Dawn of the Demontide (22 page)

‘I’m sure your dad didn’t mean you should look up a convicted killer.’

‘We’re not even sure he
was
convicted,’ Jake said. ‘He’s not in prison.’

‘You saw him, Jake. You saw what he did to that little girl.’

‘I know. I can’t explain it, but there must be more to the story. We have to go to Marmsbury and find him.’

‘I think Jake’s right,’ Simon said.

‘Simon and I will go tomorrow.’ Eddie started to object but Jake cut him short. ‘I’ve got a job for you, Ed. I want you to go to the local library, research all you can about the town, the Witchfinder, Tiberius Holmwood, Crowden, anything you can think of.’

Night fell across Hobarron’s Hollow. Inside the Saxbys’ conservatory, the conversation had gone in circles with little more information or insights coming to light.

At last Jake got up to leave. Rachel stopped him at the door.

‘This is crazy. The whole thing. It can’t be real, can it?’

‘Either it’s real or we’re all mad.’ Jake smiled.

‘I should speak to my dad.’

‘You can’t.’

‘But why? Maybe if I told him the things we know, it could help.’

‘Trust me, Rachel, telling your father will only make matters worse.’

‘You almost sound like you’re afraid of him. Is there something you’re not telling me?’

‘I don’t want to hurt you. Just please trust me.’

‘Only if you trust
me
.’ She looked back at Simon and Eddie. They were sitting on the couch playing cards. ‘Why didn’t you tell them about what happened at the Door? Those symbols glowed when you touched them. And your voice, it changed. Jake, was that magic?’

‘Honestly? I don’t know what it was. Maybe Sidney Tinsmouth will be able to tell us something about it.’ He glanced over Rachel’s shoulder. ‘Ed, are you ready?’

‘He’s ready,’ Simon said, throwing in his hand. ‘He’s beaten me three times. The kid’s a card-sharp.’

‘My mum taught me how to play,’ Eddie grinned. ‘She’s a demon at poker. Well, not literally.’

The unintended joke acted like a pin popping the tension. All the horror stories they had told each other fell away and the four of them shared their laughter.

‘How old are you, Simon?’

‘Seventeen.’

‘You look older.’

‘I feel older.’

After Jake and Eddie had left, Rachel went to the house and prepared a supper of cold chicken and salad. Returning to the conservatory, she pretended not to notice that Simon had drained the last of the whisky. The boy was sitting up on the couch, running fingers through his straggly locks of hair. Rachel handed him a plate of food.

‘You’re sure it’s cool, me staying here?’ he asked.

‘My dad hardly ever comes down to the conservatory. As long as you don’t snore too loudly, he’ll never know.’ She balanced a plate on her lap and picked at a stray lettuce leaf. ‘So, how do you know Jake, exactly?’

‘He used to drop by on his way home from school. We’d talk about old horror movies and stuff. He’s a good friend.’

‘I think you’re birds of a feather,’ Rachel said. ‘You both seem lonely, lost, a little sad.’

‘You certainly know how to cheer a guy up,’ Simon smiled.

‘It’s weird, you have the same kind of relationship with him that he has with Eddie. Older brother maybe. He looks up to you.’

‘Trust me, he shouldn’t.’

‘Simon, just because you live rough doesn’t mean … ’

‘It’s not that.’

He got up and went to the conservatory door. Despite being starved for the last six months Simon had kept his brawny figure. His broad shoulders and thick arms strained at the shirt Rachel had borrowed from her father’s wardrobe. His barrel chest rose and fell in quick bursts.

‘I’m evil, Rachel.’ Head turned away from her, he barked the words. ‘Master Crowden knew it and my mother knew it. She said I was a curse.’

‘I don’t believe that.’

‘You don’t know me.’

‘My dad has always told me that you can only judge a person by their actions. Talk is cheap, he always says, good intentions are worthless. It’s what we
do
that matters. You saved Jake’s life. Someone evil wouldn’t have done that.’

Simon didn’t appear to be listening. His eyes had glazed over and his breathing came ever faster.

‘We lived by ourselves in the middle of nowhere,’ he began. ‘Mum said she couldn’t risk me growing up near other children. My evil would infect them. For years it was just me and her. On Sundays, she’d go to church to pray for her soul. There was no point in praying for me, she said—I didn’t have a soul to pray for. She’d dose me up with something or other and lock me in the cellar. That was what horrified me more than anything else during the last six months. Being locked up in that cupboard, it was like it was happening all over again. I thought I’d go mad.’ Simon took a deep, shuddery breath. ‘One day, my mother died … ’

An unbearable pause followed.

‘What happened to her?’ Rachel murmured.

‘I don’t … ’ Simon smashed his fist against the window. It was a miracle it didn’t break. ‘I can’t remember. Everything after that day is a blur. It wasn’t until I came to New Town that my mind settled. But I never got back the memory of that day, not until I was dragged into the Veil. I was slipping in and out of consciousness, but I overheard bits of what they said. Master Crowden, he … ’

Rachel went to the boy. She took him by the arm and led him back to the couch.

‘He said that I would betray you. All of you.’

‘That’s not true.’

‘“He is evil,” Crowden said, “evil incarnate.” When he said those words, it was like I was being drawn back into the past. I saw flashes of what had happened. The darkness of the cellar. The whine of the front door opening. The sound of my mother’s footsteps on the floorboards overhead. Pipes gurgling, water gushing, the click of the stove, a kettle on the boil. I would be let out soon. Fed. The door at the top of the cellar stairs opened and I saw her silhouette framed in the doorway. There was always the same expression of relief on her face when she saw me. “You’ve been good,” she would say. “In that case, you can have some dinner.” Only this time her face was different and she didn’t speak.
She screamed
. The rest … ’ He shook his head.

‘Your mother was disturbed, Simon,’ Rachel said gently. ‘And after what’s happened to you, it’s no wonder your memories have become jumbled. But there’s one thing I do know, you are
not
evil.’

‘We’ll see.’ Simon ran fingers through his hair. ‘We’ll see.’

Jake saw Eddie safely home and then made his way back to Stonycroft Cottage.

He turned into the lane and stopped dead.

‘Jacob Harker … ’

The woman was dressed in a long robe with a hood pulled over her face. There was something familiar about her voice.

‘What do you want?’ Jake asked.

‘I have news about your father.’

She stepped into the moonlight. The figure might have been made entirely of cloth. Even her hands were hidden beneath the robe.

‘Adam is coming home,’ she said. ‘
They
are bringing him back to the Hollow.’

‘The Elders?’

The woman nodded. ‘Tomorrow, at midnight, he will be brought by car through Wykely Woods. If you ever want to see him again be at the Steerpike Bridge. You may bring your friends but do not tell anyone else what you have heard.’

The stranger began to step back under the shadow of the birch tree.

‘Wait!’ Jake said. ‘Who are you?’

‘A friend.’

Jake started forward. In the same instant, the figure dissolved into the shadows. One moment she was there, the next she was gone, and Jake was alone in the lane.

His thoughts reeling, he entered the cottage and went straight to the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of water and drank it down. His father was returning to the Hollow. All the Elder families were gathering for the Demontide …

‘There you are!’ Aunt Joanna bustled into the kitchen. ‘Where’ve you been all day?’

‘With friends.’

‘You look tired out. Do you want something to eat? I’m sorry I was away last night. Alice Splane is an old friend and … Well, I hope you managed all right by yourself.’

‘Fine, thanks. Actually, I think I’m gonna head up to bed.’

‘I’ll bring you up a sandwich.’

Joanna went to the bread bin. Jake had reached the stairs when she called out.

‘Oh, Jake, have you seen Lollygag?’

‘Um. No, sorry.’

‘Not to worry. He’s probably sulking somewhere because of the diet I’ve put him on. It’s cruel, I know, but that monster has to lose weight!’

He already has
, Jake thought grimly—
he’s half the cat he used to be …

Jake hardly noticed the sights of Marmsbury Cove—the long pier jutting out into the sea, the golden beach, and the sunken flower gardens. Images of the day Olivia Brown had died filled his head. Very soon now he would be in the presence of the man who had ended her short life …

‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ Simon asked.

Jake took a deep breath of sea air and turned his thoughts to other matters.

‘I’m fine. Look, Simon, before we go any further, there are some things I need to tell you … ’

Jake filled in the parts of the story he had kept hidden from Rachel. He told Simon how the Elders of Hobarron had once murdered a young boy ‘for the greater good’. Somehow the sacrifice of Luke Seward had sealed the Door and kept the world safe for a generation. Now, on the cusp of another Demontide, the Elders were again tempted to sacrifice a child. Jake believed that
he
was that child.

‘One man believes that this sacrifice is the
only
solution,’ Jake said. ‘Dr Saxby.’

‘I see … Is Rachel close to her father?’

‘Simon, she can
never
know.’

Simon looked out across the sun-sparkled sea. ‘She’s a special girl, Jake. Brave, clever, strong. Maybe you’re underestimating her.’

The softness of these words, and the slight criticism behind them, made Jake bristle.

‘Yeah, well you don’t really know her.’

‘No, I don’t. I wouldn’t underestimate her, though. She’ll surprise you.’

It took a while before Jake could bring himself to speak. An irrational jealousy burned in his chest and he tried to put out the fire with a cold dose of reason. There was nothing in Simon’s words to suggest he had any romantic feelings for Rachel. He was simply pointing out those strong aspects of her character that anyone might admire. Anyway, Jake had no right to be resentful towards Simon. He had risked his life on Jake’s behalf, and now Jake needed his help again.

‘There’s something else I haven’t told Rachel,’ he said. ‘I don’t want her and Eddie putting themselves in danger on my behalf. As I was walking home last night, I was stopped by a woman in the lane … ’ Jake told the story of his encounter with the cloaked stranger. ‘I thought I recognized her voice from somewhere. I think it was the mutant-toad expert I told you about—Alice Splane.’

‘But why would an Elder tell you this?’ Simon asked. ‘And what does she think you can do about it?’

‘I don’t know, but I need your help. Will come with me tonight to Steerpike Bridge?’

‘Of course. Your dad’s a great man, Jake. I’ll do anything I can to help him.’

Jake’s eyebrows drew together. ‘You know my father?’

Simon turned back to the sea. ‘I’d see him walking home along the canal some evenings. Sometimes he would give me a few quid, you know.’

A few quid? Jake thought that such generosity hardly made his dad ‘a great man’. What wasn’t Simon telling him … ? Another mystery to add to the collection. Figuring that, in the terrible scheme of things, this particular puzzle couldn’t amount to much, Jake let it go.

‘Come on,’ he muttered. ‘Sidney Tinsmouth’s waiting … ’

Mid-morning sunshine slanted through the windows of Hobarron’s Hollow Library. There were no other visitors and so the command above the door—SILENCE AT ALL TIMES—was easily obeyed. Rachel closed another book of local history. Frustrated, she smacked her head against the reading table and glanced sideways at Eddie.

‘Well, I’ve come up with nothing. What about you?’

‘Pretty much the same,’ Eddie said. He picked up one of the books he had been reading. ‘A few bits and pieces on the Witchfinder, not much we didn’t already know. It seems he died here in the Hollow not long after he arrived in 1645. The following year, the locals built the mausoleum in his honour. There’s no mention of the Elders or the Coven in any of this. The only scrap of information I didn’t know was that, in those days, this place wasn’t called Hobarron’s Hollow.’

‘Yeah, I’d heard something about that.’

Eddie nodded. ‘It was known as St Meredith-by-the-Sea. Named after the church.’

‘A holy name. It must have been a big deal to make a change like that in those days. I wonder … They honoured the Witchfinder with the mausoleum; maybe they also renamed the village in memory of him.’ Rachel slapped her forehead. ‘That’s it! Eddie, it’s so obvious! But I guess no one thinks too much about the meaning behind the names of villages … ’

The sound of the library doors banging open cut Rachel short. Six shadows stretched across the floor. Dr Saxby entered at the front of the group while Miss Mimms brought up the rear. The old librarian shut the doors behind her and turned the key in the lock.

‘Dad? What’s going on?’ Rachel asked, her gaze slipping between the adults.

Her father’s voice came at her as hard as stone.

‘Where is Jacob Harker?’

His companions flanked the doctor on both sides: Alice Splane, Eric Drake, Joanna Harker, Miss Mimms, and Mildred Rice. Eddie stared open-mouthed at his mother. The woman shivered but held her ground.

‘I haven’t seen Jake since yesterday,’ Rachel said. ‘Why do you want to know?’

‘He
must
be found, Rachel. We know you were with him this morning. Miss Daniels saw you talking in the lane leading up to the railway station. There was another boy with him, a stranger. You will tell us what you know.’