Pagewalker (28 page)

“Continue Oisin, please” I said softly and
gestured for him to carry on.

“Yes, yes, sorry. I was in my cell one
evening. The clouds had all cleared and the stars shone so bright.
The moon was just like it is now. Full of beauty and spender. I
imagined a different world where I could be free, where I could be
someone else. No one would know me. I could start again. I knew I
could only do that if I met the creator. If I met you.”

I fell again from the story to earth, his
eyes were welling still with tears and he was starting at me. I
felt uneasy but a kinship was growing in my heart for this man. How
could this be?

“You are so much more special Christopher,
The night I saw the moon full is the night I broke free. Through
the prison I weaved from shadow to shadow, over the wall and
through the streets, seen by no one and heard none too. I needed to
find you. I was so distracted. The other half of my head kept me
strong when I was weak. He kept me pushing forward when I was
tired. Even when I met you that first time. My heart had been
filled with finding the creator I could not see you when you were
in front of me. Revenge blinded me. My purpose was a for vengeance
not for redemption then. This is how I was until I saw a maiden so
fair. The same as the prophecies. The fair haired Valkyrie with
words of power on her back. Prophecy tells she is the one that sets
all wrongs to right. I was convinced then that I must find
her.”

“Was it Sarah?” I asked

“The very same.” He smiled back at me. “The
words of power clear on her back, I watched her from the tree lines
and the shadows.”

“Words of power?” I asked “What do you
mean”

“She is prophesied to give a new life to the
worthy and force all to remember death.” He replied.

“the words on her back, a tattoo you mean?” I
asked

“Yes, two words, ‘Momento mori’ Remember
death.”

My breath was stolen from me then. How could
this all be so. I couldn’t wait to hear more. His story was
captivating. I began to eat from the plate beside me. In true
Mahood Fashion It was gone in a matter of seconds. All of it.

Oisin continued,

“I followed them for days, after they left
Renir. They seemed to be going in circles however. Garret was with
her and was deliberately walking her in zig-zags paths through the
forest. Giving the impression they were travelling in one direction
but in fact travelling in circles. He must have heard tale of you
leaving Renir because one morning his path took them vary north
east. Into the clutches of the Dark Circus. A place no man wishes
to visit, even as a guest.”

“I know, I have seen the remains” I said to
him.

“Remains?” he asked,

“Yes, when we went to it there were bodies
everywhere, a great battle had taken place only days before.” I
told him.

“Ah, the potion worked then.” He said to
himself.

“potion? What do you mean it worked Oisin?” I
snapped.

“Well I arrived on the eve of a great
commotion. A long term performer had tried to escape and cause
quite a scene, killing many of his captors. Sarah and Garret got
caught up in it all at the wrong time. They were to be thrown into
the great pit of the Big tent as sport. Forced to kill each other.
The winner would be set free, the looser, well, you know.” He held
his hands up and shrugged his shoulders.

“Yea, I Get it.” I said.

“Well I had heard of this place, a vile evil
stain on the face of Northland. I could not simply let it stand so
I used the coin I had buried and collected on my escape, to buy
Sarah and Garret as slaves. I went into the private tent of the
Queen, gave her the coin and poisoned the wine while she was
turned. The potion was a rage potion, causing all who drank from
the bottle to fight to the death. The circus must have torn it’s
self apart after we left. I did not stop to look. The most
important thing to me was the safe release of Sarah.” Oisin smiled
at this part “I saved her Chris, surely that will buy me a place in
your world?”

I was still confused and struggling to take
everything in.

“Uh, well” I couldn’t find the words. This
was too much for my head to take at once. I felt dizzy, queezy and
full of vertigo. I fell from my seat. I must have fainted because
when I came too I was propped up against the sticks holding the
tarp.

“Sorry” I said rubbing my eyes and cleaning
my glasses, “Its all a bit much” I said.

“I understand Chris. I am sorry to bombard
you with so much so quickly.” Oisin sounded apologetic and
embarrassed. “Should I continue or not?” He asked

“No, I mean, yes, please, carry on.” I waved
him closer with a roll of my hand to help me to my feet. He did so
and walked me back to my stool. I could see Abe and Garret still
working on the lock of the kart. Oisin had not noticed.

“Well after we left the circus Garret had
taken a few blows to the head and was out cold. I tried to explain
the situation to Sarah, but she, well, she didn’t not want to
hear.” He said nervously. I laughed, knowing Sarah, she does not
like to be wronged and is fiercely loyal to those that do right by
her. As far as she was concerned Oisin had kidnapped her and was
planning to kill them.

“I’m sure it took a while for her to come
round eh?” I asked

“Yes sir, for hours I tried until finally she
listened. I told her all that I had told you and she feared for
you. She knew you would fall victim to charm. She said you always
saw the best in people, so much so that you would not see the truth
underneath.”

I laughed, embarrassed. “Yes, she knows me
too well” I said.

“Well, after a while of planning we agreed
that it is best if she played along with Garrets plan. For her to
escape and return to Renir to find Abe. His father. There they
could hold her hostage until Abe had time to convince you to kill
me.”

I stood up then. “So your telling me she is
on her way back to Renir? We need to get her. There is too much
danger on these roads. I cannot have her on her own!” Oisin stood
also. Not looking at me however. He looked passed me. I spun on my
heels to See Abe and Garret both standing side by side. Abe held
chains wrapped round his hands and dragging on the ground. Garret
had picked the whip and a spear from the front of the wagon. They
had picked the lock and moved so silently they were upon us before
we had any time to react.

“Abe, please tell me this is all bull, this
cant be true, I know you, you have watched over me for years?”
Abe’s Expression was unchanging, his eyes on Oisin. Garret’s
too.

They both took a step forward at the same
time, swinging the chains now and cracking the whip. The emeralds
in their eyes had gone. Only darkness resided there now. I stepped
in front of Oisin and pushed him back.

“Both of you chill the fuck out, you hear me?
I don’t know what the hell is going on but your pissing me off and
scaring the hell out of me.” Garret laughed and said softly in his
fathers ear “He’s mine.”

“NO” Abe shouted back at him, “You have the
tramp, I started this, Chris is mine.” He took another step “The
creator” he said in a whiny mocking tone.

“Abe what the hell? This cant be true?” I
pleaded

“Oh shut up you naive prick. Of course it is.
You created a new land for my people, for that I thank ye lad, but
you are too much of a risk to keep about.” His voice low and
growling. His skin had changed green The hair gone from a cartoon
ginger to dark blood stained red. His complexion faded from smooth
to scars and rotten teeth took place of the white ones. They both
looked similar now, ears pointed and faces narrow, like goblins
with rotting skin, long bony hands with claws were now holding the
weapons. They looked stranger now too. Muscles bulged from the
clothing they wore. A long almost forked tongue licked lips cracked
and dry on their faces. They moved forward slowly. I held my hands
up in defence and was about to speak but Garret had sprinted past
me, jumped placing both feet on my chest and kicking me backwards.
He was on top of Oisin now. Flailing the chains around his wrists
and arms tying him to the tent frame. I rolled into my front but
was greeted with a gut-busting kick to the ribs forcing me back
down again. Pain was raining down on my like heavy hail now. Abe
laying into me with hatred and un-imaginable force. I could feel my
ribs crack with each kick, I could hardly get breath. I swung my
arms around me like a drunk octopus out of water. I could not see
as my glasses had been knocked from my face, I simply hoped that on
of my hands would find him and I could grab tight. Giving me some
baring of where he was. This did not happen though. I screamed and
yelled but all I could hear were the cries of Oisin and the laugh,
if you could call them that, from the luchorpán. More a cackle,
high pitched fast cackle is how I best describe it. A blow came to
the back of my head and I felt something tight around my neck. The
whip had cut off all air to my lungs. I fell back to the ground.
Abe’s face close to mine, watching the life fade away from my eyes.
His long bonelike fingers wrapped over my face, he turned my head
over to Oisin. Garret was lifting Oisin’s blade to his throat. Both
his hands rested firmly on the hilt. He was about to push down,
driving the blade through his neck to the wood behind him, but just
as the pressure was about to be applied a growl and bark stopped
him. A black and white blur landed on Garret’s back, forcing him to
the ground. He twisted and writhed. The cackles had long gone
instead a blood curdling cream was heard then a choking sound. The
black and white fur pulled back with a snap. A squirt of red
erupted like a massive ripe tomato being crushed under a fork. The
creature turned with a face covered with red to stare at us. A
wolf, It had ripped the throat from Garret and was facing us now. I
had never seen such a look in any thing’s eyes before. It scared me
to the core. What had happened? Was it going to turn on both of us
next? Everything was blurry, my glasses were somewhere far from me,
Before either of us had any time to think Abe had lifted the
sharpened floorboard from the kart, that he had fastioned into a
pointed weapon, in his other hand and held it high above his head
the sharp end aimed at my torso.

“No!” I tried to scream but my throat was
still held tight with the whip. I took my hands from the leather
chocking me, and reached out to try and stop whatever was to plunge
into my chest. I could not reach and simply closed my eyes in
anticipation. The tension loosened slightly and my mouth was full
of blood. The strong metallic, iron taste filled my taste buds, I
spat and coughed. My face was wet with warm blood. It was in my
eyes. I felt no pain but the worry that this was only shock and I
would die soon filled my head. The tension was gone now from my
neck and I took a deep breath, I coughed from the blood that went
in with the air and then lunged forward. My hands reaching the
throat of Abe. My famous temper took over. I pulverised his face
until there was nothing but bone and mush. I have no idea how much
time passed as I slammed my fists into Abe’s skull until I hit the
ground. I screamed and guldered as I did. I was only stopped by
someone pushing me off. I scrambled for my glasses. Finding them I
gave them a quick clean before fixing them to my face. My vision
had become clear again. Oisin had pulled me off and was standing
beside me now.

“Shit Oisin! What the hell?” I suddenly
remembered the wolf that had ripped the throat from Garret. It must
still be near. I grabbed the spear that protruded from Abe’s back.
It hadn’t dawned on me then how it got there in the first place. I
just needed it to protect me from the rabid wolf that was seemingly
stalking us now from the shadows, past the firelight.

“Where did it go?” I shouted to Oisin.

“It’s close.” He said, much calmer than he
should be. He walked beside me and put his hand on the end of the
spear. Pushing it down towards the dirt.

“What are you doing?” I shouted as I pulled
back from his grasp and continued to point towards to darkness.
“It’s still there!”

“Do not worry, they won’t hurt us!” He
relied.

“Who?” I said worried and confused. A voice
came from behind me. A voice I had almost forgotten. Calm, sweet,
kind, funny, soft yet firm. A voice I had waited to hear for
days.

“Us.”

You know when you watch movies?

The kind of fantasy movie in which someone
ascends to heaven?

White lights, doves, golden clouds, wind
blowing like a 1980s hair metal band music video?

Then the slow motion run, as the hero runs to
the one true love and they embrace? Yea?

Well let me tell you, that has nothing on the
sight of seeing the person you long after, face to face, after so
long. Trust me.

When I turned to see Sarah, standing with
Tessa at her side, I could have died there and then. I may as well
rip my eyes from my head. They would be useless now. How could I
ever gaze on anything more beautiful and amazing than I was at that
time? To say I was filled with joy would be a lie. It was so much
more than that. I felt liked the tin man getting his heart, the
lion getting its courage. The half finding the other half. Like a
last piece of a jigsaw coming together. Stepping back to see a
message you did not know was there.

I grabbed Sarah and pulled her close. To just
feel her body up against mine in impossible to put into words. I
ran my fingers through her long blonde hair. Up from her back to
her neck, round the top of her head and down onto her cheeks. Oh
God, I love those cheeks. They sit up higher when she smiles, like
perfect cushions framing her whirlpool eyes. I held her head in my
hands and just stared into her soul. I could not believe that this
had happened. I pulled her even closer and kissed her deep. Plump
lips held together. Teeth almost touched as we smiled.