Grimsdon (13 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Another wave splashed over Isabella's face. The water rushed into her house, pouring though windows and beneath doorways. It had quickly reached her shoulders and was rising even higher.

‘Bella!'

She swam towards her father's voice.

‘Bella! I'm in here.'

Isabella tried to keep her head above the water, but it washed over her, filling the house, drowning out the sounds of her father.

‘Dad! Where are you?'

His answer was muffled. Isabella dived down and swam through the open doorway. She tried to see her father through the floating furniture and cushions. She swam upwards to take in another breath, but the water had reached the roof. There was no gap, no air. Her chest ached. She had to breathe, she had to save her dad, she...

Isabella sat upright in bed. Her heart drove against her chest and her throat was tight as she tried to force down deep breaths. Outside was the sickly light of an early morning filled with the grey of falling of rain. Inside and all around her was the usual confusion of sheets and blankets and pillows after another nightmare.

Her head slumped into her hands. She began to breathe more slowly and her heart calmed. She threw her blankets off and slipped on her coat, hugging it around her. She shuffled through the dining hall towards the kitchen when she heard footsteps. She spun round to see Griffin.

‘Isabella?' His face was white. ‘Fly's gone.'

Isabella's eyes shot to the bay window. It was empty, the blankets in a mess on the floor, the rain falling harder against the glass.

‘I can't find her anywhere,' Griffin said. ‘I've looked.'

‘Do you know how long she's been gone?'

‘I'm not sure. I woke up about five minutes ago, and when I came in here she was missing.'

‘Wake Bea and Raffy. I'll get Xavier.'

The rain fell with renewed force against the Palace as they woke the others. It echoed around them, pounding against the windows, while everyone gathered in the dining hall near Fly's bay window.

Isabella had retrieved her belt and boots from her room and was strapping her knife holster to her ankle. ‘Did anyone hear anything?'

‘No.' Bea rubbed her eyes.

A crack of thunder slapped through the clouds around them.

Raffy frowned. ‘What's happened to Fly?'

‘We don't know yet,' Isabella said, ‘but we'll find her.'

‘Bea and Raffy, check the kitchen and spare rooms. Griffin, you check the greenhouse and I'll–'

‘There she is.' Griffin stared out the window.

Across the street, on one of the rooftops opposite, disappearing in the grey veil of rain, was a small, lone figure.

‘Fly?' Isabella whispered.

Her coat swept behind her as she flew up the stairs, followed quickly by the others. She pushed open the door leading to the roof and ran to the edge. The rain was ice-cold and so thick she could barely see in front of her. She stood beneath the wings of the dragon, water dripping down her face.

In rare moments the rain thinned and she could see her more clearly. The building Fly was on sat beside the one that had collapsed and was now dangerously unbalanced. She'd been tied to a pole and wasn't moving. Her head had sunk to her shoulder.

‘Bea, Raffy and Griffin, prepare the flying fox.'

The twins hurried to the box with the gear and began preparing the harnesses, cables and pulleys.

‘Xavier, you and I are going to get her.'

‘I'll come, too,' Griffin offered.

‘We'll need you to help Bea and Raffy get her back.'

Isabella sat on the edge of their rooftop and slipped on the harness. Xavier flung the cable and it hooked onto the sagging building. Griffin made sure the cable was taut. The second he gave the okay, Isabella clicked the harness onto the cable and leapt from the roof. She flew above the crashing waves and through the driving rain.

When she reached the building opposite, she scrambled quickly onto the rooftop, released herself from the harness and slid it back along the cable to the Palace. Her boots splashed through the rain, avoiding dangerously sagging crevices.

She gently lifted Fly's head. Her skin was deathly cold. Isabella's fingers pressed into her neck.

‘Is she okay?' Xavier appeared beside her.

‘I can feel her pulse, but it's weak.' Isabella stroked her face. ‘Fly, sweetie. It's Isabella. We're taking you home.' She spoke softly and calmly, the rain pelting into them as she took her knife from her holster and cut the ropes.

Xavier held Fly under the arms. On cutting the last rope, she crumpled into his arms. He swept her from her feet and, carefully stepping over the worn roof, carried her to the flying fox. He slipped on the harness, tugging down hard to check that it was clipped firmly onto the cable.

He winked at Isabella. ‘See you on the other side.'

With Fly cradled in his arms, he kicked himself from the wall and sailed towards the Palace.

Griffin, Bea and Raffy reached down to lift her onto the roof.

Xavier climbed up after her. ‘We have to get her inside fast.'

He sent the harness scuttling back to Isabella. He scooped Fly up, sagging and limp in his arms. Raffy held open the door to the Palace while Bea jumped downstairs, two at a time, to grab blankets and warm clothes.

Inside, Xavier lay her on a lounge in the dining room. Isabella and Bea quickly changed her out of her wet clothes and into dry pyjamas. Raffy was towelling her hair, and Griffin cocooned warm blankets all around her. Isabella took her hand, rubbing it and whispering to her, ‘You're back with us, Fly, where you belong. We'll be here until you wake up.'

‘What happened?' Raffy asked, his sister's arm around his shoulder. ‘Why was she out there?'

‘It's obvious,' Griffin snarled at Xavier. ‘Sneddon's punishing us for not paying him.'

Xavier shrank slightly. ‘I never meant for this to happen. It's right that we don't pay him. He's a crook and a thief.'

‘You said that would be the end of it.' Griffin's face fired red. ‘That they were too cowardly to come back.'

‘I thought that–'

Griffin lunged at Xavier. He fell back, slamming onto the floor with Griffin's hands around his throat. ‘You did this! Everything was fine before you got here and now Sneddon's angry with us – and Fly's had to cop it. Next time he's going to do something worse, and it's all because of you.
Why did you ever come here?'

Bea hugged her brother closer.

‘Nothing was fine, you know that,' Xavier struggled to speak. ‘You live in a drowned city and were being bullied by a madman on a ship.'

‘The same madman who attacked Fly.'

‘I didn't know they'd–'

‘And now she's lying here, and we don't know if she'll ever–'

‘Griffin?' A small voice whispered from behind him. ‘Please let him go.'

Griffin stopped.

‘Fly?' Isabella asked. ‘Was that you?'

Bea grinned. ‘You spoke.'

‘Please let him go.' Fly's voice was scratched and uneasy.

Griffin released his hands from Xavier's neck. Xavier coughed and rubbed his throat. But Griffin heard none of it. He smiled and leant over Fly: ‘Welcome back.'

‘I thought it was time you stopped trying to kill Xavier,' she said.

Bea and Raffy laughed.

‘Even though he can be annoying,' Fly added.

‘What happened?' Griffin asked.

‘I'm not really sure,' she whispered. ‘I was in my window, drawing by the light of my torch. I heard a noise, like shuffling footsteps, then it went dark. Something clamped over my mouth. I was bundled into a blanket and then...' She scowled. ‘I don't remember anything else.'

‘We found you on the roof of the building opposite,' Griffin said.

‘The roof?' Fly frowned.

‘You were tied to a pole,' Bea said.

‘In the rain,' added Raffy. ‘Isabella and Xavier rescued you.'

Fly paused. ‘Show them this,' she said softly.

‘Show us what?' asked Griffin.

‘That's what they said.' She pointed to her wet coat draped over a chair. ‘In my pocket. There's a note.'

Griffin went through all the pockets until he found a soggy piece of paper. ‘It's from Sneddon.' He shot an accusing look at Xavier before reading: ‘Bring me the flying machine or be ready for more of this.'

‘He's used to taking what isn't his,' Xavier said.

‘Then we give it to him,' Griffin announced.

‘Griff, it's important that we stand up to–'

‘Not when it means Fly gets hurt!' Griffin shouted.

‘We need the Aerotrope,' Fly said.

‘But what if you'd–'

‘I'm fine, Griffin.'

‘I knew she was smart.' Xavier smiled. ‘She decides to speak, and the first thing she does is agree with me.'

‘Not all the time.' Fly's smile wavered with cheeky delight. ‘Sometimes you just like to show off and impress Isabella.'

Xavier spluttered. ‘No I ... It's not like that ... I'd never...'

And for the first time since they met him, Xavier fell silent.

‘It's like Isabella says,' Fly said. ‘We're all we've got, and we have to stick together.'

Isabella had been quiet the whole time.

‘Isn't that right, Izzy?'

She looked up as if she'd been plucked from other thoughts and nodded. ‘And no-one is going to break us apart.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Isabella waited until the Palace had long settled into sleep before she left. She pulled on a beanie, tightened the belt around her coat, laced up her boots and secured the holsters around her ankle and waist.

During the fuss of a welcome-back feast for Fly the night before, she'd snuck into Xavier's room, searched his backpack and found his compass. She opened his drawers and looked through his cupboards but didn't find what she was looking for until her boot kicked his spear gun that was on the floor under a bunch of clothes.
Boys,
she thought.
Why do they always have to live like a bomb has exploded in their room?

Now it was morning and she crept past the closed doors of the bedrooms and a sleeping Fly. She lifted a window on the lower level of the Palace so slowly that not even the hint of a sound was made. A rush of cold night air flooded over her. She drew in a quick breath, pulled the scarf up over her mouth and nose, and slipped her hands into leather gloves.

With the strap of the spear gun across her chest, she stepped quietly out of the window and stole into the bitter air.

The darkness of the early morning wrapped around everything. She pulled the window closed and switched on the torch. A sharp line of light directed her to the dinghy. She felt the cold of the sea seep into her as she lowered herself in. The needle on the compass jittered in the light of her torch. She found her bearings and quietly rowed away from the Palace.

The harbour was unusually calm, with barely a stirring of wind. The oars slipped through the water, disappearing beneath the surface as if plunging into thick, black oil.

As morning began to break, a thin line of light appeared on the horizon – and with it came the dark outline of a ship.

‘There you are.' Isabella's breath came in frosted waves. ‘You will never touch Fly again.'

She switched off her torch.

The ship was stolen, no doubt, from of one of Grimsdon's old docks. It loomed large on the water, its three masts pointing into the sky, strung with a cascading web of ropes. It's hulking body released sombre creaks as it swayed in slow motion on the gentle swell like a giant sleeping beast. It was loosely anchored by four thick chains.

Isabella approached the boat, careful not to make any noise in case Tyran or Mouse were on guard duty.

That's when she felt it. A small wind nudging into her. She turned towards the horizon and saw the slightest of waves. Quiet and seemingly innocent.

She wrenched the oars through the water, aiming for the shelter of the clipper, but it was no use. The sneaker wave was gathering in the distance – and she was directly in its path.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The sea churned all around her, drawn by the pull of the sneaker wave rushing toward Isabella. She held onto the sides of the dinghy as it tumbled and rolled. A wall of noise increased with the swell of the rising sea.

Then it hit.

The wave poured over her, slamming her down as if by a giant hand. It tore her from the dinghy, rumbling her away from the ship at frightening speed. Her whole world became a din of noise and water, with no up or down. She fought against the currents that were tearing into her. She tried to find her way out, to reach the surface so she could take another breath, but the wave kept forcing her under. Her energy drained, her limbs weakened, she gave in to its throes and was sucked downwards into the darkness – until in one erupting force she was thrown upward.

Isabella drank in a gulp of air and tried to get her bearings, knowing she was about to be dragged under again. She stole another breath and felt her body fall once more.

But only briefly.

She was lifted up through the waves, only this time she felt something beneath her. Something hard and uneven.

Before she could make sense of what was happening, another wave rose above her. She flattened herself against the rough surface and held on tight, preparing for the flood, when she felt herself hurtling forward.

Water sprayed all around as she was driven through the wave. She emerged on the other side as it swept behind her, colliding into buildings and tossing Sneddon's boat as if it were a toy. It finally rolled away, and the river calmed to a peaceful lull.

Isabella collapsed, her forehead resting against the strange, knobbled surface. Was it a piece of driftwood? Wreckage from a boat? She coughed and spluttered and her throat stung from the salty water she'd drunk. Her ears rang and her body ached, but she'd made it. She'd survived being caught in a sneaker wave.

She slowly lifted her head. Her body was nestled in a small, bumpy hollow that she now saw was lined with fur. On either side, the deep emerald-green surface inclined upwards, as if she were surrounded by two small walls. Then the walls began to move.

Isabella stopped breathing as an elongated neck rose into the air before her. It was fringed with a wavering black mane dripping great streams of water. The creature's head was edged with flapping gills. It slowly turned and swooped down to Isabella's face. Its long lashes fanned out before deep, brown eyes rimmed with red.

‘The Skelene.' She pulled a knife from her ankle. ‘Stop! Don't come any closer or I'll...'

The Skelene opened its mouth and ate the knife in one bite.

‘Oh.'

A deep growl purred from within the beast, sending trembles throughout Isabella's body and a rush of hot air into her face. She held her nose. ‘And you have bad breath.'

It came closer, nudging into her cheek. It sniffed a few times and purred again. Isabella lifted her hand and patted its nose. ‘It's nice to meet you, too.'

The Skelene straightened its neck and turned away. Two enormous wings ending in sharp talons unfolded from the water, showering large drops over Isabella.

She looked down and thought about trying to jump off, but the sea monster's body was so wide she was sure she'd never make it.

The wings
whomped
downwards and the Skelene began to glide through the river. The water frothed and the wind swept past as the creature gained speed. Slowly, its huge body lifted out of the water and skimmed just above the surface.

‘Whoah!'

The Skelene's body dipped to the left. Isabella's heart seemed to skip to a stop. Her body tensed and her grip tightened.

‘Where are we going?'

It only took a few more seconds before she saw that they were heading towards the city. Her body relaxed and she began to breathe more easily. Even though the wind was cold, being nestled in the furry, knobbly hollow between the Skelene's wings was like burrowing into a warm blanket.

The sun had begun to trickle through some breaks in the clouds, throwing a thin orange glow over Grimsdon. They swooped above the buildings toward Isabella's street. When they flew above the Palace, the Skelene held back its wings and slowly sank onto the rooftop. It lowered its right wing, which spread out like a gangplank.

‘You're too kind.'

Isabella climbed onto the top of the wing and slid off, landing close to the beast's webbed feet.

The Skelene bent low and nudged Isabella in the shoulder, sending her stumbling sideways.

‘Hey! You're bigger than me, remember?'

The Skelene straightened up, stretching to over three metres tall. It purred before sitting upright and releasing a small yelp. Isabella turned to see Fly with a blanket in her arms. ‘He's called Herman.'

She gave the blanket to Isabella and held her hand out to the beast, who opened his mouth and seemed to smile. He took a few uneasy steps and rubbed his head against Fly's hand. He let loose a low, rumbling growl.

Isabella wrapped herself in the blanket. ‘This is your sea monster?'

Fly nodded.

‘He's been here before?'

‘Only twice. The roof hurts his feet. Normally he swims outside my window.'

‘He rescued me from a sneaker wave.'

‘I knew he would.' Fly scratched his neck and the Skelene lifted his chin and purred again. ‘When I saw you were gone, I knew you were mad enough at Sneddon to go after him, so I asked Herman to help you.'

‘You talk to him?'

‘Not in words, but kind of in thoughts. It's hard to explain, but he tells me stories about where he's from. Where he's been. He used to live in the waters around Iceland. He was drawn here by the floods. Kind of like us.' She turned to Isabella. ‘Please don't fight Sneddon.'

‘But Fly, after what he did to you, I–'

‘Please, Isabella,' she whispered. ‘We can't be without you.'

Herman nudged Isabella. A low moan trembled in his throat.

‘Okay,' Isabella said reluctantly.

Herman lifted one of his webbed feet.

‘He has to go. His feet hurt.' The Skelene purred and nodded towards Isabella. ‘He said it was nice to finally meet you.'

‘You too,' Isabella patted him on the nose. ‘Thanks for the lift.'

He stretched out his wings and brought them down in a rapid dip. Isabella was driven back by the rush of air. With only one more flap, Herman's long, slender body lifted into the air.

‘Isabella?' Griffin burst through the roof door, followed by Bea and Raffy. ‘You're here! Is everything all right? We heard a noise and–' he stopped when he saw the flying beast.

‘Am I still asleep?' Bea rubbed her eyes.

‘We all must be.' Raffy frowned. ‘That looks like a dragon.'

‘It's the Skelene,' Fly answered.

‘As in,' Griffin swallowed, ‘the sea monster?'

Isabella nodded. ‘He's called Herman.'

‘So he does exist?' Xavier ruffled his bed-hair.

Raffy watched the beast as it turned downwards and splashed into the water. ‘My very first sea monster!'

Griffin felt his knees buckle. ‘No-one said anything about him being able to fly.'

‘He's very friendly.' Fly took his hand. ‘And he saved Isabella from a sneaker wave.'

‘You were caught in a sneaker wave?' Xavier asked. ‘How?'

‘I was on the harbour.'

‘What were you doing on the harbour?' Griffin asked.

‘I went to see Sneddon.'

‘On your own?' Xavier blustered.

‘You should have woken me,' Griffin added. ‘Are you okay? What happened?'

‘I'm fine. The sneaker wave got me before I reached him.'

‘I can't believe you went to see Sneddon without
me,'
Xavier scolded. ‘I could have helped you.'

‘With Sneddon maybe, but with a sneaker wave?' Isabella flicked her wet hair from her face. ‘Even you're not that good.'

‘This isn't funny, Isabella.' Griffin threw his hands in the air. ‘Sneddon is very dangerous. And so are sneaker waves. What if you–'

‘But I didn't. Instead, I had a ride on a sea monster.'

‘Without me!' Xavier and Griffin said in unison.

But the others weren't listening. Bea and Raffy were drilling Isabella with questions about the Skelene: Was it scary? Was his skin scaly or smooth? Do you think he'll come back?

‘I'm not sure. I hope so. Fly knows all about him, so she can tell us more – but for now I'm hungry. Let's go make breakfast.'

They left Xavier and Griffin sulking on the roof until, reluctantly, they joined them inside.

That night was clearer than usual. A long stream of moonlight lit up the harbour and, in the centre, the silhouette of the Skelene jumped and dived. Cradled by the blankets and cushions of her bay window, Fly's giggles floated over the dining room.

‘Is he talking to you?' Isabella snuggled in beside her.

‘No,' Fly whispered, ‘just playing.'

‘You know when we found you on that building?' Isabella asked. ‘Was that your home?'

Fly nodded. ‘My mother told me to pack my case when they knew the flood was coming. She said only to pack the essentials. My jacket, beanie, drawing books and crayons. But it came too fast. I was in my room at the top of the house and my parents had gone down to the garage to get the car out. I climbed onto the roof. The water was everywhere. I never saw them after that.' She looked up. ‘I'm glad you found me.'

‘Me too, Fly.' Isabella stopped. ‘That's not your real name.'

‘No, but I prefer Fly.'