“I haven’t done this since my test,”she said.
“Lights,” said Arthur.
Ophelia turned on the headlights andthe van moved off with gears grinding. They narrowly missed a parked car, butsoon they were out of the college grounds and onto the streets of Middenmere.
“Does anybody know the way?” saidOphelia.
Arthur gave directions. They left thecity and were soon speeding along a dark country lane. The surrounding farmlandwas nothing but a black void – they could see only the small stretch of roadahead. Soon they were in Underwood and driving past rows of low dark cottageswith glowing windows. They were about to drive into the village square but Billstopped them.
“Pull over! Quick!” he hissed,frantically tapping Ophelia on the shoulder. “Turn off the lights!”
She slammed on the brakes and switchedoff the engine and lights. Peering into the dark square they could see a groupof leather-clad figures on motorcycles near the maypole. There was also a sleekblack horse with a man and woman on its back. The large fearsome dog that hadattacked them sat nearby. Bill could see shimmering light around the bikers’heads, the dog, and around the horse and its riders.
“Do you see it?” he whispered toOphelia.
“Lights! What does it mean?”
Bill gulped. “I’m sorry. You can seeit now. Don’t look at yourself... in the mirror.”
When Ophelia understood what he meantshe gave Bill a look of tearful horror.
“I can’t see anything,” said Arthur.
“We can. It means they’re cursed byArddhu Og. But I thought it was only Percy.”
“That’s him on the horse,” saidOphelia in a distracted voice.
“And that big hairy brute – that’s thedog that attacked us.”
“Who’s that girl he’s with?” saidOphelia in an agitated voice. “What’s he doing with her?”
“I hope they’re not in the village tocause trouble,” said Arthur.
Ophelia got very flustered. “Thatgirl! I hate that girl!”
“What’s wrong? What are you doing?”said Bill.
“I’m going to drag her off thathorse... he should be with me!”
“What?”
Ophelia gave Bill a helpless look.“You’ve got to help me! I love Percy!”
“What!?”
“It’s a love spell. I thought it’dgone but I so want to go to him. I really want to go to him,right now!”
“Got to fight this,” she said, butbegan to open the door and get out.
“Oh no you don’t,” said Arthur, pullingher back and slamming the door.
A loud metallic clang echoed aroundthe square.
Lord Percy looked directly at the vanand waved a casual hand. Two of the bikers revved up their motorbikes and beganto make their way over.
“Sorry!” said Arthur.
“Run for it!” said Bill.
They scrambled out of the van but thetwo bikers were already there, blocking their escape. Bill and Ophelia lookedat their ferocious yellow eyes, pale red veined faces, curled horns and pointedyellow teeth.
“They look like monsters!” she saidbacking away. She wanted to escape into Percy’s strong arms and it took all herwillpower not to.
“What are you talking about?” saidArthur with chuckle. “It’s only Jimmy and Davy.” He moved towards them with agrin.
Bill grabbed him and said, “What thehell are you doing?”
“It’s cool man. It’s Jimmy and Davy,my big daft brothers.”
Bill looked again, seeing pastmonstrous eyes and skin – and recognised them.
“Hello our Arthur,” said Jimmy. “Cometo join our gang?”
“Why are you two acting so weird?”said Arthur. “Is this a joke?”
Davy did a wide-mouthed grin,revealing yellow teeth. “Can’t you see us little brother?”
“What’s this daft talk?”
“Take a look again and really seeus.”
Arthur couldn’t see anything unusualbut something happened inside him that made him turn a ghostly white. He ranaway, shouting over his shoulder, “Wait until I tell mum you’re both Arddhu.You’re in big trouble.”
As the bikers were momentarilydistracted, chuckling at their little brother’s antics, Bill and Ophelia rushedforward, trying to get past the bikers. Jimmy muttered a curse and tried tobite Ophelia on her arm, but she was too quick. They ran away after Arthur, upa cobbled side street and stopped, panting for breath, outside a dark ivy-cladhouse. Arthur was there, furiously banging on the door. Through the darkness,back down on the square, they could hear the low thrumming of motorcycleengines as Jimmy and Davy appeared, approaching slowly, grinning at theirmischief. Then they revved up their bikes and sped forward.
A moment before the bikers were uponthem, the door opened and Arthur’s mum appeared, looking bleary eyed in herdressing gown and curlers.
“Hello Arthur love, nice to see you.But didn’t I tell you off about come home at silly hours?”
“Just let us in mum,” said Arthur,bugling Bill and Ophelia inside.
He rushed inside after them and closedthe door on Jimmy and Davy.
Bill had never seen his friend look soupset. Arthur kept looking at his mother, about to say something, but couldn’t.
“Mum...” he said at last, “Jimmy andDavy.”
There was a loud knock at the door.
“Little pigs, little pigs, let us in,”said Jimmy from outside.
Daisy went to open the door but Arthurstopped her.
“It’s only us brothers,” said Davy.“Let us in, we want you to join us.”
“What time do you call this?” saidDaisy. “You can’t be out all hours with that gang.”
“Don’t,” said Arthur. “They’vecursed!”
“What?”
“In the Cult of Arddhu Og!”
“You boys,” said Daisy, looking atArthur like he’d lost his marbles. “Everyone knows there ain’t no dark pagansany more. I think they were just old wives’ tales anyways.”
She went to open the door but Billjumped in front of her. “I’m sorry but it’s true Mrs. Small.”
“There’s a whole gang out there,”blurted Ophelia. “Led by an Arddhu lord who’s got an Arddhu horse and an Arddhudog.” Ophelia’s face was flushed. She was still battling the strange,all-consuming love for Lord Percy. All she could think about was her jealously– that other girl with him on the horse.
Daisy laughed. “This story gets betterby the minute. Arddhu dog indeed! Enough now of having me on and get this dooropen.”
Arthur’s dad, Jim, came down thestairs. He was wearing a thick tartan dressing gown and matching slippers.“What’s all the commotion?” he said, then saw Arthur and added. “And what timedo you call this?”
“Jim,” said Daisy, “they’re feeding mesome a cock and bull story about the boys being mad pagans.”
Before
