lost Midnight. But Gabriella was still alive, as was Sophia, Delagio and Rachel. I was still alive. The Sorrow hadn’t been allowed to pass through the Veil. There was at least that to hold onto.
As everyone walked back to the base, I joined Faru. He was walking slowly, arms folded behind his back. There were no Golems around and he looked younger and healthier, but still he wore his melancholic expression like a mask.
“A terrible few days,” he mused as I fell into step with him. “But we must remain strong.” It seemed as if he were talking to himself as much as me.
“I know sir…we will. Sage Faru, I dreamt about The Sorrow again last night. The one where I’m in the graveyard.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Interesting.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t quite the same. It didn’t feel like I was being tracked. More like I was dreaming it for another reason. I mean why that graveyard? And that derelict mansion — surely they must all mean something?”
He pondered the question for a moment. “That has actually been puzzling me too. The locations of your dreams have been very specific.”
“So it might mean something?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. I will re-visit them. If I find anything of interest, I shall send someone to investigate. Would that be acceptable?”
“That would be great, thank you.”
He gave a slow nod. “You are welcome. Now go and join the others. You will need each other to help stay strong.”
I saluted him and ran off towards Rachel and Delagio, who were walking with their arms wrapped around one another — as if one would collapse without the other.
“Hold still,” laughed Mum, trying to wrap the bowtie around itself. She kept glancing at the instructions lying on the table. “These things are impossible.”
I was standing in the lounge, wearing the tuxedo I’d rented for the Christmas Ball. It was a week after the funeral and things finally seemed to be getting back to ‘normal’.
The past week had been hard, but uneventful. The bodies of the Soldiers of Sorrow who had died in battle had been buried in a specially created lot, far away from the Guardian graveyard. Controversially, a stone column had been erected, with each of their names on, as a symbol of honour. Those who had survived were deported permanently back to Pandemonia. Faru had refused outright for there to be any more death. Sophia was taken to live with the Coven. She had still refused to speak, but at least had started to eat a few small meals. Gabriella and I had visited her every day. She would always be sat in the same position on her bed, staring into space, whilst she fiddled with the remaining ear of the bunny that Tommy had given her.
The Manticore had died in battle. Luckily the cubs were old enough to be able to survive without her. Her body had been taken to the Sanctuary, wrapped in strange multi-coloured bandages, and placed near the cubs. They had sniffed their dead mother and seemed somehow to understand. They’d made heart wrenching mewing sounds and lay with the body around the clock. Somehow, a few days later all that had remained was a bundle of bandages.
All of the Unicorns had survived the battle, but one of the mares had lost her horn, which meant that she died later in the week. Isiodore had been badly injured, but was being treated and — I was relieved to find out — was expected to make a full recovery.
The Red Storm hadn’t subsided, but it was starting to roll away from the base, which suggested that The Sorrow was acting on Faru’s prediction of moving to another section of the Veil. I just prayed they could work out which one it would be in time to seal it. The Red Storm had made Chapter Hill famous. There was no way that the HASEA or the government could hide something that large. Masses of meteorologists and other weather analysts had flocked from all over the world — armed with ten year old readings from a similar incident in Italy — to try and analyse the cause. Obviously, none had worked it out, so had come up with all kinds of bizarre theories, most of which involved global warming. Religious zealots had come in droves, carrying signs with the words Armageddon and Death is Coming scribbled on them. They were closer to the truth.
Mikey had been brought to the Warren the first morning after the battle, so that Scarlett could attend the funeral. I had been so relieved to see him that I’d pulled him into a spinning hug. He’d walked around the base with his mouth in a permanent O.
Mum and a thinner John had returned home that same evening, faces filled with confusion at the menacing sky hovering over their hometown. For the first few days after their return, everything had been okay. Mikey and I were getting on so well, now that he was a part of my new world, that it seemed to have the effect of drawing us all together. Even John had started to be nice — for a short while.
Then he reverted back to dickhead mode.
Gabriella and I had started to date officially, which also had the added effect of giving me an excuse for the reasons I was always out. But I’d had to put up with the constant knowing winks from Mikey every time I slipped from the house — my holdall bag containing a spare uniform and the Crimson Twins. Mostly it was just being prepared. If there were any SOS left in the country, they were keeping their heads down. I figured that word had spread about the failed attack on the base. I prayed it would stay that way. Mikey had suggested I tell Mum and John, but I’d decided to keep it simple.
Finished with the bow, Mum stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Perfect,” she smiled. “You look wonderful! Doesn’t he look wonderful John?”
John was sat in the armchair by the window. His face appeared from behind the paper he was reading. He gave a grunt, and then his head retreated back into the sports section.
Mum gave a weary sigh. “Well I think it’s wonderful that you and Mikey have such pretty, friendly girlfriends, even if his is always sneaking out at ungodly hours.” She kissed the top of my forehead and left the room, leaving me and John on our own together.
“Still can’t work out why Gabriella’s interested in him,” he muttered under his breath, not intending me to hear, but I caught it all right. His hurtful words twisted into my stomach like a knife. I marched over and ripped the paper from his hands. “What the hell are you doing?” he demanded, staring at me in disbelief. “You know what John, I’ve had enough of you. What exactly is your problem with me?” “I don’t have a problem with you.” “Oh yes you do. So come on. Let’s sort this out once and for all.” He stood up and tried to move past me. “I don’t have to listen to this crap.”
I grabbed his arm and whirled him around to face me. I had the material of his shirt twisted between my fingers. He looked down in shock and then back up at me.
“Yes you do John. Things are going to be different around here from now on. So why don’t you stop by being a cowardly bully for once in your life and tell me what I’ve done that was so bad you’ve made it your life’s work to make me feel worthless?”
We stared at each other for a while. I gritted my teeth together.
“Because you’re a constant reminder of him,” he barked, pushing my hand away. I hadn’t expected his answer. “I-you- what? You mean my real Dad?” “Yeah.” I shook my head. “You are kidding me right? You’ve got an alpha complex over my dead father?” He looked away from my intense gaze. “You don’t understand.”
“No I don’t. Mum is married to you. She has been for over sixteen years. How in the hell can you be jealous of a man she’s barely spoken about for all that time — it’s beyond pathetic!”
John stared past me out of the window. “She does talk about him. Every single night.”
I felt my mouth open. “What?”
Tears had formed in John’s eyes. “All I hear when she sleeps is the sound of her sobbing her heart out and repeating his name over and over. Like not having him rips her apart from the insides. She’s never mentioned it. Not once. I don’t think she remembers. I’ve lived with that for sixteen years. So don’t you dare tell me not to be jealous! Not when I’m reminded every bloody night that I can never be the man to her that he was.”
I didn’t know what to say. My mouth kept trying to form syllables, but then they slipped away. It all made sense now. After a minute I managed to ask, “b-but why haven’t you left her then?” “Because she’s everything to me.” He gingerly placed a hand on my arm, as if unsure that the movement would work. “I’m sorry Alex, I know you don’t deserve it. You’re a good kid. I…it’s just hard.” My head was spinning. “John- I’m sorry. I had no
