In the Shadows (The Blaisdell Chronicles) (9 page)

“You were wearing the cream.”

I patted the ends of the blue scarf. “I changed it as I spilt my hot chocolate on it this morning.”

Inside, although it was still daylight, the curtains were drawn and the only light came from candles at the four corners of the room. The light was sufficient for me to see a heavily crammed bookcase on one side and a beaded curtain hanging over a doorway.
Ellen moved towards the curtain.

“Stay here. I won’t be long.”

I walked in further onto a large blood red rug, tracing my finger over the books. I took one out and flicked through the pages, brown like fruit that’s been exposed to sunlight too long. The book was handwritten in Latin, with pictures of mythological beasts, sacrifices under a full moon and other logos I didn’t understand. I returned the book quickly, and spotted a piece of paper peeking out from behind the adjacent book. I moved closer. The paper seemed old and faded, and on the front was an image that had been sketched on, although it was mainly concealed behind the book. Despite not being able to ascertain what it was, something about it was pulling me in. Perhaps if I took a closer look...

“Please, Lucy, won’t you have a seat?”

Ellen’s return jostled my nerves. She indicated the two small armchairs in the room, either side of the rug. I gripped my seat and realised the fabric was torn, revealing the inner foam like popcorn kernels. Ellen hovered over me, and my trepidation grew.

“I’m pleased you’ve accepted my offer. I’ll assist you in any way I can, but you must pay heed to what you learn.”

My stomach fluttered uncomfortably as Ellen took a seat opposite, and placed a small mirror into my hands. At first, I was reluctant to look, remembering what had happened last time I looked in a mirror. Something inside told me her words should be private. Ellen lifted the hem of her dress to remove a leather pouch that was strapped to her thigh.

“I know about your dreams into your past life and how you keep the truth from your mother. You want to save her pain, after what happened with your father.”

Her blunt words hit my body hard. She knew my inner thoughts, but how? I swallowed hard.

“I want
to help, but please try to relax. The truth is hidden within you.”

I narrowed my gaze at her. “Who are you?”

“You know my name.”

“I didn’t mean like that.”

Ellen’s eyelashes lowered. She emptied the contents of the pouch into her hand, showing me the rune stones. With a twist in her mouth, she threw them over the table between us. She leaned forward, keeping her eyes on the stones, as she mumbled to herself. Anxiety was peaking higher in my gut, my need to run overwhelming, but somehow, my feet stayed put.

“Some have called me a witch, but they only say these things because they’re scared of my abilities. There’s nothing wrong with being different. You of all people should know that.”

Suddenly, I felt bare. Had she just seen right through me? She pointed to the rune stones, but I kept my eyes on her.

“Look into the mirror,” she said. “See with your heart.”

I hesitated, but knowing I had no other choice, my eyes drifted to the mirror. When nothing happened, I wondered why the reflection stayed the same. I was ready to give up, until Ellen’s voice stopped me.

“You’re naturally drawn to a certain man. His face, his voice, everything about him is pulling you closer.”

I debated over to whom she was referring. Alex? Nathan? Roger?

“You want to believe him. You’re almost ready to succumb. But you’re blinded to the truth. He has black spots in his aura and cannot be trusted. If you continue down this dangerous path...”

The pause felt longer than it probably was. Through my lowered lashes, I peered up at Ellen, seeing her furrowed brow, the purse of her lips. When I found that I couldn’t speak, I returned my gaze to the mirror and saw my features beginning to change.

‘
The truth is inside of you
,’ whispered a voice in my head that sounded a lot like my own.

‘Of us.’

I squinted more closely into the mirror, waiting for Lucia’s appearance. The image that met mine was hazy, but something about it seemed otherworldly.

‘Be careful. Don’t trust…’

Who?

Had I just spoken aloud? I gasped as
Ellen suddenly grabbed my wrist, turning my hand so she could also see into the mirror.

“Look!” she said, releasing her hold on me.

There was no evidence of Lucia, and I found myself staring at a face, which had become harder, more masculine. Narrowing my gaze, I waited for the moment I would be able to recognise him. But the image was distorted, and never seemed to fully reveal itself. Slowly, the face became feminine again. When it finally returned to my own puzzled expression staring back, a loud groan from Ellen made me snap my head up.

The candlelight flickered in
Ellen’s eyes, turning them amber. Her hand clenched into a fist, as though she shared my frustration. “Curse those interferences!”

I gasped when she snatched the mirror, hurling it across the room.
The glass cracked and shattered. She obviously wasn’t superstitious. Ellen stood and paced the room, ignoring the broken glass by her feet, mumbling under her breath. She abruptly stopped, facing me with a small smile, her cheeks still flushed.

“I’m sorry about
my outburst just now. It’s just so frustrating when things don’t go the way you want.”

She came quickly forward, took out her rune stones and after a few low words, threw them across the table. However, the crease on her brow only furrowed even deeper.

“I want to help you, but something isn’t letting me in.”

“I don’t understand—”

“It’s like tuning into a radio station, but something is jamming the frequency, and I can’t make anything out. This has never happened to me before. I’d have thought having you here would have changed things.”

“Is there no other way?”

Her head tilted upwards, facing me directly. Suddenly, the room seemed a lot chillier than when I first came in. “There is one thing I can do. It would help me tune into your frequency. But you would have to give me something first.”

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “Give you what?”

She ran her tongue over her teeth, reminding me of a viper. My fingers gripped the arms of the chair.

“Your blood.”

My nose tickled as I walked through the front door, the scent growing stronger in the kitchen. A bouquet of red and white carnations stood in a vase in the middle of the kitchen table. Mum and Derek were already there, eating their dinner.

Mum nearly choked on her food. “Ooh, Lucy, aren’t they lovely? You’re such a lucky girl.”

I frowned as I dished myself some of the leftover Chicken Casserole and joined them. “You mean Derek didn’t buy them for you?” I stared at the flowers, wondering who’d sent them. I’d never had my own flowers before.

“Was there a card?”

She shook her head. “Exciting, isn’t it? I wonder who sent them? Perhaps it was that client of yours, Del?”

Derek’s eyes searched mine, but I knew nothing had happened with Alex. Did he think otherwise?

“We’re not dating,” I finally said, taking a long drink of water. Was Alex the sender?

“Even so,” said Mum, pushing her clean plate aside. “
It was a lovely thought. You should thank him.”

“I don’t know for certain if they’re from him.”

“Must be,” Derek said. “He’s a nice young man, though he’s been through a lot for a lad of his age.”

I placed a mouthful of food into my mouth, chewing slowly. “Losing his Dad, you mean?”

Derek nodded. “And other things. But I can’t speak to you about them.” He waved his hand. “Client confidentiality and all that.”

Alex must have sent the flowers. He’d been the one who’d made his feelings crystal clear to me, although I still wondered how Jen would feel if she knew?

“Would you like his number, Lucy?” Derek asked, rifling in his trouser pocket. “Or do you already have it?”

“I don’t,” I confessed.

Derek fished inside his shirt pocket and handed me a card. “I shouldn’t really be doing this, but perhaps I could have left it out by accident, and you happened to find it.”

A mobile number was scribbled in biro underneath an address, but the name of the business had been scored out.

RHODES GYM
Alex Craven

1-3 QUEEN CHARLOTTE STREET

BRIGGSTOW

I was aware of Derek watching me as I took the card and headed upstairs to call him. After a handful of rings, Alex answered.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Alex? It’s Lucy. I got your number from Derek, I mean Mr Evans. He accidentally left—”

“Hi, Lucy.
Wow, it’s great to hear your voice. How are you?”

“Great. I just wanted to thank you for the flowers you sent me. They’re really beautiful.”

There was a long pause on the phone. Had we been cut off?

“Alex? Are you there?”

His tone was lower, and slightly annoyed. “I didn’t send you any flowers.”

“You didn’t?”

He sighed heavily. “I’m happy you called, though. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Once again, I was left confused, and thought back to my encounter with Alex in my bedroom. I had been curious about the kiss, but Nathan had made sure it didn’t happen. But then, he’d practically ignored my presence at the funfair. Was petty jealousy behind everything? I silently cursed Nathan. Jen was right. What
was
his problem?

A loud banging o
ver the phone sounded. Alex groaned. “Damn it! Listen, I’d love to continue this conversation, but I have to go. I’ve just bought a gym and I’m expecting a delivery. I’ll see you soon, yeah?”

The call ended, yet part of me found myself wanting to see him again. I wasn’t certain of my feelings for him, but that didn’t stop us being friends. Perhaps I could go and ask about his plans for the new gym? 

And there I was walking down the quiet Queen Charlotte Street a few hours later, after debating with myself for most of that time if I should go or not. Alex might try to kiss me again, and I didn’t know if I’d stop him. Uncertainty gnawed at my bones, or was it the chill in the air? The lights were on behind the doors, revealing the fleet of exercise bikes and treadmills, but the place looked deserted. I tried opening the door, only to find it locked. I was ready to leave, when I could hear low noises coming from behind the building. A dark, metal staircase led downwards to a door, slightly ajar. Pushing it open, the noises grew louder, as did the thumping of my heart. The basement had no windows, and the only source of light came from a small glass pane behind another door in front of me. Low grunts were heard, and I worried someone was getting hurt. Not tall enough to see through the glass, I opened the door and saw Alex in a ring, punching a boxing bag suspended from the ceiling beside the only source of light, an old lamp with cobwebs hanging either side. He hadn’t noticed my presence, too caught up in his imaginary opponent. I was ready to make myself known, but another figure stepping into the ring made me stop…Nathan! They began conversing, although I was too far away to hear. Sneaking closer, I hid behind a pile of towels and looked around.

Nathan came closer to Alex, who stopped and faced him, laughing menacingly. Alex spoke low, and to my surprise the only part I could hear was my name. And then Nathan shoved Alex, making him stumble backwards into the boxing bag.

“This has been a long time coming,” Nathan said with a snarl, rolling up his shirtsleeves, revealing taut muscles.

“Really? I don’t think you’re up to the challenge.” Alex smiled in a mocking way, squaring up to him closely, trying to intimidate him. Although Nathan was a couple of inches over six feet, Alex was a little taller. This time, I couldn’t understand what he said, but it was enough to make Nathan snap, calling out what sounded like a battle cry and knocking Alex to the hard ground. And then both were hitting and kicking each other, but whilst Nathan remained angry, Alex seemed to think it was all a joke.

“Stop it!” I called out, breaking cover and running to the edge of the ring, but nobody was listening.

Alex’s fist connected with Nathan’s stomach, making Nathan wince. Alex came out, glowering over him, but Nathan wasn’t finished. A hard punch connected the side of Alex’s head, making him stumble back. Seizing his advantage, Nathan advanced. Straddling over him, Nathan swung both his fists and tried hitting Alex’s face, but Alex’s hands were blocking his attack. Alex laughed. “Is that all you can do,
boy
? You’re pathetic!”

His insult was a mistake, and Alex’s humour started to fade when Nathan’s hands clamped around his neck. Panic shot through my body, and I suddenly became scared. I quickly approached him, my hand
hovering over Nathan, not sure if I should touch him. What if he turned on me? I’d seen him out there on the battlefield, so I knew what he was capable of. The scarf around my neck seemed to tighten. But I couldn’t allow him to continue. I had to do something before it was too late.

“Nathan, please!
You’ll kill him!”

The tap on his shoulder made his head snap around.
I could see the anger blaze wildly across his features. I suddenly became afraid, my body trembling in terror. Slowly, I backed away, but as I started to weep, his irises were no longer dark. The coolness of his eyes returned, and he looked away, although I couldn’t mistake the shame I’d briefly glimpsed. He allowed Alex to rise, but remained slumped on the ground. Alex tried collecting himself, bent over and coughing as he regained his breath. He rubbed his neck, and it was then I saw a couple of red marks branding his skin. The hairs on my own neck stood on end. “What on earth were you thinking, Nathan? Why did you do that?”

Nathan’s shoulders heaved from his laboured breathing, but he remained so silent. Did he really not care?

Alex took a step forward, pointing his finger at Nathan. “You think you’re better than me, but you’re not!”

He got to his feet and met Alex’s glare. “
I
am
better than you!”

“Enough!” I cried.

Alex shook his head and faced me. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”

“
It’s a good thing I was here before anything bad happened.” I turned my head between them. “What’s going on with you two?”

They stared at each other, but neither was willing to admit anything.

I clenched my jaw to stop the tears. “Was it because of me? Is that why you were fighting?”

Alex stepped forward. “Lucy, you don’t understand. I—”

“No
,
yo
u
don’t understand. Your behaviour is ridiculous! Both of you! I’m not a prize to be won!”

“Lucy, wait—” Nathan began.

I didn’t waste any time and ran to the door. I heard Nathan calling after me again, but I ignored him. Pain burned deep into my heart, making something gnaw inside my brain. Was I really responsible for their hatred
?