Zak Turner - A Twist In Time (43 page)

* * *

Eridan was taking Steven along the path through the edge of the forest near the lake.  Unlike Sartrina, who thought that everyone abandoned the forest at night, he knew otherwise.  How could it be abandoned when Lyra House was located there?  Granted, few if any Lyra students ever made their way back to their house through the forest in the dark, preferring to use the short cuts, the portal, or the crystal walkway that only they could see, which wound its way through the trees over-head. 

Eridan’s ability with magic had enabled him to put tracking charms on a couple of Lyra students the previous summer, and he’d seen them disappear from the school apparently walking through the air into the forest.  It was
then
that he worked out their best kept secret!

“How much has everyone told you about the school Steven, did they tell you any details about the different houses?”

“Sartrina said there’s six, an’ told me their names.  I already knew that Zak and Tallion ‘re in Moncero, and that you’re in Taurus, but I don’t know much more ‘n that.”

“Did she tell you where any of the houses were?”

“Nope, although I know Moncero is in a tower somewhere, but I ain’t seen a tower!”

“The houses are hidden from everyone who doesn’t belong to them, so you’ll never
see
the other houses, but that doesn’t stop you knowing where they are, or how to get to them.  Sometime this week I’ll show you the entrance to Taurus, and we’ll definitely work out a way to get you inside.  It’s not against the rules to visit the other houses, either.  The headmaster sees it as a ‘stretching magical challenge’ for us all to try and find a way in.  From what I’ve been able to find out, it’s impossible to get into another house without someone from that house helping you, therefore it’s only those who make inter-house friendships that succeed in the challenge!”

“I’ll see if we can get you inter Leo then too, an’ I bet Zak ‘ll help us get inter Moncero!” answered Steven, his eyes alight at the prospect.

“Apparently only six students have ever managed to get into all the houses in one year, although that seems a bit far-fetched to me!  They weren’t particularly good friends either according to the story, certainly not by the end, but they were determined to set the record so they did it.  Taurus was the last house that they needed to get into, and the Taurus student nearly reneged on the deal because he was the only one, up to that point, who’d seen all the other houses!  He was ‘persuaded’ to keep his promise, and the story goes that he bore the scars to his dying day!  The risk of making a deal and then being let down seems to have stopped anyone else from trying, although I think we should manage it!”

“Yer gonna try?!  Why d’ya think we’ll do it?”

“It’s obvious!  Cygnus will get us into Aquila, Columbetha will get us into Draco, which is the hardest apparently, Zak and Tallion will get us into Moncero, you and me can swap Leo and Taurus which just leaves Lyra, which is right in front of us!”

“There’s now’t in front of us Eridan, ‘cept a dark forest!”

“That’s what you think.  It’s invisible to us because we’re not life students, but it’s there alright!  Try walking a bit further up this path.”

Steven set off to walk, but after a couple of paces found it impossible to move forwards.  He leaned hard and pushed his whole body forwards as though he was trying to open a stuck door, but he never moved an inch!  What was even more weird was that he felt nothing!  There was no sensation of pushing against something, or a wall or anything, just some intangible, invisible force stopping him going forward!

“That’s the protection charm on the pathway to the forest entrance of their house.  You look really funny by the way, trying to force your way through thin air!”

* * *

“What is this place then Freddie?” asked Rufus as he walked warily into the silent cave with his rather sinister guide.

“It’s called The Crypt.  Shaul says it’s full of ancient magical power.”

“It certainly feels oppressive, like someone’s watching us.”

Rufus was no novice wizard, which made it all the more puzzling why he’d fallen in with Shaul Malchus.  He took out his wand and waved it.

“Solus!”

A bright ball of light appeared and moved high up into the ceiling where he’d pointed his wand, revealing the domed rock overhead.  He pointed his wand lower, and the ball of light followed it round the walls of the crypt so that he could see the whole room.  The ball passed immediately over Zak and Tallion’s heads, but they never moved or spoke.

“Hmm, curious place, but there’s nothing here, it’s just a bare cavern!  What’s Shaul going to do in here then?”

“He knows an incantation that will allow you to use the powers that are bound up here in The Crypt, ancient and strong powers.  He says that they’ll give you insight and understanding far beyond anything a normal wizard would ever have.”

That’s how he fell for it!

Yes.  The Achilles heel of all Aquilas, the desire to understand more and know more, to be wiser and more clever than all your peers.  It’s a highly motivating desire!

Cygnus is Aquila, right?

Yes, and Procyon.

I could see it in both of them, the thirst for understanding.

Yep.  The risk is there in all houses though, not just Aquila.  Some Monceros are very greedy for power, and will push all the boundaries to get it.  I once overheard Father talking to Mother about Sartrina’s mum, saying that was how she’d behaved ever since he’d met her.

I’ll never be like that Tallion.  I must be the most unlikely Moncero in history!

I understand the first bit, Zak, but I’m sure that the second bit isn’t true.

“What time did he say he was coming?” asked Rufus impatiently.

“Three thirty.  It’s only just past.  Someone was probably following him and he had to shake them off.  We can’t have just anyone wandering in here and finding the place!”

There was silence for a few minutes as Rufus wandered round the room.  A couple of times he got quite close to the trio of invisible wizards, but then moved away.  He’d just started to look at the same bit of floor that had caught the headmaster’s attention when they heard voices in the corridor, and seconds later Shaul Malchus and Marcus Hendry entered the cavern.

“Ahh Logan, so you decided to show up!  More nerve than I’d have expected from an Aquila.  Most would run a mile from this place.”

“I’m not scared, Malchus, just curious.  So where’s the power that’s supposed to be in here then?  And how does it give me such outstanding intellect that I’ll ‘wipe the floor’ with everyone around me?”

“You’ll have access to knowledge and power that most wizards can only dream of, Logan.  You’ll run circles round your own house, let alone everyone else.  You’ll go down in history as probably the most outstanding student of all time, if you play the game.”

Zak and Tallion could see the obvious flattery in Shaul’s words, but Rufus was falling for it.  He craved being the best above almost anything.

“How do I get it?”

“You have to agree not to back out, Logan.  Once I start telling you how this works, there’s no going back.  You’re not allowed to share these secrets with anyone, and you cannot know them unless you agree to those terms.”

Zak saw that Rufus was hesitating, and he so dearly wanted to tell him to run and not be such a fool.  Surely that would be the best course of action?

It’ll be like the forbidden fruit for him Zak, even if he decides to run now, he’ll come back again.  Malchus has already trapped him, he’s like a fly with one foot on the web, it’s already too late for him to escape.

Whether the same thoughts were running through Rufus Logan’s mind or not wasn't clear, but he suddenly straightened his back and spoke clearly.

“I’m in.  Tell me.”

“You won’t regret it Logan, if you want power, this is what you’ve been searching for, absolute power over everyone.”

“So what
is
the power then?  Where does it come from?  I’m in now so you need to tell me.”

“It comes from here!”

The boys were standing in the centre of the ritual circle and Shaul now swept his hand round the circle and muttered an incantation.  The circle began to glow in the darkness of the crypt!

“This is dark magic Logan, the darker the magic, the more powerful it is, and this is very dark indeed!” 

Shaul’s eyes were glittering with pleasure, whether at the prospect of having snared another follower, or simply the thrill of bringing the circle to life, and the impending encounter with its linked spirit.

I’m worried Tallion, this is not good!

That makes two of us brother, and you’re right.  I wonder how our headmaster’s getting on?

Judging by what he’s thinking, he’s feeling about the same as us!

“HEY!  You never said anything about dark magic Malchus!  I’m not going over to the dark side, no matter how much power or knowledge it gives me!”

“But you agreed, Rufus, your very words were ‘I’m in, tell me’, surely you don’t want to give up now?”

Shaul’s words were oily and pleasant, almost like an indulgent parent!

“Shaul, you never told me it involved dark magic!  If you had I would never have agreed!  That’s too high a price!”

“Oh it costs more than simply coming over to the dark side Rufus, this power, this knowledge, this glory that you crave requires the ultimate sacrifice.  You have to buy it - with your soul!”

“I will not join you Shaul, let me go!”

“You think I can let you go now, after you’ve heard my plan and seen the ritual circle?  No chance Logan!  You’re going to serve me whether you like it or not, and you’ll
never
be free now, never again.  You wanted glory right?  Well you’ll get your glory, serving the dark side!”

“NEVER!  I WILL NOT!”

“Ha!” sneered Malchus.  “You’re a coward Logan.  You’re too scared to join us, too scared to sell your soul for glory and for eternal life!”

“I don’t want your glory, Malchus, and I’m no coward either.  FIRMUS!”

There was a sharp crack followed by a laugh as Shaul easily parried the incoming spell.  Rufus looked rattled.

“You thought you could stop me with a child’s spell Logan?  Pitiful!  INTORQUEO!”

“AAAGGHHH!!”

“Did you like that Logan, want another shot?  INTORQUEO!”

“AAAGGGHHH!!  Stop, stop!”

“Why should I stop, are you going to join us?”

“NEVER!”

“INTORQUEO!”

“AAAGGGHHH!!  I will… never… join you… Malchus,” said the breathless sounding Logan, “NEVER!”

“Oh but you will Rufus Logan.  You obviously didn’t hear me properly, there’s no turning back now!  Just like Hendry and Smith here, it’s too late for you to change your mind.  You’re mine, and when I’ve finished here, you’ll enjoy being mine.  INTORQUEO!”

“AAAGGGHHH!!”

“My uncle taught me much last year while my father was messing around with his foolish plans to take over part of Ireland.  We have a much bigger goal, and he’s taught me spells and curses that even my own parents don’t know.  He introduced me to the power of the dark side, overwhelming unstoppable power.  It was he who showed me how to channel that power and use it as my own, and soon that power will be yours.”

Shaul Malchus eye were glittering black, alive, possessed, and as he threw curse after curse at the eleven-year-old writhing on the floor, he seemed to be getting pleasure from the pain he was inflicting.  It was obvious to the hidden watchers that it was no longer Shaul Malchus in control, his body was possessed by another, sinister and evil.

Zak and Tallion closed their eyes so that they didn’t have to watch the atrocity before them, but they quickly opened them again in surprise when they heard the other two boys joining in the assault!  They looked on in revulsion as first Freddie, and then Marcus, started throwing their own curses at the boy on the floor, who was writhing and contorting in agony. 

Zak felt Tallion take his hand as he once again closed his eyes.  It took all his considerable will-power to keep his hands by his sides, for one single overwhelming spell would have stopped all this in a flash.  He could even feel the magic starting to build inside him to do it!

Suddenly Shaul put up his own wand and held out his hand to stop the attacks of his accomplices.  The trio of hidden wizards now had to listen as the possessed eleven-year-old worked himself up to casting the soul sacrifice on the broken, sobbing boy before him.  Zak and Tallion became aware of the headmaster’s thoughts running clearly and quickly next to them; he was preparing to create the doppelganger…

“And just in case you
still
refuse, my enchantment will make your voice speak even if your mind tries not to!”

Zak felt the magic building in the headmaster next to him, and wondered if Shaul would feel it too.  There was a light thud on the floor behind them and he turned round to see Rufus Logan lying there, twitching in agony. 

Zak’s emotions were racing, and the urge to bend down and comfort the boy was overpowering.  Tallion was going through the same struggle, but somehow the two soul mates restrained each other, and a moment later the headmaster’s stunning spell hit the unfortunate eleven-year-old, causing his body to go rigid, and his whimpering to cease.