The Key Read online

  Lathenia’s eyes shift to Keziah, her aged but trusted Magician. Even Keziah, who has lived a long time, has never seen anything like this before. He shakes his head. ‘I know not, Your Highness.’

  ‘Brother?’ she says. ‘What are you up to?’

  Finally the light from Lorian’s body begins to dull, his shaking slows and he sags. It becomes obvious that whatever he was doing, is over. Some look to the sky, but Lord Penbarin keeps his eyes firmly on his Lord. Slowly Lorian becomes aware of where he is. He opens his eyes and finds those of Lord Penbarin. Through his mind he shows him what he has done and Lord Penbarin lunges for breath. He wonders fleetingly what it has cost his liege, but it is done now – there are only the consequences to follow.

  Lady Arabella looks to Lord Penbarin for answers. In fear the Goddess will hear him, he sends her only a single thread of thought … The Named.

  Chapter One

  Rochelle

  School is different now. There are security guards at the front gate. We don’t wear uniforms any more. And the grounds are filthy with litter. It’s as if no one cares. About the grounds, the classrooms, or even themselves. And I know this because I hear their thoughts. Before I learned how to control them, I heard them all. I nearly went insane. Suddenly there were non-stop voices in my head. One day I was really tired and couldn’t handle it. We were gathered together in the auditorium at school. I was right in the middle of the room and had to run for the door. I didn’t stop running until I had stumbled halfway into the bordering forest. But what I’d wanted to do was scream and tell them all to shut the hell up. Even now, the things I overhear sometimes shock me. People can think such horrible thoughts even about their best friends.

  The bus pulls up to the school gates, but I wait, looking out the window until the other kids pile out. With music pumping in my ears, I don’t realise when the bus is empty. I become aware of the bus driver staring at me through his rear vision mirror. When he sees me looking he raises an eyebrow. He’s in a hurry. His run is probably finished and he can’t wait to get to the pub. Sure, it’s only eight-thirty in the morning, but life is different now. There aren’t as many rules.

  ‘Hey, you getten out, girlie?’

  I pull the plugs out of my ears and pack up my CD player. While shoving it in my backpack I allow his thoughts to penetrate my mind. Hmm, ain’t that the Thallimar girl? Her father’s doing time for murder. Better not tick her off … Then again, she sure has got a nice –

  ‘You need a life.’ I interrupt his thoughts and get off the bus quickly.

  The others have arrived at school already. Ethan, Matt and Isabel. Ever since they got back from the underworld they’ve been a really close group. It’s like whatever they experienced there has created a bond between them. A strong bond. And now that I’m not with Matt any more, and my friend Dillon has disappeared, I’ve got no one to hang around with. Even that new girl, Neriah, spends most of her time with them now.

  I walk down the steps and wait for one of the two security guards to check my backpack. He makes me empty the pockets of my jeans. As I do this Matt looks in my direction. Turbulent emotions hurtle towards me. Surely he’s not still angry at what I did to him? He loved me, while I had to pretend to love him as part of Marduke’s vengeful plans. If I could say sorry a thousand times and know that it would make a difference, I would.

  Ethan notices where Matt’s looking and sees me. For a second our eyes connect and an overwhelming feeling makes me lose concentration, something that tends to happen often when I’m near Ethan. His thoughts rush into my head. He’s remembering that moment we first met, before I started going out with Matt, and we’d felt an amazing connection. A connection I’d had to sever. At least now that I’m with the Guard, I don’t have to do things like that. The hardest thing I have to do is to earn everyone’s trust. I know what they’re all thinking – how does one trust a traitor? Only Arkarian believes in me. I’ve never known anyone as gentle or understanding. Isabel is so lucky.

  For a second I think about going over and sitting with them. I mean, how can they learn to trust me when they only know the worst of me? I tell myself it’s simple: just walk.

  But something makes me stop. Did I see relief in their eyes? Maybe I should listen to their thoughts. No! That’s intrusive and I won’t do it – not on purpose. But really, it’s not as if I don’t know these people. Matt and I used to go out. So why do I have to think twice about making a single move? All I need is courage. I glance briefly around. No one’s looking, not even Isabel, whose head is buried in a notebook, pointing something out to Ethan. I take a step towards them. OK, that wasn’t too hard. I take another, then another. Look natural, I tell myself as I get close enough to hear them talking among themselves.

  ‘Hey.’ Isabel looks up with a greeting.

  ‘Hi,’ I reply.

  Matt notices, but glances away.

  I swallow deeply as words dry up in my throat.

  Ethan gets up and comes over, leading me off to the side. My heart does this funny little leap, like it’s trying to clamber up my throat on awkward feet.

  ‘You know,’ he says, ‘it probably isn’t a good idea you coming over here.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘All of us hanging around together could look suspicious.’

  ‘Oh? Oh yeah. I wasn’t going to sit here. I … I was looking for Dillon.’

  Ethan goes still. A strange reaction. Instinctively I open my mind to his thoughts. He picks up what I’m doing and his eyes narrow and go cold and hard. Oh great! I could kick myself. How can anyone learn to trust me if they think I’m reading their heads whenever I want information?

  ‘Sorry, Ethan, I didn’t mean –’

  ‘To read my thoughts? Or be so obvious doing it?’

  ‘That’s not fair.’

  ‘Isn’t it?’ His head shakes and he turns slightly away.

  I try to explain. ‘You know how hard it is sometimes to switch off your powers.’

  Slowly he turns back. ‘Look, I don’t know how long Dillon’s going to be away. He defected to the Guard, like you. He’s going through a debriefing right now. But I heard he’s making really good progress. So I’m sure you’ll have someone else to get your claws into soon.’

  What is he talking about? As if I would be interested in Dillon! He has no idea. All the same, Ethan’s news is interesting. I had my suspicions about Dillon being a member of the Order, but all the time that I served Marduke, our identities were kept secret from each other.

  Mr Carter turns up and says something, but his words float away, lost in the air.

  Ethan misses them too. ‘Did you say something, sir?’

  Mr Carter smirks, and if I’m not mistaken, his smirk is directed at me. Ethan used to think Mr Carter hated him, but Ethan doesn’t really know what it’s like to have Mr Carter’s hate thoughts sent straight into your brain. Mr Carter doesn’t even try to appear friendly to me, and he doesn’t seem to care who knows. I worked for the enemy, and as far as Mr Carter is concerned, that means I can’t be trusted. Not ever.

  ‘What did I tell you people only this morning? Wasn’t anyone listening?’

  I stare at him blankly and he says, ‘No, not you, Miss Thallimar. You weren’t here, were you?’ Neriah comes over and sits next to Isabel. When he sees her, Mr Carter’s eyes practically melt. ‘Why don’t I repeat myself for the benefit of those who just joined us. For the purposes of … discretion, don’t make it obvious the five of you are a defined group. If one of you should give your identity away, it would be too easy for the other side,’ he pauses and looks directly at me, ‘to pick you off one by one.’ Still staring at me he pointedly says, ‘Am I clear?’

  ‘Perfectly,’ I snap back at him. Adjusting my backpack I start to move off, more pleased by Mr Carter’s words than he could imagine. Ethan’s earlier comment had not been an insult, but the same warning Mr Carter had just given us.

  But I don’t get far before a hissing sound has everyone
look up to the sky. The morning buzzer sounds, but no one takes any notice as the hissing sound turns into a shrill and eerie whistle. Ethan grabs my arm and shoves me over. ‘Take cover!’

  From out of nowhere a flaming ball of fire comes sweeping into view, careering and spinning wildly. Everyone – and I mean every single person in the entire school grounds – starts screaming and running in all directions. The fireball – or meteorite – or whatever the hell it is, suddenly explodes. Burning rock-like debris shatters over the top of the school. Some fragments hit the ground, burning holes, while others hit and roll, leaving a trail of fire behind.

  Ethan falls on top of me as a piece of burning debris crashes so close that the heat from it scalds my skin and singes my hair. Before I realise what’s happening, my hair catches fire. Ethan tries to put it out with his bare hands. I grab his wrists to stop him, but he’s strong and doesn’t stop until the fire is completely out. We sit up and I take his hands to look at them, but he pulls them away. He’s badly burnt and I can smell his burning flesh mingling with the smell of my burnt hair.

  ‘Are you guys all right?’ Isabel comes running over with Matt.

  ‘Ethan’s hands are burnt,’ I tell her.

  She takes his hands and turns them over. She’s going to heal them right now in front of everybody! As always, Isabel’s heart rules over her head. Some call it courage. It will get her into trouble.

  ‘Don’t be so obvious,’ I tell her.

  She snaps at me. ‘Would you rather I leave him in pain?’ She looks at my hair, singed right up one side. ‘He did this for you, obviously.’

  If only I wasn’t so conscious of Ethan’s eyes on me. I don’t dare wonder what he’s thinking. My mind switches to auto sometimes and I can’t help what I overhear. But right now I don’t want to know. He probably thinks I’m cold and heartless, happy to see him suffer.

  Within seconds of Isabel’s touch, Ethan’s red and blistering skin starts to heal and smooth out. He gives his hands a little shake and thanks her, which reminds me I haven’t thanked him yet for putting the fire out in my hair, or for knocking me out of the direct path of that fragment of burning cosmic debris.

  Strangely, it’s as if he can read my thoughts for a minute. When I look up from studying my toes, he says, ‘It’s all right. You just happened to be the closest to me at the time. I would have done it for Carter if he’d been standing in your place.’

  Deflated, I take a look around. The school yard is a mess, with little fires dotted all over the place, but amazingly, only one classroom appears damaged, down in D Block. People are still screaming though. The two security guards and a half-dozen teachers are running from one person to another checking to see if anyone has been seriously hurt. There are sirens in the distance, drawing nearer, so someone in the office must have already phoned for help.

  ‘Look at that,’ Isabel says in a stunned tone.

  The whole sky from one end of the horizon to the other is lit with flashing streaks of falling stars. It’s a meteor shower, dazzling even in the bright morning sunlight. The sight is simply amazing. Everyone stares, mesmerised.

  Then one comes careering in our direction, and we start running for cover again. It explodes high enough in the atmosphere to burn up before hitting the ground, but creates a brilliant flash of light right over the top of us.

  The teachers have started organising students to go home. Some line up at the office to call their parents. Others pull out mobile phones. The first siren has arrived and it’s a fire truck. It’s then I realise that part of D Block is now burning away to the ground!

  Another flash and hiss overhead has everyone screaming. This is soon followed by a series of explosive bursts of hot gas. Mr Carter runs over to us, grabbing our arms and pushing us together. ‘Get to the mountain. Tell Arkarian what’s happened. He might have some answers.’

  ‘I have to stay,’ Isabel says. ‘I can help if anyone is seriously injured.’

  ‘No!’ Mr Carter yells. ‘You can’t risk exposing your powers, Isabel. It’s against the rules. I shouldn’t have to remind you about that. Besides, medical help is on its way. There are ambulances and rescue vehicles headed here right now.’

  ‘Mr Carter, I can’t turn my back on someone who is injured if it’s in my power to help. The Tribunal will understand. I promise I’ll be careful not to reveal my identity.’

  Mr Carter looks at Matt, then Ethan. ‘Whatever you have to do, get Isabel out of here, even if you have to drag her screaming with her hands tied behind her back.’

  Ethan and Matt share a brief look of amusement.

  ‘What about Neriah?’ Matt asks. ‘How much does she know? Should we take her with us?’

  Mr Carter frowns. ‘She needs to get home. By the time I call her guards to come back and collect her …’

  ‘I’ll take care of her,’ I volunteer. ‘I’ll make sure she gets home all right.’

  Mr Carter stares at me for a second too long. I don’t even try to read his thoughts. He’s projecting his hostility for clear viewing anyway. ‘All right,’ he agrees reluctantly.

  With that decided we move off, when another hissing sound draws our attention back to the sky.

  ‘Look!’ Matt calls out. This time a meteor hurtles wildly across the sky, leaving a trail of fire where it passes. ‘It’s headed for us!’

  Mr Carter screams in our ears, ‘Get out of here! Everybody run!’

  The meteor takes no more than a few seconds to descend thousands of metres. It seems impossibly close when it explodes, shattering right over our heads. Burning pieces of rock hit like cannonballs, wiping out anything in their path. Trees tumble, fences come down. Several cars in the carpark are annihilated. I look around for a safe space when I hear someone nearby scream out in agonising pain. I spin around and see Mr Carter, half buried in the ground, his legs crushed beneath a slab of misshapen and steaming rock.

  I run over to see what I can do. The rock isn’t on fire, but the heat radiating from it keeps me at a distance. Matt and Ethan run over and are also stopped by the pulsing heat. Both look shocked. Mr Carter is in big trouble.

  Ethan and Matt peel off their jackets. Together, with their clothes covering their hands, they attempt to shove the boulder off with their hands and feet. But the boulder is too heavy and the heat is still intense. How can Mr Carter stand it?

  ‘We need a crane here!’ Ethan calls out.

  I can’t help thinking that by the time that sort of equipment arrives, it will be too late.

  Isabel and Neriah come running over, looking stunned.

  ‘I’ll get the firemen,’ Neriah suggests. ‘They’ll know what to do.’

  Even though Mr Carter is so badly hurt, he tries to wave Ethan and Matt away. He’s dying, and he must know it.

  ‘We’re not leaving you!’ Isabel gets down near his head. She’s going to try and heal him, but how can she when that boulder is still there, crushing his legs? She exchanges a look with Ethan. ‘Get this thing off him! Hurry!’

  Mr Carter grips her arm and struggles to whisper, ‘Forget it, Isabel.’ He tries to stifle a moan. ‘Forget what you see here. I want you to go. Just get out of here!’ He turns his head towards Matt and Ethan, pleading with his eyes. ‘Take Isabel and go!’

  Neriah returns with two firemen. They quickly assess the situation and one runs back to the truck for some equipment. The other talks into a radio attached to his collar, requesting urgent backup and heavy wrenching gear. He then tells everyone to stand back, including another teacher, a very distressed-looking Ms Burgess.

  ‘You’ll be all right, Marcus,’ she calls out.

  Isabel doesn’t move. The fireman insists and Ethan and Matt drag her away. Mr Carter is treated by two paramedics, but they share a look filled with silent hopelessness.

  At last the machinery arrives and the rescue team work quickly to set it up. Before long the boulder is secured and ready to be mechanically lifted. The crane takes the strain, but nothing moves. The bou
lder is too heavy.

  Isabel attempts to run over but Mr Carter, weak from blood loss, shock and severe burns, pierces her with warning eyes, and Ethan drags her back. Matt urges her to hold on.

  ‘But Matt, he’s still alive! As soon as that boulder is lifted, I can heal him,’ she hisses. ‘But I have to be close enough to touch him.’

  And as if this day hasn’t freaked us all out already, suddenly a golden light appears in the sky. It swells and shimmers and starts to pour down towards us. We gasp, but have no time to move. Within seconds it goes through me, warming and tingling as it passes through every cell in my body. I shake with it, unable to speak, and wonder what on earth is going on. What could this possibly be?

  ‘What’s happening over there?’ Ms Burgess calls out as she sees the light surround us.

  The shaking continues for several seconds, until suddenly the light disappears and I drop to the ground on all fours. Out of breath, I try to regain some balance and realise I was somehow hovering in the air.

  As I start to get up I can’t help becoming aware of the grass beneath my fingers. It’s my hands that are my special skill. My sense of touch is analytic. I can tell the structure of things like chemical substances, rocks, metals and soils. But right now my hands are feeling much more. I’m aware, and can somehow ‘see’ the structure of the earth for a depth of several kilometres. It’s like my mind is on auto-focus, zooming through the layers of earth with a video camera.

  And then I hear the voices. They sound like hundreds! I look around the school grounds, but there’s no more than twenty people in the immediate surrounding area. I try to shut them out, but nothing works. A girl is screaming in her thoughts. Her leg is burnt and the pain from it is making her think she’s about to die. I cover my ears with both my hands, but the voices won’t go away. I can even hear the thoughts of the firemen still trying to put out the fire in the classroom down the other end of the school.