The Angel Page 7

  They’d steered clear of the Wicked, sure, but it had meant that when they had finally emerged from the underground, it was no longer morning. It was well into the afternoon, and the sky was already beginning to darken. They’d hidden out in the bush until night had completely fallen, and then they’d made their move.

  Logan still couldn’t be sure how they had managed to sneak so many humans through the bush, past a number of small townships and down to the beaches.

  Dawn was beginning to break when they at long last made it to the oceans edge, remaining hidden in the safety of the bush. Wicked were still about on the docks, but the side of the island they were on was quieter than they’d thought, which worked in their favour.

  Logan scanned the beach, the jetties, the ships, all of it. Their best bet was to steal the largest ship they could and sail to safety. But how to do that without alerting the Wicked? And how to stay safe on the waters? Battles were still commencing on the ocean’s surface too. And surely Creshan would have regrouped and rounded up his Wicked to come after them. They had to be swift and quiet.

  ‘How do we do this?’ Drew asked no one in particular.

  They’d left the humans hiding in the forest, and the four of them had snuck as far out of hiding as they dared to obtain a better view.

  ‘We need a ship, the largest we can find,’ Logan said quietly.

  ‘There aren’t many Wicked around. We could take them, steal the ship and get out of here,’ Grace suggested.

  ‘We don’t want to make a ruckus. We can’t risk catching the attention of more Wicked,’ Mitch countered.

  ‘What do you suggest then?’ Drew asked sincerely.

  Mitch crouched down onto his hands and knees and crawled the distance to the top of the cliff they were peering down from. Logan, catching the look of surprise on Grace’s face, shrugged and followed. It allowed them a better view of the docks below, but it did leave them in the open should anyone be looking down from above. Logan hoped they didn’t have Wicked Birds on the island.

  The Docks ran the length of the beach, extending out into the water where ships were tied into place. The sun was just rising, so the ocean reflected the reds and oranges off its surface. It was a beautiful sight, if something so sinister wasn’t lurking on the island as well.

  Mitch was quiet for a long while, his deep brown eyes searching the docks for his answers. Logan was used to Mitch’s calculating gaze, but it was as though he could actually see the cogs turning in his mind as he pieced together a plan.

  Drew caught Logan’s eye and Logan gave him a look that implied he should be patient. Logan knew that wasn’t a specialty of Drew’s, but they couldn’t risk rushing in without a reasonably sound plan.

  At long last, Mitch scooted back from the cliff’s edge and the four of them congregated in the safety of the bush again.

  ‘Here’s what I think. The Enchanted Birds we stole should still be in that clearing right? Two of us need to go collect them,’ Mitch paused, glancing between Drew and Grace. ‘I think you two should do that. Logan, you and I are going to create a distraction.’

  Quickly, Mitch explained his idea, and together they worked out the finer points. Then, all of a sudden, it was time to march into action.

  Logan watched with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation as Grace and Drew snuck off through the trees towards the Humans. They were to explain the plan to them then continue on to collect the birds, assuming they were indeed in the clearing. If they weren’t then it would make the plan a little more difficult. Not impossible, but difficult.

  Mitch caught Logan’s eye.

  ‘Ready?’

  Logan nodded. ‘Let’s go.’

  The two of them snuck along the tree line before emerging at the bottom of the ridge they’d been hiding atop moments before. One at a time, they rushed from hiding and dove for cover behind a cluster of sheds. The Wicked were down on the docks, so there was little for them to worry about so far, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Anyone could be watching.

  Mitch peered around the corner of one of the sheds and watched for a moment. Logan remained pressed against the cool tin, waiting. His heart was hammering in his chest. The plan relied on the two of them creating a large enough distraction to lure the Wicked away, while also ensuring it was something that appeared to be a natural disaster so not to alert them of their presence.

  If they succeeded in doing that, then the two of them would race down and board the largest ship they could, reeling in the anchor and steering it out to sea. They’d sail around to a quiet beach just south of where they were where Drew and Grace would hopefully fly the Humans out to them on the birds. It would take a few trips, but they didn’t want to risk docking unless they absolutely had to.

  Of course, if all of that were to happen, he and Mitch had to hop to it.

  ‘They’re checking the ships. Probably stocking them for battle again. I think the ship on the farthest left is our best bet,’ Mitch said, turning back to face Logan.

  Logan scanned the ships before shifting his gaze to the one Mitch had been indicating and gave a short, sharp nod. It looked to be the biggest of the lot. The ships weren’t the size of cruise ships. They were almost like voyage ships from the olden days that were made of wood and could fit perhaps a hundred bodies on board. They had a below deck, and a captains deck. But that was the extent of it. They were built for battle, not for carrying cargo.

  ‘So we have to draw them to the right then,’ Logan commented.

  Mitch peered back around the shed’s corner, his brown eyes scanning their options on the right side of the docking yards.

  ‘We don’t want to explode anything. They’ll be suspicious.’

  ‘You might be on to something though,’ said Logan quietly, eyes scouring the bush. ‘The trees are thicker to the right. If we triggered a fire…’

  Mitch was nodding in agreement, and a curl of his usually neatly cropped, dark brown hair fell against his brow. ‘Yes, they would have to rush to put it out. They can’t afford to lose this dock. The wind’s pushing to the south though so we’ll have to be quick to beat it to the boat and set off.’

  Logan could see what Mitch was saying. The wind would push the fire straight into the direction of the ships - all of them. Yes they were in the water, but fire could be unpredictable.

  ‘How are we going to do this?’

  ‘I have matches,’ Logan offered.

  ‘Hm. We want to be on the other side of the dock before the fire gets going. If we have to wait around to light a match.’

  ‘You’re right. We want it to appear like a natural disaster too,’ Logan unslung his backpack from his shoulders, unzipping it and peering inside.

  Moving aside the various items in it, he was fast to take stock of its contents. He caught sight of his torch. He was hit with an unexpected pang of sadness as he recalled the memory of the new torch Grace had purchased for him after breaking his other one. It was only a small item, but it meant something to him all the same. It had probably been burnt to a crisp back in Alast after the Wicked took all their belongings and destroyed them.

  Logan was about to force a frustrated sigh when he was hit with an idea. He pulled his torch from his pack, peering up at the sun as it continued to rise into the sky.

  ‘I don’t think your torch will be of much us,’ Mitch mused quietly.

  Logan unscrewed the top, lifting the glass end rimmed with plastic to show Mitch. Mitch’s eyes widened with understanding and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

  ‘Let’s go,’ said Mitch, and the two of them took off for the bush.

  It wasn’t long before they were ready. Logan had removed the plastic from around the glass and set it in a place that caught the sun and sent its rays into the brown, dry grass. They waited just long enough to ensure it caught alight, then they took off. With luck, the Wicked would find the glass and presume that was how the fire started. Hopefully they wouldn’t wonder where the glass came fr
om. Rubbish was often left all over the place by the Humans. Surely they would believe it to be thanks to that.

  They sprinted back through the trees to the sheds and, pulses pounding in their ears, glanced back to see the fire had indeed caught alight. Trees were already ablaze and Wicked were beginning to notice the danger.

  Logan and Mitch grinned to each other.

  ‘Drop your weapons,’ someone snarled from behind them.

  The two of them spun to see a Wicked, gold sword raised, staring intently at them.

  ‘You two again. I saw you in the tunnels. You killed The Sargent.’

  The Sargent? Logan realised that must have been the name they had for Mr Stark. He’d heard in it passing but had never quite put two and two together.

  ‘You were an Enchanted, weren’t you?’ Mitch asked calmly.

  ‘We don’t want to hurt you. We’re trying to help. We have people working on a cure for you,’ Logan added quickly.

  The Wicked’s eyes flickered between the two of them, then he bared his teeth.

  ‘Shut up and put down your weapons,’ the Wicked growled, his tousled blond hair falling into his eyes. He couldn’t have been more than twenty. His face was freckled and his skin tanned.

  Logan pulled his sword from its scabbard and the Wicked tensed. Logan could see the fight behind the Wicked’s eyes. He knew there was good still in the young man, just as Grace had said.

  ‘We don’t want to hurt you, but if we have to, we will. We want to help you. Erebus is using you. Please, let us go. Those humans are innocent. If we don’t help them flee then we’ll be going against everything we, as Enchanted, stand for. Everything you once stood for, too. I know there is good still in you. I know you don’t want to do this. You’re only doing it because you have to. Because the Wicked will kill you if you don’t,’ Logan paused, his weapon pointed at the ground, non-menacing but proof that he will raise it if he must.

  ‘Tristan,’ the Wicked said at last.

  ‘What?’ Logan asked, brow furrowed.

  ‘Tristan Grey. That’s my name. For when you find the cure,’ his eyes darted to the fire behind them. ‘Quick.’

  Just like that, he lowered his weapon and rushed off towards the fire.

  Logan watched him for a moment, before Mitch tugged at his shirt and the two of them took off for the ship. The dock was empty as they clambered down it and hastily untied the ship before boarding it. Mitch took the wheel and Logan raised the anchor. Then, while the Wicked were busy saving their ships, they sailed off. There were no shouts of alarm or Wicked breaking away to pursue them. No one seemed to notice, which was just what they’d hoped for.

  Logan wondered briefly if that was Tristan Grey’s doing. He would remember the name. He would try and find the young man again once they had the cure. He would bring the Enchanted back.

  ‘I can’t believe you got through to that guy,’ Mitch said once they were in the clear and sailing in the direction of their meeting point.

  ‘I know. I thought he was too far gone. I was just making stuff up to see if it worked. Grace seemed to believe it to be true,’ Logan responded.

  ‘Makes you wonder if there is good in the Enchanted still. If they can fight it.’

  ‘Or if there is anything to fight at all. Perhaps they’re just scared of dying and are just playing along.’

  ‘That’s a big stretch,’ Mitch said.

  Logan shrugged but nodded. It was. One could only hope though.

  Within half an hour they had reached the meeting point. Drew and Grace had found the birds, for in an instant the two of them were sending their first load of Human passengers over to the ship.

  Logan was beyond relieved as the last of the Humans were set onto the deck and sent below to remain out of sight. It wouldn’t be long. Just until they were well out of the battle areas and somewhat safe. It would be a four week voyage back to Lastrala, where the Humans said they were from.

  As the last of the Humans clambered down the ladder to safety, Drew and Grace climbed from the bird’s backs and gave them each a long pat. Logan’s heart leapt into his throat when Grace at last turned and caught his eye. She was grinning. They’d done it. Without losing a single Human life. They were safe, for now.

  Logan grinned back at Grace. ‘Let’s take the Humans home.’

  ~

  Once again Laura was training with Megan, and once again, Gemma was left to wander around aimlessly while wars were being fought and lives were being lost. She wasn’t angry at Laura. She knew Laura had to better understand her gift in order to use it against Erebus. But she felt so useless, sitting around all day, doing nothing. She sharpened her blades. She watched the feeding of the animals. She made a batch of arrows out of fallen tree limbs. She watched the animals be fed. She made a bow from the wood. She practiced her archery. She helped feed the animals.

  It was all much the same, and it was growing tiresome. She had too much time alone with her thoughts, which made the situation worse. It wouldn’t take long before she’d find herself wondering about Mitch. About what they were. What they meant to each other. If they would ever see each other again. And if they did, what would they say to one another? Would he realise his feelings for her? Or would time apart make him realise he didn’t have feelings for her? She’d never asked. She’d never talked about it. They’d never really had the chance. Or rather, there had never been an appropriate time, with Robin’s death and then being taken hostage.

  Gemma blew out a fake breath in attempt to calm herself and empty her mind. She brushed her dark blond hair from her face, fingers running over her scar. It was a reminded of who she was – of how strong she promised herself she would be.

  She was in the forest again, sitting in a small clearing. Trees surrounded her, insects buzzed, and in the distance, water gurgled. Apart from that, she was completely alone.

  She stood, taking out her hand made bow and arrows. She’d set up targets the week before and had been practicing ever since. She felt she was growing better at it. She was no Caspian though, whose chosen weapon was a bow and arrow when hers was a blade or knife. Still, she had to be ready.

  Knocking the arrow into place, she drew back on the string and lifted the bow into position. She took aim for her target, a small carved circle on the extended branch of a tree, and after a moments calm, she fired. Not quite a bullseye, but close.

  She pulled her knife free from her boot and flung it at the target, hitting it in the centre. She allowed a small smile to play at her lips. That was better.

  ‘Wow,’ a small, female voice said in awe from behind her.

  She spun to see three children from the Caster’s camp staring at her. One was a little girl with pig tails and big blue eyes. The other two were red head twin boys, hands clasped in front of them as if they were ready to beg.

  'How did you do that?’ One of the twin’s asked.

  ‘Years of practice,’ Gemma replied, crossing the clearing and retrieving her knife and arrow.

  ‘Can you do it again?’ The other twin asked.

  ‘Yes, please do it again!’ The little girl agreed, jumping up and down in excitement.

  Gemma felt a flush of pride and confusion. No one had ever been interested in her training before, besides Stella and Leo of course. No one had ever admired her, either. Mitch popped into her head and she spun on the spot, sending her dagger flying for the target. She hit its centre and pushed the thoughts from her mind, forcing it to remain blank. She couldn’t allow herself to continue dwelling on them. On him.

  ‘Can you teach us how to do that?’ One of the twins asked in earnest.

  ‘Yes, please!’ The girl and other twin said in high pitched, excited voices.

  ‘Woah, hold on a second there. I’m no trainer,’ Gemma countered, sliding her dagger back into her boot.

  ‘But you’re so good! None of our trainers are that good,’ the little girl said sadly, her face falling.

  ‘Hey, I’m sure they’re great,’ Gemma sa
id in defence.

  ‘No, they aren’t. We don’t fight evil people very much,’ one of the twin’s replied.

  Gemma understood what they were saying. The Casters, while able to defend with their powers, had been hidden away for so long that they’d lost the knowledge and skill required to really fight as the Enchanted do.

  Gemma peered down at the three little kids. They couldn’t have been older than twelve. They looked so innocent. She wasn’t sure she wanted to take that away from them. But then again, with the war, who knew what would happen. What if they needed to defend themselves and couldn’t?

  Gemma eyed them and at last, relented. ‘You’d have to ask your parents first. If they say you can then I’ll show you the basics.’

  ‘Thank you!’ They squealed and raced off through the bush.

  Gemma shook her head, but a small laugh still escaped her. She went back to her target practice as she waited.

  It wasn’t long before one of the twins returned. Gemma assumed it must have been bad news if the three of them weren’t coming back together.

  ‘Mumma wants to talk to you,’ the little boy said.

  Gemma frowned. ‘What for?’

  The boy shrugged and hurried off.

  Gemma collected her things and trudged off through the bush, emerging into the village of the Casters.

  The little girl with blond pig tails appeared, grasping her hand and tugging her over to the two red head twins and their mother, who’s hair was ironically raven black. Her eyes were kind however as she watched on with amusement. Gemma came to a stop only when the little girl tugging her arm did, and locked eyes with the twin’s mother.

  ‘I didn’t mean to cause trouble. They wanted to learn, so I just said I’d show them the basics. But if you don’t-’

  The woman shook her head, bringing her up short. ‘No, no. It’s not that.

  From behind the woman, many other Caster’s emerged. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters.

  ‘We’re all undertrained for we’ve never required the skills to fight. Until now. We want, and need, to be read,’ the woman told Gemma.