

Good to know there’s no pressure. I still have no leads, my planting skills aren’t nearly strong enough and I’m running out of time. I take a deep breath. “Fine.”

“Connie.” Wiki’s voice holds a warning. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I’m not promising success.” I turn back to Rose. “I’m only promising to try.”

Rose flings her arms around me. “Thank you! I knew you would help! I’ll tell Emily. When do you want to do it?”

I pause to think. I’ll need as much time as possible to prepare. “Thursday, two weeks from now, after school.”

“That’s the week before exams,” Wiki protests.

I ignore him. “We’ll meet at Main Mall and go to Rakwena’s house.”

“What?”

I didn’t see Rakwena approaching. I offer him a conciliatory smile. “I was just telling Rose that your house would be the best place to take Emily’s necklace. No overprotective parents, no nosy siblings…” I bat my eyelashes.

Rakwena rolls his eyes and makes an impatient noise in his throat. “Fine. But next time it would be nice if you asked me first.”

“He’s a superstar,” I tell Rose. “Isn’t he?”

“Thank you so much, Rakwena,” she gushes. “Emily will be so grateful.”

He manages a small smile. “Sure; whatever.”

Rose and Wiki hurry to the library, which has just opened its doors, and Rakwena sits beside me with a scowl on his face.

“Oh, there’s Kelly,” says Lebz, jumping to her feet. “I wanted to ask her something about…” She leaves without finishing her sentence.

I lean back against the bench. “Let’s hear it.”

Rakwena turns to me. “What?”

“The lecture about how I shouldn’t invite people over to your house without your permission.”

“I’m not going to lecture you.” He stretches his long legs. “I think you know it was wrong, and you won’t do it again. There’s no need for me to punish you this time.”

I poke him in the ribs and he laughs. “Idiot. What could you possibly do to me?”

“You have no idea,” he says, and a strange chill runs down my back.

I remember my grandfather’s words. For the first time I consider the possibility that Rakwena could hurt me. I know he wouldn’t. But if he wanted to, he could. I look at him out of the corner of my eye. The blue sparks, the telekinesis that could throw me against a wall and break me in half… What other powers does he have? Exactly how dangerous is Rakwena Langa?

“Connie? What’s wrong?”

His expression is so concerned that I feel guilty for doubting him. “Nothing! I have to go to the library. I’ll see you at break.” I get up and walk away. I’m torn between the deep-seated certainty that I can trust Rakwena and the gnawing feeling that there are things about him I’m afraid to find out.

The next two weeks are tough, to say the least. Lebz, Wiki and I try to study together, but most of the time we end up discussing the Puppetmaster and Wiki is losing his patience.

He’s not the only one – my grandfather has never been this tough on me. I leave his house with a blinding headache after each practice session. When I stagger into the house the day before my meeting with Emily, Dad almost has to carry me to the sofa.

“Don’t you think you might be overdoing it a bit, love?” he asks, his brow wrinkled in concern. “You don’t have to get top marks in everything, you know.”

I might laugh if I weren’t in so much pain. I close my eyes. My head is expanding and contracting and I’m afraid it might split open.

He puts a hand on my forehead. “I think you need to take it easy.”

I open my eyes very slowly. “Can I have some water?”

He rushes off to the kitchen and I lean back against the cushions. I’ve improved a lot, but I don’t know if I’m ready for tomorrow. It’s a good thing Rakwena will be there – I’m going to need him to hold Emily down.

I turn onto my side and my gaze rests on a newspaper lying on the coffee table. It’s the latest
GC Chronicle
. I sit up quickly and immediately regret it – sharp pain slices through my head. I lie down again and reach for the paper. I’ve never seen a tabloid in the house. Dad prefers academic journals or something sensible like
The Reporter
. I unfold the paper and look at the front page story. Another exclusive; this time accusing the CEO of a major local company of fraud. There are no twelve-year-olds with necklaces in the photo, but still… I can’t help wondering where the little rag is suddenly getting all these big stories. Last week they exposed a drug ring at a junior secondary school. Not one other paper carried the story.

Dad returns with a glass of water. “Not half bad, that paper,” he remarks, handing me the glass.

I sit up slowly. “If you say so.”

“Well, it is a little seedy, but lately they’ve had some incredible exclusives,” he goes on, impressed. “Who would have thought?”

“Not me.” I gulp down the water. “Thanks. I think I need to go to bed.”

“No supper?” He touches my forehead again. “You should eat something, love. You’ve been working all day.”

“I’ll have something later, I promise.” I get to my feet and offer him a placating smile as I shuffle to my room. “I just need to close my eyes for five minutes.”

My phone wakes me up about two hours later.

“Are you ready?” asks Lebz.

“I don’t know.” I yawn and stretch, feeling much better. “We’ll have to see. Hey, did you get the latest
Chronicle
?”

“Of course. Nothing there.”

“I’m not so sure. I know there was nothing obvious, but I’m starting to get a funny feeling about that paper. How do they get all those stories that bigger, better papers can’t get? It makes no sense.”

“Maybe they’re bribing people,” says Lebz impatiently. “Who cares? It’s got nothing to do with the Puppetmaster.”

“I guess not.”

We chat for a bit longer, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s a connection somewhere, a clue that I’m missing.

I get up and walk to the kitchen. Dad has fallen asleep in front of the National Geographic channel with his glasses on. I take them off and put them on the coffee table, turn off the TV and then go to the kitchen to warm up some leftovers. The nagging feeling hasn’t gone away. There’s a link between the Puppetmaster and the
GC Chronicle
, I’m sure of it, but I’ll have to figure that out later. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

I’m nervous. Lebz and Wiki keep telling me not to worry. Rakwena says nothing – he knows as well as I do what we’re up against. The day speeds past, and before I know it school is over.

“Should I come with you?” asks Lebz, as we walk towards Rakwena’s car. “I could just… you know… watch.”

I give her a look. “You know you don’t want to see this.”

“It can’t be that bad.” She puts on a sporting smile.

“It’s better if you’re not there – she might get dangerous.”

“I know.” She winces. “I can’t tell your dad you were attacked by a dog
again
.”

“Go home and get creative.” I push her towards the gate. “It’ll be better this time – we’ll be in Rakwena’s house, where it’s safe. And she won’t have any back-up.”

Lebz nods, relieved. I can see her emotions are in turmoil. She feels guilty for abandoning me, but she also knows she’ll only be in the way. “Good luck, Connie.” She wraps me in a sudden, awkward hug.

“Thanks. Get out of here; you’re making me nervous.”

She smiles weakly and turns away just as Wiki comes running from the library.

“Glad I caught you,” he pants. “Here! It’s been updated.” He shoves the yellow file with all his supernatural notes into my hand.

“When did you find time between all your study sessions?” I ask in surprise.

“Connie, you should really stop underestimating me,” he replies huffily. “Good luck!” He runs off after Lebz.