02 Unicorn Rider (26 page)

‘I thank you for this,’ he said to the vampyr.

‘Don’t thank me,’ the vampyr said. ‘We have a deal, and I do not take such matters lightly. You have the sword and the unicorn. You have everything you need to uphold your end of the bargain.’ He leaned forwards and his eyes glimmered with evil. ‘Just remember, I am eternal and deathless. If you betray me, I will take my revenge on you, even if it takes a hundred thousand years.’

***

After Nimbus had left the mansion, taking Captain Spectre and the unicorn with him, the vampyr returned to his vast dining hall where the two ghouls were supposed to be waiting patiently for him. However, ghouls are not patient creatures, and what they were really doing was running around, jumping on the table, swinging on the chandeliers, and occasionally wrestling on the ground in a fit of slapping and biting. But when the vampyr walked in, the ghouls quickly stopped what they were doing, which at that point was trying to force feed each other candlesticks, and they slunk over to the corner of the room where they tried their absolute hardest to look like they had been waiting patiently.

‘Hello, Boss,’ one said.

‘Hello, Boss,’ the other said.

The vampyr smiled contentedly, and sat in one of the chairs, throwing his feet up on the table. ‘Well,’ he said, rather self–importantly, ‘that all went perfectly.’

‘Should have let us eat him, Boss,’ one of the ghouls said.

‘Wouldn’t have minded a bit of tasty human flesh,’ the other muttered.

The vampyr examined his long fingers, picking at a speck of dirt lodged under one of his nails. ‘I need the boy alive. For now. I promise I’ll save you a leg each when the time comes.’

The two ghouls giggled, and rubbed their hands with glee. Everybody knew the legs of a human were the best bit.

‘Until then,’ the vampyr said, ‘that boy, and all of his friends, are under my protection. Understand?’

‘Yes, Boss.’

‘Yes, Boss. But what if he gets wise to the plan?’

The vampyr let out a thick, syrupy chuckle that sent a chill running down the spines of the ghouls. ‘He doesn’t suspect a thing. The boy is far more stupid than Crow said he was.’

‘But, Boss...’

‘Enough.’ The vampyr gestured angrily. ‘I have had enough of you. Get out of my sight.’

‘Yes, Boss.’

‘Yes, Boss.’

The two ghouls shambled out of the room, leaving the vampyr alone with his thoughts. He clasped his hands together, and watched the vague wisps of lost spirits pressing against the window. ‘Rose,’ he said. ‘I love you, and I will get you back.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The unicorn was faster than Nimbus had expected, and his heart was wedged in his throat as she galloped through the dark tunnel beneath Blood Mountain. He gripped her mane tightly, and he closed his eyes. One small slip and he would be smashed to pieces on the unforgiving stone walls as they rushed past.

As it happened, Nimbus really had nothing to fear as he was carried through the swirling vapours of moaning spirits, but as he had not spent time learning about legends as his father had constantly requested, he had no way of knowing what an honour it was that the unicorn had allowed him to ride her: He didn’t have a clue that having been granted such an honour it would now be completely impossible for him to fall off. So, oblivious to his safety, he clenched his teeth and shut his eyes and hoped the ride would be over soon. All around, the tendrils of mist groped and pulled at him, asking him to come down into the murky depths for all eternity.

‘Isn’t this exciting?’ Captain Spectre said, from within the safe confines of Nimbus’s necklace.

‘Shut up,’ Nimbus said. It felt like his bones were being shaken to pieces and his stomach was being jumbled into a knotted mess.

‘It’s so nice to be having adventures again,’ Spectre went on. ‘After hundreds of years stuck in that old tower, it just makes such a refreshing change. It’s all so exciting.’

‘Excuse me if I don’t agree.’

The unicorn snorted, which actually meant, ‘Oh come on, it’s not that scary. I can go faster if I want to. Look.’

The unicorn lurched beneath Nimbus, accelerating to even greater speeds. ‘Slow down,’ he screamed. ‘Slow down.’

‘Go faster,’ Spectre cheered.

‘Please,’ Nimbus squealed. ‘Slow down.’

The unicorn rolled her eyes and dropped back to a steadier pace, which was still far in excess of any speed that a normal horse could achieve. She could have told Nimbus that there was nothing to worry about, but she hadn’t bothered to speak to him since she had tested him back in the vampyr’s courtyard. The boy’s mind was all foggy, full of stupid boy things like fishing and swords and some girl called Sky; and the unicorn found it difficult to get him to hear what she was saying.

It was the lack of magic that was the biggest problem. The boy didn’t have a single magical bone in his whole body. It really was a shock he was the brother of such a powerful magic user as the girl they called Glass. Now, that girl was someone the unicorn would be able to have real conversations with. Whole conversations that went on for hours and hours, and involved words of more than two syllables.

The unicorn flicked her mane. Her hooves clattered on the stony ground.

‘Do you think that soldier creature will be waiting for us?’ Captain Spectre asked.

‘I’m sure he will be,’ Nimbus said, through his gritted teeth. ‘I think he’s been guarding this cave to stop anybody getting to the unicorn. I don’t think he’s going to just let us ride off with her now.’

The unicorn whinnied, which actually meant, ‘I’d like to see him try to catch us.’

Nimbus, not really understanding what the unicorn was trying to say, patted her neck softly. ‘I’m scared too,’ he said. ‘But don’t worry, I’m going to get you out of here.’

The unicorn sniffed, and picked up her speed again, just to make the point that if anyone was scared around here, it certainly wasn’t her. Nimbus clung to her neck, but actually risked opening one eye to see just how much farther the tunnel went on. With some relief, he realised the mouth of the cave was just ahead. Within moments they were back outside in the cool night air, back on the mountainside, and most importantly of all, back in the world of the living.

As they raced out of the cave, Nimbus quickly glanced behind him at the spirit–filled mist, and he was consumed with the desire to go back: To let that mist envelope him forever. He knew it was his dead spirit, yearning to return to the embrace of others of its kind, and the realisation that there was a large part of him that wanted nothing more than death filled him with dread.

The yearning to go back lasted for only a second, but he was distracted long enough to be totally oblivious to an ape–like shape pouncing out of the shadows. The first he was aware of any danger was when that shape barrelled into him, throwing him to the ground with a bone–shuddering thud that left him dazed.

As he looked up, the stars in the purple patchwork sky spun dizzyingly, forming intricate silver–thread patterns. It felt as if the whole universe was moving, and he was the only thing that was lying perfectly still.

He blinked a few times, and gradually the stars began to settle into their rightful positions. As they did so, he was struck with the realisation that he had been attacked, and he sat up with a gasp, clumsily dragging the spirit sword from its sheath.

‘Don’t worry,’ a familiar voice said. ‘That soldier isn’t here at the moment. You won’t need your sword.’

‘Carnelian?’ Nimbus muttered, rubbing his head. ‘What happened?’

Carnelian’s voice sounded unusual, partly triumphant, and partly sad. ‘Sorry I hit you,’ he said. ‘I had to get you away from this thing. It was the only way I could think of.’

Nimbus looked around the clearing, and finally he was able to locate Carnelian’s position in the dark. What Nimbus saw was far more horrifying than an army of those spider–soldiers would have been.

Carnelian had somehow wrestled the unicorn to the floor, and now had one of his muscular arms around her neck, and one big hand wrapped around her horn. The unicorn was lying quite still, not kicking or whinnying or biting. Her eyes shone as she looked at Nimbus, and her pelt shimmered like a moonbeam filtered through glass.

‘What are you doing?’ Nimbus said.

Carnelian’s grip on the unicorn’s horn tightened. ‘I’m going to change the future,’ he said.

***

Tidal and Sky stood at the bedroom window, looking out at the moving shadows of the night. If Tidal had been braver, he would have held Sky’s hand; but at the moment he didn’t feel brave. He felt trapped.

Strata was sitting at the foot of the bed, stitching a button back on a shirt as if nothing extraordinary was happening at all. Every now and again she would glance at the pillows piled at the top of the bed before returning to her sewing. She had hardly said a word all evening.

Captain Obsidian was in a chair facing the open door. He had his sword resting on his knees, and he never once, not even for a second, took his eyes off the monstrous man–spider that was curled up in the ceiling beams.

‘How long do you think it will be until someone comes for us?’ Sky asked, clenching her fingers on the windowsill as she saw one of the soldiers limping past.

‘I’m sure it will be any time now,’ Tidal said. ‘Hawk should have reached Crystal Shine. He’ll bring a whole army back to rescue us.’

‘What if this is happening everywhere?’ Sky asked. ‘What if those things are already at Crystal Shine? What if the war is over, and we don’t even know it?’

‘Don’t talk like that,’ Obsidian said. His tone was heavy and serious, but above all else it was exhausted. He hadn’t slept for two days, and it was beginning to show. ‘That sort of talk isn’t helpful.’

‘I hope my dad’s okay,’ Sky said. ‘He isn’t very good by himself. He doesn’t really know how to cook or clean or anything like that. Since Mum...’ Her voice cracked. Tears glistened on her pale cheeks. ‘He probably hasn’t eaten anything.’

Tidal touched her hand. ‘Your dad will be fine.’

‘That spider–thing hasn’t moved for hours,’ Obsidian said, drumming his fingers on the edge of his sword.

‘Surely it will have to at some point,’ Tidal said. ‘It must be hungry.’

‘I’m not sure it eats,’ Obsidian said. ‘I’m not even sure it breathes. It hasn’t made a sound all the time it’s been there.’

‘That’s stupid. Everything needs to breathe.’

Strata put aside the shirt she had been sewing. ‘Glass knew they were coming. I don’t know how, but she knew. That’s why she went away.’

‘Wise girl,’ Obsidian said.

‘Or cowardly,’ Tidal growled. ‘Nimbus and Glass were probably the only people who could have fought back against these monsters, and they both chose to run away.’

‘Don’t,’ Sky said. ‘You can’t talk about them that way. I’m sure they have good reason for not being here.’

‘What reason can you have for abandoning your friends? I risked my life to make sure you were safe!’

A flicker of motion caught Tidal’s attention, and one of the pillows fell off the edge of the bed. He could have been mistaken, but he thought he could hear the patter of soft footsteps. His heart skipped a beat.

‘Glass?’ he said, cautiously. ‘Glass, are you still here?’

Suddenly the man–spider dropped down beside Obsidian. The captain jumped to his feet, making a clumsy thrust with his sword which was easily deflected.

There was another hint of motion in the corner of the room, and then Glass appeared there. Her head was bowed, her fingers clenched; her whole body trembled with barely suppressed magic. ‘You shouldn’t have come looking for me,’ she snarled.

The spider–soldier pushed Obsidian out of the way, and scurried over the bed. As it leapt forwards, Glass extended one hand. ‘This is my house,’ she said. ‘This is my house and you need to get out. Now!’

The soldier came to a shuddering stop. For a moment it seemed to be struggling against some unseen energy as its legs worked furiously, and then with a sickening crack, its head twisted around. Sky screamed as the soldier’s body slumped to the ground, its legs still kicking, and its sword arm flailing wildly.

‘This is my house,’ Glass whispered, and she collapsed against the wall. Her eyes closed, and discharging magic fizzed at the ends of her fingers.

 ‘Glass,’ Strata said, crouching beside her daughter. ‘Oh, Glass, what have you done?’

Glass opened her eyes, and she smiled. ‘People kept acting like I was invisible,’ she said. ‘So I started to think that maybe it might be easier if I was.’

Strata hugged Glass to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably. ‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.’

Obsidian cautiously approached the man–soldier, poking it with the tip of his sword. The monstrous legs thrashed and wiggled, but the body of the soldier was motionless.

‘Is it dead?’ Tidal asked.

‘Honestly? I don’t know,’ Obsidian said.

The soldier jerked violently, and there was a terrible ripping sound. The spidery legs gripped the floor and began to pull, and slowly a bloated, horrible body emerged from beneath the soldier’s cloak. The body was black and slimy and had small wriggling tendrils all over it; but the worst thing of all was the smell. It smelled like decomposing flesh.

Obsidian covered his mouth and backed away as the vile creature started to drag itself towards the door.

‘What is that?’ Tidal gasped, gripping Sky’s arm.

‘It was inside the soldier,’ Obsidian said. ‘I think it was controlling him in some way.’

‘That’s horrible,’ Sky said.

‘You have to finish it off,’ Tidal said. ‘Stab it before it can do this to someone else.’

‘I don’t think we should go near it,’ Obsidian said. ‘What if it takes control of one of us? We’d have another one of those things to deal with.’

‘Give me your sword. I’ll kill it.’

‘No.’ Sky grabbed Tidal’s wrist. ‘Don’t go near it. I know you want to save the day, but I don’t want to lose you any more than you want to lose me.’

The thing had reached the bedroom door. If it made it all the way outside, it would be able to disappear into the darkness. Perhaps it would wait in one of the hedges just outside for a new victim to walk by. Then it would reach out with those long, spindly legs...