Discovered (The Shalean Moon) Page 8

  “It was creepy; I kept hearing noises and stuff. Then, I felt something on my shoulder, and I heard that slimy toad Struan’s voice telling me I wasn’t allowed to try and find you. He said I was meant for something else, and he would finally get rid of you. He said I was an infiltrator. I think he’s mad. What on earth was he going on about? Well actually,” she said slowly, “I think he said all that, but not really; if you know what I mean. I think I fainted, but I’m sure I remember him saying stuff, and screeching at me. I didn’t actually see him. At the end though when I felt I was being carried my head hit the wall, and someone else said ‘you’ve killed her, leave her and let’s go.’”

  Did I really hear that, or was it all to do with the bump on my head? Rach put her hand to her scalp; the bump was definitely there.

  “Oh.” With a rush, she remembered something else she’d heard. “He said something about now the Sept wouldn’t trust you; that you’d shown you had no judgment. That an infiltrator was a traitor’s partner and neither could be trusted. He said to tell you that you’d shown your true spots. I tell you he’s definitely not the sharpest pencil in the box; screwy.”

  ‘Aarrghh, I will win.’

  ‘Screwy.’ Rach threw back, and then gasped. “Argh, for goodness sake, now I’m answering the snake.”

  Brios laughed and the sound made her happy. He held her close. The feel of his hand on her was amazing and shivers ran down her body. She felt warm now. She wanted to lean into him more.

  Now if only he’d move closer and … no, Rach, she scolded herself, don’t go there. Not here, not now.

  She really hoped he hadn’t got those thoughts! Then she remembered all the trouble she was sure to be in and her heart dropped.

  “What will happen now, Bri? My dad is going to be so mad at me. I’ll probably be thirty before he lets me out of my room. Whatever happens I want you as my friend; you and Leira,” She giggled, “and even Donny—but especially you. I’ve got you into trouble as well. I hurt; I think I’ll have a black eye; I’ve been hallucinating and talking to myself and other people more and more in my mind. Something seriously weird is going on, and I don’t think it’s fair for me not to know all about it. Dad sending me away is not going to change my mind.”

  She knew the tricky part was going to be getting her dad to realize that.

  The sound of a vehicle on the road, and footsteps coming near made her press even closer to Brios. Then, she heard her dad shout her name.

  Sigh… time to face the music!

  ‘I’m with you Rach. We’ll face the music together. Don’t worry; it’ll all work out in the end. Your dad loves you and wants what’s best. It’s just hard for him to see that you’re growing up, and that you’re not his little girl anymore.’

  Rach sighed, and then took a deep breath. Brios had it exactly right. It had been just the two of them for so long. Now she knew Brios was a part of their lives, and her dad would just have to build a bridge and get over it. She smiled when she remembered the look her dad had given her when she’d first said the ‘build a bridge’ stuff to him.

  “Rach? Breeyos?” Even though it hurt her cheek she had to grin.

  Breeyos! Well at least it isn’t ‘that boy’ so that’s a step in the right direction.

  “Up here Mr. Connor, furthest corner from the door. I don’t want to move her.”

  “Bri?”

  “Hey dad, we’ll need a ladder.”

  “Got one.”

  Why were her dad and Brios’s dad here together? She remembered something awful.

  “Leira?” she asked in a thin horrid voice.

  Ugh, I sound like a baby—all icky and whiny.

  “He was pushing her away. Struan and someone … something …Oh Bri…”

  “Ssh, it’s okay.” He stroked her hair, and cuddled her more closely.

  I could get used to this, but it feels kind of funny; in a good, oh I want more sort of way.

  Rach resolved to think more about that later; for now she needed to make sure her dad knew it was all her fault, not Brios’s.

  “She’s talking, and she’s very sore, but I can’t feel any broken bones.”

  Ah, so that’s why he’s patting me. She quite liked the warm fuzzy feeling it gave her.

  She wriggled and pain shot though her. She saw Brios give her a concerned glance, and she tried to smile.

  ‘It’s okay,” she told him, “I just moved awkwardly and hurt myself. I’m fine now.” She wasn’t sure he believed her, but thankfully he didn’t question her statement.

  “Be careful as you come up here, it’s rotten,” Brios warned.

  Rotten; like that poisonous little toad, weasel, snake Struan, Rach thought vehemently.

  ‘I’m a leopard! Remember that human! A leopard! Better than those Parde’s any day.’

  She jumped, and then cried out as she jarred her sore arm. Brios held her even tighter, but carefully. She heard her dad ask what was wrong.

  “I twisted myself and hit a bruise,” she shouted. “I’m fine, just sore.”

  Right, time to project or whatever it’s called; think just of Brios …

  ‘Bri? Can you hear me? Can anyone else hear me?’

  His reply was instantaneous, thank goodness.

  ‘Yes—and no—just me. Okay, spill, what’s up? Are you hurt more than you’re letting on?’

  ‘Nah, nothing like that, honestly. I’ve just had Struan, the shit, in my mind.’

  She felt his hand flex. It made her want to laugh.

  ‘Yeah, I’d like to strangle him as well. Bri, how did he get in there? Anyway, he said something really strange. I called him names to myself, and he sort of filled my mind and said he was a leopard, and better than any Parde any day. What’s he going on about? Because, there is something going on here, and I want to know what. What’s with the leopards eh? Oh sh … your name, Parde … Is it short for leopard? Oh my god, leopard … I’m outta here.’

  ‘It’s fine, I’ll explain as soon as I can. Take it from me, you’re special; and you can read thoughts. As it’s new to you, you’re not very good at blocking your thoughts to people who shouldn’t be peeking.’

  The building shook.

  Bits of wood and debris drifted down from the ceiling. Rach heard her dad and Mr. Parde shout something, and she felt Brios shield her as a chunk of wood fell past them.

  A few moments later she saw the top rungs of a ladder appear, followed by her dad’s head a few seconds later.

  “Chicken, are you really all right?”

  Gah, chicken! In front of Brios!

  “Da-ad! I’m fine, just sore, really sorry, and scared ‘cause someone is out to get Brios.”

  “And Rach,” Brios added shortly.

  She saw her dad nod.

  “Let’s get you down and off to hospital then.”

  “No.”

  “No hospital.”

  “It’s not safe,” three voices—her dad, Brios’ dad and Brios—all spoke at once. Rach was grateful that she wasn’t the only one to say she wasn’t going anywhere near a hospital.

  “I’d rather stay up here.”

  At least until I need the loo; which, come to think of it, isn’t going to be long.

  “Dad, let’s just get away from here and go somewhere warm.” She was really shivering now; and it had nothing to do with Brios.

  “And safe, neither of them are safe,” warned Mr. Parde.

  Rach felt her dad get onto the shelf. He ran his hands over her; he had been a regular helper for first-aid at sporting occasions before they’d moved.

  “Seems okay, but I’d rather still get you checked out.” He sounded so worried she wanted to hug him.

  “We have a doctor who can help; he’ll be waiting for us.” Brios’s dad was speaking in what her dad called a ‘there there’ tone.

  She felt herself being moved. Brios cautioned her not to try and help.

  Okay I can do that; not much chance of helping when you’re swimming under d
ark green water with weeds tied around your legs, and someone holding you down. But why aren’t I drowning? Why is the water soft and inviting like a big snuggly blanket? And why am I seeing things, hearing voices, and not answering?

  She opened her mouth and waited for the water to rush in.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “She’s out of it again.” Brios tenderly passed her from his arms to her dad’s. “Probably just as well, this is going to hurt. That bloody Struan!” He caught his dad’s warning glance and stopped speaking. Luckily, Rach’s dad wasn’t listening.

  “I’ll take her home,” he was saying.

  No, not there. Brios was sure that wasn’t the best place for her at the moment, she’d be too easily found.

  Brios went to speak.

  ‘Leave this to me.’

  Phew, dad to the rescue.

  They put Rach in the back seat of his dad’s car before anyone could object. Brios got in next to her, shooting a warning glance at anyone who thought to stop him.

  “Tony, I don’t think your house is really safe for Rach at the moment; or for Brios. And whatever your thoughts on the subject are, they need to be near each other, to reassure each other they’re both safe. Is there anywhere you can take them for a few days until I can sort this mess out?” Brios looked from his dad to Mr. Connor. They were driving down a bumpy track and he was holding on to Rach—to stop her rolling about—so he couldn’t pay too much attention to the two men in the front of the car.

  He heard Rach’s dad sigh.

  “It’s Shalea isn’t it? Will it never end?”

  He knows! He knows and Rach doesn’t!

  Brios wondered how his dad would react. He should have known that his dad would know what to say and how to say it.

  “It is; and until Rach knows why things are happening, and what’s going on; and we learn who and what she is—I see no end.”

  Brios could hear the sadness in her dad’s voice. “I thought not. It had to happen sometime. Maybe we should never have moved to Scotland.”

  ‘Nooo,’ Rach projected as fiercely as she could.

  “It would have made no difference, Tony. The only thing is that here we can help you.”

  Thank our Gods, Brios thought.

  There was an even louder sigh and he felt Rach stir in his arms.

  ‘Tell dad to listen. I don’t want you hurt.’

  She doesn’t want me hurt? It’s the other way round!

  ‘Fine Marok, I’ll abide by what you say. You know more than I do.”

  ‘How much does he know? Ask him dad.’

  His dad spoke, but didn’t ask the question Brios hoped he would.

  “Yes, I do. One day soon we’ll talk, but now—we move. You need somewhere that no one can find you. As long as it’s not known to anyone other than us here I can keep the location secret.”

  “Are you the Patriarch?” Rach’s dad queried and Brios heard a note of admiration in his voice.

  “Yes.”

  “So Brios?”

  “Will be; by endeavor, not association or nepotism. He’s earned the position.”

  “Right.”

  Was that admiration in his voice? Brios didn’t get a chance to find out. His dad was speaking again.

  “Any idea where you’re going?”

  “Northumberland, I’ve got a house at the coast. No one knows about it up here. We can go there.”

  Brios zoned out as the two men began to discuss the details of the journey.

  ***

  Quickly Brios packed and then they stopped at Rach’s house to let her grab some clothes and music. Within the hour, they’d set off for Northumberland.

  The doctor, who was also Shalean, had been in and checked Rach over. She told them Rach was fine except for some ghastly bruises, and handed over a box of painkillers. Rach was now bundled up on the back seat and wedged in tightly. She was awake enough to know what was happening, and to brace herself if necessary. Brios was in the front passenger seat, and feeling more uncomfortable by the minute.

  ‘Ask him what he wants you to do.’

  ‘Pardon?’ What was Rach on about?

  He heard her sigh.

  ‘Duh, men. Ask him what he wants you to do about this mess. When we get to Rush Cottage tell him what you want—well, some of it anyway.’

  He could hear the humor in her mind. She knew her dad, so Brios decided to follow her advice; he needed to apologize anyway.

  “Mr. Connor? I’m sorry about all this; about my part in it. What do you want me to do?”

  ‘Nice one Bri, way to go.’

  He had to fight to keep his face straight.

  “Tony.”

  “Pardon?”

  Her dad almost chucked—almost.

  “Call me Tony, and I accept your apology. Look it’s not all down to you, I know that. It started years ago; it was nothing to do with you or Rach. This is all tied in with Rach’s mum. We’ll talk about it later. I’m going to have to explain everything to Rach aren’t I?’ He sounded defeated, Brios thought. There was no other word for it.

  “I think so, when she’s strong enough to hear it.”

  ‘Now. I’m strong enough now.’

  He ignored that projection. She’d have to wait a while.

  “I thought so. Ah, well. So, for now, when we get there, really it’s just a case of taking it day by day your dad said. He’ll keep in touch. He didn’t need a phone number. I should have remembered that.”

  Brios laughed. So Mr. Connor—Tony, did have a sense of humor then!

  As the car sped on, Rach felt warm and safe as she half listened to her dad and Brios talking. When she heard her mum mentioned she opened her ears a bit more; but the effort hurt her head, so she soon settled back and dozed.

  ‘I’ll find you, both of you. You won’t escape. Keep looking over your shoulder, human.’

  “Brios?”

  She watched him half turn in his seat.

  “You okay?”

  “Snake-face has just crawled into my mind again.”

  “What!” Brios’ voice was a roar. Rach felt the car swerve, and then listened as Brios reassured her dad there was nothing to worry about.

  “Did you answer?”

  “Nope, should I? I didn’t want to give the little twerp the satisfaction of knowing he’d got to me.”

  “Good girl. Please, don’t answer him ever; unless I say it’s okay. Once he gets into your mind he’ll dig and dig to see what we’re doing. I can block him and give him grief. You can’t.”

  “Yet,” Rach said fiercely.

  “Yet,” he agreed.

  “I’ll hear all about this conversation when we arrive.” Her dad sounded determined. “Who, for instance, ‘snake face’ is will do for a start.”

  “No problem, you need to know anyway.” Brios agreed. “He’s got the potential to be a real menace.”

  The car’s engine changed tone as it slowed; there was the sound of the indicator as the car moved off the road and onto a gravel track. Rach registered the fact they were at Rush Cottage. She loved it here, listening to the sound of the sea on the shingles; the noise changing as the weather did; watching the rushes in the stream green up, and then change with the seasons; and the waves crashing during winter storms.

  “I love it here,” she said with satisfaction as the car came to a halt. “It smells of summer.”

  “Even in winter?” her dad asked her in a humorous voice.

  “Da-ad, you know what I mean.”

  “Yup, right, let’s get you inside and in bed.”

  “Da-ad.”

  There was no way she was going to bed.

  “Not bed. I’ll lie on the settee, but not bed.” If she got put into bed there was no way her dad would let her talk to Brios; and no way did she want him to see her Winnie the Pooh jammies.

  Rach used her elbows to struggle up and try to look less like a piece of soggy spaghetti to show she was wide awake and well enough to stay downstairs with them. She rea
lized that Brios was opening her door and carefully lifting her out—and her dad was letting him.

  Wow, progress.

  “No bed,” she said urgently. “Promise me, no bed.”

  She heard her dad laugh.

  “Ok, Ms. Tyrant. No bed—yet.” She was carried into the hallway of the cottage.

  “Loo,” she said, and blushed. “Left hand door and I can manage.”

  “Of course,” Brios said gravely, “shout when you’re ready.”

  “Don’t stand just outside,” Rach demanded. There was no way she could pee if he was close enough to hear.

  “I won’t, just holler or project.”

  “Huh?”

  “Think me.”

  Oh, yeah, hmm.

  “Er, sure.”

  She heard him laugh as he moved away.

  After washing her hands and laughing at herself as she checked her hair and used the eyeliner that always lived in her jeans pocket, she felt a lot better.

  Okay. She took a deep breath. Time for more info.

  She opened the door and looked out. There was no one in the hall, but she could hear voices coming from the kitchen, so she made her way carefully towards the door that was half open.

  “… you have to tell her.”

  That was Brios. She stood as quietly as she could to hear her dad’s answer.

  “Rach? You should have called.” Brios had come into the hall.

  “Oh, well.” She couldn’t say she was eavesdropping. “I, er, thought I’d see if I could manage.”

  “Hmm.”

  Busted.

  “Can you help me in please?” She let him help her into the kitchen. She had to admit, the help was welcome. Luckily, it was a big kitchen with a comfy sofa and she sat down gratefully, if not elegantly.

  “So?” She looked at both of them expectantly. “What’s going on?”

  There was silence.

  Grr. Rach ground her teeth. Men!

  “Look, tell me. I’m in it as deep as you two, so spill the beans. I’m a big girl.” She rolled her eyes and they both laughed. “Well almost.”

  Her dad handed her a glass of juice.