The Guardian's Protector: The Chamber of Souls (15 page)

‘Molly,’ Tracy called, worried her daughter was in the way. ‘Come here.’

‘She’s okay,’ Amy assured her. ‘She can hold his other hand.’ Tom held out his other hand and Molly smiled as she took it.

Tracy smiled then turned, her attention taken by someone’s arrival. ‘Hello,’ Tracy said enthusiastically as Alicia entered the play area.

Alicia looked confused. ‘Err, hi. What are you doing here?’

‘Me and Molly come here all the time. Molly and Tom are inseparable,’ Tracy answered. Alicia’s face dropped. ‘I didn’t realise you were related to Tom,’ Tracy added.

‘I’m not. Frank is!’ she said, looking insulted. As Amy was led away with the three children, she couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation. Amy sat the children on the picnic mat and went to get them some drinks. As Amy passed, Alicia began to laugh with Tracy, which bothered her more than she could have imagined. She couldn’t believe Alicia knew Tracy; they were nothing alike. She just hoped Alicia wasn’t saying anything bad about Tom.

As Amy returned with the drinks, she caught Tom talking to a lady who’d come with a mother and child he knew. She was smiling at him.

‘We’ve just been having a right chin-wag,’ the lady said. ‘He’s been telling me what he got for his birthday. He’s adorable.’

‘Thank you.’ Amy smiled.

‘How old is he?’ she asked innocently.

Amy hesitated, fearing the smile will be wiped off her face. ‘He’s one!’ Amy wasn’t wrong; all pleasantries were washed from her face. She scowled at Amy and then stood and walked away.

A while later, she heard the woman ranting to the lady she’d come with and another mother. ‘She’s deluded!’

‘Ah, but,’ the other woman said, ‘he’s the boy they all talk about, isn’t he?’ She turned to the friend she’d come with. ‘I didn’t know his actual age. I just got the invite and came! Were you told his age?’

‘No. I
heard
he was only one, but I thought it was a rumour.’

‘Obviously!’ said the first lady. ‘I spoke to him. There is no way that boy’s one year old!’

The next minute, Amy recognised Tracy’s voice joining in. ‘Who’s not one?’

‘Tom,’ said the lady.

‘I know Tom well,’ Tracy laughed. ‘He’s definitely
not
one
year old!’

Amy’s heart sank. Tracy had never once asked Tom’s age. She’d likely presumed from his size and abilities that he was around Molly’s age.

‘
She
just said he’s one!’ the lady said, pointing to Amy.

Tracy shook her head at the lady and walked to Amy. As she came close Amy’s palms began to sweat.

‘Amy,’ Tracy began with a puzzled look, ‘that lady said you told her Tom’s one.’

‘Yes!’ Amy responded, not knowing how she would react.

Tracy searched Amy’s face for a moment. ‘Why did you tell her
that
?’ She laughed uncomfortably.

‘Because she asked,’ Amy said patiently, waiting for the fact to sink in.

‘What do you mean?’ Tracy looked at Amy like she was mad. Amy felt sorry for Tracy now; she obviously didn’t understand. Before Amy could state that he
was
one, the look on her face darkened.

‘Seriously, he’s just one?’

‘She take me for walk,’ Tom interrupted, being led by Molly. Alicia picked up Francesca and stared over Tracy’s shoulder with a grin on her face.

‘He my doggy today!’ Molly announced. Tracy smiled but it certainly wasn’t her normal smile.

‘See you, woof woof,’ Tom said, thankfully oblivious.

‘Good doggy,’ Molly cooed, patting him on the head as she dragged him away.

Amy, completely ignoring Tracy and the others’ reactions, took Francesca from Alicia. ‘Would you like some cake, gorgeous?’ she asked. Francesca looked up at her, vague recognition in her eyes for all Amy’s words; a blatant example of what a one-year-old should look like. She understood most things, but there was a huge difference between her and Tom. As Amy walked towards the kitchen, the women broke into gossip.

Francesca gasped excitedly at all the fairy cakes sat neatly on a tray, ready to take through. Amy leant forward so she could grab one but, just as Francesca’s hand touched the big pink one, the café door opened. As it shut, the sound of cutlery on plates stopped, all chattering ceased and an air of hatred crawled up behind her. Without turning around, Amy knew who had entered.

The chill to her spine, a warning of imminent danger, left Amy unable to turn. Gripping Francesca tight, she could feel their eyes boring into her back. Knowing they stood waiting for her to turn, her body quivered.

‘Where was
our
invite?’ Kate said, her voice shrill and cold. As Kate spoke a hot sensation overwhelmed Amy.

Amy turned on her heel, noticing first the reactions of the customers—their faces frozen in horror—and looked Kate square in the face. ‘It must have gotten lost in the post!’ Amy stammered, then swallowed to relieve her dry throat.

Ethan, also huge for his age, stood with a crooked smile and a murderous glint in his eyes. Amy was as taken aback by his ever-worsening appearance as the customers. One side of his misshapen face looked to be pulling his skin, making his nose bent and his right eye drawn. His skin, now a definite, pale grey, made the blue, veined lines more prominent.

‘Oh that poor boy,’ one old lady whispered to her friend at the back table as if in sympathy yet Amy could tell it was apparent to all Ethan held a vicious nature.

Mark stared intently at him from behind the counter, Jack looked alarmed—his head turning from Amy to Kate—and the rest of the people looked horrified.

Ethan left Kate’s side and strolled past each table, his cold, glaring eyes revelling in the fear he caused. Instinctively, most people diverted their eyes, but some couldn’t help but stare. Amy was transfixed. As he reached the gap in the counter Ethan spun his head to Jack and Mark and hissed, baring his teeth like a rabid dog. Jack’s eyes were wide with alarm. Mark continued to stare yet he showed no feelings towards him. Kate remained by the door, her expression vacant.

As Ethan moved forward to make his way into the play area, Amy stepped out of the kitchen and said, ‘You’re not invited!’

He stopped and narrowed his eyes, a flicker of amusement passing behind them. ‘Like I care,’ he said, his voice as deep and dominant as a sergeant major. As his pupils grew large, Amy’s eyes grew heavy. Just as her mind was beginning to cloud, Jack stepped forward.

‘Err…look,’ he shouted over to Kate. ‘If Amy says you’re not invited then you’re not invited!’

Ethan’s head spun to face Jack, breaking Amy’s heavy feeling. ‘I’ll do what I want!’ he growled. Jack stood back in shock and silence spread through the play area, his presence now known in both buildings.

‘Don’t let him pass!’ Amy said, feeling trapped. She wanted to enter the play area to protect Tom, but she didn’t want to put Francesca in danger. Mark, aware of how frightened Amy was and seemingly wanting to protect her, made a slight move towards Ethan.

‘Don’t you learn?’ Ethan asked. He turned and addressed the entire café: ‘I’m walking into this room,’ he said, his eyes resting on each individual, making sure they knew he was to be feared. ‘Try and stop me…’ he hissed, turning back to Mark, ‘…and
everyone
will die!’

His words brought gasps all around the café. One young girl sitting with her mother began to wail. Ethan clicked his fingers in the air and Kate snapped out of her sombre stare, walked towards him and took his hand. He then walked forward while she followed. Mark and Jack, taking him as serious as Amy knew him to be, didn’t know what to do. They looked to Amy as if waiting for further instructions. As Mark’s eyes filled with concern and agitation, she realised how much he appeared to care for her and Tom.

Amy quickly passed Francesca to Jack. ‘Stay here!’ she said.

‘Amy,’ he whispered, grabbing her arm, ‘there’s something wrong with that kid. I don’t mean his condition, whatever the hell
that
is. I mean something else. He’s not right!’ Jack tapped his temple to indicate mental problems.

‘I know,’ Amy said, pulling her arm back and following them in. Each face within the play area filled with shock as they took in the terrible sight of Ethan and Kate. Some mothers quickly grabbed their children to their sides or picked them up protectively.

Tom was left in the centre of the room, still holding Molly’s hand, but his usual serene expression had been replaced with a stern look. Amy’s heart had never throbbed so hard.

Ethan moved forward, a deep loathing behind his jet black eyes, and Molly suddenly jumped. She rubbed her hands as if Tom had hurt her and ran to Tracy. Tom didn’t notice she’d left his side; he was staring straight at Ethan. As his eyes began to sparkle, Amy’s talisman pulsed. Amy crept around Ethan and Kate and stood in front of Tom.

‘We don’t want any trouble,’ Amy said, her heart racing so fast, she felt faint and struggled to stand firm. No matter how she felt, she wasn’t going to let Ethan hurt Tom. Mark had followed Amy, taking up a protective position behind them as the crowd waited for Kate’s response. As Winston walked towards them, it looked like he was walking through a place that had been frozen in time.

Ethan moved slightly as if about to attack them but, as the crowd gasped, he smirked and led Kate to some seats in the corner. Every child who hadn’t been picked up knew to move out of his way.

Ethan’s menacing eyes didn’t leave Tom as he sat, but the room seemed to settle as he did.

‘Do we just leave them there?’ Winston whispered.

‘I don’t want anyone to get hurt so…yes,’ Amy said.

‘Shall I shout Aunt Ad…’

‘No!’ Amy said insistently, looking behind her at Mark wondering how much Winston had allowed him to know.

‘Shall I get the cake then or something?’ he asked, looking round the room at the people who were staring.

‘Err…’ Amy didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to move.

‘We can take Tom into the kitchen if you want so he can ice his own cake,’ Winston said.

‘Okay,’ Amy agreed shakily, trying to smile for everyone’s benefit. ‘Come on, Tom, let’s go and ice your cake!’ Leaving Mark standing in the centre of the room, Amy led him to the kitchen. Just like Ethan, Tom kept his eyes on his enemy. His hand, tingling with energy, tickled Amy’s palm.

As they reached the arch, Ethan stood, his stance and posture one that only men of power would hold, and glared at Tom with a frightening, macabre stare.

‘What’s wrong with that kid?’ Jack demanded. Amy didn’t answer, for Kate had grabbed Ethan’s arm to walk towards them.

‘Up!’ Tom said, raising his arms and starting to dance on the spot. She picked him up immediately and moved farther back behind the counter, her back almost touching the kitchen door.

‘Hello, Tom. I’ve not seen you for ages,’ Kate said in a friendly tone, a completely different one than what she came in with. She walked behind the counter like it wasn’t off limits and a few people in the café stood to look at them.

‘Hello.’ Tom gave her a half smile but was looking down at Ethan who, like a tiger waiting for its prey, circled Amy’s legs. Amy’s talisman felt like ice around her neck.

‘Say hello to Tom, Ethan,’ Kate said, like she was now in control.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he glared up at him. ‘Hello…
Tom.
’ His eerie, haunting tone sent a chill through Amy. His demeanour, fully composed, created a sense of foreboding. As Francesca began to cry, Jack took her into the play area.

‘Tom no like Ethan,’ Tom said matter-of-factly while tightening his arms around Amy and trying to lift his legs higher so they were nowhere in reach of Ethan.

‘What did he say?’ Kate asked, taken aback.

‘Tom go now, bye.’ Tom waved frantically with his lit hand.

‘Bye, then,’ Kate said, as if she hadn’t noticed his light. ‘Come on then, Ethan, let’s get some food.’ As Kate walked away, holding his hand, Amy placed Tom down so she could secure the counter with the shutter. Before she could, Ethan’s head spun around, the whites of his eyes turning totally black, and made towards Tom. Tom’s lit hand shot out in front of him and Amy’s talisman made a warping sound as it began to pour out light but Ethan lifted his hand and a dark mist flew towards them, dispelling the luminescence.

Amy pushed Tom into Winston behind her but as she did Ethan glanced at Amy’s knees, which made them buckle, throwing her to the ground. His expression oozed menacing pleasure.

‘No!’ Tom bellowed, breaking free from Winston as Amy felt her body harden. Ethan glared at him instead and, unable to stop him, Tom ran in front of Amy with an unblinking stare. Everyone on both sides could now clearly see both children, who were standing between the two counters.

Enraged, Ethan squared up to him. Tom’s hand began to shake by his side as if he strained to keep it there but, as if Ethan was some kind of magnet, Tom’s hand shot up.

Tom placed his other hand on top of his arm and pressed down on it with all his might. His hand closed into a tight fist. Ethan took another step closer, his eyes, shining like oil, growing larger. Amy tried to imagine children of any age who looked more concentrated than these two. Amy, still on her knees, threw herself in-between them to guard Tom but Ethan, with a quick sideways glance, sent her flying dramatically sideward, making her crash into the kitchen door where Winston helped her to her feet.