Akarnae (42 page)

“Yes, that’s right,” Alex said, swaying on her feet now. She reached out to steady herself on the wall behind her and noticed
that the painting she’d come through was still hanging there, but instead of showing the dark room she was now in, it was a portrait of the Library’s foyer. At least she now knew how to get back out when the time came.

“I’m really sorry to disturb you,” Alex told the woman. “I’m just so ti-ti-tired.” She had to cover a yawn as she finished her sentence.

“Child, you look simply exhausted,” the woman said, walking over to take hold of her arm. “Come and sit down.”

Alex let the woman lead her over to the bed and she almost moaned when she felt how soft it was.

“I know this seems like an odd request, but do you mind if I take a nap? It’s just… I’m so tired, and everywhere else is so noisy…”

“Of course, you poor dear,” the woman said, surprising her. Maybe strange people arrived in her bedroom more often than Alex presumed. “Here, let me help you.”

The woman bent down to help Alex with her shoes before she pulled back the covers on the bed. She was so kind and caring that Alex felt tears come to her eyes.

“Thank you so much,” she whispered, her voice catching. She always became emotional when she was tired, and this woman’s compassion was overwhelming.

“Don’t even mention it,” the lady said, tucking her in and tenderly brushing the hair away from her face. “Now, you just close your eyes and have a good rest while I sit and watch over you. You’re safe here. Sleep in peace, child.”

Alex tried to thank her again, but she couldn’t form the words as her eyes closed of their own accord. The repetitive
click, click, click
of knitting needles and the lady’s quiet humming soon pulled her straight down into the deep sleep that she so desperately needed.

Forty

“Child.”

“Child?”

“Child, you need to wake up now.”

Someone was shaking Alex gently.

“Come, dear, you must awaken.”

The shaking increased and Alex couldn’t ignore it any longer. “Hmmm?”

“That’s it. Open your eyes.”

Alex did as she was asked but she couldn’t see much. Everything was completely dark except for a small light coming from a candle the woman held in her hand.

“You need to get up,” the woman said urgently.

Alex forced herself to sit up, and she pulled her shoes on before standing. Despite her difficulty waking, she felt so much better now than she had earlier.

“How long have I been asleep?” she asked, her voice groggy.

“Four turns of the hourglass,” the woman answered.

Four hours. That meant it was around seven o’clock. Her friends would be worried about her if she didn’t turn up for dinner soon.

“I should go,” Alex said. “Thank you, again—
so
much—for the peace and quiet.”

She started walking over to where she’d stumbled out of the painting, looking for the exit point.

“Child, I think something is wrong,” the woman said fearfully.

Alex was about to respond when she looked at the candle again, their only source of light, and realised that the woman was right—something
was
wrong. They were in a painting, a painting that captured a set of images in time forever. So why wasn’t the fireplace burning brightly anymore?

Dread welled up within Alex. “May I borrow your candle for a moment, please?”

The woman handed over the little flame and Alex held it up to the wall. The painting was still there, but it no longer showed the brightly lit foyer. The picture was completely black—a deep, smothering darkness, the likes of which Alex had only seen once before.

“
No
,” she gasped.

“What is it?” the woman asked in a trembling voice.

“Lockdown,” Alex whispered, horrified. It wouldn’t mean anything to a woman stuck in a painting, but it meant the world to Alex.
Her
world.

“I have to go. Now.” She shoved the candle back into the woman’s hands and reached forward into the painting, feeling her world tilt and expand as she tumbled out the other side.

Just like the last time, the darkness was overwhelming. Alex wished she had something to see with, but she hadn’t had the heart to steal the woman’s only light source. She couldn’t believe that she’d slept through the Lockdown sirens, but maybe they hadn’t penetrated into the painting.

She carefully felt her way along the walls, making sure not to press too hard against any of the other artwork. Moving as fast as she dared, she hurried towards the staircase that would lead her up into the Tower and then out onto the grounds. It would be lighter outside and she would hopefully be able to find out what was going on.

Step. Step. Step. Step.
Thump
.

“Ouch!” she hissed into the darkness after colliding with the bottom step of the staircase. She hopped on one foot and bent over just as a radiant light flared out from the top of the staircase. Stubbing her toe had actually saved her from being blinded by the light, since it burned to look at it even from the corner of her eye.

“Who’s there?” she asked, shielding her gaze with her hand.

“Alex?” called a shaky voice.

“D.C.,” Alex said with relief. It was just her roommate. “What’s going on? Why has the Lockdown been activated?”

The other girl didn’t answer, but as the light moved steadily down the staircase, Alex’s eyes began to adjust. When her vision was clear enough, the sight in front of her made her wish it was still too dark to see.

“How kind of you to be ready and waiting for us, Alexandra. I was under the impression that I’d have to drag you down here, kicking and screaming.”

Aven. Talk about horrible timing—she was exactly where he needed her.

“I was wondering when you were going to show up again,” Alex said, trying to keep her voice steady. “It was considerate of you to wait for exams to be over.”

“Education is important, Alexandra,” he said with a mocking smile.

“You really should call first, next time. It’s more polite,” she said, wondering why she was deliberately goading him.

Aven’s eyes glinted dangerously. “How careless of me. However, I did drop by your room first. Thank you for the Liquid Light—as you can see, it’s rather useful.”

The thought of Aven going through her stuff made Alex visibly shudder.

“Fortunately, I’ve brought a gift to make up for my lack of etiquette,” Aven said.

Alex sucked in a breath as D.C. came into view. She was being pushed down the staircase by another man who stopped just behind Aven. The light illuminated D.C.’s terrified features, along with the jagged knife that the man held to her throat. It was a familiar knife.

“Gerald,” Alex said, trying to keep her panic from showing.

“You and I have unfinished business,” the tattooed man said menacingly. “We were interrupted last time.”

“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten,” she returned. “Does Marcus Sparker know you’re here? Or are you just a hired lackey with loose loyalties?”

“Gerald is one of my… associates,” Aven said. “He’s here to make sure you keep up your end of the bargain.”

“What bargain?” she demanded, turning back to him. “I’m not helping you with anything.”

“I think you’ll find that I have ways of convincing you.”

“You’re wasting your time,” Alex said. “I won’t help you get where you want to go.”

Aven looked at her for a moment, not saying anything, and the silence was worse than his dangerously smooth voice.

“Let’s take a walk,” he finally said.

Alex opened her mouth to protest, but Aven latched onto her arm so fast that it surprised her enough to keep quiet. She struggled against him, but the harder she fought, the tighter his grip became. He dragged her across the foyer and down the staircase, with Gerald forcing D.C. after them.

To Alex’s relief, the stairs stopped at the main Library level and didn’t go any further. Aven’s light—
her
light—illuminated the closest bookshelves but nothing else.

“I have a question,” Alex said as he continued to drag her forward, lighting up new shelves as they passed. She’d given up
the struggle, choosing to save her strength in case she needed it later. “The second time we met, you told me you were once a student here. But if alumni are allowed onto the grounds, why did you trigger the Lockdown? Both times? It was your fault, right?”

There were certainly more pressing questions Alex could have asked, but she needed a distraction from her growing anxiety. His answer would hopefully mean one less unsolved mystery, which might help calm her nerves, at least somewhat.

“I lied.” Aven’s response was as simple as it was uncaring.

Alex glared sullenly into the darkness. “What else have you lied about?”

He didn’t answer and she was forced to follow him in silence after that, his pincer grip cutting off her circulation.

She looked over her shoulder and saw that Gerald and D.C. were still trailing behind them. Months ago, Alex had promised D.C. that no one was after her and that there was nothing to worry about. At the time, Alex had thought it was true, but now her roommate was stuck in this mess with her, and she had no idea how to get them both out of there.

“Ouch,” Alex hissed when Aven yanked her around a pile of books. “Ease up, would you? I bruise easily.”

His fingers flexed even tighter and he led the way down an aisle before abruptly turning to walk between a stack of shelves. He stopped three quarters of the way along and picked out a book, handing it to Alex. It looked innocent enough but she knew the books in the Library could trigger hidden trapdoors, and she wasn’t willing to make the mistake of allowing her naivety to give him what he wanted by accident.

“Open it,” he ordered.

She crossed her arms, ignoring his painful grip. “No.”

“
Open it
.”

“
No
.”

“Gerald.”

Alex watched in horror as Gerald tightened his hold on her roommate. His blade grazed D.C.’s flesh and she whimpered as a droplet of blood dribbled down her neck.

“Open it,” Aven said again, “or your friend dies.”

Alex looked from D.C.’s terrified eyes to Gerald’s excited ones before she turned back to Aven. His gaze was cold and uncaring; he’d have no hesitation following through on his threat.

“I—I—”

“Last chance, Alexandra,” Aven said, leaning close. “
Open the book!
”

Alex couldn’t just let him kill D.C., but she still didn’t know what the consequences would be if Aven made it through to Freya. Why was he so desperate to get there? Would saving her roommate mean dooming her world? Was D.C.’s life really worth the risk? Alex’s lack of answers both frustrated and terrified her.

“He hasn’t found what he’s after yet,” D.C. whispered, even as Gerald pressed the knife deeper into her skin.

Alex didn’t know how her roommate even understood what was going on, but she chose to trust the other girl’s words. Closing her eyes, she tore the book open, hoping desperately that it wouldn’t create a doorway to Freya.

“That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” Aven purred.

Alex reopened her eyes and felt her stomach lurch when she saw that a doorway
had
appeared before them. The glossy black panelling was streaked with flecks of silver, and the handle itself seemed to be glowing with an invitation to reach out and discover the secrets that lay beyond.

“After you,” Aven said.

Alex looked at his hand still clenching her arm. “Are you going to let go of me so I can step through?”

“That won’t be necessary,” he said. “I’ll follow along with you.”

Well, it had been worth a try.

Alex reached a trembling hand towards the glowing handle. It was warm to touch, strangely soothing, and turned easily beneath her fingers. The door sprung open without her help, and she sagged in relief to see that it led to a torch-lit corridor full of closed doors, much like the ones she’d explored months before. Her world was still safe—at least for the moment.

“What next?” she asked, looking down the corridor of endless doors. There were many more than she remembered.

“Now I find the door I’m after,” Aven said, gesturing for her to move forward. Once they were in the flame-lit corridor he stoppered the Liquid Light and waited for Gerald and D.C. to join them before he finished, “And then you will open it for me.”

Alex didn’t waste her breath contradicting him. Instead she asked, “Why do you even want to go to Freya? What’s in it for you?”

Aven tilted his head and eyed her with bemusement. “Freya?”

She nodded. “What do you plan on doing in my world?”

He laughed then, a dark, cold laugh that set her nerves on edge. He seemed genuinely amused, as if her question surprised him.

“Freya?” he repeated again. “You’re from Freya?”

Alex frowned at him. “Of course I am! That’s what this is all about!” His amusement seemed to increase, and in a voice full of uncertainty, she added, “Isn’t it?”

He didn’t answer her question. Instead, he said, “When I first saw you appear in that forest clearing, I felt the power within you. I was certain you were who I’d been seeking for so long.” His voice was contemplative and he seemed lost in his memories. “You were clearly affected by my presence and because of that,
when you claimed never to have heard of Akarnae, I presumed you were merely simple-minded and forgetful. It was of little consequence to me; I didn’t need you for your intelligence, I needed you for your power.”

Alex opened her mouth to object—to
so
much of what he’d said—but he continued before she could speak.

“When I saw you fall out of the waterfall painting, my belief in your power was confirmed. I realised then that you were indeed Chosen, but I didn’t for an instant wonder if you might be Called as well.” He shook his head incredulously and his eyes focused once more. “My, my, this
is
a surprise.”

She took a step backward at the dark look on his face. But he was still gripping her arm and didn’t allow her the distance.

“As to why you think I’d want to visit your disgusting world, I don’t know. There are far too many humans in Medora as it is.”