The past has left it’s fingerprints in dust and shadows.
September is coming and so is The Wraith.
The Wraith is a haunting narrative podcast that drifts through shadows, secrets, and the supernatural. Each episode unfolds a chilling tale of loss, vengeance, and the unknown — where reality bends and darkness has a voice.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Juliet’s fingers shook as she opened the laptop, and she stopped for a few minutes to let the trembling subside. It did not help that Mr Thomas and Steven had told them about meeting their doubles in the village. The light from the battery-powered lantern was dim, and for a moment, shadows surrounded her. Logging on, she clicked on to her mother’s name and waited for her to answer the call over the internet.
“Juliet,” her mother’s face appeared on the screen. “How are you, my darling? I expected to hear from you sooner”
“I’m good, mom. My battery ran down, and I had to wait to recharge it. I did not want to use my mobile, it is too expensive. It’s all a bit unsettled now, but we started digging today.”
Juliet throat grew tight, as her mother filled her in on what was happening at home. She wished she could reach out and touch her mother’s face and breathe in the familiar scent of her body. She intended telling her all about Biddy and the story about the girl who looked like her, but she decided against it. The circles around her mother’s eyes were so dark she looked like a raccoon. Was it the way the shadows fell, Juliet wondered or did her mother look sicker than ever?
“We’ve been talking about your 18th,” her mother said. “Dad thinks he’ll have a few of the bedrooms ready by then and you can invite some friends to stay. What do you think?”
“That sounds great, mom. I have made a new friend here. His name is Corey, and we like a lot of the same things.”
“Rick won’t be pleased,” her mother teased.
“He’s just a friend, mom, nothing more,” Juliet rolled her eyes. “I have to log off now. Corey needs to use my computer to call home, and I do not want the battery to run down again. Give my love to everyone,”
“Will do, my pet, love you. Have a great time and stay in contact.”
“Love you too. Mom.”
The feeling of loneliness when her mother’s face faded from the screen was overwhelming. Juliet wanted to put her head down and howl.
She clicked on Rick’s name next and he answered on the second ring.
“How’s my girl?”
. They talked for a while, mostly about what he was doing to pass the summer vacation and the usual stuff. She was sorry when she had to log off, but she knew how anxious Corey was to contact his family. Pushing aside the laptop; she crawled out of the tent and went in search of him.
“Great!” He said, when she told him the computer was free. “I won’t stay on long, promise.”
Corey’s family did not have the benefit of having a video phone, and he hoped Rasher or Stew was online on one of the social sites.
“Great, Rasher’s here,” his fingers flew over the keys, as he asked how everything was going.”
Everything is fine, Rasher informed him. Nothing new or strange was happening.
“There’s loads of weird stuff going on here,” Corey wrote. “I’ll send you an email and you can read it for the others. You’re going to think I’m mad, but I swear everything I tell you is true.”
“Cool,” Rasher said. “Jamie is here, and he wants to say hello.”
The writing changed as Jamie tried to tell him all about the hens and how many eggs they laid. His writing was like trying to decipher hieroglyphics as he had never spent much time in school, but the childish words made Corey smile. A few of the homeless, who used the internet cafes, sent their best wishes. They told Corey how much they missed him, but it was not just his friends who read every word he wrote. Someone else read it and wondered what the “weird stuff” was all about. After sending the email, Corey logged off.
“Want to take a walk?” He asked Juliet.
There was nothing else to do until bedtime. The village had no attractions other than a pub, and they were underage.
“You seemed a bit upset by what Mr Thomas and Steven said.”
“It kind of freaked me out,” Juliet said. “The whole thing with Biddy and our doubles is too weird.”
“Yeah, but we’ll find out the truth soon. She said it wouldn’t be long.”
“How you can be so cool about it,” she glared at him. “I mean with all this stuff happening you don’t seem to care.”
“I don’t,” he said. “I keep thinking that I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“What about the Erebans, you believe in them?”
“I saw one of them,” Corey gulped, as the image of the dark figure came rushing to his mind.
“So, if they’re real then the other things she talked about must be as well.”
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “I suppose. What’s really bugging you?”
“Sorry, it’s my mother,” Juliet said. “She looks sicker than before, but she says she’s ok.”
“If there is such a place as the hidden world, with all its magic and all,” Corey said. “Maybe they can help her?”
“I never thought of that,” Juliet felt hope soar within her, and she prayed he was right.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Something hid among the trees. This was evident as two red eyes watched when they stepped out of the cottage. Tabby arched her back and started to spit
“It is Flora, you silly old thing,” Amber said.
“Then why would Tabby react in such a way,” Biddy mused. “She’s known that old fox since she was a kitten. I’ve seen them playing together.”
Biddy picked up the cat and ushered them indoors. She knew it was not Flora, but some Ereban hag who had the power of shape shifting. Had it been listening outside the door?
“What is it, Biddy?” Amber asked.
“Nothing, my pets,” she gave a weak smile. “You must get home before it gets dark. I will walk as far as the castle with you. I’ll rest easy knowing that you’re safely home.”
“Safe?” Sabba held the door open to let them out. “How can it be safer with the Erebans there?”
“Tell your father there’s no longer any doubt. Perius has sent out his spies and he must make ready for battle,” Biddy kissed Amber on the forehead. “Have courage, my child.”
“Goodbye, Biddy,” Sabba kissed her wrinkled cheek. “We will see you soon.”
.
“I have been thinking about our shadow self’s,” Amber said as they entered the cave. “What if they are evil and in league with the Erebans?”
“I doubt if they are,” Sabba said. “It is something to do with the old magic. You know how Larkeon is always going on about how magic is waxing and waning,” he copied the old dwarf’s voice and made Amber laugh. “Well, maybe it’s coming back, and they are part of it, and here to aid us.”
“Or maybe, the magic is dying, and they are here to take advantage of this?”
“We will go to our fathers and ask them about it. We are no longer children who can be fobbed off with some story, and it is time we learned the truth,” Sabba said.
It seemed colder than usual as they descended deeper into their subterranean world. It’s always cool inside the cave, but tonight the air had a bitter sting to it. Amber shivered and tried to ignore the icy water running through her veins.
“Your father is very angry,” Roak’s scarred face peered at them out of the darkness.
Legend said that his mother was frightened by an Ereban while out picking moon berries one night, and the fright showed in the face of her child. Therefore, Roak prefers to remain in the darkness.
“I will go to him right away,” Amber promised.
Flora was exhausted. Her day was at an end and her young pupils were back with their parents. It was a pleasant surprise to see the princess and young lord again.
“Did you go hunting in the mortal world today?” Amber asked the fox.
“Me!” Flora asked. “I most certainly did not. You know how much I detest going above ground.”
“I thought as much,” Amber sighed.
“Why do you ask?” Flora narrowed her eyes and looked from one to the other.
“Biddy thought it was an Ereban hag who had shape shifted. Whatever it was, it was listening outside the cottage and heard every word we said.”
Flora smiled. What possible secret could two young people have that would interest the Erebans? Then she noticed the fear in the eyes of the princess and young lord. There was something strange afoot and she needed to find out what.
“Have you spoken to Larkeon about this?” Flora asked.
“No, not yet” Amber said.
“Then do so, at once,” the swishing of the fox’s tail was the only show of the turmoil in her mind.
“Come in, come in,” Larkeon bade them to follow him into his study. “What can I do for you my young ones?”
For the next few minutes Larkeon listened in silence as the princess told him the story about the shadow selves and what Biddy said about the Ereban Nightflyers. When she finished, Larkeon stood and urged them to do the same.
“Go home and speak to your parents,” he ushered them towards the door.
As the door slammed behind them, Amber and Sabba wondered why everyone was behaving in such a strange manner when they mention the shadow selves.
The campsite looked deserted when Corey and Juliet got back from visiting Biddy. There was not a sound to mar the silence other than the fluttering of the tent flaps, and the whistling of the wind across the barren landscape. Juliet shielded her eyes against the sun and looked towards the castle where multi-coloured dots darted about.
“They’ve started the dig,” she ran towards her tent to get the tools needed. “Come on,” she called back at Corey.
Her laptop lay on top of her sleeping bag and she opened it. To her relief it had full power and she would be able to contact her mother, but that would have to wait until later. Now, she was excited about what lay in store, and the story that would unfold as they dug deep into the castle’s history. Corey stood waiting, as she came running through the tents.
“Did Steven charge your computer?” He asked.
“Yeah, I just checked it.”
“Do you mind if I use it later to check that everything’s all right at home?”
“No problem,” Juliet said.
After that there was no more talking, as they needed all the breath, they could muster to run between the rocks dotting the land. The castle looked much bigger and imposing the closer they got, and soon its shadow fell across them.
“It’s fantastic,” Juliet sighed.
“Hey, you two,” the shout came from one of the towers, and they looked up to find Mr Thomas waving at them.
There were close enough to see the condition of the ruin. At such a height, it was open to the elements and showed the scars of wind and rain. Stones crumbled beneath their feet, and they slipped a few times before they reached the ancient stone steps.
“The others are around the back digging. I have checked the castle to make sure it’s safe. Have a look around before you start, if you like, then come and join us.”
He started to walk away and then…
“Oh, by the way; you’ll never believe who I met in the village.”
A shout from one of his students sent him hurrying away.
“I’ll tell you later,” he called over his shoulder.
“I wonder what he was going to say.” Corey said.
“Who knows,” Juliet shrugged. “It’s probably nothing.”
They stood for a moment to study the layout of the ruin. Bricks had fallen from the various floors and lay scattered on the ground. Strange coloured fungi clung to the side of the walls, and ivy trailed like garlands against the bricks. The tower, that Mr Thomas had called them from, was the only one with a standing staircase. The steps were worn smooth from the passing of countless feet and weeds grew between the cracks. Juliet began to climb with Corey following. The view from the top was breath-taking. The rock-strewn landscape stretched out for miles; the ravaged and stunted trees stood like small markers. It was possible to see the ocean from such a height and make out the small shapes of passing ships.
“This is exactly how I saw it in my dreams,” Corey whispered. “I keep getting flashes of how it looks by night and I don’t know why.”
“I’ve never seen it in my dreams,” Julie said. “But I can’t help feeling I’ve been here before. Are you ok?”
“Yeah, just a bit freaked out by all this, and what Biddy said.”
They spent the rest of the day working, stopping only for lunch. The hours passed, as they dug and dusted the small items that jutted out of the exposed soil.
Amber and Sabba closed the office early and ran through the village. Despite being changelings, they had inherited the swift, cat-like movements of their parents, and they knew the layout well. They side-stepped the small rock pools that pitted the landscape, and the pink and white flowers disguising the dangers of sinking sands. They belonged here among the purple heather and the timeless tranquillity of the moors. As they moved through the small wood towards the cottage, they noticed from the corner of their eye, a streak of red keeping pace.
Biddy stood waiting by the open door. It was no surprise to them that she knew they were coming.
“Welcome my princess and young lord,” she poured them glasses of elderflower cordial. “You have come to ask about the others, your shadow selves?”
They looked at her in amazement, and she took this time to study the small differences between them and the others. Both sets of eyes were oval and without the slight tilt of the elfin, and their accents were different.
“They look almost exactly like you.” Biddy answered their unasked question. “Now you must go home at once, it is no longer safe for you here. The Nightflyers have been abroad these past few nights.”
The Nightflyers are the enormous, bat-like creatures the Erebans use to fly. Like their masters they are dark, vicious creatures and trained to fight. Cattle disappear without trace, scooped from the land by huge claws, to be feasted on by teeth sharper than blades. Their wingspan is said to spread over twenty-five feet.
“They have been out spreading their poison,” Biddy said. “They have traveled farther than usual and return only with the coming of dawn. They are making ready for war, there is no doubt about it.”
Corey and Juliet walked through the trees. They were both anxious to reach Biddy’s cottage.
The morning air was cold and the flickering light from the fire was a welcoming sight, as they walked up to the front door. Biddy opened it before they had the chance to knock.
“I have been waiting for you,” she stood aside to let them in. “I made some tea and there’s cake if you’re hungry.”
They both asked for tea and cupped their hands around the mugs, glad of the warmth of the tea.
“You’ll be anxious to hear what I’ve learned,” she said after a moment’s silence.
They nodded and waited.
“After I left you yesterday, I went in to the hidden world.”
“I thought you were going up to the castle?” Corey said.
“I was, the entrance to the hidden world is beneath the castle,” Biddy said. “I know what you’re thinking: that I’m a mad old woman who has nothing better to do than fill your heads with my nonsense.”
She held up a hand to still their protests. “It’s all right; I don’t blame you but tell me this. Is it madness to recognise reality? Anyway, I will explain what I can about the hidden world and let you decide for yourselves. The king gave me permission to tell you some of the facts; the rest is up to him.”
She spent the next hour or so telling them about the hidden world. They listened in awe as she described a place, they had heard about in fairy tales. Images of Bargamore, Claradon Faranord and the Ereban Forest swam in their heads, as they tried to envision the places she spoke of. Biddy’s gift for storytelling is unsurpassed, and her descriptions filled them with wonder.
“I know it’s hard to take all this in,” she said. “You are modern children who know nothing beyond television and computers. Here, in this barren place, we are content to live alongside all sorts of creatures be they elf, fairy or even the dead. Though you might not want to believe it, the mortal and fairy world are entangled and interwoven more than you realise.”
“When you say time slows down,” Corey asked. “What do you mean exactly?”
“The Elfin can live for hundreds of years. It was rare for one of their race to die young until…” she let the words trail off.
“Until what?” Juliet urged. “What were you going to say?”
“The king will explain all that. It is not for me to speak of such things and its best you hear it from him.
Juliet felt beneath the table for Corey’s hand. Were the things the old woman saying true, they both wondered and if so, why did what seem wonderful a moment ago, now fills them with something akin to dread?
“Aye,” Biddy said. “You feel it too. There’s something not right in the hidden world and I know the Erebans are plotting.”
Before either of them could ask how she knew this, Biddy continued.
“The Erebans are dreadful creatures. Well, you’ve seen that for yourself,” she nodded at Corey. “They are not just fearsome to behold, but they have great powers of darkness. Erebans are our boogiemen and there is not a child in the hidden world that does not fear them. No one is sure where they come from. No one has ever seen the Ereban young. Perhaps, they sprout from the earth like dark spores and do not come to life until mature. No one knows, but they are strange, savage beings. They poison the mind with terrible thoughts and eat away at the soul. Some have taken their own life and others they turn in to raving lunatics. They have the power to strip away man’s dreams and hopes and as the elfin say, once these are gone, there is nothing left. They have stay quiet up to now, but there is something in the air, a gathering of energy. I’ve sensed it over the past few weeks and it’s getting stronger.”
“What do we do next?” Juliet tried to repress a shudder.
“We wait,” Biddy said. “There’s nothing else we can do. Go back to your dig. Word will be sent when the time comes. I’ll come and fetch you when the king is ready.”
Corey and Juliet could not wait to be alone to talk about everything, but they didn’t want to leave the warmth of the kitchen. They were safe in the cottage. It cocooned them with its strange scent of herbs and though this was just their second visit, it was familiar.
“Run along now,” Biddy stood and started to collect the mugs. “I have work to do.”
“What if something happens and you can’t get to us?” Corey asked.
“Then you’ll hear the bells. The fairy bells ring out at times. I heard them on the night of my mother’s death. Even though they resented her marriage, they could not let her passing go unmarked. Listen for the bells. If you hear them, come and find me.”
“What do they sound like?” Juliet asked.
“You’ll remember them. The memory of their sweetness will return once you hear them.”
The sun was high in the sky and the air felt much warmer when they stepped outside. Tabby, who was basking in the warmth, came over and rubbed against them. She jumped up on the fence and watched as they walked towards the trees. The slight breeze ruffled her fur as she raised her head and sniffed the air. Her mistress was right, there was something wrong. She hissed, drawing her lips back over pointed teeth. Then a stray leaf floated by and she forgot, for a moment, her feeling of dread.
The day was fast becoming surreal for Amber and Sabba. After the meeting with Mr Thomas, they were left confused and a little scared. They thought about closing the offices and going home, but Pierce Nolan phoned to say he would be in that afternoon and he sounded irate. It did not take a genius to guess that the call from the archaeologist had upset him.
“I am really bored,” Amber picked at her nails to hide the tears in her eyes.
“Me too,” Sabba kept his head down and pretended to read.
Something strange was happening and they needed to be back in the hidden world. At lunchtime they were in no mood to eat, so took a walk along the village street.
“Oh, nice one,” a boy came up to them and glared at Amber. “You got me to carry the lap top all the way here and you were coming yourself.”
He thrust the bag at her, as Amber shied back.
“I am sorry, I do not know what you are talking about,” she looked from the boy to Sabba.
“I charged it in the café,” he said. “But I’m not carrying it all the way back.”
“Stand back,” Sabba ordered the boy.
The two boys stood face to face. Amber grabbed Sabba’s arm and pulled him away.
“I know what is happening,” she whispered, as they stood waiting on the pavement.
The boy was watching them.
“There has been a mistake,” Amber gave him her sweetest smile. “You are with the dig up at the castle, yes?”
“I am,” the boy muttered.
“We met your Mr Thomas this morning and he made the same mistake. I am Amber and this is Sabba. Look at us,” she urged.
The boy slipped the handle of the bag over his shoulder and walked closer to them.
“I am told we are like people on your dig,” Amber said. “But we are not them, I assure you.”
“Now that you come to mention it,” the boy narrowed his eyes. “There is a subtle difference. Wow, that is so weird,” he laughed and held out his hand to Sabba. “Sorry about that, I thought you were taking me for a fool.”
“No problem,” Sabba shook his hand. “It is the second time today that has happened.”
“I’m Steven. Juliet, the girl who looks like you,” he said to Amber. “She asked me to charge her laptop. She said she wasn’t coming into the village today and I thought she’d just used me to carry it.”
They stayed talking for a few more minutes before saying their goodbyes.
“It’s uncanny,” Steven called after them. “Wait until you meet Juliet and Corey. You won’t believe your eyes.”
Neither of them spoke, as they made their way back to the office. Amber did not want to share her feeling of foreboding or tell him about the pain that was gnawing at her gut. The arrival of Pierce Hogan was a welcome distraction, as he floundered in the door in his usual state of fluster. He spent the next few minutes complaining about the call from Ger Thomas and the nerve of the man.
“The sooner they knock that accursed place the better,” he raged.
“Is the castle cursed?” Amber asked. “I would love to hear about that.”
“I haven’t time to tell you about that now,” he tightened the knot in his tie. “I have to go and meet that Thomas fellow. Show willing if nothing else. I don’t want him reporting back to the historical society that I was unhelpful.”
“Will you be back later?” Sabba asked.
“No, you can lock up,” he rubbed his forehead. “All this upset is giving me one of my migraines.”
“What do you make of that?” Sabba asked when he had gone. “I have never heard mention of a curse.”
“Brag would have told us about it if there was one. You know how he loves to embellish all the folklore.”
“What is the matter,” Sabba asked. “You are not upset by Hogan and his stupid story, are you?”
“No, it is Juliet and Corey, our shadow selves. I cannot stop thinking about them and the reason they are here. We must call on Biddy and find out what she knows.”
The steps leading down from the Ereban castle were steep and menacing. Through a series of different manoeuvres, which included jumping, sliding, and falling, Hack managed to reach the bottom. His breath came in small gasps as he ran through the trees, the branches tearing at his clothes. Dark beings that inhabited the forest, watched as he ran by, but did nothing to stop him. The cry to give chase had not yet gone out. The fairy lights still glimmered within the dark castle; he had a few minutes start before they realised, he was missing. He stopped when he reached the stream, and his heart leapt, when he realised there was no way across. Stones that the Ereban took in his stride, were too far apart for Hack’s little legs. He backed away as the water hags came out from beneath waves and began to climb up on to the bank. Their condition sickened him.
“Have no fear, little man,” one of the hags said. “We will help you to cross.”
“Why would you do that?” Hack asked.
“We are not here by choice,” she said. “We will help you to escape.”
Hack watched as the hags lay face down in the water making a bridge of their wasted bodies.
“Hurry, little man,” the hag called. “Your pursuers will soon be here.”
Hack took a deep breath and ran across their backs. With every footfall he felt their bones beneath his feet. The wound in his back still bled profusely and the loss of blood was making him faint. He fell on to the ground when he reached the opposite side of the river.
“You must get up, little man,” the hag urged.
“I cannot,” Hack shook his head, trying to clear his vision.
“You must, if they capture you, they will kill you.”
Hack shivered and tried to rise, but he was weak from loss of blood.
“Poor little man,” the water hag climbed up and laid a wet, cold hand on his forehead. “You will soon be a prisoner like us.”
Hack’s eyes became hazy and he tried to focus on her.
“If I had tears, I would cry,” the hag said. “For yours is the first warm touch I have felt in decades.”
They both jumped when the sound of the hunting horn sounded, and they knew Hack’s pursuers would soon be upon him. The fairies swooped down and tried to lift Hack to his feet, but this was beyond them. Even though there were thousands of them, the dwarf was heavy.
“Go and tell Lord Fabien,” General Tromp ordered one of his soldiers. “We will stay and try to hold the Erebans back.”
“What news?” Lord Fabien asked when the fairy flew out from the trees.
“The dwarf is free, majesty,” she said. “But he is injured and has fallen by the river. General Tromp and the others have stayed with him.”
Fabien cursed his decision at not informing those in the other lands. The elves were strong, and the slight figure of the dwarf would be easy for them to carry. It was too late now, and time was short. The howls of a dog stopped him in his musing, and he knew Berrin wished to make amends for his failure to stop the dwarf.
“Go and bring him back,” Lord Fabien ordered.
Berrin reached the dwarf in seconds.
“Climb,” the water hag urged Hack, grabbing him by the back of his shredded tabard and helping him on to the dog’s back.
Hack buried his fingers deep into the course hair and held on as tight as he could.
“How could you do something so stupid?” Lord Fabien asked as the dog deposited the dwarf as his feet.
“I wanted to find out what the secret about the princess and the young lord,” Hack gasped as the fairies tended to his wounds.
“What nonsense,” Fabien laughed. “There is no secret and you will speak no more of this.”
“I think there is, sire,” Hack said and despite his wounds the news reporter in him stirred.
“I said there is not. Do you understand?”
“But, sire,” Hack envisioned the screaming headlines. “Horror of Night in Ereban Castle.”
“Not a word,” Fabien roared. “Or you will be banished.”
In the few seconds it took for him to shake the dirt from his tabard, the fairies had disappeared, and he was alone at the crossover. Feeling hard done by after his adventure and the order not to publish it, he sighed and picked up the note that cause all the upset.
“Did you see the fairy’s face when the dwarf spoke about the secret?” Perius asked General Keyos.
“Indeed, sire,” the general smiled. “The hags are right after all and there is still much to learn.”
“Then let it begin,” Perius nodded. “I have waited centuries to take my rightful place as the ruler of the hidden world. Both mortal and elf will soon tremble at the mention of my name. I will teach them the true meaning of fear.”
gemmamawdsley 