The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2) (18 page)

“Why do you do this to Val?”

“It’s just harmless fun, Zac,” Jason reassured him.

“So, if one of your metal vehicles hits her she will die. How is this entertaining?”

“Ok, just ruined my fun.” Jason moved away from Val and stood on the other side of Zac so he could stay out of trouble.

“Here we are.” Val took Zac’s arm and as they started to cross the road the doors to the parlour opened and out came Sam. Val remembered Shane saying he was going to see him later.

“Sam...” Jason greeted him and then stopped. “Wow, what happened to your face mate?”

“Stupid garage door fell on me. It seems that it wasn’t put on properly,” Sam said, giving Val a cold look. He had a lump on his forehead and several scratches on his cheek.

Val was annoyed that he would even think of accusing her dad of shoddy workmanship. “I’m sure you just did something wrong,” she retaliated.

“Yes, I put my face in the way,” he snapped back.

“That was a severe miscalculation on your behalf,” Zac stated.

“Really!” Sam went to walk past them.

“I lost my ear piece earlier. Would it be possible to get another one?” Val asked before he could escape.

“Come to the house later; I have a spare,” he said, not even looking at her, then walked away. She didn’t know whether to be furious, upset or just grateful. She knew that old Sam was in love with her, but this one was in the process of beginning to hate her. It was like having a relationship with twins. The problem was, nice Sam was in sixteen forty-five, so she really couldn’t count that as a realistic option. Maybe she should just forget the option of any relationship with any Sam. Knowing her luck she would end up having to let him go, or he would turn out to have a girlfriend.

“Come on mate.” Jason nudged her.

“Yes, you were just looking into the sky. What is that all about?” Zac pushed her through the door.

“Sometimes we do something called daydreaming. It’s when you think about something happening; something that hasn’t happened yet, and may not ever happen. But no one can stop you from wishing it would.”

“So this Sam makes you daydream about things you wish would happen, but may not?” questioned Zac.

Val’s cheeks filled with heat and she definitely didn’t need a mirror to tell her what she looked like. “No, I was thinking about training, now let’s get on.” She pushed past him.

“So what did you wish would happen with your training,” Zac persisted.

“Hi Shane,” Val moved away from Zac in the hope that he would stop his questioning.

“What are you doing here?” He looked up from the forearm of a stunning looking woman with the reddest hair Val had ever seen. He was in the process of adding another tattoo to her collection and Val admired the fact that she wasn’t even flinching.

“Training,” Jason smiled pulling Val along. “Come on,” he pushed her through the door.

Zac stood transfixed by the woman’s beauty. “Your hair is a colour I have never seen,” he walked up to the woman. “What are you painting on your body?” He looked closely at her arm.

“Hi,” she replied looking up. “It’s Rock’n’Roll Red, and this is a Viper.” She smiled at him.

“Rock’n’Roll red! Amazing! I once saw a double suncross that resembled that colour. It only happens once every three thousand years and...”

Before Zac could get himself into any more trouble Shane stepped in. “Zac, training.” He pointed him in the direction of the door.

Zac walked towards it, still looking back at her.

“Bye Zac,” she smiled, “I’m Holly by the way.”

“Goodbye Holly of the Rock’n’Roll red hair. May our paths cross again.” He pushed the door and was confronted with three more doors. Before he had time to start a technical scan for Val her head popped round the middle one.

“Come on, stop messing about.” She grabbed his arm.

They walked in and Jason was already in the gym working out. Val took her jacket off and moved over to the clear floor area. “What now?” She bounced on her feet playfully around Zac.

“As a guard you’re expected to understand your power and use it with precision at all times.” Zac walked around her. “You’re required to do your utmost to never injure a prisoner during the arrest, as this may be held against you as a negative count,” Zac told her.

“So what does a negative count do?” Val was still bouncing playfully.

“A lot. Three negative counts and you will be extracted.”

Val stopped, her arms dropping by her side. “Are you serious? Extraction?” Her expression changed to one of horror.

“It’s never happened, but the quicker we get you in control the better.” Zac raised his hand. “I want you to push my hand.”

Val walked over to him and pushed his hand. “Ok.”

“NO! With your powers.” He pushed her back.

“Oy,” Val was annoyed. If he wanted power she could do that. Her emotions getting the better of her, she slammed him with a gust of wind that threw him several feet across the room. Jason had no choice but to stop his training when Zac arrived between him and his slam man.

Zac stood up and stamped back to Val. “NO! Push.” He pushed her again.

“Are you trying to wind me up?” Her temper was at boiling point; a ball of fire started to form in her hand. As she lost control of her senses, it started to grow up her arm.

“Val, stop!”

Jason’s voice brought her back to reality; the flames petered out.

“This is no good. You have no control; you must learn.” Zac was clearly annoyed.

“Then stop pushing me,” she retaliated.

“Excariot will kill you if you don’t learn how to behave. He was a guard and one of the best, and he will trick you into losing your life. Now push,” Zac ordered.

Jason quickly stepped away from Val.

“Alright.” Val raised her hands in submission. “Understood, sorry. I just find it hard to control these… these powers.” Val lifted her hand and concentrated on the centre of Zac’s palm. She could feel the energy inside her rising, almost like a kettle boiling, but she stopped herself and Zac’s hand popped back.

“Better.” He gave a half-hearted smile.

“How’s it going?” Shane asked walking up behind Val.

“We’re getting there, I think,” she replied. Shane made his way to the percolator poured himself a cup then stopped to watch.

“Again,” Zac ordered.

Val was ready for a small push.

“Did you see Sam?” Shane asked innocently.

Val’s small push instantly turned into a blast. Zac flew across the room again.

“Sorry,” she said apologetically as Jason lifted him off the floor. Why they had thought it a good idea to attach your powers to your emotions was beyond her. Just the thought of Sam made her stomach twist in knots.

“My fault.” Shane raised his hand. “I distracted her.” He took his coffee and headed off towards the glass table.

Val and Zac spent at least an hour practising control over her power, pushing his hand over and over. In the end, boredom got the better of her. “Please can we stop with the pushing? I think I get the idea,” she sighed.

“Yes it’s my turn.” Jason threw her a pair of boxing gloves.

She groaned. “I take that back. I can do push.” She looked to Zac for support, but he was already talking to Shane.

“Thanks buddy,” she called.

“Let’s do it.” Jason pushed her with his gloves. Val didn’t have much choice but to get on with it.

They sparred until Val begged to stop. “If I duck one more time I’m going to look like one. Please stop. You do remember I was in hospital this morning.” The sweat was pouring down her back; her arms were throbbing with the strain. She had even contemplated being sick at one point.

“Very impressive, Jason,” Zac enthused.

“Thanks mate.”

“Jason has won several trophies for his boxing,” Shane swelled with pride as he bragged about his son. Gasping for breath, as they all puffed out their chests around her, Val wished she was somewhere else instead.

“Val you had better get back to the shop. Wendy will be going out on her date soon.” Jason pointed at the clock.

“Yes, let us go back to the bookshop.” Zac headed to the door, with a very damp Val on his heels.

“Tell Fran I will pick her up soon. I need a shower first.” Jason called after them, slinging a towel over his shoulder.

They arrived to find the shop closed, yet the door still open. “Hello,” Val called as they entered.

“Hi,” Fran called back to them. “Just give us a second.”

Val and Zac stood patiently by the door.

“Presenting for your delight, the adorable Miss Wendy Whitmore.” Fran stood back and there she was. Wendy was wearing a beautiful knee length dress in cream, with small black flowers in a sweeping design down the front. Her hair was up and Fran had obviously taken time in doing her make-up. She looked stunning.

“Oh Wendy, you look amazing,” Val said in genuine admiration. She went to her, intending to give Wendy a hug.

Wendy put her hand up. “Sorry, but you stink.”

Val looked down at herself. It was true, she did stink and she looked a mess. Her t-shirt was stained with sweat and her jeans were covered in marks.

“What if he doesn’t come?” Wendy looked anxiously from Fran to Val.

“I will arrest him. And you look perfect,” Zac said.

“Extreme but acceptable,” Val agreed.

The moment was snapped by a knock at the door. Val opened it and there stood Daniel. He actually looked as smart as Wendy; it was almost like a date from the nineteen fifties.

“Good evening.” Daniel looked her up and down quizzically,

“Boxing.” Val defended her appearance.

“Indeed.” He looked past her and spotted Wendy. “You look breathtaking! Are you ready?” His face reflected just how perfect this moment was.

“Yes.” She took the hand he offered. “I will see you guys later. If you need me...”

“We won’t need you. Go and have fun.” Val opened the door for them. “Where’s your car?”

“There.” Daniel pointed to what Val could only describe as another old heap, much like Wendy’s old heap.

“It’s a Standard Vanguard, in black. You know they were named after HMS Vanguard, the last of the British Navy’s battleships. I love it.” Wendy ran down the stairs to look in the window.

“I hoped you would.” Daniel put his arm around and opened the door. She stepped in and then waved at them, smiling widely.

They watched them pull away. After they had disappeared around the corner Val turned to take her aching body back into the shop. Then she spotted Fran.

“Are you crying Miss Tickle?” Val put her arm around Fran’s shoulder.

“Maybe. It was so romantic. They looked so sweet together, almost made for each other.” She wiped a tear away as she pulled away from Val. “Val, get a bath.”

“Yes fine, I’m going. Jason said he would pick you up from here.”

“That’s fine. I’ll start walking. He never gets anywhere quickly, especially when he’s with his dad. He promised me some romantic fish and chips tonight so I’ll pick them up on the way.” She waved goodbye and hurried off along the road. “Well, just me and you.” Val smiled at Zac. “Fancy watching me eat some food?”

“No, but do I have any other option?” Zac asked as Val locked up the bookshop and made her way towards the flat.

“Not unless you have a hot date. I saw you looking at that girl at the tattoo parlour.”

“I will not have this conversation with you. It was simply that I admired the colour of her hair.”

“Uhu,” Val giggled.

They headed upstairs. Val started to run a bath and noticed that Zac had followed her into the bathroom. “Listen very carefully Zac. You can’t come in when I’m in here, not under any circumstances. If you do I will blow you through the wall and set you on fire. Do you understand?”

He backed away slowly. “What if a prisoner takes form?”

“Then you knock on the door and I will come as quickly as I can, ok.”

Val followed him to the door, locked it and went back to her bath. Disturbingly she was starting to like the old man bubble bath. She watched almost in a trace as the bath filled. She yawned, but tiredness was something she was beginning to learn to live with. She threw her now smelly, dirty clothes onto the bathroom floor, feeling the tiredness washing over her as she sunk down into the warm water.

She leaned backwards placing her arms on the side of the bath for support and closed her eyes for just a second. Then her brain told her that she had just spotted something on her arm. Val tentatively opened one eye. “NO!” she screamed, “NO! NO! NO! NO!”

There was a frantic knock at the door. “Val! Val. Do you require my assistance?” Zac asked.

“I don’t believe this! I’ve got another tattoo. This is not happening.” she grabbed the soap in a vain attempt to wash it off. “Where did it come from?” She stood up stepping out of the bath and grabbing a towel.

“Val, please open the door?”

“Zac, I’m fine. Just wait a minute.” She pulled at her arm, twisting and turning the flesh. At least there was only one tattoo for now. It looked like a backwards J with a v attached to it. Had Excariot done this to her or was it perhaps Wyetta sending her a message? She rubbed herself down vigorously and threw her clean clothes on.

Opening the door she came face to face with a very concerned looking Zac. “What is it?”

Val pulled up her sleeve to reveal the symbol. It was the same size as her Theban V. Zac pulled her skin and then smiled.

“What are you smiling at?” She demanded, irritated by his know-it-all grin.

“It is a training symbol,” Zac explained.

“What do you mean a training symbol?” Val looked down at the letter.

“Well, sometimes we have a path to follow and it is marked out for us. For the more needy, the Judges give symbols of guidance.”

“I’m sorry! Did you just call me needy?” Val pushed past Zac making her way to the kitchen. “I’m not in
need
of any symbols to tell me that my life is hell.” Val slammed the kettle onto its stand. Zac stayed at a healthy distance.

They both jumped when an unfamiliar voice called out from the flat. “Thirty-three twenty-seven are you there?”

Zac hot tailing it out of the kitchen. Val followed him. They found a woman standing near the portal. She was the colour of night. Her skin was so perfect that Val felt she wanted to touch her; the feeling was almost uncontrollable. She stepped forward, mesmerised, but Zac’s arm held her back.