negative. Scarlet and the others didn’t seem bothered by the responsibility they had just assumed, but then they weren’t haunted by the numerous other-worldly magical beings he could see.
He wandered over to sit on the comfy, cushioned seat below the window. The shapes and forms were still milling around but barely perceptible, like vaporous, hazy suggestions. Only when he looked intently at one did it manifest into a tangible form.
“You’re a cheery companion.” Alice sat on the cushion beside him.
“I am not sure I am up to this,” Seb spoke quietly so the others wouldn’t hear.
“I’m not sure you are either.” Alice didn’t look at him. Seb felt hurt; he had hoped for reassurance.
“So why me, then?” He tried not to sound defensive.
“Who knows? Maybe you did something in a previous life that marked you out as an ideal candidate,” Alice grinned. “Or maybe because you are so devilishly handsome!” He nudged Seb, laughing.
Seb found it hard to comprehend that he had lived previous lives, previous existences to this. He found the thought uncomfortable and put it to the back of his mind.
“It’s weird: if I stop concentrating, all the creatures don’t come flooding back now,” he said.
“Well, you’re making progress then. Once you accept, believe, your mind is able to take them for granted, so you have to concentrate on them to see them.”
Seb shrugged, rubbing his tingling palm, not sure he really understood.
“Well, it’s home time.” Scarlet sounded light-hearted as she put her coat on.
Seb rose to join her but immediately shrank back as a vast patch of blackness appeared yards in front of him. Scarlet screamed as the blackness took on the shape of the ogre and Alice said, “It came back much quicker.”
Zach leapt onto the table, ran its length and jumped over ten feet to land in front of Seb. He lunged forward, preparing to strike the beastly shape, his fists clenched in front of him like a boxer.
Nat shouted, “Zach, no! It’s not bad.”
“What are you talking about?” Zach yelled. He stood, his body braced, but didn’t strike.
“Just that I can feel it’s not bad. It doesn’t mean harm, Zach. It is just really,” she paused, “sad.”
“It’s attacking Seb. I can get it!” Zach took two steps forward and the ogre took one backward.
From nowhere Miss West appeared to the side of the ominous shape, holding two staffs, Seb noticed.
“Listen to your sensor,” she called to Zach.
“You are scaring it, Zach!” Nat shouted.
“Me, scaring it?” he yelled, but didn’t move and relaxed his hands.
Nat spoke more quietly, “It’s scared.”
Looking at the black shape, Seb noticed it was dithering. It looked like it wanted to turn back but couldn’t and was too afraid of Zach to move forward.
Zach dropped his hands. “Okay,” he said and Miss West nodded at him.
Suddenly the light in the room became piercingly bright. Instantly the ogre reacted: turning, it moved a few paces to Seb’s right and then sank into the floor. As it vanished Seb could now see Mr Duir with Dierne and Mr West, standing by the door within the bookshelf.
Miss West tossed Zach’s stick through the air. Zach reached out and caught it. Then to Seb’s astonishment he walked across, held the stick out to her and said, “Actually I am not that bothered about this thing.” She didn’t reply but also did not take the stick from his outstretched hand. “I want you to teach me.” She still said nothing, just regarded him impassively with her purple-black eyes. “I want you to want to teach me,” Zach said.
Mr West clapped his hands. “Trudy, my sister, that’s as much as you’re going to get!”
Trudy nodded, still staring at Zach. “I want you to listen!” She sounded harsh.
Zach nodded. “I can do that.” He lifted the stick, offering it afresh to her. She pushed it back towards him.
Zach spoke and Seb cringed, “You have to admit though, it is bigger than yours.” He twirled the stick.
“Zach …” Scarlet shouted, but Seb could see a faint smile on Miss West’s face.
Mr West laughed and slapped his sister on the shoulder. “He reminds me of someone!” The smile disappeared and she frowned at her brother.
Ignoring the interchange, Mr Duir walked to the spot where the ogre had vanished. Mr White, emerging through the door, joined him, flamers gathering on his head as he did. He placed a scrawny hand in his trouser pocket and produced a tin, very like Aiden’s. Popping the clasp he gazed into it. Aiden gravitated towards him.
Noticing him, Mr White beckoned. “You must learn.” He pointed to Aiden’s pocket. “Yours?” Aiden took his own tin out. “Aiden, you are the Guide. You find the paths, you locate the doors and, occasionally, you lock them.” Aiden looked eager. “Open it.” The old man pointed to the tin. Aiden clicked the clasp and the lid sprang up. His face was instantly bathed in pink light.
Craning his head over Aiden’s shoulder, Seb was disappointed; all he could see were five ripe rowan berries and the reflection of Aiden’s face.
Zach complained, “Aiden, we’re so over that surprise. More berries, woo-hoo!”
Aiden turned to him, smiling. “Zach, it’s not the berries. Can’t you see? It’s a map!”
Zach yanked Aiden’s wrist, pulling the mirror up to his own face.
“Nope, a handsome dude and five disgusting berries is all I can see.” He thrust the compact back towards Aiden who smiled.
“It’s a map.” He looked up at Mr White. “These pink lights … that’s all of us?” The teacher nodded. “Oh, except Seb.” Aiden looked at Seb. “He’s blue and,” Aiden turned slightly, “so is Mr Duir. The Dryads are green.” He peeked over the tin lid and smiled at Alice.
“Why do they get to be cool colours and I’m pink?” Zach moaned. Miss West tutted.
“These are doors,” Aiden poked a finger at the tin, “the white ones?”
Mr White nodded again. “They open to other places within this world, but can also lead to the worlds between, the other realities and— ” he stopped, to give more gravitas to his words, “occasionally to Áberan.” He continued, his voice a dreary monotone, “When the passages are used by those who are forbidden we have to lock a door.”
“And this ogre thing, it’s not allowed to use the passages. We get it!” Zach spoke for the others. “But I thought you said souls used the ley lines to move about.”
Mr Duir answered, “They do, in their natural travelling to and from Áberan. These passageways and doorways are for our use. But those who seek to trespass will use them if they can and sometimes they are used by those who have no choice.” He spoke to Aiden, “You must close the door.”
Mr White mumbled something into Aiden’s ear and now Aiden pressed the mirrored inside of the tin. It clicked then dropped down. On the back surface was a rim about two millimetres high which formed a shallow container in which was a pile of dark brown dust.
“What is that?” Zach said, disgusted.
“Rowan seeds,” Aiden answered, smiling. “I’ve been grinding them down into a powder.”
“Now why on earth would you want to do that and when did you find that secret bit of your compact?” Zach was annoyed.
Aiden just widened his smile. “I know that rowan provides protection. I thought the seeds would come in useful but got too many, so ground them into powder.”
“Quite the little chemist.” Scarlet was impressed.
“Use it now Aiden,” Mr Duir instructed as Nat fidgeted.
“I can feel it again,” she said, and Mr West nodded.
“Aiden,” Mr Duir said more urgently. “Lock the doorway.”
Taking a pinch of the powder Aiden looked to Mr White. The teacher pointed at the floorboards. Seb took a step back in shock. Within the floorboards was a doorway, complete with silver knob. He realised Mr Duir had lifted his hand and was reflecting light from the window off his birthma
rk onto the area indicated by Mr White. As Aiden raised his hand the knob began to twist. A crack appeared and the door began to open inward.
“Now please, Aiden,” Mr Duir pressed.
Aiden sprinkled the powder, letting the fine dust fall onto the oak boards. Mr White spoke one word: “Seolh.”
As the dust motes landed and the word left his lips, there was a loud clang; the door slammed shut and disappeared.
A Quiet Word
The teachers had refused to discuss anything more in the library, ushering the group out and homeward. Seb smiled as he walked to the car, Alice still by his side.
“Something funny?” Alice asked.
Seb shrugged, not daring to speak. Alice swooped in front of him bringing them all to a halt.
“What are we stopping for?” Scarlet asked Alice.
“Scarlet, people will think you’re mad. You’re talking to thin air. They can’t see him!” Seb hissed at her.
She laughed. “What do I care?”
“All the same, Scarlet,” Zach joined Seb’s side, “you’ll make people look!”
“Okay, so we blank you in public?” She frowned at Alice.
“You could try speaking without moving your lips.” Alice laughed at their puzzled faces. “I mean, it’s not so difficult …” he continued but Seb saw no movement of his mouth.
“Well, there you have it,” Zach spread his arms and leant his head back to laugh, “the Dryad is telepathic too!”
“Not quite,” Alice let them walk on. “I can’t read your thoughts. I can only hear you if you speak to me.”
“Confused,” Zach said.
“I can only hear words you intend me to hear, not your thoughts.