The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 66
The curtains hung in tatters over the dust-covered windows, letting in patches of light across the room. Dust motes floated in the hazy rays, gliding lazily to the floor.
Eugene was stood there waiting for them, his dark, disheveled hair hanging around his face. He was shuffling from foot to foot, his hands visibly shaking.
"I don't like this. I don't like this one bit," Eugene said as he spotted May.
William bent down and placed May gently into a moth-eaten chair.
"I never wanted it to go this far. This isn't right," Eugene said, sweat forming on his brow.Isaac lunged at him. He gripped Eugene's neck and forced him up against the wall. "Don't you dare start backing down now. You are the only one who's learnt how to do this. Now, pull yourself together and let's get it over with."
He released Eugene, leaving bloody nail marks on his neck. Eugene removed his black-rimmed glasses, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a flash of magic and returned them to his long nose. "Come here then," he said to Isaac.
Isaac was fully recomposed as if nothing had happened between them.
"Give me your hand," Eugene instructed.
Isaac held up his palm and Eugene ran a fingernail along his forefinger, leaving a long trail of blood. Isaac didn't flinch. He watched Eugene work with an even gaze. Eugene's hand lit with red light and it seeped into the blood.
"Bring the girl," Eugene said, not looking at her.
William scooped her out of the chair, holding her like a baby. "Don't hurt her," he warned.
"Aww, Will, really? How sweet," Isaac mocked. "We're not gonna kill her for Vale's sake. Not yet anyway."
He laughed but William was struggling to see the funny side of the situation.
Eugene stood in front of May and lifted her small hand up by the wrist. William noticed him run a finger of green light over her hand before he slit it open. Eugene repeated the process by letting the red light seep down into her blood.
"Hurry up," Isaac said with anticipation.
"Stand here," Eugene told him and Isaac moved beside him. "Hold your hand up."
Isaac did so and Eugene held May's bleeding hand at the wrist. Eugene took a steadying breath, clasped Isaac's wrist and brought the two within a few inches of each other. He shut his eyes in concentration.
Red light emitted from beneath Eugene's palms. Black veins began to run down Isaac's hand then travelled across the space between their fingers on a wave of blood. The blood touched the cut on May's palm and absorbed into her wound. Spidery, black veins crept up her arm, travelling further and further along her skin. Eugene halted and dropped their wrists. The veins slid up May's arm and disappeared beneath her clothes.
Eugene held his hand over her bleeding palm and healed it with a flash of green light, wiping the blood away with his sleeve.
"Will she remember me taking her?" William asked anxiously.
"No. I've made her forget," Eugene said quietly. "She won't remember anything."
"Hey. Do you mind?" Isaac snapped, holding his bloody hand out in front of Eugene.
He healed it with a wave of his palm.
Isaac laughed triumphantly. "Let's go to Vale boys."
1
In the Shade
Quinn's eyes flickered half open.
"Is she alright?" a man's voice sounded from afar.
Quinn was hot, too hot. She forced her eyes wider and peered out beneath her heavy lids. The mage gauntlets were still on her hands and her palms were sweating inside them. Someone's arm was tightly gripping her waist.
A sun-shrivelled man stood there, looking at her with a worried expression. "Name please?" he asked her softly.
"Name? My name?" Quinn mumbled, confused. Her eyes were unable to focus properly as she looked at the grey haired man in front of her who was holding a small screen in his hand.
"Yes, sweetheart. Your name," Hector said softly.
She frowned. "Sweetheart?" she muttered, looking around for him.
Hector's arm tightened around her waist.
"I'm sorry. She's not feeling well. We're on our way to see a doctor. Could I give you her name?" Hector asked in an anxious voice.
"I understand sir, but no, she must be the one to give me her name I'm afraid. And I'll need both of your fingerprints," the man said. "For security reasons."
"Where are the others?" Quinn wondered aloud, trying to turn and look behind her. "Am I sick? What happened?" Her brain was working so slowly that she couldn't piece anything together. She recalled a bright flash of light but her memory was hazy like a mist had descended on her mind.
"Yes they're just behind us. Tell him your name," Hector said firmly.
"Quinn. Thorn," she said, blinking hard to clear the fog that hung over her vision. Hector took hold of her wrist, guiding it toward the screen in the man's hand. Her thumb pressed against it and her name flashed up, confirming her identity. She realised the man was a Gateway Keeper.
"That's it. Lovely. All done. Hurry along, you better get her to a doctor as soon as you can," the Keeper said with concern.
"Thank you," Hector said and jabbed Quinn in the back. She muttered an insult at him but the words came out slurred.
They descended the hill but, as the ground levelled out beneath her feet, she stumbled forwards weakly. As he knees gave way, Hector lost his grip and she dropped to the ground, darkness pulling at her once more. She gazed up at the bright blue sky and the glaring sun hurt her eyes.
Her mind reengaged momentarily and she remembered Ely saving them back in Glacio. She had been so close to him, the full force of the blast had knocked her sideways. Her heart started beating fast as she panicked, hoping all her friends had escaped.
Hector's face loomed above her as he stepped in front of the sun. Her eyelids drooped and he faded to black as she passed out.
***
Quinn awoke with a start, her body fully functioning once more. She gasped, looking around her surroundings in alarm.
She was alone in a woodland, propped up against a tree. Sunlight filtered through the branches and a sweet symphony of birdsong rang out in the clearing.
Her arms were pulled behind her back, cramping from their awkward position. She went to get up but was immediately tugged backwards. Something was tethering her to the tree and she could feel the gloves still in place on her hands.
"Hello?" she called out.
When no one replied, she bent as far forward as she could and tried to get onto her knees. Her attempt failed and she made a noise of frustration as she sat back, crossing her legs.
Quinn peered up through the canopy where the hot sun was beating down on the world.
"HELLO?" she tried again, feeling trapped.
Her mouth was parched and her breathing came heavily. She forced herself to remain calm and focused on trying to snap the tight rope that was binding her to the tree trunk. No matter how hard she yanked it, it didn't give even a little.
Footsteps sounded through the trees, cracking twigs as they approached.
"Vale," she cursed, falling forward and putting all of her weight into the rope. It wouldn't budge and whoever was approaching was close. She stilled as they walked around the tree.
Hector appeared.
"Oh thank the seven worlds, it's just you," Quinn said, sighing. Her relief quickly turned to anger. "Why in Vale have you tied me to a tree?"
Hector didn't respond but chucked a bag at her feet and knelt beside it.
Quinn almost laughed as she realised what must be happening. "Was this Larkin's idea of a prank?"
Hector didn't look up but opened the bag and rummaged through it.
"Hector?" She grinned then the smile died on her face as he still didn't look up. "What's going on?"
Hector retrieved a glass bottle of water from his bag and undid the top. "Head back," he instructed.
"What?" she snorted. "Untie me and I'll drink it myself."
Hector took a sip then offered it to her again. "Do you want it or not?"
Her body was crying out for the liquid. She couldn't figure out what game Hector was playing but decided to play along for the time being. "Fine."
He moved toward her and tipped the cool water down her throat. She drank in deep gulps, finishing the bottle. She gasped as he pulled it away and returned the bottle to his bag.
Hector stood, moved to a tree opposite Quinn and sat down.
"Where are the others?" Quinn asked hopefully.
"I don't know," Hector said gruffly.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Panic fled through her.
Hector took another bottle of water from the bag and poured the contents into his mouth.
Quinn pouted in frustration. "Why won't you answer me? They're not-? Oh no..." She blinked in shock, tears pricking her eyes.
"No, they're not dead," he confirmed.
"Then where are they?" she snapped. "What's going on? Why am I tied up?"
Hector sighed and rubbed his eyes wearily. "I'm taking you with me."
"What do you mean?" Quinn asked, her voice lowering. Despite the heat, hairs began to stand up on end all over her body.
Hector got to his feet so he towered over her and produced something from the inside of his jacket.
Quinn gasped and pushed herself back against the tree.
Hector was holding his long-barrelled gun which had a large canister of magic attached to it, radiating purple light. He aimed it steadily at her forehead. "You're gonna do what I say or I'll kill you."
2
Across the Sea
Oliver ran until his legs burned. He was at the back of the group: Ely, Anna, Rogan, Larkin and May were all charging down the hill, their heels flashing at him as they sprinted. The Gateway Keeper stopped them halfway down the grassy hill.
The wrinkled man was stood beneath a wooden porch that gave shelter from the burning sun. It was attached to a grand, white house that sat precariously on a cliff edge. He had grey hair that was cropped short and his skin was tanned and leathery. Sweat gathered on the bags under his eyes as he frowned at them.
One by one they gave their names in gasping breaths and he registered them as Brinatin key-holders using a screen that resembled a rectangular piece of glass.
Oliver nervously eyed the Gateway high up on the hill. It was made from a tall tree with pink flowers blossoming all over it. One branch hung low and curved over so it scraped the ground, forming the Gateway.
"I don't think they're following us," Anna muttered close to Oliver's ear.
The Keeper looked at them all with a confused expression.
Larkin took hold of Oliver's arm and pulled him back a step. "Are you gonna explain to me what in Vale just happened back there?"
"Later," Oliver growled through gritted teeth, shrugging out of Larkin's hold.
Rogan shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Did you see a girl come this way? She has long dark hair, she's tall, ridiculously pretty." He had his pack strapped to his shoulders and Quinn's bag swinging from one hand.
"Quinn Thorn?" the Keeper asked in surprise.
"Yes, which way did she go?" Rogan asked in relief.
"The man she was with, er, Hector Rook, was taking care of her," he replied. "They probably headed to Barlin. It's the biggest island close to here, about ten minutes by ferry."
"Thank you," Rogan said, dismissing him.
"Is everything alright?" the Keeper called after them as they walked away.
Ely threw a smile back at him with a nod and the Keeper slunk back into the shade of his porch, sitting on a large rocking chair.
They curved around the base of the hill towards a sandy beach where waves lapped gently against it. The island they were on was tiny, just a couple of grassy hills beneath an endlessly blue sky.
"Why didn't they wait for us?" Rogan asked, running a hand through his hair.
"Who knows? Maybe they've eloped together," Larkin said dryly, taking off his jacket and stuffing it into his bag.
Rogan rolled his eyes.
"I saw Hector pick her up and just run off through the Gateway," Oliver said, shaking his head in confusion.
Rogan nodded. "I don't get it."
"They're probably just up ahead," May said with a shrug.
Rogan glanced at her and nodded.
They hurried towards a golden beach that stretched out into the ocean in the shape of a horseshoe, cupping the seawater and sheltering it from the elements. Anna slipped her hand inside Oliver's. Her soft skin on his was soothing.
Oliver's feet burned inside the fur-lined snow boots as they stepped onto the white sand. A long pier stretched into the sea with three small ferries lined up along it. They were white with colourful paintings of fish and other sea creatures on their sides. Attached to their bases were wide rubber tubes that appeared to be keeping them afloat.
They walked down the pier towards the furthest ferry.
"All aboard," a dark-skinned man called to them from the roof of the boat. He had long, braided hair and was shirtless, wearing rainbow-coloured shorts. He jumped to the lower deck and ushered them onto the boat.
"Well you lot are about as chirpy as the last couple who were just here," he said.
Rogan's eyebrows raised. "Where were they going? The couple?"
"Barlin. You can't get to most other islands without changing at Barlin."
"Did they mention anything about waiting for us?" Oliver asked.
"Nope. Not to me anyway. They took another ferry outta here." He moved into a small cabin at the head of the boat. The ferry sprang to life and they filed past his cabin to sit in rows of seats behind it.
"Don't we have to pay?" Oliver asked.
Ely shook his head. "The government runs a free ferry service to the main islands. There's not many other ways get around without them, unless you have your own boat."
A rush of air sounded then a low hum as the boat rose a little out of the water.
Anna leant over the side and glanced back at Oliver with an excited expression. "It's a hovercraft."
"Yes," Ely confirmed from behind. "Hover transport is popular in Brinatin."
As they exited the bay, Oliver was distracted by the scene that unfolded ahead of them.
Islands were dotted in the ocean as far as the eye could see. The azure sky was reflected in the water and the sunlight twinkled on the surface. The islands were lush and green, covered in trees and grassland for miles.
The boat rode over the waves, tilting high then falling low as they scaled each one. A welcome spray of water cooled Oliver with each splash. Droplets glistened on Anna's skin as she leant an arm out over the side.
Birds sailed above the waves: from tiny gold ones in flocks to heron-sized individuals with blue and silver feathers.
"It's beautiful here," Anna said quietly, shutting her eyes as the spray showered lightly over her face.
Oliver took a deep breath in through his nose, sensing the briny tang in the air. The cry of the large birds was musical and soft: a low-pitched call that carried across the water.
"Is anyone gonna explain to me what happened in Glacio?" Larkin hissed. "I mean Isaac bloody Rimori was there!"
"Keep your voice down," Ely said sternly.
Larkin jutted up his chin.
Oliver turned to him with a sigh. "He's after May."
"But why?" Larkin asked, his golden eyebrows knitting together.
Oliver glanced at May who nodded briefly and he began to explain. Larkin's face darkened as Oliver revealed as much as he knew.
When he was finished, Larkin sat back in his seat. "That's crazy..." He frowned at May but said no more.
They swerved around the various islands towards an enormous one up ahead. Large, rolling hills covered it and a city of golden stone sat nestled on its shore. The ferry pulled into a busy harbour and trundled towards one of many piers that were lined up along the beach.
"Arriving at Barlin Island!" the man called from the cabin.
Oliver stood and sidled out along the bench. He led the way off of the boat, jumping down onto the wooden pier. He reached his arms up to Anna to help her down and she jumped, smiling at him as she landed.
The others disembarked and they walked along the pier towards the shore. Oliver gazed between the rough cracks in the slats beneath his feet, spying the water that lapped below. Fishermen and locals exited other hovercraft boats around them and they all filed into a line towards a gate that marked the entrance to the city. They shuffled towards it, bustled along by the crowd.
Oliver was desperate to shower and change into cooler clothing but the need to find Quinn was nagging at him. He gazed amongst the crowd, expecting to spot her at any second.
They passed through turnstiles under the shadow of the vast wooden gate that obscured the city from view. Guards dressed in white linen uniforms held up their arms to each passing person.
As they approached, Oliver could see the equipment more clearly. The guards had metal plates strapped to their arms with rectangular, glass screens embedded in them. Civilians absentmindedly pressed their hands to the screens and the guards nodded as they let them by.
Oliver lifted his palm up to the closest guard. She gave him a welcoming smile, her face warm and friendly.
"Just place your hand on the Flash Screen," she said when he hesitated.
He did so until she nodded then removed it. His name appeared in blue letters with his world of origin beneath it.
"Earth? Don't get many people from there. Enjoy Brinatin," the guard said, letting him pass.
He didn't move as an idea struck him. "We're looking for our friend Quinn Thorn. We got split up, is there any chance you can see if she came this way?" He gestured to the screen on her arm.
The guard raised her eyebrows. "I'm afraid not. I can't give out such information unless requested to do so by the police."
"Oh, okay." He turned and took in the harbour that was teeming with boats. "Where could she potentially go from here?"
"Pretty much anywhere. She might've gone to the capital, Cerulea? But your guess is as good as mine I'm afraid."
Oliver frowned then nodded. "Thanks for your help." He walked on, glancing back at his friends who had been listening from behind him in the queue.
